Mayor Bruce Peltier called the Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council to order at 7:00PM.
Commissioners Sherry Coleman, Susan Dean, Jim Coleman and Tammy Kendell were present. Chief Strike and Village Superintendent, Tyler Chriest, were also present. Village Clerk, Jamie McIntire, was present and recorded the written and audio minutes.
Mayor Peltier led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the February 3, 2026 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
Reports of Village Officials
Chief Strike reported that clean up notices will begin in March. He’s noticed there are a lot of cars sitting around, and tires. Commissioner Kendell said how she noticed a lot of tires sitting at a property behind the alley of the post office. Chief Strike said we’re going to make sure they get cleaned up and a bunch of cars that he noticed that have moved in over the winter. Commissioner Dean said she’d like Chief Strike to take a look at the property that’s next to the grade school. She said it looks atrocious. Chief Strike said he’ll take a look and make sure to get a letter out to the owner to get it cleaned up. Dean said it looks like trash is blowing out of the garage and she’s worried for the kids who walk by there on their way to school. She said it looks bad. Chief Strike said he’ll look at it in the morning. Dean thanked him.
Superintendent Chriest reported that crews had recently finished up the sewer work on Fourth Street where a small section needed replaced. There was also a watermain break on Fremont Street last week that was repaired. Both projects went well.
Chriest reported that inventory has started on surplus supplies that needs repaired.
Chriest asked the Council’s opinion on if they’d like an MFT project done this coming up fiscal year. There will be those two patches that need repaired from the sewer work and the watermain break, and Chriest said he’d like to include repairing the entrance to the grade school because it’s pretty rough right there. Chriest said there is a total of three small patches and wanted to know if general funds can be used to make those repairs or if that would be included in the MFT project. Clerk McIntire advised that work would be included with the MFT project and using those funds for roadwork. Commissioner Kendell said you should include those patches in the MFT project. Mayor Peltier said we currently have approximately $138,000 in MFT funds to use. Chriest said we can get together and get some ideas of areas that we can try to include in the MFT project to include in the budget and go out for bid. Hopefully we can get a project going this fall or maybe next spring.
Remarks from Guests
Kenneth Burn with Sauk Valley Community College was on the agenda to speak about updates with the IMPACT Program. Burn said thank you for having me. I am the Foundation Coordinator with Sauk. I’m here to share good news about the IMPACT program. This program began about 9 years ago. This biggest commitment the kids make in their freshman year is volunteerism and it’s been a great opportunity for them to communicate with adults and learn about what’s happening in the communities. They are required to complete 25 hours a year, all four years of community service. Another requirement is when they become seniors, they have to apply for scholarships. There are currently 18 districts that can be active with this program. Specific to PLT since 2022, 4,565 hours of community service has been completed. PLT has had 5 classes included with the program and was one of the pilot schools for the program. Since June of 2025, PLT has completed 933 hours of community service. Hopefully most of those hours were completed in the surrounding communities such as Tampico, Prophetstown and Lyndon, but they are also allowed to complete those hours in other communities offering as well. There are 72 PLT students in the program from those five classes. Sauk currently has 9 students on campus from last year and the majority of those students are in high demand fields which is excellent for the area. Burn said we are very pleased with how well the school works with us and we’re hoping it continues for those kids who are coming in. A lot of the kids began the program because they knew they were college bound students. We’d like to share that there is also a list of programs that don’t involve college. We have career certificate programs that are shorter in duration and they’re more hands on. They are fields that we also need in our area as well. They are the CTE, or career technical education certificates which can be gained in 10 weeks to 3 months. These classes are for the kids that aren’t thinking about college but are also eligible to be a great opportunity and tuition and fees free. Burn said 2 years at Sauk currently costs approximately $20,000. This program would let them start debt free. We make sure to contact both groups of students, the ones that want to attend college and those who are looking to start a career without attending 4 years of college. This program is a win-win for all the students, and they aren’t committed to anything when signing up. If a PLT student ends up with a full ride to a 4-year college, the only thing they’ve given up is 100 hours of community service. Burn said we congratulate the PLT district for being apart of this program. It’s been well received and well supported. Burn said we’ll continue to touch base with the students and give updates and ask that you help to spread the word to upcoming freshman. The Mayor and Council thanked Burn for his information and time.
Unfinished Business
Under unfinished business was to review / discuss the water/sewer rate increase ordinance. Clerk McIntire advised that she provided the Mayor and Council with a copy of the proposed ordinance for both the water increase, making the new minimum rate $41.46 with $4.15 added per thousand for anything over 3,000 gallons, and the sewer increase, making the new minimum rate $37.69 with $3.77 added per gallon for anything over 3,000 gallons. These rates came from the chart given by Matt Hansen and would become effective May 1st, 2026. Clerk McIntire said if there are no questions or concerns, she’ll place these ordinances on the next meeting agenda for approval.
New Business
First under new business was to approve a date and time for the Special Budget Meeting. A motion was made by Commissioner Kendell, second by Commissioner J. Coleman, to hold the Special Budget Meeting on Tuesday, March 10th, 2026, at 4:00PM. “Yes” votes were S. Coleman, Dean, J. Coleman, Kendell and Mayor Peltier. The motion carried.
Next was to discuss a memorial bench. Mayor Peltier said this topic was brought up for Larry Anderson after he passed. Mayor Peltier said he has spoken with Bonnie Anderson and Nels Miller, owner of Kickback Saloon, that they’ve received donations for this and would like it placed where a current bench sits in front of the Kickback, an area where Larry liked to sit. Mayor Peltier said he’ll get more information on the bench because there was a specific idea in mind for it. Mayor Peltier said he thinks it would be good if it could match the other memorial benches in the area if possible. We will look into this further, along with repairing the memorial benches that already exist in town. Mayor Peltier said he will speak with Bonnie and Nels more on how much it’ll cost and if their current donations will cover the cost. Otherwise, we can decide on helping donate towards the memorial bench.
Next on the agenda was to possibly approve the sale of personal property owned by the Village of Tampico – the PD Tahoe and possibly purchasing a 2011 Chevy Tahoe from the Prophetstown Police Department. Mayor Peltier said these two topics go hand in hand. Mayor Peltier reported that he received a call last week from Bruce Franks that their police department is looking to sell their 2011 Chevy Tahoe, the white PD Tahoe that they have. Franks asked if we’d be interested in it. It is two years older than the black Tahoe we currently have, but it has 63,000 less miles on it. They’re asking $4,500 for it and the blue book cost is higher than that without all the equipment they have in it. The Prophetstown Police purchased it in 2018 and have put about 11,000 miles on it since then. It was purchased from Florida and its pretty clean body wise besides a few dings, but no rust. It does have an actual cage in it, unlike ours, so our police would be able to transport with it if they had to. It has a nice light package on it and a docking station for the computer. If we make this purchase, we’ll be able to take the docking station out of the black Tahoe and put it in the Ford. Then they’d have a docking station in both vehicles. Mayor Peltier advised that the black Tahoe does have some maintenance coming up to consider. It’s going to need tires and brakes which could cost around $1,800 to $2,000.
Mayor Peltier said he thinks purchasing the Tahoe from Prophetstown would be a good idea and he also has pictures and videos of the vehicle. For a little bit extra, we’d be getting a vehicle with 62,000 less miles and if we sell the black Tahoe, we might not be too much in when it’s all said and done. Commissioner Dean said and this other Tahoe has the cage. Mayor Peltier said I had them start it up when I looked at it and they had it all cleaned up, and I didn’t notice any engine sounds or smells or anything like that.
Village resident, Art Spencer, asked how many idle miles are on the Prophetstown Tahoe. Mayor Peltier said he wasn’t sure. Spencer asked will you be buying another headache. Mayor Peltier said they haven’t had many issues with it service wise. Spencer said then why are they getting rid of it. Mayor Peltier said because they have 5 squad cars and only 2 officers right now. They don’t need it. Spencer said why do we need two squads if we only have part-time. Commissioner Kendell said we’d sell the black Tahoe. Spencer said what I’m saying is why do we need two police squads if we only have part-time officers. Clerk McIntire said if we only had the one squad and something happens to it, what would they do? Spencer replied what did they do in the years before. I’d say Whiteside. They used to cover before. When we only had one full-time and he had problems, they would call Whiteside to come in and cover. Commissioner S. Coleman said they’re struggling with coverage right now too. Commissioner J. Coleman said they don’t do that like they used to. Chief Strike said Whiteside has three squads sitting right now that they’re trying to get people to cover. Spencer said I don’t think it’s justified to buy another when we have one that runs. The Tahoe was junk when you first bought it. Mayor Peltier said we wouldn’t keep the black Tahoe. Spencer said that’s what I mean. You’re going to buy another one that they don’t want because it’s worn out. Mayor Peltier said I don’t think that’s the case. I don’t think it’s worn out. I think it’s upgrading a piece of equipment we already have. That’s how I’m looking at it. Spencer said I understand what you’re saying but remember that 6 months from now, then tell me about it. Mayor Peltier said 6 months down the road the black one might not work anymore. Commissioner Kendell asked can we get the maintenance history on it? Mayor Peltier said we can get that. Chief Strike said the tires have 2,000 miles on them and they just put a new water pump in it. They’ve also kept up on the oil changes and all that. Kendell said they should have the records on what they’ve done with it. J. Coleman asked how many miles are on the Prophetstown Tahoe? Mayor Peltier said it has 118,000 miles and ours has 180,000 miles. Commissioner Dean said if we can get the maintenance information on it, I think it would go a long way for us. J. Coleman said you’re not going to find anything else for that price. Mayor Peltier said and all the equipment that comes with it. Dean said I like that it has a cage because then they can transport. Chief Strike said the Ford has a cubical, but the black Tahoe doesn’t have a cage.
Clerk McIntire said if you do decide to sell the black Tahoe, we’d put it out for closed bids and put together an ordinance to sell Village owned surplus property, as is, with a bill of sell and release agreement. We’d just have to get items removed from it, similar to how we did it with the Crown Vic. I won’t move forward with all that until you know for sure if you want to sell it. Mayor Peltier said if we do make this purchase, I say we do sell the black Tahoe. Commissioner S. Coleman asked if it has to be voted on to purchase the squad from Prophetstown. Clerk McIntire said yes. That would require an official vote. Mayor Peltier said there is another police department interested in the squad if we don’t purchase it. Mayor Peltier asked if anyone is against purchasing the squad. Commissioner Kendell said I’m not against it if the records are clean. Commissioner Dean agreed. Mayor Peltier asked can we vote on purchasing it, contingent on a maintenance inspection? Clerk McIntire said we can include that in the motion. Mayor Peltier said we can take it out to Randy for an inspection. Kendell said that’s what I would do. Dean said if Randy looks it over and says it’s a good deal, we should do it. Clerk McIntire said you can approve the purchase before approving the sale of the black Tahoe. A motion was made by Commissioner S. Coleman, second by Commissioner Dean, to approve the purchase of a 2011 Chevy Tahoe from the Prophetstown Police Department in the amount of $4,500 for the Tampico Police Department, contingent on a maintenance inspection. “Yes” votes were S. Coleman, Dean, J. Coleman, Kendell and Mayor Peltier. The motion carried.
Superintendent Chriest asked if he could add items to the sell on the surplus property ordinance. Clerk McIntire said I believe you can because there is an exhibit to the ordinance that would list each item that’s for sale, but I would have to double check on that. Chriest said what I have in mind isn’t worth much so I didn’t know if it would be worth doing another ordinance specifically for it. Clerk McIntire said I’ll look into it. Commissioner Kendell asked what are you trying to sell? Chriest said a snowblower that never gets used. I used it the first year I started working here but haven’t used it since. It’s a gas one that you have to maintain so you can use it when you need it. It can be easy to forget about, then you have to put a lot of work into it to get it going. I just don’t see the need for it. If we did need a snowblower, and small battery powered one would be the way to go. Mayor Peltier said I’ll get with you on that so we can figure out a way to post it and go from there.
Building Permits
Building Permits approved by Zoning Administrator, Tyler Chriest, was 203 N. Lincoln St. – Garage Windows, Doors.
Communications
Clerk McIntire advised that the Village received a letter from the Tampico Memorial Cemetery Association, requesting a donation towards their maintenance costs for the season. The last time we donated to them was mid-June. If you’d like to donate, I suggest waiting to do it until that time of year because that line item for the current fiscal year has already surpassed the budgeted amount. When we have our budget meeting, we can see where we’ve all donated in the past and how much, then factor in what you’d like to donate for the upcoming fiscal year. Mayor Peltier said that sounds perfect. Clerk McIntire said I can reach out to Butch McNinch to let him know that the Village does plan to donate, but not until the new fiscal year. The Mayor and Council said that sounds good.
Bills were ordered paid on a motion by Commissioner Kendell, second by Commissioner J. Coleman. “Yes” votes were S. Coleman, Dean, J. Coleman, Kendell and Mayor Peltier. The motion carried.
Commissioner Kendell asked if we’ve heard any updates on the 408 E. Market St. property owned by Beverly Adamson. Mayor Peltier said yes. She has until February 28th to complete all the necessary maintenance to make the building safe. The lawyer emailed not too long ago asking if there’s been any work completed on the property. Mayor Peltier said that I replied that I haven’t seen anyone over there in quite some time, until just recently this past weekend. It didn’t look like they were doing any repairs. It looked like they were either putting stuff in the property or taking it out.
The meeting adjourned at 7:35PM. The next Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 7:00 PM in the Reagan Community Center located at 202 W. Second Street.
Jamie M. McIntire
Clerk
Bruce Peltier
Mayor
