Monday, March 17, 2008

City Clean Up days announced for April 25-26

Monday, March 17, 2008 - Posted 6:28:27 PM

The Minonk City Council has decided to eliminate curb side pickup on the City Clean Up days.  Instead, people can bring their junk and scrap to the City's ambulance shed on Jefferson Street between the hours of 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on Friday, April 25th, and Saturday, April 26th.  There will be several dumpsters available for disposing of junk.  Alderman Corey Ruestman said that elderly people who need help moving large objects can call him at 309-432-2492 ahead of time and make an appointment for someone to come and pick up their items.

Alderman Brian Petersen said that it has become too expensive to provide curb side pickup.  The waste collector has had to raise his rates because not enough scrap iron was being collected during the pickup.  The collector makes their profit by reselling the scrap they pick up on clean up days.  However, people are starting to pick up the scrap from the curbs the day before pick up and are probably selling it themselves, according to Petersen.

Ruestman said that batteries, tires, and hazardous material will not be accepted.  However, building scraps other than roofing shingles will be accepted as long as it is not too large. 

Mayor Bill Koos said that the City plans on having several clean up days this year since it is more affordable to conduct compared to curb side pick up.

Sunday morning liquor sales contemplated

The Minonk City Council agreed to revise the City's Liquor Ordinance to allow Sunday morning liquor sales.  The current ordinance prohibits the sale of both package liquor and liquor by the drink between 1:30 am and 12:00 noon on Sunday.  The proposed revision would remove that restriction and allow the sale of package liquor and liquor by the drink to be between 6:00 am and 1:30 am every day of the week except on Friday and Saturday, the closing time is 2:00 am. 

The proposed revision is being sent to the City's attorney for wording and compliance with state statues and will be voted on sometime in April.

Nepotism clause to be changed

The Council agreed to amend the City's nepotism clause to allow cousins to work in the same department.  The current ordinance prohibits the hiring of members of the same immediate family and those first removed such as cousins to work in the same department.  The revision would remove cousins from the clause.

Reservations at City parks clarified

Mayor Koos said that the public must be made aware of the fact that they need to make reservations ahead of time in order to use any of the pavilions in the City's parks.   Koos said that sometimes the City workers have to move picnic tables from one pavilion to the other at the last minute in order to accommodate the size of the party.  He said that people who make reservations ahead of time have priority over use of the pavilions at the Westside Park and Veterans Park.

Alderman Petersen said that the City should budget for enough picnic tables at each pavilion so that they don't have to be moved around from one pavilion to another.  In addition, Petersen said that the City should not have to be moving picnic tables.  If needed, it should be done by those reserving the pavilion.

City promotional brochure announced

Greg Truninger of the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois announced that his firm has completed a promotional brochure and  web site for the City's I-39 Commerce Park.   Truninger said that the brochure will be sent out to real estate brokers and development firms all over the country. 

The EDC was hired by the City last year to promote development in Minonk.  Their web site for Minonk's Commerce Park can be found at the following link.

Mayor's Comments

Mayor Koos thanked the City employees who helped run the city in the absence of a city administrator.  The Mayor also thanked the City Council for their extra work and dedication in their committee worka and in their help in preparing a budget.

Public Comments

Dave Uphoff asked if their is an ordinance against dogs littering private property.  Uphoff said that the berm next to his building at Walnut and Fifth has become a bathroom for dogs and wanted to know the procedure for reporting the offense.  Mayor Koos said there is an ordinance and if the incident is witnessed by the property owner, he can report it to the local police who can then fine the owner of the dog.  Koos said, however, that the property owner must be prepared for possible litigation if the accused refuses to admit to any offense. 

Larry Hill said that it should be the City's responsibility to bring charges and pay legal fees if the accused refuses to accept the fine.  Hill said that if the City refuses to prosecute what is the use of having an ordinance.  The Mayor agreed that the City would have to pay legal costs if it went to court but that it would still be taxpayers money that would be used.
                        Viewer comments on this article

johnhawk wrote on 3/31/2008 at 15:29:48

Tomlinsons put my garabe cans in the street too.  I reported it to city hall and I was told that I could call them and complain.  The garbage cans were vertical upside in the street.  They didn't fall over or blow over.
They also threw away our recycling bin.
They throw away the recycling materials too.
It's in the city contract that only the city calls. 
sheeba wrote on 3/29/2008 at 08:01:33

I would like to comment on dogs issues also, isn't there an ordinance for dogs to be on leashes? To many times do I see dogs go to the park that are not on a leash. It makes it hard to control your own dog that is on a leash if others are running free.
emo wrote on 3/21/2008 at 16:48:54

Did they ever think not everyone has a vehicle to haul junk to one location?  Did they ever think people go on vacation and will not be around on this weekend?  If we are on vacation this weekend do we just take our junk up to city hall?  Did they ever think about people that live on Jefferson st near the Ambulance shed with the amount of congession they are going to create. 
tihsho wrote on 3/20/2008 at 16:54:46

I am wondering since mayor koos thanked those due thanks does this mean he hired a city manager, or will he start recieving pay for the job?
Editor wrote on 3/19/2008 at 09:07:10

Correction: Anyone who needs help moving items to the collection center should call Corey Ruestman at 309-432-2492, not the City.

Valdez wrote on 3/19/2008 at 05:09:50


In this report there is one key word 'Budget'. It is the new budget that was just finished. Our tax dollars at work for the citizens of Minonk. Did any one notice the equalized value went up to 110% of last years assessment statement. Even "if" the mil rate stays the same or even goes down a little. That 10% is going to show up on bottom line come billing time. As citizens we can look at the School budget, City budget, and question it. Because it will not be on the local channel to view. The committees, alder persons, and employees have input and so do the tax payers to decide what we want and when.

Valdez wrote on 3/18/2008 at 13:59:04

Woodford County is showing 559 current dog licenses for the city of Minonk. Each year the files are purged of deceased dogs. Even if %10 percent disregard dodo drops, its 55 logs a day. Plastic or Paper.

Valdez wrote on 3/18/2008 at 13:59:04

Woodford County is showing 559 current dog licenses for the city of Minonk. Each year the files are purged of deceased dogs. Even if %10 percent disregard dodo drops, its 55 logs a day. Plastic or Paper.

IronMask wrote on 3/18/2008 at 10:20:22

Our council's lack of good judgement is going to cost our city dearly.  What happened to our city having all that extra money?  Why are we conerned about the cost of doing a regular Spring clean-up?  Is there something that we need to be informed of?  Are they only going to provide help for elderly, or will it be provided for anyone wanting to dispose of garbage that does not have the means to trasnport it to the proper location?  (Just some food for thought.)

Valdez wrote on 3/18/2008 at 10:35:10

Our dog dodo problem.
After several years of
medians being fairly free of
dog poop, some of you are now
allowing your dogs to do their
thing without the courtesy
of removing it. This is inconsiderate
to our community, anybody may
step in it. It certainly draws flies
which then may land on your
picnic. Yes you and your pets may exercise, but do it responsibility.  Please! Carry a pooperscooper,or a plastic bag and
be a good neighbor.

Free2Bme wrote on 3/17/2008 at 21:55:53

The ambulance shed is on Jefferson...not Washington!!!


Spring Cleanup was the one thing keeping our town clean (at least for part of the year).  You will not have half the success if people have to drive it there.  Not everyone has or know people with trucks.  Will we have a decrease in garbage pickup fees now that this service is not available?  This was included with our garbage fees!

What ever happened to looking at different garbage carriers/handlers?  Most of us residents have problems with Tomlinsons, including the attitudes of their employees.  I for one am tired of them throwing my garbage cans into the road.  I bet they're the low bid and we get what we pay for...

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