Board approves new ball field for Tamaroa summer league
The Tamaroa Village Board told representatives of the Tamaroa Summer Baseball and Softball League that they could build a third field west of the two existing fields at their own expense.
Kerri Schoenbacher, representing the ball league, said a softball tournament fund-raiser will be held Sept. 21. The tournament, called 'Stacy's Field of Dreams' will raise funds for the new field, which is to be named for deceased league president Stacy Hepp Fox. Fox, a nurse, was killed in a car accident several years ago. She donated countless hours to the ball league.
Schoenbacher said the tournament is just for fun, anyone can play. There will also be food available.
Trustee Bill Place told the ball league members that the village was planning to run power to the new scoreboard this week. He asked that someone stake the southwest corner of the proposed addition to the concession stand so that electrical conduit can be run at the same time. Once the addition, which may be a portable building, is in place, it would be easy to provide electrical service.
League members were also given permission to repair fencing and backstops at the area, if funds become available.
In other business, the board:
• agreed to allow Suzie Kuberski to take any of the old playground equipment the town owned in exchange for a donation to the Summer Ball League. The old equipment was dismantled and removed per the village's insurance carrier's instructions. Trustee Betty Roberts, Kuberski's sister, asked the board if they would be willing to sell the used equipment for the same price it would bring at a scrap yard. The board agreed, but specified the donation go to the Tamaroa Summer League.
• heard from John Davis that his employer, Monsanto, is willing to donate picnic tables and other outdoor gear to the village. Monsanto participates in a recycling program and has earned credits with which they can purchase picnic tables, benches, trash cans and other items made from the recycled materials. The board asked for as many picnic tables as the credits will buy. They thanked Davis for thinking of the village.
• authorized Mayor Curtis Stube to sign the purchase order for two pump stations to be installed this year. Mike Smith of Southern Engineering said it will take four to six weeks for one pump to arrive and 10 to 12 weeks for the other. Smith was authorized to solicit bids for the lagoon lift station replacement. He said he hopes to open bids Sept. 10, the day before the next regular board meeting.
• heard from Village Attorney Matt Foster that he has not followed through on the paperwork for filling in the pond on the Frost property. He apologized to Byron Stricker for missing the last meeting and said he hopes to finish up the paperwork before the next meeting, Sept. 11.
• heard from Foster that the Perry County Sheriff's Department has asked for copies of the notices sent to residents for nuisance violations such as inoperable vehicles on their property. PCSD will begin citing violators in Tamaroa.
• voted not to extend a franchise agreement with Ameren. Trustee Place lobbied against a franchise agreement that offered nothing to the village beyond what is required by the Illinois Commerce Commission while keeping competition out of the village. Place said it's not likely, but it's possible that another company would want to offer electrical transmission in the village in the next 15 years. The board voted unanimously to not extend the agreement.