Tamaroa Approves Contract with Sheriff's Department for Patrol in Village
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Tamaroa Mayor Curtis Stube is authorized to sign a contract with the Perry County Sheriff's Department once it has been approved by the Perry County Board.
Village Trustees opted for a contract for 20 to 30 hours a week, starting with 30 hours a week for the first three months then decreasing, if possible.
Village Attorney Matt Foster spoke with Sheriff Keith Kellerman after the last meeting to clarify a few points on the contract and answer the board's questions.
Most importantly, the 20 to 30 hours a week is for enforcement and patrol. Routine court time does not cost the village. Separate arrangments may be necessary if officers have to spend an excessive amount of time in court.
Foster pointed out that the Village has adopted the state traffic code and most traffic tickets may be written as ordinance tickets. Tamaroa gets a larger portion of the revenue derived from ordinance violations.
The board also agreed to sell all of the equipment from the former Tamaroa Police Department. Village Clerk Cheryl Pelker will submit a list of equipment to the paper to advertise for sealed bids. A viewing date will also be arranged. Minimum bids may be set on some items.
In other business, the board:
voted to keep the terms of the contract with Tamaroa Grade School the same as last year's, which expired April 30. The main issue was whether or not the school should be give three months of free use in the summer. Tamaroa Grade School pays $900 a month for eight months of the year to use the gymnasium and community center. The board voted five to one to keep the contract the same as the previous year. Trustee Lisa Haycraft was the sole dissenting vote. There is no contract in place until the Board of Education votes on the issue.
heard from County Engineer Doug Bishop that the Federal government has passed an unfunded mandate requiring all municipalities to replace traffic control signs with retro-reflective signs by January 2015 and street signs with retro-reflective signs by January 2018. Each municipality must have a maintenance method for the signs in place by January 2012. There are several options, the least impractical of which is to replace all of the signs on a regular schedule as determined by sign's expected life. Bishop said the expected life of the signs he has chosen for the County and the Unit Road District is 12 years. The Village must survey and map all of its signs by July 1 in order to apply for a $25,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation for signs and shafts. The funds may not be used for labor. Former Mayor Bill Placed asked what the penalty for non-compliance was. Bishop said that Federal Aid money may be withheld if the Village does not replace the signs as mandated. Place colorfully expressed his displeasure with the elected officials who bowed to the wishes of the sign lobby. No one disagreed.
discussed the need for a new truck for the Street Department. Employee Butch Hunter priced new trucks. The sots for a new truck without a bed or plow is $61,000 to $65,000, depending upon the engine. The board took advantage of the expertise of one of the guests, asking Bishop what and where he buys trucks for the County Highway Department and Unit Road District. Bishop said he purchases late-model, low-mileage (under 100,000 miles) over the road trucks then has the frame cut down. Refurbished steel beds are added for a total cost of about $45,000 each. There is a six-month warranty on the used trucks. Hunter was asked to price an aluminum bed. Steel beds are $9,200 each. Place pointed out that several pieces of equipment have been paid off or will be paid off this year. Those funds could be used on installments for a new truck.
appointed Mayor Curtis Stube as the primary liaison Perry County Emergency Management Agency in case of a disaster. Trustee Lisa Haycraft was the secondary liaison and Trustee Kirk Pestka is third in line. Perry County EMA Coordinator David Searby Jr. asked the village to submit any overtime costs as a result of flooding or the April 19 storm by Monday so that it may be passed to the Emergency Operations Center. If any overtime was necessary, the Village could be eligible for reimbursement through Federal aid.
heard from Trustee Kim Woodside that the Tamaroa Town-wide Yard Sale will be June 18.
heard from resident Georgia Lamke that there is a recurring problem with her sewer line. The board asked Hunter to determine whether the problem is the village's. If so, it will be repaired. If the clog is on the resident's side, Lamke will have to pay to have it repaired.
asked Foster to draft an appropriations ordinance to be passed at the June meeting. The village will increase the appropriations amount by 4.9 percent. No truth in taxation hearing will be necessary.
repealed the ordinance requiring pre-payment for gas purchases in the Village. The Managers of Casey's General Store asked that the ordinance be repealed.
discussed several abandoned properties throughout the village. The issue on most of the properties is yard maintenance. A few may need to be condemned. Trustee Lisa Haycraft was asked to send letters to the owners of the properties. Foster said the letter is the first step in maintenance issues. If the property is not maintained, the village may handle the mowing then put a lien on the property to recoup costs. The Village also has a weed ordinance, which may be enforced by the Perry County Sheriff's Department. Condemnation requires an assessment by the Fire Chief that the properties are unsafe.
discussed the sale of the former Voyles property which is now owned by the Village. Several people are interested in buying the property. However, the property could be used by the village. Tamaroa invested about $15,000 in the property and it costs nothing to keep it.
asked Foster to draft a synthetic cannabis ordinance for adoption at the next meeting. Perry County adopted ordinances prohibiting the possession, sale or delivery of synthetic cannabis and synthetic cocaine. The state has also passed laws to that effect.