City Jobs

 If you are looking for a job with the city, there are currently four positions open:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARBONDALE - 

The City of Carbondale is actively seeking applicants for the following positions:        

Facility/Event Support Worker 

City Hall, IL 
Full-Time - $18.00 - $19.00 Hourly 
Category: Building & Safety / Building Maintenance / Customer Service / Building & Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
Department: Civic Center

Lead Facility/Event Support Worker 

City Hall, IL 
Full-Time - $19.00 - $20.50 Hourly 
Category: Building & Safety / Building Maintenance / Maintenance / Customer Service / Grounds & Landscaping / Building & Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance 
Department: Civic Center 

Mental Health Advocate 

Police Department, IL 
Full-Time - $25.50 - $27.00 Hourly 
Category: Mental Health / Public Safety / Professional / Customer Service / Counseling / Community and Social Services
Department: Police Department 

Vacant Building/Property Inspector 

City Hall, IL 
Full-Time - $28.76 Hourly 
Category: Administration / Building & Safety / Building Maintenance / Code Enforcement / Safety / Maintenance / Community Development / Customer Service 
Department: Community Development 

City Limit Residency Boundary Requirement 

The City of Carbondale requires its employees to live within a 20-mile radius starting from the intersection of West Walnut Street and South Illinois Avenue in Carbondale. The 20-mile radius is outlined in GREEN. Please zoom in to accurately check for addresses that are within a 20-mile radius. To check a residence located near the boundaries of the radius, please contact Planning Services. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEOE) 

The City of Carbondale is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Carbondale to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, veteran status, marital status, sex, national origin, age, based on genetic information, or the existence of a physical or mental disability. 

City of Carbondale Core Values 

As a responsive and caring community, Carbondale's success is not just based on "what we do" but also "how we do it." Our core values define the behaviors important in our interactions with residents, visitors, and one another. These are the values that guide our work: accountability, integrity, fairness, communication, honesty, and teamwork. 

Those interested may apply here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/carbondale 

Massage Parlors

It is a small thing but I have noticed that the names of almost all of the massage parlors in Carbondale have changed their name to "Something Spa"  . there are at least 4 in town that I know at those have all became spas over the last coupld of months. makes me wonder if they are all owned by the same person or company.

City Council Meeting 9/29/26

 Stopped in at this week's city council meeting.  A number of supporters of Anna's Choate Mental Health Center spoke during public comments, asking the council to go on record supporting Choate remaining open, which the council seemed inclined to do, saying it would bring up a proclamation at a later date. Speaking of proclamations, the council issued another one in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

A public hearing with no comments from the public followed, asking for comments on the sale of property along East Highway 13 to IDOT so the state may continue work on 13 in the Crab Orchard area.

The consent agenda passed without much discussion, authorizing the aforementioned sale of property as well as submitting grant proposals to IDOT and the Illinois EPA.

Most of the evening's discussion concerned changes to parking regulations in downtown Carbondale.  At the time I left, the council appeared leaning toward the following:

1.  two hours free parking with a charge of 75 cents per hour after the second hour.

2. a permitting system providing free parking in the SIMMMs parking lot for those travelling on Amtrak

3. unlimited free parking throughout downtown on Saturday and Sunday.  Current signage says only Sunday is free although there is no parking enforcement on Saturday either.

4.  Increased fines for overtime parking, somewhere in the neighborhood of $7 if paid promptly. Yearly parking permits will go up in price $10 to $15.

native Plant Sale

Native plant sale this Saturday at the Town Square Pavillion.  From 8:30 to 2 p.m.

Council Elections

 Potential candidates for mayor and city council can start picking up petitions at City Hall. Petitions are due between the 19 and 26 of October with the earlier you get your petition in, the higher you get listed on the ballot.

Notice is hereby given that the Carbondale City Clerk’s Office, located at 200 South Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, Illinois, will accept nominating petitions for one (1) four-year Mayoral term and three (3) four-year City Council member terms for the 2027 Consolidated Election held on April 6, 2027 (or the Primary Election held on February 23, 2027, if necessary). The dates and hours during which petitions will be accepted are as follows:

Monday, October 19.             8:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm -5:00 pm

Tuesday, October 20             8:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm -5:00 pm

Wednesday, October 21        8:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm -5:00 pm

Thursday, October 22            8:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm -5:00 pm

Friday, October 23                 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm -5:00 pm

Monday, October 26              8:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm -5:00 pm

Candidate Meet & Question

 From several posts on social media

The League of Women Voters is hosting TWO virtual candidate forums next month for the upcoming election! First, next Friday, October 2nd we will meet with candidates for Illinois State Representative for the 118th District, Chip Markel and Scott Doody. Then on Monday, October 12th we will meet candidates for the First Judicial Circuit Court for Jackson County, Ben Reed and Jamie Snyder. Each forum will help us learn about each candidates' qualifications and the duties of each office.

Registration is required for each Zoom forum! The forums will also be streamed to the Carbondale Public Library’s YouTube channel and Facebook page for later viewing.

118th Illinois House District Candidate Forum

Friday, October 2nd at 6:00PM (on Zoom)

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../WN_eoYxJZwPS4m-Vhht3tbz1Q...

First Judicial Circuit Court for Jackson County Candidate Forum

Monday, October 12th at 6:00PM (on Zoom)

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_hoWQk7-ATQCEju8kE3Ld1Q

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Learn more on the library's website: https://carbondalepubliclibrary.org/series/lwv/

Heritage Motel Sign

  I wish the city would contact the owners of the Heritage Motel and offer a grant or some other co-operation to repair the sign.  The Heritage is the last remaining non-chain motel in Carbondale and its sign is a reminder of an era when local owners competed to have the most eyecatching sign in order to pull in traveling motorists.

Unfortunately, what is happening is that the sign is slowly deteriorating and, instead of stepping in to address the problem, the city will likely wait until the sign is past the point of repair and require the owner to remove it, which will also remove one more bit of Carbondale history.