County Board hears community garden idea
Solid Waste Coordinator Becky Tracy told the Perry County Board that she and Rhonda Schubert of the University of Illinois Perry County Extension had discussed the possibility of putting in a community garden behind the Government Building.
Tracy said there were some questions to be answered before moving forward, particularly what the county's liability insurance carrier would have to say about the project. Other issues are where to put it and the up keep.
Tracy said the woman who mows the grass at the Government Building had no objection to mowing around a garden.
The idea is to allow the Perry County Master Gardeners to plant a few items the first year. They will then offer seminars on the produce they've grown. The community garden would undoubtedly expand each year. Any extra produce would be donated to a local food pantry.
Commissioner Sam Robb said that barring any red flags from the insurance carrier, he thinks it's a good idea.
Tracy will get more information and bring the issue to board again soon.
In other business, the board:
•passed a resolution approving special use permits for Verizon Wireless to place a 185-foot tower in a field south of Willisville and Matthew Blair to place a 2011 mobile home on an 81-acre parcel on County Line Road near Hollyhock Road.
• passed resolutions reappointing Robert Kelly and Bruce Cope to the Perry County Housing Authority Board, Jack Hardy to the Cutler Community Fire Protection Board, Dr. Charles W. Roe and Linda Quillman to the Board of Public Health and Carrie Gilliam and Judy Smid to the Tourism Board.
• passed a resolution approving raffle licenses for the City of Du Quoin Art on Main Committee and Pinckneyville Correctional Center Employee Benefit Fund.
• heard from County Clerk Josh Gross that Five Star Industries would like a letter of support from the board to include in their capital assistance grant application for a new minivan from IDOT. The board had no objections, but could not act on the matter until the next regular meeting.