Pinckneyville will add $7,621 to grant funds to dig up Walnut Street sewer

The Pinckneyville City Council agreed to add $7,621 to $100,000 in grant funds to complete sewer work on Walnut Street.

Commissioner David Stone said he has already spent $37,536 lining the sewers on that street from Hawkins to Randolph Street. The sewer between Kaskaskia and West South Street needs to be dug up and replaced at a cost of $70,085.

Also as part of the $70,085, the city will get 10 manholes lined.

There was only $62,464 in grant funds left after the initial lining work. Stone said the additional funds would come from the sewer account.

In other business, the council:

• approved a $25,000 business district grant for McDonalds to use in their $180,000 renovation which began Monday, Oct. 27. The renovation includes a new dining room and hand-held ordering system for the drive-through. Commissioner Leonard Hesiner pointed out to the council that other businesses had been denied grant funds for completed work. The city asks applicants to get bids on the proposed project, but not to begin work until the council decides whether or not to award a grant. A sign at McDonalds said the work began Oct. 27 and will continue indefinitely. Mayor August Kellerman pointed out that the business that was denied had completed their renovation before filling out the application. Heisner also pointed out that the council has approved spending $600,000 on two projects. If both of them come to pass soon, there will be a $56,000 deficit in the business district fund.

• approved switching the city's business telephone, internet and long distance services to New Wave Communications. Heisner said that Sewer Plant #2 and the Park Office will remain with their current service. He anticipates a savings of $470 per month

• agreed with Zoning Board Chairman Mike Kovic that the current structure of zoning in the city is cumbersome. City Attorney Roger Seibert will work with the Zoning Board to draft some amendments to the zoning ordinance, one of which will authorize the zoning board to approve or deny special use permits and variance permits. The city council would act only as an appeals board if an applicant is unhappy with the zoning board's decision. Other changes include language and spelling in the original ordinance document and other issues such as signage. Kovic said he would like to make all the changes at once because a public hearing and lay-over period are required.

• heard from Mayor Kellerman that the city did not get a grant for a new sewer plant.

• discussed what a good job city employees did to have a smooth Mardi Gras weekend and timely clean-up.