Minonk Issues

What are the hot topics?

Section 6 landfill
Caroline Development
Community Center
Westside Park Pavilion
Downtown Redevelopment High School Trophies

This column presents the issues that face the Minonk community. If you feel that there are some issues that have not been addressed or if you wish to comment on an issue, email us at duphoff@minonktalk.com.

Section 6 Landfill

The landfill issue has been facing Minonk residents since 1992 when USA Waste, the nation's largest waste management company, bought Section 6 north of the Minonk city limits. Immediately the community became galvanized over whether a square mile landfill would be beneficial to the citizens of Minonk. Those who supported the landfill point to the large amount of money that would come into the city coffers in the form of tipping fees, money that the landfill operator would give to the city as compensation to offset the negative aspects.

Those who oppose the landfill cite the potential for polluting the water supply from seepage. They also cite the fact that the landfill would sit over an abandoned coal mine which is also located next to a fault line.

In addition the opposition points to the visual pollution of a pile of waste 80 feet high on our city's border. This would discourage both commercial and residential development. Also mentioned, is the vermin and the birds that would be attracted to the landfill that would become a nuisance to local residents. Finally, the spector of trucks roaring down I-39 24 hours a day to dump their garbage at the city's doorstep would result in noise and traffic pollution in addition to increased road maintenance.

The landfill issue became a hot issue because it initially appeared that the city fathers were in favor of the landfill. However, the local residents formed a committee called Citzens Against the Landfill or CAL. Through the efforts of this committee and with the support of the majority of Minonk's residents a new mayor and city council were voted in that were against the landfill. In addition, the committee succeeded in getting an Illinois Senate bill passed that gives the city council the power to approve or reject the landfill thus taking the power away from perhaps a less sympathetic county board.

The net result of all this resulted in the landfill company, USA Waste, dropping its effort to establish a landfill in Section 6 for the time being. Currently, the landfill issue is lying dormant. This does not mean the issue is settled, however. USA Waste can at any time apply for a permit to establish a landfill in Section 6. The feeling is that if USA Waste felt that the Minonk City Council would vote to accept the landfill, they would proceed with the permit application. Therefore, the ultimate decision lies in the hands of the citizens of Minonk. If they vote in a city council that is sympathetic to the landfill issue, USA Waste would probably proceed to establish a landfill. This situation gives extra meaning to the local city elections since the results of these elections can determine whether or not Minonk will ever have a landfill on its borders. The general feeling is that the landfill would be supported by some of the business community but opposed by the residents themselves. The issue has severed relationships between people with opposing opinions and has left bitter feelings in the community.

Caroline Development

The Caroline Development is a commercial plot of land bordering the northeast corner of the I-39 exit 1/2 mile west of Minonk. The city bought the 28 acre parcel of land in 1992 with the intent to develop roadside services for the traffic from I-39. This would include restaurants, gas stations, motels, etc. The project got off to a bad start when the initial developer, Jim Letsos, owner of the Baby Bull restaurant in Pontiac, defaulted on his intent to develop a truck stop restaurant complex. The net result was that the city was forced in to buying the land back from Letsos since he was either unwilling or unable to get the development going after a period of 3 years. The city had to pay Letsos $180,000 for land he apparently paid nothing for! Meanwhile, the city lost 2 years of income from I-39 traffic.

In July of 1999 developer Chuck Feeney from El Paso opened a truck stop, restaurant and gas station complex in the Caroline Development that appears to be doing quite well. There is very heavy truck traffic in and out of the truck stop. In February 2001 a Motel 6 was opened. The motel has a very nice design and is also nicely landscaped. It should be noted that the Shell station truck stop developed by Feeney has a serious litter problem. The city should require Feeney to keep the area free from litter. The entrance to the complex looks unappealing and stark to travelers entering the truck stop.

It appears that the Caroline Development has turned the corner and should grow rapidly now that the initial development has been established. The concerns to the residents are whether the remaining lots will be sold to attractive businesses at a price that will help the city recover its investment in the development. Increased business means more sales tax for the city's coffers. It seems obvious that the next goal is to attract a fast food franchise such as a McDonald's or Hardees. The general feeling is that Minonk should experience rapid growth due to its proximity to an Interstate highway. Efforts to attract new businesses should be of the highest priority.

Community Center

The proposed community center for Minonk is an issue that most people in Minonk are going to become involved with this year. It is an issue that is important to residents since it may eventually involve their taxes. In 1996 an adhoc committee was formed to investigate the need for a community center for the Minonk area. The committee developed a questionnaire that was sent out to local residents. The results indicated that there was a demand for an indoor swimming pool, an exercise area and large scale banquet facilities. Respondents indicated that they would be willing to pay a fee for the use of these facilities. The results were presented to the public at city hall. The project was put on hold until the source of funds for the project could be determined.

In 1999 the Lida Nursing Home and its associated complexes was bought by Heritage Manor. The money for the purchase of the nursing home went back into a fund established by the later Esther Dye who had left the money for the building of the nursing home. The amount of the money is reportedly to be around $3 million.

The funds are in a trust that is controlled by the Alpha Community Bank in Minonk. The transpiring of these events led to a new committee called The Millenium Community Building Community. The members of the committee are Sean Cunningham, Jim and Mary Ford, Robert Hakes, Jack Jochums, Edith Hartzler, Craig Kalkwarf, Merlon Kalkwarf, Ned Leiken, Richard Meierhofer, Craig Meyer, Dr. John Podzamsky, Rev. Craig Swenson, Bruce Tjaden, Wilbur Witcomb, Robert White, Mark Spencer, Rosemary Oldenburg and John Kirkton.

The committee has been working with Farnsworth & Wylie in developing the plans for the new community center. The building will contain a 6 lane swimming pool with an outdoor lounge area, a gymnasium that could also be used as a reception area, a jogging and walking track with exercise equipment on the second floor overlooking the gym, kitchen, food pantry facilities, a class room, daycare room and meeting rooms.

The complex would be located on a 12 acre parcel of land on the curve on the north edge of Minonk that was purchased by the group. The project also includes a baseball field, soccer field, walking and jogging paths and parking.

The committee plans to meet with the Minonk City Council to explain the community center project. In addition, a public meeting will be held sometime this spring to display the community center project and to elicit feedback from the community and also to answer any questions.

What remains to be determined is how to finance the maintenance of the proposed community center. The need for a park district as a source of funds is being considered. Studies will have to be done to see what impact this would have on property taxes. We urge everyone to get involved and voice their feelings about the project. The community center is a worthwhile project that will eventually require the input and the approval of the local citizens.

Westside Park Pavilion

In 1989 efforts to save or restore the bandstand in the Westside Park was initiated by a local group. Fund raisers were held and eventually $6200 was accumulated. Despite the group's efforts to save the bandstand the city spent $3000 to tear the structure down in 1998 with no plans to rebuild. From this action plans were developed to build a pavilion in place of the bandstand. Specifications were prepared for a brick pavilion that would include restroom facilities and a small kitchen with an estimated cost of $45,000 with donated labor. Without donated labor the cost would probably be around $75,000.

This proposal was presented to the City Council in 1999 and they approved the project to be considered by the finance committee. Unfortunately, the finance committee has never taken action on designating any funds for the project. The net result has been that the project has been approved but funds have never been put into the budget. The current status of the project is that it is on hold until the council approves the funds for the project. Each year it seems that the cost of building new sidewalks has left no money left for a structure that would be enjoyed by all.

Our local state representatives will give the city $5000 for the project if it is ever undertaken. In addition, there is $6200 collected from past fund drives. That means that $34,000 is needed from the city to complete the project. Rebuilding of the bandstand merits consideration if for no other reason than the original bandstand was a World War I memorial donated by a local woman's club. In addition, there is a need for decent restroom facilities in the park to replace the unsightly portable toilets. Also, there is a need for adequate facilities for outdoor events in the park whether they be a band concert, a family reunion or just a place for someone to sit and enjoy the park's scenery. To see the proposed pavilion, click here.

Downtown Redevelopment

The city of Minonk is embarking on a new growth in its downtown business with the opening of a Dollar General store at the northwest corner of Oak and Fifth Streets. The placement of the store was not without controversy since the original site approved by the city council was in the parking lot fronting Chestnut Street. Citizen opposition seems to have resulted in the present location of the store.

The former Greentree Pharmacy store was bought and converted into an antique mall called Just Stuff and an office for a nursing home consulting firm V. P. Circle of Quality. Plans are to expand the antique mall into the the old Kent Lumber building immediately to the north of the former Greentree Pharmacy building. The antique mall should be a nice fit for the city because it will draw shoppers that are more discretionary and are willing to go out of their way to find an antique or collectable. Small communities like Minonk make excellent locations for antique stores.

The establishment of a TIF district in downtown Minonk should be an incentive for store owners to use TIF money to restore their store fronts. The downtown area could be greatly improved if efforts were made to restore the facades of the old victorian buildings to their original condition by removing the cheap looking metal or shingles covering them. Making the downtown look like a turn of the century village would give Minonk a distinctive and quaint appearance that would attract businesses and visitors. Steps are already being taken to improving the downtown appearance. Minonk businessmen have devoted their weekends to painting some of the buildings that still have their victorian facade exposed.

Efforts should be made to get a business into the old Minonk Baking Company building on Oak Street. The bakery has been closed since May 2001 and the building has set empty since then. The vacant lot to the north of the bakery should also be developed for some commercial use.

Minonk is fortunate in having a centrally located parking lot. The city should use this advantage and develop the vacant lots and stores in the downtown area into commercial enterprises.

High School trophies

Soon after this web site was started we started receiving letters complaining about the whereabouts of the trophies from Minonk Community High School and MDR, the schools that preceded the Fieldcrest school district. A quick investigation revealed that the trophies had been stored in the bus barn since the consolidation of the Fieldcrest school district in 1992.

In a Minonk News-Dispatch article dated August 1, 1996 the city council agreed to display the trophies in city hall if no room is available in the Filger Library. Superintendent John Capasso indicated that it would be a short term before the trophies would be displayed somewhere. Capasso also indicated the reason that the trophies are not displayed at the high school gymnasium is because the trophies are of the past and this is the present.

Unfortunately, Mr. Capasso's reasoning (and apparently the school board's) is in direct opposition to the feelings of most Minonk residents who have interest in this situation.

Many Minonk residents feel that because the trophies were won at the gymnasium that they also should be displayed there as well. Mr. Capasso's reasoning for forgetting the past and concentrating on the future is not consistent with past actions of the school district. For example, when Dana and Rutland merged with the Minonk school district Minonk's trophies continued to be displayed in the gymnasium. Why should the merging with Toluca and Wenona be any different?

The most apparent reason for the shift in trophy displayment philosophy is due to a simple fact. The consolidation of the Fieldcrest school district was not without controversy and the school administration and the school board are to trying to avoid anything controversial so as not to create any friction between the different communities that make up the school district. This action has backfired on the school administration since it has further polarized many Minonk residents, many of whom were for the consolidation in the first place.

Wenona has displayed their trophies in their library and Toluca has displayed their trophies in the bank basement. They made their choice. Minonk residents should be allowed to make their choice as well. It is not unreasonable for Minonk residents to want their trophies displayed in the Fieldcrest gymnasium where most of these trophies are won. Trophies belong in a place where they can be viewed easily and in the proper context. Who is going to go to a library or the basement of a bank to view trophies?

A case can be made that trophies from all the communities should be displayed in the Fieldcrest gymnasium. Obviously, not all of them can be displayed but why not display the first place trophies on a rotating basis? Rather than cover up the past why not display the trophies from the great teams of the past from all of the communities in the Fieldcrest gymnasium? Not only is it the proper place but it also allows the trophies to be more easily seen and can be a source of inspiration for the present Fieldcrest players to try to live up to the great teams of the past.

With the departure of Dr. Capassso as superintendent and with a new incoming school board, now is the time to adopt a new philosophy and bring the trophies out of the bus barn and back into the gymnasium where they belong.