The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Oquawkiek Car Show & Schuyler Street Stroll to be held Sept. 27

By Sally Day for the Quill

Susan Meyer addressed the board on Monday night, August 4, 2015, pertaining to hosting the Oquawkiek Car Show and Schuyler Street Stroll on September 27.

This date had previously been the slot for Heritage Trail Days, which was county-wide. Cars will line up along Schuyler Street from 2nd to 6th Streets beginning at 7 a.m. These streets will be closed to traffic from 7 a.m. until 12 a.m. on the 28th. T

he car show will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. A street dance will be held in the evening hours. Plans include vendors and many other surprises.

The word Oquawkiek is the one meaning "yellow banks". Meyer was uncertain when it was changed to Oquawka. An additional four porta-pottys will be needed for the event. The group asked the board if they would pay for these. Although the board would have liked to, they said their financial situation would not allow it at this time. The CGB (former Twomey Company) said they will donate the money to pay for these.

Marty Lafary and Nick Dawtyne from CGB were on hand to discuss Schuyler Street. Lafary began by stating that CGB wants to be good neighbors. He went on to say that they have trucks going to the elevator in Oquawka all the time and that these trucks are sometimes having to wait their turn to use the elevator.

While they are waiting, they are sometimes parked along Schuyler Street. "We don't want to interfere with businesses or weaken the levee," said Lafary. He asked the board if it would be permissible to park those trucks in the parking lot at the foot of Schuyler Street.

He also asked if CGB could widen the road that goes over the levee, large enough to allow two vehicles at once to go over the levee. The expense of this would be taken care of by CGB. They offered to place more gravel on the parking lot, as well.

The board thanked CGB for this offer and for paying for the porta-pottys and passed a motion to allow CGB to gravel the parking lot and allow for one more lane of traffic over the levee.

In an unrelated matter, the board heard that a small house was being built for residents Greg and Lou Ward, a couple who have been living in a tent for the past few months. They placed the tent in the yard when they lost their home to a fire.

The home is being built by an organization from Stronghurst, who builds homes in a Habitat for Humanity fashion. The group building the home, at no cost to the Wards, is asking that the building permits and variance costs be waived. Although board members were very positive about allowing this to happen, they were told that a variance meeting would have to come first.

The public will be allowed to air their opinions about this matter.

Mike Holman was also on hand to discuss the village's website. It will expire on September 15, 2014. It has had 41,672 views up to this point. Holman feels it has been beneficial to the community.

He is leaving the area, but this is a job which could be done from a long distance. Prices have gone up over the years. The price to host it now is $239.76 per year.

The website's name is oquawka.info. The board agreed to table the matter until they speak with the county board about combining websites.

In other business, the board:

• learned that two matrons were needed to accompany the Village Police Department's male officers on an as-needed basis. Tammy Bundy and Barb McGann have been appointed for this duty. Sandy Huff, Village Clerk told Chief Keith DeJaynes that Bundy and McGann needed to fill out applications for this and the rest will fall into place.
• heard from Police Chief DaJaynes with the monthly Police Report, as follows:
• Criminal: D.U.I., 1;
• Domestic Battery, 1;
• Disorderly Conduct, 1;
• Retail Theft, 2;
• Battery, 1;
• Residential Theft, 1.
• Agency Assists:
• County Assists, 5;
• Ambulance Assists, 6.
• Domestic:
• Domestic Call, 1.
• Tavern Calls: Calls, 4.
• Ordinance: Junk Ordinances, 5.
• Golf Cart Inspections: 5.
• Traffic:
• No Valid Driver License, 1;
• Suspended Driver License, 1;
• Speeding Tickets, 2;
• Illegal Squealing of Tires, 1.
• Stop Sign, 1.
• Other Calls: 53;
• Warrants: 2.
• Fuel 168.7 gallons.
• Mileage: 1,797.
• Fines: $1091.90.
• listened to board member Troy Jern give the Fire Department Report. Troy also serves as Oquawka Fire Chief. He told the board he has been working on the District Association. He thanked Helping Hands for planting flowers in front of the Fire Station. Jern also mentioned that his department is in need of new gloves.
• learned that there had been 5 zoning permits given. This report was given by board member Scott Ray.
• learned from Jenna Link, Certified Water Operator that the village water tower needs cleaned as part of its maintenance. She had received a proposal from Midco Divers and Marine Services for $2675 to complete the task. The board agreed to this proposal. Link further told the board that they needed to be thinking about painting the water tower in the near future.
• heard during the Attorney's Report from Andy Doyle, that there had been ten people in court on Monday, August 4, in regards to the Junk Ordinance. Some of the property owners are progressing in cleaning up their yards. If property owners are making significant progress, they will be given additional time; and if property owners are making no or very little progress, they may be fined.
• heard from Jeff Peterson, Street and Water Superintendent, who in his report noted that his department had cleaned up the levees and debris from the most recent flooding.
• listened to a pool report from Amanda Guyton, Pool Manager. She thanked the ambulance department for purchasing the in-pool stairs. Guyton mentioned that the pump had gone out about a week and a half ago and had been repaired.  She further stated that the State Inspector was here and told her that a water fountain would have to be placed outside near the pool area before the pool could be opened next year. They had received an estimate from Cody Lamb for $670. This will be tabled until next Spring.
• heard from Mayor Sandra Moody, who noted the dock was missing from the end of Schuyler Street, and she had had one (6' x 20') priced from Oquawka Boats. She said it would cost $3000 to replace the dock. She felt as if the dock was necessary for the tourism value, for one.
• "The River is our draw," she said. In a brief discussion, the board chose not to replace the dock at this time, but will open it back open for discussion in the Spring.
• will hold a Streets and Water Committee meeting on August 26, at 6 p.m. for the purpose of discussing snow removal and water rates.
• will hold a Public Safety Meeting with full board on August 28, at 6 p.m.
• passed the Illinois Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Agreement.
• passed the Nicor Gas Ordinance, which among other things takes care of the maintenance of the business' equipment for an additional 50 years.
• set City Wide Clean-Up tentatively for the second Saturday in May, 2015.
• set July 5, 2015, as the tentative date for 4th of July fireworks.
• discussed taking nominations for Citizen of the Year.
• approved the July minutes, July bills, and the June Treasurer's Report.
• heard the roll call vote as follows: John Fedler, present; Scott Ray, present; Jason Howard, absent; Troy Jern, present; Robert Eldridge, present; Nancy Bundy, present.
• entered into Executive Session to discuss the Schuyler Street Project at 8:29 p.m.