CITY OF GREENVILLE MARKS GREAT PROGRESS THROUGH 2006
2006 was a busy year for Greenville. City Manager Dave Willey explained that in the area of economic development, the city has established and finalized the two TIF Districts to hopefully attract significant commercial development in Greenville. On the industrial side, there was a new ethanol plant announced, Carlisle Syntec completed their warehouse and Nevco plans to move their main facility out to the Industrial Park. Willey commented that in total, that amounts to around 120 local jobs.
On the commercial side of things, the Senior Information Center is now open and employs around 30 people. Tri-Ford opened a dealership in Greenville and retained approximately 17 jobs while The Glenwood has been very successful and has already started to expand. Willey said that in order to get that accomplished, the planning and zoning committees were very busy by annexing around 200 acres into the city last year. The public works department installed the city's own water mains this year and saved between $30,000 - $40,000. Probably the most visible change was the re-paving of Beaumont Avenue. The Municipal Building got some much needed tuck pointing and general maintenance. Policy wise, the trash contract was extended, new rates for water and sewer were established and two union contracts were completed; one for the public works and one for the police. And a new cat control policy was set for Greenville.
Willey said that out at the lake all of the boat docks were inspected and the city continued the shore line stabilization to improve the silting problem. And the sewer department continued their man-hole re-aligning project which stops water infiltration into our sewer system. Willey concluded that it was a busy year for the City of Greenville, and hopefully 2007 will be just as busy.
HABITAT HOME GROUND BREAKING THIS WEEKEND
A new home will be going up soon with the help of Habitat for Humanity. Habitat member Dave Trover told WGEL that this Saturday at 10am at 405 N 4th Street in Greenville they will be blessing the ground and have a groundbreaking ceremony for the next Habitat for Humanity Home. This will be their fourth home and will be introducing the new partner family that will occupy and take part in building the house. Trover said that this home was adopted by Greenville College and the Free Methodist churches in Greenville and Hillsboro. There is an aggressive goal to get the home finished by late spring. The public is invited to attend Saturday's ceremony.
CAR INVOLVED IN HIT AND RUN MAY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
The Bond County Sheriff's Department's investigation continues into a fatal hit and run accident Sunday night. Deputies are reporting they believe a passenger mirror found at the scene came from a Mazda MX6. Authorities have been told that the mirror recovered following the accident was manufactured specifically for that make and model. However, deputies also stress that it is possible the mirror could have been used as a replacement on a different brand of car. 44-year-old Richard Starkey was struck by a westbound car while walking along Panama Avenue Sunday night. He died from his injuries Monday morning at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. Witnesses told deputies that Starkey was hit by a smaller passenger car possibly red in color.
