The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The Oquawka Village Board held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 1st.
Present were Trustees Don Rice, Shawn Lain, Tammy Bundy, Brian Collier, Scott Ray, Brenda Tee; Village President Lori Lipes; Village Clerk Callie Thacker; and Village Attorney Andy Youngquist.
Resident Trish Harter, who was representing a group of volunteers, addressed the board to discuss some events for the 4th of July that they would like to organize. Trish stated there would be donation buckets around town to fund the activities. Possible activities will include a live band street dance, pony rides for kids, petting zoo, and a side by side/atv decoration contest to coincide with the parade. The group would like to spread the events out over the 3-day weekend and were inquiring about parade and fireworks scheduling. It was noted Hal Jern is in charge of the parade and they should contact him for coordination. It is currently unknown what day the fireworks will be held.
Waylon Link, who owns The Fimble Seed Company, addressed the board to answer some questions. The questions arose from a November 2021 Facebook post that seemed to claim the store was selling THC products. Waylon explained the THC levels of his products are under state guidelines and are legal to sell without a state or local permit. Waylon provided paperwork to the board to help explain. The board thanked Waylon for his explanation.
Lain asked Streets and Water Supervisor Jeff Petersen to repaint the lines on Schuyler Street, including handicap spots, as soon as possible.
Lain noted it had been 3 or 4 years since the storm sewer pipes had been inspected. He stated he would like to hire Advanced Plumbing to do an inspection in order to be pro-active. Lain thought the cost would be less than $1000. The board agreed to have Lain set up the inspection.
Oquawka Baseball Coordinator Mike Cook stated there has been a misunderstanding about the baseball diamond. He stated a woman named Angela was under the impression that he took the coordinator position away from her. He went on to say he was unaware Angela had ever held the position. Lain stated she never held the coordinator position. It was noted there hasn’t been a coordinator in Oquawka since Steve Lumbeck held the position a few years ago. Lain went on to explain he saw Mike putting work into the field last fall and thought he would make
a good coordinator. Lain said having a designated coordinator alleviates scheduling conflicts for people who want to use the field. Lain stated if Angela wants to hold games, she needs to work around the coordinators schedule. Tee agreed saying if she showed up to play a game and there was already one scheduled, she would be the one that would have to reschedule. Lain said a board member or the mayor needs to make that clear to her. Tee stated she had reached out to Angela and asked her to attend tonight’s meeting. It was noted that the board voted last fall to have Mike be the Baseball Coordinator for Oquawka. Ray stated everything that has to do with the baseball field has to go through Mike.
Tee stated the Oquawka Parks and Tourism Committee is considering a celebration in honor of the 50th anniversary of Norma Jean elephant’s death. The tentative date for the celebration is July 17th, 50 years to the day Norma Jean was struck by lightning and killed. More details to come.
After some discussion and a few minor wording changes in Police Chief Tim Edwards’ proposed contract, a motion was made by Lain to accept the contract with the amended changes. Second by Tee.
Rice: YES Lain: YES Bundy: YES Collier: YES Ray: YES Tee: YES
Motion Carried.
Lain made a motion to use some of the ARPA money to award $5000 in premium pay to all full-time essential employees who worked through the pandemic. The full-time employees who would receive the premium pay are Jeff Petersen, Henry Grawett, Gary Marston, Chris Petersen, and Clifford Adam. Motion seconded by Ray.
Rice: YES Lain: YES Bundy: YES Collier: YES Ray: YES Tee: YES
Motion Carried.
The grant money has been allocated for the new squad. The squad will be ready for delivery soon.
There is interest by some board members in purchasing the current Western Illinois Realty building to use as the new Oquawka Museum. The building is located across the street from Village Hall. The location of the building would help with keeping the museum staffed with set hours, a requirement of most state grants. Tee stated she would like to move forward with a purchase agreement contingent on the village’s audit getting done without any problems. Rice stated he would like to tour the building himself. Lain stated this would be a great use of the money from the sale of the fire department. Bundy said she would like to get an estimate for the upgrades the building would need to turn it into a museum, such as a garage door installed. Tee stated if they don’t do something then they need to return the items that are in the current museum to their rightful owners. Board members who want to tour the property will make arrangements to do so before the next work session.
Lipes brought up for discussion the possible purchase of new Christmas lights. She presented the board a catalog of lights which could be used on Schuyler Street and stated the lights were on sale until March 31st. The lights range from $300 to $600 each. After a lengthy discussion concerning the number of poles with working electrical outlets on Schuyler Street and the need for new Christmas lights, Bundy made a motion to purchase four Christmas lights. More discussion ensued with Lipes finally asking for a second for Bundy’s motion. No second. Motion died. Discussion continued pertaining to how many lights they have room for and the costs of different lights. Ray asked Bundy if she wanted to put a price cap of $1500 on it? Bundy responded no, saying she wanted to purchase four lights. Tee stated the lights vary from $300 to $600 so they need to know a price. Bundy made another motion to spend up to $1800 for Christmas lights. Rice stated he wanted to see how many poles with working electrical outlets they had open for lights. Lipes said she thought there were at least four. Rice answered until we know, we don’t know. No second on Bundy’s motion. Motion died. Lipes asked if anyone else would like to make a motion. Collier made a motion to spend up to $1500 on Christmas lights. Second by Ray.
Rice: NO Lain: YES Bundy: YES Collier: YES Ray: YES Tee: YES
Jeff Tee
River Rat News
“Just the facts, Ma’am”