The Minonk City Council approved a $25,000 grant to Craig Meyer and Randy Ruestman for improvements to the Minonk Car Wash, which they are purchasing. The car wash has been inactive for several years. Mr. Meyer and Mr. Ruestman plan to paint the building, cut the weeds, resurface the parking lots, rehabilitate the manual wash bays and vacuums, and install a new automatic car wash system and automatic teller. They plan to employ three part time workers. The grant will be paid in three installments over three years.
City Budget Approved
The Council approved the 2011-2012 budget although alderman Corey Ruestman and alderwoman Kari Carls voted no. Ruestman asked City Administrator Doug Elder if there was money in the budget for sidewalks and if so, how much. Elder said there was money reserved for sidewalks but did not specify how much. Ruestman said he didn't understand why the City is willing to spend $35,000 on the development of the nature trail which is more than being spent on sidewalks. Ruestman also questioned whether the City needed to spend $8700 on a new lawn mower as the current one is only three years old.
$12,000 was added to the City budget by the Finance Committee for money owed to Minonk Township for road maintenance expenses for the township roads that border Section 6 on the east and north sides per an agreement made in 2005.
Sale of City Truck Dropped
Alderman Ruestman wanted to know if the City is going to sell the inoperable truck discussed at the last meeting. City Administrator Doug Elder said the truck needs a new $120 battery in order to run. Ruestman suggested that it would be worth spending the money to keep the truck running rather than selling and then having to upgrade the other City trucks with flashing lights to replace the truck in question.
Alderman Sean Cunningham was concerned that the truck will not start when needed. ESDA member Tanya Munz said the truck normally is started every week in order to make sure it runs but it just so happened not to start during the week it was being inspected. The truck has a 24 volt system and uses 2 batteries. Cunningham then made a motion for the City to buy two batteries to make sure the truck will start, which the council approved.
The City Council did approve the sale of a 1996 Crown VIctoria, which is a City squad car. City Administrator Elder said the car will be advertised for sealed bids and the high bidder will be awarded the car.