The McLeansboro City Council met Tuesday night for about 90 minutes. Scott Mareing was there and has this report…
There was one item in old business: a discussion regarding an update on Retail Strategies. Mobile Data Collection, a mobile tracking service, uses data collected from mobile phone users to track their cell phones. Using a specific business, in this case Family Dollar”, they were able to gather valuable data by seeing where customers are coming from to shop there. Mayor Chad May said people from as far away as Belle Rive and Akin came to McLeansboro to shop at Family Dollar. This data will be used to optimize the trade area to bring businesses to the city. May said the council will continue to work in encouraging business to come into the area.
In the public comments section, John Perryman with the Kiwanis Club spoke to the board about the Kiwanis Park Project they are building at the city park. There will be three sections of playground area for the children at a cost of approximately $55,000. Perryman said the Kiwanis will supply everything they need to build, but are asking the board for a donation to help pay for it. Later in the meeting, the board agreed to donate $25,000 to the Kiwanis from the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
Rebecca Rush then addressed the board concerning having hobby animals within city limits. She said the ordinance they were considering should base the number of the animals allowed on the amount of property owned. In her case, she has about 50 chickens, which is way over the allowed limit. Later on in the meeting, the board approved changes in the wording of the ordinance.
A group called Concerned Citizens for the Community, led by Janet Braden and Denny Crain, along with Brenda Simmons and Ashley Graham, discussed building a recreational center consisting of 25,000 square feet on three acres. It would have a heated pool, basketball court and exercise room, among other things. They are looking at four or five different properties to purchase to build the center on. The group has formed a 501c3 non-profit known as “Hamilton County Recreational Center”. And they are looking for volunteers to help and/or donations from the public. Braden said they weren’t asking for donations from the city, just looking for feedback from council, and the board members agreed to help them any way they can.
The Consent Agenda was approved, which included that opening day at the city swimming pool will be on Monday May 26th with an open swim from 1 to 7 PM, and an ordinance regarding appropriations amendments for the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Owners of 23 properties in the city were sent letters for nuisance violations for not having their properties cleaned up. And the fire department did fire hose testing.
There was first reading of ordinances regarding FY26 appropriations and regarding revising Article 5- supplementary zoning regulation of the McLeansboro City Code.
The board agreed to reopen the application process and hire two temporary part-time summer workers. The positions are open to anyone and applications are due by 3 PM on April 11th.
Finally, the board agreed to hire D. K. York as a full-time police officer.
The board adjourned at 6:53 PM.
