Pinckneyville will market water tower space; raises minimum fine for violations to $100

The Pinckneyville City Council passed a resolution authorizing an agreement with Utility Service Communications Company Inc. to market space on the city's water towers for communications equipment.

Utility Service Communications Company maintains the city's three water towers.

Commissioner David Stone said the city will receive 70 percent of the fee received as rent on the towers from various communications companies.

Immediately prior to approving the contract, the council voted to allow the Pinckneyville Ambulance Service to place a radio repeater on the east water tower across the highway from the prison.

Shane Malawy of the Ambulance Service said he and representatives from Warner Communications have been in touch with Utility Services. They will work out how the repeater will be powered. The repeater, which will improve signal strength for the ambulances and radios, requires 15 amp service.

Warner Communications will install the repeater.

In other business, the council:

• passed a resolution extending the agreement with J&S Services for mowing the city's athletic fields for two years. The cost ($5,760) remains the same as the previous two years.

• placed on file for public inspection an ordinance raising the minimum fine for ordinance violations to $100 for all offenses.

• approved the hiring of an additional part-time police officer.

• authorized Treasurer Rick Reese to open a new bank account for payment of expenses incurred with the construction of the new soccer park. The city will transfer TIF funds into the account to cover initial expenses then determine how to pay for the remainder of the $800,000 project. All $800,000 must be spent before Pinckneyville can apply for reimbursement of half the cost.

• authorized the mayor to execute an agreement of terms and conditions of accepting airport improvement program grants with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration.

• granted permission for the American Thresherman Association to close Ballpark Road Oct. 16 through Oct. 20 for their fall show. Josh Giacomo said admission is free to the fall show. The council also authorized payment of $4,500 to ATA from the hotel/motel tax funds.

• authorized the City Attorney to work with the Planning Commission which is meeting regularly.

• set the trick-or-treat date for Thursday, Oct. 31 from 6 to 9 p.m. for ages 13 and under at homes with porch lights burning.

• agreed to allow all Class A liquor license holders to remain open an extra hour on Saturday, Oct. 26. The businesses will close at 2 a.m. instead of 1 a.m.

• approved a request from the Shriners for newspaper sales at locations around the square and four-way stop. City Clerk Fran Thomas will contact the Shriners about open dates.

• appointed Mary Caldwell and Hannah Kellerman to the Library Board.