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VILLAGE OF CAMARGO

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Monday, January 12, 2026

6:00 pm

 

The Village Board of the Village of Camargo met in Regular Session on Monday, January 12, 2026 at the Camargo Village Hall.  The meeting was called to order at 6:01 pm.  Roll call found the following trustees present:  Jim Lansford, Josh Drake, Jim Hardway (in at 6:05), Jeane Breiland, Wade Lorenz, and Gary Gilpin.  Village Superintendent Kyle Raymer was also present.

 

Public Comment:

 

Kenny Green: nothing to report

 

John Loewenstein:  Mr. Loewenstein stated he was going to fix his place in his time, and for the record he lives at 419 S. John.  He stated the Board was not going to stop him from doing whatever he wanted, and he stormed out.  Mr. Loewenstein promptly returned, and stated he also wants the last year’s worth of meter readings and left again.  For a third time, Mr. Loewenstein entered the building and stated that the garbage around his property was “yard art” and he called it “Chaos.”  He then stormed out of the building for the last time, prior to allowing any board members to reply.

 

Gage Bailey:  Mr Bailey stated he did not have a water leak; he had a bad meter.  He shouldn’t be charged for the water used.  Kyle Raymer, Village Water Superintendent, stated the meter was not bad.  It was reading just fine; the digital numbers were not showing up on the screen.  But the meter was reading correctly.  Mr. Bailey stated the first 1000 gallons should be free and included in the base rate.  He is also upset with the ordinance violations he received in October 2025.  He said he shouldn’t have received them.  His vehicles are on private property, and he admitted that he hasn’t complied with some of those violations.  And furthermore, why should he have to pay a reconnect fee after having his water shut off?  It was explained to Mr. Bailey that a credit was given to his account for the leak adjustment in August.  He had short-paid his water account from August to November, and this is what resulted in shutting off his meter.  Mr. Bailey stated he would not pay anything over $50; thus resulting in all the late fees and then disconnect fee.  Jim Hardway advised him to pay his bill in full.  He also said he was done talking in circles with Mr. Bailey who continued to argue.  Mr. Hardway said it was time to move on.  Jeana Breiland tried to reason with him as well.  President Bart Dann also printed Mr. Bailey’s water bill and tried to show him how the unpaid fees were building up.  Again, he continued to argue.  The Board stated they were done with this discussion and were moving onto the next agenda item.  Mr. Bailey brought it to our attention that our online ordinances on the website needed to be updated.  

 

Tim Wegeng:  Mr. Wegeng attended the county board meeting on January 05.  The solar farm ordinances were voted in and are now in place.  County ordinance may be more strict than ours.  The Community Building door is ready to be picked up.  Installation will happen after school is out for the summer.  He is looking for new hardware as well.  The back door has been replaced as well as the office door fixed.  ARC Fellowship would like to paint/stain the stage this year.  This would be a mission project, and he suggests stain over paint.  He is also asking for permission to use the Village’s sound system in the basement during lent.  The board approved the use.  TIm is also going to see if he can get the microphones to work better – possibly just better microphones need to be purchased.

 

Approval of Consent Agenda: Jim Lansford made a motion to accept the consent agenda, and Josh Drake seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.  Mr. Lansford suggested that Bart call Conexxus and request a discount.

 

New Business:

 

1. Discussion and Possible Approval of Dead Tree Ordinance: Tabled until next meeting

 

1. Approval of Transfer of Funds from Water Fund to General Fund: Tabled until next meeting

 

Village Superintendents Report:  Village Superintendent Kyle Raymer reported the following:

 

• Samples were driven to Springfield
• 2 snows = 2 plowings
  • Plow blew cylinders on the truck
• Villa Grove had 2 water main breaks
  • 1 was during a snow storm
  • 1 resulted in a boil order
  • 2nd one we were able to shut down from Villa Grove
    • When they advised us to turn the water back on, there was second break
    • Turned the water back off from Villa Grove
    • This resulted in air in the water lines
• Tree down on River Rd
  • Large tree at Taylor Haines Park / fell in the wind storm
• 1 person done with Community Service hours
• 3 cylinders rebuilt on the Bobcat
• Pipe leak in the water plant
• Waiting on permit for mixed installation
• Electronic motor for pump that needs rebuilt
• JULIE is now online and active.  They can also add photos of proof of completion.
• Emergency JULIE completed today.  Kyle knows how the online system works, he will train Wayne

 

Village President’s Report: Village President Bart Dann reported the following:

 

• RE: Ambulance Contract: Bart met with Villa Grove on December 30.  There are no new contracts signed.  There is a clause in the contract that states there is an auto-renewal if no contract is signed.  Therefore, it was automatically renewed with a 10% increase.  This payment is not due until April.  Bart suggests we don’t pay it until April, and the Village should include a letter that states we will NOT be renewing this contract.  Also in attendance with this meeting was Kent Elam (Township Supervisor), Dennis Kibler (Newman Mayor), Wade Hales (Newman Fire Chief), and Derek Rassmussen (Villa Grove Mayor).  They are set to meet again in May.
• Shaw’s had a very large water leak.  It is believed that there was a man that turned their water on (witnessed by a neighbor) and left the property.  President Dann approached the Board for a special adjustment and permission to pay the remainder in installments.  The Board approved.
• Loewenstein Fire:  There was fire that was referred to by Mr. Loewenstein earlier in the meeting.  This fire was a camper that sat on the back of his property.  The fire spread to the back portion of Mr. Loewenstein’s house.  At the current time, it is uninhabitable.  President Dann approached the Board for special permission for Mr. Loewenstein and his grandson to live in a borrowed camper on the property for six (6) months while renovations were being completed.  The Board gave an exception to these ordinances for another member in town previously.  This exception would be for John and Logan only, and at the end of the six (6) months, they MUST be done renovating and ready to move back into the home.  Living in the camper will no longer be an option.  The Board approved the exception with the approval from the attorney.
• $100 Restitution Fees was found at the courthouse.  There was no case number attached to it or any names.  Therefore they don’t know where it should be credited to.  Bart believes the only restitution we would have received would have been for damage at one of the parks.  The Board agreed that the money should be put in the Community Building Fund.
• DAR: Salisa checked into the DAR program that was mailed to the Village last month.  Everything she could find would mean the Village would have to do some sort of community service project honoring the county (a play, a demonstration, something at the school).  The problem with this is the lack of volunteers.  Furthermore, she could not request more information from DAR without agreeing to do the projects first.  All the information she found also requested donations be made.  The Board agreed that we will not be participating.

 

With no further business to come before the Board, Village President Bart Dann called for adjournment at 7:11 pm.

 

Salisa Dann

Village Clerk