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$6 million in Pinckneyville debt is now down to $2.9 million

Harold Emling of Emling and Hoffman summarized the city's audit for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2013. Pincknevyille got a standard clean opinion with only three recommendations.

The recommendations include paying the bond interest and principal out of sales tax revenue first then using other funds to cover any shortfall instead of just paying from the general fund, dealing with some checks that have been outstanding for a year or more and paying municipal gas tax only on gas sales, not on the balance of the gas account.

Emling said the future is looking good for Pinckneyville. Seven or eight years ago the city had long-term debt of about $6 million it is currently at about $2.9 million. Within the next five years, the city will owe only $500,000. The the city will pay $885,000 in 2014, $862,000 in 2015, $850,00 in 2016 and $709,000 in 2017.

Mayor Augie Kellerman said the council and city employees have worked very hard to get the city in good financial shape. He pointed out that Pinckneyville needs a new sewer plant, which may increase long-term debt in the near future.

In other business the council:

• passed the ordinance establishing a municipal service for disposal of vegetative matter which was placed on file at the previous meeting. Anyone who would like the city to pick up their leaves/debris may submit a written request at City Hall and pay a $20 deposit. Tree trimmings should not exceed three inches in diameter. The debris should be raked into piles no further than five feet from the right-of-way of any street for collection. Cost is $20 for up to a half truck load (2.5 cubic yards) and $45 for a full truck load (5 cubic yards). Additional charges beyond the deposit shall be billed to the customer for payment within 30 days.

• approved payment of TIF rebates to Community Link- $10,128, Contempri Industries- $2,669, Graff's Tooling- $443, Perry Pointe Development- $65,069 and the CDAP revolving loan account- $6,648.

• agreed to repay $45,956 in real estate taxes to Garden High Rise from the TIF fund. The high rise was declared a tax-exempt property in court.

• authorized the advertisement of bids for improvements at the Fire Station. The improvements will include a walk-in door, keypad system and roofing and guttering repairs. Total cost of the project is estimated at $13,940.

• heard from Commissioner Sam Fulk that he should receive the paperwork on the cemetery drainage project this week. Once the Mayor has signed it, the paperwork will be handed to the project engineers who will give the contractor a notice to proceed. The contractor will then have 10 days to begin work.

• accepted the resignation of Police Officer Nathan L. Murry, effective Sept. 15. Murry is leaving to take a position with IDNR.

• agreed to close Sullivan Street from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25 for the 11th annual St. Bruno Trunk or Treat.

• approved payment of $10,000 to Wright's Inc. from the facade improvement grant program.

• approved a $2,500 donation to Pinckneyville Community High School for the Duster Thomas Hoops Classic. The funds will be taken from either the hotel/motel tax fund or the public affairs fund.

• passed a resolution designating Fire Chief James D. Gielow as emergency management liaison officer to the Perry County Emergency Management Agency.

• heard from Doug Kellerman that the grand opening of the new Pinckneyville Shopping Center will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12.