NW Illinois News

Village of Tampico Board And Trustees met March 21.

Here is the minutes as provided by the Board:

Mayor Kristine L. Hill called the Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council to order at 7:00 PM.

Commissioners Derrick Maupin, Bruce Hill, Scott Meier and Phalen Vancil were present. Police Chief Terry Strike was in attendance and Village Clerk, Kathy Leathers, recorded the written and audio minutes. The meeting was also video recorded.

Mayor Hill led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Minutes of the March 7, 2017 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.

The Tampico Volunteer Fire Department was approved for a Class C Liquor License for a Fundraiser event being held on April 1, 2017 4:30 pm-11:00 pm. A motion was made by Commissioner Vancil and seconded by Commissioner Meier. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Hill, Meier, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion was carried.

Reports of Village Officials

Commissioner Vancil said the baseball sign up was finished this past Wednesday. There wasn’t as good of a turn out as last year but hopefully the numbers will increase. Vancil asked to get the word out that if there are any older kids, age 11-15, that still need to sign up, please do it before the draft being held on April 1st.

Commissioner Hill said it’s the time of year for golf cart renewals. Anyone with a golf cart needs to bring it in to be inspected.

Police Chief Strike said that Spring Clean Up has started. They’ve began their work on the West end of town and have sent out 15 letters. Next they’ll work on the East end of town.

Remarks from Guests

Village resident Al Morthland ask Commissioner Meier if the Village will be fixing the hole down on Lincoln. Morthland said he noticed a pile of gravel down there. Meier said yes, eventually.

Morthland then said that the flag out front of Village Hall needs to be kept unraveled.

Village resident Todd Tornow asked if the State is in charge of the area in front of the post office, because when it rains it’s a disaster. Mayor Hill said that she had the State come down and look at it. It does need to be put back to State standards but before the project can begin the area, under our maintenance agreement, will have to be surveyed. It will have to be a very well planned project. The State does weigh in as well as the owner of the Post Office building to make sure that it’s done correctly.

Unfinished Business

Mayor Hill asked the council to hold off one more time on the approval of the 2nd draft of the 2017-2018 Appropriations Ordinance. There are still a few items being worked on for the budget. The council still has two more meetings where it can be approved.

Village Resident Rob Sigel wanted to thank Commissioner Meier for plowing Main Street with his personal time and truck during the last snow storm.

The council learned there are no current updates for the Water Main Replacement Project.

Mayor Hill told the council that Sharron Pepin will be coming to the April 4th meeting to further discuss the TIF District.

New Business

Resolution NO. R10-17-03-21 to Authorize the use of Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Public Safety – Tree Maintenance was the next topic for discussion. Mayor Hill checked with the Motor Fuel Tax Guidelines and since this is a safety issue with all the trees that need trimmed, the Village can use that funding and there is plenty there to do so. A motion to approve the Resolution was made by Commissioner Hill and seconded by Commissioner Meier. Mayor Hill said if anyone has any questions about any trees, come in and check the list. Also, if anyone refuses to have their tree trimmed, the company will move on and you will receive a letter stating the resident is now responsible for that tree. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Hill, Meier, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion was carried.

Resolution NO. R11-17-03-21 Giving Permission for Rock River Energy to Access Usage Data from ComEd / Municipal Electric Aggregation Purposes was the next topic for the council to discuss. Mayor Hill told the council, she spoke with Mike Mudge from Rock River Energy about the aggregation program and combining communities for better rates. Mudge would like to see it done for one year that way Prophetstown can also be rolled in. If municipalities can be grouped together on the same schedule, better prices can be offered. Clerk Leathers mentioned that the Village’s current contract with First Energy is up in July, 2017. Mayor Hill said once this Resolution is approved, Mudge can start putting together a proposal requesting rate quotes. A motion to approve the Resolution was made by Commissioner Vancil and seconded by Commissioner Maupin. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Hill, Meier, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion was carried.

The council began discussing Revenue Ideas for the RCC. Jennifer Sleeman is offering to instruct Yoga Classes at the RCC and would be available on Sunday afternoon or evening, Tuesday afternoon or evening and Friday afternoon or evening. She said it would take about an hour of her time and suggested $10 an hour for her pay. She said if people didn’t come with their own supplies, she would have to supply that so that would also be a consideration. Mayor Hill said she spoke with her daughter about it since she would represent the 30 year old age group, and she said that evenings would be better for moms because sports are so thick with the kids on Saturdays. The older age group thought the afternoon would better suit them. Sleeman said she’s open to late afternoons, into evenings.

Mayor Hill said she would like to see the Brat Fest come back. That was a fun event and a good fundraiser. Mayor Hill mentioned that the Christmas Wreaths put up along main street aren’t in the best shape, so it would be nice to get a fundraiser going for that. Polo has silhouette of snowflakes rather than wreathes and those would actually be cheaper and easier to take care of. Commissioner Maupin asked how much something like that costs. Mayor Hill said $400 to $500 each and we have nine. Clerk Leathers said we can get on Google and try to compare price options. Maupin said it’s good to have something to shoot for.

Commissioner Maupin said another idea that was presented to him was a week night volleyball league or open volleyball. Probably for the winter time. The reason this idea was held off in the past is because the RCC doesn’t have all the equipment needed. Maupin said the Village may need to invest in some of these ideas to make them work. Mayor Hill asked

him if the score board still works and Maupin said yes, he just had it running a couple months ago.

Commissioner Maupin said another idea that was thought of a while back, which is more large scale and this probably isn’t the right time for it, but would be a small scale gym with treadmills and ellipticals. It could possibly be put in one of the trailers out back or in one of the two rooms upstairs. Mayor Hill said the equipment the RCC has on the stage it getting broke and having to be worked on, so we would need someone who could manage, watch and maintain the gym. Mayor Hill said it would be nice to find a company, such as Anytime Fitness, that would like to come and convert one of the trailers and use some of their equipment.

Mayor Hill would like to see if the Police Department could have a bicycle training on the playground for the kids for a family event. Sometimes they even give out helmets with those programs. Police Chief Strike said Whining Wheels does this every year when school gets out. The police department helps out with it. Mayor Hill said that would be nice if that could be done here for our kids. The RCC has all that space on the playground to do something like that.

Village Resident Deb TerBush suggested a Bags Tournament for sometime in the Fall. Mayor Hill said we could use one of the special liquor licenses for that and have a stand with limited amounts. TerBush even suggested having a DJ or live music along with it. And maybe even a cookout. Commissioner Hill said that might be good to have with the Brat Fest. Mayor Hill said the weather wouldn’t be an issue because it could be brought into the gym if needed.

Commissioner Maupin then asked if anyone had any ideas that could coincide with the Villages Tampico Days event. Mayor Hill said when the RCC was bought, some people had ideas of putting on plays occasionally because of the stage. Commissioner Vancil suggested having another dodge ball tournament or a kickball tournament out at the ball diamonds. There have been kickball tournaments in the past that have gone over well. Or even a 16 in. Softball tournament. A talent show during Tampico Days was also suggested. Mayor Hill said during the Brat Fest people would come and sing and it was cute. A talent show could be put on with snacks or even chili. And it could be for any age group.

Mayor Hill said to keep thinking of ideas. Commissioner Maupin said it sounds like the Yoga Class is in the works. We’ll go through the calendar to find what nights will work for that. Once that’s done the Village will start advertising for it. Mayor Hill said the Village needs to get the air conditioners installed in the meeting room, because that’s often used for such things as baby showers or public auctions. Maupin said there is a pile of things that can be done, now we need to make a plan to follow through with them.

Mayor Hill also mentioned having a computer room put in the RCC for the public consisting of 2 or 3 computers for those who don’t have them at home. They could come in and do homework and/or research. Clerk Leathers thinks the Village currently has 5 computers. Maupin asked if we have any desks or chairs for the computers. Mayor Hill said no, but maybe the Village could work with State Surplus and see what they have. A printer might be a good idea as well.

Commissioner Maupin also suggested seeing what would entail to get a Park District going. Mayor Hill said it was looked into before, and suggests Maupin looking into it again if he’d like, but it would increase property taxes. If it could be a benefit for the people in town it’s worth looking into.

Communications

Clerk Leathers said there was a lot of information in the State House Briefing from the Illinois Municipal League. There’s still no budget and the Village is still behind in receiving State payments.

Bills were ordered paid on a motion by Commissioner Maupin and seconded by Commissioner Vancil. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Hill, Meier, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.

Village Resident Al Morthland said the Community Building is having a Roast Beef Dinner Fund Raiser on March 30th at 5:30pm or 6:00pm. See Mrs. Lester to get tickets.

The meeting adjourned at 7:23 PM. The next regular meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at 7:00 PM in the Reagan Community Center located at 202 W. Second Street.