Pinckneyville to Purchase Police Dog with Donated Funds
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Mayor Augie Kellerman announced that local resident Howard Smith has donated the funds to purchase a service dog for the Police Department. The council voted 5-1 to purchase the dog. Finance Commissioner Leonard Heisner was the only no vote.
Mayor Kellerman said that the dog will come from Germany. He expects to have the dog in three weeks or less. Officer Nathan Murry will be the K9 officer for the city.
The City Council passed a resolution accepting a donation from a local family to establish a K-9 until in the Police Department on Feb. 14 of this year. Natalie Little told the city she and her husband would donate a canine, the training and lodging for both dog and officer, a vehicle, kennel, food, collars and more. However, the city never received the funds.
The council also agreed to work with building owners Dr. Tim Mathis and Ron Ridgeway on clean-up and rebuilding of their properties, which were destroyed by fire June 17. Mathis said he hopes to have the area cleaned in eight weeks.
Mayor Kellerman said he plans to put up a monument to Du Quoin fireman Corey Shaw on the square. Shaw was killed while fighting the fire June 17 when a wall collapsed atop him.
Mathis said he and Ridgeway hope to rebuild after the area is cleaned. However, there are no firm plans as yet.
Mathis said his greatest worry was the partial wall still standing on the site, but it has withstood two major storms without toppling. It will be dismantled as quickly as possible.
"We're still in the talking stages," Mathis said.
Ridgeway expressed his gratitude to the community for the help he and his family have received since the fire. He hopes to replace the destroyed buildings with something better.
In other business, the council:
approved the recommendation of Mayor Kellerman and insurance consultant John Hammack for the renewal of medical insurance with Mutual Medical. The city has a three-year contract with Mutual Medical that guaranteed fixed costs would not increase. Kellerman said there is about a year and a half left on the agreement. Hammack suggested the city keep the same individual deductibles and aggregate specific, $35,000 and $15,000, respectively. The only change is that claims from the previous 24 months will be paid during the current contract. The city is partially self-insured. Fixed costs for the coming year are just under $150,000 and total costs are projected at just under $468,000. Hammack was named the city's agent of record. He had been receiving a $100 per month stipend as the city's insurance consultant. As agent of record, he will no longer receive the stipend.
heard from Economic Development Coordinator Carrie Gilliam that South Central Transit will begin a regular route from Pinckneyville to the Gilster-Mary Lee plants in Steeleville and Chester in mid-July. Summer pick-ups will be in the parking lot next to the Illinois Rural Heritage Museum across the street from the Perry County Fairgrounds unless the fairgrounds is in use. During the American Thresherman Association shows and other events, pick-up will be in the Higman LLC parking lot (former TUMS building) on Route 154. Beginning in September, after Labor Day, pick-up will be moved to the pool parking lot.
accepted a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for $1,220 to install high-efficiency lighting in the Fire House. The council awarded the contract to install the lighting to the low bidder- Brand Electric. Brand's bid was $2,272. The city will pay the $1,052 not covered by the grant.
approved payment of the annual permit fees for the sewer treatment plants. The permits cost $7,500 and $5,000.
authorized the sale of surplus vehicles and equipment by the Police Department.
passed a resolution authorizing membership in the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network. The annual dues are $100.
appointed Utility Superintendent Michael Millikin as the city's liaison with the Perry County Emergency Management Coordinator.
passed a resolution approving the street closings for the Pinckneyville Community High School Homecoming Parade on Friday, Oct. 14 at 2:30 p.m.
approved the ordinance prohibiting bicycles on city sidewalks that was placed on file a the previous meeting.
approved the motor fuel tax materials purchases as placed on file at the previous meeting.