Residents complaints aired at Lincolnville City Council meeting
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Several issues brought up by city residents were dealt with at the June 5 meeting of Lincolnville City Council.
Denice Klein was concerned about a dog that is allowed to run loose in town and threatens residents.
"Why aren't we pursuing our ordinance?" asked councilman Sylvia Bailey. "We should be able to walk down the street in safety."
After discussion, a motion was passed directing city clerk Jane Pigorsch to send a certified letter to Don Stika instructing him to keep his dog chained up or in a pen.
A copy of the city's dog ordinance will accompany the letter. It authorizes the city to turn the dog over to Animal Health Center of Marion County if it is not restrained.
Joe and Tish Vinduska, owners of The Chipped Cup café, accused the city clerk of making negative comments about their eating establishment and being rude to a man who called city hall asking for the restaurant's phone number. Joe said the man told him Pigorsch hung up on him.
The man was the leader of a biking club which later ate dinner at The Chipped Cup. Joe said the man had nothing but praise for the café.
Pigorsch acknowledged that she was wrong to hang up on the man.
The Vinduskas asked to see city hall phone records for the past months. They feel their businesses, including Pilsen Packrats, are being damaged by negative comments coming from city hall.
After the council met in executive session for 10 or 15 minutes, the mayor told the Vinduskas they could have access to the phone records by following established procedures.
He also advised them to bring any complaints they have in the future to the mayor in private, not in public session.
The council voted to establish a policy allowing community members to use the tables and chairs from the former community building, with a request that they make a donation to the new community center.
Justine Jennings and Lori Moldenhauer, representatives of Centre Leo's Club, presented the city with a check for $125 to be used for supplying the new building.
Bailey reported ongoing activities in organizing the 2006 Lincolnville Octoberfest. The 20th anniversary of the event will take place Oct. 7. Bailey said a "great team" is helping her, but more volunteers will be needed to assist with events on the day of the festival.
Treasurer Clay Simons told council members there is money in the budget to go toward tables and chairs for the community center. More than $2,355 remains in capital outlay. Simons said the important thing is to keep total spending within the overall published budget of $54,979.
Expenses in May totaled $4,563.77. Income totaled $2,250.08. Funds on hand May 31 totaled $38,938.85.
At Simon's request, the council approved a reduction from three to two of the number of signatures required for a transfer from the city's savings account to the checking account.
In routine actions, the council:
— approved donations of $200 to Communities in Schools of Marion County and $100 to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.
— renewed a $50 beer license for Bailey's Tavern.
— voted to remove the "Road Closed" sign on Sixth Street to allow travel from Wichita Street to Cemetery Street.
Sewer bills for the month of May totaled $736.94. Delinquent bills totaled $392.18.
According to Pigorsch, $1,313.66 in longterm delinquent sewer bills has been turned over to the county clerk's office for collection with property taxes.
A welcome basket was delivered to new residents in town, William and Cheryl Haule.
