S&B's Burger Joint Anniversary

Geez, time flies when you're selling burgers. S&B's Burger Joint will celebrate its 1 year anniversary today with a (second) ribbon cutting at 3:30 today:

The Carbondale Chamber of Commerce will hold a Ribbon Cutting at S&B’s Burger Joint at 3:30 p.m., today, Friday, July 31. The ceremony is in celebration of the restaurant’s first anniversary.
S&B’s, located in University Mall, serves up fresh gourmet burgers and sliders as well as offering a full-service bar, delicious homemade pies, floats and more in a fun and friendly atmosphere. As part of the celebration, S&B’s will be offering food and drink specials all day long and live music beginning at 8 p.m.

Representatives of the Chamber, City and business will participate in the ceremony. The event is open to the public.

Illinois Changing Climate

Illinois Issues has a pretty good column on the ways in which the state's climate will change, assuming current trends continue. By 2050, we can expect 20 more days of above 95 degree temperatures per year and average spring rainfall will increase by about 10%

Halloween 2

City Council voted to remove the remaining restrictions on Halloween bar openings last night and now people can buy kegs without restriction as well.

Meanwhile, The Southern keeps re purposing 20 year old photos of Halloween celebrations past in its accompaniments to their stories about the change. You would think they would have a more recent photo showing more recent Halloween festivities.

People are not going to block the Strip any more. For one thing, the state is much more aggressive about not letting people block a state highway, then it was 20 years ago. Number 2, the city has an ordinance in place forbidding groups of people from congregating on sidewalks in the evening for long periods of time, mainly to prevent things like students "taking the Strip".

While students would regularly close down the Strip every weekend in the 1990s, I cannot recall any instances of it happening since the turn of the century, due to stepped up enforcement.

Halloween

A proposal to permanently end the  Halloween restrictions on downtown bar hours is on the city council agenda tonight. Currently, council must revisit this every year and reauthorize it, in order to prevent a return to the violence filled celebrations of the 1990s. Today however, since the demarcation line for enforcement moved south to West Elm, the current ordinance only affects 3 bars:   Hangar 9, Sidetracks and Stix. City council feels that so few bars are affected, revisiting the issue on an annual basis makes little to revisit the issue every year.

I did find it amusing that the story in the Southern, front page no less, uses 15 year old photos of the crowds back in the 1990s and 2000, instead of more recent photos from recent years which would show a mostly empty Illinois Avenue on Halloween weekend.

Henry's Email Meeting

Apparently Mayor Henry was discussing city business with council members via email, and  hit the "reply all" button by mistake, sending out the email to more people than originally intended. I haven't seen the email but if Mayor Henry sent it out to all city council members, he was definitely in violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, which  makes it illegal to call a meeting of public officals without public notification, meeting in this case defined as:

"Meeting" means any gathering, whether in person or by video or audio conference, telephone call, electronic means (such as, without limitation, electronic mail, electronic chat, and instant messaging), or other means of contemporaneous interactive communication, of a majority of a quorum of the members of a public body held for the purpose of discussing public business or, for a 5-member public body, a quorum of the members of a public body held for the purpose of discussing public business

Under this definition, sending an email out to all council members certainly qualifies as a meeting and is in violation of the Act. However, I will adhere to the old saying "Never ascribe to malice what can just as readily be ascribed to ignorance", and will assume that Mayor Henry simply forgot his duties under Illinois law. I do know he is familiar with the law as every Illinois public official, even those serving unelected on commissions, is required to complete a course on the Act and file a certificate acknowledging they did so.

City Employee Residence

The Southern provided this handy graph showing where Carbondale city employees live. Just over half reside in Carbondale, while a little less than half live in Murphysboro, Carterville and DeSoto, all of which conveniently fall within the 9 mile limit for residences and all of which have cheaper housing, and more available for purchase, than does Carbondale.

In case you have forgotten, over 70% of the housing in Carbondale is rental property, meaning that many who want to own a home have to go outside the city limits in order to find one.

Top 10 Commuter City in Illinois

Carbondale made the list of the top 10 commuter friendly cities in Illinois:

The Carbondale Office of Economic and Regional Development assists small businesses with their growth. Last year alone, the office helped 57 businesses launch or expand, provided 43 training seminars, and admitted two new high-tech tenants to its Small Business Incubator program. Local cutting-edge businesses are part of what make Carbondale great. And their workers are probably going to be happy to know they make it to work nearly 40 percent faster than most Americans.

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#5 – Charleston

Charleston is a tight-knit community with superior schools and abundant recreation. Plus, it’s forward thinking transportation initiatives help Charleston commuters enjoy a trip to work that’s nearly 10 minutes faster than most Americans. These are just a few reasons the historic downstate community has been honored one of the country’s best micropolitan areas.

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#6 – Galesburg

Galesburg supports local businesses with a diversely skilled and hardworking labor force, plus a well developed land and air transportation system. It’s also close to the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers and boasts a large rail system that employs nearly 900 people and manages 100 trains per day. With all these great modes of transportation, Galesburg workers are lucky to also enjoy short commutes. More than 60 percent of residents get to work in less than 15 minutes.

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#7 – Champaign

Champaign is home to the University of Illinois’ Research Park, which received several high-profile awards for its innovative programs and creation of high-tech jobs. Increased local opportunities mean residents no longer have to travel far for good jobs. This may be why 9 out of 10 residents get to work in 29 minutes or less.

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#8 – Urbana

In Urbana, over 10 percent of workers carpool and nearly 4 percent telecommute. Less cars on the road helps the average Urbana commuter get to the office 35 percent faster than workers in most American cities. With the impending roll-out of gigabit fiber-optic broadband, even more Urbana residents may choose to work from home, which could further reduce commute times.

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#9 – Normal

Normal’s residents not only enjoy a diverse employment base, they also benefit from Uptown Station. This $49 million multimodal transportation hub connects Amtrak, local transit, high-speed rail, bicyclists, and pedestrians, and helps keep commute times to an enviable 16.8 minutes.

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#10 – Mattoon

Historically, Mattoon’s economy was based on agriculture, but over the last few decades it’s also developed strong manufacturing and retail sectors. Mattoon’s diversity means residents have the chance to work locally. This could be why 86 percent of commuters get to their place of employment in 29 minutes or less.

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#11 – Pontiac

Wonderful schools, a vibrant art community, and a bustling downtown are a few reasons those who settle in Pontiac tend to stay. Another is the availability of good local jobs, like those found at the Pontiac Correctional Center, Caterpillar, or Evenglow Lodge. Whatever line of work they choose, 7 in 10 Pontiac residents spend less than 15 minutes getting to work.

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#12 – Bloomington

One of the many great kudos Bloomington received came from “Forbes,” which named the city the best place for business and careers in Illinois and in the nation. The great job opportunities here could be why Bloomington is also recognized as one of America’s fastest growing cities. Not only is it growing quickly, but residents don’t take too long to get to work either. Their average commute time in Bloomington is just 17.4 minutes.

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#13 – Danville

Danville’s economic and employment initiatives support a multi-faceted economy that boasts opportunities in industries like manufacturing, education, and healthcare. No matter which industry they work in, nearly 60 percent of Danville commuters get to work in less than 15 minutes.

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#14 – Sterling

Sterling’s economy was founded on industry, but it has diversified over the years. Today, Sterling’s commercial sector is thriving and has established itself as the region’s retail hub. Whether working there, or in a different industry, we were impressed to find that over 14 percent of Sterling workers carpool, which is nearly 50 percent more than the national average. This helps keep traffic congestion to a minimum and allows 6 in 10 residents to enjoy a commute that’s less than 15 minutes.

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#15 – Jacksonville

Jacksonville offers low-interest loans that help qualified businesses launch or expand. This helps create new jobs, so locals don’t have to travel to another city for work. As a result, Jacksonville commuters get from home to their workplace eight minutes faster than the typical American worker.

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#16 – Centralia

If you’re looking for a place to relocate or grow your business, Centralia’s Enterprise Zone may be it. Businesses located in the Enterprise Zone not only have access to a range of monetary incentives, they also benefit from a skilled labor pool. Transportation options in the area include the South Central Transit system, Amtrak, and the Centralia Municipal Airport. Thanks to these great choices, residents here spend 30 percent less time behind the wheel than most working Americans.

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#17 – Freeport

Freeport offers residents access to excellent schools, state-of-the-art hospitals, and more than 800 acres of parks. It also boasts employers that range from major companies, like Newell and Rubbermaid, to small, locally-owned shops. The healthy mix of job opportunities gives Freeport residents the chance to stick close to home for work, which keeps their average commute to just over 18 minutes.

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#18 – Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon is located near important transportation routes, which makes it appealing to large employers, including Continental Tire North American, Walgreens, and National Railway. Mount Vernon is also home to many agricultural operations and boasts a robust small businesses community. Whether heading to stock shelves at Walgreens or tend crops, locals get to their place of employment seven minutes faster than the average U.S. commuter.

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#19 – Murphysboro

Murphysboro is a friendly, affordable, and progressive community that attracts residents and businesses alike. Best yet, the typical Murphysboro commuter gets from home to the office in 18.2 minutes, which is 28 percent faster than the average American worker.

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#20 – North Chicago

Nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, North Chicago is a mere 33 miles from downtown Chicago. Although there is a train into the Windy City, six percent of residents choose to work from home. Many others work locally at places like Abbott Laboratories, Rosalind Franklin University, or Procter and Gamble, three of the area’s major employers. North Chicago’s high percentage of telecommuters is part of what helps keep commute times to a minimum. Nearly 60 percent of people here spend less than 15 minutes getting to work, and 82 percent make the trip in 29 minutes or less.

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#21 – Peoria

Peoria is an “All American City” situated along the Illinois River. Boasting one of the state’s oldest and most popular riverfront districts, Peoria residents enjoy a vibrant urban atmosphere that includes access to art, entertainment, and eateries. With all there is to see and do in Peoria, it’s a good thing residents spend a nominal 18.7 minutes commuting to work so they can spend more time on fun activities.

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#22 – Decatur

Decatur has long been known as a leading agricultural community, but it’s also gaining a reputation as a regional hub for manufacturing and technology. Successfully blending the best of both worlds, Decatur offers diverse job opportunities and that give locals the chance to work in their own community. Because so many people stay close to home for work, most enjoy a commute that’s 26 percent faster than the average American’s.

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#23 – Dixon

Dixon offers quality schools, plenty of recreation programs, and more parks per capita than any other town in the state. Add in the fact that parents spend 25 percent less time commuting than most Americans do, and it’s easy to see why families are attracted to living in Dixon.

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#24 – Peru Township

Entrepreneurs who want to launch or expand a business in Peru benefit from a progressive business environment and access to development opportunities offered by the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development. These are just a few reasons Peru is ranked as one of the best places to start a business in Illinois. Peru’s thriving business climate means locals enjoy the convenience of living and working in the same town, and that keeps the township’s average commute time to 18.9 minutes.

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#25 – Decatur Township

Millikin University, as well as a Lyle – a major Caterpillar production facility – are both part of Decatur Township’s diverse economic base. These businesses, as well as others in the area, helped the Township withstand downturns in the national economy that crippled other Midwest cities. In addition to the Township’s impressive assortment of jobs, we were pleased to discover the community’s high rate of carpoolers. Carpooling helps limit traffic congestion, and that’s one reason half of Decatur’s residents get to work in less than 15 minutes.

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#26 – Kewanee

Whether they work at a local business, or commute to a nearby city, an impressive 14 percent of Kewanee workers carpool. That’s almost 50 percent more than the national average, and represents the second highest percentage of carpoolers on our list. With less cars on the road, it’s not surprising that 67 percent of Kewanee residents get to work in less than 15 minutes.

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#27 – Moline

Moline is in eastern Illinois, nestled between the Mississippi and Rock Rivers. It’s unique location and diverse employment opportunities allow most Moline residents to stick close to home for work. Those who choose to commute to other cities can get there quickly thanks to the proximity of three Interstates. Either way, 9 in 10 Moline residents make it to work in 29 minutes or less.

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#28 – South Rock Island

South Rock Island earns our respect for its variety of initiatives aimed at helping those who want to start or expand their business. One example is the Micro Commercial Industrial Revolving Loan Fund, which provides low interest loans to small business owners. South Rock Island’s progressive programs help keep jobs local, helping residents enjoy a short average commute of 19.2 minutes.

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#29 – Springfield

Despite being the second most populated city on our list, the capital city of Springfield offers residents a commute that’s six minutes faster than most American cities. Add in the fact that Springfield residents enjoy one of the most affordable housing markets in the nation and plenty professional jobs in education and healthcare, and it’s easy to see why people don’t regret a move to Springfield.

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#30 – Rock Island

Just this year, Rock City was recognized as one of the “Best Small Cities” in the country. One of the qualifications to make this list was quality of life and we can only imagine their average 19.2 commute plays a role in how happy their residents are. In 2014, Rock Island was named one of the “Most Exciting Places in Illinois,” so it’s great that residents don’t have to worry about lengthy commutes. Rock Islanders would likely rather be out enjoying all the great things their community has to offer instead of stuck in the car.

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#31 – Lincoln

Lincoln is located along the famed Route 66, which offers workers convenient access to several big cities. Those who choose to stick close to home for employment may work at one of the area’s three universities or the Lincoln Correctional Center. Whether they commute to a nearby city or work locally, 64 percent of Lincoln residents commute for less than 15 minutes.

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#32 – Rantoul

Rantoul’s Business Center is earning a reputation as a hub of innovation. Not only does it offer up-and-coming businesses high-tech office space, it also houses the Rantoul Business Incubator and the Illinois Small Business Development Center. With more high-tech jobs being created in the area, many Rantoul residents are working close to home. As a result, half of Rantoul workers commute for less than 15 minutes.

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#33 – East Moline

As part of the city’s overall redevelopment strategy, East Moline’s “Façade Improvement Program” offers eligible property owners grants to their commercial buildings and storefronts. It’s initiatives like this that make East Moline a prime place for businesses. Growing their own economy and business structure is certainly helping residents enjoy a commute that’s 22 percent faster than the national average.

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#34 – Marion

The commuter friendly city of Marion is dedicated to preparing its youngest citizens for the workplace. Marion recently broke ground on a new 330,000 square foot high school that will include a science and technology (STEM) lab, and technical and vocational educational center. Plus, it’s located in a Google Apps for Education School District, and plans to provide an iPad to every student by 2016. While the next generation is preparing to lead the way, the current one is working hard as well. No matter what industry Marion residents are in, over half of them get to work in less than 15 minutes.

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#35 – East Peoria

There’s a lot of great things about this waterfront community, which is why there are several Caterpillar facilities. Residents may work with heavy equipment or students at East Peoria High School. And if someone isn’t interested in one of these roles, the city offers budding entrepreneurs a wealth of development opportunities and incentives. No matter where they work, residents here enjoy an average commute time of just 20.2 minutes.

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#36 – Bradley

Bradley is a community known for its pro business climate and economic vitality. It is part of Kankakee County, which was named Illinois’ top small metro for business in 2014. With a focus on business development, it’s not surprising that CSL Behring, a major area employer, recently announced plans for a $240 million dollar expansion. Bradley’s booming industry could be why its population increased by more than 20 percent over the last decade. Despite this growth, residents are still enjoying short commutes.

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#37 – Streator

The leaders and citizens of Streator are proving it’s a “Great Small City in which to Live, Work and Invest.” In addition to excellent schools, a strong manufacturing base, and good healthcare, Streator will soon boast a small business incubator. And we just discovered something else they can be proud of. We were impressed to find Streator’s rate of carpoolers is more than the national average. Having less cars on the road could be why commuters here get to the office in 15 percent less time than most Americans.

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#38 – Pekin

Pekin boasts a range of professional and industrial jobs, such as those found at Aventine Renewable Energy and PAL Health Technologies, two of the area’s major employers. Pekin’s city-owned Business Park and skilled labor force continually allure new businesses, which keeps the economy strong and means workers enjoy diverse job opportunities. With all the job opportunities in Pekin, residents tend to stay close to home for work. As a result, average commute time in Pekin is 21.3 minutes, which is four minutes faster than what most U.S. commuters face.

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#39 – Rockford

The community’s “RockStat Meetings” are open to the public and media, which gives every resident the chance to discuss the efficiency and effectiveness of the city. Despite being the third largest city in Illinois and the most populated of any on our list, Rockford residents don’t have to spend a lot of time in traffic. In fact, 8 out of 10 residents here get to work in 29 minutes or less.

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#40 – Herrin

Herrin is part of the sixth most populated area in the state. Even with all the people living here, they don’t have to spend too much time in traffic. In fact, they enjoy a commute that is four minutes faster than the national average. But you may have to wait a bit longer when over 60,000 people flock to the area for the annual Herrinfiesta Italiana celebration over Memorial Day weekend, which pays homage to the town’s Italian heritage.

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40 Worst Commuter Cities in Illinois

Whether it’s because they live far from their workplace, face heavy traffic congestion, or a combination of the two, the average resident of the state’s worst commuter cities spends 20 more minutes getting to work than the typical resident of the best commuter cities in Illinois. But, there are several reasons why people choose to endure a long commute, like affordable housing and good schools, so we bet living in one of these communities offers its share of perks.

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What the Assembly Got Done

With all the squabbling from the statehouse, it might not seem as if the state assembly got anything done this year, but this column in Illinois Issues by Charles Wheeler points out that they did manged to pass several criminal justice reforms.

Curbside Still Closed

The 2 week suspension has long lapsed but Curbside remains closed. Noah's Lounge on the north side of the square had opened more often in the past month than Curbside has.

On reflection though, since Curbside's event customers were students, they may be holding off on reopening until August when more students return to town, minimizing overhead during what is typically a slower period in Carbondale.

Panhandlers

Not certain if policing got more aggressive or the pulling down of the Unicity Motel deprived them of a place to stay but I see we have not had any panhandlers in the Giant City Road area this year. Last year, I recall seeing at least three out in the area ever afternoon but this year, nothing.

Eat Local and Win

Somewhat similar to their Christmas Shop Local program, the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce has launched an Eat Local and Win contest. Pick up a punch card, spend $7 or more at one of the local restaurants and get a punch on your card. 5 punches get you entered into a drawing for $250 in gift cards and you can enter multiple times.

The big problem I see with the program is the restaurants not informing their staff about the program and customers not getting punches on their cards. I know that several times, with the Christmas promotion, I would make a purchase at a participating store and would have to ask for a punch on my card. In at least one case, the clerk didn't know what I was talking about, so I did not bother pushing it. Making sure everyone at the business knows about the program and can talk it up with customers is the key to a promotion like this succeeding.

Parking Access

The city is putting in and upgrading the parking area behind the stretch of properties stretching south from College to Mill Street. From what I understand, Reema's Indian Food has given the city an easement through their property, allowing access to the parking area from the south end, while those coming in from the north will have to circle around Sidetracks.Neither access point is particularly visible, unless the city plans to invest some money in signage pointing it out.

Empty Retail Space

Going to be interesting to see what will happen to all of the existing empty retail space in the area surrounding the Evolve/Carbondale Flats complex. A good half of the storefronts located just north of the building are empty. If businesspeople had high expectations for those locations, I would expect to see someone renting them now in order to get ready to take advantage of the influx of students coming in next door. Instead, nothing.

One problem I have heard is that the landlords ask for higher rents than the space justifies and would rather leave it sit empty than fill it with a tenant that pays less than what they perceive as market rate.

Parking Map

For those of you who complain about parking or the lack thereof in downtown, as do I, here is a handy map of available parking in the downtown area. I did note that there has been a change to the plans for the building going in on the old American Tap property. Due to lack of space from setbacks from the street, the plan to place apartments on top of the new building has been scrapped.

State Museum Closing?

According to this story from Illinois Issues, both the Illinois State Museum and Dickson Mounds State Park may close because of lack of funds. It appears neither is considered vital enough to state operations to continue funding them in the current budgetary climate.

Jeff Grubbs for Police Chief

I see the Carbondale Times came out with an editorial last week supporting Jeff Grubb's appointment, which I agree with.  The city has not bothered to post the opening, as far as I know, for months, likely satisfied with Grubb's performance as Interim Chief, but Carbondale needs a permanent police chief and Grubbs has shown himself able to do the job.


However, I also agree with the Times that, if he wants the job, he needs to meet the requirements and one of those requirements is residing within the Carbondale city limits. If he is not willing to make that move in order to secure the position, then the city needs to quit sitting on its hands and actively start seeking a non-interim chief. The position is too important to remain unfilled.

WSIU Radio Changes

Caught an announcement on WSIU over the weekend that the radio station planned some changes to the schedule starting in August. Looks as if Best of Car Talk, WaddyaKnow, World Cafe and Zorba Pastuer: On Your Health are going away as are 2 hours of classical music in the afternoon.

Replacing them are more afternoon news, Ask Me Another, On the Media and a couple of more music programs, including the return of Blues Before Sunrise.

I hope this is a glitch but I see the exceedingly loud Sunrise Sports will return this fall as well. Oh joy.

Downtown Power Lines

Putting the utility lines underground in downtown Carbondale is a good idea from both an aesthetic and a practical viewpoint as underground lines are much less likely to break, especially if a tree falls on them.

The primary argument against them is the cost of installation. Installing power lines underground costs anywhere from 4 to 14 times as much as comparable installation of above ground lines. According to the linked article, an above ground power line costs approximately $390,000 per mile to install, compared to $2 million per mile for an underground line.

Bike Lane #2

As noted in the comments on yesterday's post, there is a bike lane striped on Illinois Avenue as well. Both lanes end at West Mill on the south side but while the University Avenue lane runs almost all the was to West Willow, the Illinois Avenue lane ends at the West Walnut and University intersection.

Bike Lane

The recent resurfacing of University Avenue by IDOT came with an added bonus:  a bike lane.  The lane starts just south of the intersection of West Willow and N. University on the north side of town and ends I am not sure where. I imagine we will get a northbound lane on Illinois Ave. sometime in the future.  Now if the city would just put some sharrows on streets like N. Poplar, we would have an even more bike friendly city.

The Pony vs. Curbside

In case you missed it, two local bars and grills, The Pony Cabaret and Steakhouse and Curbside, both had their liquor licenses pulled, Curbside for two weeks and The Pony permanently. What is interesting is the length of time and the offenses for which each lost its license.

Curbside had theirs pulled for " several liquor license violations including not having a state liquor license last year and having a felon as manager" while the Pony lost theirs for "owner having been convicted of tax evasion and forgery in California in the 1990s". In addition, while Curbside has had problems with patrons fighting outside of the establishment and leaving quite a bit of litter in surrounding parking lots, as near as I can tell, the only other problem associated with the Pony was a citation for a blocked fire door. In other words, a much longer track record of violations at Curbside generated a much more lenient penalty.

If I didn't know better, I 'd think the city was using the 1990s conviction as a means to shut the Pony down in order to close what they perceive as an undesirable business on the main street going into downtown.

Hotel

Still wondering about the proposal to put what appears a lower end Hilton downtown next to PKs. Granted, it would be incredibly convenient for those arriving via Amtrak but the proposed area certainly does not appear large enough for both a modern hotel and parking for those who want to drive in from out of town.

Plus PKs and surrounding businesses lose convenient public parking which really fills up in the evening. Will the public be able to access the parking space for the hotel or will the hotel rely on the soon to be inconvenient parking in downtown?

Curbside

Possibly indicating the amount to which alcohol sales affected revenues, Curbside has been closed since the city council imposed the 2 week hold on its liquor license. Prior to that, the bar and grill had hosted events every night of the week.