The Minonk City Council decided to postphone any decision to ban parking on one side of
Maple Avenue in front of Fieldcrest High School. The parking became an issue when high
school students starting parking on both sides of Maple Avenue rather than paying to
park in the high school parking lot. This created a potential problem of having emergency
vehicles having enough room to get through the street. Mayor Mark Spencer said that 4 of the
12 residents receiving a letter from the city requesting their feedback said that they were
in favor of a parking ban. However, Maple Avenue resident Betty Buss told the council that
she doesn't feel that the student's parking poses a problem. She said she has lived there
for 20 years and never has a problem getting in or out of her driveway. She said that night
sporting events at the high school pose a bigger problem. Officer Brian Peterson agreed saying
that sporting events are a bigger problem. Regarding the potential blockage of city vehicles,
Ms. Buss added that she can recall only once seeing
a street sweeper go down Maple Avenue.
Alderman Ron Redenius said that parking too far from the curb is the main problem rather than the parking itself.
He said if vehicles on both sides of the street park too far from the curb it is difficult for large
vehicles to get through. Redenius suggested that the city ask school officials to see if they
can persuade the students to refrain from parking along Maple Avenue. City Administrator Trent Smith
replied that the school has no control over the students parking off of the high school campus.
Mayor Spencer said that he will instruct the police to issue warning tickets for cars parked
too far from the curb. If that is not successful in reducing the congestion along Maple Avenue,
then the parking ban issue will be revisited.
TIF money awarded to Minonk Auto Body
The council approved the payment of $7500 from the TIF II pool to Minonk Auto Body as a TIF II
expenditure for the business retention/expansion project payable equally over three years. The
money is to be used to help finance the enlargement of the office. In a separate motion the council
also approved reimbursing Minonk Auto Body for the construction of a screening fence on the west
side of their property to a maximum of $1000. Alderman Ron Redenius said that the fence will hide
the junk cars from view towards Chestnut Street and make the area more attractive.
Alderman Sean Cunningham stated that the city has TIF funds available for other businesses for
improvements to a building facade or interior improvements.
Other news
Mayor Mark Spencer said that the ambulance response time has been lowered to 4.3 minutes which
he says is fantastic.
Alderman Sean Cunningham asked why the city waited until 2:00 a.m. to remove snow from the city
streets during the Thanksgiving eve snowstorm. Cunningham said it was pretty sloppy in the city
that Wednesday evening. Alderman Redenius said that the city did not have the plows on the city
trucks that morning. Cunningham replied that the city knew the storm was coming 2 days before.
Alderman Jason Buchanan asked if it is possible to get some gravel on the newly constructed Moran
Avenue extension. Buchanan said you need a Humvee to get through the street. City Administrator
Trent Smith said that the road is being graded every 2 weeks. He said the gravel will eventually
be put on the road.
Reverend Dan Gansch-Boythe said over 80 people attended the open house for the Food Pantry. He said
the new facilities is a lot easier to work in since items do not have to be moved more than once
as compared to the shuffling that took place in the previous cramped quarters. Alderman Ron Redenius
said that the Food Pantry venture was the result of cooperation between the City of Minonk and Minonk
Township and is a success story.
Zoning Board news
Mayor Spencer said that Eldon Folkers is resigning as head of the zoning board and will be replaced
by former City Administrator Dave Shirley. Spencer praised Folkers service and dedication as a public employee.
The zoning board made changes to some zoning ordinances in response to recent construction on Chestnut
Street. A zoning ordinance was passed in 2000 with the intent of preventing anyone from
constructing a residence in the front of a downtown commercial building. An owner of one of the
buildings downtown found a loophole in the wording of the ordinance and bypassed its intent to
serve his own needs rather than keeping the integrity of the downtown business intact. The new
wording in the ordinance will stipulate that a residential unit cannot be constructed in the front
50% of the footprint of the building. The city council will vote on the ammendment on December 20.
