Monday, June 25, 2007

Sherry Stalter named City Treasurer

Monday, June 25, 2007 - Posted 7:57:19 PM

The Minonk City Council approved the mayor's nomination of Sherry Stalter to become the new City Treasurer.  Mayor Koos reported that Sherry Stalter started off her public service on the Zoning Board and has served on the City Council from 1999 to 2003.  Koos said, "She is well acquainted with the budget process and all that goes into the different departments that make up our budget as well as a lot to the reports that she will have to generate."  He also noted that Stalter has banking experience and will be a nice addition to the office of City Treasurer.  

Tattoo Shop approved for TIF funds

The City Council approved TIF II funds in the amount of $8,555 for  444 Tattoo located at 444 North Chestnut Street.  City Administrator Trent Smith said that the business is requesting to expand their business again.  The addition will be into the second floor of the building with an area 20 feet by 30 feet that will be renovated into more work stations.

Total cost of the project will be $17,100 and expenses are eligible under the TIF Act.  Randy Kleen is the owner of the building.  Smith said "That normally we do not pay someone labor to work on their own building, but he is a legitimate contractor and pays wages to his own employees."  Material cost of the project is $7,030.  Kleen is requesting TIF II funding for 50% of the expense or $8,555.  Maximum payment is $8,555 or 50% of the project cost whichever is less and payable on completion of the project and subject to final receipts being submitted.  

Motion to bid out concrete projects nixed

Alderman Corey Ruestman said that he read in the Public Works Committee minutes that the city is going to be doing $5,000 in sidewalk work.  He asked if the City got bids for the concrete that was to be used.  City Administrator Trent Smith responded no and said that the amount has to be over $20,000 to require bids for the job.  

Smith said that the requirement of bids used to be $10,000, but now has been increased to $20,000.

Alderman Brian Petersen said that last year we put it out for bids.  "That was for concrete for the whole year and the price was good for the year."

Ruestman said "We have $5,000 for sidewalks and we will be pouring about 30 yards for the new ambulance building and for this dollar amount I think that we should be bidding the job for purchase of concrete out."

Smith said that the City will be contracting the ambulance job out and getting bids for that job.

Alderman Petersen responded that is not for the concrete, but for the actual finish work as the City workers are not capable of pouring and finishing that floor.

Ruestman made a motion that the City accept bids for the purchase of concrete.  There was no second on the motion.

Swimming pool discussed

Alderman Petersen said that he would like to see if some type of committee could be set up with people from the public in town to start looking into what we need to do to come up with a pool in the City.  He said it is about time that we started doing something to see if it is feasible.  He said that he was looking for an adhoc committee with members of the public included.

Mayor Koos said that we will discuss this at the next meeting.

Mayor's Comments

1. Invited everybody out for the 4th of July activities and encouraged them to check the schedule as they have a lot of events planned.
2.  Reported that we have been in contact with the school and the cost numbers have been delivered.
                        Viewer comments on this article

Re: Minonk Slap & Rec wrote on 7/20/2007 at 14:39:37

The board has nothing to do with one child being "out of control" and her parents doing nothing about it. (Glad my kids not that girls age.) From what I understand, no one hit anyone. The coach wanted the girl to say she was sorry, (Like that would ever happen!!!!)

Minonk Slap & Rec wrote on 7/2/2007 at 12:56:43

What is the deal with the Minonk Rec Board letting a coach slap/push/hit another coach in front of 7 year old girls and only giving them a 1 game suspension. Just add that to the long long list of screw ups by that Board.

To observer cont wrote on 6/30/2007 at 18:39:09

A new manager was recently hired and I believe she will be very good for the future of the pool. She is making good decisions and she has a very good park board behind her. I know someone mentioned a park board hiring a full time manager, and that is exaclty what a pool would need in Minonk. I think the young residents of Minonk could really benefit from having a pool at their disposal, and many parents would enjoy it because it

To observer cont wrote on 6/30/2007 at 18:37:04

I have done very few swim lessons for Flanagan residents because part of the P.E. program at Flanagan includes teaching students to swim. I am amazed when I am lifeguarding how some small children already know how to swim. The pool in Flanagan has been a benefit to so many, and it is sad to see it go down hill.

To Observer wrote on 6/30/2007 at 13:36:17

Like I said get your facts straight. I have talked to him and he told me he DID pay for it and he also told me if I wanted to go up to city hall and ask and they can also tell me that he paid. So, go ahead make my day and ask, I dare you! As for good PR, he is doing his job as an alderman and trying to help the community. Get over it!

Observer wrote on 6/29/2007 at 18:35:56

Longtime Citizen - Obviously the City Crew needs help because there building is right next to Westside Park and they can't even clean things up right outside their window. As for the Alderman spoke about. Maybe that Alderman made that request for good PR since he got heat for filling his pool so many times out of the hydrant. Did he pay for all those times??? He only knows.

Oh another thing... wrote on 6/29/2007 at 09:11:47

Alderman Petersen was the one who proposed the swimming pool idea, if you haven't noticed, he has a very large pool in his own backyard. That doesn't mean his family wouldn't benefit from a public pool, and if it was indoor, then it could be used year-round, unlike all those pools in backyards. Obviously he thinks a pool would benefit Minonk and it's residents.

To observer wrote on 6/29/2007 at 09:06:50

I work at Flanagan pool and although I do agree partly with what you say about the pool, some of it is not true. Yes, money was left to the pool which has helped it immensely. At the same time, it is a huge asset to Flanagan. During the summer many families take advantage of the "cheap" babysitters also known as lifeguards.

Pool Family wrote on 6/28/2007 at 20:12:31

I own a pool for my kids and I would be more than happy to send my kids to a bigger pool to swim and have lessons. Would sure save on my water bill and maintenance costs. For the few who have filled their pools by the hydrant they have to pay for it. It is NOT free. Get your facts straight first. And if some people don't like the way the city maintains the property I am sure the city crew would love some volunteers to help out.

Longtime Citizen wrote on 6/28/2007 at 20:05:42

To "Observer", If you are at the park everyday start picking up trash if it bothers you that much. Try to organize a group to get it done or ask local groups. Kids in high school can always use community service hours. Yeah, go ahead and take your gloves and round up with you. Good Idea!

Observer II wrote on 6/28/2007 at 10:31:26

"I don't know" - Ha Ha Ha! You think the people in town who spent money on these pools over the last 3 - 5 years are going to take them down so they can go to the public pool? Plus when you fill your pool out of the fire hydrants 2 or 3 times a year I think you are saving quit a big pool expense.

I dont know wrote on 6/28/2007 at 09:55:47

pools are expensive to maintain. I would bet some people would take pools down and rely on a public pool just to save money.

Observer wrote on 6/27/2007 at 17:55:55

Flanagan has an olympic size pool, however, if it were not for the land that was left to keep it running, I doubt if it would ever make it. After the newness wore off, very few in town used it and still don't, except for swim meets and exercise classes. Take a ride thru town and see all of the small & large pools in the backyards, even though there is a large indoor pool just a few blocks away.

Observer wrote on 6/27/2007 at 05:08:08

Don't get me wrong a public pool would be nice. I just think the City crew needs to do a better job keeping up with the parks in town before they tackle another area to maintain. Garbage is mowed over rather then picked up. Weeds are growing in the play areas. I guess I should take my roundup and gloves along with me to the park so I can picks weeds too. Why do I pay taxes?

Observer wrote on 6/26/2007 at 10:26:27

Pool Would Be Great: The people who have these 3000 gallon pools. You think they are going to just take them down. :) I agree everyone needs to help pick up the parks. One problem. When you take your kids there about every night and you spend 1/2 the time picking up. That is not what you go to the park for.

where is the... wrote on 6/26/2007 at 11:23:04

Big community building that was suppose to come with the New Millenium park. Wasn't it suppose to have a nice room and pool and such??

Old school wrote on 6/26/2007 at 13:39:18

I rememember when minonk had one of the finest pools in the area until the treated it like everything else they own. If they even consider it they need a park district to hire a full time pool manager otherwise it will be like the pool they have now.

Longtime Citizen wrote on 6/26/2007 at 10:06:13

It is too bad that the pool that they did have years ago was not kept up. But, I am 100 % behind the city getting a pool for this town. It will give the kids something to do instead of maybe vandalizing the town. The kids and families need somewhere to go in the summertime. Also swim lessons for the kids instead of going out of town. To "observer" if the garbage bothers you that bad why don't you do something about it?

Pool would be great! wrote on 6/26/2007 at 08:10:04

If we had a community pool, you wouldn't be seeing these huge 3,000 gallon pools in so many yards and we'd be saving the amount of water that is used to fill those. As for the parks, it's our park too...shouldn't we help on the cleanup? The next time you walk past litter, bend over and pick it up. My young daughters took it upon themselves to pick up when we were at West Side Park on Father's Day.

Observer wrote on 6/26/2007 at 06:54:18

The City needs to worry more about keeping what they have as far as parks and diamonds clean and looking good before they worry about a swimming pool. The garbage in West Side Park is an embarrassment. Plus I thought the Millennium group’s main goal was to build a pool. Where are they at on this?

J. Masters wrote on 6/26/2007 at 06:40:36

I am definitely interested in learning more about a pool in Minonk. I work at the Flanagan pool, so that is where I teach all of my lessons. I remember taking lessons at the Minonk pool when I was a kid. Most of my lessons are people from Minonk, it would be so nice to be able to do lessons right in Minonk.

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