Council closes year with busy agenda

With the end of the year approaching and the holiday season in the air, Harrisburg's City Council met for its last hurrah before 2016, and it made for a busy night.

The Council voted Thursday night to complete a Capacity, Management, Operations and Maintenance Plan for the city's sewer system, which is required as part of the Illinois Emergency Prevention Act. Since the Council has 21 days from Dec. 4 to finalize the plan of action - and the date falls during the Christmas holiday - the Council plans to submit for an extension.

Fire Chief John Gunning reported plans to pursue a FEMA fire fighter assistance grant that would pay for 5 percent of the cost to purchase new radio equipment as well as a new fire response vehicle. The Council approved the initiative and to get the application to the Federal Emergency Management Administration started.

Gunning also reported on the progress on developing a new city square park. The city plans to raze the building at 25 E. Poplar St. To make way for the park. The Town Square Pub that sits next door still needs to remove its electrical boxes that are attached to the building so demolition can begin. According to Gunning, the business plans to make the move today or at the latest Dec. 22.

Police Chief Whipper Johnson shared with those who attended the meeting that Saturday's Shop with a Cop provided 287 children with items to open on Christmas morning.

Beth Montfort, public property commissioner, had questions for the Council after it came to her attention that the city was not benefiting from the 8 percent hotel tax.

Richard Harper, accounts and finance commissioner reported that in an earlier Council term, members voted to allow that 8 percent to go to the betterment of tourism in the whole of Southern Illinois. And that neither the city nor the county directly benefit from that taxation. No resolution was reported.