Pinckneyville aims to improve fiscal management City hires CPA to consult through December 2018

The Pinckneyville City Council is pursuing new policies to improve fiscal management and financial reporting.

At its Sept. 25 meeting, the council approved a resolution to enter into a consulting agreement with Pat Kattenbraker, CPA to aid in developing and implementing the new policies and procedures. The agreement will be in effect from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2018.

The city will pay Kattenbraker $70 an hour and provide health insurance during the term of the agreement. Kattenbraker will work a minimum of 10 hours a month and will be considered an independent consultant, not an employee. She will review and make recommendations regarding bank reconciliations and trace to balance sheets, transfer accounts, transactions in all cash accounts, payroll taxes and withholding deposits, and others.

Also at last week's meeting:

• The council approved a resolution establishing a restricted parking zone on West Kaskaskia Street between Douglas and South Walnut streets. The commissioner of public health and safety will put up no parking signs on the north side of West Kaskaskia Street. Violators of this resolution will be prosecuted under the provisions of the city code of ordinances.

• The council also approved Leigh Blackorby's request to continue to close Jackson Street between Walnut Street and the square as needed on Friday and Saturday nights when the Twisted Vine has a band. Since Blackorby wasn't able to attend the meeting, Commissioner Hicks said that he would advise her that the crowd has to be contained in that space. The crowd can't spill out into Walnut Street or the Square.

The council also approved St. Bruno Catholic Church's request to close North Sullivan Street in front of the church from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 for its annual trunk or treat.

• The Perry County Jail Museum and the Perry County Fair organizations requested permission to have a fundraiser collecting money at the four-way stop, McDonald's and the Perry County Jail intersections from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Oct. 14. The request was approved.

• The council approved a resolution authorizing the city to establish a wage deferral plan for city employees under Section 457(b) of the Internal Revenue Code wherein city employees can put money into a retirement savings plan prior to federal income taxes.

• Pinckneyville Chamber of Commerce Chairman Genevieve Brammeier addressed the council regarding the city's participation in various festivities related to Mardi Gras. First, she requested that the Mardi Gras Queen candidates be allowed to collect funds at the four-way stop Sept. 30. She also made a request to close Mulberry Street in front of the grade school between Walnut and Douglas streets for the business trick-or-treating, which will be held Oct. 27. Also, the children's Halloween parade and the Mardi Gras parade will each follow the usual route, and she requested that the usual streets be closed at the appropriate times. She informed the council that there will be an additional street closing during the Saturday Flea Market. This year, North Walnut Street between Rt. 154 (Water Street) and Jackson Street will be closed for a city merchant vendor flea market. Other city