'Shopsteading' plan could allow 'Baked by Gene' bakery to expand into Smigielski building on north
Onetime Du Quoin tax accountant and city clerk Mell Smigielski is gifting his dilapidated North Division St. storefront to the City of Du Quoin. And, under something called the "shopsteading" program the building could see an afterlife as an expansion of a year-old Du Quoin business on North Division Street, "Baked by Gene."
The city will accept the deed and place it in trust with the city-sponsored not-for-profit Du Quoin Community Development Corporation. Baked by Gene owners Gene Krone and Scott Latta will then receive a $60,000 loan from the Champion Communities program, hoping to expand their commercial bread-baking business and install apartments upstairs.
After a year, the Du Quoin TIF program will pay $30,000 back to Champion Communities and the partners will take out a conventional $30,000 loan to pay back the other half.
In the same vein, work continues to solicit proposals for properties at 115 North Division Street and 705 South Jefferson St. under a unique homesteading program where the properties would be deeded over to prospective owners once the conditions of a seven-year redevelopment agreement are met.
The council voted to rescind condemnation of a property at 326 North Division Street.
The council also approved the sale of seven used, surplus fire hydrants by sealed bid.
The council approved the expenditure of $2,000 in local funds as a match for a $30,000 grant received by the fire department.
The council approved a May 30 roadblock for the Perry County Humane Society.
The council rejected a high bid of $100 for a surplus pickup truck and instead approved the sale of the truck as scrap, realizing about $300 from the sale of the vehicle.
The council discussed a revised Extanent fiber optic internet proposal. The revision calls for burying the cable rather than stringing it on existing poles.
The council approved payment and received an update on the municipal lighting proposal progress, which is about 75 percent complete.
The council also discussed complaints about almost daily open burning in one neighborhood. Commissioner Yvonne Morris explained all fires must be out by 7 p.m. year-around. Fires are for yard waste only. No garbage. Local ordinances also say you can file a complaint with the police department if smoke from fires is blowing directly into your home. The minimum fine for violations is $100.
Lastly, he mayor directed that burned-out lighting and loose brick at the veterans plaza in Keyes City Park be replaced or repaired as soon as possible.