Du Quoin to Construct Downtown Water Line First; 4 Million Gallon/Month Leak Found
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[2012 will hold major improvements for downtown Du Quoin, economic development consultant Jeff Ashauer told the city council Monday.
The city is now poised to swap the planned construction of a new water line down South Washington Street for a complete reconstruction of water lines in downtown Du Quoin before the start of an $800,000 sidewalk project begins.
The council has reached tentative agreement with J.T. Blankinship, Inc. on a $141,000 engineering agreement to move the projects forward. "We're in the beginning of planning," Ashauer told the council. At the outset a large water line that runs east and west from Lines Street all the way to Hickory Street would be replaced. Of that project, the city would start with the replacement of the section ofline between Washington Street and Hickory. With that line installed, construction would begin on new walks in downtown Du Quoin without having to further disturb the streets or walks. Ashauer said a "blend of financing" will pay for the major capital development projects.
Du Quoin water commissioner Yvonne Sauer told the city council Monday that a contract with a company called Leak Detection Services, Inc. was money well spent.
The company has already found two smaller water main leaks in mid-town Du Quoin which together were costing the city 400,000 gallons a month in lost water.
But, the largest savings came in finding a completely broken 4-inch water main on West Park Street that was costing the city upwards of 4 million gallons a month in water.
Commissioner Sauer said the three leaks account for the majority of between 5 and 7 million gallons a month in leaks--all water that the city has been buying from Rend Lake. Mayor John Rednour said the leaks may be costing the city up to $70,000 annually. "We were buying between 5 and 7 million gallons of water more that we sold."
That leak detection work continues.
In other action, the council:
Continues to fine tune an ordinance amending the curfew hours for City of Du Quoin Park areas-Public Display
The council tabled an ordinance amending Chapter 23, Schedule D of the current traffic code to include "no parking" on Pawnee Drive. Street commissioner Kathy West said the issue is still under review, but most feel the proposal will never be brought back to the table. Pawnee Drive is a too-narrow street that runs east and west alongside East Park Street. One resident said invoking no parking on the street would impact several residents. She was concerned about no one being able to have occasional family events at their homes because of limited parking.
On a similar subject, police commissioner Josh Downs said he received an anonymous letter from a resident complaining about parking enforcement at high school athletic events. The commissioner and Ameren last week asked football fans not to park in front of Ameren's substation on Olive Street as a safety matter. The letter said if that's the case, police should enforce fire hydrant and other "no parking" areas in the same neighborhood.
It gets down to common courtesy and safety and Mayor Rednour said if someone can't sign their name to a letter the best thing to do is throw it away.
Both Rednour and Downs are in agreement that Du Quoin departments try to be accommodating at every turn, but the city needs your name and contract information to discuss these issues one-to-one.
The council approved the $9,996 in funds necessary to replace the heating/cooling unit at the Amtrak Station and Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce office in downtown Du Quoin.
The council approved the sale of a surplus 2002 Chevy Impala squad car to Allen James for $815.
The council approve the funds necessary to purchase a 2012 Dodge Intrepid through the State of Illinois Central Management Services program from Thomas Dodge, Inc. for $23,357.