Tagged: IL

Carthage is working with the Western Illinois Regional Council to secure a grant for home rehabilitation. The city hopes to secure at least a $250,000 grant.

Mayor Jim Nightingale said the city has successfully applied for federal Community Development Block Grants on three occasions. He said the program does more than spruce up a home.

He said, “It seems like it gives people a little bit more pride and they tend to keep their homes up after they get these improvements. So I think it's a big plus for our community.”

The newest flood map from the Federal Emergency Management Agency expands the flood plain in Carthage. FEMA has been taking advantage of satellite photography and GIS technology to update its flood maps.

Mayor Jim Nightingale said some residents will be surprised by the results.

He said,  “There's a lot of questions on this, you know.   It's a big part of the center of the city and I think there's people that didn't think they were in a flood plain, which they are.”

Carthage planned to replace one of its police cars in the next fiscal year. Chief Gary Waddell found a deal the city couldn't pass up. He found a dealer with a properly-equipped vehicle in stock. The city found the savings attractive.

Mayor Jim Nightingale said, “We probably could have got by until next budget year. But this is a 2011 (model). There was a considerable discount on it. I think we probably saved close to $3,000 so we decided to go ahead.”
 
The city took delivery of the new squad car this week. The total cost was approximately $24,000, fully-equipped.

The finalists for the Monmouth police chief will be put through their paces this weekend.

City administrator Eric Hanson said the field of over 30 original applicants has been reduced to five. The Illinois Chiefs of Police will conduct assessments of the five.

He said, “Everything from how they would manage personnel to media to specific police incidents that they might have to handle. So it's a gamut of exercises that they put them through to gauge their knowledge and skill set.”

The assessment will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in Monmouth.

Carthage's Dollar General store will move to a new location. The site is at the intersection of Highway 136 and 1st Street. It's zoned P-1.

Mayor Jim Nightingale said, ”P-1's a very flexible zoning. But it wasn't covered under retail so they had to amend the P-1 to include retail.”

The city council chose to amend the zoning ordinance rather than re-zone the property. The change will give the council greater flexibility in the future.

The new site currently belongs to Prairieland Investment Group. The property is part of the former Robert Morris College campus.