Pinckneyville Council Tables Requests for TIF?Grant and City Water Service
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Pinckneyville City Council, in the absence of Mayor August Kellerman, tabled requests for a TIF grant from Pinckneyville Community Hospital (PCH) and city water service from residents of Dalmatian Road.
Cheryl Schneider, speaking for the residents of Dalmatian Road, presented a petition with 15 signatures asking the city to take over ownership of their water line. There are nine homes served by the water line. Each home reads their own meter then pays their portion of the bill. Schneider said other residents who live outside the city limits have city water service. She estimated that out-of-town water rates cost an additional $3,000 per year. Mayor Pro-Tem Leonard Heisner asked Commissioner David Stone to determine the cost of taking over the water line. The issue was then tabled until more information is available.
Hospital Administrator Tom Hudgins reported that PCH has submitted a TIF grant application to Economic Development Coordinator Carrie Gilliam asking for $250,000 for site work on the proposed new facility.
The hospital is in the process of applying for a USDA loan for the bulk of the project funding. He said approval is more likely if PCH is able to secure alternative funding sources, as well. The hospital will pay out-of-pocket for approximately 25 percent of the project and has received a capital grant from the state for $345,000. If the USDA loan is approved, the hospital will also become eligible to apply for a $750,000 DCEO grant.
Mayor Pro-Tem Heisner said the council would determine how much of the TIF fund has already been committed and what revenue the hospital loses to TIF funding each year. Pinckneyville Community Hospital is a government entity and does not pay real estate taxes, therefore there is no direct way to recoup TIF funds spent on the project. Heisner said he hopes to have an answer by the next regular council meeting.
The council also tabled a request from the Chamber of Commerce for a $2,500 donation from the hotel/motel tax fund for the 2012 Mardi Gras celebration. The council agreed to donate $1,500 to Pinckneyville Night Out from the hotel/motel tax fund.
In other business, the council:
heard from former Mayor Joe Holder that Cooper B-Line has been sold. The city made significant improvements to the road and water lines leading to the plant when GS Metals sold to Cooper B-Line during Holder's last term in office. Cooper B-Line agreed to remain in town for five years after the improvements were completed. Holder also recommended the city renewing their contract with Mutual Medical. The council approved an agreement for the third year of a three-year contract, but did not agree to a three-year contract extension at the last regular meeting.
approved two three-year contracts with Emling and Hoffman for auditing services for the city and the TIF accounts. Cost on the city audits will be $13,400, $14,000 and $14,600. The cost for the TIF audit is $3,300 each year.
placed on file for public inspection an ordinance authorizing the refinancing of waterworks and sewerage bonds. Bernardi Securities expects to save the city to $35,000 to $40,000 over the next six years through refinancing.
placed on file for public inspection a contract with Utility Safety and Design Inc. (USDI) for natural gas engineering services. The retainer is $175 per month or $2,100 per year with a reduced rate for services. The city has USDI for leak surveys and other utility work for some time.
approved the purchase of a new dissolved oxygen meter from Hach Company at a cost of $2,432. The old meter is 15 years old.
appointed Carol Moody to the Library Board of Trustees.