Wee-Ma-Tuk News
Forty Miles of Bad Road
I need to be clear here: I’m writing as a
citizen and a taxpayer, and not as a
representative of the WMTLA or its Board.
The ongoing disharmony between the
Putman Township Board of Trustees and the
Township Road Commissioner has
spotlighted a number of head-scratching
issues. I’ll use Q&A form:
Can the Board fire the Commissioner?
No. He’s an elected official. As such, he can
be terminated only by the County Engineer
{Bill Kuhn, 430 E. Oak Street Canton, IL 61520-
3155 Telephone: (309) 647-0351; email:
Fultonch@fultonco.org}.
From HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER’S
HANDBOOK, JUNE 2005 {www.dot.state.il.
us/blr/p018.pdf}
Three landowners of the Road District may
petition the County Engineer. If after a
hearing, the County Engineer determines the
roads are in need of repair, and that they are
not being properly maintained, he can order
the Commissioner to make the repairs. If there
are sufficient funds available to make the
repairs and the Commissioner willfully disobeys
the order of the County Engineer, the
Commissioner can be charged in circuit court
and, if found guilty, can be removed
from office. (605 ILCS 5/6-401)
Can the voters recall the Commissioner?
No. According to the Township Officials of
Illinois, (www.toi.org) {3217 Northfield Dr.,
Springfield, IL 62702; (217) 744-2212 or Toll-
free (866) 897-4688, no recall or impeachment
procedure exists for township officials.
Questions persist about repairs (some have
pointed out that the Commissioner’s repairs
often result in something worse than the
original damage), the absence of repairs, the
care of equipment, and the use of funds. In
the face of all this, the Commissioner has
refused to meet with the Board of Trustees
to answer their questions (see news story on
the left.)
The Commissioner may have good reasons
for his actions—but it will be very difficult to
learn what they are.
I’m not feeling very well served right now.
If you’d like to express yourself on this issue,
please use our Facebook page
(www.facebook.com.) Search for Wee-Ma-
Tuk, then click on Discussions tab.
I need to be clear here: I’m writing as a
citizen and a taxpayer, and not as a
representative of the WMTLA or its Board.
The ongoing disharmony between the
Putman Township Board of Trustees and the
Township Road Commissioner has
spotlighted a number of head-scratching
issues. I’ll use Q&A form:
Can the Board fire the Commissioner?
No. He’s an elected official. As such, he can
be terminated only by the County Engineer
{Bill Kuhn, 430 E. Oak Street Canton, IL 61520-
3155 Telephone: (309) 647-0351; email:
Fultonch@fultonco.org}.
From HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER’S
HANDBOOK, JUNE 2005 {www.dot.state.il.
us/blr/p018.pdf}
Three landowners of the Road District may
petition the County Engineer. If after a
hearing, the County Engineer determines the
roads are in need of repair, and that they are
not being properly maintained, he can order
the Commissioner to make the repairs. If there
are sufficient funds available to make the
repairs and the Commissioner willfully disobeys
the order of the County Engineer, the
Commissioner can be charged in circuit court
and, if found guilty, can be removed
from office. (605 ILCS 5/6-401)
Can the voters recall the Commissioner?
No. According to the Township Officials of
Illinois, (www.toi.org) {3217 Northfield Dr.,
Springfield, IL 62702; (217) 744-2212 or Toll-
free (866) 897-4688, no recall or impeachment
procedure exists for township officials.
Questions persist about repairs (some have
pointed out that the Commissioner’s repairs
often result in something worse than the
original damage), the absence of repairs, the
care of equipment, and the use of funds. In
the face of all this, the Commissioner has
refused to meet with the Board of Trustees
to answer their questions (see news story on
the left.)
The Commissioner may have good reasons
for his actions—but it will be very difficult to
learn what they are.
I’m not feeling very well served right now.
If you’d like to express yourself on this issue,
please use our Facebook page
(www.facebook.com.) Search for Wee-Ma-
Tuk, then click on Discussions tab.
CC1--Valentine's Day & Ice Fishing
CC2--What's Up with the Dock?
CC3--Wee-Ma-Birds
CC4--Fishing Story
CC5--Walking the Dogs
CC6--Who Was That Masked Kid?
CC7--Rescued
CC8-Demographics
CC9--Officially Unhip
CC10--Civic Pride
CC11--You Know You're from Downstate...
CC12--Blah Chasing
CC13--For Sgt. Ordaz
CC14--Two Entirely Unrelated Topics
CC15--Petersen Aces Number Eight
CC16--A Safety Rant
CC17--You Meet the Nicest Dogs
CC18--Reliable Sources
CC19--The Gotcha Cycle
CC20--Digitizing Our Past
CC21--Guests
CC22--Forty Miles of Bad Road
CC2--What's Up with the Dock?
CC3--Wee-Ma-Birds
CC4--Fishing Story
CC5--Walking the Dogs
CC6--Who Was That Masked Kid?
CC7--Rescued
CC8-Demographics
CC9--Officially Unhip
CC10--Civic Pride
CC11--You Know You're from Downstate...
CC12--Blah Chasing
CC13--For Sgt. Ordaz
CC14--Two Entirely Unrelated Topics
CC15--Petersen Aces Number Eight
CC16--A Safety Rant
CC17--You Meet the Nicest Dogs
CC18--Reliable Sources
CC19--The Gotcha Cycle
CC20--Digitizing Our Past
CC21--Guests
CC22--Forty Miles of Bad Road
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Past Columns (.doc files)
Putman Township Meeting Minutes
As a service to WMT website users, minutes of monthly
Putman Township meetings (first Wednesdays) will be
published following their approval.
June minutes are below.
As a service to WMT website users, minutes of monthly
Putman Township meetings (first Wednesdays) will be
published following their approval.
June minutes are below.
Minutes - Board of Putman Township Trustees
State of Illinois, Fulton County, Putman Township
THE BOARD OF TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES
met at the office of the Town Clerk at Cuba, Illinois on June 2, 2010.
PRESENT:
Jim Mitchell, Assessor Joe Putrich, Supervisor
Raymond Burgess Wilbur McClaughry, Town Clerk
Bonnie Burgess Jim Hootman, Town Trustee
Kathryn Shaffer Lisa Fahrenbruch, Town Trustee
Richard Howerter Francis Clark, Town Trustee
Donald Guinn Everett Lofftus, Town Trustee
Charles Shilney
Joe Putrich acting as chairman, and Wilbur McClaughry as clerk.
The following official business was transacted:
After Pledge of Allegiance, the minutes of May 5 were reviewed. Motion by Jim Hootman and seconded by Lisa
Fahrenbruch to accept minutes as corrected. Motion carried.
Treasurer's report was reviewed by Joe Putrich. Month of May expenditures and receipts were explained. Motion was
made by Francis Clark and seconded by Lisa Fahrenbruch to approve Treasurer's report. Motion Carried.
Personal matters were discussed off the record.
Motion was made by Francis Clark to have Highway Commissioner explain why certain duties in Article XXIII have not
been fulfilled and hold paycheck until he attends Township meeting and explains. Seconded by Lisa Fahrenbruch. Jim
Hootman yes. Everett Loftus absent at this time.
Public comments: Charles Shilney reported that he has lived in Wee-Ma-Tuk for 45 years and roads have never been as
bad as they are now. Kathryn Shaffer commented that roads need to be graded so water runs off. Richard Howerter:
Gale Road is bad along with several other roads. Highway Commissioner not present to reply to these comments.
Trustee Everett Lofftus arrived about 30 minutes late.
Joe Putrich has some bills that have been paid but needs trustees to initial vouchers.
Road District has bills that need to be reviewed and acted upon. Motion by Jim Hootman to allow payment of bills.
Seconded by Everett Lofftus. Roll call vote: Francis Clark, yes; Lisa Fahrenbruch, yes; Jim Hootman, yes; Everett
Loftus, yes. Motion carried.
Joe presented a resolution on Freedom of Information Act that is required by law that it be accepted by Township.
Motion by Francis Clark to accept resolution of FOIA with Elaine Putrich as authorized person to contact and Jim
Mitchell as alternate. Seconded by Everett Lofftus: Lisa Fahrenbruch, yes; Jim Hootman, yes. Resolution signed and
placed on file with Township Supervisor and Township Clerk. Assessor Jim Mitchell report: Jim has completed the
course to be FOIA alternate contact. Jim is working on bringing files up to date. A property on Putt Creek road has
not been listed on tax report and South 7th and Monroe new garage has been constructed and garage that was
constructed earlier has been used as a residence.
Senior exemptions need to be in before July 1st if a resident of property owned as of Jan 1st of the tax year. Also, there
seems to be question about properties at Wee Ma Tuk by some resident difference in tax percent paid. Part of north
side is Joshua Township which may have different percentage rate than Putman Township. Clerk Wilbur McClaughry's
report: Filed Budget and appropriations with CountyClerk.
Trustees had nothing to report.
Joe reported cinder spreaders have not been taken care of. ICC needs report on railroad crossing. Pot holes need
fixed. Roads need graded to center not to ditches.
No old business.
No new business.
No further business, Jim Hootman moved to adjourn. Seconded by Francis Clark.
Wilbur McClaughry
Township Clerk
Bill Phillips Shoots an Eagle
No, not with a gun or a seven-iron, but with a
camera. The bird was enjoying lunch in a tree
on the Phillips property. Click to enlarge.
No, not with a gun or a seven-iron, but with a
camera. The bird was enjoying lunch in a tree
on the Phillips property. Click to enlarge.
Boat Stickers
in the Mail
We're mailing
them out as your
dues come in.
Members may
send us a check
with the
statement in the
newsletter (or
download from
above) {WMTLA,
Box 211, Cuba, IL
61427.}
in the Mail
We're mailing
them out as your
dues come in.
Members may
send us a check
with the
statement in the
newsletter (or
download from
above) {WMTLA,
Box 211, Cuba, IL
61427.}
Click for .pdf download:
Feb 3, 2010: Pg 1 Pg2
Mar 3, 2010: All
April 5, 2010: All
May 5, 2010: All
June 2, 2010: All
Feb 3, 2010: Pg 1 Pg2
Mar 3, 2010: All
April 5, 2010: All
May 5, 2010: All
June 2, 2010: All
Township Meeting Report:
July 7, 2010
Note: Because only minutes that have been
approved are posted below, there's a month delay
between Putman Township Board meetings and the
minutes of them. What follows is a news report of
the July 7 meeting.
Road Commissioner Allan
Woodruff has informed the Putman
Township Board that he will no
longer attend monthly meetings
because of "harrassment by
members of the Board."
Woodruff's statement caps off a
prolonged period of
disharmonious exchanges with the
trustees and members of the
general public regarding his repair
efforts and spending of funds.
Woodruff's statement further
stipulated that he would be willing
to meet with "taxpayers" if such a
meeting is arranged through
Township attorney John McCarthy
{(309) 647-7477 - 45 East Side
Square, Canton, IL 61520}.
Supervisor Joe Putrich advised
that a large group of "taxpayers"
should be arranged.
The Board of Trustees last month
voted to withhold Woodruff's
salary until such time as he
attends meetings and answers for
his actions. Attorneys later
advised that such an action could
not legally be taken, and Woodruff
was issued his monthly check.
The next Township meeting will be
held on Wednesday, August 4 at
5pm.
July 7, 2010
Note: Because only minutes that have been
approved are posted below, there's a month delay
between Putman Township Board meetings and the
minutes of them. What follows is a news report of
the July 7 meeting.
Road Commissioner Allan
Woodruff has informed the Putman
Township Board that he will no
longer attend monthly meetings
because of "harrassment by
members of the Board."
Woodruff's statement caps off a
prolonged period of
disharmonious exchanges with the
trustees and members of the
general public regarding his repair
efforts and spending of funds.
Woodruff's statement further
stipulated that he would be willing
to meet with "taxpayers" if such a
meeting is arranged through
Township attorney John McCarthy
{(309) 647-7477 - 45 East Side
Square, Canton, IL 61520}.
Supervisor Joe Putrich advised
that a large group of "taxpayers"
should be arranged.
The Board of Trustees last month
voted to withhold Woodruff's
salary until such time as he
attends meetings and answers for
his actions. Attorneys later
advised that such an action could
not legally be taken, and Woodruff
was issued his monthly check.
The next Township meeting will be
held on Wednesday, August 4 at
5pm.
Bambi Filching Apples
Max Latimer sent this. Larry Noland's
apple supply is getting reduced, but
Bambi's keeping the doctor away...
Max Latimer sent this. Larry Noland's
apple supply is getting reduced, but
Bambi's keeping the doctor away...
What's the Horsepower on That Thing?
WMT's Bob Thayer was cruising the big lake on
his new pontoon bike. His son in Wisconsin
found it on Craigslist.
It looks like a lot more fun than a treadmill...
(Click to enlarge)
WMT's Bob Thayer was cruising the big lake on
his new pontoon bike. His son in Wisconsin
found it on Craigslist.
It looks like a lot more fun than a treadmill...
(Click to enlarge)
PRESS RELEASE
The Fulton County Highway Department
would like to inform the public of its
upcoming and ongoing projects.
County Highway 6 from Illinois Route 9
south to McKinley Road will be under
construction until early fall. This section
will be upgraded to an asphalt surface. It is
recommended that traffic take County
Highway 6 from IL Rt. 78 to their destination
on CH 6. This $2.1Million project will be
completed by R.A. Cullinan of Tremont and
its subcontractors. This project is funded
from the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009,
Emergency Repair Program funds, other
Federal, State and local funds.
The gravel section of County Highway 12,
from US Route 136 to 2 miles north of
Astoria, is being repaired with Emergency
Repair Program funds. The project will
include new culverts, drain tiles, new
ditches and some surface aggregate. This
$300,000 project will be completed by
Fulton County Highway staff.
Orion Township and Buckheart Township
also received Emergency Road funds for
repairs. The Emergency Repair road funds
for County Highway 6, 12 and the
Townships was made possible by
extraordinary efforts by our state elected
officials, including State Senators Koehler
and Sullivan and State Representatives
Smith and Myers.
County Highway 2, from IL Route 9 to
County Highway 17 (Midway to the 4-way),
is being crack sealed as part of the Fulton
County Highway Department’s Pavement
Preservation Strategy. The $150,000
project is funded by federal and local funds
and work will be performed by the highway
department staff.
Construction work on County Highway 6
from Illinois Route 78 (near Skyrocket
Junction) east towards Ameren’s Duck
Creek plant is complete. Approximately 0.6
miles will remain gravel and the other 1.1
miles will remain seal coat until the next
phases of this road upgrade are
completed. In the last year, Miller & Son
Construction of Mackinaw, IL completed
$1.4 Million worth of work to raise the road
to improve sight distances, drainage, and
improve safety. The project was funded by
Federal, State and local moneys.
Regular road maintenance for the year will
soon begin. Work this year will include
limited mowing in county right-of-way, seal
coating of County Highway 23 and County
Highway 13, spray patching, blade patching,
striping of County Highway 5 (Canton-Cuba
blacktop) and County Highway 13, and
culvert repairs and replacements. Cost
increases and revenue decreases have
resulted in a drastically reduced county
seal coat program. Seal coating has also
been drastically reduced by many
townships. This will result in significant
deterioration of seal coat roads. Similar
deterioration of gravel roads can be
anticipated on township and County roads.
Work on the Edward B. Sexton Bridge over
the Spoon River in Ellisville is expected to
begin Spring 2011. The highway
department will be holding an informational
meeting for interested parties on June 9,
2010 at 7:00pm at the Fairview Firehouse.
Please contact the highway department
and report any road slides, culvert
collapses or other road concerns. We
appreciate your input. If anyone should
have any questions or concerns please
contact the office Monday-Friday, 7a.m -12
noon, 1pm-3:30pm at (309) 647-0351 or 430
E. Oak Street, Canton, IL 61520 or
fultonch@fultonco.org .
The Fulton County Highway Department
would like to inform the public of its
upcoming and ongoing projects.
County Highway 6 from Illinois Route 9
south to McKinley Road will be under
construction until early fall. This section
will be upgraded to an asphalt surface. It is
recommended that traffic take County
Highway 6 from IL Rt. 78 to their destination
on CH 6. This $2.1Million project will be
completed by R.A. Cullinan of Tremont and
its subcontractors. This project is funded
from the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009,
Emergency Repair Program funds, other
Federal, State and local funds.
The gravel section of County Highway 12,
from US Route 136 to 2 miles north of
Astoria, is being repaired with Emergency
Repair Program funds. The project will
include new culverts, drain tiles, new
ditches and some surface aggregate. This
$300,000 project will be completed by
Fulton County Highway staff.
Orion Township and Buckheart Township
also received Emergency Road funds for
repairs. The Emergency Repair road funds
for County Highway 6, 12 and the
Townships was made possible by
extraordinary efforts by our state elected
officials, including State Senators Koehler
and Sullivan and State Representatives
Smith and Myers.
County Highway 2, from IL Route 9 to
County Highway 17 (Midway to the 4-way),
is being crack sealed as part of the Fulton
County Highway Department’s Pavement
Preservation Strategy. The $150,000
project is funded by federal and local funds
and work will be performed by the highway
department staff.
Construction work on County Highway 6
from Illinois Route 78 (near Skyrocket
Junction) east towards Ameren’s Duck
Creek plant is complete. Approximately 0.6
miles will remain gravel and the other 1.1
miles will remain seal coat until the next
phases of this road upgrade are
completed. In the last year, Miller & Son
Construction of Mackinaw, IL completed
$1.4 Million worth of work to raise the road
to improve sight distances, drainage, and
improve safety. The project was funded by
Federal, State and local moneys.
Regular road maintenance for the year will
soon begin. Work this year will include
limited mowing in county right-of-way, seal
coating of County Highway 23 and County
Highway 13, spray patching, blade patching,
striping of County Highway 5 (Canton-Cuba
blacktop) and County Highway 13, and
culvert repairs and replacements. Cost
increases and revenue decreases have
resulted in a drastically reduced county
seal coat program. Seal coating has also
been drastically reduced by many
townships. This will result in significant
deterioration of seal coat roads. Similar
deterioration of gravel roads can be
anticipated on township and County roads.
Work on the Edward B. Sexton Bridge over
the Spoon River in Ellisville is expected to
begin Spring 2011. The highway
department will be holding an informational
meeting for interested parties on June 9,
2010 at 7:00pm at the Fairview Firehouse.
Please contact the highway department
and report any road slides, culvert
collapses or other road concerns. We
appreciate your input. If anyone should
have any questions or concerns please
contact the office Monday-Friday, 7a.m -12
noon, 1pm-3:30pm at (309) 647-0351 or 430
E. Oak Street, Canton, IL 61520 or
fultonch@fultonco.org .
Carp-o-batics
Dozens--maybe hundreds--of carp put on a
jumping display trying to get over the road at
the north end of the big lake. They apparently
think they're salmon.
Unfortunately, none escaped...
For more, see Media Page.
Dozens--maybe hundreds--of carp put on a
jumping display trying to get over the road at
the north end of the big lake. They apparently
think they're salmon.
Unfortunately, none escaped...
For more, see Media Page.
Happy Birthday, USA
We're never sure which night it will
be, or if we should talk about it
much, but at least thirty boaters
drifted around Lake WMT on July 3
while a resident's annual party
launched fireworks that rivaled
those of a medium-sized city.
Boaters cheered, applauded, and
sounded their horns after several
particularly spectacular bursts.
On the 4th, Roger Schiller and I
cruised around docks and boats
with a July 4th version of caroling.
Click to enlarge.
We're never sure which night it will
be, or if we should talk about it
much, but at least thirty boaters
drifted around Lake WMT on July 3
while a resident's annual party
launched fireworks that rivaled
those of a medium-sized city.
Boaters cheered, applauded, and
sounded their horns after several
particularly spectacular bursts.
On the 4th, Roger Schiller and I
cruised around docks and boats
with a July 4th version of caroling.
Click to enlarge.
