The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Village Board Considers GPS For Water System

By: Shirley Linder, Quill Editor

At the regular meeting of the Stronghurst Village board on July 7, 2014 Ronnie Gittings reported to the board that he had talked with a representative about getting a GPS system for the water valves, hydrants, and meter pits, making them easier to locate.

A smart phone or whatever device is available would be able to direct them directly to the location.

The charge is $6 a feature, so if there were 300 meters done it would be 300 x $ 6 plus mileage. For $100 they can get a map with all the locations on it. Gittings said this is an Illinois Rural Water Service and it does not have to all be done at once. For example could do meters this year, valves the next, and so on.

Gittings said, "I think it is something that would be kinda useful to us, it's a little better map than what we got right now, we just have some hen scratching on it (a map)".

Gittings also stated the company would actually walk the route stand over the meter pit, enter the GPS location, enter the number of the meter, the date it was put in, and the model and they would then have the history of each meter.

The board gave Gittings permission to get an estimate for doing the work. The soonest the company could do it would be October.

Police report for June included: 83 hours worked; 382 miles on squad car; 1 traffic stop; 2 uniform traffic tickets; 9 service calls; 2 agency assists; 3 village ordinance tickets; 2 arrests; and 22 business courtesy checks

Jim Blender, representing the Stronghurst Booster Club, said they would be willing to help with half of the attorney fees for looking into what can be done with the old Antiquity building, which is falling down. Apparently the state and IRS has a lien on the building for around $400,000. Village Attorney Bill Rasmussen will look into the matter and see what can or cannot be done about the situation, since the village has no claim on the building.

It was reported Randy Jarvis is going to clean up his dad's back yard and will be bringing a couple of cranes and semis down that street.

Gittings reported the village employees had been busy helping McDonough Telephone Company put in cable through town.

In other business:

• Heard the person asking permission to be sponsored by the police department is not going to be
• Reported the fair is coming up and Arbry Vancil has the scheduling worked out.
• More discussion on the live cam at the park with Tony Anderson to get more information.
• Survey for the well grant will be done on Tuesday.
• Dianna Taylor expressed a desire to serve on the park committee as an advisor. It was decided instead she should just come to the board and express her ideas and suggestions.
• Passed Appropriation Ordinance
• Voted to purchase a new color Samsung copier from J & S Electronics
• Have received $8,750 of the $35,000 from the state.

The board entered executive session for the purpose of employment at 8:45 p.m. They re-entered open session at 8:55 p.m. at which time they voted to hire Samantha Swisher as part time office help at $8.25 per hour.

Present were: President Gary Root; Trustees, Mike Bohnenkamp, Deb Hale, Betty Waterman, Tony Anderson, David Vancil (7:05), (Brendan Schaley-absent); Employees Lou Ann Nortrup, Ronnie Gittings, Mike Nelson, Arbry Vancil, Bill Rasmussen; guests, Jim Blender, Shirley Linder

The next meeting will be held on Monday, August 4th at 7:00 p.m.