Alderman gets free help with river intake

As it has worked to get its financial house in order, the city of Vandalia has allowed one costly project to fall by the wayside for the time being.
But one alderman doesn’t want that to continue.
Terry Beesley told Mayor Rick Gottman and other city aldermen on Tuesday night that he had contacted a number of governmental agencies about providing some advice on the city’s raw water intake on the Kaskaskia River.
Beesley said he finally found someone willing to listen to him, and to consider providing some assistance.
He said that a representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed to look over photographs and any other images of the intake, which has, for the most part, been of no use to the city since its installation in 2004 because of sediment deposits.
In January of last year, Gonzalez Companies, an engineering firm hired by the city to look at the intake, offered a number of recommendations.
But the city chose not to act on any of the recommendations, because it was working to maintain a balanced budget.
Beesley said at Tuesday’s council meeting that the city doesn’t worry about having to spend any money for the issue at this time.
“He will give us some advice without charging us,” Beesley said.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting:
•Gottman reported that he is in discussions with three local developers on possible job-creating projects in Vandalia, and that he also been talking with a restaurant developer.
• Gottman reported that he will be setting up a meeting to address a concern of the congregation at St. James Lutheran Church about work done as part of the streetscape project in the 700 block of West Gallatin Street.
The mayor said representatives of Mettler Development of Highland – the general contractor for the project – and the St. James congregation will talk about handrail installation in front of the church.
Gottman also reported that he and Executive Secretary LaTisha Paslay will be setting up a meeting with merchants in the 100 and 200 blocks of South Fourth Street to discuss streetscape improvements in those blocks.
• The council agreed to have an ordinance amendment drawn up that will allow traffic in both directions in two alleys in the downtown area.
Currently, southbound traffic only is allowed in the alleys next to Lincoln Park in the 300 block of West Gallatin Street and the former Fayette County Health Department home in the 500 block of West Edwards Street.
Beesley asked whether two-way traffic in the alley next to Lincoln Park would cause any problems with parking behind Cages, and Public Works Director John Moyer said, “There is very little traffic in that area.”
Moyer said the one-way limitation in that alley was put on the books when The Wooden Nickel, a restaurant and bar, was located on the site of the park and had a drive-up window.
The council will likely vote on the ordinance amendment at its March 5 meeting.
• Joe Withers, who lives in an area adjacent to the Vandalia Lake campground area, asked whether there was action on his request to move a barrier that blocks a former roadway into the campgrounds.
Withers said he made the request because moving the barrier would allow him to build a garage at the back of his property.
Alderman B. John Clark, chairman of the council’s streets committee, said he had looked over the area with Moyer, and had spoken to other members of the committee about the request.
They had all agreed, Clark said, not to re-open the roadway. “We don’t feel it is justified to re-open it,” Clark said.
Moyer added that the barrier had been set years ago after the city had problems with vandalism and parties when that roadway was open.
• The council approved the transfer of Vandalia Lake lot No. 21 from Michael and Janet Pryor of Ramsey to Les Miller of Moweaqua.
• Scott Hunt of Hurst-Roche Engineers reported that four or five companies have expressed interest in bidding on the Thrill Hill water tower painting project, and that the bid letting is set for 2 p.m. next Thursday.
Hunt said the completion date for the project currently stands at June 15.
Hunt also reported that H-R had received comments back from the Illinois Department of Transportation on the preliminary study for the replacement of bridges at Fifth and Randolph streets.
However, he said, reports pertaining to hydraulics had been forwarded on to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, causing a delay.
Hunt said the firm hopes to have everything related to the preliminary design in order by the middle of March, at which time it would move onto final design work.