Anna city pool's status under review
<p class="p1">A resignation for retirement purposes, the status of the municipal swimming pool and the display of signs in the community were on the agenda at last week's regular meeting of the Anna City Council.</p><p class="p1">The meeting was Tuesday evening, Feb. 16, at Anna City Hall.</p><p class="p1"><strong>Police Chief to Retire</strong></p><p class="p1">The city council acted to accept the resignation for retirement purposes of Anna Police Chief Scott Rice.</p><p class="p1">Rice became Anna's police chief on March 1, 2014. Prior to accepting the post, Rice had served with the Illinois State Police for 24 years.</p><p class="p1">The date for his retirement has not yet been finalized. Rice said he hopes to be able to spend more time with his children and grandchildren.</p><p class="p1">Anna Mayor Steve Hartline said the city would be working on a process to name a new police chief.</p><p class="p1">Hartline praised the work Rice has done as police chief. "You've been very good for the police department," Hartline said at last week's city council meeting. </p><p class="p1"><strong>Anna City Pool</strong></p><p class="p1">In other business at last week's meeting, the status of the city's swimming pool was updated and discussed. The pool is located at the Anna City Park.</p><p class="p1">City public works manager Gene Sullivan reported that repair work has been underway at the pool. Nearly $2,500 has been spent on the work.</p><p class="p1">Concerns arose last year, when it was reported that the aging pool was leaking about 10,000 gallons of water a day. With the repair work that has been done, that rate has dropped to about 3,200 gallons, Sullivan said.</p><p class="p1">Sullivan said that work will continue to get the pool ready for the 2016 summer season. He acknowledged, however, that the status of the pool is "day to day." He told the city council that there is no guarantee that the pool will be able to operate for an entire season.</p><p class="p1">"Sooner or later, there's going to have to be a decision made" regarding the future of the pool, Sullivan said.</p><p class="p1">Council member Brandon Bierstedt suggested that the city may want to take a look at the overall use of the pool and those who could be affected by uncertainty surrounding its future.</p><p class="p1">The pool is used by the local Blue Dolphins swim team for its home meets during the summer.</p><p class="p1"><strong>Display of Signs </strong></p><p class="p1">The city council also revisited guidelines which govern the regulation of signs in the Union County community.</p><p class="p1">Attention has been focused at numerous recent council meetings regarding the display of off-premises signs by businesses. Concerns about the guidelines had been voiced by local business person Steve Landreth.</p><p class="p1">Possible changes in the guidelines has been presented to the council at a previous meeting. The majority of the council had decided to leave the guidelines, which do not allow for off-premises signs by businesses, as they stand.</p><p class="p1">Landreth attended the Feb. 16 council meeting and again addressed the matter. At one point, he asked the council to make a decision specifically about his plan to place an off-premises sign. "I want my sign approved or disapproved," he said.</p><p class="p1">Several council members indicated that they had already made a decision by leaving the city's guidelines the way they are.</p><p class="p1">Landreth contended that there are signs in Anna which violate the city's guidelines. He said he would present a list of the those in violation of the guidelines to the city administrator. Mayor Steve Hartline said the city would review possible violations.</p><p class="p2"> </p>