Tamaroa Water Provider Change Coming This Month
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Doug Pollex of Southern Engineering told the Tamaroa Village Board Wednesday that Rend Lake water is running through the water lines in Tamaroa. The lines have been pressurized and are now being chlorinated. There are a few things that must be done before the village can disconnect from Du Quoin's water system.
"If everything goes well, we can turn off Du Quoin's water next week," Pollex said. "If not, it will surely be done by the end of the month."
He warned that it takes 95,000 gallons of water just to fill the water lines. So far, the Village has used 200,000 gallons of Rend Lake water. The town can expect to pay two water bills in the coming month.
The contractor should be liable for 45,000 gallons of water, Pollex told the board. He left the water on for five months on Chestnut Street, hoping to locate a leak. The leak still hasn't been found. Pollex said that one month is understandable, but five months is unacceptable. He urged the board to hold the contractor, J.K. Trotter, accountable.
In addition to the water leak, Trotter is also responsible for a phone line that was cut. Pollex said it is the second phone line.
Pollex presented a bill from contractor Trotter for $10,395 and bills from Southern Engineering for $1,436 for administration and $2,362 for inspection.
The board decided in March to write checks to both the landowner and the farmer for crop damage done during the installation of the new water lines. However, the Farm Service cannot legally disclose the names of the farmers, Pollex said. The village should write the checks to the landowners.
In other business, the board:
approved a contract with Perry Musgrave for water testing services at a cost of $700 per month. The previous water tester resigned his duties. The contract may be cancelled by either party with 30 days notice.
amended the liquor ordinance to allow 18 year olds to sell all liquor. The original ordinance limited sales by alcohol content.
passed an ordinance requiring all customers to pay before pumping gas within the Village of Tamaroa due to the high number of drive-offs.
asked Village Attorney Matt Foster to draw up a contract with the Perry County Sheriff's Department for 20 to 25 hours of coverage per week at a rate of $15 per hour. Foster said he would contact Sheriff Keith Kellerman to clarify a few points and would have the contract ready at the next meeting. The board did not know if they would be billed for the time officers spent in court on tickets written in the village and was not sure of the maximum number of hours per week. Commissioner Nelson Knapp suggested having the Sheriff patrol heavily at first then gradually backing off the hours after some of the chronic problems were handled. The Village has $9,400 in the non home-rule tax account and receives about $1,100 per month. The board will look into selling the equipment from the former Tamaroa Police Department.
heard from employee Joyce Mazzarella that the village has received a USDA grant for $67,500 to repair the Community Center roof. The village's share of the work will be $22,500.
discussed the need for a new dump truck. Former Mayor Bill Place urged the board to buy new equipment using motor fuel tax funds instead of paying outright for a used truck. Employee Butch Hunter warned that the Village first needs to purchase some materials for repairing the new water lines. The contractor covers the work for the first year after the installation. Knapp asked Hunter to put together a list of what is needed and the estimated price. Once the installation is complete, a maintenance fund will be opened, as per the agreement with USDA.
opted not to change the Village's policy on tree maintenance. Trees are removed only if they present a health hazard. No regular tree trimming has been done in the past 25 years.