Phase I sports park agreement posted
The Pinckneyville City Council unanimously approved placing an engineering services agreement with Curl and Associates Inc. for Phase I of the sports park which will house new soccer fields and a football field on file for public inspection. The contract sets a deadline of Dec. 31, 2014 and is for $72,300.
Before placing the contract on file, Commissioners Leonard Heisner and Kevin Hicks and Mayor August Kellerman expressed some doubts about the project.
Commissioner Heisner said the council needs to sit down and decide how to fund the project. The city has received a $400,000 50/50 matching OSLAD grant for the project. The council voted to pay their share of the project with TIF funds.
However, the city will have to pay the full $800,000 on the project and wait for reimbursement from the state for half of the cost. Heisner was concerned about cash flow and how the sports complex construction would affect other planned projects.
He also asked that the public be made aware of exactly what work will be done in phase one of the project and what work is planned for subsequent phases.
Louis Curl said that the soccer fields, football fields, roads and parking were part of phase one. No other work has been slated for a specific phase. He plans to create alternate bids so that the work can be scaled back if necessary. The first area where cuts can be made is in parking. The original plan called for 250 paved parking places.
Mayor Kellerman said he would like to see water and sewer service as part of phase one. It makes no sense to build beautiful new fields then set porta-potties alongside them.
Commissioner David Stone said running water lines is doable. Running sewer lines and installing the necessary lift station is more expensive.
Commissioner Hicks questioned whether improvements to the Grandstand at the City Park were part of the overall sports complex plan. Commissioner Stone said the improvements to the grandstand are still in the works, but are not part of the sports complex project. He also said the city has no plans to abandon the old park or deed it over to another entity.
The council also had some questions about the total cost of the sports complex. They initially believed that all phases would cost $800,000. Now subsequent phases raised the cost estimate to $1.28 million.
Curl said proceeds from the sale of land to IDOT were earmarked for use in the project.
The council pointed out that they had not voted to use proceeds from real estate sales on the soccer fields. Those interested in seeing the fields built may have planned to use the funds, but the council has final say.
Mayor Kellerman also said that the Foundation should plan to fund subsequent phases.
"We represent all the taxpayers, not just the soccer crowd," Hicks said. He added that those in favor of the soccer field intimidate the council with crowds and Facebook chatter.
Commissioner Stone agreed that there are things the city needs more than new soccer and football fields, but said they will make Pinckneyville a place where people want to live.
"If I could use the funds to fix the sewers or for a new factory with 800 jobs, I would," Commissioner Stone said. "Those opportunities are not here. This opportunity is."
Commissioner Heisner pointed out that businesses don't relocate to be nearer youth athletic fields. Businesses move for financial reasons.
In other business, the council:
• held a required public hearing to discuss the use of $100,000 in CDAP grant funds for design and planning on a sewer project. Jesse Maynard of H.M.&G. Engineering said the grant funds paid for smoking and video viewing of the city's sewers on the north trunk line and the southwest side of town, as well as design for improvements. The city will apply for a construction grant to replace some of the sewer lines and repair others by inserting new linings. Maynard said the work would be done in phases and would start with the north trunk line closest to the Sewer Plant. There are currently two mains. One would remain in use while a new line is installed then the older line would be abandoned. The line is more than half clogged at this point. The grant application is due in January 2014.
The construction grant is a 75/25 grant. The city will have to decide how to pay for their share of the work, if a grant is received. Maynard said the options are raising sewer rates to cover the work, bonding or loans. The next step in the process is to break down the work into feasible phases and create cost estimates.
• approved the replacement of the water main on Bathon Drive and at the New Street mobile home park. Cost for the new line is $9,000. Tap-on fees for the mobile homes would generate $4,000. There are currently only two lines at the mobile home park. The new line would allow each home its own line.
• approved spending $2,500 for emergency repair of a pump in the backwash holding tank. Replacing the pump would cost $5,000.
• approved payment of $1,412 to Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission for the city's membership in 2013-2014. The membership fee is based on population. Mayor Kellerman said the fee would be paid from the Public Affairs budget.
• heard from Mayor Kellerman that he plans to follow Marion Mayor Bob Butler's lead in declaring the fourth Saturday in August 'Food Pantry Awareness Day.' The Mayors are encouraging everyone to donate to their local food pantry.
• heard that the Zoning Board will meet Thursday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend the meeting.