Pinckneyville Finances Stabilize: City Must Replace Fire Truck Engine

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Pinckneyville Treasurer Rick Reese told the city council Monday the city has $330,000 in cash on hand after the bills were paid. He noted that the account balances are only $847 off from last year and $15,000 off from the year before. In previous years, the account balances had dropped $200,000 to $300,000 from year to year.

However, he predicts that the city will have to borrow again in the coming fiscal year. The city borrowed $200,000 and $150,000 via tax anticipation warrants over the past two years. Reese expects the city to have difficulty paying high gas bills in the winter again this year. Cash flow will continue to be a problem.

He noted that the $3 per month yard debris fee has been discontinued, lowering expected revenue. The city must pay $187,620 in bond payments in June to the EPA. The city pays $65,000 per month to the bond account.

"We've had to double up this month," Reese said. "We put in $70,000 and we'll add another $65,000."

In other business, the council:

-- approved spending $7,500 to have the engine of the fire truck used to respond to car accidents rebuilt. The engine seized and the vehicle had to be towed. Miller Repair will remove the engine and ship it to Jasper Engines to be rebuilt, then re-install it.

-- heard from Commissioner David Stone that the gas regulator station near the Junior High School needs to be replaced. Cost for the replacement is estimated at $75,000 to $100,000. There are restricted funds in the gas surplus account that can be used for this project.

-- passed a resolution applying for a Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) grant to do the design engineering on a project to upgrade the sewer system on the south side of town. HM&G engineer Jesse Maynard said that this is the second step in a three-step process. The first step was to investigate the sewer lines in that area. A $15,000 grant was received in 2007 to conduct the study. Maynard said reviewed the footage paid for by the 2007 planning grant, which includes 30 manholes. His recommendation is to replace 15 manholes and repair 15 manholes. There are also cracks, holes and infiltration problems with the sewer lines in that area. "There aren't any collapses that I've seen yet," Maynard said. "But, the camera could not get into some areas." Commissioner Sam Fulk asked if the sewer line that runs under Route 127 could be moved so that future repairs would not require tearing up the state road. Total cost for the design engineering would be $49,000, including $4,000 in administrative fees.

-- approved awarding bids to the low bidders for the 2009 motor fuel tax program. The low bidders were Illini Asphalt on bituminous material and seal coat aggregate, Bar Trucking on surface material CA-6 and Beelman Ready Mix for concrete. The contracts were placed on file at the previous meeting.