Pinckneyville approves Zoning Ordinance; Low bidder awarded soccer park project
The Pinckneyville City Council approved the zoning ordinance placed on file at the previous meeting by a 4-1 vote. Commissioner Kevin Hicks was the only one opposed.
Fred Pabst, head of the Zoning Commission, reminded the council that there is already a zoning ordinance that applies to the city. However, it is the county's ordinance. He said he believes the ordinance put together by his committee will better suit the city.
Mayor August Kellerman was pleased with the vote and said he will make the necessary appointments at the next meeting.
The ordinance requires the appointment of a zoning administrator and a zoning board of appeals.
The council also passed a resolution awarding the contact for the new soccer park to low bidder Surmeier and Surmeier of Mascoutah for $711,287. The vote was 3-2 with Mayor Kellerman and Commissioner Leonard Heisner opposed.
The bid includes the base bid which meets all the requirements set forth by IDNR and the first alternate. Those requirements are the grading of six soccer fields, putting in a paved roadway from Mildred Drive to the park, building a detention basin, installing concrete parking spaces for ADA compliance, concrete sidewalks and a 12" drainage pipe to run between the fields.
The first alternate bid includes oil and chip for half of the parking, which will include 142 spaces.
The second alternate bid would oil and chip the other half of the parking space, but would have taken the total project over $800,000.
The city received a 50/50 matching grant from IDNR in the amount of $400,000. Engineering costs thus far are $77,000.
The city has set aside TIF funds for the project, but must fund the entire $800,000 cost then wait for reimbursement.
Engineer Louis Curl said the base bid includes grading of all the parking spaces. The second half of the lot will be grass, but the city can rock or oil and chip it at a later date.
Mayor Kellerman said he objected to the project because it requires the creation of a park board and a real estate tax to support it.
Commissioner David Stone pointed out that the city is already maintaining a space with five soccer fields. He said a contractor mowed the fields Monday.
In other business, the council:
• heard from Doug Kellerman that he would like a revolving loan to purchase additional inventory and a business sales tax matching loan to remove all or part of the old feed store building to allow for additional parking. The feed store has used a revolving loan in the past and paid it in full. Kellerman said business has steadily increased since the new building opened last year and parking is becoming a problem, particularly on days when the Farmer's Market is held there. "It's a good problem to have," Kellerman said. There have been two fender-benders to date in the parking lot and the additional space would alleviate the problem. Mayor Kellerman said he would distribute the sales tax documents that accompanied the requests and place them on the agenda for the next meeting. Doug Kellerman also mentioned that he has had some interest in developing part of the property behind the old building, but has not decided whether or not to move forward with the project. There are adequate utility lines there if a new development comes to fruition.
• approved the purchase of four fire hydrant top sections to upgrade four existing hydrants at a total cost of $5,240. Commissioner Stone said the tops will be placed on hydrants to improve water pressure/volume.