Airport, Lake Signs, Parade Permits on Mind of Council

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ "It all adds up" is the growing caution that hovers over every decision of the Du Quoin City Council these days.

At Monday night's meeting, even the expenditure of $1,071 for new recreational signs at city lake became a weighty issue. Aging signs need to be replaced at the lake, particularly on the eve of a new partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources that takes hold April 1, 2009.

What seemed like a simple item after City Clerk Blaine Bastien got prices from the local Sign Design shop, became convoluted as the night wore on. Commissioner Rex Duncan said City Attorney Aaron Atkins needed to sort out language for the signs. There was some discussion as to whether participation by the lake association was important, and there was some thought there might be a cheaper way to achieve the new signage. So, what began as a simple agenda item is now a work in progress.

There was also a discussion about whether groups seeking parade permits should be assessed a fee of upwards of $100 to help defray the cost of cleanup after a parade. That discussion came during approval of Beta Sigma Phi sorority's request for a Halloween parade permit for Thursday,

October 30. Somehow, the odds and ends of candy left in the street has just disappeared in past years and this parade falls the day before the street sweeper goes through the downtown area anyway. Furthermore, do you assess a fee for the Du Quoin State Fair parade or the Veterans parade or the DHS homecoming parade? Probably not, became the consensus.

In a sidebar to this discussion, City Clerk Blaine Bastien says any group submitting a request for a charity roadblock must have a certificate of insurance in hand when it makes the request.

The council approved a resolution to expense motor fuel funds for the annual street maintenance program. That work will start in the next 30 days.

The council approved the nomination of Jennifer Merkel to the Tourism Commission

The council approved the hiring of parttime police officers Tracy Lee and Jeremy Gothard to fill in while officers Chris Robinson and Jeff Jacoby are out for physical therapy and officer Gerry Whitley is now serving in the Mideast.

Approved airport hangar funding (see Pinckneyville council).

Accepted the resignation of Wilma Walker from the Police and Fire Merit Board and appointed Curtis Jackson to fill the vacancy.

The council enacted a municipal identity theft prevention guide.