Council closing three alleys for business, individual

New commissioner appointment tabled

Council closing three alleys for business, individual

By Brian DeNeal

bdeneal@dailyregister.com

Though the appointment of a new commissioner was on the agenda of Harrisburg City Council's Thursday meeting, council tabled the issue.

When council appointed Harrisburg Public Properties Commissioner Dale Fowler as mayor upon the death of Ron Crank, it was understood Fowler would continue to hold the position of public properties commissioner until someone was appointed to that position. Once the new appointment happens, Fowler will resign that position.

Council took little action during the meeting with the issue of the closing of three alleys generating the most discussion. One is a 185-foot section of platted alley between Roberts Street and Beggs Place. Attorney Todd Bittle said a resident wants to install a double-wide mobile home there.

Two other alleys to be closed are between Main Street and Jackson Street and between Virginia Street and the Route 13 bypass. Bittle said Casey's General Store is looking to expand and could use those alleys to build upon.

Businessman Terry Maynard voiced a complaint he has heard around town regarding the giving away of city property for private enterprise.

"We've got people selling the same things that others are selling and they get an advantage," Maynard said.

Maynard considers the closing of an alley to accommodate one business as a taxpayer subsidy to that business that competing businesses do not receive.

Mayor Ron Fearheiley said it is in the city's interest to be relieved of certain properties if only to spare city resources on mowing. If the city also benefits when a business invests in Harrisburg and thrives, then it is not worth trying to sell properties that may be worth only a few hundred dollars.

Council also approved the platting of the Cummins Commercial Subdivision presented by City Engineer Jim Brown. At the last meeting council opened bids for 1.34 acres the city received in a land swap with the county near the Veterans Drive area. The bidder on the 1.34 acres was the holding company of NAPA Auto Parts were a new NAPA store will be located. The bid was $85,000.

Bittle said a transfer of property off Small Street would come before council at the next meeting. Maynard is donating a portion of his land to the city so that a berm can be built to protect businesses on Small Street from flooding. Fowler thanked Maynard for the offer. Flood alleviation at the north end of town has been one of Fowler's goals for several months.

Cemetery drive

Fowler said there have been citizen complaints about drivers using one of the city cemetery roads as a thru street. He said the drive is Brannon Street, though it apparently is not a street. Brown said he believes it is a platted easement rather than a street and so council could do anything with it.

Street and Alley Commissioner John McPeek and Street and Alley Superintendent Rick Brown examined the area earlier Thursday. The road is only about 10 feet wide and two automobiles cannot pass without one driving onto the grass, Superintendent Brown said.

McPeek said he has a plan to stop the thru traffic and may close it altogether.

During the meeting: Fowler said the city's Web site soon will be updated and agendas and meeting minutes will be posted to it. Links to city departments will be on the site.

Fowler gave appreciation to Harrisburg Fire Department for helping Carrier Mills Fire Department extinguish a house fire on Pickering Road a couple of weeks ago. Fowler, representing the Fowler-Bonan Foundation, said the day following the fire he was helping get clothing for children of the homeowner, Mike Winters. He said Winters expressed appreciation to the fire department's efforts in preventing further destruction.

Fowler said landscaping work is ongoing at the future downtown parking lot between Cherry Street, Vine Street and Poplar Street.

Council voted to pay Haier Plumbing $178,451, the first payment installment for replacing the trickling filter for the sewage treatment plant. That work is being funded by an Economic Development Agency grant. Council also approved paying the company $49,975 out of the Tax Increment Finance District funds for the installment of a rake bar screen for the sewage treatment plant.

Council adopted a new Flood Plain Ordinance as recommended by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Council entered a closed session to discuss contract negotiations, lease of property, personnel and possible and pending litigation, but took no action on any of those topics.