County Recycling Center Open
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Aside from signs and the addition of a fence, the recycling center behind the Perry County Government Building south of Pinckneyville on State Route 13/127 is open and ready to accept materials from residents.
The center opened on July 16, built in part with a grant provided through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
The facility is a drop-off center and accepts glass (clear, green and brown), metal (aluminum and tin), paper (newspaper, cardboard, white paper, colored paper and magazines) and plastic (bottles, jugs, plastics #1 and plastics #2). Paper must be sorted and stored separately. All paper should be dry. Cardboard will need to be flattened and cut down. All glass, metal and plastic containers should be washed out.
The site is open 24 hours a day. For more information, contact the Perry County Solid Waste Manager Becky Tracy at 618-357-3267.
A rural Perry County resident, who wished to remain unnamed, brought to the board the need for an additional animal control officer.
The resident stated that she had come across many stray dogs on her farm of late. Often pet owners will abandon a pet in the country when it is no longer wanted or they are not able to take care of them. Unfortunately, many domesticated animals are unable to fare for themselves in the wild.
The resident said that stray had been roaming around in the area July 10 and that it made them uncomfortable. They tried to call the pound but got a busy signal for 45 minutes, after which the resident got the answering machine and left a message.
"I have no issues with the animal control officer," the resident said, "And county and state police are always in that area, so I don't have a problem with that either."
"I guess my question would be if the county needs an additional dog catcher."
The board agreed that an additional animal control officer would be helpful, but commented that the county would not be able to afford it at this time.
"We used to have two fulltime animal control officers," States Attorney David Stanton said. "Now we have one, doing the work of two, and doing a fine job of it."
Accessibility seems to be an issue, and it was suggested that the officer be given a work cell phone if they didn't already have one and put the number on the dog pound's answering machine. Commissioner Sam Robb also said he would speak with the animal control administrator for any additional input.
Other items on the agenda:
Passed a resolution accepting the annual audits of accounts from Emling and Hoffman. It was noted that Perry County had a good audit, and at the end of November 2008 the county was $3,310 head of the same date in 2007. Only minor suggestions were made such as keeping better track of receipts on government trips and cutting back the contingency fund expenditures.
Authorized a partial rebate of 2009 liquor license application fees in the amount of $250. This brings the total amount in fees to $750, up from the previous $500. 2010 liquor license application fees will follow the new ordinance in the amount of $1,000.
Approved a resolution for the zoning special use permit for Roger Dennis. Dennis intends to open a shooting range and bed and breakfast at 1600 Holly Road, just east of Du Quoin. The business, to be called MorMad Lodging and Farms, and will consist of eight cabins, a shooting range, parking and lots for RV parking.
Discussed possible changes to the burning ordinance, including air curtains and setting a maximum wind speed. No motion was made as the new ordinance still needs to be refined..
Ratified Chairman Kelly's appointment of Tibretta Reiman and Wilbert Engelhart to the Southwestern Illinois Tourism Bureau. The appointment is made due to Pinckneyville joining the Bureau, and, the board made the ratification with the clarification that the county not be charged anything with the city's joining of the Bureau.
Ratified the Chairman's appointment of Eric Pflanz to the Shawnee Resource and Development Council.