The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The Oquawka Village Board is still discussing the possibility of 4th of July fireworks at its regularly June meeting.
Village President Nancy Bundy stated she has not cancelled 4th of July fireworks and will not cancel until the very last minute in hopes that they can go on as planned. Tee asked if J&M Displays, who does the Village's fireworks, had a cancellation on the 4th; would they be able to come to Oquawka on that day?
Nancy answered she would contact J&M to ask. Nancy stated they are still going to try to have a 4th of July parade. There will be more discussion at the June work session about 4th of July events.
It was noted that the FFA tractor pulls had cancelled.
When asked by an audience member why they were cancelled, Nancy said the organizers had to go through the health department and phase 4 wouldn't happen until after the scheduled date of the pulls.
She said with all the planning that's involved, the organizers decided to cancel. Nancy said the antique tractor pulls are still scheduled for August.
Present June 2nd were Trustees Don Rice, Shawn Lain, Brian Collier, Tammy Bundy, Brenda Tee, Village President Nancy Bundy, and Village Attorney Andy Youngquist. Trustee Scott Ray and Village Clerk Jacqui Smith were absent.
MAYOR STAFF REPORT
Nancy said she has been asked several times about city wide clean up. She explained the landfills are currently closed on Saturdays. She said because of the size of Oquawka, Jackson must bring all of their trucks and crews in order to get the job done in one day.
Since they have their usual routes to run on weekdays, it must be done on a Saturday.
She went on to say that as soon as the landfill opens on Saturdays, she will get it scheduled with at least a two-week notice to citizens.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Nancy is hopeful the pool will be able to open in phase 4 but no solid guidelines for phase 4 have been released by the state yet. The board discussed having the pool manager start cleaning and doing some spot painting on the building in order to get it ready to open as soon as they are allowed to do so. It was noted that private pools, such as at a gym or spa, are able to open right now and only municipal pools are waiting on permission to open from the state.
Nancy stated she has talked to the Henderson County Health Department about yard sales and opening the playground. The guidelines say it is up to the jurisdiction to allow yard sales. Nancy was hoping that meant it was up to the Village but has since learned it is up to the County. Nancy was told by the County to wait a few more weeks and they might be able to open the playground along with yard sales.
OLD BUSINESS
Ordinance number 904 pertains to updating the current water rates. The new base rate starting July, 2020 will be $18.15 per month for up to 1000 gallons and will increase by $1.05 every year for the next five years. Usage over 1000 gallons will be broken down into 250 gallon increments up to 2000 gallons and then 100-gallon increments after that.
Motion by Tee to pass ordinance number 904 amending the current water rates. Second by Tammy.
Rice: YES Lain: Yes Collier: YES Bundy: YES Tee: YES...Motion Carried.
Appropriate legal action was discussed regarding an abandoned property to be cleaned up on 3rd street.
Motion by Tammy Bundy to initiate the complaint for demolition under the municipal code. Second by Collier.
Rice: YES Lain: NO Collier: YES Bundy: YES Tee: YES...Motion Carried.
Motion by Collier to accept bids for the sale of the two Village owned lots at the corner of Schuyler and 5th streets. Second by Tee.
Rice: YES Lain: YES Collier: YES Bundy: YES Tee: YES...Motion Carried.
After some discussion about how to best help local bars affected by the State's mandated closures, a motion was made by Tee to lower the liquor license fee from $1500 to $1000 for existing on-premise dram shops for the length of one year. Second by Bundy.
Rice: YES Lain: YES Collier: YES Bundy: YES Tee: YES...Motion Carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Because the Village no longer operates a fire department, the board needs to approve an ordinance that would remove all previous ordinances pertaining to the Oquawka Volunteer Fire Department. This is a procedural vote with all members voting yes.
Another procedural vote dealing with prevailing wage was voted on with all members voting yes.
Ordinance 901, an ordinance amending the municipal code of The Village of Oquawka by the addition of title 3, chapter 4 regulating cannabis business establishments pertains to allowing cannabis dispensaries inside Village limits.
Some highlighted rules for a potential dispensary would be:
A dispensary must obtain a license from the Village of Oquawka at a rate of $1500 per year
A dispensary must be licensed by the State of Illinois
A dispensary must be located in the B-1 business or commercial district
A dispensary must NOT be located within 1000 feet of a public or private school or daycare
A dispensary must NOT be located in a house or apartment
Cannabis Craft Growers, Cannabis Cultivation Centers, Cannabis Infusing Organizations, Cannabis Processing Organizations, Cannabis Transporting Organizations, and Cannabis Lounges/Cafˇs are prohibited.
Tammy Bundy stated she would like to add craft growing/cultivation to the ordinance before voting on it. Tee said she didn't feel a grow facility was appropriate for inside Village limits.
Rice said he thought if someone was interested in having a grow facility, they would have come to the meeting in order to answer any questions the board might have.
A lengthy discussion ensued. Tammy stated she didn't want to hold someone up for 30 or 60 days if a person came to the board asking to be allowed to have a grow house in town and would rather just put it in the ordinance now.
Rice stated he would be for it but he felt state law prohibited a grow facility inside Village limits because it can't be within 1000 feet of a residence or within 2500 feet from a daycare.
Youngquist stated "you can have stricter regulations than the state but you can't have looser regulations than the State" Youngquist noted one of the state regulations for a grow facility was "it has to be secure and completely enclosed, you can't be able to see inside into the facility."
Tee stated that was an issue for her because she doesn't want a closed, bricked up building on main street. Youngquist added it would probably have barbed wire around it also.
Youngquist stated there probably wouldn't be a cultivation center on main street because of state limitations.
After more discussion about State law concerning cultivation centers and craft growers, Collier made a motion to accept ordinance 901 as it is written. Second by Tee.
Rice: YES Lain: YES Collier: YES Bundy: NO Tee: YES... Motion carried.
Ordinance 902 amends a previous ordinance prohibiting the use of cannabis. The new ordinance conforms to the state law which allows the use of cannabis. This is a procedural motion with all members voting yes.
Ordinance 903 Municipal Cannabis Retailers' Occupation Tax is an ordinance that imposes a 3% tax on the sale of cannabis at licensed dispensaries in the Village of Oquawka. Motion by Tammy to accept ordinance 903. Second by Tee.
Rice: YES Lain: YES Collier: YES Bundy: YES Tee: YES...Motion carried.
Nancy asked for a motion to go into closed session to discuss personnel follow up.
Upon coming out of closed session the meeting was adjourned.
Jeff Tee
River Rat News