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Downtown work will start soon

The reopening of the Vandalia Statehouse seems imminent – all that’s needed is one signature.

Mayor Rick Gottman told the Vandalia City Council on Monday night that the only thing delaying the reopening of the Statehouse is Gov. Pat Quinn’s signature.

Gottman said the state’s Central Management Services has OK’d the hiring of a laid-off state employee to assist Site Superintendent Mary Cole.

The state is able to hire that employee through an anonymous donation received by the city. The donor has provided an amount that would pay the annual salary of that employee.

The city has made arrangements to pay the state on a month-by-month basis, because of the possibility of the state deciding to reopen all state historic sites and state parks closed last year by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich prior to his impeachment.

While serving as the lieutentant governor, Quinn repeatedly stated his support for reopening the state facilities, and he has just recently restated that support.

Also at Monday’s meeting, Gottman reported that the infrastructure improvements in the downtown business district are scheduled to get under way within the next few weeks.

Improvements to storm sewer and sanitary sewer lines in the downtown will be followed by the downtown streetscape project. The streetscape work will include new sidewalks, benches, trash containers and period lighting, as well as the relocation of utility lines underground.

In other action:

• The council asked City Attorney Jack Johnston to draw up an ordinance amendment that will set aside a section of the 200 block of South Fifth Street for the parking of emergency vehicles.

Alderman Bret Brosman, chairman of the council’s streets and sewers committee, said that Police Chief Larry Eason reported that the police department would lose some parking spaces due to the expansion of the city’s Fire Station.

The proposal calls for the section along the west side of the First National Bank parking lot to be reserved for the parking of police squad cars, fire trucks and firemen’s vehicles during fires. Currently, parking is not allowed along that section of roadway.

• The council voted to vacate a plotted alley just east of Jay’s Restaurant and a residence that formerly sat just east of the restaurant.

• The council approved a 2010 Census partnership agreement.

Gottman explained that the U.S. Census Bureau asks each community to establish a committee that will work to promote the census and encourage the participation of individuals, organizations and business in the population count.

Gottman said it’s important that all local residents be counted in the census, because those numbers determine how much state Motor Fuel Tax monies and federal funds the city receives.

• The council approved the final plat for East View Estates, which is located on the east side of Zent Drive between Janett Avenue and Thrill Hill Road.

The plat was approved unanimously, but only after Alderman Larry Cable questioned the lack of streetlights and sidewalks. City Administrator Jimmy Morani said the requirements for that subdivision are somewhat less stringent because of its distance from the city.

• The council approved the low bid of First National Bank in Vandalia, Ramsey, Patoka, Mulberry Grove and Greenville for the financing of a new backhoe. The bank offered an interest rate of 3.74 percent for a two-year loan. The city is financing $22,645.

The bid from FNB was one of three received by the city. Also submitting bids were Midland States Bank and National Bank.

• The council approved the Motor Fuel Tax bids for street materials. The city will pay Beelman Logistics of East St. Louis $47,700, Tune Trucking of Patoka $18,400 and Vandalia Asphalt Service $243,339.62.

• The council amended an agreement with Hurst-Roche Engineers of Hillsboro for the engineering firm’s work on a new cemetery building. The agreement was amended after the city decided to scale back the plans for that building.

• Vandalia Main Street Program Manager Dana Whiteman reported that Main Street’s first “Mornings on Main Street” gathering was held recently.

“It was a good start,” Whiteman said, noting that the meeting included status reports from Gottman and City Administrator Jimmy Morani on the upcoming downtown improvement projects.

The next meeting is tentatively set for 8 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10, at Celebrations in the 400 block of West Gallatin Street. Coffee and doughnuts will be served to merchants participating in the meeting.

•Whiteman reported that members of Main Street’s design committee are working on an informational kiosk that will be installed in Lincoln Park to guide tourists to downtown businesses.

She also said that the committee plans to contact owners of several downtown building and offer to paint the exterior of those buildings.

• Gottman asked that an ordinance amendment be drawn up to reduce by one the number of Class E liquor licenses that are available from the city. That action follows the closure of Jay’s Restaurant at Eighth and Gochenour streets.

• Gottman praised the Vandalia Community High School girls basketball team for winning the regional tournament and advancing to the sectional championship this Thursday night.

• Gottman reported that he had met recently with representatives of Sloan Implement, which this week purchased the local John Deere franchise from Wehrle Brothers.

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