Pinckneyville Cuts Costs
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Commissioner Leonard Heisner asked the Pinckneyville council to change trash pick-up service and to update the Xerox machine in the City Clerk's office for a combined monthly savings of $85.93.
The new Xerox machine will cost $81.56 per month, a $20.93 savings over the older machine.
Trash pick-up at City Hall and the Street Department will be done by S&L Hauling at a cost of $160 for two months. The current provider charges $290 for two months service.
Heisner also was authorized to purchase a security window for the utility collections counter at a cost not to exceed $5,000.
In other business, the council:
passed a resolution authorizing the a direct banking agreement between the City and First National Bank for utility payments. Customers will be able to pay online or via an ACH debit transaction.
passed an ordinance levying taxes for corporate purposes for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2011 and ending April 30, 2012. The city is asking for $533,839. The previous year's levy was $509,577.
passed both an ordinance and a resolution in support of extending the Perry County Enterprise Zone for an additional 10 years. A public hearing on the extension was held Nov. 17. All four municipalities involved- Pinckneyville, St. Johns, Du Quoin and Perry County- have agreed to extend the enterprise zone which is an economic development tool. The most popular perk of the enterprise zone is tax abatement on building materials.
agreed to donate $2,500 to Pinckneyville High School as a sponsor for the Duster Thomas Hoops Classic and Pinckneyville Shootout basketball tournaments.
agreed to give $30 gift certificates to all city employees for Christmas. The certificates will be redeemable at either Perry County Market Place or Save-a-Lot.
passed a resolution prohibiting parking at the intersection of Route 154 and Mildred Drive between Queens Way and Water Street and on city property west of Mildred Drive. Cars for sale have been parked there. No parking signs will be put up there.
discussed the flashing light in front of the High School. Mayor August Kellerman said that light flashes all the time instead of only when school is in session. Fixing the light may not be the best solution. Parts are hard to find and the lights are nearly obsolete. Fulk said he would instead ask IDOT to make the 20 mph zone permanent and remove the light.