OC Informer News and Talk

09/09/2025

Health Insurance Seminar
9/11/25
10 AM

08/28/2025

After this last meeting, what do the readers of this page think of the proposed water rate increases?

08/28/2025

Board of Works and Common Council Meeting 8/28

Board of Works
Claims from 8/26 meeting accepted. Have been paving for the Community Crossing grant. Transmitter at the sewage treatment plant went out, was replaced at a cost of just over $16,000. Corn Festival saw some A/C issues at the Community Center. One unit was $1,400 to repair, one required replacement at a cost of $6,000.

Police Chief
New officer went to State Law Enforcement Academy and passed his physical with flying colors. New patrol cars to come in next week.

Parks
Needs w**d killer, 500 gallon concentrate. $93 cost was approved.

Code Enforcement
Wrote up a total of 7 properties. Wants to take action on property at 810 S. Franklin St. Property burned about 6 years ago; city is seeking to condemn. Residence at 526 W. Trusler St. being written up. Has been warned about property condition for several months and would like to go ahead and have the write up written. 418 W. Oak St. being written up for trash in yard and height of grass.


Common Council
Under old business Turkey Creek Drainage study is going on schedule should have results by next meeting. Reinvested water department CD.
Under New Business, Buzz Krohn from Krohn & Associates was there to speak about the rate study done for the city water department. The city is part of a routine maintenance program for the water treatment facilities at a cost of $60,000 annually. Proposes a water rate increase of 12.4% with a $1.67 increase flat rate per 1000 gallons. Currently the rate is $3.27 per 1000 gallons will go up to $4.94. Also proposes 3% annual rate increase over the next three years. Rate Ordinance 2025-6 to have a hearing 9/23. Other business the mayor attended the Small Urban Road conference and secured a grant to get traffic studies done to figure out what road improvements need to be done in town. Town handed 4 properties over to Redevelopment Commission. Judge to make ruling on building by tracks with fallen in wall. City has put cones up to keep people out of the right of way by that property. Parker Drug Store project to receive Brownfield Grant for Environmental Studies to be conducted on the property before demolition.

Water rate increase chart is in the attached photo.

08/28/2025

Board of Works & Common Council Meeting 8/12

Board of Works:
Mayor Deffendall met with Darryl Schmitt about getting the trees across from the Subway that are in the ditch cleared, as well as the ones across from the sewage treatment plant. Will be meeting with the state to get a solution. Engineering study about wastewater on the east side of town to find out a solution to flooding and other issues. Postponing hydrant flushing due to new line being installed at the end of town. 75 S. and East Cypress having a new culvert installed prior to new blacktop being put down. The city had a utility golf cart go down, got it repaired at a cost of $178.40.
Police Chief
July 27th the OCPD took part in the active shooter training put on by the Sheriff’s office that was held at Gibson Southern High School. Due to insurance cost, the city has decided on a light bar on the new patrol car, Insurance said that it would be better for liability and safety to have a light bar instead of window mount lights.
Parks
Department of Health found minor violations at New Lake Campground. These were:
• Heat tape at dump station
• Concrete apron at the dump station not being level
• Hose does not have a retraction feature
• Screens in the park bathrooms are torn.
All items from Parks Department approved.
Code Enforcement
311 Vine Street was written up for height of grass.
Paving
Finished patch work on Dongola Rd.

Common Council Meeting
Community Crossing grant paving projects have gotten underway with several projects getting started. Had meeting with Paul Waters and developer for property out by I-69 to possibly get something put out there. Met with city and county attorney to get some issues with the sewage work that was done on Jackson St. fixed. Sally Duncan and Mayor Deffendall went to Chicago to get more info on the Brownfield grant and how to go about using that money. City also received another grant at this time. Motion to approve parks department expenditures approved. Resolution 2025-2 assigning 4 parcels of land in town to the Oakland City Redevelopment Commission was passed.

Will Post the 8/28 meeting later today, there's a lot to cover there but I will have it here around lunch time so keep watch for that.

08/25/2025

Here is the schedule for tomorrow's town meetings. I encourage anyone who can to attend.

07/24/2025

I will be doing a new format for Town Council meetings. Since they now have two a month I'll be posting both at the same time at the end of the month. Here's this month's council meetings.

General Council Meeting 7/8

Community Crossing Grant Projects started this week. A Minnesota based environmental grant was approved for the town to do some environmental studies.

The town had three water main breaks in two days from 8:00 PM - 2:00 AM Crews worked to fix those issues. One happened while a fire was raging right up the road.

After the motorcycle wreck the mayor asked council for approval to install a helipad for emergencies at an estimated cost of $5600. Will be approximately 20'x20'. Will discuss further at another date.

The city got state permit approval for a water main extension to the new duplexes on 357. Possibly new housing going up in Harding addition as well.

General Council 7/22

New sidewalks from Community Crossing Grant were completed from Baptist Church parking lot to Clay St. Vine, Cherry and Jackson streets to follow. Also looking into using chip and seal to finish out grant money.

A large tree fell through the shelter house at the park damaging the roof. Luckily it didn't damage the rafters so it will not be a bad repair.

Meeting with Duke Energy as well as Midwest Engineering about boring under Highway 357 for the power for Oakland Gardens and doing it at the same time as water to save on cost.

City was advised that the bushes around the flag pole at Wirth Park have bag worms and will have to be sprayed or removed. No one locally is certified to spray for them so they are looking into removal and replacement.

Had a meeting 7/10 for the Environmental Grant where the city was given $75k hasn't been instructed yet on how to use it.

Was informed they may be able to use Community Crossing Grant on roads at the New Lake if they named them. Passed an ordinance to name the streets however they haven't come up with names yet.

07/16/2025