Tamaroa Picks up 371 New Customers from 204 Water District
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Tamaroa Mayor Curtis Stube has signed a certificate of substantial completion on its Rend Lake water project for contractor J.K. Trotter. Doug Pollex of Southern Engineering, who has been overseeing the work, and says that the project is "99 percent done." There will still be small jobs to finish and Trotter is expected to begin the clean-up phase, which will run through September.
The board agreed to pay $229,576 to J.K. Trotter for work on the project, $2,947 for inspection and $2,998 for administration to Southern Engineering. A change order for valves that have already been installed was also approved. Total cost on the valves was $14,705.
Because substantial completion has been reached, the village will hold only five percent of the contractor's pay instead of 10 percent.
Conrad Roach of the Elk's Lodge said that the contractor split a line at the Elks Lodge in St. Johns during their work, but repaired it a couple of days later. He wanted the board to adjust the lodge's water bill to cover the cost of the additional water from the leak.
Village Attorney Matt Foster said that Trotter would be responsible for the additional water cost. The contractor has covered similar costs in the past. He suggested Roach contact the contractor.
District 204 water customers were switched from the Pinckneyville water system to the Tamaroa system at 9 a.m. today. That's an addition of 371 customers.
Several potential problems with parts of the village's water system that weren't part of the expansion project have come to light during the installation of new lines. Pollex said that there are several illegal connections in the village. The board needs to address the problems as soon as the funds are available.
A home on Coconut Road had an illegal connection (crossed another's property) which was corrected, but the line on the main is still smaller than the EPA requires. Pollex said the repairs would be costly because it will require boring under the road and a sleeve for the larger water line.
Another illegal connection (4-5 houses sharing a meter) was found north Route 51. The water line there is also smaller than EPA requires.
The final problem discussed was that portions of the city's water line run under the asphalt on Route 51. The lines were installed approximately 70 years ago, following the old Route 51. Over the decades, the road has moved in several places. Pollex warned that a main break could flood Route 51 and that the repairs will have to be done at the village's expense.
In other business, the board:
the board voted on several cost-cutting measures following executive session. It was decided that employees must pay 25 percent of their health insurance costs. The village has been paying the full cost. The board also voted to do away with the supervisory position held by Butch Hunter. The position came with an additional $.25 per hour and two vacation days. Hunter will go back to his previous pay and vacation days. The final cost-cutting measure was to direct Village Clerk Cheryl Pelker to advertise for mowing bids. Mowing takes up a great deal of employees' time. A contract may be less expensive than overtime pay.
agreed to pay the County Highway Department to complete a required inventory of road signs. County Engineer Doug Bishop said the inventory must be completed in a month in order for the village to be eligible for free signs and posts. He expects the cost of the survey to be between $500 and $700. A new Federal law requires all municipalities to switch to reflective road signs by Jan. 1, 2015.
voted to accept the sealed bids on the weapons and equipment from the now-defunct Tamaroa Police Department with the exception of the bids for the two cars. The board said that the highest bids on the cars were $530 and $600. It was also decided to sell Trustee Kirk Pestka a police uniform for $50. He plans to display it in his grocery store. The items sold by sealed bid were a handgun for $410, a shotgun for $350, a holster for $22 and a belt for $16.
voted to allow move forward in building a concrete salt and cinder storage area. The plans for the storage facility were completed some time ago, but the actual construction was delayed. Motor Fuel Tax funds will be used to pay for storage facility. The village will also dispose of the trailers that currently house salt and cinders.
voted to purchase new frames and doors for the bathrooms at the City Park.
authorized Mayor Stube to execute a contract to lease a new dump truck with a steel bed.
voted to refund $150 to Mary Woodside. Woodside has been paying facility fees of $2.50 per month for water and $2.50 per month for sewer since May of 2006. However, she does not have sewer service. Woodside presented the board with all five years worth of paid bills. She said a discussion with neighbors led her to examine her bills. The money will be refunded and the error corrected.