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By BETH ZUMWALT
Pittsfield FFA members came to the Feb. 20 meeting of the Pittsfield City Council asking to buy a bench and place it near the basketball courts at King Park.
“As most of you know we lost our friend, Landen Hettinger, a few weeks ago and we want to do a memorial to him,” Lucas Edwards, spokesman for the group that included Bryden Smith and Preston McCoy. “We want to put it at King Park because that’s where Landen liked to ball out. He was a huge basketball fan.”
Edwards went on to say that the FFA had raised $1300 of the estimated $2,400 cost of the bench which would be similar to those placed around the square, although might have a different color scheme.
“We have a hat day fundraiser scheduled and some other ideas,” Edwards said.
And that’s when a voice from the far side of the room said. “I’ll cover it.”
The voice belonged to John Hartman, of Four Points RV Park, who was at the meeting to apply for a special use permit for a new RV park near Pine Lakes of which he is an owner. Hartman knew nobody in the room except the men who accompanied him and the mayor. And none of the FFA students knew who he was either.
A moment of stunned silence went though the city council chambers before a crowd full of council members, other guests at the meeting and city employees all exclaimed “Thank You.”
Jodi Heavner, FFA sponsor who accompanied the students to the meeting said the students were surprised and incredibly grateful for Hartman’s offer.
Heaven said the balance of the project, including the concrete pad for the bench to set on, would be about $2,400
“We are grateful for that they have agreed to help with the cost of the bench and the labor, adding the FFA members would do as much of the labor as possible.
Landen Hettinger, 17 and a senior at Pittsfield High School, died unexpectedly Jan. 21 at Illini Community Hospital.
The bench should be installed later this spring.
In other news, the council continues to make a welcome package for anyone moving to Pittsfield under the Make Your Move project.
The project focuses on attracting new residents to the town, especially those who have jobs but work from home.
“We want people who now that a lot of companies are allowing individuals to work from home, people are wanting to get away from the busy city and settle for a slower, calmer lifestyle,” Gary Mendenhall, mayor, said.
The council has hired a firm to help direct new families to Pittsfield and the city is trying to put together an incitement package.
Various merchants and businesses have offered to participate. The city will offer three months of free water and sewer.
Alderman Beth White pointed out attracting new residents is a very competitive business.
“Some communities are offering $5,000 to $7,000 to help with moving expenses.
The incentives are offered only to families and individuals moving to Pittsfield through the Make Your Move program.
