Pinckneyville City Council: Queens want to trade bottle caps for benches

The January 25, 2016 meeting of the Pinckneyville City Council was called to order by Mayor Robert Spencer, with Commissioner David Stone leading the pledge to the flag and City Clerk Lawrence West seamlessly picking up where retired City Clerk Fran Thomas left off did roll call.

City Treasurer Rick Reese gave the Treasurer's Report. He informed the Council that as of January 25, 2016, there is $224,102.00 in the three main accounts, which breaks down to $37,000 in the water/sewer account, $28,000 in the gas account, and $158,000 in the general fund account. Accounts payable that the council approved totals $59,000. As Treasurer Reese told the council at the January 11, meeting, the State of Illinois currently owes the city $639,199.90, since the city has not received any money from the state since September.

Mayor Spencer told the council that Gov. Rauner is having a press conference on January 27 where he would announce that he was releasing money to the southern part of the state. Mayor Spencer told the Council that if everything goes as planned, the city should receive $189,419.58 later this week, and $83,169.62 in February.

Commissioner Stone then introduced Ms. Chloe Yates, 2015 Junior Miss Perry County and Ms. Kendall Cleland, 2015 Little Miss Perry County. Ms Yates addressed the council regarding partnering with Green Tree Plastics to place benches in the City Park. The benches are made out of recycled plastic bottle caps.

She told the council that the Pinckneyville Library would serve as a collection place. The Pinckneyville Fairgrounds would also have a collection bin. She informed the council that it would take 200 pounds of bottle caps to make a 4-foot bench with a cost of $130, a 6 foot bench would take 400 pounds of the plastic bottle caps and cost $225, and an 8 foot bench would cost $275 and take 500 pounds of bottle caps. These prices are for green benches, but for an additional $50 the benches can be any color the purchaser would like. She noted that the caps could be from almost anything plastic, such as milk cartons, soda bottles, ketchup and mustard bottles, just to name a few. If a person would like to see what the benches look like, all it takes is a trip to the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. The queens would like to collect enough plastic bottle caps prior to the next queen contest in June.

Commissioner Hicks reminded the council and those in attendance that the Pinckneyville High School basketball shoot-out will be this Saturday, January 30. Visitors to the city come with those basketball teams and it is a good time to show that Pinckneyville is the "Friendly Little City".

Commissioner Hicks then requested approval which would allow TLC of Southern Illinois to collect money on Saturday, June 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 2p.m. Tammy Robb was at the meeting and explained that the Laborers Union 773 will be collecting the money which is used to help the disabled children of the Therapy Center which enables children with disabilities to lead happier more productive lives by providing therapy along with equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs. All of the services through TLC of Southern Illinois are provided free of charge and the donations raised by the Laborers' during fundraising drives have played an important part in keeping the center open and helping children.

Commissioner Peradotta informed the council that the lighting project has been completed. He also told the council that the sidewalk from Laurel Street running east and west to Jackson Street running south to north would be replaced.

Commissioner Stone made a motion to approve the purchase of filter tiles for the east sewer treatment plant at a price of $3,360. Commissioner Hicks seconded the motion which was approved.

Commissioner Stotlar made a motion to allow City Clerk Lawrence West to obtain a city credit card for city purchases. Commissioner Peradotta seconded the motion and it was approved.

City Attorney Don Bigham informed the Council that Resolution No. R-2016-06 which would allow the city to dispose of the audio tapes of closed council meetings since June 30, 2014 could be passed during open meeting provided that there was nothing on the tapes that anyone wanted reviewed. Commissioner Stone and Stotlar made the motions to pass the Resolution as drafted, which the council unanimously passed.