Pinckneyville to begin zoning map
The Pinckneyville City Council placed on file for public inspection a contract with H.M.&G. for the creation of a GIS map of the area within the city limits and the areas 1.5 miles outside the city in all directions.
Total cost on the contract, which could be approved at the next regular board meeting on Feb. 10, is $1,500. That price includes a $500 fee to be paid to Bruce Harris & Associates to create the base layer map with updated parcels from Perry County's GIS parcel map.
Doug Raterman of H.M.&G explained that the base layer GIS map will allow the zoning commission to shade in the areas according to their plan. The old map they're working with is very out of date.
Zoning commission member Fred Pabst showed where St. Louis Ave. on the map they've been using just stops at Perry Street instead of continuing on to Walnut Street which it has for many years now. A familiar block on West Water Street shows only three parcels where six to eight houses are.
"This old map is not working," Pabst told the council.
The five-member zoning commission has been meeting since Aug. 1. They studied zoning ordinances from Perry County, Sparta, Nashville and Du Quoin before coming up with their own plan. The plan is written, but has yet to be mapped. This is the next step.
Raterman said that he could begin work on the base layer map within a couple days of the council approving the contract.
The parcel map can be overlaid by maps showing zoning, water, sewer and gas lines, utility poles and more.
H.M.&G. does a lot of work for the city's utility departments. For instance, they're working with the city's water department now to film water lines. All of the valves and man holes shot during the filming of the lines can be applied to the appropriate utility maps for later use.
The city could choose to commission a complete utility map in the future or map sections each year or simply include the information discovered during other projects.
Updated base maps may be ordered from Bruce Harris & Associates for $350 at the city's discretion.
In other business, the council:
• approved a $25,000 grant from the Business District Funds and a $10,000 facade grant for demolishing an old building and putting in a parking lot at T.J.'s Liquor on South Main Street. The city reimburses business owners for up to $25,000 on pre-approved improvements and matches up to $10,000 on facade improvements, also as reimbursements.
• approved the three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Laborer's Local 773 as placed on file at the previous meeting.
• placed on file for public inspection contract extensions for the 2014 mowing season with South Lake Lawn Care and Hirsch Quality Lawn Care at their current rates.