Water Exploration Moves Forward
Although the Nokomis City Council was short handed when they met Monday evening, they
were long on substance. Lance Lehnen presided in the absence of Mayor Keith Hancock and
Commissioner Terry Hill.
Mark Wiley of the Farnsworth Group, Bloomington, made a presentation about the next step in
augmenting the city’s water supply.
The city is allowed to drill up to three test wells on the property owned by the Busher Trust
southwest of the city. If any of those wells are productive, the city would negotiate with the trust to
drill a permanent well.
The process from start to finish is expected to take about one year. Test holes will be drilled,
samples collected, a well will be designed, application will be made to the Illinois EPA, and bids
will be solicited for construction.
The council voted to proceed with the plan.
Larry Eby, senior vice president of New Wave Communications of Sykeston, MO, addressed
the council with word that his company is purchasing the Charter Communications cable
franchise in Nokomis. When finalized, Eby said, New Wave will upgrade the cable system in
Nokomis.
One package they plan to offer includes digital cable, high speed internet, and local and
unlimited long distance telephone usage for $99 per month, he said.
The council gave verbal consent for the acquisition to proceed pending final review of the
agreement.
Brent and Tanya Engelman returned to the council expecting to hear an update regarding their
request for city water service. The couple owns property within the city limits and plans to build a
new home; however, water service is currently unavailable.
While off-hand cost estimates for extending water service to the area range as high as
$80,000, no actual study has been done that focuses on the options available and the anticipated
cost of the project.
Frustrated that no progress had been made since his initial request at the Feb. 12 council
meeting, Engelman stressed that the city should be more responsive to individuals who want to
live here and who are willing to invest in the future of Nokomis.
Following discussion, the council authorized Mike Finn, water superintendent, to contact the
Farnsworth Group and to proceed with a feasibility study to develop alternative solutions and
costs associated with the delivery of water to that area.
During the course of the meeting, the council reported and/or approved the following:
Monthly revenues included sales tax, $15,383; property tax, $1,284; income tax, $19,743; state
use tax, $2,514; and utility tax, $6,390.
Monthly expenses totaled $86,756 including a $50,000 payment made on the water plant.
Officers David Scott and Tim Fortkamp were appointed to sergeant positions and given a $1
per hour pay increase, to $14.39 per hour.
Pay raises for city employees were tabled until the full council is present.
A park permit was approved for a wedding at the Fred B. Johnson Park on Oct. 6, 2007.
A letter was read from Mark B. Peterson acknowledging that his group had purchased the
Nokomis Golden Manor Nursing Home.
$100,000 of reserve funds previously held in short-term CD’s has been merged into one 27-
month CD earning a rate of 5.45%, as recommended in a recent audit.
Tobi Simonton approached the council regarding exorbitant water bills that he received earlier
in the year. He had no explanation for the excessive bills except to conclude that it was the result
of a faulty water meter. Although Simonton was given the option of having the water meter tested
at his expense, he agreed to pay the bill minus service fees and penalties as proposed by the
council.
Rose Jones asked the council why the city was no longer spraying for mosquitoes. She was
informed that the spray is ineffective when temperatures exceed 90 degrees and that it would not
be cost effective to spray during the recent hot spell. When temperatures moderate, the spraying
program will resume, they said.
Jones made an additional request that the city resume clean-up days. Council members were
cool to the idea due to past infractions and the high cost of the program.
Mike O’Malley complimented the council for its efforts in dealing with abandoned vehicles, an
issue he brought before them in May.
Although the Nokomis City Council was short handed when they met Monday evening, they
were long on substance. Lance Lehnen presided in the absence of Mayor Keith Hancock and
Commissioner Terry Hill.
Mark Wiley of the Farnsworth Group, Bloomington, made a presentation about the next step in
augmenting the city’s water supply.
The city is allowed to drill up to three test wells on the property owned by the Busher Trust
southwest of the city. If any of those wells are productive, the city would negotiate with the trust to
drill a permanent well.
The process from start to finish is expected to take about one year. Test holes will be drilled,
samples collected, a well will be designed, application will be made to the Illinois EPA, and bids
will be solicited for construction.
The council voted to proceed with the plan.
Larry Eby, senior vice president of New Wave Communications of Sykeston, MO, addressed
the council with word that his company is purchasing the Charter Communications cable
franchise in Nokomis. When finalized, Eby said, New Wave will upgrade the cable system in
Nokomis.
One package they plan to offer includes digital cable, high speed internet, and local and
unlimited long distance telephone usage for $99 per month, he said.
The council gave verbal consent for the acquisition to proceed pending final review of the
agreement.
Brent and Tanya Engelman returned to the council expecting to hear an update regarding their
request for city water service. The couple owns property within the city limits and plans to build a
new home; however, water service is currently unavailable.
While off-hand cost estimates for extending water service to the area range as high as
$80,000, no actual study has been done that focuses on the options available and the anticipated
cost of the project.
Frustrated that no progress had been made since his initial request at the Feb. 12 council
meeting, Engelman stressed that the city should be more responsive to individuals who want to
live here and who are willing to invest in the future of Nokomis.
Following discussion, the council authorized Mike Finn, water superintendent, to contact the
Farnsworth Group and to proceed with a feasibility study to develop alternative solutions and
costs associated with the delivery of water to that area.
During the course of the meeting, the council reported and/or approved the following:
Monthly revenues included sales tax, $15,383; property tax, $1,284; income tax, $19,743; state
use tax, $2,514; and utility tax, $6,390.
Monthly expenses totaled $86,756 including a $50,000 payment made on the water plant.
Officers David Scott and Tim Fortkamp were appointed to sergeant positions and given a $1
per hour pay increase, to $14.39 per hour.
Pay raises for city employees were tabled until the full council is present.
A park permit was approved for a wedding at the Fred B. Johnson Park on Oct. 6, 2007.
A letter was read from Mark B. Peterson acknowledging that his group had purchased the
Nokomis Golden Manor Nursing Home.
$100,000 of reserve funds previously held in short-term CD’s has been merged into one 27-
month CD earning a rate of 5.45%, as recommended in a recent audit.
Tobi Simonton approached the council regarding exorbitant water bills that he received earlier
in the year. He had no explanation for the excessive bills except to conclude that it was the result
of a faulty water meter. Although Simonton was given the option of having the water meter tested
at his expense, he agreed to pay the bill minus service fees and penalties as proposed by the
council.
Rose Jones asked the council why the city was no longer spraying for mosquitoes. She was
informed that the spray is ineffective when temperatures exceed 90 degrees and that it would not
be cost effective to spray during the recent hot spell. When temperatures moderate, the spraying
program will resume, they said.
Jones made an additional request that the city resume clean-up days. Council members were
cool to the idea due to past infractions and the high cost of the program.
Mike O’Malley complimented the council for its efforts in dealing with abandoned vehicles, an
issue he brought before them in May.