Tamaroa: Town Without Police
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Tamaroa village trustees and former village police officer Marvin Smith Wednesday night discussed the need for a police presence in Tamaroa.
Smith said that in addition to the recent rash of thefts, there are problems with ATVs on the roadway, drugs, bars staying open after hours and other traffic offenses.
"It's a wonder no one has been killed on an ATV so far," former Mayor Bill Place said.
Trustee Kirk Pestka reported another theft. He said that a chain saw had been stolen from a garage that had been targeted before.
The recent theft of tires from the home of Mike Davis could have had violent consequences, as well Pestka said. Davis' wife, Stacy, came home from work to find the car jacked up and some of the tires missing. She thought her husband was working on the car and walked around it before going into the house. Thieves stole all four tires. No one knows if the thieves were present while she walked around the car or if they left and came back.
Pestka said that the Perry County Sheriff's Department has stepped up patrols in Tamaroa. Sheriff Keith Kellerman directed officers to get out of their squad cars and check buildings when they are in town.
Board members said that though patrols have increased in the past week or so, in the past it has been difficult to get the Sheriff's Department to respond to calls.
Smith warned that the Sheriff's budget has been cut like every other government agency. There are fewer officers to cover the county.
Another problem is that citizens who report problems often won't sign a complaint for fear of reprisal.
Trustee Betty Roberts said she has had more luck calling the State Police.
Tamaroa has not had a police officer for several years and no longer has a contract for enforcement with the Perry County Sheriff's Department.
In order for deputies to enforce local ordinances, the village must have a contract with the Sheriff's Department for enforcement.
Residents approved a non-home rule tax in hopes of funding their own police department. Mayor Curtis Stube said the tax has brought in less than $10,000 total.
"We need to crunch some numbers," Stube said. After the board determines the exact cost of insurance, fuel, equipment and salary, they plan to advertise for a part-time officer again.
The funds generated by the non-home rule tax will not cover the cost.
"I was opposed to using the railroad funds for general operations," Place said. "But you've got to do what you've got to do."
Trustee Nelson Knapp asked Smith if he would consider working as the village's police officer again.
Smith said he is hoping to retire and still has hard feelings over his dealings with the previous board, but would be happy to work in an advisory capacity.
Smith warned that Tamaroa will have to pay more than $9 or $10 per hour to get an experienced officer. He also cautioned that a part-time officer needs to work at least 30 hours a week until order is re-established, if it can be.
"At this point, 40 hours isn't enough," Smith said.
In other business, the board:
approved payments of $6,214 to J.K. Trotter for work on the water expansion and $6,763 to Southern Engineering for inspection and other work on the project.
asked Doug Pollex of Southern Engineering to contact the Farm Service Agency in Pinckneyville to determine exactly who owns the fields that were damaged during the installation of water lines and who farms them. Pollex said that about 26 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa were damaged in total. He suggested reimbursing farmers using the average price in the county for the month that the damage was done. The county averages will be available at the end of February. There is some question as to whether the board should write one check to the land owner or two checks (one each for the land owner and the farmer in cases where the owner doesn't farm the land) or one check in both names and let them work out a fair split. Pollex with gather the information and bring it to the next board meeting. He said that based on preliminary numbers, the village will have to pay less than the $20,000 estimated for crop damage. Payments will be made from the contingency fund.
approved a three-year contract with Frank Sharp for sewer testing. The contract includes a clause that allows either party to terminate with 30 days notice. Sharp will no longer do the water testing as of Feb. 28. The Village is required by law to have both water and sewer testers. Mayor Stube said Southern Engineering had some recommendations for water testers, as did Sharp.
asked Clerk Cheryl Pelker to contact Rex Duncan about a letter to Comcast. Duncan is unhappy with the services offered and hopes to get the backing of all municipalities in Comcast's service area.
declined to pass a resolution calling for an EPA investigation and clean-up in northern Illinois at the request of the Village of DePue.