Speaking on his own behalf, Mayor Bill Koos said that the city has no immediate plans to hire another city administrator to replace Trent Smith who resigned last month. Koos said that to hire a city administrator would cost the city over $480,000 in salary, benefits, and retirement funds over the next 5 years. He said that amount of money could help fund the many infrastructure improvements that the City needs in the next 5 years.
The Mayor said that the City already has competent department heads to run the City's services. He added that much of the paperwork done by the previous city administrator can be handled by the staff in the City office. Koos said that most of the decision making work is done by the heads of the various committees. He added that when inquiries are made to the city regarding potential development, they always ask for the mayor. Also, according to the Mayor, the Finance Committee is responsible for overseeing the development of Section Six and other development possibilities.
Koos said the City has already successfully farmed out other duties such as legal work and engineering studies and is now considering hiring a professional development group to promote the development of Section Six and the Caroline Development. The Mayor said that he is going to see how things run without a city administrator before making a decision on whether or not to hire another city administrator.
Storm sewer project possibilities
Mayor Koos said that the City is working with the Farnsworth engineering firm to determine if it is feasible to run a storm sewer line north onto property now owned by Waste Management north of the City. Koos said that it may be possible to run the storm water into a pond that is already located next to the Jumbo or slag pile 1/2 mile north of the City. He added that one possibility is for the City to purchase a strip of land running north and making a nature trail leading out to the pond and the Jumbo. Other possibilities are to use the Jumbo as a recreational area as well.
The Mayor said all of this is now possible because of the willingness of Waste Management to work with the City in getting storm water into Section Six. He added that the City is grateful to have such a good working partner in this project.
TIF Surplus Funds to be distributed back to taxing bodies
The Minonk City Council rescinded an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Minonk and the Fieldcrest School District and replaced it with a new one. The new agreement enables the City to declare surplus funds in its TIF districts which can then be redistributed back to the taxing bodies through the County. Mayor Koos said that there is about $25,000 of surplus funds in TIF II which will be given to the County for redistribution back to the taxing bodies.