Tamaroa to Pass Along Du Quoin Water Rate Hike

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Joyce Mazzarella reported that the Village of Tamaroa received notice from the City of Du Quoin that the water rates are going up $.30 per 1,000 gallons and the minimum price for the first 2,000 gallons is going from $20 to $21.

The Village Board agreed to hold a special meeting Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. to raise their rates, passing the cost of Du Quoin's rate hike on to the customers. The special meeting agenda will also include discussing the right-of-way for the water project.

Mazzarella said she called Du Quoin to find out what Tamaroa would owe, but they were unable to tell her.

Tamaroa is working on a major expansion of their water system and a direct line to Rend Lake Water District. Attorney Matt Foster reported that an agreement with the Village of St. Johns and one of the two necessary title commitments were received. The last title commitment should be finished this week and in the hands of Mike Smith of Southern Engineering.

Trustee Charles Stein reported that running water lines to Jerry Whittington and J.R. Kuberski will be possible, but the current plans will not be amended to include that work. The EPA permit has already been issued. Amending it now would put the project several months behind.

In other business, the board:

-- discussed the annual tractor pull. Mayor Curtis Stube set a tentative date of Sunday, June 13. He had asked for June 6, but the sled provider indicated there may be a conflict that day. A fund-raising Chicken and Dumpling Dinner for the tractor pull has been set for Sunday, Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The price for Chicken and Dumplings, green beans, mashed potatoes, bread and a drink was tentatively set at $7. All of the ingredients have been donated by Village employees and Trustees. Trustee Lisa Haycraft will begin calling sponsors from last year's book.

-- agreed to have Mayor Stube's name on the tractor pull account and authorized him to sign checks.

-- heard that two applications for police officers have been received. The Board will accept applications for another month.

-- approved use of the unused air conditioning pads to make a pad for a portable concession stand.

-- heard that the salt spreader has been ordered.

-- heard from Trustee Kirk Pestka that the Village of Tamaroa was listed as owner of a delinquent property in the Perry County tax sale. Foster said he would contact the County to find out about the property.