Friday July 23 Jackson County 5438 infected, 74 dead, 5177 recovered, Randolph County 4320 infected 87 dead 4186 recovered, Union County 2393 infected, 32 dead 2274 recovered and Williamson County 8166 infected 131 dead 7408 recovered.
Friday July 30 Jackson County 5586 infected, 75 dead, 5301 recovered, Randolph County 4361 infected 87 dead 4214 recovered, Union County 2472 infected, 32 dead 2332 recovered and Williamson County 8464 infected 131 dead 7509 recovered.
Carbondale City Government just issued a mask mandate for all staff and visitors to the City Hall and Civic Center. Numbers of infected people are going up in Jackson County , although now new deaths as of last Friday.
From what I have heard, the two buildings going in between University Mall and Qin Guan will house a Smoothie King, a T-Mobile and a Kay's Jewelers. I guess Kay's Jewelers has decided to follow a number of other businesses and exit University Mall. Last time I was in the mall, I estimated about 50% of the storefronts were vacant and the only place to get anything to eat was Gloria Jean's.
Really wish the city would put up some signs guiding people to the bike paths in town. We have the one that runs from the Town Square all the way to campus> Maybe I just look at the wrong time of day. but I see more people cycling along Illinois and University and on the sidewalks than I ever do on the bike path.
Friday July 16 Jackson County 5315 infected, 74 dead, 5129 recovered, Randolph County 4272 infected 87 dead 4151 recovered, Union County 2325 infected, 32 dead 2245 recovered and Williamson County 7996 infected 131 dead 7355 recovered.
Friday July 23 Jackson County 5438 infected, 74 dead, 5177 recovered, Randolph County 4320 infected 87 dead 4186 recovered, Union County 2393 infected, 32 dead 2274 recovered and Williamson County 8166 infected 131 dead 7408 recovered.
Quall's Hats and Company, located in the 100 block of West Walnut, shuttered the store quietly a week ago. The signage has been pulled out of the window and a "For Rent" sign placed in the window. No idea if they relocated or just closed their door though.
The first Sunset Concert of 2021 took place tonight. I saw them setting up at Turley Park this afternoon. Still rather leery about getting large crowds together but infection rates seem pretty low when the group is in an outdoor setting. Plus, the amount of alcohol brought along will likely kill most viruses in the area.
Friday July 10 Jackson County 5220 infected, 74 dead, 5109 recovered, Randolph County 4241 infected 87 dead 4132 recovered, Union County 2292 infected, 32 dead 2221 recovered and Williamson County 7931 infected 129 dead 7324 recovered.
Friday July 16 Jackson County 5315 infected, 74 dead, 5129 recovered, Randolph County 4272 infected 87 dead 4151 recovered, Union County 2325 infected, 32 dead 2245 recovered and Williamson County 7996 infected 131 dead 7355 recovered.
Listening to Rep. Mike Bost's town hall call tonight. so far I have heard references to :
Critical Race Theory
Death Tax
Hyde Amendment
Undocumented aliens pouring over the border
Hyde Amendment
Texas power outages caused by renewables
EPA will have control over all water in the US
Social Security Reform but not for those nearing retirement
Inflation
He was asked about the election fraud that put Biden in the White House and danced all around the topic, essentially throwing it back on the states and their election laws
A new quick seafood place has opened in the old Reema's location at the corner of Mill and Illinois. You know, the place Reema's occupied and spent a lot of time and money remodeling before moving to the old Café Melange location and closing? Anyhow Kat's Krab and Go is walk up and drive through but does have some outdoor seating. Drove by there this evening and parking behind the building was filled. Glad to see one less empty storefront at the south end of the Strip
The city will host a public meeting on July 29 to solicit comments on the proposed SI Multi Modal Station. One comment I am going to make is that the station should use a traditional architectural design to make it fit in with the downtown buildings along the square, rather than a contemporary design.
Meeting wrapped up with a discussion of a proposed entertainment district. this has been gestating since the eclipse celebration in 2017. Area as proposed would include the Town Square and both sides of Illinois Ave down to Grand avenue. Not sure as to what form it will take but some opposition is opposed to a 24 hour district. Sidewalk cafes would be retained. some concern that making it an entertainment district would drive away other visitors to the downtown.
Also under consideration would be waiving licensing fees for any venue opening in the entertainment district and reducing the entry age, allowing open containers within the district, but no glass and no sitting on the curb and drinking from a 12 pack and reducing restrictions on amplified sound. Plans include a permanent stage at the Washington Ave. concert venue.
Staff will take these comments into consideration and write up a formal proposal.
Listening to the city council meeting tonight
LCC meeting
Hollywood Lounge on the north side of the square got cited for locking the doors during business hours, which is a violation of the fire code. The owner, Bobby McBride, said there was an altercation at 1:30 a.m. on the premises. According to the discussion, McBride escorted one person causing problems outside and locked the doors behind them to prevent them re-entering, then escorted the other participant and the remaining customers out the side door and shut down the bar for the night.
The council voted to waive the $300 cost and letter of reprimand associated with the incident, leaving Hollywood Lounge with a clean slate. there being no citizen comments, the LCC meeting was adjourned.
City Council Meeting
Citizen comments from a father about his son's suicide in the Gaslight Apartments, arguing that there was not a proper investigation of his death and asking the council to open an investigation into it. Chief Reno says an investigation is ongoing.
Report from the manager of the Carbondale Warming Center which has served over 47,000 meals so far. Vision is to provide more supported housing for clients, currently trying to stabilize as many people as they can. Seen more families in the previous six months than in all the prior time they were open.
Presentation on the design of the planned multi-modal transportation center. Looks as if it will have three towers, one with a clock, on top of it with a more "contemporary" design for the traffic slips. i rather thought the down town was supposed to have buildings with a more traditional than contemporary design. Citizen comment is that how does this design enhance downtown Carbondale as an "arts and entertainment" district.
Warrants approved
Discussion of allowing rentals without an owner on site, AKA Air B&B via changing the zoning codes. Concerns about turning properties into essentially hotels but owners say they can purchase the property use them as short term rentals to make them profitable and justify improving the property and investing in Carbondale. Rental market very difficult to make a go of in Carbondale. Concerns about gatekeeping by the City and enforcement of long term rental property codes, arguing that the problem is not with AirB&B properties but with long term rental properties. there are landlords who do a very good job of maintaining their properties but also a lot of landlords who do a poor job of maintaining them. Now requesting a trial period for the rezoning to see what happens. Given the track record of some Carbondale Landlords, probably it would not end well. Interestingly, as written, the proposed resolution does not exclude any districts in the city. Council votes to send the proposal to the planning commission for additional evaluation with an amendment excluding districts R2 and R3
Council going on break for 10 minutes. Going to call it a night and catch the entertainment district discussion replay tomorrow.
The Arbor District will host a meeting at St. Francis Xavier Church on July 25 to discuss proposed boundaries of the proposed expansion of the Downtown (Number 2) TIF District into adjacent residential areas. If the expansion occurs, the current plan by the city would stop the expanded district on one side of the street, i.e. the district would include the east side of Poplar but not the west. The Arbor District board believes including both sides of a street in the district would lead to more consistent enhancement of property as both sides of the street would be able to utilize TIF tax benefits. Me, I am not a big fan of TIF districts as I do not care for using tax policy as a means of modifying behavior. Marion has used TIF districts extensively but will little rhyme nor reason as to where they are placed. I notice there is a stretch of undeveloped property west of Marion designated a TIF district. hard to consider it blighted when nothing has even
here is a link to a map showing rental properties in Carbondale
Number heading upward again.
Friday July 2 Jackson County 5190 infected, 74 dead, 5100 recovered, Randolph County 4205 infected 87 dead 4113 recovered, Union County 2265 infected, 32 dead 2205 recovered and Williamson County 7887 infected 129 dead 7299 recovered.
Friday July 10 Jackson County 5220 infected, 74 dead, 5109 recovered, Randolph County 4241 infected 87 dead 4132 recovered, Union County 2292 infected, 32 dead 2221 recovered and Williamson County 7931 infected 129 dead 7324 recovered.
The Liquor Control Commission and City Council meet this Tuesday starting at 6 p.m. Nothing particularly interesting on the LCC agenda but the city council will approve Fair Days for the Sunset Concerts, look at a proposal allowing vacation rental units (AKA AirB&B) in residential areas without the property owner living onsite and some amendments to the city code in preparation for development of a downtown entertainment district. .
Consume Cannibis Company and Carbondale Main Street are putting on the first SI 7-10 Fest, tomorrow from 4:20 to 9 p.m. in the Washington Street festival area. Bands include Slappin' henry Blue, Rev. Paytons Big Damn Band and Banjo Joe. Good to see live music in downtown out on the streets again.
The west side Denny's has closed again. Sign outside the building says "closed for repairs". Given the current heat, I would not be surprised to hear the building had problems with its HVAC system but I have no knowledge one way or the other.
Friday June 25 Jackson County 5175 infected, 74 dead, 5096 recovered, Randolph County 4199 infected 87 dead 4111 recovered, Union County 2238 infected, 32 dead 2199 recovered and Williamson County 7852 infected 127 dead 7268 recovered.
Friday July 2 Jackson County 5190 infected, 74 dead, 5100 recovered, Randolph County 4205 infected 87 dead 4113 recovered, Union County 2265 infected, 32 dead 2205 recovered and Williamson County 7887 infected 129 dead 7299 recovered.
Good lord! Given that people were not supposed to be shooting off fireworks last night, there were an awfully lot of fireworks shot off last night. As I was driving through town last night, I saw about 24 dozen people in the parking lot of the America's Best Value Inn setting off fireworks. It appeared quite the organized event as they had a tent set up and a number of people sitting in lawn chairs enjoying the festivities. As I got home about 10 p.m., smoke from myriad fireworks filled the air of my neighborhood.
Appears there was some trouble as well as a couple of fire trucks headed west on Main Street about 9 p.m. as well.
Carbondale's Fourth of July fireworks have moved back to the SIUC campus with best viewing from the parking lot by the Stadium and Arena. According to the WSJ, the supply of consumer fireworks is expected to be 30% lower this year and cost 25% more
