Tamaroa to Discuss Water Rates in January

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The board approved payments of $32,142 to contractor J.K. Trotter, $11,779 to Southern Engineering for inspection and $2,935 for contract additions on the water project.

Doug Pollex of Southern Engineering presented the invoices and gave an update on the project. The pump station is nearly complete, but cannot go online until the electricity is hooked up.

There is some additional boring under the highways that must be done before the project is complete, as well as changing the line on Albers Road and connecting the Kuberski property.

Pollex also presented a letter from Southern Engineering recommending that the water rates not be reduced to the level prior to the initial increase by the City of Du Quoin.

The board makes the final decision on water and sewer rates and will discuss the issue at the January meeting.

The board approved an ordinance required by USDA to lock in the interest rates on the bonds for the water project.

In other business,the board:

agreed to give a $125 Christmas bonus to each of the four village employees.

heard from village employee Joyce Mazzarella that she has fielded several complaints from the public about a home owned by Trustee Lisa Haycraft and another abandoned home on Locust Street. Village Attorney Matt Foster said the first step is to have the Fire Marshal inspect the buildings. The board can then decide whether or not to condemn the properties.

Mazzarella also mentioned complaints about Village Trustee Nelson Knapp and Fire Chief Alan Valentine burning yard waste during the recent burn ban issued by Perry County.

heard from Mayor Curtis Stube that Village Trustees should be held to a higher standard of conduct than the general public.