Off Premises Signage

 The city approved 6-1 an amendment to an ordinance at its last meeting allowing for the placing of off premises signage along East Main and East Walnut between Washington Street and Lewis Lane. However, the businesses wanting to place off-premises signage must have frontage along those right of ways.

The same ordinance was a major point of contention when the city was working to get Kohl's to open a storefront in Carbondale. One of the things Kohl's insisted on was an amendment to the same ordinance allowing it to place a sign on Highway 13 pointing towards the Kohl's location on Giant City Road.

City Council Agenda

 Here is the agenda from last week's city council meeting. Council voted to impose a fine for sleeping or camping on public property of $25 for the first offence, increasing with subsequent violations, with a 48 hour notice before the city will clear a campsite.

Council also voted to continue discussing increasing free public parking in downtown but that has been under discussion since 2020 so I doubt anything will get decided quickly.

Petitions

 Nominating petititons for the 3 open city council seats and mayor's office are available for pickup starting July 28th. Clare Killman has said she will not run for another term, leaving her seat open.  No word yet on Mayor Harvey or Councilpeople Loos and Maxwell.

On April 6, 2027, the City of Carbondale will hold an election to select one Mayor and three City Councilmembers for four-year terms. Informational documents and petition forms will be available in the City Clerk’s Office beginning on July 28; these same forms and other useful information are available in the 2027 Candidate’s Guide that can be found on the Illinois State Board of Elections’ website. Signed, completed forms will be filed in the City Clerk’s Office during the statutory filing period of Monday, October 19 through Monday, October 26, 2026 (circulation and filing dates amended by Public Acts 103-0586 and 103-0600). 

This election will be for the seats presently held by Mayor Carolin Harvey, and Councilmembers Clare Killman, Adam Loos, and Nancy Maxwell.  

City Council Meeting Canceled

 Must be a slow summer as there is no business before the council for the entire month of July. i guess, after stopping an influx of data centers into the city for the next year, they decided to call it a month.

Notice is hereby given that the regular City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 7, 2026, has been canceled as there is no business for deliberation on this meeting date.

 

Please Note: The next regular City Council Meeting will commence at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

 

Stix

 From the agenda for this week's city council meeting, it looks as if the owner is planning to do work on the long shuttered Stix building. I certainly hope so as that would be one fewer building getting dilpaidated in the downtown area.

Also on the agenda is a similar request for a TIF agreement at 213 N. Washington, just south of the  WDBX radio station. and for 108 East Oak, which is the WDBX station.  Since these TIF requests are all part of the consent agenda, unless a council member requests an item get considered individually, they will all get passed with one motion. 

Community Survey

 If you want to complete the community survey and aid Zo Agency with its research developing comprehensive marketing plan, here you go.  I think we have done this a couple of times before.  Not sure why the town does not reach out to a perfectly good Univeristy and have them do the reserach instead of hiring an agency though.

City Council Meeting

 Well, this morning's city council meeting was quite well attended, so much so that some of the city council members had problems finding parking spots before the meeting started. From what I gather from attendees, only one person spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance banning camping on public property in city limits.  Everyone else opposed it.  Granted the current encampment on East College is quite an eyesore but the city did bring it upon itself.  The prior encampment was located in the woods south of where the current encampment is and Levels on East Grand and out of sight until the city decided to move it. Now we have the encamment in a much more conentrated and visible location.

City Council Meeting 2

 From what I have heard the agenda for Friday's 9 a.m. meeting discussing an ordinance regulating public camping within the city limits.  No action will be taken at this time. This is likely caused by the homeless campground that has sprung up near the cooling center across from Victory Dream Center. Fining people for camping there likely won't do much good since if you are camping outside in the city limits, you probably do not have enough money to put a roof over your head, let alone pay a fine.

City Council Meeting

 Must be important because there is a special meeting of the city council at 9 a.m. this Friday.  Ufortunately, I cannot get the agenda to load so have not a clue as to what the topic is.

City Council Agenda

 Here is the agenda for next Tuesday's city council meeting. Notably on it are 

A request from Hangar 9 for a temporary liquor license

Authorization of an application for a $1 million grant for community solar poser

Awarding a contract for $80,000 to demolish 6 properties at 1965 Stephens Road, 608 W. Cherry Street, 613 W. College Street, 611 W. Walnut Street, 504 S. Ash Street, and 322 W. Walnut Street.  The 608, 611 and 504 properties were previously owned by Home Rentals while, according to an email from the Arbor District, the 322 and 613 properties were owned by Joseph Bryant.  All of them were voluntarily surrendered to the city

Expanding the #1 TIF District 

City Council Meeting

 Headed over to tonight's city council meeting but did not get there until 6:20. It was a short meeting as the session had ended and people were at the dais talking to various council members

City Council Agenda

 Here is the majority of the city council agenda for next Tuesday. Assuming there aren't a lot of citizen comments and no one wants to pull items from the consent agenda, it should be a pretty quick meeting as there are no general business items to come before the council:

3.1 City Council Meeting Minutes from August 26, 2025

3.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 08/29/2025 for the FY 2026 Warrant 1519 in the Total Amount of

$1,389,325.01

3.3 Approval of Wells Fargo Warrant for the Period Ending 07/31/2025 FY 2026 Warrant # WF 07/2025 in the amount of

$171,224.23

3.4 Ordinance Approving a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Information Systems FY 2026 Budget in the Total Amount of

$7,020.00

3.5 Award the Purchase of One (1) - 4 Door GMC 1500 4x4 to Auffenberg of Carbondale in the Amount of $46,320, Adopt an

Ordinance Approving a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Meter Services Budget in the Amount of $46,320, and Declare

City-Owned Property as Surplus

3.6 Resolution Approving the Submission of an IDNR OSLAD Grant in the Amount of $578,776 and Obligating Matching

Funds in the Amount of $289,388 for the Evergreen Park Playground Upgrade Project

3.7 Approval of Consent Agenda Items

New City Council Members

The city council welcomed three new city council members this week. While things like the new entertainment complex and train station are cool, I really hope their focus is on repairing a number of the side streets and reducing the level of crime in the city.  When you compare the two, per capita, Chicago is safer than Carbondale.

Tax Passes

 According to this article from the Southern, the city council voted last night, 4-1, to instate a 1% grocery tax when the state mandated tax ends at the end of 2025. The tax will put an estimated $1.5 million annually into the city treasury but will not add any money, since the city received approximately that amount from the state grocery tax.

Council Election Results

 1741 ballots were cast in yesterday's city council election, about 14% of registered voters in the city. Dawn Roberts, Nathan Columbo and Brian Stanfield secured seats on the council, beating Lee Fronabarger and James Endicott. Incumbents LaCaje Hill and Ginger Rye-Sanders, who ran for second terms as write in candidates, did not receive enough votes to appear in the final results.

Arbor District Responses

 If you want to read the responses from candidates to the Arbor Districts questions about their positions, you can find them here.  Like me, they did not get a response from Lacaje Hill and Jason Endicott.

Brian Stanfield Responses

 Below are the responses I received from city council candidate Brian Stanfield

 

1. Why are you running for city council?

I came to Carbondale for graduate school at SIU and I loved the city so much I never left. Now that I am a professor of philosophy at John A. Logan College and own a house in Carbondale, I want to be more engaged and give back to the community that I’ve made my home.

 2. What do you hope to accomplish during your term on council?

I want to promote a city council that will be more accountable and transparent in its deliberations and decisions. With problems in housing, homelessness, crime, and economic stagnation, Carbondale’s city council must take the lead in generating accurate and widely available data about these issues. We need to create specific task forces to tackle each unique problem and recommend data-driven solutions for the council to enact. These efforts must be a collaboration of city, public, and private entities to ensure that the best possible outcomes are achieved.

 

3. The city has embarked on some major projects during the last several years. (multimodal transit station, demolition of blighted properties, entertainment plaza, upgraded downtown lighting, upgraded downtown sidewalks). Is there a project you would like to see the city undertake?

Now that Carbondale Community Housing has announced an executive director, I’d like to see that organization work collaboratively with the city to promote first-time homeownership for our citizens who might otherwise not have that opportunity. Converting vacant rental properties into single family homes should be a top priority. In addition, the city should incentivize filling vacant downtown buildings with locally owned businesses. The city must also streamline its existing procedures, such as rental property inspections, so that enforcement for habitual violators can be achievable.

 

4. Given how much the health of Carbondale and SIUC intertwine, how can you see the city and university working together for the benefit of each?

As a former SIU student, I would love for both Carbondale and SIUC find ways to entice students to stay and build careers in Carbondale. The collaborative efforts among Carbondale, SIU, and also SIH will be essential in creating an atmosphere of job creation, economic development, and home ownership. There are already some templates for city/university collaborations, such as the Sunset Concert series each year, that can inspire more ways to work together to revitalize our city.

 

5. What additional steps (if any) should the city take regarding rental properties?

I’ve already outlined several specific steps above, but in general the city must centralize and rationalize its already existing code for rental properties to become more transparent and accessible to both tenants and property owners. The city should be focused on enforcing the existing rules in ways that will punish habitual irresponsible property owners. Responsible property owners should also be supported by the city to help maintain and improve their properties through grants and tax incentives.

 6. In the 90s, downtown Carbondale was a shopping district. Today, most visitors to downtown Carbondale visit one place and leave. Is there anything the city could/should do to change this or is this a natural progression of behavior?

One of the mistakes Carbondale made, decades ago, was to promote chain stores and restaurants that built up on the outskirts of town, to the detriment of its local downtown businesses. While it appeared to be a shrewd move to generate a growing tax base, we’ve now realized that there are certain demographic triggers that result in these stores to pull up stakes, cut their losses, and leave the area.

 Our two eclipse events over the past decade have shown that Carbondale could recapture that downtown feeling if we all are pulling in the same direction. The city should prioritize a clear and effective vision for revitalization of its downtown properties and locally owned businesses. We need accessible parking available in more inviting areas in order to encourage people to stay, with better signage in the downtown area to direct visitors to parking and other specific landmarks.

 7. How do you visualize Carbondale and what steps can the city take to achieve your vision?

I envision a vital community that people will enjoy visiting, investing, working, and living. Carbondale must explore new kinds of business development opportunities such as clean industry, manufacturing, and tourism. Many of these opportunities already exist throughout the area but must be brought together to work collaboratively for Carbondale’s growth. I’d like to see a community where homeownership is an achievable goal, where people can become more invested in their homes, become part of a more stable tax base, and to feel engaged in their communities. Engaged citizens will also create a safer community composed of neighbors who know each other, not just anonymous property owners.

Ginger Rye Sanders Responses

 Responses to my questions from city council candidate Ginger Rye Sanders

1. Why are you running for city council?

I first ran for City Council in 2020, and my decision was deeply influenced by the pandemic. During that time, I had the opportunity to reflect on my life—what I was accomplishing, what I wasn’t, and what more I could do for my community.

One moment stands out to me: I was sitting in my car at Walmart, parked next to another vehicle. As I prepared to leave, the car beside me started to back up. For a brief moment, I felt as if I was moving too, even though I wasn’t. That realization struck me—it’s possible to think you’re moving forward when, in reality, you’re standing still. That epiphany made me ask myself: Am I truly moving forward in serving my community, or am I just feeling the motion of others around me?

That was my push. I knew I needed to take real action, not just feel like I was. I was frustrated with the lack of support for Carbondale’s poor and marginalized communities, and as a woman of faith, I take to heart what the Bible says about caring for the poor. Proverbs teaches us that when we give to the poor, we give to God, and it reminds us that the poor will always be among us—meaning there will always be work to do.

I ran for City Council to be a voice for those who often go unheard, to advocate for the marginalized, and to fight for real change. And while some may feel I don’t belong at the table, I firmly believe that if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. My commitment to serving Carbondale is unwavering, and even as a write-in candidate, I remain dedicated to standing up for those who need it most.

2. What do you hope to accomplish during your term on council?

I am seeking election for a second term second term.   I hope to accomplish 

Strategic Initiatives for Carbondale’s Growth

Create an Industry Task Force

Establish a dedicated team to address challenges and drive growth in Carbondale’s industrial and economic sectors, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Restructure the Hospitality Tax

Implement a twofold financial restructuring that benefits both the city and local businesses, supporting hotels, bars, and restaurants to enhance economic stability.

Implement an Aldermanic System

Transition to an Aldermanic system of governance to foster equitable resource distribution, ensuring fair representation and stronger community engagement.

Initiate Neighborhood Enhancement Projects

Launch targeted neighborhood revitalization initiatives aimed at improving living conditions, infrastructure, and overall quality of life in Carbondale.

Expand Youth Programs

Increase investments in youth engagement and development, providing more opportunities for education, recreation, and career pathways.

Sustain Assurance for Equity

Maintain a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) by fostering an inclusive environment where all residents have access to resources and opportunities.

These initiatives are designed to create a thriving, inclusive, and economically vibrant Carbondale, ensuring long-term success for businesses, residents, and students alike.




3. The city has embarked on some major projects during the last several years. (multimodal transit station, demolition of blighted properties, entertainment plaza, upgraded downtown lighting, upgraded downtown sidewalks). Is there a project you would like to see the city undertake 

My Project Includes:

A unified Carbondale —where people work together regardless of neighborhood, background, or status. The division must end because a house divided against itself cannot stand.

I want to see Carbondale free from racism, indifference, and stagnation. I want us to truly support the poor, the homeless, and those in marginalized communities. An economic growth program that benefits everyone, not just those who are already well-off.

A Carbondale where the only employment options are NOT low-wage fast-food jobs. I want to see industries come to Carbondale that provide sustainable, long-term employment, helping lift people out of poverty and reducing crime.

A Carbondale with strong infrastructure—well-maintained streets, sidewalks, and public spaces. I want to see blighted areas repurposed or transformed into parks and green spaces where people can gather and enjoy their city.

A Carbondale where everyone—no matter where they live—feels valued, heard, and included must be built on real, tangible progress.

Projects like the multimodal transit station, blighted property demolition, entertainment plaza, and upgraded downtown lighting are important, but we must prioritize practical, impactful initiatives that will truly shape the city’s future.

Strong community involvement and ethics in city government are essential. We cannot afford to engage in “go-along to get-along” politics while Carbondale continues to decline. It’s time for leadership that is committed to real solutions and lasting change.

4. Given how much the health of Carbondale and SIUC intertwine, how can you see the city and university working together for the benefit of each?

Strengthening SIU’s Role in Carbondale’s Growth

As a cornerstone institution, SIU plays a vital role in Carbondale’s economy and community. While its tax-exempt status under the State of Illinois Property Control Act exempts it from property taxes, there are meaningful ways SIU can contribute to the city’s growth and sustainability through strategic partnerships:

• Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Programs – Establish voluntary contributions of funds or services to offset the impact of lost property tax revenue. A Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program by SIU could play a crucial role in strengthening downtown Carbondale, transforming it into a student-friendly and economically sustainable community. By reinvesting in infrastructure, public services, and local development, SIU can help create a more vibrant, safe, and engaging environment—one that enhances the student experience while also benefiting the broader Carbondale community.

• Joint Grant Applications – Partner on state and federal grants for projects that benefit both SIU and the broader community.

• Community Development Initiatives – Leverage SIU’s expertise and resources to support local development, benefiting students and residents alike.

• Utilizing Abandoned Properties – SIU owns vacant buildings, such as Southern Hills and other former student accommodations, which could be repurposed for residential housing, small business incubators, and revitalizing downtown spaces. This would strengthen the local marketplace, creating a vibrant environment where students can live, shop, and engage with the community while earning their education.

By fostering stronger collaboration between SIU and the city, we can ensure that Carbondale thrives—creating a dynamic, student-friendly, and economically sustainable community for all.

5. What additional steps (if any) should the city take regarding rental properties?

Rental Property Incentives for Quality Housing

• Develop a Landlord Improvement Grant program, rewarding property owners who maintain high-quality, affordable rentals.

• Implement a tiered property tax system, offering small incentives for landlords who provide long-term, affordable housing.

• Strengthen rental property inspections to ensure safe and well-maintained homes for tenants.

6. In the 90s, downtown Carbondale was a shopping district. Today, most visitors to downtown Carbondale visit one place and leave. Is there anything the city could/should do to change this or is this a natural progression of behavior?  

Yes this a concern.  Somebody stuck a needle in Carbondale Illinois and we must have strategies and plans to fix the holes. 

A strong Urban Economic Director is a must and then we must 

Streamline the Process for Small and Minority businesses to thrive in Downtown Carbondale.  Business space and no business in it  is a problem that we must fix.

Learning from Marion, IL:

   Benchmarking against successful models like Marion, IL, is a valuable strategy. Investigating their specific policies and incentives could reveal best practices that Carbondale could adopt.

   This could involve examining Marion’s tax incentives, grant programs, and business support services.

7. How do you visualize Carbondale and what steps can the city take to achieve your vision? 

First, we must adhere to Vision 2030. I was part of the committee that established and updated these goals, and they provide a strong foundation for Carbondale’s future. However, goals on paper mean nothing without action. We must move from words to purpose—ensuring that we do what we say, say what we do, and follow through with real, measurable progress.

Lee Fronabarger

 Here are council candidate Lee Fronabarger's answers to several questions about his candidacy.

1. Why are you running for city council?

I am running for City Council to get Carbondale BACK ON TRACK for growth and progress. Council

needs to focus on those issues which will make Carbondale more attractive to new and expanding

businesses and services in order to create more jobs and money flowing throughout the local economy.

Will continue advocating for fiscal responsibility, providing quality city services, and for the city operating

with a balanced budget.

2. What do you hope to accomplish during your term on council?

I want to work with city staff and fellow councilmembers to tackle the issues of a stagnant economy with

many empty commercial buildings in town, housing issues and boarded up properties in highly visible

areas of town, reduction of crime by working with the Public Safety Department and other area law

enforcement, focusing on stopping the illegal supply of guns to underage juveniles and felons.

3. The city has embarked on some major projects during the last several years. (multimodal transit

station, demolition of blighted properties, entertainment plaza, upgraded downtown lighting, upgraded

downtown sidewalks). Is there a project you would like to see the city undertake?

I would like the city to intensely concentrate on economic development and job growth for Carbondale.

Diversifying the local economy is of major importance, as everything revolves around the economy. Work

closely with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, making sure Carbondale

meets all the criteria and has everything in place a new and expanding business is looking for to relocate

in or move to Illinois. Also work with other local economic development groups like Jackson Growth

Alliance, SI Now, and the SI Airport Development group to present a unified approach.

Would also like the City to set up a Business Start-Up Grant with Seed Money which would have

stipulations attached, like completing the Business Start-Up Program at the SIU Small Business

Development Center.

4. Given how much the health of Carbondale and SIUC intertwine, how can you see the city and

university working together for the benefit of each?

Work on a unified marketing campaign/strategy, highlighting the many pluses and advantages of

attending school at SIU and residing in Carbondale. Note the lower cost of living in Carbondale area,

close proximity to major cities of St Louis, Memphis, Nashville, most beautiful scenic landscape in the

three-state region providing for a variety of outdoor adventures, student focused approach to education,

practical experiences immersed into classroom instruction, internship programs, multiple opportunities to

join and volunteer with student and community organizations.

5. What additional steps (if any) should the city take regarding rental properties?

Research what other cities in the Midwest have done to tackle the issues of rundown or abandoned rental

properties and how to deal with bad landlords that have the reputation of being slumlords. Stricter

enforcement of ordinances already on the books and make changes to intensify ordinances if needed to

be more effective and produce results.

6. In the 90s, downtown Carbondale was a shopping district. Today, most visitors to downtown

Carbondale visit one place and leave. Is there anything the city could/should do to change this or is this a

natural progression of behavior?

The city should do everything it can to encourage local developers to invest in constructing commercial

buildings on vacant lots in the downtown district to present a more contiguous business district. There

are too many open spaces that cause visitors or shoppers to not venture throughout the downtown

business district. More retail boutiques and specialty shops are needed in downtown area to add to the

mix of restaurants and bars.

7. How do you visualize Carbondale and what steps can the city take to achieve your vision?

I visualize Carbondale to continue as the center or hub of the Southern Illinois Region for shopping,

education, healthcare, transportation, arts & entertainment. City staff should survey the community to find

out what outages we experience for products and services, causing citizens to go elsewhere for those

items and thus that revenue leaving the Carbondale community to be recycled into the community.

There is no longer any retail establishment in Carbondale to purchase finer lines of clothing for special

occasions and high school students have no place to shop for prom attire locally are just two examples of

outages and revenue lost to Carbondale. Within a 20-mile radius of Carbondale, which is easily within

the local trade area, the 2020 population reaches the figure of over 76,000. The 30-mile radius figure is

just under 125,000 residents. Carbondale has the potential, but it will take a refocused effort to make for

a thriving, healthy, growing community. Let’s Get Carbondale Back on Track.

Dawn Roberts

 I sent city council candidate the questions I sent to Nathan Columbo. Below are her responses

1. Why are you running for City Council?

I am running for City Council because I care deeply about Carbondale and want to see it thrive. My family has been part of this community for three generations, and I’ve seen both the challenges and opportunities our city faces. I want to bring fresh ideas and a problem-solving mindset to the Council, focusing on practical solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives. With my background in public health, research, and data-driven decision-making—including experience managing complex projects at IBM —I bring a problem-solving approach to addressing Carbondale’s challenges. I believe I can help bridge gaps, advocate for responsible growth, and help Carbondale become a stronger, more vibrant place to live, work, and do business.

2. What do you hope to accomplish during your term on Council?

If elected, my focus will be on revitalizing Carbondale by improving housing, supporting local businesses, and promoting greater transparency and accountability in city government. I want to address rental property issues by holding absentee landlords accountable and ensuring safe, quality housing for residents. I also want to streamline processes for new businesses, making it easier for entrepreneurs to invest in Carbondale. Additionally, I would like to improve collaboration between the City, SIU, SIH, and local organizations by encouraging better communication and shared problem-solving on key community issues like housing and economic growth.

Above all, I want to bring transparency, accountability, and thoughtful leadership to the Council.

3. Is there a project you would like to see the city undertake?

I would like to see the city prioritize affordable and quality housing initiatives. Many rental properties are in poor condition, with issues like mold, fire hazards, and general neglect from landlords who fail to maintain their properties. I would advocate for stronger rental inspections, balanced tenant and landlord protections, and incentives for responsible property owners to improve and maintain housing. Improving our housing stock will make Carbondale more attractive for people to live, work, and invest in, strengthening our local economy. Additionally, addressing neglected and vacant properties can help prevent trespassing, reduce crime, and contribute to a safer, more welcoming community.

4. How can the city and university work together for mutual benefit?

Carbondale’s success is closely tied to SIH and SIU’s success. The city and these institutions should work more closely to support local businesses, improve housing options, and create job opportunities that encourage graduates to stay in Carbondale. Strengthening collaboration on economic development, infrastructure, and community initiatives will benefit both residents and students, making Carbondale a more vibrant and sustainable place to live.

5. What additional steps (if any) should the city take regarding rental properties?

The city needs to take a more proactive role in ensuring rental properties are safe, well-maintained, and not contributing to neighborhood decline. This includes stronger enforcement of housing codes, holding negligent landlords accountable, and improving rental inspections to be thorough, consistent, and transparent. At the same time, we should support responsible landlords who maintain quality housing by offering incentives and streamlining compliance processes. Additionally, I support strengthening the Community Housing Trust to help rehabilitate neglected properties and expand affordable, high-quality housing options.

6. Downtown Carbondale was a shopping district in the '90s but now sees visitors come for single stops. Should the city try to change this?

While shopping habits have changed, the city can take steps to make downtown more inviting and encourage people to visit multiple businesses rather than just making single stops. Improving walkability, supporting local businesses, and hosting events or markets can help create a more vibrant and engaging downtown. By fostering a welcoming atmosphere, we can make Carbondale’s downtown a place where people want to spend time, boosting local businesses and strengthening community connections.

7. How do you visualize Carbondale, and what steps can the city take to achieve your vision?

I see Carbondale as a welcoming, thriving community where people want to live, work, and invest. To achieve this, the city needs to focus on improving housing, supporting local businesses, and fostering stronger collaboration with SIU and other key partners. Strengthening public safety, maintaining infrastructure, and making downtown more inviting will also help attract new residents and businesses. By prioritizing transparency and accountability in city government, we can build a stronger, more connected Carbondale for everyone.