The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.



La Harpe City Council

Johnson Report Heard

By: Michael Rodeffer - Quill Reporter

The La Harpe City Council met February 24th at 7 p.m. at City Hall, La Harpe.

Attorney Kurt Dittmer was on hand to bring the annual report for the Johnson Trust.

Dittmer reported this year $405,000 would be given to the La Harpe School District.

Dittmer stressed the amount was a little higher than usual because last year's wet spring did not allow time for spending any money for normal improvements.

The board unanimously approved a resolution accepting Dittmer's report and retaining Dittmer as the agent.

Hay Baling Lease Approved

The council only had one bid for mowing and baling ground at the cemetery. The bid for $255 per year from Jamie Detrich for a 2 year period was unanimously approved.

Report From Illini West Building Committee

Illini West building committee members Tracy Anders and Dustin Dethrage were present to discuss the school referendum and answer any questions.

The Illini West School District #307 is asking for approval to issue bonds in the amount of $17 million dollars for the purpose of building and to equip a new school on the property which the district owns. The property is 11 miles north of Carthage along Highway 94. The estimated cost of building the new school is $32,626,000.

A new school would not be built without the help of the State of Illinois funding. So, if there is no state aid approved, there would not be a new school built.

The school referendum will be on a ballot on March 17th. Several meetings have already been held and more are planned to discuss the referendum.

All that is required for the referendum to pass is a simple majority of the district voters.

Other Business

The council also approved $500 for WIRC to write a grant for a new police vehicle.

The council also approved:

All Call System

Dave Clover brought up a discussion about purchasing an "ALL CALL" system to notify residents of any important issues or happenings in town (water boil orders, etc). Clover suggested using the same system as the school now uses. That system would accommodate up to 500 households. Cost would be approximately $2,500 per year with a onetime set-up fee of $1900. No action was taken at this time.

Present were Mayor Kat Hasten-Reed; Council members, Kelly Harkey, Randy Shumaker, Greg Wisslead, Brian Covert, Dave Clover, and Jerry Burford; Clerk Lucretia McPeak; Treasurer Monalisa Graves; Employees, Police Chief Larry Finch; Water Superintendent Tim Graves; Guests, Kurt Dittmer, Tracey Anders, Dustin Dethrage, Dan Gillett and Michael Rodeffer.

The La Harpe City Council adjourned at 8:43 p.m.