Listeners:
Top listeners:
Revolution Radio Your home for the best variety of Christian music
Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network
Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network (Abovecast Backup) Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network
Home For The Holidays Radio
Big Sports Radio (Weekend of February 15, 2025) Heartland Newsfeed
Water was the common theme of discussion during the Witt City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 24.
Alderman Tim Taylor presented the water report, informing the council that the altitude valve feeding Irving’s water supply has broken. As a consequence, the water drained from their water tower, leaving the village without water for a short period of time.
EJ Water Cooperative representative Eric Emmerich informed Taylor that they did purchase a pressure valve. This will replace the faulty altitude valve and would arrive by the end of the week and be installed immediately.
He additionally noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in supply chain delays to receive their parts. EJ Water installed a new master meter to help catch leaks and other underlying issues quicker.
City Clerk Nancy Hughes received complaints about the new water meters leaking. Taylor cautioned that these new meters should not be opened.
Several aldermen witnessed the meters leaking. Taylor stated there was a grant contingency that allows some funding to fix infrastructural issues, like the water meter leaks.
It was also reported that there were several broken meter pits requiring replacement, as some of them are not cast iron. Mayor Shawn Cady stated that it is the old clay tile meter pits that are breaking.
Taylor would further inform the council about a meeting that he and alderman Jay Martin had with Emmerich. They found some issues and asked Emmerich to come back with a more accurate count of how many meters would be in use after billing is switched in September.
Resident Alvin Yeske addressed the council. He gave props to the aldermen for addressing several issues within the city, then inquired about replacing water meters that are not currently being used, which had been previously addressed.
Additionally, he informed the council that their current sewer rate will need to be increased by at least $7 for more grant funding eligibility. The current minimum billed for sewer is currently $8.
This proposed rate increase will be in addition to the current $2.50 surcharge. There was discussion on gradually increasing the rates over an extended period of time. The primary concern was posing financial hardship on some of its residents.
Taylor explained that the city is aware of its sewer issues, but they are not currently eligible for grants to fix their underlying problems because their current sewer surcharge is too low.
The council agreed to check on current sewer surcharges for neighboring communities and continue the discussion later.
Taylor also noted there were still five meters remaining to be put in. Additionally, he would explain that only flagged meters are changed.
Any meter replacements not wanted will have removal free of charge. However, if residents refuse to have the meter swap now and then want a new meter at a later date, there will be a $500 meter replacement fee.
Taylor mentioned that there is a potential issue with the alley behind Mac’s Diner and people driving over the meters located there. He asked about making a portion of the alley open to authorized vehicles only.
City attorney Chris Sherer address the board about a legal issue that concerns the state of Ohio for the collections in the matter of City of Witt, Illinois v. George Teye.
Sherer explains that the city has a substantial judgment against Teye, who owns property in the city. Additionally, this was property that was recently demolished.
The city began the process of legally recouping financial losses on the project under the guidance of former mayor Jim VanOstran.
Sherer has been in contact with a law firm in Ohio, which has offered to domesticate the Illinois judgment. This means taking the judgment made in Montgomery County and filing it locally so that it will be enforceable in Ohio. The council approves a motion to pursue the judgment at a cost of $1,000.
Discussion turned to recent rainfall and flooding. There was agreement that there should be better maintenance and regular cleaning of the ditches. Moreover, debris causes blockage issues and mosquitoes are breeding from standing water.
“Years ago, everyone took care of their properties and mowed their own ditches, but now properties are being left untended,” Cady stated. “I don’t like coming in to Witt seeing trash cans on the roads and trash everywhere.”
Cady stated this needs to be a team project.
“If the city is going to maintain the ditches in front of private residences, we need residents to do their part,” Cady added. “We are not going to make this town any better if we don’t.”
Cady addressed the aldermen about purchasing a tractor and accessories to better maintain the city’s ditches. There was discussion about potentially using grant funding for the purchase, and Cady said he would price potential tractors or equipment and bring forth that information at a later meeting.
Hughes noted that mosquito spraying will occur prior to the Labor Day celebration.
Other business discussed in the meeting include:
This is a corrected, SEO-friendly version of a story published in the September 1, 2021 edition of the Nokomis Free Press-Progress.
For more local news, follow Jake Leonard on Twitter @JakeLeonardWPMD and Heartland Newsfeed @HLNF_Bulletin on Twitter.
Additionally, you can follow Heartland Newsfeed on Facebook and Reddit among other platforms. You can now follow our news updates on Telegram, Flote, and MeWe.
Support independent journalism. Become a patron on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. There are other donor options as well.
Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Written by: Jake Leonard
Chris Sherer David Cearlock Don Keiser EJ Water Cooperative Eric Emmerich George Teye Jay Martin Jim VanOstran local news Nancy Hughes Scott Woods Shawn Cady Tim Taylor Witt City Council
Daily deadlines
News and sports submissions: 11 p.m. Central
Advertising, legals, obituaries: 5 p.m. Central
Monday-Friday deadlines
Other business inquiries: 5 p.m. Central
Publication times
Late breaking news as it happens
Normal publication: 11 p.m. Central daily
Other news: Published as it’s made available
Some rights reserved 2017-2024 by Heartland Newsfeed, a Heartland Media Group of Central Illinois and Eastern Missouri media property. Content published by Heartland Newsfeed staff is covered by the BipCot NoGov license. This allows use and re-use by anyone except governments and government agents. License on record. Pro Radio theme designed and developed by Qantum Themes S.L.U.
Post comments (0)