The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Jeff Tee, River Rat News
“Just the facts, Ma’am”
The Oquawka Village board held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 6th. Present were Trustees Don Rice, Brock Miller, Nancy Bundy, Troy Jern; Acting Village President Scott Ray; Village Attorney Andy Youngquist; Village Clerk Callie Thacker-Matsko; and Village Water Clerk Carey Thacker. Trustee Shawn Hurt was absent.
Engineer Mike Greenlief informed the board the cost for oil and chipping streets this year will be approximately $40,000. The estimate is significantly low because they have a lot of chips left over from last year.
Motion by Bundy to spend up to $55,000 of Motor Fuel Tax money for street repair. Second by Jern. All members voted yes. Motion passed.
Greenlief reported 80% of water meters and pits have been completed, as well as 50% of curb boxes. He went on to say that the well drilling company has drill a test hole down to 66 feet deep in order to take soil samples.
This is done in order to ensure the proper equipment is installed during the actual well drilling. The new well should be completed before the July 4th holiday.
The Oquawka Parks and Tourism Committee will be placing flags at Veterans Memorial Park in honor of Memorial Day.
The cost and location of installing a Pickleball Court was discussed. Early estimates are the minimum cost would be between $15,000 and $25000.
This estimate may not include fencing and other miscellaneous costs. The Village currently has $30,000 in grants and pledges to build the court.
The Oquawka Municipal Pool will tentatively open on Memorial Day weekend pending the completion of the new septic system.
Resident Bruce Ruberg addressed the board to ask them to pass an ordinance to make blowing grass clippings into the road illegal.
The board has discussed this issue before, and the consensus has been a village ordinance is not needed because it is already a state law.
Bruce would like a village ordinance on top of the state ordinance; his reasoning being the Village would get any fines issued by a court instead of the state.
Bruce went on to say he was in favor of reimplementing a wheel tax sticker requirement in order to generate revenue for the Village. The Wheel Tax was a $15 yearly fee required for every vehicle belonging to Oquawka residents.
The tax was discontinued in the early 90’s. The board will discuss these issues at the next work session scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th at 6:30pm.
Village Clerk Callie Matsko-Thacker swore in new Village President Scott Ray, and new village Trustees Jim Miller, Nancy Bundy, and Brenda Tee.
Congratulations and thank you for your service to this Village.
The board entered in to closed session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees.