Human Relations Commission

Meets this Monday night at 6:30.  Here's the agenda:

I. Call to Order
II. Approval of Minutes – April 7, 2014
III. Announcements
IV. Public Comments
V. Study Circles Report
VI. Non-Violent Carbondale Project
VII. Old Business
A. Law Enforcement Reports
B. HRC Responsibilities, Role, Charges
1. Educational Campaign Committee
a. Restorative Justice White Paper
2. Retreat
C. Community Discussions
1. Environmental Racism
D. Partnering for Social Justice
E. Illinois Municipal Human Relations Association (IMHRA) Conference Report
VIII. New Business
IX. Next Meeting – June 2,

For the life of me, though, I cannot see what the commission has ever actually done, aside from meet.

Saluki Stay Scholarship

One of the Chamber of Commerce's better initiatives:

  The Carbondale Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the 2014 Saluki Stay Scholarship Program which aids in the retention of student at Southern Illinois University. One of the most unique scholarship programs at SIU, the Saluki Stay scholarship awards five returning students with in-kind gifts ranging from store gift cards and assistance with utility bills to meals in area restaurants. The total value of awards is expected to be nearly $1,500 each.

                To be eligible for the award, students must be enrolled full-time for the fall semester 2014, be juniors or seniors with at least a 2.8 grade point average, have attended SIU for at the last two years and must be employed by a current Carbondale Chamber of Commerce member in good standing. Preference will be given to students with demonstrated financial need. Completed applications are due May 9, 2014. Applications and additional information are available online at scholarships.siu.edu/search and searching for “Saluki Stay.”

                The scholarship program is an effort of the Chamber’s Saluki Pride committee that works to strengthen relationships between Southern Illinois University and Carbondale’s business community.

Attitude Designs

Attitude Designs will have its ribbon cutting and Grand Re-opening at its new location at 815 S. Illinois Avenue this Wednesday, April 30th from 4:30 to 6:30. Go see the new digs.

Hidden SIU

The Chamber of Commerce will host a tour of Hidden SIUC next Thursday May 1 from 3 to 7 p.m. Patterned after last fall's highly successful and popular Hidden Carbondale tour, it will give tour attendees the opportunity to see parts of the campus the average person never gets to visit. Hopefully a visit to the tunnels under campus is on the itinerary.

More on Varughese Investigation

According to this story in the DE, the Pravin Varughese investigation keeps getting more and more convoluted. A second autopsy commissioned by the family reports  a "significant number of bruises on the hands, head and torso". The original report indicated no suspicion of foul play and no mention of bruising.

Additionally, the current investigation says Varughese's body was found with no shoes, the first time I remember this point coming up in the investigation, as prior police reports made no mention of him missing shoes

Coupled with the Molly Young case, the questions surrounding Varughese's death promise to keep troubling the Carbondale police department for some time to come.

Neighborhood Business District Tabled

The council spent about two hours last night not coming to a conclusion on how to modify the description of a Neighborhood Business District. The main sticking point, and it is a major one, is how to deal with larger commercial buildings grandfathered into what is now a residential area.

The primary sticking point is the area surrounding the intersection of Sycamore and Oakland, as the old Carbondale High School, National Guard Armory and Coke distribution nee Oakland Avenue Auto Repair buildings, all build before current zoning regulations went into effect but none of which are suitable for residential use.  How does the city, and by extension its residents, let the owners make use of their property while still maintaining the residential aspect of the area? While Oakland Avenue Auto Repair operated, those living in adjoining houses complained of auto exhaust coming into their homes on a regular basis. Going out your front door to a face full of car fumes is not what the residents expected when moving into their properties.

A proposal requiring towing services to provide additional tie downs around the wheels and detachable lights on the rear end of towed cars died for lack of a motion after strong arguments against the ordinance by local towing companies. Expense, possible damage to towed vehicles and increase in towing time, all argued by the towing companies, convinced council members not to move forward with the regulation.

Rather surprisingly, the budget passed with little discussion and only one comment from the audience, a call for further cuts to the budget including civic center staff and police department officers.

Council went into closed session about 10:40.

City Council Meeting

The city council meets tonight, right after the Liquor Control Commission.  Since the only think on the LCC's agenda is a request from Aldi's for a license to sell beer and wine, that should move quickly.

There's an ordinance regarding lights on tow trucks and the approval of the next year's budget on the council agenda.  Expect to see the budget passed after much discussion, not so sure about the two truck ordinance.