Chrisman’s New Pavilion Already Gets Vandalized
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Commissioner Thad Crispin told the Chrisman City Council at the meeting on Monday night that the electric side of the pavilion has yet to be completed. This is partially due to timing and getting into the fields for harvest.
Crispin also stated that it was brought to his attention that the pavilion had already been vandalized. A rock was thrown at a door, one of the doors was kicked in and a water pit was opened. Mayor Owen mentioned getting lights down by the pavilion, but Crispin said that lights weren’t going to stop them. Crispin said the Marshall Autumn Fall Fest was held in Marshall, Illinois and one of their brand new bathrooms was destroyed.
From what Crispin understands, this is all part of a Tik-Tok Challenge that kids are doing. “They go in and destroy stuff,” Crispin said. “So now I have to get a brand new door for the pavilion”. Crispin has also seen in this challenge, the participants flip over benches and pavilion tables. “That was my biggest fear,” Crispin said. “Spending all that money on something new and it was going to get destroyed”.
An idea was putting up a trail cam up, similar to what is at the dump. The only problem is there is no place for it where it would be out of sight and could catch the people who did it. Mayor Danny Owen suggested closing the park early, that way if someone was up there, the police have the right to stop by and see what’s going on. “Put that on the next agenda,” Mayor Owen said.
The council also moved to renew the Cintas contract as well as a payment to Beniach for $69,470.55. Cintas will cost the City around $57.60 per month for the street department clothing and any other things they may need.
“If a water main breaks and I’m soaked, I use them for a change of clothes,” said city worker Erik Bohle. “I like having the shirts. I think they look more professional.” To which, Commissioner Rodney Wolfe agreed. “I’m a firm believer in that. Everybody needs to look nice.”
Mayor Owen asked about Christmas decorations and Crispin said that he had spoken to Ed Shirley, who does the lights for parades around the area. Shirley also can make custom pieces. “It sounds like a good deal if we have the money for it,” Crispin said. Commissioner Crispin suggested starting next year for funding and coming up with ideas. “He builds it, sets it up down here and maintains it.”
Commissioner Wolfe told the council that there was an anonymous donation of $1,000 and a gentleman donated $500 to go towards decorations for the town. Mayor Owen brought suggestions for the council to look over and make a decision on what to do.
“If we’re not going to use it, I’ll give it back to her because I told her I didn’t know if we would use it,” Wolfe said.
An account was discovered at First Farmers Bank and Trust with $717 that is to be used for decorations. “If you guys want to do a tree, I don’t have a problem with that,” Crispin said. He also stated that Shirley can not rent anything right now, but by next year, he would have something for the city.
Mayor Owen suggested purchasing another blow up figure, but the idea was shot down by Commissioner Wolfe stating they were a waste of money. Another idea was a twelve foot tree on the bandstand, which would cost $2,300. Wolfe suggested talking to the Community Club to see if they had any ideas.
“We can build a tree a lot cheaper than that. Similar to the one that used to stand there,” Commissioner Bryan Haddix said.
Even though an ordinance was placed about grass clippings being blown in the road that would result in a fine, Commissioner Crispin mentioned that he has seen a lot of clippings on Illinois Street. Commissioner Haddix stated that no more than the city cleans up the clippings, people blow them back out in the street again.
In another matter, Haddix said that he would like to offer the position of Sewer Operator to Erik Bohle, but he wouldn’t be able to take the position until he finds someone as his replacement on the street department.
“He’s been really good about trying to do all of it,” Haddix said. Commissioner Crispin told the council that he has spoken with two people about the possibility of replacing Bohle, but has no idea how long it would take to come up with someone.
“Sounds like we better do that, so we can get you a guy out there if that’s what you want,” Mayor Owen said.
Crispin says that he doesn’t have a lot of time to conduct interviews and it will take some time. The open position will be posted both on the City’s Facebook page as well as posted on indeed.com.
Commissioner Cory Chaney brought to the board information about the ARPA Funds. Paperwork included information on addressing economic impact caused by COVID, replacing lost revenue and premium pay for essential workers. “We have some projects we can put that money to,” Chaney said.
Approximately, the funds available is $170,000 that would be divided up into payments. Chaney mentioned after the funding was received, all documents would have to be kept for up to five years. “We have to retain those and make sure we do all of that,” Chaney said.
Mayor Owen asked the council if they would like to split it between water and sewer. Commissioner Wolfe quickly answered no. “Not now,” Wolfe said. “In April, I should have all my ducks in a row and know what I owe, what I don’t owe and go from there.”
Commissioner Wolfe and Commissioner Haddix submitted their ordinances for both the water and sewer.
In other news, it was brought to the council’s attention that parking at Hidden Garden and the Chrisman Cafe did not have enough handicap spaces for patrons.
“If we put one on each side of the alley, that would help,” Wolfe said.
Crispin suggested putting another in the alley, but Wolfe said to put a sign on each side of the alley and see how that works first.
“We have some signs, I think, but we don’t have sign bases. I do have the stencils to put on the ground” Bohle said. Crispin told him to start with the two signs and then go from there.
With Halloween quickly approaching, the City Council was presented with more ideas for the celebration. Trick or Treat & Trunk or Treat will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 30th. Festivities will also include a Halloween parade and the CACC Halloween Contest in City Park.
Two barricades closing off Illinois from Madison to Monroe will be placed for the parade that will begin at 3:30, giving the kids enough time to participate and enter the Halloween Costume Contest.
Mayor Owen told the council: “All plans are a go.”
