Du Quoin passes the 'fence test'

Members of the Du Quoin City Council Monday decided that "fiscal responsibility" and "buying locally" are one in the same in approving the purchase of up to $8,800 in fencing from Home Lumber Co. for a Jackson Street fence replacement project.

"If we are going to talk the talk we have to walk the walk," commented Mayor Guy Alongi as the unanimous vote was taken to buy locally.

"We could have saved a thousand dollars buying it somewhere else," said Alongi. "But, Home Lumber Co. has been here for the town for generations," said Alongi.

At the outset, council members had to decide if there was a need to replace a block-long section of chain link fence that keeps school children away from a 50-foot dropoff that leads down to the north end of the fairgrounds' big cut lake behind Fair Acres subdivision homes along North & South Lake Drive. Alongi said he could put up with the eyesore after the fence was damaged during a boot camp cleanout brush and trees that were entwined in it. But he couldn't put up with the growing safety issue. "Should we replace it and buy it locally?"

"Absolutely" said commissioner Chuck Genesio. Others concurred.

Bid-taking was not required.