Two businesses to benefit from new Du Quoin sales tax district

Two more Du Quoin businesses will benefit from the proceeds of a new half-cent business district tax approved last year.

Agreements are already facilitating a remodeling of Chip Banks Chevrolet on Rt. 51 South and the opening of the new Bottom Dollar Cost Plus grocery in the Southtowne Shopping Center.

The Du Quoin City Council Thursday approved a $20,000 agreement with Karco, Inc. owner of what was formerly the One Stop Smoke Shop (now called Roll-n-Up) near Region's Bank. The $20,000 is a match for what will be a $120,000 remodeling with a payback over 27 months.

The council also approved a $75,000 redevelopment agreement with Canam Medical, LLC. owners to retrofit the suite of offices at the intersection of Rt. 51 and Rt. 14. That building was built and once owned by Richard Naumer, housing OneCliq Internet and more recently Medical Direct supplies

Medical Direct a mail order diabetic supplies shipping center for the owners of Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy. The $75,000 is part of a larger $300,000 plan for Canam ,LLC to purchase and remodel the property. The major partner in that project is Donald Schreiber, owner of Medicine Shoppe Pharmacies.

The $75,000 will be paid back in 10 years or less.

The business district sales tax ordinance serves as collateral for bank loans to finance the projects over 10 years. Receipts from the tax district pay off the loans.

Du Quoin City Lake residents and the new 'No Wake' boat motor rule:

The council gave final approval to a measure that would allow any horsepower boat on Du Quoin City Lake, but make the entire lake a No Wake Zone.

Du Quoin Lake Association members came to the meeting and aired a handful of concerns from residents. City administrator Brad Myers responded to the concerns by saying this.

Du Quoin safety officer Ron Darnell and police will patrol the shoreline of the lake during the week and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources personnel will patrol it on weekends.

If you see a violation of the No Wake rule you can report it to Du Quoin police at 542-2131. You are urged to get a boat hull number, a description or take a picture or video of the offending boat.

In the absence of a law enforcement officer you must go to court to testify about what you saw.

Any fines collected from the violations will be held by the city to cover law enforcement and related costs and will not be shared with the association..

The city will pay for new signage at the boat ramp explaining the new "any horsepower, but no wake" rule.

Support personnel who work for the city as auxiliary police, part-time officers and part-time radio dispatchers will be get pay increases aligned with those in the county and Pinckneyville. Auxiliary police will go from $9 o $11 per hour; part-time officers from $14 to $15.50 and part-time dispatchers from $10 to 12.50.

The council approved Ordinance 2014-O06-02 to amend City Code Chapter 29 - "Property" that would require downtown building owners to give advance notice of any structural repairs to the city. The ordinance is designed to make sure that structural problems are being fixed rather than be simply covered over.

Subsequent amendments may require a public building owner to file for a permit from the city before beginning repairs. Fire Chief Bob Shaw said he now believes that removal of a staircase that was tied into the structure may have contributed to the west interior wall of the Higgins building falling in three weeks ago.

The council approved approximately $115,000 in summer oil and chipping street and alley maintenance work in the city.

The city will retain a collection agency to try and collect $16,000 in unpaid fines and other outstanding monies owed the city. The agency will tack on its collection fee of 30 percent to the amount owed, but the arrangement will not cost the city anything.