Kampsville Board discusses Flood Buyout, changes meeting dates

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By Carissa Sitki

The Kampsville Village Board of Trustees met last Monday, Jan. 9, for their first meeting of 2023, at which an update on the Flood Buyout Program was given.
It was announced during the meeting that newly appointed trustee, Stephanie Angel, has been making headway with the program.
“I’ve been working with IDNR [Illinois Department of Natural Resources],” said Angel, “and things are going good.”
According to Angel, once the two properties they are working on get done, they are going to deal with the remaining two. Board Trustee Dennis Johnson said that Angel has been doing “a wonderful job.”
Dennis Johnson also pointed out some updates to the Kampsville Village Hall building, including freshly painted white walls and rearranged furniture. He said that he has been helping with the work and that it’s all been on a volunteer basis.
Also at the meeting, the board decided that they will begin meeting on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., instead of the first Monday.
“Meeting on the first is just too much, since we get our bank statements on the first of the month,” said Village President Amanda Johnson. “This will give us time to go over everything and get things together for the meeting.”
In other business, updates on the ditch cleaning and bridge repair of Farrow Cemetery Bridge as well as the bridge repair on the alley connecting N. St. Louis Ave Avenue and N. Broadway were given. It was reported that the repairs will be addressed later this spring.
In new business the board approved:
■ An ordinance amending competitive bidding threshold;
■ An ordinance changing the date of the regular meetings of the Board of Trustees;
■ The 2023 Schedule of Regular Meetings.
Amanda Johnson reported that both the Irby balance and the Highway Department balance were paid. She also said that the village sign issues will be addressed this spring, including repairing the peeling paint.
During Public Comment, Angie Suhling addressed the board with concerns she had regarding board members as well as an issue with the filing of her candidate paperwork for Village President.
“I’d like to address the double-standard in this town,” said Suhling. “residents are expected to be in line with the village zoning and ordinances. You guys are supposed to be the ones we look up to.”
Suhling then said that if she is in the mayoral seat following the spring elections, to look her up because she is in line with the ordinances. Suhling then stated that there was an issue with one of her candidate forms when she filed it and the village had it for days before contacting her.
“You had my paperwork for a week before telling me there was a problem with it,” said Suhling, “with only 36 minutes to get it fixed.”
Amanda Johnson responded to Suhling, first addressing a rumor regarding ordinances and analleged incident where her water was going to be turned off, stating that her “financial hardships” have been exploited and that no threats were made to Dustin Neese of the Water and Sewer department. Neese agreed with Amanda Johnson, adding, “I wasn’t asked to be there to shut her water off and no threats were made whatsoever.”
Neese said he only went to Amanda Johnson’s residence to locate her water meter and that the location of many of the meters in the village are hard to find.
Suhling then apologized for bringing up the ordinance issue and said, “for that I will publicly apologize.”
Amanda Johnson then said that the reason that the village took so long to contact Suhling was because they didn’t catch the error until the last day to file the paperwork.
“I caught it,” said Amanda Johnson, “and I called you. I didn’t have to do that, but I did.”
Suhling was able to get the paperwork fixed in time and will be running against Amanda Johnson in the race for Village President in April.
Suhling concluded her public comment by telling Amanda Johnson, “I don’t think you’re a bad person, but I think you’re the wrong person.”
The Board is scheduled to meet again on Monday, Feb. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Kampsville Village Hall.