Dear Du Quoin: Much accomplished, always more to do
During the past couple of weeks of the Christmas and New Year holidays, we've spent much time reflecting on our many gifts and blessings, as well as challenges, difficulties, and losses during 2014. We look ahead to 2015 with optimism tinged with reality.
Look at Downtown Du Quoin. The ADA-compliant sidewalks, clock, drinking fountain, and trees made our downtown the Christmastime envy of Southern Illinois. A small masonry park area will enhance the Main Street end of the parking lot. That parking lot was also resurfaced and reoriented to increase the number of spaces available
Once the overlay of Main Street is complete we'll have the finest historic business district in the state. The Main Street sidewalk and overlay projects are about as cost-effective as these projects can be. Total cost of the two projects is estimated at $800,000. The City's share of that will be about $60,000. That's a lot of bang for a little city buck.
And isn't it nice to finally see the St. Nicholas Hotel bustling and illuminated as the St. Nicholas Restaurant and Brew Pub?! The City invested $200,000 in that reconstruction project, where about 5 or 6 years ago we had an estimate of $350,000 to demolish it. We invested as well in new projection equipment at the Grand Theater, with the hope that the Grand old lady will continue to grace our community.
You heard a couple of new terms in 2014 that you'll hear more of in 2015 and beyond. Shopsteading and homesteading are processes provided for in our Enterprise Zone ordinance that offer cost-effective ways to get vacant, yet still sturdy, commercial and residential structures into the hands of folks who will build them back up. We have a couple of downtown buildings that are great candidates for that process, as well as two homes. The intent is to return those buildings to meeting fire and building codes while restoring their productive, historic charm.
The new Du Quoin Cost Plus Bottom Dollar grocery store opened. The additions of the Dollar Tree and Label Shopper to the Southtowne Shopping Center are positive additions to our community. Freshly remodeled Chip Banks Chevrolet Buick glistens like a new car hot off the Detroit production line. Both the interior and exterior of the RollnUp store has been completely renovated
The Du Quoin Industrial Park continues to attract attention, due in part to the one-of-a-kind solar array that pumps sustainable electricity into the park. Belt Tech opened a new plant in 2014. There continues to be interest in the park from other prospective businesses in 2015.
The city's infrastructure is improved but still in need of modernization. The good news is that the two water mains installed in 2014 on Main and South Washington Streets are working flawlessly. In addition, several faulty meters have been identified and replaced. In the not-too-distant past, we were only selling about 65% of the water we purchased from Rend Lake. In November 2014 that figure reached 95%. That's real progress as it means we buy less water to supply the same amounts sold.
Our greatest need going forward is the construction of new potable water storage. We are now down to our 300,000 gallon water tower and the 1 million gallon underground tank at the old filtration plant on North Division Street. 1.3 million gallons is about one good day's storage. That's all. The tower is solid, but the underground tank has a limited life. A major fire and a bad water line break on a hot summer day and we are out of water.
The treatment plant is in good condition but, with seven or eight years of 24/7 operation in harsh environments it requires maintenance and some parts replacement. As well, our sanitary sewage lift stations are due for servicing and upgrades. One pump needs replaced at the North Chestnut Street lift station at a cost of $24,000. We have over 20 lift stations with 3 pumps per station.
Public safety in Du Quoin is top drawer. Our police department is fully staffed, well led, and well equipped. Our fire department is one of the best trained and best equipped in the region, with a new pumper that is performing very well. Our firefighters took the initiative to write a major grant that will save this City about $225,000. On the other hand our brush truck is pushing 50 years old and you can see through the floorboard.
The city pool has become such an important asset to Du Quoin, but is need of serious investment. At this writing, it's going to take from $40,000 to $100,000 to get it back to the shape it was in 2014. A new pool? Probably $1.5 million. I could go on.
I hope this helps you to appreciate the progress made in 2014, the optimism for 2015, and the real challenges we face together as a community. One thing is certain. There is no "status quo". We're either going to move ahead or fall behind. As a community of optimists, I know you won't stand for falling behind. Nor will I.