Coal City Courant

Unit 1 approves $36 million spending plan

Published by admin on Tue, 10/06/2020 - 5:35pm

The Unit 1 Board of Education has adopted a fiscal year 2021 spending plan that calls for the use of $3.2 million in reserve funds.
A special meeting was called last week to adopt the $36.6 million budget that includes substantial pandemic related expenses.
In its final form, the spending plan includes an additional $2 million in expenses over what was proposed in the tentative budget presented to the board in early July.

Time to revisit Return to School Plan

Published by admin on Tue, 10/06/2020 - 5:34pm

As the first quarter of the school year approaches its end, the Unit 1 Board of Education has asked the district’s Teaching & Learning Committee to reconvene and begin developing a plan to increase the amount of in-person learning time.
“We all know what we are experiencing right now is temporary as there will come a time that our students come back to us full time. When that time comes, it is not as easy as flipping a switch and everything immediately goes back to the way it was in our pre-pandemic environment,” said Unit 1 Superintendent Dr. Kent Bugg.

First responders undergo accident training

Published by admin on Tue, 09/29/2020 - 4:46pm

First responders representing four fire departments within Division 15 of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System [MABAS 15] joined together in a week long certification course.
The Coal City Fire Protection District hosted the 40 hour Vehicle and Machinery Operations [VMO] class that teaches firefighters and paramedics the art of removing a car from a victim involved in an accident.
The Illinois State Fire Marshals certification class was completed Friday, Sept. 25 with a final exercise that was based on a multiple vehicle accident scenario.

Kernc continues service on statewide board

Published by admin on Tue, 09/29/2020 - 4:43pm

Diamond Mayor Terry Kernc will continue her service to the Illinois Municipal League’s [IML] Board of Directors.
Kernc was re-elected Saturday to a vice president’s position of the statewide organization representing communities throughout Illinois.
Kernc was first elected to serve on the IML Board of Directors in 2013, and has maintained her position as a vice president since that time.

Coal City selects an administrative intern

Published by admin on Tue, 09/29/2020 - 4:42pm

Coal City Village Administrator Matt Fritz is set to receive a bit of help in his daily duties, as the town welcomes its first administrative intern.
At the recommendation of Fritz, the town officials agreed earlier this month to bring on an intern to assist the administrator with various projects and programs specifically those related to workplace liability and risk control resulting from the ongoing pandemic.

Coal City Police welcome new officer

Published by admin on Tue, 09/29/2020 - 4:42pm

Brian Pustz has been sworn in as the newest officer at the Coal City Police Department.
Standing steps away from the town’s police station, Pustz raised his right hand and pledged to not only uphold the constitutions of the state and nation, but to faithfully discharge the duties of a police officer.
His words were greeted with applause from his fellow officers, members of the Coal City Village Board, his family and the three men who appointed him to the position—Mike Lareau, Marvin Perino and Ron Flemming.

UPDATED: Talking trash

Published by admin on Tue, 09/29/2020 - 4:40pm

The village of Coal City will have a second day of trash pickup this week, as the town transitions to a new waste hauler.
Less than 48 hours after the Village Board entered into a new waste hauling contract with Environmental Recycling and Disposal Service, the company began delivering its green disposal totes to the town’s 2,000 or so residential customers.
The new 4.5 year waste hauling agreement takes effect Thursday, Oct. 1 and can be extended beyond the initial term upon mutual agreement.

Talking trash

Published by admin on Thu, 09/24/2020 - 12:23pm

Residents in the village of Coal City will have two days of trash pickup next week, as the town transitions to a new waste hauler.

On Wednesday, the Village Board entered into a contract with Environmental Recycling and Disposal Service and the terms of that agreement take effect Thursday, Oct. 1.

The change in providers will result in a handful of changes including pickup dates, recycling and yard waste collection.

Diamond, Coal City all in for Halloween

Published by admin on Wed, 09/23/2020 - 9:03pm

Halloween will happen in the villages of Diamond and Coal City this year, barring an executive order from the governor.

At their respective meetings this week, the Diamond and Coal City Village Boards set 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 for trick-or-treating.

Diamond Mayor Terry Kernc said she was contracted earlier this month by Carbon Hill Mayor Rich Jurzak on the topic of trick-or-treating. After some discussion and thought she came up with a proposal for all three communities to come together on a unified plan to ensure children could safely trick-or-treat.

Calling all quilters

Published by admin on Tue, 09/22/2020 - 6:09pm

The work of talented quilters will be showcased to a much larger audience for annual Coal City Public Library quilt display that will be done virtually for 2020.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the library is unable to have the display throughout the building, so the event will be online. Thus, the library is asking quilters to share photographs of themselves with quilts they would like featured.