Soccer Park required $20,000 for soil work

The Pinckneyville City Council authorized Mayor August Kellerman to sign off on the change order for soil amendment at the soccer park.

Commissioner David Stone said the bad soil was in an area 100 yards long by six feet deep. It was excavated, refilled and compacted where the entrance road of the soccer park will be located.

Stone said that any change orders over $10,000 must be approved by IDNR. Kellerman can sign off on the change order after the state approves.

Total cost of removing and replacing the bad soil was $20,143. Stone noted the project received a credit of $10,000 for a drainage pipe change in the field area.

In other business, the council:

• authorized HM&G to notify the sole bidder on the city square lighting project that the project will be re-bid in February. The city sent 10 bid packets, but received only one bid, which exceeded the project estimate of $313,874.

• approved an increase in the engineering fees on the lighting project from $30,000 to $49,000. The changes reflect additional sidewalks and other IDOT requirements.

• passed a resolution estimating the tax levy for 2015 at $623,500, which is less than 105 percent of the previous year's levy. No truth in taxation hearing is necessary.

• directed City Attorney Roger Seibert to create the documentation to authorize the Zoning Board to issue permits without council approval. The City Council will function as the Zoning Board of Appeals.

• Approved $30 gift certificates for all current city employees. Total cost is approximately $2,010.

• placed on file for public inspection an agreement with Emling and Hoffman for auditing services for 2015 - 2017 for the TIF and regular city accounts. The cost of the TIF audit is $3,350 and increases $50 each year. The cost of the regular audit is $14,800 and increases $200 per year. The TIF district will expire in 2015 and disbursements may end in 2016.