Anna Council meets July 18: Positive comments about fireworks

An Independence Day fireworks display, a utility rate ordinance, project updates and yard sales were among the items discussed at last week’s regular meeting of the Anna City Council.

The meeting was Tuesday evening, July 18, at Anna City Hall.

Mayor Steve Hartline opened discussion at the meeting by reporting that there had been a lot of good response to the Independence Day fireworks display which was presented on July 4 at the Anna City Park.

The display by presented by Brad Dawson of Anna. Dawson stepped in to present the display after a contractor who had been secured to present fireworks in Anna could not present the show.

City officials worked together with Dawson to ensure that a fireworks display could be presented.

Hartline said that the effort which went into presenting the fireworks was a “show of unity and good work.” The mayor characterized the work as “really special.”

“He can come right back and do the same thing again,” the mayor said about Dawson.

The agenda at the council’s July 18 meeting included approval of a utility rate ordinance.

The ordinance included provisions for new water rates. The city had been waiting to receive new rates from its supplier, the Anna-Jonesboro Water Commission, prior to taking action on the ordinance.

With the new rates from the supplier in hand, the city’s water customers can expect an increase of about $1 a month in their bills, city administrator Steve Guined said. The increase reflects only the new rate being paid by the city.

The increase will be seen on customers’ bills in September. The city has about 2,100 water customers.

The city administrator shared updates about major improvement projects which are underway at the Anna City Park.

Work was nearly finished on improvements at basketball and tennis courts at the park.

An Aug. 1 completion date also is on the calendar for construction of a new concession/restroom building at the park.

Also on the agenda at last week’s meeting was a proposed ordinance which would regulate yard sales within the City of Anna.

Concerns about the yard sales, including their frequency and when they occur, had been discussed previously by the city council.

An Anna resident who attended the council meeting voiced concerns about the possibility that consideration could be given to having yard sales only on certain weekends of the month.

The resident said that yard sales help to boost Anna’s economy – those who come to the community for yard sales also spend their money in other ways which helps to boost the local economy.

The mayor noted that the ordinance, while on the agenda, would not be considered at the meeting due to the absence of one city council member. Further discussion is anticipated.

The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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