February 5, 2013 – Regular Meeting in Tampico Village Hall
Mayor Kristine L. Hill called the above meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Commissioners Al Wildman, Bruce Hill, Mary Jo Sigel and Carlos “Butch” McNinch were present. Officer Boyd VanDellen and Art Spencer were also present. Village Clerk Kathy Leathers recorded the written minutes.
Minutes of the January 22, 2013 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
A motion was made by Commissioner Wildman, second by Commissioner McNinch, to approve an IEPA Loan Draw Down Request for payment from Willett, Hofmann & Associates, Inc. for their engineering services during the infrastructure improvement projects in the amount of $9,410.67. “Yes” votes were Wildman, Hill, Sigel, McNinch and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
In an update of the sewer plant project, it was learned the waste water treatment plant aeration system project should begin again sometime this month. A payment request for the disbursement of CDAP Grant Funds in the amount of $59,302.09 to D.J. Sickley Construction Company has been made. Commissioner McNinch motioned, seconded by Commissioner Hill, to approve the request. “Yes” votes were Wildman, Hill, Sigel, McNinch and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Council members also learned the West Market Street Lift Station project is moving along well. A CDAP grant funds draw down request has been made by Fischer Excavating, Inc. in the amount of $129,094.02. Commissioner Sigel motioned and Commissioner Hill seconded the request. “Yes” votes were Wildman, Hill, Sigel, McNinch and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
In the matter of certain downtown buildings and their condition, Commissioner Sigel advised she has sent pictures of the roof covering of the buildings to Attorney Ron Coplan for his review. She added Coplan will gather his information and advise the council accordingly. The Council has been concerned for sometime about conditions in a few of the downtown buildings and their effect on the adjacent buildings. The Council hopes in time to be able to remedy the situation before any of the buildings are damaged beyond repair.
Clerk Leathers advised the Council, the Public Hearing of the Zoning Commission Board will be held Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 6:30 PM in Tampico Village Hall. The Zoning Board will consider changes to the Zoning Ordinance dealing with conditions in some of the historic downtown buildings such as excessive storage not related to a business or business activity. In addition the penalty for violation of a Zoning Code Ordinance will be raised to not less than $100 nor more than $750. The purpose of the hearing will be to recommend the Village Council pass or dismiss the proposed ordinance amendment.
On a motion by Commissioner Hill, second by Commissioner Sigel, Ordinance No. O10-13-02-05 to amend Chapter 5.04 – Alcoholic Beverages by adding a Class E Liquor License to allow retail sales of alcoholic liquors in sealed original packages for consumption off the premises. “Yes” votes were Wildman, Hill, Sigel, McNinch and Mayor Hill. The motion carried. Casey’s General Stores had requested the change so they may sell packaged alcoholic beverages other than beer & wine in their Tampico location. Mayor Hill told the Council, Casey’s is really wanting to move on it. She said in her talks with the business’s representatives, she asked if the Tampico store’s building would be revamped like some of the other stores in the area. She also asked them about higher prices in the Tampico store compared to other locations.
Mayor Hill and the other council members directed the clerk to request Village Attorney, William Shirk, proceed with the Illinois Debt Recovery Program application. The program would allow the Village to enter into an agreement with the State Comptroller’s office to recover delinquent utility bills through expected state payments such as a resident’s Illinois income tax return or state earned wages. Leathers advised the council, a local rental property owner asked if it was possible for the Village to recover delinquent bills on their behalf. As it is now, landlords must pay the delinquent utility bills before the water/sewer service may be turned back on for a new tenant.
On a motion by Commissioner McNinch, second by Commissioner Sigel, the annual contract with the Whiteside County Health Department – Animal Control was approved at a cost of $1,500.00 for the year for their services. “Yes” votes were Wildman, Hill, Sigel, McNinch and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Commissioner Sigel asked if the county animal control contract takes care of stray cats as well. Officer Van Dellen advised they do not take cats unless they are brought to the animal control facility. Commissioner Sigel advised she has seen a new litter in her neighborhood. Commissioner Wildman stated the village used to have someone to do that.
At this time, Chris Abell asked the council what the village’s policy is for having rabbits in town. He wanted to know if they could be kept in town as part of a 4-H project. They would be kept in the proper cages inside a shed. After a short council discussion, Mayor Hill told Abell, there is no village ordinance prohibiting them.
In reports of village officials, Mayor Hill and Commissioner McNinch have instructed Village Utilities Clerk, Anna Wetzell, to send a letter to all residents advising them that all past due balances must be paid in full by April 1, 2013 to avoid disconnection of service. . She advised them to look at the back of the post cards used for utility billing. By ordinance, bills are “payable on or before the last day of the month. A 10% penalty shall be charged to any bill not paid by the last day of the month. Any bill not paid 15 days after the last day of the month is delinquent. Service shall be discontinued and shall not be re-instated until all claims are settled. A fee of $20 shall be paid to re-instate such service, in addition to any penalties that may be due.” Mayor Hill said the policy would be strictly enforced after April 1st but she also told the council that of course there are certain circumstances and issues that come up, but the village is not heartless and an effort would be made to work with residents if that should arise.
In her report to the Council, Mayor Hill stated she had attended a recent P-L-T School District board meeting. She spoke to them concerning the soon to be vacated Tampico Grade School. She stated, she does not want the school building to become a burden to the town. She said it is important for the village to properly see to the school’s future. She has drawn up a mission statement for the town as a whole. She told them we all want a better place to live and she is hoping as the school building becomes a part of the village it can realize multiple uses toward that end. For example, she reported, a daycare center could be a part of that.
The Council also briefly discussed an alternative to recovering delinquent utility bills when the customer uses only the village sewers. There are a few residents who use their own wells but are hooked into the village sewer system. The village has no recourse such as shutting off the water service to collect the unpaid fees at those residences. Commissioner Hill states he wonders if it would be possible to withhold garbage service until the delinquent accounts are made current. The council will research the matter as it also applies for the state program.
On a motion by Commissioner Wildman, second by Commissioner Hill, bills were approved as presented. “Yes” votes were Wildman, Hill, Sigel, McNinch and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
There being no further business or discussion, the meeting adjourned at 7:39 PM. The next regular meeting will be February 19, 2013 at 7:00 PM in Tampico Village Hall.
Kathy A. Leathers Kristine L. Hill
Clerk Mayor
MINUTES APPROVED THIS 19th DAY OF February, 2013
**These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Tampico Village Clerk**
