Sunday, May 11, 2008

City replaces curb side recyling with central recycling bin

Sunday, May 11, 2008 - Posted 8:07:55 PM
The Minonk City Council approved locating a recycling bin behind City Hall where residents can dispose of their recyclables. Mayor Koos said that under the new garbage contract with Tomlinson Disposal the City will be going to a central location for recycling. Mayor Koos reported that approximately only 20% of Minonk residents participate in the recycling program. He also reported that the City does not make any money from the program and that the City actually has to pay for the disposing of recyclable materials. The cost is $3.30 per cubic yard and $110 per load hauling fee. Tomlinson Disposal is providing a bin for the recyclable materials to be deposited.

City Administrator Qualifications Specified

City Attorney Jay Greening explained the selection process for a city administrator to the Council. Greening said the selection process is up to the Mayor in terms of how he may go about appointing. Some mayors take that responsibility on themselves and others advertise and interview by committee. Greening said ultimately the Mayor selects somebody and that person is formally considered by the City Council. If the Council does not consent to the appointment, then it would be incumbent on the Mayor to continue to look for a permanent appointment.

After a brief discussion the Mayor and the Council agreed upon the following qualifications for a city administrator.

• Municipal budgeting experience.
• Personnel management experience and the ability to manage human resources.
• Ability to address concerns in a professional manner and in a timely basis.
• Candidate who wants to live in a small town.
• Bachelor’s Degree minimum level of education requirement.
• Candidate has had a progressive increase of responsibility and accountability in previous jobs or occupations.

The Mayor and Council were in agreement that the salary range would be $60,000 to $70,000.

On the method for publication and posting of position, the Mayor and Council were in agreement to get prices using websites monster.com and careerbuilder.com versus hiring a professional headhunter to recruit candidates. The Finance Committee will compare the benefits and costs and their meeting next week and report to the Council at the next regular meeting.

Change to Grass/Weeds Ordinance Denied

Linda Azbill, 730 Locust Street, addressed the Council about changing Ordinance 2004-08 (Grass/Weeds Ordinance Chapter 8.20.020--Height limit designated) which states that is unlawful of any owner/or tenant of any premises to permit any weeds, grass or plants other than trees, bushes flowers, vegetable plants or other ornamental plants, to grow to a height exceeding ten (10) inches anywhere within the corporate boundaries of the City of Minonk. She said that she would like to see the ordinance changed back to a maximum height of six (6) inches as it was before the ordinance was amended in 2004 and asked why the maximum height limit was increased from six (6) inches to the present ten (10) inches as is now allowed.

Mayor Koos said that the ordinance was addressed at a Public Safety Committee meeting first in June 21, 2004 and that there really is no history why it was changed from a maximum height allowed from 6 inches to 10 inches.

Azbill said the grass height was an issue for her because in the area where she lives it is a constant problem as the grass is allowed to grow so tall before it is mowed. She said that last summer a spoon went through her house siding as a result of the adjacent property’s high grass being mowed.  She said she never knows what is going to be thrown by the mower. Azbill asked the Council members if they would like their neighbors to have a 10 inch yard of grass.

Alderman Cunningham said that he was fine with lowering it, but he did not know what that right amount is and asked Police Chief Nick Cavera about the issue.

Chief Cavera said that where he last worked (Bolingbrook) and lived (Plainfield) both had a maximum height of 6 inches for grass height and he always thought that was kind of high.

Alderman Jenkins suggested taking the maximum height down to seven inches and fined a happy medium.

Alderwoman Carls said 8 inches would suffice. She added that her grass grows 8 inches in four days and if she is gone for a week and a half on vacation, would she have a citation in her mail box when she returned home?

Alderman Petersen said he does not want to change it to a lower height and then it is not enforced because the yard looks good at this height .  He also did not want the police to have to go out there with a tape measure.   He added, "At 10 inches you know when it looks bad."

Alderman Ruestman asked Linda Azbill if there were other things besides the tall grass that are making this property look bad.

Azbill responded that there are weeds and junk.

Alderman Ruestman said that their are other ordinances out there to take care of the other issues and he felt that 10 inches was fine. He added that someone who mows their grass tall to begin with and are on vacation and get an extra day or two with rain and do not get to mow it right away, it could get up to 6 or 8 inches with no problem.

Azbill responded that she could agree with that, but last year it was all summer long. She stated that this is not a once a month type thing, it was all summer last year and it has started out the same this year. She concluded, "The property is just not being kept mowed."

Mayor Koos asked the Council for a motion on how to proceed with this issue.

Council took no action on the request to lower the height of grass in Ordinance 2004-08.

Zoning Variance Denied

The Council denied a request for a zoning variance to build a 3 car garage at 805 Maple Avenue, residence of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Coons.

The variance would allow the garage to be 13 feet closer to the sidewalk than the 20 foot setback for their neighbors house.

Alderman Petersen made a motion to approve the variance and was seconded by Alderman Fortner, but was voted down by Aldermen Cunningham, Carls, Jenkins, and Ruestman.

Mayor Koos said that to bring back another proposal would require a variance and it would have to be published 15 days before the hearing and the whole process would have to start over and the earliest this could be done would be the middle of June.

Initiate Process Issuing Go Bond One Year Early

Mayor Koos said he has talked to First Midstate and it appears things are going very well for the City as far as Waste Management is concerned on the City being able to get easements on the north side of town. The Mayor said "We could not do much until Waste Management was sure they were going to give us the easements and it appears that is going to happen for us now." Koos said that he cannot thank them enough on that.

Koos said that First Midstate has told him that it could take up to 60 to 75 days to get the bond in order because the City is asking for one (1) year early. Mayor Koos asked the Council if they want to go ahead and have them start assembling the paper work necessary to start putting together the bond on a year early basis to get the storm water project in. The Council was in agreement to have the Mayor call First Midstate and get the paper work started.

City Council Comments

Alderman Fortner reported that the High School is putting up a veteran’s memorial and have had money donated by various groups and are falling about $2000 short for the electrical part to run the light for the flag. He said that he would like TIF II funds used to fund the lighting portion of the project.

Mayor Koos said that request would be added to the agenda for the Finance Committee meeting next week.

Mayor's Comments

• Thanked the VFW for their donation of a video camera for the new police car.
• Reported that it is looking like the City will be getting a $20,000 grant to the storm water sewer project from DCEC (Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity)
• Thanked State Representative Keith Sommer who worked hard in getting an application for the grant for Minonk.
                        Viewer comments on this article

PS1968 wrote on 5/19/2008 at 16:38:36

I think we should have been notified prior to recycle pickup being suspended. I have witnessed Tomlinsons not really recycling,but throwing the "red bin" items in the back of the garbage truck. I have lived in Minonk all of my life. I can remember ,as a kid,having a small "hut-type" building in the parking lot across from the police station. It was in here we placed newspapers and glass(brown & green as well as clear). Great concept except even back then somebody decided to deposit other "unacceptable" items in this "hut". It was then removed. Do you not think that this will be an issue since everyone is so upset??
AlterEgo wrote on 5/16/2008 at 10:52:44

I personally have an extremely good reason that I am currently not able to attend council meetings.  My not being at a meeting does not mean that my concerns for our town are any less valuable.  I agree that more of us need to attend these meetings, and hopefully represent those that are not there.
On the flip side, those who were elected to their positions have a responsibility to be present (they knew this when they "applied" for the job).  How are any of us to truly be represented when our voices can not be heard.
Somehow how we need to come together as a town, and find our community pride.
P.S.  I believe MinonkTalk is a great source for our council.  I hope they find it allows  for multiple perspectives that they may not have anticipated.

gerdie wrote on 5/16/2008 at 07:43:13

Well, it still seems to me that one should have the right to choose their garbage pick up.  Do we have the right to refuse who the city has chosen and not pay that fee?  If so, then we should all get together and do that and get another company in there. I am not sure what the rules or laws of Minonk say as to if that would even be possible. But something has got to change.
jaf11 wrote on 5/16/2008 at 03:35:27

I think the residents of this town should attend a meeting when there is something on the agenda that interest them.  I also think that our alderman should show up for the meetings and than the mayor can have a quorum.  In my ward the lady alderman very seldom shows up and she is representing me, I voted for her.  How sad!  I know some of the other alderman don't show up to, do you let the rest of the council know you aren't coming?  How can our city government work when the alderman don't even respect the people that voted for them.
jstcurious wrote on 5/15/2008 at 20:15:14

Here's a point to ponder. I have followed the Tomilson "recycling" truck to Washburn,(Tomilsons business). I also watched the female driver unload all items from Minonk "recycling" truck into a construction roll off container and tarp it. I then followed the roll off truck to the land fill; the items were NEVER separated. I wonder what Tomilison does with the "extra" charges the city pays for an imaginary service that does not exist??? I further wonder, if we as paying customers; are FORCED to change the way we have lived and done business with Tomilison; then what about the people who only have one can or two per month? Do they receive a rebate or discount? I hope the city fathers can get this issue straight,or provide a dumpster for the items that Tomilson refuses to pick up that may be left at city hall??? I don't mind paying for a service, however lets not change the rules mid stream.
emo wrote on 5/15/2008 at 18:28:38

What the hey, I went to throw my recyclables in then new dumpster and someone threw garbage in it.  Why does people have to ruin this, there is other thing people can do with their garbage.  You don't have to ruin one of the only good things offered.  Plus now I see the city workers pick up garbage also.
nella wrote on 5/15/2008 at 18:20:42

I think that city and federal are very much different. No you do not go to all the meetings for federal or for state but they are not held in you town. You would have to go out of you way to do that but city meetings are held    where   here in the city  where you live. By not attending them but complaining afterwords is just plain lazy. It is easy to complain on your PC but it takes to much time to go and get involved. Plus I never said I was on council I just said that I am tired of hearing everyone complain and never see anyone get involved. So emo you go on and complain cause that is what you do best and leave the big problems to the grown-ups.
Free2Bme wrote on 5/15/2008 at 16:56:11

I agree with alterego!
How many of us are going to the next meeting since we know (now) we're not being represented in means that's not right for our city?  Were other proposals even read? I hope they plan to have a representative from tomlinsons there!  This here is also another reason why we need a city administrator!  It would have been the city administrators job to gather the proposals and submit them for approval.
Nella...huh?  You can type in full sentences here. This is not text or instant messaging. It's spelled YOU.  People read these from outside of Minonk, including prospective residents (who are probably running far away, since Minonk has nothing to offer them along with near $4/gallon gas).  Besides, none of what you said made sense.  If every resident went to meetings, we'd have to meet somewhere other than city hall.  Do YOU go to every meeting?
emo wrote on 5/15/2008 at 10:21:41

Nella; that is why we elect councilmen (It’s councilmen for either man or woman) to represent us, so we do not have to attend every meeting.  It’s just like when we elect a state congressman, we don’t attend the state meetings.  Same as federal, but when we call one of our state reps about problem they don’t tell us we have to come to the next congress session.  If you don’t like representing your ward and hear people complain (comes with the job) maybe you shouldn’t have ran for the position.


AlterEgo wrote on 5/15/2008 at 07:06:02

Lets clear a few things up:
1)If this town is to grow in any way, then the town must be attractive to those who may consider moving here (business or residential).
2)Common sense dictates that a raise in cost and a decline in service equals an unhappy clientèle.
3)EVERYONE deserved to be notified of the changes to the garbage contract PRIOR to them becoming effective (it was improper to notify select people by taping notices to their garbage cans).
It would have been nice to have been notified of the possible changes before the contract was even signed.
No city council is without its flaws, but there needs to be enough positives to outweigh the negatives.

nella wrote on 5/15/2008 at 00:19:38

I  am really confused everyone is saying that the city messed up but hoe many of u were there when they were talking about it.  I know at every meeting it is asked any public comments  so you have a chance to speak if you want to.  I know  that I  can not wait till the next election cause I see now that there are going to be alot of people running for alderman or alderwoman spots.  This is going to be something to see cause we all know it is going to happen, do to the fact that everyone can always do a better job.  So hope to see ya all on election day and use your names here so I know who I am voting for.
nella wrote on 5/15/2008 at 00:27:26

I am confused that everyone is mad at the council for the city.  I  bet that you all had a good reason like you went to every meeting and told them what you wanted and they just did not do it right. There will be a election coming up and I know you all are going to run to get in there and fix this problem that we have. I will be looking for you on the election day remember the mayors spot will be open too.
emo wrote on 5/14/2008 at 09:24:33

What being in the hole $300K?
IronMask wrote on 5/14/2008 at 04:44:37

Of course we should question our elected officials!  I would recommend that everyone go back and look at the past synopses of the city council meetings that have been posted on MinonkTalk (read between the lines). Maybe I'm wrong, but I am suspicious of what awaits us in the upcoming months.  After being blindsided with this garbage fiasco, I worry greatly about the future of this town.

tihsho wrote on 5/13/2008 at 18:47:10

Does anyone care that Koos brought in a lawyer to explain hiring procedure, was this necessary? What did it cost us taxpayers? I sure hope the council hires someone with some common sense who will not just be Koos "yes" man.

Submit your comments

You must log in with a registration ID to be able to submit comments. If you do not have an ID click here.  

User ID:      

Password: