The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The Oquawka Village Board held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 2nd. Present were trustees Don Rice, Shawn Lain, Tammy Bundy, Brian Collier, Scott Ray, Brenda Tee; Village President Lori Lipes; Village Clerk Callie Thacker; Village Water Clerk Carey Thacker; and Village Attorney Andy Youngquist.
Contractor John Robinson addressed the board to say the restoration of the new Oquawka Museum was complete except for a handicapped accessible ramp.
John explained his original bid included a wooden ramp and said there was $1000 left on the books for him to do that.
He went on to explain that he had talked to Paul Olson from Frame-Kon and had gotten a bid of $3600 for a concrete ramp if they would rather have that. John noted Paul’s bid was for the ramp and a 10 foot square pad in front of the garage door and they could use the $1000 towards Paul’s bid if that’s what they chose to do.
Tee stated she wanted to let everyone know that John had invested some of his own time and materials in to the restoration without charging the Village and she appreciated that.
Lain made a motion to hire Frame-Kon for $3600 to do the concrete work at the new museum. Second by Tee.
Rice: YES Lain: YES Bundy: NO Collier: YES Ray: YES Tee: YES
Motion carried.
The Board thanked John for his work.
Trial date is set for Monday, May 8 for the Village owned tree that was allegedly cut down illegally. Lain asked Andy how long this has been going on. Youngquist responded the tree was cut down in November, 2018.
Streets and Water supervisor Jeff Petersen noted the water pump at the end of Schuyler Street had been replaced because the existing one was locked up.
Mike Cook addressed the board to ask about lighting in the outfield of the baseball field. He went on to say they have eighteen teams this year and will be using both the regular and the small fields.
He stated a fence was needed at a cost of $2200 in materials and asked the board if they would pay half. Mike stated money from sponsors would pay for the other half and he would do the work himself.
Tee made a motion to pay $1100 towards fence materials for the small baseball field. Second by Lain. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
Tee stated since the museum restoration was now complete, the Parks and Tourism Committee would be moving items in soon and would need all the help they can get. She said she would let everyone know when the moving will begin.
Jill Miller addressed the board to ask a question about legal procedure on vacating property in the Village. Youngquist asked the board if they were asking him this question. Lipes and Bundy answered no. Lipes went on to explain some of the procedure saying the board decides what it wants to do, the attorney would then draw up an ordinance, and the ordinance would be voted on.
Lipes said she thought the of vacating the road right-of-way north of the Miller property needed discussed further so she asked to tabled it to the next work session.
Lain agreed saying because of new board members coming in, if they were to vote yes and it opened up a can of worms with other property owners wanting land vacated, then the new board would be dealing with the repercussions of the old board’s decision.
Lipes took a moment to thank the exiting board members for their service to the Village. She stated they are people who are willing to step up and who care about our town and thanked them for their dedication and time.
Lipes swore in new Trustees Shawn Hurt, Troy Jern, and Brock Miller. Youngquist advised the new members they would be required to do some online training pertaining to the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
Thank you to all board members old and new.
Jeff Tee
River Rat News
“Just the facts Ma’am”