Police Chief Bill Butler announced his retirement to the Minonk City
Council at the council meeting Tuesday night. Butler said that he
will turn 55 on June 25, 2006 and will be eligible for retirement and
will retire on July 1, 2006. Mayor Bill Koos extended Butler's
appointment as Chief of Police until that time, an action approved by
the council. The announcement ended speculation on the status of
Butler's appointment as Chief of Police. At previous council
meetings, discussion centered on whether to buy Butler's last year of
retirement, an action that would have cost the city $40,000.
Carolyn Develoment Drainage Problem
The council approved a motion to spend $2100 to shoot spot elevations
at the Carolyn Developmentat the I-39 interchange and at Fourth and
Locust in hopes of finding a solution to the drainage problem at both
places. The survey would be performed by Farnsworth & Wylie
engineers. Mayor Koos and City Engineer Charlie McGuire met with
the new owner of the Shell Truck Stop at the Carolyn Development who
wants to expand the truck stop at the location but is concerned about
the drainage problems.
Mayor Koos said that if the city wants to encourage development at the
Carolyn Development it must determine how to alleviate the drainage
problem. An elevation survey will be the first step in that
process. Mayor Koos said the construction of I-39 dictated
the grade at the I-39 interchange and the city has to somehow address
the problems that the I-39 grade creates for the truck stop. Some
of the options include creating another retention pond either north or
east of the truck stop.
Chestnut Street Garbage Pickup
The council approved a request to send a letter to each resident on
Chestnut Street asking if they would be willing to have their garbage
picked up in the alley instead of in front of their residence on the
street. The placement of garbage along the main street in town
has created problems of containers being blown into the street and also
creates an unsightly entrance into town. Tomlinson Disposal, the
local garbage collector, said they do not have any problems with
picking up the garbage in the alley as long as every one goes along
with it. Garbage will not be picked up in both the alley and the
street. If the residents response is positive, the change will be
made according to Mayor Koos.
Heritage Manor Sign
The council approved a request by Heritage Manor Nursing Home to have a
sign attached to the "Welcome to our Community" sign at the
corner of Fifth and Chestnut Streets. Currently, only churches
have a sign on the Welcome sign. Heritage Manor will pay for the
sign and will be the only business on the Welcome sign.
City Administrator Comments
Steffens 3-D will do their oil and chip work around August 8th.
They wil be doing the Moran Street extension, the strip on Maple Avenue
between 7th and 8th Street next to the new curbing that was put in and
the parking lot across from City Hall. The bid, to be paid from
MFT funds was $16,583.60. The Millennia Park Committee is also
planning on hiring Steffens to oil and chip the roadway into the park
as well as both parking lots.
The Public Works department is progressing with many of their projects
including the sidewalk replacement program and the walking trail across
from Sutton's Park from Millennia Park to Veterans Park. At this
point they are laying the "grindings" from the Chestnut Street overlay
project the were stockpiled as a base for the path.
The MInonk Ambulance Squad passed their annual state (IDPH) inspections
with flying colors and were again commeneded for the cleanliness of the
ambulances. The inspectors commented that they noticed a big
difference in the ambulances since the squad has gone to full time
staffing.
The Fourth of July Committee deserves a huge pat on the back for
another very successful celebration. The beer tent was packed
with people on Sunday night. The parade on Monday had over 100
entries and was very entertaining. Sutton's Park was filled with
spectators despite the slight rain shower to listen to the
entertainment and enjoy a tremendous fireworks display.
Also, congratulations to the MInonk baseball teams. The two girls
teams placed 1st with only one loss and 3rd with two losses
respectively in their 6 team league. The 9/10 and 11/12 year old
boys took part in a Bi-County Little League Tournament. In an 11
team tournament, the 9/10 year old teams took home 2nd and 4th
place. There were 10 teams in the 11/12 year old age bracket and
the Minonk teams placed 1st and 2nd. This is a huge
accomplishment for all teams showing hard work and dedication by the
players and great coaching.