Centralia City Councilman Jeff Castellari plans to lead an effort to make some areas of the city “no whistle zones” for the various train tracks that cross the city.
Castellari made the announcement at Monday’s city council meeting.
“There’s a lot of train tracks in this town and if you can’t hear a whistle then believe me you are probably in a different spot. They are everywhere. Some of the bigger cities have this. It’s an opportunity to quietly move trains through town. Downtown enjoying the winery you will get a lot of whistle sounds and restaurants in that area, so it’s just a way to evolve things. I know the Council will work with me and try to get it figured out but it’s a big deal. Sometimes it’s hard to get because of the liability and protections and things like that.”
Centralia City Manager Kory Smith announced the promotion of City Clerk Kim Enke to Assistant City Manager. Smith said she was doing a phenomenal job.
The city approved $323,000 in city motor fuel tax funds to be the city’s share of resurfacing and improving Gragg Street from Lincoln to Country Club Road. Construction work is expected to begin later this year. Smith announced he is still reviewing renovation plans for the Hoffman Hart building and he expects the sale of the building will come before the city council in the near future.
Enke announced Lunch on Locust Street will be held on three Fridays this summer. She reports food trucks are being invited to set up in the city parking lot at 2nd and Locust from eleven to two this Friday and on July 22nd and August 12th.
Enke also announced all of the city’s Facebook pages, except tourism, have been combined at City of Centralia Illinois government so users don’t have to find various pages to get information. Bids opened on various vacant lots owned by the city will be reviewed and acted upon later by the council.
The board honored retired Fire Chief John Lynch on his 24 years of service to the city. City Treasurer Bill Agee was recognized for 35 years of service and street maintenance operator Adam Newcomb for 15 years of service.
The council declared Monday Jey’Chys Brown Day to honor the Centralia High School junior who won the state shot put title and took third in the discus.
Centralia Retiring Fire Chief John Lynch was honored for his career at Monday night’s city council meeting. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
City Treasurer Bill Agee is honored for 35 years of service to the city. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
