The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The Oquawka Village Board held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 11.
Present were Trustees Don Rice, Shawn Lain, Tammy Bundy, Brian Collier, Brenda Tee; Village President Lori Lipes; Village Attorney Andy Youngquist; and Village Water Clerk Carey Thacker. Village Clerk Callie Thacker was absent.
Mick Olson addressed the board to say he had an updated plan to fix an intersection of Schuyler Street, sealing joints and cracks along Schuyler Street, along with cold patch for general maintenance and aggregate for front street. Mick noted the cost was to be around $100,000. Mick asked for a resolution to use up to $110,000 out of the MFT (motor fuel tax) fund to make sure they could cover the costs. The vote to approve the funds was unanimous.
Rice stated he has been approached by some citizens concerning two different incidents over the last 6 months where people have driven into the river at the end of Schuyler Street. The citizens suggested a sign with a blinking yellow light to warn drivers. Rice said a solar powered sign like the one suggested would cost around $1500. Rice noted so far no one had been hurt, but noted a $1500 sign could save someone’s life. Lipes asked Rice to bring all the information to the next work session so they could discuss further.
Lain mentioned the Illinois D.O.T. has a plan to keep Hwy 164 open south of Oquawka in the event of a flood so that ambulances and other emergency personnel can access the residents who live there.
Jeff Blain, representing Satan’s Brothers Motorcycle Club, addressed the board to say the club would like to put on a Powerwheels show for kids again this year, along with a regular car show, at Museum Park on Schuyler Street on August 12th.
The club is planning on having kids’ games, cotton candy, snow cones, etc.
All proceeds will go to the Oquawka Toy Drive. Tee suggested they let board know at the July meeting that everything is confirmed so they could get a porta potty for the event.
(Editor’s note: The events will be held at Indian Park instead of Museum Park)
Tee stated the siding on the new Oquawka Museum is complete, and the roof should be done by the end of the week. She went on to say that once the inside painting is complete, the contractor, John Robinson, will be able to put the coating on the concrete floor.
Tee informed the board that several glass display cases had been donated to the Oquawka Museum by The Strom Center in Monmouth and asked for help from the Streets Dept. workers to move them from there to the museum.
Jim Miller addressed the board to discuss vacating the Clay Street Road right-of-way north of his house at 100 Clay Street. Miller noted his family has maintained the area for nearly 75 years. He went on to say there has never been anything constructed in the area and there has never been any discussion about building something on it. Miller stated privacy and security as his reasons for wanting the property vacated. He mentioned that the property line is two feet from the north wall and showed pictures of random people and cars parked in the area.
Miller went on to say the house is currently an Air BnB and gets visitors from around the world who don’t understand how close the property lines are and could be spooked by a random person parking there.
Miller noted that five of the seven streets along the river have already been vacated. He is asking the board to vacate half of the area to him and the other half to the adjacent property owner; Tim Hainds.
Rice stated he thinks it is a bad idea to vacate property. Lipes said they needed to move forward with this issue and asked for a motion, if someone wanted to make one.
Youngquist stated they could not vote on vacating property at this meeting because there needs to be an ordinance and public notice of the ordinance. Youngquist went on to say that the statute that authorizes vacating property also authorizes placing conditions on the vacation such as putting a price or other conditions on it.
He also gave the board other options such as they could put a no trespassing sign up and/or they could build a fence. Tee asked Miller if the reason he wanted the property was to put a fence up. Miller answered yes. Lain then asked if he would be acceptable to the village putting up a fence with a no trespassing sign. Miller answered Lain’s question by asking why would they do that and lose the tax revenue that would be generated by vacating the area to him and Hainds. Lain asked why he would want to pay the extra taxes. Miller answered so he could have control of it. Collier asked Youngquist for a list of things the board needs to do so that they could discuss the issue at the next work session and vote on it at the next regular meeting.
Youngquist answered they just need to decide whether they are going to do it or not and whether they are going to put any conditions on it. The matter will be tabled to the next work session.
Lipes stated she would like to raise Carey and Callie Thacker’s wages to $16/hour effective May 1st. After a short discussion praising the office staff, Rice made a motion to grant the raise. Second by Tee. Motion passed unanimously.
The village has had some interest from people wanting to buy a vacant village owned lot at 615 N 3rd Street. After a brief explanation by Youngquist on the legalities of selling village property, a motion was made by Collier to authorize the sale of real property. Second by Ray.
Rice: YES Lain: ABSTAIN Bundy: YES Collier: YES Ray: YES Tee: YES
Motion carried, and the board voted to adjourn.
Jeff Tee
River Rat News
“Just the facts, Ma’am”