The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.



Tim Camp Sworn In As Stronghurst Trustee

By: Shirley Linder, Quill Editor

At the Village of Stronghurst board meeting, January 2, Pro Tem Mayor Brendan Schaley, said he had received a phone call from Mayor Gary Root, who is spending the winter in Texas, suggesting Tim Camp be nominated trustee for four months as Betty Waterman's replacement.

Camp is the Family Youth Minister at the Stronghurst Christian Church. The trustees voted unanimously to accept Camp and he was sworn in by Clerk-Treasurer Morgan Lewis.

Chris Cooper, MSA representative, went over the contract and fees for the water tower construction with the board. The first contract started at 48,500 then an added amendment for easement and property was made for $3,000 making it $51,500. This contract is paid in full.

Water tower planning, design and permitting contract is for $62,700 for design, bidding and construction engineering services. The construction engineering services portion is an additional $12,800 which is basically a time and material contract so they are only paying for whatever services are actually provide.

The village has more control over time and material as they can tell MSA, they're good and they don't need them to come down or they need them to come because of problems.

At the last board meeting, approval was given for an additional amendment for $46,200 for electrical update to the water plant and the pump house. The second contract totals $121,700, making the total water tower planning, design, property acquisition, property permitting, and construction engineering come to $173,200.

Total construction cost estimate for the tower and the water plant including electrical for water plant and pump house is one million four hundred thousand dollars.

As of now, construction on the tower is to begin in May.

The second part of Cooper's discussion was regarding the board wanting to hire a local electrician as opposed to having MSA bid it out.

Gittings has been working with Travis Winters and would like to get started on the electrical work that needs to be done at the pump house now.

MSA will send Gittings the list of supplies and he will check out pricing, etc. to see if this is a feasible way to go.

Virginia Ross reminded the board there are three electricians in town and she thought it only fair the work be bid out.

Diana Doran reminded the board their insurance is up for renewal February 3rd. The renewable price is $13,597 and this will include increasing the amount of coverage on the 4 city buildings. Trustees voted to renew the contract.

Police report for December included: 205 hours worked; 923 miles on squad car; 4 traffic stops; 4 verbal warnings; 2 ambulance assists; 3 Henderson County assists; 1 Illinois State Police assist; 1 arrest; 32 business courtesy checks.

Christmas lighting winners were announced as follows; Residential- Roger Countryman-first; Mike Swisher-second; Businesses - Bygones & Buds-first; Flatt's-second.

In other business:

The board entered closed session at 9:06 p.m. for the purpose of Potential Legal issues. They returned to open session at 9:16 p.m. and no action was taken.

Present were: Mayor Pro Tem Brendan Schaley; Trustees, Mike Bohnenkamp, Tim Camp, Amanda Kane, Tom Crotts, David Vancil; Employees, Arbry Vancil, Lou Ann Nortrup, Morgan Lewis, Ronnie Gittings, Attorney Bill Rasmussen; Guests: Jerry Nortrup, Randy Jarvis, Virginia Ross, Chris Cooper, Diana Doran, Shirley Linder

The next board meeting will be held February 6th at 7:00 p.m.