Neighborhood Alliance Meeting

 The Annual Neighborhood Alliance meeting takes place on Feb. 4  starting at 10 a. m. at the Carbondale Public Library. Neighborhoods and community organizations will update interested parties, including city leaders, on how they are meeting the past year's challenges and (I assume) plans for the future.

Library Open

 According to this post, the Carbondale Public Library has reopened for limited use. 90 minutes at a time, three times per week and must call in advance to make an appointment.

Carbondale Public Library

Carbondale Public Library is now doing curbside pickup. Here are the directions 

City Council Meeting

Tuesday night's city council meeting clocked in at right about an hour.  Not much on the agenda but what was was rather important.:

1.  Carbondale Junior Sports requested a partnership or discussion with the city and the Park Board to upgrade the Superblock complex so it could host regional softball and baseball tournaments. The Superblock  fields are not at the level to host tournaments, which CJS says the city loses to Marion and St. Louis. A number of coaches  have expressed willingness to come to events here if the facilities get an upgrade with  better landscaping and signage. CJS would also need an upgraded concession stand, as that is where the bulk of tournament money would be made to support future events. City representatives will further discuss with CJS next week.

2. SSA tax hearing held. Every 5 years, the SSA tax that funds Carbondale Main Street, 48 cents per $100 of assessed property value, comes up for reauthorization. This was that time. 1 person got up to oppose it because they wanted to see taxes start to go down. 3 others, including me and the Main Street manger got up to support it. Council voted unanimously to reauthorize.

3. Discussion of Public Library property tax levy. Not put to a vote tonight but council seems in favor, noting that the library's funding has not increased for the past two years.

Taxes on the Agenda

City council meets at 7  p.m. tonight. Two tax authorizations on the agenda. One would reauthorize the downtown SSA property tax that funds the Carbondale Main Street program for another 5 years.  City council has to reauthorize it every 5 years. The other tax would increase the property tax to fund the Carbondale Public Library. This tax would increase library funding by about $15000. If my understanding is correct though, the city council doesn't have much say over this increase. Since the library board operates independently of the city, as do  a number of other community boards, it votes on property tax increases and council pro forma approves them. If my interpretation is incorrect, please let me know in the comments.

Real Estate Taxes

Paid the last of this year's real estate taxes yesterday and always find it interesting to see where the money goes:
1.6%     Jackson County
.28%    Carbondale Township
.35%    Carbondale City
.49%    Carbondale Park District
.24%    Southern Illinois Airport
.035%  Mosquito Abatement
3.83%  School #95
2.39%   School #165
.59%     Logan College
.11%    Carbondale Road and Bridge
.34%    Carbondale Public Library
.37%    Special Service Area (only paid by those with property downtown)

Book Sale

The Carbondale Public Library will hold one of its book sales tomorrow and Monday and for those with an interest in such things, offer a rare opportunity to see the inside of the old Brush School building

Special City Council Meeting

Tuesday Night at 7 p.m.  On the agenda, mainly taxes. There's an ordinance abating the scheduled levy of property taxes on a series of 2003 General Obligation Bonds, one raising property taxes by 4.99%  in accordance with state law requiring city council to adopt the levy approved by the library's board of directors.  From what I understand, council plans to pull money out of the city's general funds to cover needed expenditures and avoid raising property taxes over 5%, which would trigger state required truth in taxation hearings.

The last item on the agenda finalizes the already  approved continuation of the downtown SSA for Carbondale Main Street.

Cooling Center Update

A reader of the blog emailed to say that a lot of people are making use of the Carbondale Public Library as an unofficial cooling center.  This makes sense, since, as the email pointed out, the Library is located in the same approximate area as the Civic Center so it is not that much farther of a walk to get to it.

Plus, the amenities at the Library are head and shoulders above those provided at the Civic Center.  At the Library, you get computers, magazines, books, newspapers, Internet, in short, lots of things to occupy yourself with while there.  The Civic Center provides the city's WiFi, tables, chairs and a pitcher of water.  I know which one I would pick.

City Council and Special Use Permit

Quite a bit on the city council's agenda tonight.  The item that had attracted the most attention is the request by Home Rentals for a Special Use permit, allowing the company to build an apartment complex at 310 and 312 West Monroe, next to the Carbondale Public Library.  A major reason for opposition is that Home Rentals still has properties damaged in the May 2009 storm that have not been repaired and are deteriorating, so why allow them to build new properties when the company is not maintaining the ones it already owns?

The Public Library has drafted a resolution requesting the Council deny the Special Use permit. Below, from the Arbor District email list, is a portion of the library's resolution:
 
The Public Library has a strong interest in the property in question; we reaffirm our opposition to the apartments and agree that the library would be willing to take stewardship of the property if, for example, it were donated to the library." 

Board members also noted that if there is to be any hope of renewal in this neighborhood we cannot have more apartments added. We talked about the fact that the property could be maintained as green space, and  could possibly be used to expand library parking, as I will be seeking grant funds to make our annex building (formerly part of Brush school) a more usable and attractive space. Right now, when we have book sales in that building, or large events at the library, our parking lot is completely filled with customers.

In short, if the special use permit passes, there will be yet another apartment complex in Carbondale, where there are already more apartments than the landlords can fill. This is an historic neighborhood, and in my opinion there are better options. We, and our neighbors are very concerned that if an apartment complex is built, the property will not be well maintained. To illustrate this point, I have attached a few examples of what tends to become of Home Rentals' property over the years. " 


According to an email sent out yesterday to the Arbor District list, an anonymous donor has offered to purchase the Monroe Street properties and donate them to the Library for maintenance as a green space next to the facility.  However, they would have to negotiate the purchase from Home Rentals, who has proven loathe in the past to sell any properties it owns, except for significantly more than the appraised value of the property

Trivia Night

Like watching Jeopardy? Why not play it yourself?: Come give it a shot at the Carbondale Public Library’s Trivia Night Fundraiser. You’ll put together a team of up to six players ($120 for the team’s table). You’ll conspire with your teammates on all your answers. No geniuses required! The game is played in topical rounds.

Saturday, February 5th 6:30pm – 9:00pm (Game begins @ 7:00pm). $150 Grand Prize to the winning team, plus lots of other prizes!

Pre-Register @ the library circulation desk, or call 457-0354 ext. 1 to register with a credit card. $120 per team/table. Each team receives 6 tickets. Buy your team tickets, then distribute/sell them to your best and brightest friends. Discounts for kids (Hey, really, who’s smarter than a fifth grader?). ($20 per adult ticket; $10 per child 12 & under. For example, an all-adult team pays $120 for the evening’s entertainment. A team of adults and two kids pays only $100).

Come have fun and support the library! We are hosting a silent art auction too! Feel free to distribute the attached fliers and email!

Library Survey

The Carbondale Public Library is constructing their 5 year plan and is looking for your input:

Please consider taking the Carbondale Public Library survey online at www.surveymonkey.com/libraryplan

We are working on our Five Year Plan and would love to have your input. Please feel free to pass this invitation along to others, and please excuse any cross-postings.

Survey respondents have the option of entering a prize drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Thai Taste, or $10 off library fines

Library Sale

Looks like there will be an "emergency book sale" at the C'dale Public Library this Saturday (Friday if you're a "Friend" of the Library) to help pay for repairs to the air conditioning system.