Du Quoin mulls requiring lights on boat docks
City leaders are looking into the possibility of requiring new, larger-sized docks built on Du Quoin City Lake to have lighted markers, although any such move has some way to go toward becoming reality. Plus, not everyone is entirely on board.
Mayor Guy Alongi opened a dialog at Monday's meeting of the city council about possibly requiring the lighted markers on construction of any new dock that would exceed 20 feet in length as a way of "putting in some safety checks out there." Alongi said his research into solar lighting brought up multiple options all under $100. Already-existing docks would grandfather in and exempt from such a new rule, although they would become subject to it if they receive any substantial renovations or improvements.
Discussing the legality of the idea, city attorney Aaron Atkins said the life-saving potential of the measure would make it worth it, even if it only ever saves one life.
"If it saves someone's life, it's well worth it," Atkins said. "I think it's a wise thing as a preemptive measure. As long as we own the lake, we should at least be doing something to keep it safe."
Commissioner Chuck Genesio took issue with the idea, asking whether there had been any incidents at the lake to prompt such a measure. None were offered in response. Genesio added that he didn't think a new regulation was the appropriate step.
"We all want to be safe ... but where do we stop?" Genesio asked. "I personally don't think it's any of our business."
At the behest of the mayor, Atkins agreed to write a letter to the Du Quoin Lake Association to ask for a further discussion of the issue.
Christmas lights to become a reality
An effort largely championed in recent months by Commissioner Dale Spencer to purchase new Christmas decorations for the downtown is moving forward.
The council passed a resolution Monday authorizing the purchase of the new decorations, which Alongi said should cost well under $20,000. The money to fund the purchase has been raised entirely through private donations, and Alongi said that as of Monday, citizens had contributed about $13,239 -- all of it from donations ranging in size from about $25 to $750.
"We knew it was something we wanted to do with private funds ... and people really kicked in," Alongi said. "It doesn't matter what they gave. They bought in."
The city has received at least two bids and will move forward with a purchase in the coming weeks. Spencer said residents definitely will notice the difference this holiday season.
"Some of them are a little bigger than we had before," Spencer said, referencing the city's decades-old downtown decorations. "I believe they will really enhance the downtown."
City finalizes agreement with Don Tequilas
Commissioners also voted Monday to finalize a business district redevelopment agreement with Don Tequilas at the Southtowne Shopping Center.
The move is closely related to a similar one earlier this year that was designed to assist China Buffet, also located at the shopping center, with the purchase of a restaurant waste disposal system that would keep grease and other food waste from entering the city's water and sewer system. The same work now will be done at Don Tequilas. In concert with the imminent construction of a new lift station nearby, leaders hope the changes will help to ease pressure on the city's infrastructure on that end of town.
The city is helping the businesses pay for the upgrades through a previously established Du Quoin Business District, which has allowed to city to levy a retailers' occupation tax on businesses within the district in order to finance larger improvement projects.
More from Monday's meeting will appear in Wednesday's edition of the Call.