The bridge on South Clinton Street, over Canteen Creek, which was ruled to be in poor condition in 2010, will soon be replaced.
Underside of S. Clinton Street bride over Canteen Creek / Photo by Roger Starkey
The City Council voted unanimously to spend $442,000 from the Motor Fuel Tax fund to cover the city’s portion of the $2.2 million project. The Illinois Major Bridge Program awarded the city a grant of up to $1.77 million from for the project. The city’s 2014 proposed budget allocated $1.5 million for the project.
The Council also approved collective bargaining agreements with four unions representing city workers. Each contract provides a 2 percent raise for members during each year of the three-year contract.
The agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 148, representing water plant operators, is effective from Aug. 1, 2013 to July 31, 2016. The agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 148B, representing City Hall workers, is effective from Aug. 1, 2013 to July 31, 2016. The agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 520C, representing public works employees, is effective from May 1, 2013 to April 30, 2016. The agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police Civilian Unit is effective from Aug. 1, 2012 through July 31, 2015.
All union workers receive a lump sum payment for the difference in their wages from the time the last collective bargaining agreement ended and the new one was signed. For each person, this can be hundreds of dollars, City Manager Scott Williams said.
The city is currently in contract negotiations with the fire fighter’s union. The previous contract expired on Dec. 31, 2012. The firefighters will also receive back pay for any raises agreed to as part of the new agreement.
Williams does not expect to begin negotiations with the union representing police officers until December at the earliest. The contract for 2012 and 2013, for a 2 percent raise each year, was finalized in September.
In other business:
The City Council approved a rezoning plan by the Shop-n-Save at 717 Vandalia St. The grocery store is losing 18 parking spaces as result of the Illinois Route 159 project. Without the rezoning plan, the store would have been in violation of a city ordinance requiring 207 parking spaces at the site. After construction, Shop-n-Save will have 196 parking spaces with no change in the size of each space.
A new financial policy was adopted which targets an ending balance of 15-20 percent of estimated annual revenue in the General and Enterprise funds. The change was suggested by Finance Director Tamara Ammann to replace the policy in place since 2007 requiring a less conservative 10-15 percent.
The city renewed an agreement with the Collinsville Fire and Protection District to provide fire and emergency medical services to the district, which is comprised of the nearby unincorporated parts of Madison and St. Clair County that are not covered by other municipalities. About 10,000 people live in the district, Fire Chief Mark Emert estimated.
