Zimmerman redevelopment plan includes new Du Quoin baseball training center at 6 West Main Street
Du Quoin Mayor Rex Duncan took his seat at the head of the city council table Monday night, saying he doesn't shoulder his new role as a caretaker. "I am sorry; that's not me. Our community will progress."
Duncan told the council and the audience that he will appoint Du Quoin resident Don Kunkel to fill his unexpired term on the council. Commissioner Kathy West will become finance commissioner and Kunkel will take her seat as the city's new street commissioner. That appointment is expected to come in April.
West had a previously announced commitment and could not attend the meeting, leaving only Duncan and commissioners Yvonne Spencer and Josh Downs as the night's quorum.
The meeting went quickly with the council approving a TIF refinancing agreement for Dr. Richard Zimmerman, whose family is constructing a new baseball training center at 6 West Main Street in the building alongside the Du Quoin Dialysis Center. The agreement finances $10,000 toward renovation of the building with the money being paid back into the city's revolving loan fund over a period up to 20 years. The city also approved the installation of a small solar project atop a building in Du Quoin's industrial park owned by Burke Manufacturing. The 1.5KW installation will complement the industrial park's larger solar park to the south.
Owner John Burke said his company will transition from its current location on Olive Street to the industrial park over the next year.
The council authorized the purchase of a new police car at a cost of $23,247 through the state's purchasing program. The 2013 Dodge Charger will come from Thomas Dodge in upstate Illinois. The city currently has 11 vehicles for its officers.
Commissioner Spencer thanked County Clerk Kevin Kern for his assistance over the years. City administrator Brad Myers noted that the roof on city hall needs to be replaced in the near future and asked the council to consider the purchase of a new printer for the office.
The work ahead for Mayor Duncan will be chronicled in an upcoming March Progress Report, but Monday he thanked the city's 40 employees, wants everyone on city boards and commissioners to remain, as well as city attorney Aaron Atkins, Treasurer Jacqueline Williams and economic development director Jeff Ashauer. He said the city has been "through more change than we could have imagined" in recent months. He asked all employees to "spend money with restraint", said a single digit water rate increase will be necessary and that pensions will be funded. He said not paying pension liability now would be "unsustainable" in the future. He said the city will take delivery in March on a new fire truck and that while the return of the Street Machine Nationals in June is a concern it is manageable.
He pointed to investments in infrastructure, the downtown and ramping up property maintenance and renovations.