The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Qquawka Board
Oquawka Discusses Bumps, Buildings, And The 4th of July
by Dessa Rodeffer , Quill Publisher/Owner
The Oquawka Board met Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. with all members present and
some lively discussion on the many issues set before them.
After the initial business including newly sworn in Robert "Bob" Lafferty who
was appointed to replace Troy Jern who had resigned, Mayor Moody placed the new
members on the Village committees as follows:
RECREATION:
Mayor Sandra Fullerton-Moody, Robert Eldridge, Nancy Bundy, and Leo Kuberski.
FINANCE:
Scott Ray, Robert Eldridge, Bob Lafferty
WATER & STREETS:
Scott Ray, Robert Eldridge, Leo Kuberski.
PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE):
John Fedler, Scott Ray, Bob Lafferty.
FLOOD COMMITTEE;
Nancy Bundy, Scott Ray, and John Fedler.
Clerk Sandy Huff brought up Clean-Up Day and the possibility of having it twice
a year rather than once. At a cost of $6100, the board felt once a year was
enough unless they wanted to look into others doing it at a lower cost. The
Clerk set next year’s date for May 20, 2016.
Attorney Andy Doyle brought up the Ordinances that needed past. One, Ordinance
#866 was passed for the “Closing of the Streets for Social Functions” during the
Tractor Pull and the Catfish Cookoff during July 3rd and 4th festivities. The
second Ordinance #867, allowing alcohol, was unanimously approved for Liquor
Control during the Catfish Cookoff.
Under Water and Streets, the report was given which included a price for renting
a boom lift to trim and cut trees at $1320 for a week. The board was
uncomfortable with the dangers of cutting trees by city workers and opted for
experienced tree trimmers to do the work to avoid possible accidents or without
possibly dropping a tree on a house, etc. The board asked to get bids for the
tree work so they didn’t need to worry about falling.
Also culvert work that was needed in an alley behind Benny Hays house was
approved.
The possibility of not leasing the old Oquawka City Hall to The Current
brought some discussion. They have rented the building for 8 years now, Lynn
Zeilstra said, of The Current.
At a previous meeting, it was brought up that the building leased now by The
Current was in need of several repairs. There was plaster falling off and
hot water heater needing repair, and several other things.
The Public Safety Committee wondered if the cost may entail too much expense at
this time, and entertained the possibility of just not leasing the building at
this time due to the costs of repairs. The Current’s lease is up
September 5th.
Ron Bigger wondered why they were even entertaining not leasing the building
feeling the city is worried about expenses but they would be losing monthly
income and another building would be sitting idle. Zeilstra of The Current
said several people have been in there and looked at it, but you haven’t heard
her complain. “There is nothing wrong with the building. And any minor
maintenance, Jim, my husband has done.” But in looking at this, you have $6,000
there.”
Eldridge said “ the last time we discussed this I thought it was going to cost a
lot to fix up, and I thought that concern came from you bringing up plaster
falling in or the walls coming in.”
Lyn replied, “Some plaster fell in and that is when I put Elvis over it, and Ron
(Bigger) looked at the building today.”
Ron said, “I don’t see a big issue there, What I do see is you are taking away
money the village can actually use. And you can’t sit there and say you don’t
need the money.”
Eldridge assured everyone, this was just a suggestion.
Guest, Bigger, wondered why they don’t just sell the building to them and get it
back on the tax records. It is suppose to be a business district not a park
district, he said, then he added, “you have to be reasonable too. It’s an old
building.”
“Yes,” Eldridge said, “I understand that.”
Eldridge had explained they were just entertaining options at this point, and
concluded with, “Thank you,” to Bigger after hearing Bigger’s thoughts.
Bundy was wondering, “Why are we wanting to move the police from here to down
there?”
She was told, “If we’re going to spend that much money remodeling, why do that,
when we have a building already for them to move into? We don’t have enough heat
back there and enough air conditioning back there. We don’t have finished walls
back there, ceilings back there, things like that.”
If we spend $10,000 money there, but instead, move them down there (to City
Hall) we are saving money by doing that? There are other questions, like, are we
still storing the cars up here, and things like that, (that) we need to look
into.”
“Again, nothing has been decided,” Eldridge said.
Bigger said, “You guys are not being reasonable. This is something that you
shouldn’t even be looking at, but you are going to. Evidently, you got it in
your head you’re going to get them out of there and you are going to do what
you’re going to do. I don’t know what the agenda is, but there is one. It’s very
obvious.”
A board member said, “There is no agenda here, Ron.
Ron said, “There is somewhat…
He was cut off by the board member saying, “You are putting words in my mouth,
and I don’t like that,” of which Ron denied.
Ron was told, “All this was is a suggestion to the board that we look into it.
If they say “no” as a board as a whole, then we don’t look into it.”
New board member Leo Kuberski suggested having them pay more rent if the city
fixes it up, or leave it the same if they wanted to fix it themselves. “I’d
rather look at it that way.”
After some more discussion among board members, Bigger asked if the speaker
system works, saying they couldn’t hear. The board continued discussing which
committee would be handling the discussion about the future of the old city
hall. They decided that the Public Safety Committee would continue with the
issue.
Another guest said, “You people speak up. “We come here because we care about
the city and we can’t hear a da-- word you’re saying”, and then he slammed
the door as he left the building.
Ron Bigger continued with the complaint, saying the Mayor didn’t have her
speaker to her mouth “and you can’t hear anything.” “It’s like you are
intentionally not wanting us to hear,” he said.
Lafferty said, there is a seat right here up front.” pointing to the mostly
empty front row.
Ron said, “So the people in the back, don’t! How much did you pay for this sound
system, huh, I’d love to see that!.”
Lafferty said, “Come on Ron, just sit down and be quiet for awhile”, as others
pointed at their watch reminding the Mayor about the 5 minute limit for guests
to speak.
Bigger said, “I don’t want to put words in your mouth Bob, you’re already in
it.” Of which Lafferty mumbled, “You’re a pain.” Bigger’s hearing seemed to
improve as he replied, “I am your pain Bob, you’re a servant now. You’re a
public servant, just like everybody else…
Deputy DeJaynes interrupted, “Ron! knock it off. You want to go to jail, I’ll
arrest you for disorderly conduct.” Then he ordered Bigger, “Out the door, Now!”
Bigger said, “You’re going to drag me out of a public meeting?” DeJaynes said
“Let’s go.”
Bigger said, “Good enough,” as he got up. “You people have got a lot to learn!”
he said, on his way out.
After another door slam, Bundy said, “Now back to work on the agenda. I would
like to see it on paper what it would take to fix it up this, verses that,
because I really am not wanting to push somebody out of a building. I really
don’t like that at all. They’ve been there forever, yet I think we need a police
department.”
“To be honest with you, I’d rather see ya tear this crap down here, an eye sore,
and do something with that.” Bundy went on saying that she hated that building.
“I’d like to see it on paper either way, what we are going to save. I think we
need to investigate it a little more and I think we need to do it within the
next month. We have to give them time….. weigh our options….that’s my opinion.”
It will be discussed at the Public Safety meeting, the last Thursday of the
month which will be at 6:30 p.m.. on June 25th. It was reminded that all
committee meetings are open to the public.
In other business:
ZONING:
Kenny John, Zoning officer, handed in his report saying he had nothing further
to report then the 7 that were listed.
PARKS & RECREATIONS
Bundy reported 30 at the pool opening day. and the door had been kicked in and
it was broken into.
And the Village needs to make sure there is enough deputies for the Catfish cook
off and fireworks.
And asked if they should sign a multi-year agreement and asked if they wanted to
continue with fireworks?
The agreement saves 15% if you sign for the insurance over three years as it
locks in the rate. This is the third year.
It goes up every year. There is time yet to decide.
FIRE DEPT.
IFO Insurance people gave the fire dept. a top rating. It was learned they
extended the rating from 5 miles to 10 miles out.
Insurance for the TRACTOR PULL is taken care of by John Johnson. We are not sure
if the bleachers are covered yet.
WATER & STREETS
CITY ENGINEER - MICK OLSON:
Cost estimates for dust control up there by the tractor pull area on gravel
where the semi’s park was obtained from a company out of Wataga. Olson said the
company will spray the semi area with tree sap for $600-$700 (67 cents a gallon
needing approximately 1,000 gallons). Other options go up from there.
It will need to be done a couple times a year. To seal coat is $2,500 and you
are probably going to get a lot of damage. (The engineer also included
information for parking area across from the diner.)
Semi parking was discussed asking about a fee to help.
It was reminded there was an Ordinance where truckers parking their semi’s there
was to pay and obtain a sticker to park there. It’s been 3 or 4 years a resident
inquired about fixing the dust control. $2500 is a lot without revenue, Leo
pointed out. It was suggested truckers check with Husband Trucking about parking
there.
The board decided to check with Billy Husband to see if he would allow parking
there. The next Water & Street Committee meeting will be Thursday, June 18th at
6:30 p.m. where they will discuss it.. Open to the public.
Olson also reported about the 3rd Street road repair where testing was done by
the Engineer. Olson said all looked pretty good.
After the new Schuyler Street Main Street buckled May 1st at 3rd Street, the
board was wondering the status. “It’s a pretty good speed bump on main street,
one board member said, as they asked when it was going to be fixed by Laverdiere
Construction, Inc. out of Macomb. The break happened a month ago and the
warranty was through May 31st when payment was to be complete.
“As now $100,000 is being retained by the city until the walk-through is
complete. You would think they would have an incentive to finish,” Attorney Andy
Doyle said. “The determination of who is at fault, the MSA Engineers out of
Davenport, IA or Laverdiere’s plus IDOT has been brought into it too, so that is
probably the hold up.” It seems they may be feeling, it is just one of those
normal things that happen.
WATER
Jenna Link, Water Superintendent reported, it is time for the annual Water
Report which will be published in the local newspaper. The middle of May a
squirrel took out the transformer again, that supplies the basic power to the
well which requires water customers to boil their water, etc. which is a hassle
for restaurants and stations as well for boiling water for coffee and soda, and
serving water, etc.
There is a warning system inside the building but the Water Supt. is in and out
in about 5 minutes so a power outage can go undetected for some time. The board
agreed to look into inquiring about the cost of having the alarm sent to her
phone to speed up the process, if this is a possibility.
Link said when they first put in that automated panel, it brought in more
problems since that night. When it surged that night of May 10th and it blew
out, it went into their automated system that turns the well on and off so
they’ve been having some trouble with it tripping.
They had to replace some relays on Friday, she said. Link was in there twice a
day because she doesn’t sleep well wondering if they have enough water.
Scott Ray, said, “A generator isn’t a guarantee if if it surges,” he explained,
because it’s a 3 phase system and you still have power to the building. I don’t
know if there is a system that picks just that up. That is something the board
could look into. In 2008, It was put in and at that time it would have been an
additional fee of $3500. She was asked to get a new quote and they would bring
it up at the Street and Water Committee meeting June 18th.A motion by Ray,
seconded by Lafferty to approve the Annual Consumer Confidence Water Supply
Report was approved by all board members.
POLICEVillage Of Oquawka
Police Activities -
Criminal Arrest: 1-Domestic Battery, 2-Violation Order of Protection,
1-Aggravated Domestic Battery, 3-Criminal Trespass to Private Property
Agency Assist: 4-County Assist, 2-Ambulance Assist
Domestic: 2-Domestic Calls
Civil Disturbances: 3
Tavern Calls: 4
Ordinance: 0
Golf Cart Inspections: 3
Traffic Citations:
5-Speeding, 3-Seat Belt, 1-Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor, 1-Failure
to Report An Accident, 5-Warning Tickets, 1-Aggravated Home Invasion,
2-Attempted Break-ins, 1-Swimming Pool Door Kicked in Broke Lock
Other Calls: 51
Warrants: 1
Fuel: $179.9
Mileage: 1,685
Fines: $696.44
Oquawka Police Dept. Chief - K.A. DeJaynes
INSURANCE
Ron James, owner of James Insurance, noted that the health insurance that was to be made affective June 1st has passed, so changes of the employees health insurance will have to be moved after he receives the last city employee’s information.
At 8:02 pm, the Oquawka board adjourned their regular monthly meeting. Board
meetings are the first Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at the Oquawka Village
Hall on Schuyler Street.
An insurance quote for Fireworks was put together for the board, and the liquor
liability insurance for the 4th of July has been turned in.
James said the renewal in August will be coming due and there will be an audit
to see if there are any changes in payroll which he will check into.
You might want to take it easy driving downtown Oquawka as the village awaits for Laverdiere Construction to fix an eruption in the new Schuyler Street project that happened May 1st, just 30 days shy of its final walk-through and final payment. Also, the future of the old Oquawka Village Hall (pictured) is being discussed with the possibility as the Oquawka Police Department office.