The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner
Former Stronghurst Village Trustee Juanita Jarvis, was appointed after closed session to fill the remaining term of the late Frank Avery. The Board also voted to hire Cory Fox , a Junior at SHS, for summer help at $6.00 an hour.
Representatives of Southern Junior High's 7th grade came to request permission to beautify the Stronghurst Village Park. With their teacher Ms. Debbie Gillam, 7th graders Emily Smith and Rachel Keane made a presentation of their club's desires using a $400 Univ. of Ill. grant through the Extension Office.
Their plan is to plant flowers at the four corners of the park, around the flag pole and in front of the cannon. They also plan on making a sign for the park.
The board voted to approve their project with the stipulation they would work with Tony Griepentrog to assure the plantings would coincide with the current state-approved park project that is now underway. Mayor Eric Chockley commended the students and their class for offering to help with improvements to their community.
Kenny Morris was present with a detailed estimate for summer Legion baseball he proposes would help keep teenagers off the streets. In his $3,000 plus budget, most has already been secured in donations.
"Steve Wisslead and I are trying to get the "borderline kids" to come onto Legion teams. The itinerary of costs change from year to year," he said, such as the catcher's gear that should last three to four years if of good quality.
"The budget included liability insurance of $636 year with parents still being responsible if someone is hurt. It also included $1200 to $1400 for umpires which he said cost $125 per tournament, $15 for pregame maintenance of marking the fields, $150 for alloy aluminum bats, $600 for 1 set of catcher gear. A catcher's mitt can cost anywhere from $100 to $400 and he also included the cost of helmets which must have the safety stamp on the back.
Morris said they have a full summer schedule with a lot of home games planned. Players are responsible for their own gloves, shoes, and transportation and their own accident insurance. A roster will hold 18 team members he said and he wants to try to keep it full.
Morris said they have around $2600 and would appreciate any kind of help they could give them.
Mayor Chockley said he felt they were opening a can of worms if they gave and wondered how many other teams would be asking for the same thing. He questioned if taxpayers' money should be used for this purpose. There are girls softball and the Little Leagues.
"We'd love to give you money, but once we start that, we got all types of teams that might ask too," Chockley said.
David Vancil thought they had given $100 to various teams at one time and remembered giving the Boy Scouts $500 once.
Mayor Chockley said but now we have committed a lot of money to the park project and felt it should be our priority at this time.
Members suggested that Morris ask other community supporters at this time. Mayor Chockley said they would table any decision for a month.
Bob Dillon spoke asking the board if they had made their trip around town and if there were any violations cited and if it was public knowledge. Robert Scott said that they had met and 10 people have been sent notices that they have 30 days to clean up the problems cited. He said pictures were taken of the places in question.
Dillon said, "I hope you will stick to your guns."
Scott said within 30 days, if property owners have not complied to their violations, they would be getting a court date.
Dillon also commended Tony Griepentrog and the city workers for all of the good work and extra time they have been putting in on the park enhancement. "It looks great," he said.
Griepentrog reported that the park is looking good and said they have had lots of volunteer help. They still have a lot of work to do in May and would appreciate as much volunteer help as possible, will be doing a lot of work evenings. He said Tony Anderson has been doing a lot of volunteering and that anytime anyone sees them working at the park, they would appreciate help. It is going to take several guys to help install the hoops and poles.
Henderson County Deputy Steve Henshaw reported one ticket was issued last month for No Drivers License. He reported pending investigations for Battery, Other Trouble, Burglary, and Criminal Damage to Property. His reports also showed they had received information on Domestic Violence at a residence and information on other Criminal Offenses.
In other business:
After a ten minute executive session, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Present at the Board meeting were Mayor Eric Chockley, Trustees David Vancil, Lawrence Neff, Tony Griepentrog, Bob Scott, Clerk Eileen Cargill, Treasurer Lori Russell and Tony Anderson and Bob Carmean, Village employees, Deputy Steve Henshaw. Trustee Angela Meyers was absent.
Guests were Kenny Morris, Richard Knutstrom, Bob Dillon, and Ms. Debbie Gillam and two SJH 7th Graders Emily Smith and Rachel Keane.