The Minonk City Council granted TIF money and a councilman discussed lack of law enforcement at their Monday night meeting.
The council approved a TIF grant to Gold Star Solutions for upgrades to the former Green Tree Pharmacy building at the north end of the 500 block of Chestnut street which is to be used for housing a catering service. The council awarded grants that were 50% of the total project cost and were to be paid in two payments. The first grant was for $1235.00 which is 50% of $2470.00 for lighting and $1102.00 which is 50% of $2204.00 for plumbing. The first payment is made upon completion of the project and the second payment is made one year after the project is completed.
Alderman John Marcoline objected to the 50% award saying the council granted Motel 6 only 33% of their request and felt the same should be applied in this case. He voted no on the motion to award the grant. There also was a discussion that the original rule was to award TIF money only to projects that have not yet started and not to projects already underway or completed as is apparently the case with Gold Star Solutions. However, this rule has been overridden several times in the past. Administrative Manager Bill Moline told the council that the rules he sends out to TIF applicants does not specify that TIF money will not be awarded to projects already underway or completed.
Alderman Marcoline said the police department is not being run very efficiently. He stated that over the weekend he only saw one squad car go by his neighborhood. He said some officers are doing a good job but a couple of officers are not. Alderman Marcoline maintained that laws are not being enforced and said if an officer does not follow up on a complaint by a citizen, the officer should be written up. If repeated failures to follow up on a complaint is noted, the officer should be released from this duties.
Mayor Bill Koos asked the council to consider setting aside gaming money into a capital reserve for a new vac truck. Mayor Koos said a new vac truck could cost up to $350,000 and suggested the city put $45,000 a year into a capital reserve fund for 4 years to help fund the purchase of a new vac truck. He told the council that a vote would be taken on the request at the April 15th council meeting.
Public Works Supervisor Jim Brown said a new vac truck could cost up to $400,000 and a good used one could cost anywhere from $180,000 to $250,000. He said it could cost $400 an hour to rent a vac truck with a minimum of 4 hours. He said the truck is used almost on a daily basis and is essential to the city's Public Works Department.
Administrative Manager Moline, in his project update report, said the opening bid process for the Waste Water Treatment Plant will start on April 25th at 2 pm at City Hall. He said the old playground equipment at Westside Park is being removed and the new equipment will be installed as time and weather permits.
Concrete projects will be started and the city crew is cleaning up work sites from sewer and water repairs as weather and time permits.
Mr. Moline said he has received an estimate of $20,000 to oil and chip the county road owned by the city that runs one mile north of the city from the northeast corner of Veterans Park. He said no money has been allocated for those repairs. He also mentioned that 7th street is in bad shape with pot holes and needs to be repaired as well.