The Minonk City Council voted to limit the City's donations to only the Fourth of July Celebration and the Parade of Lights at their normal Monday night meeting.  Mayor Bill Koos said the Council needs to make a decision before the start of the school year when request for school ads start.  Alderman Russell Ruestman said it makes sense to give a donation to a school function but Alderman Larry Fortner said the school is already getting $30,000 a year from the City's TIF fund. 

While Alderman Justin Faulk originally said he didn't think the City should be making donations of any kind with tax payers dollars he agreed with most Council members that it is important to support the City's two big annual events and made the motion to donate to the Fourth of July and Parade of Lights events, which was unanimously approved.

MFT Seal Coat Update

City Administrator Doug Elder said Road Oil Inc., which won the bid to do the seal coat on City streets this summer, is suspended from doing any work by IDOT until certain paperwork is completed.  The paperwork required is a bureaucratic  procedure and not due to any malfeasance.  Elder said since Road Oil Inc. was the only bidder, the seal coat for City streets this summer will not be done.  Farnsworth engineers recommended the City roll over the seal coat project until next year.  Elder said this would probably save the City some money since doing a bigger project next summer will be cheaper on a unit basis since the setup cost will be spread over a bigger project.

Alderman Faulk said he talked to D & D Construction of Benson who said they are willing to do the seal coat at the agreed bid price of Road Oil Inc.  Faulk said he is concerned about damage to City streets if the seal coat is not put on this summer.  City Administrator Doug Elder said rebidding is not feasible at this point as it would delay the project to late autumn when it is too cool to put on a seal coat.  Alderman Ruestman asked if the City can recover the engineering fee for doing the bid from Road Oil Inc. since the project cannot be completed.  Upon a recommendation from  Alderman Faulk, City Administrator Doug Elder will find out if the City can bypass the bid process and go to another bidder without incurring any additional fees.

Public Comments

The owner of the building at 140 5th Street wants to know why her building is not included in the downtown TIF district.  The owner was told by County officials that the tax record for the building does not specify it being in the TIF district.  Mayor Koos said the building should be included in the TIF district which would make it eligible for TIF funds from the City for remodeling.  CIty Administrator Elder will check with the County to get the tax records corrected.

Minonk resident Norma Turner said the house next to her house on Short Street is in a state of disrepair with unmowed grass in the front yard and wanted the City to condemn the property or at least get the owner, Ken Kerrigan, to make repairs and get the grass mowed.  Mayor Koos said the City can enforce the nuisance laws which require the grass to be mowed.  However, to get the building condemned is a long and expensive process and it would be better to try to get the owner to make repairs or do his own demolition.  Minonk resident Larry Hill said he was paid to mow the grass where possible.  However, Hill said the front yard is full of rocks, bricks, small trees and overgrown flower beds and needs to be cleaned up at considerable expense to make it mowable.  City Administrator Doug Elder said he has been in contact with Kerrigan and indicated Kerrigan wanted to know the names of the contractors who tore down the three condemned buildings in the City last month, which Elder thought was an encouraging sign.  Larry Hill said that the property is for sale.  Elder said he will remain in contact with the owner to make sure that the property is cleaned up.

Aldermen Comments

Alderman Faulk asked if any progress has been made on getting a parking lot on the property owned by the Minonk Township directly northeast of Veterans Park.  City Administrator Doug Elder said the Minonk Township Board is agreeing to make a parking lot on the property but that it will be next year before the parking lot can be completed.

Alderman Fortner thanked the Fourth of July Committee for their hard work in putting on the annual celebration.

Alderman Julie Redenius also thanked the Fourth of July Committee, including co-leaders Sue Park and Stephanie Fuchs, for their efforts and thanked everyone who came to the event.

City Administrator Comments

City Administrator Doug Elder said the storm sewer project has been completed up to Eighth and Walnut and is now heading south on Walnut Street.  He said all sidewalks,driveways, curbs and berms will be replaced into their original condition as part of the sewer project.  Elder said the inlets installed so far are operational and will help collect runoff from any rains which means the City is already benefiting from the new storm sewer line.