Du Quoin chamber hears success stories and challenges of the past & coming year
Du Quoin Mayor Guy Alongi Wednesday told members of the Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce that early successes in his administration include putting a finance committee in place, engaging young people in the decision making process, finding solutions for the swimming pool, city hall roof repairs and the repair of roads at Hidden Lakes.
He said interim finance director Chuck Novak and the finance committee have turned the corner on fully identifying where the city stands financially and that he looks to next year with optimism despite the fact that state finances are "in a hell of a shape." With respect to Novak's service and the work of the finance committee, "From the bottom of my heart I want to show you my gratitude."
He said that in an $8.3 million city budget, 65 percent is payroll and insurance premiums including $309,000 for workman's compensation alone.
"We have found out that if we don't take care of ourselves, nobody else will," he said.
Alongi said the city continues to receive its sales tax revenue, but is not receiving the gaming revenue it is entitled to from the 74 machines now operating in the city. Nor is Du Quoin receiving its full motor fuel tax entitlement, which has put the city on a very scaled-back street maintenance program this year. Dr. Jack Struck and homeowners at his development, Hidden Lakes, have pooled their resources to overlay the spreading of asphalt millings with oil and chipping to finish the project. Judge James Campanella began it by bringing all parties together to solve the problem and end litigation in the matter.
"I am more comfortable in this job than any job I have every been in," Alongi said, putting 30-35 hours a week and sometimes more into the job. "I am not a public speaker," but it was obvious Wednesday night that speaking quietly and from the heart made it a great presentation.
He said the swimming pool has a soft spot in his heart because his late father, Jerome (Mimi) Alongi was an inaugural park board member that built the pool. He said with the help of private donors, a city commitment of $125,000 and tapping into the back end of a half-cent sales tax already being collected to pay off high school bonds those repairs will be made.
He also noted that a new Amtrak station is not on his agenda without federal funding to build it.
Looking ahead, "We will feel some pain, but we are headed in the right direction," Alongi said.
Retiring chamber president Dr. Gary Kelly introduced Christopher Rural Health marketing director Kimberly Romani and Du Quoin REA Clinic office manager Sarah Collins who said plans remain in place to construct a new Du Quoin health clinic in the coming months. Christopher Rural Health has 13 facilities across Southern Illinois. Another guest included Clint Jackson whose rodeo organization will host the national finals at the Southern Illinois Center in November. The guest student was Matthew Krpan of the Perry CEO program who talked about getting up at 6 a.m. to be at Perry CEO sites in Pinckneyville and Du Quoin by 7:15 a.m. "I look forward to going to this class. It has been phenomenal," he said.
Dr. Kelly said chamber revenues continue to grow with $3,100 coming from the golf scramble, $3,600 from AMA motorcycle race concessions and $9,100 from Du Quoin fair concessions. He said he looks forward to Patty Jackson of Regions Bank joining the chamber board and reminded members of the Du Quoin Fall Festival in Keyes Park and a regional chamber meeting on shopping Southern Illinois that will be held Sept. 23 at the Carterville Community Center.
Kelly reflected on his term as president, "When you do this job there are a lot of challenges. You want to move the community forward." He talked about financial challenges. "They are talking about a two-year freeze on property taxes and SIU may not be able to make payroll," he said. He said one of his great loves is the annual Du Quoin Veterans Day parade and he will continue to chair that program and work on others. He thanked the board and staff for its support during his term.
Incoming president Robyn Laur Russell will be featured in an upcoming story on her term, but on Wednesday she said she will key on strategies and membership.
"In addition to stimulating awareness and building the brand, I look forward to relying on the extensive knowledge base that lies within our members with 30-40 years supporting their chamber. New and existing members both will be important moving forward. Stacy Hirsch is the backbone of the chamber and we need and appreciate her as that quality constant. I am excited about working more with Stacy and under her professional guidance," said Russell.