Pinckneyville Votes Laurel Street Cleanup
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ The year-end Pinckneyville Treasurer's report puts current city expenses at $576,432 and its cash on hand at $365,645. The state's slowdown can be blamed, in part. The council agreed to pay off one tax anticipation warrant and to take out another one to cover the $210,787 shortage.
That wasn't all. Even though payroll numbers were lower than last year, medical and contractual costs are higher. The health insurance premium has to be paid to ensure employee care. The Technicolor building tax bill in the amount of $232,000 also has to be paid quickly.
The state owes Pinckneyville $252,000 for utilities supplied to the prison. The bill remains unpaid. A $1.5 billion state bond sale planned to pay off many of Illinois' debts is also being delayed by the governor's scandal.
Mayor Holder and city employee Harold Palmer are planning to go to Springfield the first week of January to meet about getting the city's money as soon as possible.
Commissioner Martin Beltz then began a discussion about possible action concerning the clean-up of property at 103 E. Laurel Street.
It was stated that the city had been feuding with the owners of the property since 1996 and that a court order requiring the property to be cleaned up had been signed August 23, 2006. The last stage of the three step clean-up outlined in the court order was set for January 2007. The property has not improved. With several derelict cars, cars hindering traffic in the roadway, junk littering the grounds and a condemnable house, the council decided to follow up with the court order and inform the owners that they had not met its requirements.
Commissioner Davis also stated that storm drain problems at the location were in need of attention. A drainage modification had caused constant street flooding in front of the address.
Discussion was then led by Commissioner Kellerman concerning a commissioners' right to hire and give raises freely to those in their own department.
Commissioner Kellerman brought up the issue after Commissioner Davis' recent promotion of two employees in his department, bringing the total of managing foremen in his department to three.
The city's attorney questioned if the department needed three foreman, and all were made aware of the city's cash-strapped problem. Commissioner Davis defended his actions saying, "The council has done this for over 20 years and it has never been brought up before. Why would it be brought up when I do it?"
The council decided in the 3-2 decision to require commissioners to get approval from three commissioners on pay raises and promotions.
After an introduction from Commissioner Stone, Dean Rennison presented to the council his plans for patents that could create jobs in the town.
"Perry County needs work," Rennison said, "Building makes you money. If one of these succeeds, we can put Pinckneyville back on the map."
Rennison's patent proposals included a number of safety devices and a vehicle.
Other items covered on the agenda:
Approved R-2008-44, approving the third amendment of the lease agreement with Southern Illinois RSA Partnership.
Approved the 2009 city calendar, placing meetings on the second and fourth Mondays each month at 7:30 p.m. Meetings that fall on holidays will be moved to the following Tuesday. Further notice of rescheduling will be given prior to said meetings.
Lastly, commissioner Davis will remain on the city's labor negotiating committee despite his interest in resigning.
The next meeting is planned for January 12.