Tamaroa to apply for sewer repair grants
Applications for community development grants through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity are due June 2. Mike Smith of Southern Engineering told the board that now is the time to begin working on grant applications if the board wishes.
The board agreed that Smith and his new co-worker Jordan Coker should work with Greater Egypt Regional Planning Commission on the grant applications to repair sewer lines in the village. Past grants allowed some sections of Tamaroa's sewer system to be smoke-tested and filmed. Some repairs were made, but more could be done.
Trustee Bill Place said the village should be able to provide $40,000 to $50,000 in matching funds for the 75/25 DCEO grant.
Smith said a recent $75,000 grant could be modified to pay for the contractor's installation of lift stations. An earlier $25,000 grant for roofing still has not been received. He asked and was told that it will be paid eventually.
Smith also recommended that the village consider a maintenance contract to fight corrosion on the stand pipe at a lift station. He will get back to the board with some prices.
In other business, the board:
• authorized village employee Chuck Zoeckler to obtain a repair estimate for the grasshopper lawnmower, order a new church street signet replace a damaged one and to order water meters. Mayor Curtis Stube complimented the employees on their snow removal.
• heard from Place that the Fire Department does want a new hydrant installed behind the fire station. When the weather clears, the village will install it and bill the Tamaroa Fire Department for the work. Place also mentioned that the previous agreement with the fire department to bill only for the first 1,000 gallons of water use at the station will be null and void once the new hydrant is operation. Illinois law prohibits municipalities from billing for water used to extinguish fires and to train firefighters. That water will come from the hydrant once it is operational. All water used inside the fire station will then be considered domestic use and will be billable.
• agreed to pay the monthly bills with the exception of a bill for $5,000 from Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office. The bill is for the 204 Water District for relocation of water lines by IDOT many years ago. Place said the village had a verbal agreement with the water district to pay that bill when the approximately $40,000 in the district's accounts was turned over to the village. Tamaroa has not received any funds. The village assumed responsibility for the infrastructure and customers, but not the debt. Tamaroa did pay the bill last year. However, the board agreed that was an error.
• heard from Trustee Kim Woodside that the annual Easter egg hunt will be Saturday, April 19 at 1 p.m. at the Community Center.
• discussed complaints about the Lumber Company building. It is a hazard. Place agreed to discuss the problem with the owner. If nothing is done, the owner will be cited under the nuisance ordinance and the village will put up caution tape around the building.
• discussed changes to the water billing policy, including how to deal with multiple services on one line and allowing customers to pay only the cost of water after a catastrophic leak. That would happen only once per property. The issue will be discussed again at the March meeting.