Cost of Washington Street Water Line Put at $834,000
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Du Quoin City Council Monday approved an engineering agreement with J.T. Blankinship of Murphysboro to blueprint construction of a new 6-inch water main that will replace the large, failing line beneath South Washington Street.
The agreement calls for the eventual replacement of the line all the way from the intersection of Main and Washington Streets (near Marks Bakery) on the north to the intersection of Grant Way and Washington Street (near Mc Donald's restaurant) on the south.
City administrator Blaine Bastien told members of the council the project is probably valued at around $834,000. Bastien said the agreement sets in motion the goal of rebuilding the line, but it could take several months not only to design the line and its various shutoffs and connections, but to partner with the Illinois Department of Transportation to get the project built. The water line sits under a state highway--Rt. 51.
The council also approved a contract in the amount of $554,000 with Granite City-based Guarantee Electrical, Inc. to build the new 75KW solar field in the Du Quoin Industrial Park. That company has been in business since 1902 and has been under the same management since 1945, according to economic development director Jeff Ashauer. The company has been building solar projects for the past five years. "This is a long-awaited moment," said Ashauer. "I get excited about this." The solar field will be located south of the Heartland Baking Co. in the industrial park and will generate enough electricity to power a business the size of a Walmart Super Center. The electricity generated will be sold on the electric market and rebates given to industry in the industrial park as an incentive to locate there.
In other action:
The council approved a roadblock application for the Perry County Shriners Club for October 15.
The council approved ordinance 2011-O08-01: An ordinance amending Chapter 29 Article 9 to include maintenance requirements on dilapidated buildings and/or structures-Public Display
The council approved Resolution 2011-08-01: A resolution authorizing the 2012 TIF #1 and TIF #2 budgets. Ashauer said the districts had income of $46,600 last year with anticipated revenues of $58,000 this coming year. He said the income is paying for startup monies from the city, development projects and a portion of the cost of a new road in the industrial park. "It (TIF) will honor all of its agreements," said Ashauer.
The council approved the 2010 fiscal audit as performed by Emling and Hoffman. There were no major findings. The administrative staff was thanked for its work.
Special note was made of the "Guns & Hoses" Corey Shaw family benefit at Rent One Park and Saturday's police and fire "Family Night in the Park."