The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by: Shirley Linder, Quill Editor
The Village of Stronghurst board members approved upgrading the water meters in town with an all new electronic system at their regular monthly meeting Monday night.
There are presently 400 meters, some which are the original meters, which takes employees two days to read.
It was learned by replacing all the current meters and using this new electronic system with laptop computer, village employees will be able to drive around town and read the meters in half an hour without getting out of their vehicle.
With the present meters, they do not read the meters if the temperature is 20 degrees or below because it is too cold to take the top off the pit. It could cause meters to freeze.
The new meters will be installed in the current pits.
On a motion by David Vancil, seconded by Mike Bohnenkamp the vote was unanimous to purchase everything needed at a cost of approximately $65,000. (That figures out to about $162.50 per meter, and the board concludes that the investment should be well worth the cost for years to come.
Following a good discussion by board members, Eric Chockley appointed Leota Caldwell to serve as the board member for the one year remaining term of Mike Nelson.
Nelson resigned as a board member after being hired by the city as a full time employee last month.
Chief of Police Gary Smith has completed and applied for two federal grants, the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (new squad car-$30,000) and Congressionally Selected Grant (office expansion-$25,500).
Chief Smith reported that on April 30, Scott Schafer from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board conducted a review of the organization and operation of the department.
The Police Department received very high remarks and Mr. Schafer described the department as "1 of the top 5" departments that he has ever reviewed which included police departments and sheriff's departments.
City Wide Clean-Up is set for Friday, May 21st beginning at 6:00 a.m. and residents are being asked to not set out items until a week prior to that date.
Present were:
President Eric Chockley;
Trustees: Mike Bohnenkamp, Angela Myers, David Vancil and Chris Cook, Lawrence Neff (arrived at 8 p.m.), Clerk/Treasurer: Lou Ann Nortrup; Employees: Ronnie Gittings and Mike Nelson; Chief Gary Smith; Guests, Roger Cook
The meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m. until the next regular meeting on Monday, June 7, at 7:00 p.m.