Du Quoin enlists help of engineer in search for downtown answers

The Du Quoin city council during a brief Columbus Day meeting Monday voted to enter into an agreement with (Tom) Grant Consulting Services of Carbondale in navigating through present and future brick and mortar problems in downtown Du Quoin.

As needed, the city will pay the building engineer $125 an hour on an as-needed basis to conduct routine inspections, special inspections and to investigate and test materials being used in building stabilization projects.

The city will pay 100 percent for field research and testimony hours along with round trip expenses to and from Carbondale and will pay 50 percent of that amount for research and 100 percent of the travel costs one-way.

The city will provide various maps, plats and ordinances and legal services where needed.

The agreement was reached as the city moves ahead on identifying and solving imminent building dangers in the city.

The council also approved a measure that would identify surplus equipment in the city on which bids will be taken in the near future. Among the items in the sale will be the fire department's open top 1954 Ford fire truck, which was retired years ago and later used as a parade vehicle and a fire truck on which children rode during fire prevention week. That practice stopped because of liability considerations. There is some resistance to that sale as the truck is part of a rich fire service history in this city.

Another item in the sale will be an aging street department pickup truck. It was replaced Monday during a vote of the council by a 2015 4WD Ford F250 truck to be purchased for $21,510 from Vogler Ford. Three other bids ranged from $29,192 down to $23,696.

Mayor Rex Duncan said resurfacing of Main Street downtown will take place this fall. Replacement manhole covers must be cast before the work can be done.

Deputy city clerk Tami Burdel thanked the fire department for its response and caring during a fire in an out building at the Burdel home.

The council made special note of the upcoming 92nd birthday on Wednesday of former commissioner and retired educator ad coach Galen Davis.