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City to crack down on burning violations
About 100 residents will receive letters next week from the city noting non-compliance with an ordinance dealing with outdoor
burning and unsightly accumulations of yard waste, debris, etc.
City personnel canvass the city at times or are notified of violations of burning on city property, unsightly piles of limbs and
leaves that are not burned or cleared and also leaving garbage containers off their property on non-collection days.
The ordinance covering burning says that yard waste (leaves, grass and tree limbs/branches, provided they are completely dry,
may be burned upon the property in which the items were originally gathered. Burning on city streets is prohibited.
The burning can take place during daylight hours only, between sunrise and sunset, no smoke or flame shall remain after
sunset and the burning must be continuously attended by an adult or other responsible person.
The violators of garbage cans and having piles of yard waste and debris will be monitored later this week prior to sending the
notices, a list to be also sent to each alderman for followup.
After a warning, violators can be fined $25 for the next violation, $50 for the next and $100 for the next and any subsequent
violations.
Alderman Barb Stamer presented two proposals concerning parks, playground equipment for the Emergency Squad Park on
West Jefferson and a plan to start Redbud Park.
Saying that the last park to be upgraded would be Emergency Squad and that the Friends of Auburn Parks would donate $5,000
for playground equipment, the city picking up the remainder of the cost which would be between $3,781 and $4,122 depending
on a couple of options.
One Playstructure with a roof had a price tag of $8,643 plus $479 for a handicapped swing with timbers and pea gravel
optional, a cost of $4,122 to the city. The other option, without the roof, would cost the city $3,781.
Both Mayor Joe Powell and alderman Tom Berola had concerns about just how handicap accessible the equipment would be,
Berola saying can't we have more bids to be truly handicap accessible.
The matter was tabled, the mayor saying "let the Parks and Recreation Committee work it out."
On Redbud, Stamer presented a plan that would allow a minor portion of the park to be developed helped by the Auburn Soccer
Association which will be in need of new fields by the 2010 season.
Stamer said that the southern most portion of the proposed park could contain an entrance way, limited parking, basketball
courts and soccer fields, a segment of the walking trail and a picnic pavilion. The cost, an estimated $262,000. A scaled down
version without the walking trail and pavilion would cost an estimated $187,000.
According to Stamer's statement, the ASA would pledge $55,000. The city receives $33,000 per year in taxes which started in
2007, thus as of now has $66,000. But, some of the money has been used to upgrade the city's other smaller parks, such as
Pohlod Park behind the Harmon Shopping Center. This money would be used for 50-50 matching grants.
Stamer concluded her short presentation on the subject saying this is a way to get started.
The council took action on one of three nuisances, voting on 6-0 (Landers, Svetlik absent) to declare a property at 1300 West
Jackson a nuisance for excessive weed and grass height. The owner, KLT Properties, was given three days to comply before a
$100 a day fine would be imposed.
The council delayed action on Willemore Estates and the Searcy Property, 351 East Washington. The Willemore property has
been mowed in some areas but not totally, a pile of sewer pipes still covered.
Stamer presented a detailed report on the Searcy property saying that she felt that they had done pretty much all that had been
asked such as cutting weeds and grass over 10 inches high and a path to the gas meter. She added that several other requests
to provide a presentable view to the public will be completed.
In reply to a question from the mayor about progress, Stamer said that with more time she felt that they had done everything
asked and she felt they were sincere in their efforts.
Mark Reichert, president of the Sangamon County Farm Bureau gave the council a short appeal on the effects the reduction in
size of the Sangamon County Board would create.
"It would affect all minorities," he said, which includes those who live in the rural areas of the county.
Rural representation, he noted, would be lost on zoning issues, road and bridge improvements and townships and school
districts would all be negatively affected because of the loss of representation.
In summing up, he asked that petitions for this request to be on the November ballot not be signed. And, if the proposition gets
on the ballot, vote to defeat it.
Mayor Powell reported that the Community Center repair work was imminent. The new door is expected any day and once it
arrives, the work can be started. "Hopefully it can be started yet this week," said Powell.
On a 6-0 vote, the council approved the appointment of Jamie Lomelino to Police Sergent effective immediately.
In other business, the council:
— recognized city employees on their birthdays, Josh Blankenship, August 3, with the city three years; Connie Powell, August 7,
29 years; Edna Dolbeare, August 16, four years; Derek Lomelino, August 17, two years and also cited Pete LaBarre for his 31 1/2
years as city attorney.
— approved a motion to advertise for bids to farm the Redbud Park land;
— approved 6-0 Ordinance 1281-08 dealing with employee probationary periods;
— approved Ordinance 1276-08 on a 6-0 vote which establishes fence permit fees:
— heard a concern by Mayor Powell about the growing number of trailers that are on streets which can block visibility especially
now that school (buses) is ready to start, the matter turned over to the Health and Safety Committee.
About 100 residents will receive letters next week from the city noting non-compliance with an ordinance dealing with outdoor
burning and unsightly accumulations of yard waste, debris, etc.
City personnel canvass the city at times or are notified of violations of burning on city property, unsightly piles of limbs and
leaves that are not burned or cleared and also leaving garbage containers off their property on non-collection days.
The ordinance covering burning says that yard waste (leaves, grass and tree limbs/branches, provided they are completely dry,
may be burned upon the property in which the items were originally gathered. Burning on city streets is prohibited.
The burning can take place during daylight hours only, between sunrise and sunset, no smoke or flame shall remain after
sunset and the burning must be continuously attended by an adult or other responsible person.
The violators of garbage cans and having piles of yard waste and debris will be monitored later this week prior to sending the
notices, a list to be also sent to each alderman for followup.
After a warning, violators can be fined $25 for the next violation, $50 for the next and $100 for the next and any subsequent
violations.
Alderman Barb Stamer presented two proposals concerning parks, playground equipment for the Emergency Squad Park on
West Jefferson and a plan to start Redbud Park.
Saying that the last park to be upgraded would be Emergency Squad and that the Friends of Auburn Parks would donate $5,000
for playground equipment, the city picking up the remainder of the cost which would be between $3,781 and $4,122 depending
on a couple of options.
One Playstructure with a roof had a price tag of $8,643 plus $479 for a handicapped swing with timbers and pea gravel
optional, a cost of $4,122 to the city. The other option, without the roof, would cost the city $3,781.
Both Mayor Joe Powell and alderman Tom Berola had concerns about just how handicap accessible the equipment would be,
Berola saying can't we have more bids to be truly handicap accessible.
The matter was tabled, the mayor saying "let the Parks and Recreation Committee work it out."
On Redbud, Stamer presented a plan that would allow a minor portion of the park to be developed helped by the Auburn Soccer
Association which will be in need of new fields by the 2010 season.
Stamer said that the southern most portion of the proposed park could contain an entrance way, limited parking, basketball
courts and soccer fields, a segment of the walking trail and a picnic pavilion. The cost, an estimated $262,000. A scaled down
version without the walking trail and pavilion would cost an estimated $187,000.
According to Stamer's statement, the ASA would pledge $55,000. The city receives $33,000 per year in taxes which started in
2007, thus as of now has $66,000. But, some of the money has been used to upgrade the city's other smaller parks, such as
Pohlod Park behind the Harmon Shopping Center. This money would be used for 50-50 matching grants.
Stamer concluded her short presentation on the subject saying this is a way to get started.
The council took action on one of three nuisances, voting on 6-0 (Landers, Svetlik absent) to declare a property at 1300 West
Jackson a nuisance for excessive weed and grass height. The owner, KLT Properties, was given three days to comply before a
$100 a day fine would be imposed.
The council delayed action on Willemore Estates and the Searcy Property, 351 East Washington. The Willemore property has
been mowed in some areas but not totally, a pile of sewer pipes still covered.
Stamer presented a detailed report on the Searcy property saying that she felt that they had done pretty much all that had been
asked such as cutting weeds and grass over 10 inches high and a path to the gas meter. She added that several other requests
to provide a presentable view to the public will be completed.
In reply to a question from the mayor about progress, Stamer said that with more time she felt that they had done everything
asked and she felt they were sincere in their efforts.
Mark Reichert, president of the Sangamon County Farm Bureau gave the council a short appeal on the effects the reduction in
size of the Sangamon County Board would create.
"It would affect all minorities," he said, which includes those who live in the rural areas of the county.
Rural representation, he noted, would be lost on zoning issues, road and bridge improvements and townships and school
districts would all be negatively affected because of the loss of representation.
In summing up, he asked that petitions for this request to be on the November ballot not be signed. And, if the proposition gets
on the ballot, vote to defeat it.
Mayor Powell reported that the Community Center repair work was imminent. The new door is expected any day and once it
arrives, the work can be started. "Hopefully it can be started yet this week," said Powell.
On a 6-0 vote, the council approved the appointment of Jamie Lomelino to Police Sergent effective immediately.
In other business, the council:
— recognized city employees on their birthdays, Josh Blankenship, August 3, with the city three years; Connie Powell, August 7,
29 years; Edna Dolbeare, August 16, four years; Derek Lomelino, August 17, two years and also cited Pete LaBarre for his 31 1/2
years as city attorney.
— approved a motion to advertise for bids to farm the Redbud Park land;
— approved 6-0 Ordinance 1281-08 dealing with employee probationary periods;
— approved Ordinance 1276-08 on a 6-0 vote which establishes fence permit fees:
— heard a concern by Mayor Powell about the growing number of trailers that are on streets which can block visibility especially
now that school (buses) is ready to start, the matter turned over to the Health and Safety Committee.
Issue Date: Aug. 7, 2008
