Window closes on ability to repave Du Quoin's Main Street before holidays

Thursday's promised arctic blast at the onset of winter has closed the window on Southern Illinois Asphalt's ability to repave Main Street and a section of South Washington Street in downtown Du Quoin before the holidays.

Manhole covers that weren't ordered on time and--once cast by the foundry--were shipped to the wrong place didn't help matters.

And, it now seems that the downtown Du Quoin project was an end-of-the-season work-in for the contractor, who has been trying to finish up a project in Marion.

It is already arguably too cold to lay asphalt as the plants that manufacture it get ready to close for the winter, although the city was told by Southern Illinois Asphalt the work could be completed so long as daytime temperatures remained above 40 degrees.

Holiday shoppers and merchants will have to put up with odds and ends of patching around manholes and catch basins between now and next spring. All that the downtown businesses wanted for Christmas was their parking lines back in front of their stores.

At the end of the day is was probably meant to be, and Du Quoin will get a much better job if the work is done in warm weather.

The street will not be milled until just before the repaving. Cold patch has been placed around manholes and catch basin grates so no one will trip over them.

Commissioner Kathy West summed it up by saying the wait will assure a "better product" next spring. Mayor Rex Duncan asked economic developer Jess Ashauer to seek extensions on the funds that will pay for the project.

In other action, the council agreed to sell a 2000 Ford Grand Marquis squad car for $500 to the Village of Dowell, which will use the high mileage car as a backup. Traditionally, Du Quoin gets only about $300 on a trade-in like this, so the arrangement works out for both communities.

The council also gave final approval to a very forward-thinking lighting program that will result in the city being able o convert much of its facilities lighting to LED lights. The program is valued at $76,492 for lights and supplies, $19,695 in labor through McIntire Electric and $5,000 in manlift rentals. An Illinois Clean Energy grant and a Department of Economic Opportunity grant totaling $81,470 will pay for most of the conversion at places like the fire stations, water plants, offices, overpass, etc.