CRESTON — At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Creston Village Board resolved to not increase gaming fees for businesses within the village after a state law changed that allows fees per terminal to be increased from $25 to $250.
The only business in Creston with video gaming is Moose Knuckle Bar & Grill, which has six machines. Creston Village Attorney David Tess said that a boundary agreement that Creston has with Rochelle did not require it to have the same rate gaming fee structure.
In recent months, the Rochelle City Council approved future gaming fee increases. Gaming fees will be raised in Rochelle gradually over a three-year period starting Jan. 1, 2023 to $100, to $150 on Jan. 1, 2024 and to $250 on Jan 1, 2025.
Vehicle
The board unanimously approved the purchase of a new maintenance vehicle from Brad Manning Ford in DeKalb that will be used to plow snow and do work around the village. The 2022 Ford F-250 will cost the village a maximum of $70,000. The purchase of a snow plow and lights was also unanimously approved not to exceed $13,000.
The board waived competitive bidding on both purchases due to supply shortages in the vehicle industry.
The village plans to hold onto its current maintenance vehicle until the new truck is in service and possibly sell it afterwards.
Farm lease
The board voted 6-0 with Trustee Wayne Williams abstaining to issue a notice to quit to Eric Petry, who has a lease to farm 144.6 acres of the village’s land that will soon expire.
Petry attended last month’s meeting and offered to increase his rent for another year by $20 per acre that would bring it up to $330. The village plans to negotiate with Petry and potentially go out for bid for the lease of the land in the future.
“I think we need to get the best deal we can for the village,” Village President Tom Byro said. “There’s a lot of big numbers around. We don’t have to take anybody’s bid if we don’t want to.”
Well maintenance
Village Engineer Kevin Bunge presented costs for planned upcoming well maintenance in the village. The work will likely take place in the spring.
Creston has two wells (well two and well three). Well three was drilled in 1980 and has never been pulled to be examined for maintenance, which is planned by the village. The base price for the work is $18,500. After that, there will be unknowns until it’s known what work is needed.
“Those unknowns could be another $28,000,” Bunge said. “If different parts are bad and need to be replaced. It’s up to the board if you would like to pay for a temporary pump in case there’s a problem with the other well during the work. The village could be without water if that happened. The temporary cost for the pump is $13,500.”
The board took no action on the matter and will revisit it in the future as the work gets closer.
Abandoned properties
Village Building Inspector Casper Manheim said during the meeting that work is ongoing to clean up abandoned properties in the village.
Last month, Byro stated the village’s desire to get the properties cleaned up through inspection, taking legal action and potentially purchase by the village.
Christmas tree
The board unanimously approved a $1,075 donation to the Creston Dement Library for the purchase of a tree that will be planted across from the library to use as a Christmas tree in Creston in the years ahead.
Christmas in Creston will take place on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include vendors and activities and the booster hall, library and possibly the school. The parade will take place the night of Dec. 2.
Halloween
Trick-or-treating in Creston will take place Saturday, Oct. 29 from 5-8 p.m., aligning with the City of Rochelle’s plans.
Hydrant flushing
Hydrant flushing in the village will take place Oct. 18 and 19.
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