Skip to content

Mayor getting new city official acclimated

Tuesday was the first day on the job for Vandalia’s new director of economic development, and Mayor Rick Gottman said he is focused on getting Brian Stout acclimated.
Gottman told aldermen that he and Stout are meeting with Jeanne Gustafson, the director of economic development in Salem, this Thursday, and that he plans to set up meetings with others holding that position in other towns.
Gustafson, who formerly worked for the city of Vandalia is various positions related to economic development, has served as the director of economic development in a number of communities, including Charleston, Centralia and Mt. Vernon.
Also at Monday’s meeting:
• The council approved the low bid of $6,450 from Kidd’s Plumbing for the demolition of a house at 1026 W. St. Louis Ave. Kidd’s bid was one of four received by the city, the others being: Grubaugh Contracting, $6,880; Gathe Farms, $6,900; and Smith Backhoe Service, $7,500.
• Gottman announced that a group of local bridge players who traditionally hold a Christmas gift exchange decided this year to instead jointly make a $550 donation to Vandalia’s Beautification Committee.
• Gottman reported that Dorothy Donley, who several months ago began heading up the cleaning of old grave markers in the Old State Burial Ground, had asked for permission to work on getting that cemetery listed on the national register.
Doing so could provide some federal benefits, the mayor said.
The council agreed to give Donley permission to proceed with that project.
• Swarm, as chairman of the council’s water and sewer committee, said that the committee has been talking about several issues, including the construction of a new water plant and addressing the Kaskaskia River intake problem.
The first priority, Swarm said, should be getting a working river intake.
He also said that he wants to see the city continuing to replace water line valves because of the value of the valves when there are water line breaks.
Swarm also said that he would like to see the city consider running new water lines in two areas, to Deerwood Estates and down Carlyle Road.
• Gottman reported that the city last Friday said goodbye to Barb McCart, who ended her career in the city clerk’s office after 40-plus years.
• Gottman reported that Dennis Grubaugh had purchased the building with two sections in the 100 block of South Fifth Street that were south of the buildings that collapsed last year.
Grubaugh confirmed that he plans to demolish the former home of Nedra’s Printing and a law office, and that he would like to accomplish that before spring.
• The council agreed to have Connor draft in time for the council’s Jan. 16 meeting a proposed ordinance allowing for catering licenses.
That action was taken at the request of Angie Rhodes, who owns Gallatin Street Grille with her husband, Rick.
Rhodes asked for the creation of such an ordinance, because she currently has to apply for a special events license, and pay the city’s fee of $100, along with the fee for a state license, every time she caters an event.
Urging the council to act on a catering license as soon as possible, Rhodes told aldermen that based on her requests to cater events, this can be an economic boost to the city.
 

Leave a Comment