City Council Meeting

Special meeting of the city council tonight to approve the two new TIF Districts that the city has treated as already approved.  Technically, the already existing downtown district will expand significantly while the other will encourage development in the Oakland/Sycamore area. Of course, for any development to take place on Oakland or Sycamore, the city will have to rezone the area, either allowing businesses or apartments, as it really wouldn't make sense for a developer to put in single family residences.

Street Clearing

The city has done a fine job so far of cleaning the main streets.  Walnut and Main are both clear so far as I can see and most of the major side streets such as Oakland, Poplar, Oak and Mill are readily passable, but there are some of the lesser traveled side streets that still need work, which makes me wonder why one of the blow trucks just headed down the right side of Main again.  It plowed the very edge of the street, which didn't appreciably remove more snow that was impeding traffic.  All it seemed to do was throw up a foot high pile of snow blocking what had been ready access to parking lots on that side of the street.

Bald Knob Cross

In case you are looking for something to do on the 22nd that doesn't involve running around doing last minute shopping and don't mind driving out into the southern Illinois hinterlands, the Bald Knob Cross relighting ceremony starts at 5 p.m. with the actual turning on of the lights at 5:30

SIUC Debate Team

In case you were not aware of this, SIUC has a nationally ranked debate squad, with botth the #1 and #7 teams in the country on the squad.  The squad's performance at the national level dates back to the late 1980s, with about a 10 year absence from the national stage from the late 1990s through 2008.  One would think, with this sort of performance, the debae program would get a lot more attention from the university and the community.  After all, it's competitive, which people like, and it lets the univeristy perform at the national level.  Maybe have the Dawg Pound put in aan appearnace ins support of the debate squad or have Director of Debate Dr. Todd Graham come speak to the Chamber of Commerce.  After all, if Coach Lennon gets an invite to speak, shouldn't Coach Graham?

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.

Southern Illinois Aids Holiday Project

 Passing along an email


Southern IL AIDS Holiday Project Still Needs Support

The AIDS Holiday Project is working to meet the needs of over 150 low-income households impacted by HIV / AIDS in the 19 southern-most counties of Illinois.

There are still households in Carbondale, Murphysboro and Benton that still need support.  We have wish lists from households that includes clothing sizes.  To sponsor a family, contact Wally Paynter at wallypaynter@aol.com or 812-480-0204. 

Donation can be made on-line at either www.CarbondaleAIDSWalk.org or www.AIDSHolidayProject.org or sent by mail to Holiday Project c/o Wally Paynter, 908 B Oak Street, Carmi, IL 62821.

El Baijo Closed

The second Mexican related closing I have noticed recently, El Baijo on East Main has "Closed Down" on its sign.  I am assuming permanently, since there is no indication they just closed for vacation.