State budget impasse concerns addressed
<p class="p1">The impact of the State of Illinois' budget stalemate was a topic for discussion at last week's regular meeting of the Anna City Council.</p><p class="p1">The meeting was Tuesday evening, Oct. 6, at Anna City Hall.</p><p class="p1">The council also learned that the city had received a very good report following a recent inspection of Anna's water system by a state agency.</p><p class="p1"><strong>State Budget Situation</strong></p><p class="p1">The State of Illinois has not had a budget in place since the start of a new fiscal year on July 1.</p><p class="p1">For the most part, local government entitites, including the City of Anna, have not been receiving state funds since July 1.</p><p class="p1">City administrator Steve Guined told council members at last week's meeting that Anna receives about $18,000 to $20,000 a month in various state funds.</p><p class="p1">Guined said that the delay in allocation of state funds was "not having a direct impact on the day-to-day operations of the city."</p><p class="p1">Due to the state budget impasse, the city has had to put plans on hold for the next phase in a Main Street improvement project.</p><p class="p1">The city administrator said that state motor fuel taxes are utilized for such projects as the ongoing improvements on Main Street. The city currently is not receiving motor fuel tax funds from the state.</p><p class="p1">Guined tempered his comments about the financial situation with a look to the future in light of the state's inability to finalize a budget.</p><p class="p1">"If if goes on for a long, extended period, it will start hurting," Guined said. </p><p class="p1"><strong>Water System Inspection Report</strong></p><p class="p1">The city administrator shared some good news regarding a recent inspection of Anna's water system by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, IEPA.</p><p class="p1">IEPA conducted an inspection and evaluation of the city's water system in early September.</p><p class="p1">Following the inspection, a report was drafted and the results were shared with the city.</p><p class="p1">"This is a very good report," Guined told the city council. Overall, he said that the IEPA was "very pleased" with the operation of the city's water system.</p><p class="p1">Two minor violations were identified in the report. One of the violations involves the city's water supplier, the Anna-Jonesboro Water Commission, which itself is in the midst of a major improvement project. Completion of that project will address the violation.</p><p class="p1">Guined said that the other violation involved a misunderstanding over the timing of when operational reports are to be submitted by the city to the IEPA. That issue has been resolved.</p><p class="p1"><strong>Other Business</strong></p><p class="p1">In other business at the Oct. 6 meeting:</p><p class="p1">The council agreed to move forward with plans to place "In God We Trust" on the city's police and fire department vehicles.</p><p class="p1">A request to have the phrase placed on city vehicles was recently presented to the council by a local group called Calling America Back to God.</p><p class="p1">The city administrator reported that demolition of the former West Sunoco building was scheduled to begin around Oct. 14. The building is located along West Vienna Street.</p><p class="p1">The city council set Halloween trick-or-treat hours, which will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31.</p><p class="p2"> </p>