The McLeansboro City Council met Tuesday night. Scott Mareing was there and has this report…
The meeting was highlighted by a video conference with Retail Strategies, based out of Birmingham, Alabama, which provides data and analytics to aid towns in attracting businesses to locate in their community. Senior Portfolio Director Michael Warsaw and Retail Development Associate Jimmy Pritchett were on the video call for about 45 minutes discussing how their business works and what they’re attempting to do to bring businesses to McLeansboro and the surrounding area. They work with local business owners as well as owners, landlords and retailers. They said they have two pizza chains and one hardware store interested in bring their business in. Retail Strategies will continue to work with McLeansboro to improve the business climate.
The board members voted unanimously to renew their liability, workers compensation, and health insurance policies with ICRMT Insurance at a total cost of $259,276, and to approve their unemployment tax proposal.
Also approved was the purchase of a mobile radar speed sign from radarsign of Marietta, Georgia for $3,882 for the McLeansboro Police Department They’ll see if will be a deterrent to speeders, and if so, more may be purchased.
The garbage contract, which expires on March 31st, 2026 will be put back up for bids.
Daniel Webb agreed to a three year lease for the row crop at a total cost of $1,020 a year.
There were first readings of two ordinances. One amending McLeansboro’s net metering policy to change the buy-back rate for solar panels, and the other amending various sections of the 1916 City of McLeansboro ordinance regarding gaming and gambling houses to allow video gaming among other items. First reading of an ordinance updating the zoning code and expanding access for the MR1 zoning district was tabled until next month’s meeting due to the ordinance not being drawn up yet.
Concerning the Fire Station Rehabilitation Grant’s Request for Proposals, the board decided to authorize the collect of bids to do the work on the fire station.
And the Consent Agenda was approved, which included a resolution for the Hamilton County Rotary Club’s Christmas Parade to take place on December 6th between the hours of 5 PM and 6 PM, and a TIF reimbursement to Wuebbels Repair, LLC in the amount of $2,481.19.
The board went into executive session at 6:55 PM for discussion of minutes legally closed under the act.