Du Quoin Establishes New Rural Fire Call Fee Schedule
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Du Quoin City Council Monday announced a citywide cleanup day, expanded "No Parking" to two neighborhoods, approved a fairer rural fire call policy and approved an emergency appropriation to repair a festering wastewater sewer line problem in the city's northeast corner.
There were three guests of the meeting. Finance commissioner Rex Duncan, who chairs the Connect SI initiative to expand broadband internet access in Southern Illinois, is also involved in a program called Lead SI and he introduced three Du Quoin participants in the program--Tashie Nelson, Brittney Heatherly, and Sasha Mozlewski.
The three participated in the Lead SI program at SIUC last week.
According to Duncan, Lead SI is a program operated by Connect SI that is designed to encourage young leaders to enhance their leadership skills and to think about collaborative regional leadership that allows them to better address pressing regional problems.
The Lead SI Institute is funded solely by private contributions. Thirty-nine high school juniors and seniors attended this year's camp, which is highlighted each year by a barbecue hosted by SIU President Glenn Poshard.
This year, in addition to the students, approximately 40 other leaders from throughout southern Illinois met with the students and discussed leadership styles.
The work was applauded and the council paused long enough to allow a photograph of the three with Mayor John Rednour.
Citywide cleanup days will be held Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25.Public works director Dale Spencer told the council residents with Du Quoin addresses will have free access to the Perry Ridge landfill west of Du Quoin on the two day. The landfill can be used from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on that Friday and from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. on that Saturday.
Spencer said property maintenance ordinances will be fully enforced following this two-day initiative.
Commissioner Duncan reminded all that with the start of the Airstream travel trailer international convention in two weeks everyone needs to do their part to make Du Quoin as inviting as possible.
The council approved "No Parking" on a section of North Vine Street and Ballentine streets to give residents better access to their driveways and alleviate congestion on those streets.
The council moved toward the creation of a fairer fee schedule for rural fire and accident calls. Until now, the City of Du Quoin fire department assessed a flat fee of $1,750 (established in 1991) for all out of town calls. Those fees are now set at $500 for a short call like a car fire, $1,500 for a fire call lasting up to two hours and $3,500 for calls lasting two or more hours.
The council declared a sewer main rehabilitation on North East Street and the alley east of North East Street between Park and North Streets an emergency.
The council approved the funds necessary to rehabilitate approximately 1000 feet of sewer line along North East Street and 1000 feet along an alley east of North East Street between Park and North Streets. Both projects will be accomplished at a cost of about $104,000.
The council approved the funds necessary to provide materials, labor and equipment to install 150 foot of guardrail along Jackson Street. The guardrail will protect drivers from a waterway on the north side of East Jackson Street near Dr. Otto Mares' home. The work will cost about $3,350.
The council approved to proceed with the condemnation of a trailer located at 27 ½ Ballantine Street.
There was no need for an executive session, so the council meeting was adjourned.