The Minonk City Council approved the appropriation of $50,000 from the Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) fund for maintaining roads and highways in the City. Farnsworth Engineer Joe Adams said the City received $56,000 from the State for its portion of the money collected from gas sales in Illinois.
Adams said the money will be used for crack and seal and chipping on the City's streets. Adams said Chestnut Street is holding up well from its milling and asphalt treatment it received in 2004. He said Chestnut street should be good for another 3 or 4 years before it would need to be redone. He said it would cost around $315,000 to redo Chestnut Street.
Mayor Bill Koos asked about the deteriorating conditions on West Fifth Street. Adams said that bad asphalt was applied to West Fifth Street. He said to put asphalt on West Fifth Street would cost $100,000, adding that crack & seal is not feasible because there are so many cracks. He said Chestnut Street will outlast W. Fifth Street. Adams said money can be saved by redoing Chestnut and West Fifth Streets at the same time by using the same contractor.
Sale of Vehicles
The Council changed the First Reading of Ordinance 2011-04 to authorize the sale of two city vehicles, a 1985 Chevrolet D30 Military Carryall truck and a 1996 Ford Crown Victoria automobile. After much discussion the Council decided get an estimate on the repair cost to the Carryall truck and modified the Ordinance to sell only the Crown Victoria.
Alderman Nick Ferini said there was equipment on the truck that would need to be removed and put onto another vehicle in order to pull the City's trailer and was concerned about that cost. He said all the truck needed was a new battery and it would be usable again. Alderman Corey Ruestman said some of the equipment on the truck was donated and if the City sold the truck people may be reluctant to donate in the future. Mayor Koos then said the City would get an estimate on repairs to the truck before deciding to sell it. Alderman Sean Cunningham made a motion to modify the ordinance to sell only the automobile which was approved by the Council.
Nicor Gas Agreement
The Council approved an agreement with Nicor Gas on the conditions under which gas would be supplied to the City. Mayor Koos said the City could attempt to renegotiate a new agreement but it may end up costing the citizens of Minonk more money on their gas bill. City Administrator Doug Elder said the Commerce Commission dictates who provides gas to the City of Minonk which means there isn't much room for renegotiating. Terms of the agreement include specifications for laying and maintaining gas lines in the City.
In other business the Council approved the increase in the garbage pickup charge to $13.95 per month effective May 1, 2011 and approved the appointment of Striegel, Knobloch & Company to perform the annual audit for the year ended April 20, 2011 for a fee not to exceed $9,500.
City Administrator Doug Elder said the Tentative City Budget for 2012 has been posted in City Hall for public inspection. A public meeting on the budget will be held at 6:45 p.m. on MOnday, April 21, prior to the City Council meeting. For a copy of the proposed budget,
click here.