Sunday, April 13, 2008

City Approves TIF Funding for Local Business

Sunday, April 13, 2008 - Posted 10:07:12 AM
The Minonk City Council approved the application for TIF II funding from Cunningham Candies (Christine Ruestman & Cynthia Meyer) for new machinery purchase to reconstruct their chocolate production line at their business located at 550 North Chestnut Street. The amount of funding is for a maximum of $25,216 or 40% of the project whichever is less and payable over 5 years at $5,043.20 per year (maximum) and subject to final receipts being submitted.

In addition, the Council approved a loan of $20,000 at 5% interest for 7 years from the City of Minonk Revolving Loan Fund to Cunningham Candies which is expanding their operations after contracting to make candy for Boylan’s Candies of Bloomington.

County Animal Control Services Rejected

Mayor Bill Koos reported that the Woodford County Board adopted Ordinance 2007/08-007 which is the Woodford County Animal Control Ordinance. The ordinance was created to ensure compliance with the recently amended State of Illinois Animal Control Act. A collateral document that was approved by the County Board this month is an intergovernmental agreement that gives municipal permission for the Animal Control Warden to provide services to that jurisdiction. The Mayor said that the county is not legally responsible for services in an incorporated area unless specified under the terms of an intergovernmental agreement.

Mayor Koos also reported that the service which had been provided by Woodford County for no charge in the past would now cost the City $2,815.42 per year if we wanted to continue to receive the service. Mayor Koos said "The county has been in charge of our animal control for years and they paid for it and now they are asking us to pay into this fund." Koos added that based on the terms specified by Woodford County in the agreement he did not think the level of service would be as good.

Alderwoman Carls asked Police Chief Nick Cavera about picking up strays and said that she had seen him in the past doing just that.

Police Chief Cavera said that he does pick up most of the city's strays and has had good luck with the owners when they are contacted. Chief Cavera also reported that the police department has two kennels and a kennel license and will hold animals for up to a week. He also said that it was his understanding that most communities in the county were not planning on using the service.

Alderman Cunningham added that there are better ways to spend $2800.

The City Council was in agreement that they were not interested in paying for the county’s service regarding animal control.

Street Maintenance Program Approved

The Council approved $87,000 of MFT (Motor Fuel Tax) funds for the Fiscal Year 2008/09 street maintenance program. The amount was based on an assessment of repairs needed on the city streets by Joe Adams, Farnsworth Group Engineer, and Public Works Director Charlie McGuire.

Adams said that about $16,000 is targeted for the parking area by City Hall and the police station, approximately $11,000 for spray emulsion and the balance for seal coat work.

Public Works Director Charlie McGuire said that this is more than they have been spending on the seal coat, but said "we have had a pretty rough winter with a lot of freezing and thawing and salt usage and is necessary to protect the streets and maintain them." McGuire said the city typically spends about $9,000 on the spray emulsion program and that was increased by a few thousand dollars.

Mayor's Comments

• Budget will be on display for public inspection beginning April 16, 2008

• Public Hearing on the budget will be held on Wednesday April 30, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. at which time the City will receive written or verbal comments concerning the proposed budget for Fiscal Year beginning May 1, 2008 and ending April 30, 2009.

• Special City Council meeting will follow the Public Hearing on the budget on Wednesday April 30, 2008 to approve the budget for the Fiscal Year 2008/09.

• Reported that each Council member has four documents in front of them concerning the garbage contract.

• There will be a Special City Council meeting this Monday night(April 14) to either approve or reject this new garbage contract.

                        Viewer comments on this article

emo wrote on 4/16/2008 at 18:51:16

Yes believe it or not there is a parking lot North of the old ambulance shed and east of the police department
citizen wrote on 4/16/2008 at 10:08:10

Parking lot between old ambulance shed and police department??  I didn't know there was one.  The only thing I am aware of between the two is grass and dog kennels. 
emo wrote on 4/16/2008 at 06:56:49

Read the article before commenting, the Parking lot they are reduing is the one between the old ambulance shed and Police.  It's not the one across the street.
citizen wrote on 4/15/2008 at 19:15:59

Where are the dogs in the kennels going after holding them for a week and no owner claims them?  I bet the council will be happy when an employee has to take the dogs to Goodfield to the vet where they will be spayed/neutered or put down.  I think that would be well worth paying an employee to drive during their work hours.  Hey gas is cheap too...  Maybe the police department can be trained as animal control officers since they don't get any other training beneficial to their jobs. 

The parking lot by city hall needs to be worked on badly.  It's used twice a month for a city council meeting, which half of them park at the police department, and used as a convenience for State Farm employees.  Money well spent. 
tihsho wrote on 4/14/2008 at 16:42:58

I am glad Mr Cunningham has better things in mind for the dog catcher cash. I am sure everyone is relieved that the police and city hall parking lot will soak up 12,ooo dollars, we will all get alot of use out of that! How about these people in charge get a reality check. Why not ask for opinion polls on what street repairs should get priority instead of just approving funds for un-needed parking lot repair. I think there is some common sense missing in our mayors way of decision making.
emo wrote on 4/13/2008 at 09:15:27

New garbage contract you say, I sure hope the contract will at least junk since we pay for it each month on our water bill.  I would like to know what the city is doing with the extra money they are charging us each month on top of what the garbage company charges the city.  A couple dumpsters cannot equal the amount that is collected.  I see all the local city's are doing road side pickup for junk, but they can afford it since they are charged about 1/2 what we are for water & sewer.

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