KPD APPROVES 2008 LEVY AND DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY SUMMARY CONTRACT

 

The Kingsbury Park Board met last week and unanimously approved the 2008 Tax Levy, totaling $249,775.  KPD Director Jerry Sauerwein presented information regarding a Development Priority Summary Contract with E.W.R. of Fairview Heights, to identify priorities for the district and the associated costs under a 5-10 year capitol improvement program.  Board members approved the contract, with E.W.R., to perform individual interviews and public forums beginning in early 2008.

 

Sauerwein then requested a transfer of $50,000 from the General Fund to the Recreational Fund.  This lead to a discussion on the $30,000 loss associated with the pool, for the past year.  Board members agreed, that with the continued rise of the minimum wage, increased marketing is needed to cut the losses each year.  Sauerwein said there is good reason to consider changes to the evening schedule to allow for more pool parties and events.  Board members approved the fund transfer.

 

In other business, Sauerwein said he hopes to meet with Slatton's Excavating, on Friday, to continue the process of the Stream crossing and Bank Stabilization project at Patriot's Park. 

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WINTER WEATHER CAUSES OUTAGES AND CANCELATIONS

 

Saturday nights storms took a toll on local power lines and substations. Southwestern Electric customers on the New Douglas substation were without power early Sunday morning. Southwestern crews worked around the problem and those customers were back on by mid morning. Shortly after 9am power went out for 398 customers of Ameren in Greenville, at about the same time some 1300 Ameren customers in Alhambra, Livingston and in the New Douglas area lost power.  By early afternoon both of those outages were repaired and back on line. Road conditions and lost power forced many Churches to cancel services and other activities Sunday. 

MADISON COUNTY REGIONAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION RECEIVES GRANT

 

The Madison County Regional Office of Education recently received a grant to aid homeless children in the county.  Dr. Robert A. Daiber told WGEL that they were pleased to receive the $60,000 McKinney-Vento Grant, and that funds have been allocated to assist children in the classrooms, as well as help families with hygiene and medical needs.

 

According to the Census Bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the poverty rate for children in Illinois in 2006 was 15.3%.  Daiber commented that with the foreclosure rate also rising, the issue of homeless children of school age in Illinois can only be expected to increase.