Du Quoin council settles on 3.5% water rate hike
The Du Quoin City Council Monday voted to increase residents' combined water & sewer bills by 3.5 percent.
That covers the first of Rend Lake's plan to increase its wholesale rate to customers by 3.5 percent in each of the first two years and by 3 percent the last three years.
Du Quoin will pick up some money by applying the increase to its whole bill--not just the water side of the bill--which will help retire bonding on over $1.5 million in new downtown water lines.
This was done in past administrations, as well.
Here's a very simplistic example: If you have a $50 water/sewer bill, your bill will go up $1.75.
In other action, the council:
The council authored and presented a special proclamation honoring student Rachel Gomes as being a national Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) first place winner.
Approved Ordinance 2013-O05-01 Amendment to Section 21-3-17 "Liquor" of the Revised Code of Ordinances of the City of Du Quoin, Illinois. This require any establishment which offers video gaming to have a city liquor license first.
The council passed three ordinances in an effort to Street-Machine Nationals-proof the city as best it can for the June return of the high performance event. The three ordinances are:
1. Ordinance 2013-O05-02 restricting the use of parking lots within corporate limits.
2. Ordinance 2013-O05-03 restricting the use of RVs and other temporary shelters which should curb camping in town during the event.
3. Ordinance 2013-O05-04 prohibiting car cruises on city streets.
The city is also approving economic development agreements with businesses.
Resolution 2013-R05-01 is an agreement between City of Du Quoin and McIntire Electric for a $5,000 mini-downtown grant to upgrade the facade and install a new awning.
Resolution 2013-R05-02 is an agreement between City of Du Quoin and Parker Kent at 500 South Madison for a TIF business development loan to renovate what most know as the P.R. Mallory building. In recent years that building has housed Essex International, part of the Turco operations and more recently Prestige Trailers, Inc.
The council also approved a resolution allowing this year's annual Du Quoin State Fair twilight parade.