The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
(From the minutes taken by Steven K Vorhies, City Clerk)
The Dallas City City Council held its regular meeting on April 7, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.
After the March 17th minutes and the bill payments were approved, Anne Thompson inquired about the new messaging system.
Steven Vorhies, the city clerk, reported that it appears the work is basically finished with the company, and he is working on sending letters out to the residents so that they can be added to the system.
Michelle Gold appeared on behalf of the Celebration Committee requesting that the city apply for the Special Event Liquor License with the State of Illinois that is required in order to have a beer tent during the celebration this year. The council agreed to do so.
Ron Tutwiler discussed a culvert and ditch adjacent to his property. The culvert goes under the railroad tracks and appears to be plugged up and needs to be cleaned out.
The city will look into getting the ditch cleaned out and Mayor Six will contact the railroad’s general foreman to check on the culvert under the railroad tracks.
Tracy Markey discussed non-licensed plumbers working on installing water lines for city residents.
It is a state law in Illinois that only licensed plumbers are allowed to install water lines from the city’s mains to a person’s property. He feels that the city needs to do a better job of enforcing this law.
The council discussed the Sewer Lift Station Project and the idea of installing a separate pump in the sewer lines of residents who live in the flood plain.
It was reported that the city’s backhoe needed new bushings, in addition to the new cylinders, and that it is scheduled to be ready on April 9th.
Mayor Six reported that he had spoken to the Verizon representative again about them possibly putting up a tower in town.
The representative informed Mayor Six that they are not interested in using the ground by the city’s water tank.
The John Deere tractor that is used for mowing needs new front tires. Melton’s Auto has them on order.
Police Chief Gary Smith discussed replacing his and Officer Foster’s ballistic vests. His is 8 years old and Officer Foster’s is 7 years old, and it is recommended that they be replaced after 5 years of service.
The price of a new ballistic vest is $1,214.78. This includes sales tax and Chief Smith will see if he can get the company to remove the sales tax with our Sales Tax Exemption Certificate.
A motion was made by Northup, and 2nd by Newberry to purchase two new ballistic vests at the cost of $1,214.78, or less if the company will remove the sales tax. The Motion carried.
Chief Smith requested that the council allow him to have an Ice Cream Day at the grade school at the end of the school year.
He would check with the school to see if they would order the ice cream thru their food supplier like they did last year.
A motion was made by Northup, and 2nd by Olson to give Chief Smith permission to purchase the ice cream for this event. The Motion carried.
The council discussed the estimate from Land and Water Vegetation Control LLC for vegetation control around town.
The cost for the vegetation control at the sewer lagoon is $520. The cost for the vegetation control along Highway 9 and Oak Street, the cemetery fence, the guard rails west of the old high school, the guard rails along First Street, the city maintenance building, and the boat dock area is $720. A motion was made by Newberry, and 2nd by Olson to hire Land and Water Vegetation Control LLC to do the vegetation control at all of the previously mentioned areas, except the sewer lagoon, at the cost of $720. The Motion carried.
It was also decided to get an estimate from Land and Water Vegetation Control LLC to do the vegetation control around the tennis courts and the small hillside just south of the tennis courts.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:19 p.m. Present was Mayor Six, Carole McDowell, Peggy Newberry, Harold Northup Jr., and Greg Olson.
Others attending the meeting were Anne Thompson, Jason and Michelle Gold, Ron Tutwiler, Tracy Markey, and Police Chief Gary Smith.
The Dallas City Council held its regular meeting on April 21, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.
After approving the April 7th meeting minutes, the council discussed the possibility of removing five abandoned lead service water lines.
Estimates have been received from Laverdiere Construction and Housewright Construction. This will be discussed more at the next meeting.
They then spoke on the sewer project that the engineer is currently working on and the infiltration of the sewer lift station by the pond on East First Street.
The city attorney reported that the owner of the old high school property did not accept the city’s offer.
Mayor Six reported that he has been trying to contact the Corp of Engineers regarding the levee across the river.
It appears that the property owners over there are adding to the levee without the permission of the Corp of Engineers.
The council reviewed a discrepancy with a property owners property line. The property owner’s survey shows his property line overlapping a city street that has never been vacated. The city attorney will check on this.
The council discussed items that people have placed on city property. It was decided to have the attorney send a letter to the owners of these items.
They talked about the old Hagy’s property. The city attorney reported that the property owner was very difficult to make contact with ,but he has finally contacted her.
He indicated that he would be willing to sign the property over to the city. The attorney has sent him the necessary paperwork that he needs to sign and return to her.
The city has received an estimate from Land & Water Vegetation Control LLC for the vegetation control around the tennis courts.
The cost for this would be $50. They recommend not spraying the small hillside south of the tennis courts due to the fact that it would probably cause the hillside to erode.
A motion was made by Northup, and 2nd by Olson to hire Land & Water Vegetation Control LLC to spray around the tennis courts for $50.The motion carried.
Police Chief Gary Smith reported that the new police ballistic vests have arrived.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m. Present at the meeting was Mayor Six, Carole McDowell, Peggy Newberry, Harold Northup Jr., and Greg Olson.
Others attending the meeting were Tracy Markey, Police Chief Gary Smith, and City Attorney Josie Finch.
The next city council meeting will be held on May, 19th at the Dallas City Township Community Building.