Enough Is Enough: Downtown Roadblocks Taking on Life of Their Own
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ It's a shame that the Du Quoin City Council Monday had to put its foot down on the backs of America's disabled veterans, but they had to put it down somewhere--and last night it didn't seem to matter where.
In less than three month's time, city hall has received 10 applications for downtown fundraising roadblocks. Six were on the council agenda Monday night.
"I've had a lot of complaints," Mayor John Rednour told the council, about the time Comcast's broadcast of the night's council meeting was cut off because of technical difficulty on Comcast's end.
Commissioner Kathy West has heard the same complaints and told the council that with respect to the Disabled American Veterans petition, the council must fall back on its own ordinance which says that only Du Quoin organizations are allowed to apply for fundraising roadblock dates. The Disabled American Vets serves about 20 local disabled veterans, but is based in Christopher--not Du Quoin. Roadblock monies are deposited in a Banterra Bank account in Christopher and money is dispensed from there to veterans at the Marion VA and at the veterans home in Anna, as well as small stipends to Southern Illinois vets in need.
All of the commissioners agreed it has nothing to do with the worthiness of this particular organization. It has more to do with the fact that residents criss-crossing Du Quoin on Saturday morning are sick and tired of spotting the roadblocks a block or two away then having the sweat bead up on their consciences about whether they have an extra $5 to give.
It's not about the individual causes--all certainly worthwhile. It has to do with the growing and collective issue of not being able to drive through Du Quoin without having to stop. Roadblocks got so bad in downtown Anna that the Anna city council banned them altogether several years ago.
City attorney Aaron Atkins told commissioner West that she was correct in that the ordinance specifically states only applications from Du Quoin organizations will and should be considered. The council also limited the number of roadblocks to 12 a year--an average of one a month--and only for one day each.
Roadblocks that were approved include the following:
Roadblock application submitted by the American Legion Rider's for May 16th.
Roadblock application submitted by the American Legion Post 647 for May 29th.
Roadblock application submitted by the Seventh Day Adventist Church for May 23rd.
Roadblock application submitted by the Perry County Humane Society for April 4th.
Roadblock application submitted by the Du Quoin Wal-Mart/Relay for Life through the American Cancer Society on May 9th.
In other action, the council approved Ordinance 2009-O01-04: An ordinance adopting the Revised Code of Ordinances. The work of all departments, City Clerk Blaine Bastien and city attorney Aaron Atkins has been painstaking since the work began in 2007.
The ordinances are specific and written in great detail, oft times more detail than can ever be enforced. For instance, the language of one ordinance about drivers who violate "duty of due care" can either be charged under city ordinance which provides that you pay your $75 fine and the complaint never reaches the secretary of state or your insurance company. Yet, it conflicts with the same language under state ordinance in which a guilty plea or conviction will go on your secretary of state's driving record and find its way to your insurance company.
The council approved Ordinance 2009-O03-01: An ordinance authorizing a two way stop at the intersection of East Monroe Street and South Madison Street. The stop sign will be placed were traffic exits the Madison Street apartments.
The council approved for public display Ordinance 2009-O03-02: A 14-page ordinance addressing tattoo parlors.
The council approved Resolution 2009-R03-02: a resolution authorizing participation in the Federal Surplus Equipment Program.
The council approved the closure of Mulberry Street from Main to Park Streets to facilitate the Hospice Poker Run on May 23rd from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on May 24th from noon to 4 p.m. to facilitate the Poker Run for the Shriners. More than 400 motorcycles and their riders are expected to be in Du Quoin for those events.
The council approved the street closure of Main Street from Washington to Division Street to facilitate the Heritage Days Festival (Friday and Saturday May 1st and 2nd, the street closure of Division and Mulberry from Main to Park Streets (Saturday only), and Park Street from Washington to Division Streets (Saturday only)
The council tabled consideration of hiring a parttime police department dispatcher.
The council placed on public display an agreement to purchase electricity from a reseller named Direct Energy beginning in May at an annual savings of between $10,000 and $12,000 to the city. Deregulation laws allow independent electricty brokers to purchase power on the open market. The city will now get two bills, one from Direct Energy and one from Ameren for the distribution, but together the two bills will be less than the city is paying now.
The council approved to proceed with a condemnation on the property located at 107 S. Line Street after a fire last year.
The council approved to proceed with a condemnation on the property located at 736 E. Park Street because of a more recent fire. Owners have taken no action to remedy the fire damage.