Cub Scout Eli Hahn addressed the Minonk City Council to ask if Cub
Scout Troop 78 could plant 4 White Oak trees in the City of Minonk. He
said that Troop 78 would like to plant the four trees to represent each
of the four ranks within the Cub Scouts. Cub Scout adult leader, Sarah
Prosser, said that Troop 78 would also like to place a plaque with the
planting of one of the White Oak trees. She reported that they also
have the opportunity to have Walnut trees donated as well and asked if
they could also be planted in the City. The trees will all be planted
this spring.
Mayor Koos accepted the donation and thanked the Minonk Cub
Scouts for their donation of trees to the City of Minonk. Mayor Koos
said that the City Administrator will get with the Public Works
Department and find suitable locations within the City for the trees to
be planted.
TIF funds approved for local business
City Administrator Trent Smith said that at the March 20, 2006 EDC
meeting there was a request for TIF funding and that the EDC
recommended that the City of Minonk pay 50% or $2,004.96 from the TIF
II pool to Datatron Inc. for the interior renovation costs submitted
for the building located at 168 West Fifth Street over 3 years at
$668.32 per year.
Alderman Jason Buchanan moved that the City of Minonk pay 50% or
$2,004.96 from the TIF II pool to Datatron Inc. for the interior
renovation costs submitted for the building located at 168 West Fifth
Street payable over three years at $668.32 per year, seconded by
Alderman Sean Cunningham. Datatron is owned and operated by Dave
Uphoff who runs the business from the former IOOF building.
Uphoff bought the building 4 years ago and has been making improvements
to the building since then.
Alderman Sean Cuningham said that with the passage of some money to
Datatron Inc. out of TIF II funds, he wants to use this as a reminder
that the City does have money available in TIF II, particularly for the
downtown businesses for the restoration and improvement efforts of
their property. He said he would like to see something in the paper to
let everyone know that money is available to help spruce up the
downtown area.
City ammends sewer use and storm water code
City engineers Farnsworth Group identified changes needed to the City's
sewer and storm water code to bring them up todate with the State of
Illinois and EPA requirements.
CIty Administrator Trent Smith said that the new section to be added
refers to the disconnection of sources of subsurface runoff or
groundwater to sanitary sewer. He said that the owner of any property
that has downspouts, foundation drains, sump pumps or any other source
of surface runoff or groundwater connected to a combined sewer shall
disconnect any such sources and reconnect them to storm sewer within
one year following notification by the City that a storm sewer is
available. Such disconnection and reconnection shall require a permit
as provided in Section 13.12.030, except that the permit fee will be
waived. This is a new requirement of the Illinois EPA.
Smith said that the reason for most of these changes is that it
puts a little more into the separation of storm water from sewage. "It
takes the storm water off of our lagoon system so that this water does
not have to be treated. You cannot put storm water into the sanitary
water system and we have not allowed that for some time."
Alderman Cunningham moved that the City Council approve
Ordinance 2006-02 (An ordinance to amend the sewer use and storm water
codes to comply with Illinois EPA regulations concerning storm water
for the City of Minonk), seconded by Alderman Petersen.
Local contractors donate dugouts to ball field
Alderman Brian Petersen reported that Meierhofer Construction is
donating the cost of the concrete for the dugouts at the new T-Ball
field and that Ripple Concrete would like to pour and finish the
concrete at no cost to the City of Minonk. He also reported that the
City Crew has already completed the necessary forming for the pour to
be completed.
Alderman Petersen moved that the City Council accept the
Meierhofer/Ripple donation (Cost of the concrete and the labor to pour
and finish concrete for dugouts at the new T-Ball field), seconded by
Alderman Fortner.
City Administrator Comments
• The City will be hiring 2 students earlier this year to mow and water
trees. They will be working after school and on weekends. Students with
previous city experience will be given priority. Lucas Timmerman and
Brad Marshall will be starting early this year.
• The Minonk Community Guide published by the Woodford County
Journal is available at some local businesses and at City Hall. It
features area information on Minonk, Dana, and Rutland.
• Thanked Julia Voss for helping put this guide together.
• Reported that a local brochure on the City of Minonk is available at City Hall.
• Reported that Fieldcrest High School Juniors will be taking the
Prairie State Achievement Exam and wished them Good Luck.
• Announced that he will be taking a vacation from April 5th to April
16th and would be back for the next council meeting and for the hearing
on the budget.
• Announced that anyone who wants a personal copy of the budget to contact him and he will print out a copy for them.
Mayor's Comments
• Thanked the Cub Scouts for their donation of trees and said that
they are welcome up at City Hall anytime to see how the City works. He
said that the City of Minonk appreciates the trees and we will find
good locations for their planting. He also said that the City will
assist in the planting if help is needed.
• Reported that the new flooring at City Hall has been installed and looks good.
• Thanked the Ambulance Squad for repainting the inside of City Hall and said that it is looking good.
• As per the Peoria Journal Star article concerning the racetrack,
said the City is in the process of trying to get a redevelopment
agreement signed by the developer. "It is a slow process, but we are
getting there and maybe at the next meeting we will have more
information to give to the public."
Public Comments
Gene Oncken of 146 South Elm Street reported that the street
light and the corner of South Elm Street and Robin Lane which is next
to his residence has been going off and on about every two minutes for
the last four months. He said that he would like to see it fixed or
that someone shut if off.
Mayor Koos said that Com Ed would be contacted and we will be at
their schedule. Oncken also said that there must be 30 to 40 more
lights around town with the same problem.