Winchester looking good for Unsewered Communities Grant

By Editor | October 12, 2022 |

By Carmen Ensinger

Benton and Associates Engineer Greg Hillis delivered some good news to the Winchester Council at their monthly meeting Oct. 5 regarding the city’s stance on receiving an Unsewered Communities Grant.

The city had put in for the grant last year, but never heard back from the grant.

“The good news is that the grants are available again and due in on Nov. 15,” Hillis said. “There are a few changes and new items put in this year that make it look very good for you and your chances of getting the grant.”

The grant would help the city bring sewers to areas that are currently not serviced by sewers and must rely on a septic system.

“The one piece that they took out that hurt you last year was that you had to raise your sewer rates,” Hillis said. “That was one of the reasons you didn’t get the points you needed, but they took that out so now you don’t have to raise your rates.”

Another item that gave the city another boost was the presence of a health threat.

“They discovered Coliform in there, which gives you the health threat factor which gives you more points,” he said. “Plus, You do already have your EPA permit already for the work so you just gained another 250 points just on those two items.”

Hillis said that between now and next meeting, if the city wants to pursue the grant, his firm needs to work with their legal council.

“They are saying that you will be notified in January if you received the grant or didn’t,” Hillis said. “If you did receive it, by April you should have an agreement in place and construction could start next summer. I feel wholeheartedly that the city has a very good chance on this grant this time.”

The council agreed and gave Hillis the okay to proceed with the grant.

The grant is a 100 percent grant and Hillis said his firm would make any changes needed at no cost to the city.

Discussion was held about solar heating systems within the city limits.

“I think we need to come into the 21st century,” McIntire said. “With Ameren bills going up, we need to look at alternatives. We have facilities where we can put up solar panels.”

Unfortunately, the city is at a disadvantage compared to homeowners in that they are not eligible for the tax credits.

Speaking of homeowners and solar panels, McIntire thought the city should have some kind of ordinance on the books regarding the placing of the panels.

“Of course we can’t do anything about the ones already installed, but I think we should have some sort of control over any future ones,” McIntire said. “Some kind of guidance in our zoning ordinance.”

City Attorney John Paul Coonrod said he had some basic guidelines in mind.

“I was thinking if you are a residential district you have to put them on the roof,” Coonrod said. “If you are a commercial building, it can be on the ground, but not more than 20 foot high. Seems to me, as a starting point, we would want to keep things pretty simple.”

McIntire said the city had received a letter from GFL trash service offering the city an option for city-wide trash service. Should the city enter into a contract, every home owner in the city would be required to have GFL as their trash service. They could not use another service. And, they would have to have trash service whether they wanted it or not. Even if they took their garbage to a relatives house – they would still be required to pay for the service.

“GFL called me and and he said he saw the article in the paper saying I was not for having a city wide contract with any disposal service,” McIntire said. “I said that I believe in free enterprise and we don’t have the right to impose our will on anyone, even if we can get a cheaper rate for those that do want it. But I told him I would present the proposal to all of you to let you see if you think it would be worthwhile.”

The unanimous decision of the council was to file the letter in file 13, otherwise known as the waste basket as none of them were interested in going with a city-wide trash service.

Newly appointed Police Chief Steve Doolin said the unmarked car that he is driving has a transmission problem that needs fixed.

“I took it to Marshall’s and it is still under warranty for another 30 days so I told them to get it in,” Doolin said. “It also has something wrong with the front end – it kind of floats so when you get going at any kind of speed its not safe. Its no problem here in town, but I learned very quickly when I went out to help on a county call that its not safe to drive at higher speeds.”

There are only three cases for this month’s municipal court and two of them have to do with animals.

Apparently, two families, one on Walnut St. and one on South Main, have a goat in residency.

“Some animal husbandry is grandfathered in,” Coonrod said. “But you can’t bring in new livestock and a goat would be considered livestock. It is contrary to the zoning code.”

So, in essence – goats gotta go. The third case was a case of weeds in front of a house on Main Street.

Trick or Treat will be only one day this year, Monday, May 31, and it will run concurrently with the Trunk or Treat that will take place around the square. Children may go door to door to houses, with their porch lights on only, from 5 to 8 p.m. Trunk or Treat will be from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Civic Group member Bobbi Jo Smith asked the council for help covering the cost of the Santa House and Santa during Hometown Christmas.

“To put it mildly, to cover the cost of Santa, repairing the Santa House and the cost of candy, it will break us,” Smith said. “We only have two events that make money – the Memory Trees, which are down this year and the vendors that set up during this one day event.”

Smith said those are down as well.

“The bittersweet part about that is that since our empty buildings are getting filled up, we have less space for our vendors,” Smith said. “We are just looking for a little help if we can get it.”

Smith said the repairs to the Santa House and everything else should come to around $1,000.

McIntire asked if using the Santa House was really necessary since last year Santa was set up in a different business each week.

Smith said it was.

“There is a lot of sentimental value to it to a lot of people,” she said. “The kids really miss it. When we get done with it, it will be insulated, it will have interior walls and will have power.”

McIntire said he had talked with council members prior to the meeting and was concerned about this being a repetitive thing with every group wanting to come to the city for money.

“But, in this case, it is Christmas and I think it is crucial for our downtown area for Santa to be here,” he said. “So, I’m for kicking in a donation. It is up to the council how much you want to kick in.”

Alderwoman Teri Gregory made a motion to give the full $1,000 to the Civic Group for the event and the motion passed unanimously.