The
developers of the proposed I-39 Raceway Park have decided to initally
go with a dirt track rather than an asphalt track for the 1/4 mile oval
track. Developer Randy Hellyer told the Minonk City Council that
his engineers advised him that due to the high water table in the area
of the oval track that it would be necessary to build the track
above grade rather than carving it out of the ground like a bowl. Hellyer
said that when you build a track
above grade and the track is fairly high banked you just can’t put the earth
there and let it settle for a year and put asphalt or concrete over it.
Hellyer said that while
we are waiting for all the earth to settle it might as well be used. This means the oval track will be a dirt
track for the first 3 to 5 years. He added this is going to be a blessing for all of us because we will have made
a better cash flow situation with a dirt track compared to the paved track
initially.
Hellyer told the Council
and the audience that they plan to have a long, good, and lasting relationship
with the city of Minonk so that it was only proper that he contact Mayor Koos
and appear before the Council tonight to keep them informed of any changes.
Carolyn Drainage Recommendations
The council decided to go with a long term fix for the Carolyn
Development drainage problems. Bob Kohlase of the Farnsworth
Engineering Group presented the results of their study of the drainage
problem to the council.
Alderman Sean Cunningham moved the City Council to approve the
reimbursement of up to $9000.00 from the TIF #1 fund
to developer Rich Marketti for the completion of the Alternate 2 Carolyn
Development Storm Drainage Plan. Half of the reimbursement will
be paid upon the completion of the project and the entirety of lot 2 has been
resurfaced with gravel as indicated by the developer. The second half of the
reimbursement shall be paid once the entirety of lot 2 has been paved or
concreted for semi truck parking. Further, the developer will be
responsible for all future maintenance of the drainage system located on his
property including pump repairs and electrical costs. Grading construction plans for the entire lot
2 parking project must be approved by the City prior to commencement of the
drainage project.
Mayor's Comments
Mayor Bill Koos announced a plan for the Parade
of Lights Festival in Minonk. The Mayor
suggested that the city install electrical outlets near Sutton’s Park so the
floats could be left in the park after the parade to be displayed for a period
of time to bring people into town to look at the floats. It would require working with the Minonk
Businessmen’s Association and the owners of the floats to see if this would be
possible. Koos added that this would be a start to promote tourism with
hotel tax monies that was added last year. Jim Brown told the council that there are outlets on at
least one pole in Sutton’s Park.
Mayor Koos also said that sometimes all the work that
involves going into being a councilman goes unnoticed, but lately the City
Council has met on a number of occasions addressing several issues and it has
taken a lot of time away from their families. He thanked the councilmen for being
dedicated and coming to all of these meetings.