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City backs new business
The council agreed Monday to spend up to $7,500 to help a new business locate in the city.
George Kruse of Kruse Enterprises of Girard told the council he had an agreement to purchase acreage at the corner of Route 4
and Trojan Road to construct a branch of his used car and repair service.
Kruse told the council that he wants to purchase two lots, one 118 feet by roughly 500 feet, which extends from Route 4 east to
Seventh Street and an adjacent lot of almost equal size to the south of it for his new location.
Plans call for a 2,000 square foot repair building with three bays along with office space plus the land for the used car lot.
Following a short discussion, the council agreed to spend up to $7,500 for a new sewer line, the estimated cost including
materials, construction, rock and engineering fees. In return, Kruse said that a water line easement the city needed would be
included.
At present, Kruse Enterprises is occupying the former Heritage Chevrolet building at Fifth and Jackson.
Mayor Joe Powell told the council that Heritage-Chevrolet was a major sales tax producer for the city. He said Heritage collected
$342,600 in sales tax last year which is about $34,000 for the city. The vote was 6-0 in favor. Both Berolas were absent.
In the first order of business in a rather short one hour and 15 minute meeting, city attorney Pete LaBarre brought the council up
to date on a meeting requested by the Illinois EPA concerning an "illegal" water line to the south which is not in the city limits.
Because the line was allowed by the city as a private service line, the IEPA is dealing with the city to find a solution. Mayor
Powell has stated on previous occasions that the city did not allow the taps to the line which was put in by Larry McClelland.
Now the city is basically monitoring the dispute between McClelland and the three other homeowners on the line which is near
the intersection of Route 4 and Divernon Road.
The IEPA told the city to find a solution, LaBarre suggesting that the utilities committee meet (October 15) to make a
recommendation.
The line presently serves three residences, those of Sharlene Moore, Roger Frye and Rick Parker, who were represented at
the IEPA meeting last Thursday, by their attorney John Myers.
Alderman Marc Landers said that these people bought on the assumption of having water, "the guy who messed up should fix it."
At previous meetings McClelland, who said he is contemplating putting in wells (which the residents say they do not want), told
the council that he has been paying their water bills for years.
Myers in a letter to LaBarre said that his clients proposed three options to be considered. One is a recapture agreement
whereby the resident's pay for a water line then are able to recapture some of the costs from future customers if the area is
developed.
A second option would be a sharing agreement one in which the residents buy the materials and the city does the construction.
Thirdly, as said Myers, we discussed the concept of a special services or special assessment for the cost of the water main.
Following a short discussion that delved into several other areas, the council agreed on a 6-0 vote to fine Beth Sheff (505 North
11th) $100 and ask her to appear before the council to explain her intentions although the property in question has been
improved. The fine itself had reached $4,550 over a several month period.
The consensus of the council, since the property in question has been cleaned up, was to fine her $100 and cap the fine at
$4,550 with the stipulation she must appear before the council.
Mark Kessler said that the intent of any fines, many of which have been rescinded in the past, is to make sure the property is
cleaned up. "The $100 fee covers administrative costs," he stated. Landers asked what happens if this reoccurs, say in six
months? Both Kessler and Matt Gillock said, "we'll just start over."
If Sheff, who wants a building permit, does not show, then no building permit will be issued and the fine could be reinstated.
Landers, who is the Public Health Officer, took offense to a letter Sheff had written to the city saying, "she could have come in at
the outset. She is responsible for her property."
Then, before the council could move on to two other associated public health matters, Landers brought up vandalism,
suggesting that the toilet-papering of homes this past weekend was just that. "The paper just lays around," he said.
Barb Stamer reminded him that "this is a Homecoming tradition."
The council then agreed that letters be sent to Larry McClelland about a property he owns at 10th and Jackson, another to Seth
Miller for a general cleanup of another property on West Van Buren. Earlier the council had instructed city office manager Connie
Powell to send letters to four residents on the need to clean up piles of leaves, tree limbs, etc., that are on city property.
On a 6-0 vote, the council gave the Auburn Ambulance Squad, which will have a Haunted House at the former R Theatre again
this year, permission to close off Fifth Street between Monroe and Madison during visiting hours.
The Haunted (Theatre) will be open on the upcoming Fridays from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to midnight
along with Halloween night, a total of seven dates. Mayor Powell reminded the council that it had done the same for the Haunted
House at the Masonic Temple with its accompanying haunted hayrides.
In other business, the council:
— was told by police chief Bruce Centko that he thought the candy disbursement at the Homecoming Parade was "a lot better
than last year;"
— was told by Supt. Bill Karhliker that no bids were received on a truck and a spreader put out for bids, Karhliker given
permission to seek bids from salvage dealers (6-0);
— requested the city attorney to rewrite Ordinance 19 1/4-70 on personnel days (6-0).
The council agreed Monday to spend up to $7,500 to help a new business locate in the city.
George Kruse of Kruse Enterprises of Girard told the council he had an agreement to purchase acreage at the corner of Route 4
and Trojan Road to construct a branch of his used car and repair service.
Kruse told the council that he wants to purchase two lots, one 118 feet by roughly 500 feet, which extends from Route 4 east to
Seventh Street and an adjacent lot of almost equal size to the south of it for his new location.
Plans call for a 2,000 square foot repair building with three bays along with office space plus the land for the used car lot.
Following a short discussion, the council agreed to spend up to $7,500 for a new sewer line, the estimated cost including
materials, construction, rock and engineering fees. In return, Kruse said that a water line easement the city needed would be
included.
At present, Kruse Enterprises is occupying the former Heritage Chevrolet building at Fifth and Jackson.
Mayor Joe Powell told the council that Heritage-Chevrolet was a major sales tax producer for the city. He said Heritage collected
$342,600 in sales tax last year which is about $34,000 for the city. The vote was 6-0 in favor. Both Berolas were absent.
In the first order of business in a rather short one hour and 15 minute meeting, city attorney Pete LaBarre brought the council up
to date on a meeting requested by the Illinois EPA concerning an "illegal" water line to the south which is not in the city limits.
Because the line was allowed by the city as a private service line, the IEPA is dealing with the city to find a solution. Mayor
Powell has stated on previous occasions that the city did not allow the taps to the line which was put in by Larry McClelland.
Now the city is basically monitoring the dispute between McClelland and the three other homeowners on the line which is near
the intersection of Route 4 and Divernon Road.
The IEPA told the city to find a solution, LaBarre suggesting that the utilities committee meet (October 15) to make a
recommendation.
The line presently serves three residences, those of Sharlene Moore, Roger Frye and Rick Parker, who were represented at
the IEPA meeting last Thursday, by their attorney John Myers.
Alderman Marc Landers said that these people bought on the assumption of having water, "the guy who messed up should fix it."
At previous meetings McClelland, who said he is contemplating putting in wells (which the residents say they do not want), told
the council that he has been paying their water bills for years.
Myers in a letter to LaBarre said that his clients proposed three options to be considered. One is a recapture agreement
whereby the resident's pay for a water line then are able to recapture some of the costs from future customers if the area is
developed.
A second option would be a sharing agreement one in which the residents buy the materials and the city does the construction.
Thirdly, as said Myers, we discussed the concept of a special services or special assessment for the cost of the water main.
Following a short discussion that delved into several other areas, the council agreed on a 6-0 vote to fine Beth Sheff (505 North
11th) $100 and ask her to appear before the council to explain her intentions although the property in question has been
improved. The fine itself had reached $4,550 over a several month period.
The consensus of the council, since the property in question has been cleaned up, was to fine her $100 and cap the fine at
$4,550 with the stipulation she must appear before the council.
Mark Kessler said that the intent of any fines, many of which have been rescinded in the past, is to make sure the property is
cleaned up. "The $100 fee covers administrative costs," he stated. Landers asked what happens if this reoccurs, say in six
months? Both Kessler and Matt Gillock said, "we'll just start over."
If Sheff, who wants a building permit, does not show, then no building permit will be issued and the fine could be reinstated.
Landers, who is the Public Health Officer, took offense to a letter Sheff had written to the city saying, "she could have come in at
the outset. She is responsible for her property."
Then, before the council could move on to two other associated public health matters, Landers brought up vandalism,
suggesting that the toilet-papering of homes this past weekend was just that. "The paper just lays around," he said.
Barb Stamer reminded him that "this is a Homecoming tradition."
The council then agreed that letters be sent to Larry McClelland about a property he owns at 10th and Jackson, another to Seth
Miller for a general cleanup of another property on West Van Buren. Earlier the council had instructed city office manager Connie
Powell to send letters to four residents on the need to clean up piles of leaves, tree limbs, etc., that are on city property.
On a 6-0 vote, the council gave the Auburn Ambulance Squad, which will have a Haunted House at the former R Theatre again
this year, permission to close off Fifth Street between Monroe and Madison during visiting hours.
The Haunted (Theatre) will be open on the upcoming Fridays from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to midnight
along with Halloween night, a total of seven dates. Mayor Powell reminded the council that it had done the same for the Haunted
House at the Masonic Temple with its accompanying haunted hayrides.
In other business, the council:
— was told by police chief Bruce Centko that he thought the candy disbursement at the Homecoming Parade was "a lot better
than last year;"
— was told by Supt. Bill Karhliker that no bids were received on a truck and a spreader put out for bids, Karhliker given
permission to seek bids from salvage dealers (6-0);
— requested the city attorney to rewrite Ordinance 19 1/4-70 on personnel days (6-0).
Issue Date: Oct. 9, 2008
