With members of the Minonk Ambulance Squad in attendance, Ambulance Chief Deb Stewart announced her resignation at the Minonk City Council Meeting Monday night. MS. Stewart said it was a pleasure working with the city and said it took a team effort to achieve the results that has improved the ambulance squad. Mayor Bill Koos, who hired Ms. Stewart six years ago, said she provided the strong leadership skills needed for the squad. The Mayor said she did an outstanding job and wished her well in her new career as a paramedic with the El Paso EMS.
In other business, the council heard a first reading on an ordinance that would establish the first council meeting of each month as regular corporate meeting and establishing the second meeting of the month as a meeting of the committee as a whole.
The council approved a motion to draft an ordinance authorizing the disposal of surplus City equipment and property.
Public Comments
Minonk resident Wilbur Charlier asked if it wasn't a safety issue to leave the gates unlocked at the City Waste Treatment plant. Charlier said he has noticed the gates were unlocked on several occasions. City Administrator Gary Brennan said he was unaware of this security breech but will look into it.
Minonk resident and tavern owner Jeff Gehringer asked the council to consider lowering the $500 fee for an annual liquor license in Minonk to a lesser amount, and to zero if possible. Gehringer said other communities like Flanagan have lower liquor license fees of $250. He said Minonk has been provided with many services by many different businesses and organizations, including the local taverns, and emphasized the difficulties of running a small business in a small community in the State of Illinois. Gehringer said his request is on behalf of himself and other owners of liquor establishments in Minonk including Doug Freeman, Jim Brown, Al Snow, and Nick Petri.
Alderman Russell Ruestman asked that the question of lowering liquor license fees be put on the next city council agenda.