Lake roads & tall grass take council into OT

What city commissioner Chuck Genesio calls the "personal responsibility" of property maintenance and finding a solution to the decades-old problem of maintaining the roads at Du Quoin City Lake took the city council into overtime Monday.

It was pointed out during the lake discussions that the three and a half miles of road around the lake are too narrow with not enough base underneath to qualify for road distinct maintenance by the county, although the county levies a road district tax, which lake residents pay.

The City of Du Quoin can make spot repairs, but doesn't have the money to properly oil and chip the entire lake road system. The estimated cost is about $35,000.

With that said, Mayor Alongi is offering some solutions which will be vetted in the coming year: 1.) Sell 55 acres still owned by the city on the north and west sides of the lake and put the proceeds into an endowment to be managed by the lake association for road repairs, 2.) the city can sell the 265-acre lake and all that remains part of it and let the new owner and lake association hammer out a solution, or 3.) create a park district, a taxing body that can raise tax revenues to pay for road repairs. Either way, "It's time to belly up and figure it out," Alongi told the council. "As mayor, I would consider selling the lake," he added. He said investors in St. Louis or Chicago would love to own their own retreat.

"Where there's a will, there's a way," said city attorney Aaron Atkins and Alongi is giving his council a year to arrive at an answer.

That discussion came at the end of an hour and a half meeting. A half-hour discussion earlier in the night dealt with how to reasonably deal with property owners who refuse to mow their grass. "It all comes down to personal responsibility," said Commissioner Genesio--and an equitable mix of warnings, citations and fines. Health and safety officer Ron Darnell admits tall grass is a "pet peeve of mine" and he wants instant gratification.

City attorney Atkins offered that for the $100 fine and $95 in court costs violators pay "you can go to Walmart and buy a mower" or repair the one you claim doesn't work.

Enforcement of mowing tall grass and weeds is a goal of the City of Du Quoin.

Other Council Action

The council approved the reappointment of a number of residents to local boards and commissions.

The council approved the reappointment of Larry Underwood, Betty Eastman and Leanna Leek to the Du Quoin Public Library board.

The council approved the reappointment of Jeannine Baxter and Steve Bookstaver to the Du Quoin Park Board and the new appointment of Dan Manning to that board.

The council approved the appointment of Kelley Stacey to the zoning board.

The council approved the reappointment of Deborah and Amanda Chastain, Fred Huff, Ed Lanum, Leanna Liik, Robert Morefield, Judy Smid and Pam Urban to the historic preservation commission as well as the appointment of Aaron Atkins as an ex-officio member.

The council honored recent IHSA track and field finalists.

The council agreed to pay up front costs of wireless headsets feor firefighters at a cost of $27,784. The city will be reimbursed all but $1,380 from a firefighters' grant.

The council approved one-way traffic on Bob Green Drive, which runs along the south side of the fairgrounds, during the Street Machine Nationals 10 days from now.