Technicolor Pays $230,000 Real Estate Tax Bill on TUMS

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Pinckneyville commissioner August Kellerman told his city council Monday that Technicolor Universal Media Inc., the previous owners of the TUMS plant, in a standing agreement with the city has paid the 2008 real estate taxes on the plant in the amount of $230,000.

However, due to the late payment of the taxes penalties in the amount of $5,332.51 remain outstanding.

Grateful that the city didn't wind up saddled with the huge tax bill, Kellerman moved to have the city pay the penalties to meet the Friday deadline and keep the plant from going to the tax sale.

The city will seek reimbursement from Technicolor for the penalty fees.

The economic development office reported that there were still two parties interested in the TUMS property.

The payment of the TUMS real estate taxes is one worry off the city's shoulders, but the state still owes Pinckneyville nearly $352,000 in past and current water and natural gas bills.

Kellerman aired his frustration and said there was little the city could do to force a payment from the state. The city bought the land for the prison and handed it over to the state to be built, however the state did not pay the city back.

"The city gets most of its money from utilities," Kellerman stated, "There is not a lot we can do to force the state to pay for utilities for the prison because we aren't allowed to shut them off."

Kellerman also said, "We've been able to pay all our bills. That's something I'm really proud of."

Other departments also made short statements on how their departments were working to be more efficient.

Commissioner Martin Beltz said that the police department was operating with more part time workers to cut back on over time and that he was in talks with the fire chief about future cuts to the fire department.

Commissioner David Stone stated that the city was keeping a more watchful eye on spending and that the number of city employees had dropped from 15 to 10.

Mayor Holder also commented that Pinckneyville's situation was no different from many other US cities experiencing the recession.

"It's hard to shrink that fast," Holder said commenting on how hard the economy had an effect, "Pinckneyville is just ahead of the curve because of the state debt from the prison."

Holder said that he was open to all suggestions brought to him to help save the city money that people would be interested in.

Other items covered on the agenda:

The treasurer's reported showed that after the bills were paid the city had $198,531.16. However, a $212,000 gas bill would be due on March 20.

Approved a request by the American Legion to collect funds for Poppy Day on May 22, 2009 at locations around the square and the four-way stop from 2 to 6 p.m.

Approved R-2009-12 for maintenance of streets and highways by municipality under the Illinois Highway Code and appropriating $172,000 of motor fuel tax funds for 2009, as placed on file at the previous meeting.

Considered and approved the bid of $87,632.07 by the Kellerman Bros. for work on a city parking lot on the west side of McDaniels Furniture. A grant approved for the project will fully fund the cost.

Approved O-2009-01 repealing a previous ordinance that established a municipal service fee of $3 for the disposal of vegetative matter. The street department will no longer pick up limbs and leaves.

Authorized renewal of a contract with Blackbaud Fundware support for the new accounting system used at City Hall in the amount of $2,233.75 for services May 1, 2009 through April 30, 2010.

Lois Heisner attended the meeting asking if a reduction in gas rates would be following the market reduction in gas prices by 40%-50%. Commissioner Stone replied that the city is locked in at their current rate of $7, which also keeps it from getting high, and that a reduction would not be seen until the summer .

Approved the TIF eligible expenses totaling $297,038.47 for the Pinckneyville Shopping Center Project. TIF accounts approved for the project are set at $250,000 and costs over that amount will not be billed to the city.