When a carnival popped up in the Orchard Shopping center in April, it surprised many in town, including City of Collinsville officials.

A carnival ride / Photo by Roger Starkey

Mayor John Miller, speaking at the City Council meeting Monday, said arrival of the carnival was a surprise to most everyone in town.

“I don’t think anyone knew it was even coming,” Miller said.

City ordinance at that time did not require a carnival on private property to get prior approval from the City to operate. Provided it closed operations within three weeks, it met City requirements. Following a unanimous vote by the City Council Monday, a City ordinance was amended to change how long and whose permission must be obtained to operate a carnival in city limits.

Carnivals now must obtain permission from police and other relevant public safety providers, such as the fire department, to ensure adequate safety and security at the event. The Carnivals, which Community Development Director Mitch Bair said are overseen by the Illinois Department of Labor, are now allowed to operate for 14 days.

The City Council also approved a 2 percent wage increase for non-union City workers. The raise, Finance Director Tamara Ammann said, is in line with the most recent raises given to the six unions with which the City works.

Councilwoman Karen Woolard asked if a study had ever been conducted comparing wages and benefits of City employees with other cities and private companies. Ammann said a remedial study may have been performed eight or nine years ago. Ammann thought no salary adjustments were made at the time. After a majority of the council spoke in favor of conducting a study, Miller suggested that the study be across the board, to include union positions also. Although the suggestion was made, no specific action was taken to request the study.

A Tax Increment Finance request for $25,854.30 from the nightclub Wild Country was also approved by the City Council. The line dancers on Gateway Drive will soon have a fire alarm system which meets the standards of the Fire Marshall.

The TIF reimbursement is part of a program implemented by the City to reimburse businesses in TIF districts 90 percent of the cost when they bring their fire alarm systems up to code. Miller, a retired fire fighter, called the program one of the most progressive the City has implemented in years.