Also agrees to make part-time officer full-time 

by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter

McMahan

In a special meeting called for October 15, the village of Lovington swore in new board member Jim McMahan and changed officer Jay Clark from part-time police officer to full-time, pending completion of required courses.

There have been many changes to the board over the past year as three board members and a village president stepped down from their position. The most recent was Dave Eckel, whose service on the board was brief.

Candidates to fill the vacated position were discussed in closed session at the board meeting October 7. Tony Tedrick, the only candidate to be present at the meeting, was a strong consideration.

Tuesday’s special meeting, however, presented a different candidate. Jim Minor nominated Jim McMahan, stating that he showed interest and volunteered for the position. All of McMahan’s legalities were in order, allowing him to be sworn in to the trustee position. Read More

Combined, two taxes bring in additional $40,000 over last FY

by Barry Featheringill
Sullivan Reporter

The Sullivan City Council received some good financial news from City Treasurer Myron Salmon Monday evening when he reported that both sales and income tax receipts were up from the previous fiscal year.

The analysis of sales and income tax receipts for fiscal year 2013/14 through September showed the sales tax receipts up $10,621 and income tax receipts up $30,111 over fiscal year 2012/13. Read More

Board also considers Tedrick as new trustee

by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter

Elevator traffic on State Street has been increasing, causing damage to the road as well as increasing noise pollution. A sign on the elevator indicates drivers should use Al Best Drive for their routes and the current ordinance confirms. Drivers of six and 10 wheel semis, weighted with full loads, often disregard the sign and the ordinance. The board has decided to place signs, directing drivers to the appropriate route. Doug Smith will be looking into posting the signs, and Barry Morgan will review ordinances pertaining to the routes.  Read More

Both immediate and perhaps imminent effects in Moultrie

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

With the hand striking midnight Tuesday, the Federal Government officially shut down after House Republicans put several provisions in the appropriations bill, including one that delayed the individual mandate for the ACA by a year. The Senate, which has a democratic majority, rejected the bill, prompting the shutdown.

The shuddering of the government will affect thousands of federal workers with furloughs as well as citizens to varying degrees including those here in Moultrie County and central Illinois. Read More

Barry Featheringill
Sullivan Reporter

In a brief city council meeting Monday, Sullivan officials approved the rezoning of property along the railroad tracks near S. Worth and Wagoner streets.

Commissioner Mike Kirk abstained from voting, as the property is located right across from his personal property. Kirk did express concern about drainage, and Jan Haegen of the zoning board pointed out that “before any building could be done, plans will have to be submitted and issues such as the water run off would be addressed at the time.” 

The property owner, Bryan Vahling, requesting the change from R-3 to B-1 stated the “project would not be completed until sometime in the spring at the earliest,” and that he would have an engineer do a site plan before any work was done. It was also noted that much of the property along the railroad track is zoned for commercial usage. The council approved the rezoning with two commissioners and the mayor voting yes, one council member absent and one abstaining from voting. Read More