State Payments, TUMS Sale Improves Pinckneyville's Year-End Finances
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Treasurer Rick Reese reported that the city has $797,191 in unrestricted funds and was set to pay bills in the amount of $194,684, leaving a balance of $584,000.
The state paid $303,000 towards overdue utility bills at the Pinckneyville Correctional Center and the $150,000 down payment for the TUMS building was deposited in the general fund.
The council approved the use of up to $55,000 of the proceeds from the TUMS sale to purchase no more than two vehicles and equipment for the Police Department.
"Now that we have the Department fully staffed, we need to buy vehicles and equipment," Commissioner Marty Beltz said.
Beltz said that the equipment would be purchased through the state purchasing program, unless a local vendor offers a better deal. Any costs that exceed $55,000 may be covered by restricted drug and DUI funds.
Instead of trading in a squad car, Beltz plans to sign one older model over to the Utility Department to use to drive water samples to and from Carbondale and Belleville on a weekly basis.
Commissioner David Stone said that employees are currently driving a one-ton, four wheel drive truck, which is expensive.
In other business, the council:
heard from Economic Development Coordinator Carrie Ford that the sale of the TUMS building was completed Dec. 15. Higman plans to begin renovations after the first of the year, creating a suitable space for Hush Bullet Inc. Ford will continue to work with Higman to find other occupants for the building. Ford is working with the Pinckneyville and Du Quoin Chambers of Commerce, SIU, DCEO and the Illinois Department of Employment Security on a Feb. 2 dinner meeting for local employers and business leaders. More information will be forthcoming.
heard from Mayor Joe Holder that he is meeting with Harold Palmer this week to review the applications for revolving loans from local businesses. He will contact the applicants who did not complete the necessary paperwork to offer them the opportunity to do so before calling a meeting of the revolving loan committee after the holidays.
re-appointed Tom Bardle and appointed Chuck McElvain as Captains in the Fire Department for one-year terms. The Rural Fire Department had already made the appointments.
heard from Mayor Holder that he will address his proposal for a 10 year program for comprehensive development in the city at the next meeting. The plan details the necessary infrastructure and improvements for utilities, transportation and recreation/tourism. It is a completely separate document from the comprehensive plan completed by an ad hoc committee several years ago. That plan addressed zoning and building codes and is still in the hands of Greater Egypt Regional Planning Commission.
briefly discussed the offer from the Southern Illinois Coal Belt Champion Community Inc. Intermediary Loan Program to loan up to $95,000 to cover construction costs at the Pinckneyville-Du Quoin Airport. The interest rate on the loan would be five percent. There would also be approximately $500 in closing costs involved. The council will look at the costs involved in borrowing through a tax anticipation warrant, as well.
approved the release of the contractor's bond on the sewer portion of the Cooper B-Line project, pending review of documents and approval from the city's engineer and attorney.