Wednesday, June 4, 2008 11:18 AM CDT
Council hears good news on possible population growth
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com
MATTOON — Could this city’s population be on the rise during the first decade of a new century?
The city council received encouraging news on the 2010 local update of U.S. Census addresses during Tuesday’s council meeting. The update so far shows an increase in households from 8,112 in 2000 to 9,559 for the coming Census, said Rob Farmer of the LUCA (Local Update of Census Addresses) program affiliated with the Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission, who made his presentation with Kelly Lockhart during the council’s caucus session. Farmer and Lockhart are with the planning and development commission under contract with the city of Mattoon to provide LUCA services.
That could set the raw count at 20,000 people or more in Mattoon, about 3,000 above the current population total. That would be a near record population count for the city if it proves true in the final counting during 2010.
But Farmer and Lockhart agreed it is much too early for a celebration right now. And recent statistics have indicated the city’s population is on a downward trend.
The Census database analysis by LUCA produced apartments, housing complexes, houses and developments not included in the 2000 figures. Every person added to the Census count for a city can produce $350 in federal funding with programs based on headcounts for a community.
“You can really lose some money if you do not have an accurate count,” Farmer said.
There are some deletions from the count through LUCA, Farmer said, noting 25 houses falling outside Mattoon corporate limits.
In other business Tuesday, the council approved a sump pump discharge ordinance that would require water to be discharged into a storm sewer, ditch, creek or detention basin within 150 feet of the property accessible by public right of way or easements. Some exceptions would apply if health or safety is not affected by the discharge.
The city will also seek bids on a sewer vacuum and jetting cleaning truck, and authorized the Mattoon police chief to apply for a $32,000 grant to acquire fingerprint identification computer software to enhance data retrieval and analysis in police investigations.
A $12,730 contract was approved with Gardner Excavating for boring work on a sewer pipe project under Illinois Route 16 near Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. This will attempt to fix a leak in a sanitary main coming from the hospital.
All three actions were approved by unanimous votes cast by Mayor Dave Cline and commissioners Joe McKenzie, Randy Ervin and Rick Hall, who participated by phone through the electronic attendance option. Commissioner David Schilling was absent Tuesday night.
The council also heard a report on efforts to secure federal funding for the Mattoon Railroad Depot Project. Jackie Record noted there is a June 13 deadline on applying for $300,000 worth of funding to help with the first phase of renovations in the depot.
There was also a request to solve a parking problem on the west side of town regarding an auto repair business. After the meeting, Mattoon Deputy Police Chief Jeff Branson talked with the resident who brought up the issue to seek a solution on the problem, which is affecting other residents as well.
Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.
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