Rockton Village Board gives reports, takes care of business

The Village trustees of Rockton meet the first and third Tuesdays of each month. On the agenda for the July 5, 2023 meeting at 7 p.m.: approval of a retainer agreement with personal injury attorneys Napoli Shkolnik, the purchase of downtown Rockton bike racks, NITE equipment for Diamond C LPX 22’ trailer, a security/fire system for the former Goldie Floberg property, the lease of two 2023 6500HD Silverados, and a special event application for the RDM Foundation 5K in October.

At their June 20, 2023 meeting, following a celebration of Officer Penny Cure and Sgt. Justin Jobst's 20 years of service, the Rockton Village Board heard reports and took care of other business.

Their first order of business was to allow the Knights of Columbus to hold their annual “Tootsie Roll Drive” on Friday Sept. 15 at the intersection of Salem and Union Streets from 4-7 p.m. The campaign helps people with intellectual disabilities.

Trustee Dave Winters gave the Rockton Police activity summary from the dates of June 1-15. He reported that 68 traffic tickets were issued, 31 warnings were given, and 15 criminal arrests were made. Three warrants were issued following the investigations, three traffic accidents happened, one with injuries.

The board voted to sell certain personal property owned by the Village of Rockton.

Trustee Jodi May asked the board to approve the purchase of a John Deere 324G Skid Steer for $35,416.47 and a John Deere Mini Excavator for $90,533.11 from West Side Tractor. Both are to be used by the Public Works department.

Trustee Arianne Honkamp, in her Parks and Recreation activity summary, reported that Stateline Baseball is using the Rockton Athletic Fields Monday through Thursday. “Play Ball” baseball tournaments have been held the past three weekends prior to the village meeting. The Drive 815 showed movies there on June 23 and 24 and will also be returning on July 1 through the entire month of July.

At the Village Green Park, the home of the Walt Williamson Pool, 37 swimmers were registered for Session 1 swim lessons which ran from June 12-22, while 15 swimmers registered for Session 2 which begins on July 3. The pool shelter was reserved for June 24. To date, the Rockton pool had been booked for 11 rentals and 102 season passes have been sold. Cold temperatures the week before the meeting resulted in a slow time at the pool.

At Settlers Park, Old Settlers Day clean up was underway. Rockton River Market prep and clean up was set for Wednesday and Thursday.

Upcoming projects include painting the gazebo in Settlers Park, and staining shelters in both the Village Green Park and Settlers Park,  trail maintenance and cleaning up areas around the buildings at Thunder Rock Prairie, home of Barkwood Dog Park.

The Village board voted to approve an agreement with the State of Illinois Department of Transportation to repair a railroad crossing on Highway 75 and E. Warren Street, by Mark's Pizza, where barricades are currently sitting. Bids will go out for this project on July 14 and work is expected to start around three weeks later. The State will be reimbursing the village for this project.

At the June 5 Village Board of Trustees meeting, Goldie Floberg CEO John Pingo handed over the keys of the former Floberg campus to the Village of Rockton. Ideas for future plans are beginning to surface for the property at 58 West Rockton Road, with best uses of the building are yet to be determined.