Joe Holder: Comprehensive Plan for Pinckneyville Is a Smart Investment
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Pinckneyville city council Monday voted unanimously not to enter into an engineering agreement with the Fulton Group LLC and an administrative service agreement with Benton and Associates for work on a DCEO planning grant for wastewater collection and conveyance improvements.
DCEO would have paid $100,000 and the city would have paid $24,000 for design work to replace three pump stations near the fairgrounds with one station and to add a pump station at the old plant to transfer sewer to the new plant for treatment. The city would then have had to fund the projects themselves at a cost of $850,000 or more.
Former Mayor Joe Holder said that there have been problems with the sewers on the west side of town since the early 1970s. He suspects the addition of Sunset Terrace to the system exceeded capacity in that area, but admits that is only his opinion.
"I'm not an engineer," Holder said.
Over the years, other administrations have tried several solutions, none of which have fully corrected the problems. Smoke testing found some illegal connections, a new lift station helped some, cameras found the old concrete lines were porous and the city later retro-fitted about two-thirds of the lines in that area with fiberglass liners. The problems continue.
Holder said the completion of the comprehensive plan is necessary for any large-scale improvements. In 2007, he attempted to apply for stimulus grants for improvements, but was turned down because the city did not have a comprehensive plan.
The first step in creating a city zoning ordinance is to have a completed comprehensive plan.
Rita Schwebel received no definitive answers on when or even if the city planned to enact their own zoning regulations. Pinckneyville currently falls under Perry County's zoning ordinance.
Commissioner Kevin Hicks said he was opposed to a city zoning ordinance while Commissioner Sam Fulk said he doubted there would be much difference between a city ordinance and the county's.
"I'm glad they handle it," Fulk said of the county zoning ordinance.
Commissioner Leonard Heisner said it would be worth looking into a city zoning ordinance. He said the county's ordinance was very restrictive.
Schwebel asked what had been done about a partially constructed home at 101 E. Hawkins St. The city agreed last July to inspect the property and determine whether or not it was unsafe. The council said City Attorney Roger Seibert would have been in contact with the owner. He was not present Monday evening, but will be asked when he returns.
Schwebel also asked the city to look at a property behind her. Electrical wires coming from the home make her nervous.
In other business, the council:
voted to renew the city's stop-loss medical insurance with Symetra for another year at the current coverage level of $35,000 per individual. The cost will increase four percent from $236 per single employee to $258. Family coverage increases from $489 to $533. Jeremy Billington of Mutual Medical said that in the two years they have been the third-party administrator for the city, Pinckneyville has saved $156,000. Fixed costs increased slightly while medical claims and drug costs decreased. There is a third year left on Mutual Medical's contract. Billington asked the council to renew for additional three years at the same administrative price of $25 per employee per month. No action was taken to renew with Mutual Medical.
heard from Treasurer Rick Reese that the city has $1.393 million in unrestricted cash funds as of April 30, the end of the fiscal year. That compares to unrestricted cash balances of $1.173 at the end of the previous fiscal year. Reese said the city also has $544,000 in the Business District Sales Tax fund and $613,000 in the TIF fund. The state remains about four months behind on utility payments for the prison. The current past-due amount is approximately $490,000.
placed on file for public inspection two three-year contracts with Emling and Hoffman. The first is for audits at a cost of $13,400 the first year, $14,000 the second year and $14,600 the third year. The second is for audits of the TIF account at a cost of $3,300 each year.
heard from Jodi Schoen that the city is invited to participate in the a health assessment paid for through a National YMCA grant. The Community Healthy Living Index seeks to determine how easy or difficult it is for residents to maintain a healthy lifestyle. A committee of two or three city representatives would be asked to complete a questionnaire. The results, which may help reduce insurance costs, will be made available to the city.
approved the 2012 motor fuel tax plan which was placed on file at the previous meeting. The low bidders for the 2012 motor fuel tax program were: Illini Asphalt at $55,762 for HFE- 150/RS-2, Barr Trucking at $5,600 for emulsified patch mix CA -16 and surface material CA-06 at $8,250 and Beelman at $7,300 for furnish class S.I. concrete and $4,380 for emulsified patch mix CA - 10.
approved the purchase of swimming pool chemicals from Spear Corporation at a cost of $5,330. The pool will open May 19. Pinckneyville Community Hospital has rented the pool for the first day and will offer swim safety courses to the public for the first two hours the pool is open.
approved the purchase of a firewall to segregate the City Clerk's computer systems from the rest of City Hall. CTS Technology Solutions will install the firewall for $550.
granted a request by Fire Chief Jim Gielow to hire Brad Hurdy as a firefighter.
appointed Tom Hagene Sr. to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.
approved collection of funds around the square and four-way stop on June 2 by Pinckneyville Community Hospital employees for the American Red Cross Little Egypt Network.
approved collection of funds around the square and four-way stop from 7 to 11 a.m. on May 26 by Pinckneyville Optimist Club.
agreed to close Ballpark Road on May 23 and May 26 for the Illinois High School Association Softball Sectional Tournament.