The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.


Stronghurst Park Shows Improvement

By: Shirley Linder, Quill Editor

At the Village of Stronghurst board meeting held on Wednesday, July 5th, David Knutstrom reported that the village park had been relatively quiet since the last board meeting. He said he had observed a lot more of the public utilizing the facilities without having to worry as much about what they might hear or what they might see from the fearsome foursome that is running around there.

David also asked, “ Did the village get an ordinance or something drafted up?”

Mayor Brendan Schaley said, “As far as?” David said, “I thought the village was going to, with Attorney Mariah Wallace, hold a special meeting or something to address the situation with the vulgar language at the park and the city was going to adopt an ordinance to make it so you could dismiss someone from the facilities.”

The board members did not seem to have any recollection of this being said at the last meeting. Mayor Schaley, responded, “We haven’t drafted anything up. Hopeful everything will remain quiet up there and we won’t have to.”

Knutstrom also said there still was no lights on the pickle ball court and was told it was still being worked on. He said everyone seemed to be enjoying the pickle ball court and maybe next year the village would help with upgrading the court.

Ronnie Gittings reported the fire hydrant under the fire station had been run out back of the fire station and connected on Mary Street. He reported between now and April 1st he had to come up with a water source protection plan, which means getting a committee together and holding meetings; also a record of the customer’s side of plumbing; complete the action plan and look at the cross country connection survey to be sure everyone had responded to it. He stated that is what he will be focusing on and helping the guys when they pour cement, do roads, and stuff like that.

Gittings also stated the village has a severe problem with raccoons and wondered if the DNR could be contacted to consider a bounty on them. He said he would hate to see some child bit and that people were trapping them but could not get ahead of the population.

The police report for June was given by Police Chief Arbry Vancil and included: 60.5 hours worked; 392 miles on squad car; 2 traffic stops with verbal warnings; 1 assist with county; 8 service calls; village ordinance, verbal on dog running loose; 1 warrant arrest; 14 business courtesy checks. He reported the squad car had a leaky water pump which will cost $3,200 to fix.

In other business the board:

Present were: Mayor Brendan Schaley; Trustees, Janice Smith, Amanda Van Arsdale, Mike Swisher, Nathan Harden (Mike Bohnenkamp and Paige Torrance asbsent); Employees, Brittany Smith, Ronnie Gittings, Arbry Vancil; Guests, David Knutstrom, Randy Jarvis, and Shirley Linder

The next board meeting will be held Monday, August 7, at 6:00 p.m.