Pinckneyville promises cemetery solution

Elected officials and residents disagree on how to solve the flooding problem in the City Cemetery. Pinckneyville commissioner Sam Fulk cited safety concerns for city employees in explaining why no work has been done since the first complaints were registered in March.

Fulk said the city's engineers recommended running a camera through the drainage pipe to locate blockages. The camera has been ordered, but not used yet.

"I want to send the camera through as close to the time we do the repairs as possible," Fulk said. He added that additional problems could arise if there is a delay between viewing the blockages and making the repairs.

Russell and Suzanne Engelhardt were not happy with that explanation and want the entire 450-foot pipe replaced instead of repaired, calling repairs a 'temporary fix.'

Mayor August Kellerman said he does not know what caused the problem, but it has been ongoing. He promised to find a solution.

Fulk said replacing the entire pipe could cost $250,000 to $300,000.

Linda Biby said the flooding could have been avoided if better care had been taken of the cemetery, mowing closer to the tracks and trimming trees.

Biby said fixing the cemetery should be the city's number one priority and suggested diverting water to another area.

Fulk said that the cemetery is the lowest point in the area and water flows down hill. It is not possible to divert the water to another area.

In other business, the council:

• heard from Shirley Welsch that she does not believe the city needs another park or new soccer and football fields. The city has received a $400,000 matching grant to begin the first phase of the proposed sports complex. IDOT wants to buy the land where the soccer fields are currently located. Chad Rushing of the Park Initiative said the sports complex is needed and would not replace the current park and fairgrounds. He invited anyone interested in learning more about the park initiative to attend the committee's next meeting at 6 p.m. on June 18 at the Thresherman Building at the Perry County Fairgrounds.