The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The Oquawka Village Board held its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, March 7th where Village Attorney Andy Youngquist updated the board on a walnut tree that was allegedly cut down illegally several years ago.
He stated the matter was set for a pre-trial hearing on April 14th and a trial date will be set at that time.
When asked by trustee Shawn Lain about the current value of the tree, Youngquist stated it doesn’t matter what it is worth now, but what it was worth at the time it was cut down.
Village President Lori Lipes called the meeting to order with Trustees Don Rice, Shawn Lain, Tammy Bundy, Brian Collier, Scott Ray, Brenda Tee answering roll call.
Also present were Village Clerk Callie Thacker; Village Water Clerk Carey Thacker; and Village Attorney Andy Youngquist.
Village Clerk Callie Thacker announced she has been in contact with J&M Displays and Oquawka Fireworks will be on Monday, July 3rd at dusk.
Mick Olson addressed the board to discuss curb and street repairs. During the long discussion, Callie noted the village currently has $225,261.98 in the MFT (Motor Fuel Tax) fund.
Police Chief Tim Edwards informed the board he had applied for a grant through the Illinois Department of Transportation for a speed safety check during the month of July. He stated he has asked IDOT for $1976 to cover 56 hours of patrol time. The 56 hours would be above and beyond regularly scheduled patrolled hours. He went on to explain the village would pay for the 56 hours of wages and then be reimbursed the $1976 by IDOT. Tim stated he would apply for more grants later in the fall. Lain asked Tim if he would be required to fill a quota. Tim responded yes and explained they must write one ticket per hour and at least 50% of those written must be for speeding Lain stated he didn’t like the idea of having to fill quotas in town. Lain stated he was all about getting grant money, but he didn’t feel they should “hold the residents hostage” to get it. Lain went on to say if the police weren’t making their quota, it could come down to 2 mph over the speed limit because they must make their quota to get this grant. Bundy said she didn’t think it would be difficult to meet the quota. Tim explained that by doing this grant, it would get the Village into the IDOT system for future grants. Lain made a motion to NOT participate in the safety speed grant. The motion did not receive a second. Motion failed.
Jim Miller addressed the board to ask that the road right-of-way on the north side of his property at 100 Clay Street be vacated to him and his neighbor, Tim Hainds. Jim stated He and his brother inherited the property when his mother passed. He explained that a few years ago, Tim had asked the board to vacate the property but his mother refused because she didn’t want her taxes to go up. Jim noted his family has been there for 75 years and has always maintained the area in question. Rice said he was generally against vacating village property. Rice went on to say if they vacated the property, the new owners could turn around and sell it for $40,000. Miller said the village isn’t using the property for anything and they never have but they would get tax money from it if it was vacated. It was decided to table the discussion until the work session on March 21st.
There have been complaints about a residential zoned property being used as a commercial property, specifically to store logs and burn brush. After some discussion, it was decided to have Tim get ahold of the property owners, who reside in Gladstone, to explain to them that there have been complaints and the property needs cleaned up and to stop using it as commercial property or else face a zoning citation.
City wide yard sales will be April 21 through the 23. City wide clean-up will be April 29th.
Jeff Tee
River Rat News
“Just the facts, Ma’am”