The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Deb Olson-The Quill
Oquawka Village Board will be meeting on Tuesdays for the rest of the year.
Prior to a discussion on hiring an applicant for the attorney's position, Board member Bob Lafferty, moved that the board's meeting time and day be changed from the 1st Monday of the month at 7:00 p. m. to the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in order to accommodate the schedule of the new attorney candidate. Kuberski seconded the motion and by Roll Call vote the motion was approved 5-0.
HIRES NEW ATTORNEY
Trustee Nancy Bundy moved to hire Andrew Youngquist for the attorney's position at $190 per hour, to be billed in increments of 6 minutes. Eldredge seconded the motion.
The motion was approved by Roll Call vote 5 -0.
A comment that the new attorney should look into tightening up local ordinances was derided by onlookers.
Streets & Water Report
Jeff's Streets and Water Superintendent's report provided statistics on water shut-offs, pink slips as well as maintenance facts and figures on village vehicles.
He noted that snow removal signs cannot be posted until an ordinance is passed which clearly states hours for removal.
He stated that the tandem truck is in need of repair. There is a problem with the tail gate. Repairs to the tandem truck are covered under maintenance budget. Salt for the upcoming winter season has been ordered. also under the maintenance budget.
POLICE REPORT
Police Chief Keith DeJaynes provided a printed report of September 2015 Police Activity including:
4 Criminal arrests as follows - 1 Domestic Battery.
1 battery and 2 criminal damage to property;
Police assisted ambulance 4 times and county sheriff 5 times; there was 1 domestic call, 2 civil disturbance calls, 2 ordinance violations and 4 golf cart inspections.
There were 2 traffic citations for speeding and 3 warnings were issued.
There were 29 other calls. Two warrants were served. Fuel purchased totaled 159.4 gallons,. Miles traveled totaled 1, 534. $622.84 was received for fines.
Zoning Report
Property next to the Bridgeway building owned by K. Johnson is being repaired and inspected.
Parks and Recreation.
Bundy had no report.
Fire Department
Request for village to buy cider for Halloween Trick or Treaters as has always been done. No motion needed.
Old Business
Ray moved that the city take out a 7-year annual note from the local Midwest Bank for purchase of equipment (skid loader) which would require an annual payment of $5,592.71. Bundy seconded the motion and it was approved on a 4-1 vote (Lafferty voting no).
ATV Discussion
There was continuing discussion on the subject of allowing ATV's to be driven on village streets.
City Engineer Mick Olson had prepared a document as an example, but Board members appeared to be waiting for the new attorney to give advise on the topic, rather than proceeding with a vote in this session.
Bob Lafferty suggested that the process be simplified by "adding words describing new equipment to previous ordinance 8.61."
Olson corrected him by stating that "the original ordinance was 8.46"
A debate then ensued in which several questioned whether adding more verbiage to the ordinance would cover all legal bases.
City Engineer Mick Olson attempted to determine the board's feelings about the proposed changes by suggesting a non-binding straw poll.
The roll call result of the straw poll which asked whether the board members were in favor of changing the policy was as follows: Scott, voted no: Kubenski, voted no; Lafferty, voted yes: Eldredge, voted no; Bundy, voted yes.
Following the straw poll, Lafferty challenged those members who had voted no to explain their votes.
The consensus seemed to be concern for the village's liability and keeping the wording of the proposed ordinance within legal bounds.
Board members also seemed to want to postpone any action until the new attorney could evaluate the proposed changes.
With the results of the straw poll negative for ATVs, several people in the audience left the meeting.
Olson was advised by several board members to write an article for the local newspaper in order to present facts to the public. Discussion moved to the next agenda item.
In other action:
USUAL Business
The October 5th meeting of the Village of Oquawka's Board was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Sandra Fullerton-Moody, following with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
A roll call showed that the following board members were present: Trustees Nancy Bundy, Robert Eldredge, Bob Lafferty, Leo Kuberski, Scott Ray, Mayor Sandra Fullerton-Moody and Clerk Sandy Huff.
(Absent: John Fedler)
Trustee Eldredge moved to approve the September minutes, to pay bills and to approve the August Treasurer's report. Bundy seconded the motion. The motion was approved by roll call vote 5-0.
The next Oquawka Board meeting will be on the new meeting night of th first Tuesday, November 3, 2015, at the new time of 6:30 p.m. at the Oquawka Town Hall building at 507 Schuyler Street.
The December meeting is December 1st and January 2016 meeting will be on January 5th and follows on the first Tuesday every month through 2016.