The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Jeff Tee
The Oquawka Village Board held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 1st, at 6:30 p.m.
Present were Village Trustees Don Rice, Shawn Lain, Tammy Bundy, Brian Collier; Village President Lori Lipes; Village Clerk Callie Thacker; and Village Attorney Andy Youngquist.
Trustee Brenda Tee was absent.
Resident Joe Boughton presented the board a bill for $495 for a replacement bench at the war memorial park. The existing bench was broken by a village employee while mowing. Joe mentioned there are other broken items at the park such as a light that has been broken for a couple years. Ray stated they have to be informed of problems before they can be addressed. Lain and Collier agreed, saying the board isn't opposed to fixing broken items at the park but someone has to bring it to their attention. The board will cover the bill for the new bench.
Resident Bruce Ruberg addressed the board to express his frustration with over grown and neglected properties around town. He went on to say he felt a warning should be given, then a citation, then the property should be cleaned up at the owner's expense by adding the cost to their property taxes. Village attorney Andy Youngquist stated the only way the village could recoup their expenses in that situation would be to put a lean on the property in question.
I (Jeff Tee) addressed the board to ask about the BAAD (Boat Access Area Development) grant. I noted it had been briefly discussed at the previous work session and asked if there had been any thought or movement on the subject. I asked if they could come up with a plan to have either Callie or Mick Olson's company write the grant before the deadline passes. Bundy mentioned they need to schedule a special work session just for that purpose. A special work session to discuss the BAAD grant will be held June 10th at 6:30 p.m.
I asked why the boat dock at the end of main Schuyler Street hasn't been placed yet and when it would be put in. I was told the dock would be installed by the end of the week. (NOTE: The dock was installed on Wednesday, June 2nd.)
Lain asked if the board could get a monthly statement of the active budget. For example, if they have a yearly budget of $2500 for tree work, he would like to know what has been spent year to date so that the board doesn't go over budget. Callie will work to provide the monthly statement.
There will be no semi-truck parking at the truck lot on July 2nd and July 3rd due to the tractor pulls and other holiday festivities.
Lain stated he would like to see the curbs on Schuyler Street cleaned up. He went on to say that he was very disappointed the village didn't have flags up for Memorial Day. He said he had a lot of complaints about that. Lain went on to say he would like to see them put up as soon as possible. There was some discussion about where the flags were being stored. Bundy asked Jeff to check on them.
Rice stated it was brought to his attention that a garage had been moved from 3rd Street to Mama's Place Bar and Restaurant. He inquired if they had gotten a permit to place the garage on the new property. The question was asked if it would be considered a portable building if it is fastened to the ground even though it had been moved from one location to another. Portable buildings do not require permits. There was discussion about making the zoning laws pertaining to portable buildings clearer to avoid confusion in the future.
Clifford will attend training on June 3rd with an attorney from the Illinois Attorney General's office pertaining to the new Illinois Police Reform bill.
Pool manager Destinee Cornic explained that only two people have applied for the lifeguard positions. She noted she will have to adjust pool hours and days in order to make it work with only her and the two other lifeguards. The board gave her clearance to do what she needed to do to get the pool open.
The board voted unanimously to approve $25,000 for the repair of a section of Schuyler Street.
8th and 9th Streets will be closed between Mercer and Knox Streets on July 2nd and July 3rd for the tractor pulls and Fireworks. Both Mercer and Knox Streets between 8th and 9th will be closed, as well.
Lipes brought up for discussion the purchase of the old video store building to be used as a new museum. She stated the Oquawka Museum House is deteriorating. She noted it has foundation problems along with a bad roof. She explained she would like to have a place that is ground level, with no steps and room to house the antique fire truck. She went on to say there is a person interested in buying the house where the museum is currently located and that would help to offset the cost of the purchase of the new building. Ray stated he wanted to see some numbers as far as what they were offered for the house and the cost of the video store before it would be brought up for vote. Youngquist explained they would need to make an ordinance for the purchase of real property and it would have to pass by 2/3 margin The ordinance would then have to be published in the newspaper twice in 30 days after it's adoption. The subject was tabled to the next work session so more information could be obtained.
The board discussed the village's zero turn mower. The mower is 4 years old and has over 1000 hours on it. It is currently in need of repair. A new commercial mower would cost around $11,000. Lain explained a mower may last up to 2000 hours but at some point, it would start nickel and diming the village and would also be subject to downtime. It was decided to repair the current mower for now and look into purchasing a new one next year.
Lipes mentioned she had been notified by a resident with concerns about the Stoney Courts signs. One of the signs is missing and the other is faded and in need of updating. Lipes stated she would like to have some metal signs to replace the old wooden ones. Rice made a motion to replace the signs. All members voted yes. Motion carried.
Lipes brought up discussion of a pay raise for Oquawka policeman Dillon Tee. Dillon is asking for a $2/hour raise citing completion of some required training. Rice said he felt a $2 raise was a little steep. Bundy said she would agree to a $1/hour raise. Collier stated he didn't feel they should give Dillon any raise and stated he didn't want to discuss it in open meeting. After a brief discussion, Lain asked that they have a closed session at the next work session meeting to discuss employees.
Lipes asked for consideration of an ordinance making it illegal to blow mowed grass into the street. Lipes noted there are a lot of skateboarders, bicycles and golf carts in town and went on to say grass clippings can be very slick and could cause an accident.
Youngquist presented the board with a pre-written ordinance to be considered and voted on.
Ray asked who would enforce the ordinance and noted the earlier discussion pertaining to current ordinance enforcement issues. Lain stated the village has more important issues to deal with.
Rice made a motion to accept the ordinance as written Bundy seconded. A resident asked if the motion was open to discussion from the public after it had been seconded.
Lain and Lipes answered yes. The resident stated he felt the village could be opening itself up to a lot of criticism because the village employees mow along a lot of streets and if they happen to get grass on the road then they're not following the laws that the citizens are expected to follow.
The resident stated it was a millennial law that people got along just fine without.
He said he was not in favor of this law. Lain said it would cost the village $200 to go to court over it and it would end up being thrown out. Lain then asked for it to go to vote.
Rice: YES Lain: NO Bundy: YES Collier: NO Ray: NO Motion failed.
Meeting Adjourned.
Jeff Tee
River Rat News
"Just the facts, Ma'am"