GREENVILLE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES $33,000 FIBER OPTIC FEASIBILITY STUDY AND GRANT PREPARATION
At Tuesday night’s Greenville City Council meeting, Shive Hattery Engineering made a presentation on the process and possibilities for a municipally-owned fiber optic broadband network in Greenville. The project encompasses the construction of the network, construction of a head-end facility, the negotiation of content contracts and pricing models that would create a new municipally-run utility.
City Manager Dave Willey addressed the inevitability of the need for fiber optics, saying, “Greater bandwidth is no longer an argument. The argument is whether we want to wait for a private vendor to bring fiber optics to the city. Eventually, someone will bring fiber optics. The question is whether we serve the city by not waiting and taking on the project ourselves.”
Representatives from Shive Hattery reported a new grant opportunity, “The Governor’s Gigabit Challenge,” has been recently announced and entries must be filed in early May. They said it appears Greenville fits the profile and the criteria and the grant could be as much as $2 million.
Mayor Gaffner moved to approve the feasibility study at $33,000.00 and that expenditure should include the grant submission. If the grant submission cannot be included, a special council meeting will be necessary to evaluate what would be required above the expenditure.
There was some discussion regarding where the money for the study would come from and it was agreed TIF funds may be used, rather than coming from the General Fund.
GREENVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVES GRANT
The Greenville Public Library recently received a $25,000.00 construction grant from Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Mike Westbrooks said they were very happy to be notified by the Secretary of State, Jesse White’s office that they had been awarded the "Live and Learn Grant." The money will go toward refurbishing the windows in the library. The library is a historic building listed on the National Registry of Historical Buildings. As such, any changes to the building must be approved by the Illinois Preservation Society. The IPS felt the original windows should remain the same. The plan is to get as many of the current windows operational as possible and then cover the rest of the windows with new, energy-efficient storm windows. If you have any questions regarding the library, call 664-3115.
HILL’S FORT SOCIETY PRESIDENT RECEIVES SPIRIT OF 1812 AWARD
Bill Wilson, of Albers, President of the Hill’s Fort Society, recently received “The Spirit of 1812 Award” presented by the Illinois Society United States Daughters of 1812 at the organization’s annual meeting in Springfield. Wilson is a co-author and author of books about Hill’s Fort and a sought-out speaker on the War of 1812 era. Through his efforts and leadership, the blockhouse at Hill’s Fort has been reconstructed and other projects at the fort site in Greenville are continuing. The award includes a certificate and a medal and recognizes a distinguished record of study, and promotion and dedication to the preservation of the history of people, places, and events of the War of 1812.
KASKASKIA COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO MEET
The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet Thursday, March 15, with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting at 7:00 in the Clinton Wedekemper Board Room. The agenda includes administrative reports and consideration of resolutions on tuition rates, renovation of the science lab, operation of Murray Center, operation of the Centralia Animal Disease Laboratory, disposition of equipment, and the 2012-2013 institutional plan. The board will consider retirements and resignations and a closed session is on the agenda for personnel and business matters.
