NEW ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT RULING MAY HAVE LONG REACHING EFFECTS

The Supreme Court of the State of Illinois has dealt local municipalities a curve ball that, according to City Attorney Pat Schaulferberger, the state legislature may eventually have to sort out. The court ruling may require Greenville to regulate and provide services for areas in the county that have pre -annexation agreements including several subdivisions within one and a half miles of current city limits and property almost as far as the Montgomery County line. City Manager Dave Willey pointed out that the city might have to provide regulations and services such as police without benefit of collecting any taxes.

The first focus of the court decision brought about 20 residence of Oak Hill Estates Subdivision to the council meeting to ask the city to force the Oak Hill's developer to finish roads and put up street signs in accordance with City regulations. Five years ago the City Council used it's right to regulate development within one and a half miles of the city to grant wavers for Oak Hill's Estates. Now thanks to the Supreme Court the City may have to provide services to Oak Hill's and several other subdivisions.

City water was another big subject at last nights meeting. The last time the city raised water and sewer rates was in 1999. According to Dave Rodden, the engineer hired to study city water rates, to catch up and provide the required service the city would have to take water and sewer rates up approximately 23 percent.  That increase would be an average 3.2 percent raise per year since 1999. The council tabled any action on water sewer rate increases until next month.

Greenville will be moving ahead with a fourth round of Housing Rehab Grants with a contract with Kolis Consulting who gets their fees from the grant award. The city is still looking for qualified participating property owners to use 190 thousand dollars left in the 2005 grant for property renovations. The Council adjourned into executive session to talk about Personnel, and the Sale of Real Estate. You can see the open session of last nights meeting tonight at 6PM on Greenville Cable Channel 3.

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SMALL CLAIMS SUIT TO BE SET FOR TRIAL

A small claims suit filed in June naming the Kingsbury Park District as the defendant will be set for trial this fall.  Warren R. Kennedy of rural Greenville alleges in the suit that the park district is responsible for the flooding of his lower pasture, deterioration of a fence, and other hardships created by the overflow of the silt basin from Patriot's Park Lake.  Kennedy and the park district share a boundary including a fence row on the west side of Patriot's Park.  In the suit, Kennedy is seeking $10,000 in damages.  During a hearing held in Bond County court on Monday, the KPD was represented by Kara Jones from a Carbondale law firm that is handling the case for the district’s insurance carrier, Illinois Parks Association Risk Services.  Jones requested and was granted an extension to prepare the defense’s response to Kennedy’s claims.  The trial will be set no sooner than 45 days from now and most likely would begin in late September. 

MULBERRY GROVE BOARD CONSIDERING MANDATORY TRASH PICKUP

The Mulberry Grove village board is again considering mandatory trash pickup for the residents.  At Monday night’s meeting, the board opened bids from three companies:  Stewart Sanitation for $12 per month, Doty Sanitation for $11 per month, and Allied Waste for $14.40 per month.  Mayor Jana Willis said she would discuss some legal issues about trash pickup with the village attorney.  No decisions were made.

The board also discussed enforcing Mulberry’s burning ordinance and voted in favor of raising the charge for mowing yards that have surpassed 8 inches in length.  According to the village ordinance, anyone who has not mowed their yard prior to the eight inch length is subject to having their grass cut by village employees at a cost of $75 per hour.  The previous charge was $45 per hour.

There have been no petitions submitted to the village hall requesting a liquor ordinance question being placed on the ballot.  It was mentioned at a recent meeting that someone was circulating a petition.  Mayor Willis said she would be checking on the deadline for getting the liquor question on the fall ballot. 

The board adopted Mulberry Grove’s budget and appropriations ordinance for the upcoming fiscal year. 

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POCAHONTAS AMERICAN LEGION LOOKING FOR NEW POST HOME

The Pocahontas American Legion Post 1104 is currently looking for a place to call home. Kent Weiss, commander of the post, told WGEL they are looking for their own place because they are getting bigger and have flags, trailers, weapons, and other things stored in four different places. 

He also said that even though the Pocahontas/Old Ripley Fire Protection District Firehouse in Pocahontas has been nice enough to let them use their firehouse for meetings, they would like to have their own building for a place to hold their meetings.

Weiss told WGEL that the post will find a small piece of land to build on and do not have a set date on when they hope to have something built and finished.  He said that the post has been discussing this since last year. The post has also started a building fund and anyone wishing to donate can contact Weiss at 669-2115.

 

OBITUARIES

No New Local Obituaries

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