Du Quoin Asked to Revisit Ban on Charitable Roadblocks

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[It has taken two years for the City of Du Quoin to completely ban downtown street corner roadblocks as a fundraising tool for charitable organizations. On Monday Bruce Summers of the Du Quoin Lions asked the city council to revisit the issue.

Summers could not attend the meeting, but public works director Dale Spencer who spoke on his behalf carried his thoughts to council members. Summers is asking that downtown roadblocks be reinstated for the Du Quoin Lions Club, the Knights of Columbus, the Du Quoin American Legion and the Du Quoin VFW. Spencer conveyed to the council that all four organizations are registered with the Illinois Attorney General's office and suggested that any organization who applies for roadblock permission must have to be approved by the state, as well.

Commissioners were mildly open to the idea, but the discussion evolved into the fact it took so long to serve notice that the city was ending them, why would the city want to go through the frustration of bringing them back, and which organizations would be allowed to have them?

One commissioner suggested a lottery among those interested. Another suggested limiting the number to four or eight. At times there have been upwards of a dozen.

Mayor John Rednour listened, but stays focused on ending them as other towns have done as a matter of safety, liability and hurting downtown business on Saturday mornings. "There are probably 20 other groups that would want them," he said.

One commissioner added the roadblocks would hurt the progress being made to promote downtown Du Quoin. Everyone is for the charitable work of these organizations. Some residents freely donate. Others absolutely go out of their way to avoid the fundraising roadblocks. The matter was tabled.

In other discussions, economic development director Jeff Ashauer will hire an SIU intern for the summer to develop a marketing plan to promote the Du Quoin Industrial Park and its new solar park economic incentive. The student would work 40 hours a week for six weeks and the budget will not exceed $6,000. The candidate has a master's degree in energy and fuels and is a straight "A" student. The stipend would be paid from TIF funds.

In other action, the council:

Approved to proceed with the condemnation of property located at 10 S. Illinois Avenue.

Approved an agreement between ESDA and Gold Plate

Approved the funds necessary to purchase a lawn mower for the street department

Approved to proceed with an ordinance to regulate debris placed on public way. That ordinance will be well-defined.

Appointed Joe Stephens and Leanna Leek as associate members of the Historic Preservation Committee

Approved the closure of Bob Green Drive for the International Harvester Show from July 19 -21.

The council pointed to the recent successes of the Du Quoin High School girls' softball team and the track team and extended its condolences to the Clara Halstead family. Mrs. Halstead passed away this week at the age of 105.

A public hearing will be held on Monday, June 11 at 5:45 p.m. on the subject of opting out of electric service aggregation. The newspaper will print full details in the near future.