Tamaroa Board suspends employees without pay after workplace incident
Following an executive session, the board voted to suspend employee Darrell Wright for five days without pay due to a disagreement with another employee. That employee, Brent Fisher, has already served a five-day suspension without pay. As part of the motion to suspend Wright, Trustee Lisa Haycraft said the suspensions will be recorded in both employees' files. If there is another incident for either employee, the next step is termination.
The village's third full-time employee, Chuck Zoeckler, was promoted to a supervisory position for a six-month trial basis. The promotion came with a $1 per hour raise. Zoeckler was told that all personnel problems were to be reported to Mayor Curtis Stube, not to individual board members.
In other business, the board:
• heard from Mayor Curtis Stube that he had appointed Kirk Pestka to fill the vacancy left by the death of Trustee Robert Knapp. Pestka will serve until the next consolidated election.
• Mike Smith of Southern Engineering reported that he had met with Raymond George after the last meeting to examine his proposed home site. An EPA permit has been submitted to the state on George's behalf. He will pay the full cost of the water line installation. Smith also reported that the contractor hired to work on a water line crossing Route 154 had offered prices to Wilbur and Karen Bird for the installation of a water line for their home in St. Johns. The Birds would also have to bear the cost of installation. Smith presented the board with the contract signed by JM Jones for installation of lift stations. Jones will have 30 days to begin work after the lift stations arrive.
• approved a 20-year franchise agreement with Ameren. The contract states the village will receive cash compensation on a decreasing scale, beginning with a $10,680 payment the first year and ending with a $4,400 payment in years five through 20.
• set the trick or treat date for 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31. a Trunk or treat event will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. that evening in the lot across from Pestka's.
• agreed that an Angel tree for needy children in the Tamaroa school district is a good idea. Trustee Kim Woodside will gather more information then report back to the board at the next meeting. Woodside will oversee the program for the village.
• heard from Vernon Heck that his family deeply appreciates the board allowing the Summer Ball League to build a new ball field in his daughter's honor. His daughter, Stacey Hepp Fox, a nurse, was killed in a car accident several years ago while trying to render aid to another car accident victim. She donated countless hours to the ball league and had served on its board.
• heard from Byron Stricker that he appreciated the village's help in locating the leak in his yard. It has been repaired and his water bill has come down significantly.
• asked Stricker, a member of the Fire Board, to ask a fireman to come to the next meeting to explain why the Tamaroa Fire Department needs another hydrant near the firehouse.
• heard from employee Tiffany Kujawa that there is at least one customer who refuses to pay their post office box bill and, as a result, does not receive their water bill. The customer is disconnected each month. The board told Kujawa that it is not the village's responsibility to find an alternative delivery method. If the customer gives the P.O. Box as their address, it is their responsibility to come pick up the bill or offer an alternative address if they do not receive it.
• discussed a letter from Roxanne Place about problems with her water meter. The contractor who installed the lines was responsible for repairs for one year. If Place's problem occurred after that time, it is the village's responsibility. Clerk Cheryl Pelker was asked to contact Place and ask her to attend the next meeting.