The Minonk City Council approved a recommendation by Chief of
Police Bill Butler to hire Russell Ruestman as a part-time police
officer. Butler said that Ruestman has many years of experience
as a police officer and investigator and has a considerable amount of
training and knowledge in the law enforcement field. Ruestman's
appointment will give Minonk 4 part-time police officers.
Oil and Chip work progress
Mayor Bill Koos said that the prep work for the Oil and Chip work on
Moran Street and the city parking lot was not included in the original
proposal. Subsequently, it cost the city another $3900 to have
the prep work done prior to completing the oil and chip work.
Koos said that this will result in a cost overrun of $3000 but the
amount will still be covered by MFT funds.
Mayor Koos said
that the Farnsworth Group engineers are still working on solutions to
the drainage problem at the Carolyn Development and will have numbers
available to the city by this weekend. He added that the Locust
Street drainage problem will be a costly project that could last up to
3 years. The present option being considered is tapping into the
7th Street line.
Koos said that the a water line wil have to
be burrowed underneath Route 251 in order to get a water line to the
commercial lots that are to be included in the development north of
Route 251 in Section 6 as part of the proposed raceway
development. The sewer line is already north of Route 251 and
will not have to be tunneled under the road.
Grant proposals to be prepared
Mayor Koos and the city council discussed proposals for matching grants
to be offered by the Woodford Economic Development Council. The
grants will be for $6000 and must be matched by the city. Koos
said that a trifold brochure promoting Minonk could be prepared with
funds from the grant. Dave Uphoff suggested an attractive sign
along I-39 to draw tourists and visitors to Minonk. City
Administrator Trent Smith said that the grant proposal has to be
technical in nature and cannot be a "bricks and mortar"
project. Alderman Sean Cunningham suggested that the city
write a proposal that would use the MinonkTalk website to promote
Minonk and its manufacturing companies. Uphoff suggested that an
interactive web page that advertised employment opportunities in Minonk
be considered. Alderman Brian Peterson made a motion that the
city apply for the $6000 grant and was approved by the council.
City Administrator Trent Smith was appointed to write up the specs for
the grant which must be submitted this month.
Farmers market concept endorsed by the city
The city council reacted favorably to having a farmers market in
Minonk's Westside Park on Saturdays next year. Dave Uphoff said
that he recommended the concept in an editorial on his website and was
contacted by a local resident who was willing to spearhead the
project. Mayor Koos said that it is better for the public to run
the market and let the city stay out of it.
Other news
Rene Hove resigned from the Parks and Recreation Board.
Alderman Brian Peterson has received concerns from constiuents about
the uncontrolled intersections at Second and Third Streets on
Walnut. He said they are one of the few such intersections
in the city and should receive consideration from the council.
Mayor Koos congratulated the Gazebo Committee for its efforts in
constructing the new gazebo in the Westside Park. Koos said that
the gazebo looks great. He added that landscaping on the gazebo
probably will have to wait until next year.
The mayor
announced that there will be special city council meeting on Wednesday
at 7:00 p.m. for a public hearing on the proposed TIF district 3.
He also urged everyone to attend the upcoming Minonk Days to be
celebrated this week from August 18 to August 21.