Tourism Display

 I stopped in at the Civic Center/City Hall to pay water bills today and, whilst there looked around to see what was available for information on the city, especially things to do.  Just inside the east door, there is a double tiered rack attached to the wall with information on city services and flyers on local businesses and activities.  Good but not particularly noticeable.  

Mask Mandate

 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.

City Hall Closed

 If you want any thing from City Hall get it today as city offices will close tomorrow. Vaccination clinics in the civic center will function as normal from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

City Hall Reopens

 According to this post, Carbondale City Hall reopens to the public at 8 a.m. tomorrow. Bernie is already waiting.

City Hall Reopens

Carbondale City Hall reopens to the public on June 15, meaning that there are more publicly available bathrooms downtown now. Visitors are required to wear masks and maintain social distancing.

City Hall Closure

Hope the city reconsiders closing city hall and the civic center, at least the publicly accessible sections of it. As far as I know, the building houses the only publicly available lavatories in the downtown area. Given how concerned the country is now with hand washing and self care, keeping a location open where anyone who needs to can wash their hands sounds like a pretty good idea.

Of course, given the current situation, I imagine most businesses would not begrudge anyone who asks using their restroom facilities. However, since all of the restaurants in downtown have to close their dining facilities and most of the businesses in downtown are restaurants, that cuts down the number of restrooms dramatically.

City Lot Closed

The metered parking lot at City Hall is closed today for what looks like sealing and striping. Probably, given the increased traffic and need for parking in downtown, not the best day to choose to do it.

Streetscape Ribbon cutting

The city in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce, will hold a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. next Monday to celebrate the completing of phase 2 of the Downtown Streetscape project. The ceremony will take place in front of City Hall. The next phase of the project, completing the work along Illinois between Main and Marion, will go on hold for a year or so while the city focuses on other projects and decides what do to with the awning that extends almost to the street in front of Priority Sports and The Door. I doubt, given the design of the streetscape as it has been implemented so far, that the awning will remain in its current state.

City Hall Streetscape

Work is starting on the streetscape in front of city hall

Work along Illinois Avenue, east of Carbondale City Hall, has begun as part of the Illinois Avenue Streetscape Improvements Project.

The contractor is removing existing sidewalk and steps. For your safety, visitors are asked to avoid this area as much as possible. In addition, parking will not be available along Illinois Avenue during contractor working hours

A temporary walkway will be in place until the new sidewalk is constructed. Visitors are encouraged to use the west entrance of City Hall.

Bike Friendly City Hall

According to this press release, Carbondale City Hall has recognized as a Bronze Level Bike Friendly Business. After reading it, I looking into what it would take to get a business designated as one. The 15 page application proved pretty daunting:

The League of American Bicyclists has named the Carbondale Civic Center/City Hall a Bicycle Friendly Business at the Bronze level.

This award is presented only to businesses who are dedicated to encouraging a more welcoming atmosphere for bicycling employees, customers and the community.

There are currently 1,315 Bicycle Friendly Businesses in 49 states and Washington D.C.

To learn more about the program or to apply, visit www.bikeleague.org/BFA.

Water Bill Changes

The city is dropping the postcard format for its water and sewage bill in favor of a envelope format, which will include a self-addressed envelope for returning the bill and payment. A bit more expensive format but will probably increase the numbers of people who pay on time as now they will be able to easily drop a check in the mail as compared to having to make the trip to city hall or one of the other payment points. You can also play your bill online at the city website as noted in the press release but doubt that the same people who forget to come to the office to pay their bill will remember to go to the website. The press release is below:

The next time a Carbondale resident receives a water bill in the mail, it may look a little different.  

Water bills will now come in a letter format, folded and in a sealed envelope as opposed to the old postcard format. Customers will receive a pre-addressed envelope with their bill. However, a stamp will still be required.

The City hopes the new format will help cut down on a number of delivery issues.

Payments can still be made at City Hall, online at www.explorecarbondale.com, by mail or at select area banks (First Southern Bank, First Bank, First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust and The Bank of Carbondale).

New City PR Person

Just received this press release from the city:

The City of Carbondale would like to announce that Amy Fox has been named Public Relations Officer, effective September 12, 2016.  Ms. Fox was born and raised in the Midwest where she attended Franklin College in Indianapolis, Indiana, double majoring in broadcast journalism and public relations.  Upon graduation, she received her start in broadcasting at KMOT-TV in Minot, ND. She most recently served as reporter and news anchor at WSIL-TV in Carterville, IL.   Amy will be working in the City Manager’s office and can be reached at afox@explorecarbondale.com.  

Fox worked as a morning news anchor for a couple of years at WSIL before moving to the WSIL evening news team earlier this summer.

The Bomb

Longtime Carbondale residents should remember "The Bomb" which stood on the George "Hoot" Gibson property at the corner of East Walnut Street and Giant City Road for well over 50 years. Built by Gibson in his welding shop, the 6' replica bomb stood undisturbed for decades until stolen twice in the last 10 years. Gibson passed away in 1997 and his wife Lucille maintained the bomb at its location until her death in 2012

After her death, the family donated the Carbondale landmark to the Carbondale Preservation commission, which made arrangements to put "The Bomb" on permanent display in the Planning Department's offices on the second floor of the Carbondale City Hall, where it is viewable during office hours.

Tax Increase

I see the city council is looking at a property tax increase to cover the projected shortfall. I hope that they look at the budget for staff .  From what I have heard, adopted a zero-based budget for city hall staff, making each position justify its existence, would not be a bad idea.

Walnut Street Baptist Church

Walnut Street Baptist Church from the parking lot. Streets run directly in front of the church and to the right of the flat roofed addition, making it quite hard for a growing church to expand in any direction. From what I have heard, the addition on the right will be relatively easy to renovate into apartments. It is the older church building proper that will prove difficult as it will need extensive gutting.

I gather that the tax credits and financing Endswell wants from the state are contingent on the building keeping 20 of the apartments for lower income residents, with two at market rate. However, after fifteen years, all of the apartments may be rented out at market rate.

A major problem with the location is the lack of parking. The Civic Center already has problems with not enough parking for some events and adding the new development will put a strain on the already limited number of spaces. A couple of possibilities are for the city to rent or buy the old Verizon lot just west of Univeristy or, a more expensive alternative, build a multi-level parking lot next to the civic center.

Walnut Street Baptist Church Repurposing

Jane Adams has some comments on her blog regarding the proposed conversion of the Walnut Street Baptist Church into a block of 22 apartments, 20 for low income residents and 2 for rent at market rate:

 
After 92 years in the heart of Downtown, the Walnut Street Baptist Church is moving west, to a site near Midland Inn. The church building is on Carbondale’s Register of Historic Places, and shares its parking lot with the Civic Center.

A St. Louis company, Endswell, wants to develop the property as a 22-unit apartment building to be called the “Downtown Lofts.” The redevelopment will be expensive, and they believe that without Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) support they will not be able to undertake the project. Endswell needs a letter of support from the Mayor to be eligible for IHDA support.

The IHDA provides Low Income Housing Tax Credits as well as loans for limited income housing. In this development, I understand that Endswell proposes to keep 2 units market rate; the remaining 22 would be limited income.

I would be much happier with the project if the numbers were the other way around: 20 apartments at market rate and 2 for low income but I gather Endswell could not apply for IHDA support without a significant percentage of the apartments targets to limited income occupants, meaning that the facility would likely not be profitable on its own merits.

City Hall Closing

Due to the weather, City Hall closes at noon today:

In view of deteriorating weather conditions, Carbondale City Hall will close at 12:00 (noon) today, December 6, 2013. City Hall offices will reopen on Monday, December 9, 2013 at 8:00 a.m.

The Police Department, Fire Department, and Public Works will continue to operate.

Park Street Closure

Notice from the city:

On Thursday, March14 and Friday, March 15, 2013 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Park Street will be reduced to one lane of traffic from Lewis Lane to the East for 500 Feet.

The City of Carbondale greatly appreciates motorists’ cooperation and patience and urges motorists to use caution in all work zones. In order to prevent delays, please seek alternate routes during this time period.

New Finance Director

From a press release sent out by the city:

City Manager Allen Gill has announced the appointment of Mr. Donald Ursini as Finance Director for the City of Carbondale.  Mr. Ursini will assume the position on May 16, 2011, replacing Ernest Tessone who is retiring as Finance Director after serving the City for over 11 years. 

Mr. Ursini has Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from Northern Illinois University, with a finance emphasis in both degrees.  He has held corporate financial management positions for over 30 years.  For 17 years, he held financial management positions with the Marmon Corporation, including most recently as Vice President of Finance of the Penn Aluminum Company in Murphysboro, Illinois.  City Manager Gill stated that Mr. Ursini’s strong background in corporate finance will transfer directly to managing the financial affairs of the City of Carbondale.  Governmental accounting has different rules than private sector accounting, which will take some time to learn, but accounting for City utility operations is much like private enterprises.

This appointment is the culmination of a lengthy search process, which included advertising in publications as well as professional association web sites.  An interview committee assisted in the process, including the City Manager, Director of Development Services Kevin Baity, Director of Administrative Services Deborah McCoy, and a representative of the City’s auditing Firm of Kerber Eck and Braeckel.

LCC and City Council

Liquor Control Commission and City Council meet this Tuesday Nov. 9, the LCC at 7 and City Council at 7:30. BTW, City Hall will close all Day Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day.