Knews around Knoxville...........

The Knoxville Journal

by Peg Bivens
The Knoxville Journal was published as a weekly newspaper in the town of Knoxville, Illinois in some form, from 1849 until 2001.

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The Knoxville Journal by Peg Bivens

February 16, 2012

Calling all Entrepreneurs…

February 18-25, 2012 has been proclaimed Entrepreneurship Week in the City of Knoxville, at the urging of the Entrepreneurship Support Network of West Central Illinois in marking National Entrepreneurship Week.
Alan Hall defines the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur in his recent article in the Deseret News:
1. Follow your dream. All successful entrepreneurs have an idea they want to pursue. They see an opportunity to solve a consumer or business need. Many people have a great idea but never get off the couch to make it a reality.
2. Take the risk. Winners understand and take the measured risks associated with launching a business that may include loss of money, possible failure and health.
3. Make the sacrifice. Those who start and grow a business will give up many personal benefits to be successful. Sacrifice will include time, relationships and other opportunities.
4. Be persistent. Great entrepreneurs never give up. They never stop trying. They somehow overcome every obstacle and barrier.
5. Know your customer. Successful entrepreneurs know the needs of their customers. They know everything about them. They know what they want, when, where and at what price.
6. Sell to survive and prosper. Winners know how to sell their products or services. They know how to find, engage and close a sale from customers, over and over again.
7. Take care of your customers. Great entrepreneurs value their customers and go out of their way to take good care of them.
8. Hire the right employees. Winners know how to find, select, hire, train, motivate, reward and retain great employees.
9. Value your employees. They also know how to keep employees happy and productive.

10. Establish a winning culture. They have established a positive culture that inspires and motivates workers.
11. Call upon mentors. They call upon individuals with experience, skills and a network to guide them.
12. Communicate constantly. They regularly communicate with employees, vendors, investors, suppliers and customers about what's happening in the business.

Catching up on the news in Knoxville………

A new Mayor, and a new Ward 2 alderman, again.

The council elected Ward 2 Alderman and Mayor Pro Tem, Robert O. Johnson to the position of Mayor during the council meeting on January 16 ,2012. Johnson was appointed to the Ward 2 Alderman position this fall by Mayor Bernadine Fleisher, and became Mayor Pro Tem, and now Mayor. Fleisher resigned her position upon moving out of town. Johnson will serve as Mayor until the April, 2013 elections.

Dennis Mauer, 180 Westview Drive, was selected by Johnson as his replacement in Ward Two. Johnson briefed the council on Mauer’s credentials and biographical information: Mauer is retired from Carl Sandburg College, working now as a private consultant. He and his wife Bobby Jo have resided in Knoxville since 1993, raising two sons in Knoxville Schools. Mauer will also serve until 2013.

Main Street project update
Master of Urban Planning Candidate Elli Cosky presented her progress report at the January 16, 2012 meeting of the Knoxville City Council. She reported that the design charrette revealed community support of a cohesive design that would preserve the historic feel of the downtown business district. She felt that the city should consider low risk options, like investment in infrastructure, when offering incentives through the Tax Increment Financing District. Ideally, processes should be in place so that the city would be able to move quickly when development interest is expressed.

A recommendation of appropriate businesses, an historic walking tour, and a final report in booklet form are scheduled for completion this spring.

2012 Wheel Tax…

This year’s wheel tax sticker will feature the line drawing from the front cover of the book Knoxville:The Next Generation, published in 2006. Artwork for the book’s cover came from a pen and ink drawing by local artist Morton Hotchkiss.

The council discussed a request from City Clerk Pam Eagle to increase the price of vehicle stickers from the current $8 to $10 for cars and trucks, leaving motorcycles at $8 and allowing licensed recreational vehicles to be taxed at $8.

The last increase in price was in 1996 when the cost of the sticker went from $5 to $8.

The recommendation was met with some dissention by council members reluctant to raise taxes. The city’s preference for earmarking wheel tax funds for sidewalk repairs, rather than general road maintenance, was also brought into question.

Saga of the sidewalks…

Everyone agrees they like sidewalks; the disagreement comes in how we pay for them.

There is no question pedestrian circulation is aided by walkways improved with some kind of paving. In a small town, though, both the city and the residents are reluctant to dedicate money for sidewalk installation, maintenance, and repairs, when the paved surface of the street is so handy.

Walkers can be observed readily around town, strolling down the streets early morning and evening with little competition from traffic in the residential areas.

Why don’t people walk on the sidewalks ? There are varying reasons: some walks are sporadic with no continuous stretch of pavement; some walkways are in disrepair; some of the newer subdivisions were designed without a provision for paved walkways; some find the walkways too narrow to accommodate groups of three or more pedestrians walking abreast.

An unlimited amount of money could solve the sidewalk problems. Better planning and enforcement of existing ordinances could also prevent problems from occurring.

The city can assess the existing sidewalk system, determine where new walks need to be installed and repaired or replaced, calculate the cost, install the sidewalks, and levy taxes on the property owners to pay the cost. They can then enforce existing ordinances which require property owners to shovel snow, trim brush and trees, and repair damage from vehicles, keeping the walks clear. They can stop granting waivers to new developers opting out of the sidewalk requirement for subdivisions of all sizes. They can do this, but they choose not to take this heavy hand, fearing reprisals from constituents.

Past councils took a moderate approach to repairing existing walkways by setting aside funds from wheel tax for co-op sidewalk replacement. Many of the walks then were still brick, which had become more difficult to maintain than poured concrete. Residents could sign up for replacement of their walks on a 50-50 cost share basis with the city, and many have taken advantage of this program. It made the available dollars in the public coffers go further and residents were happy to invest in their property improvements. Without elected officials promoting the availability of the program in their respective wards, the requests diminished and funds went unused. And the sidewalks got worse.

Museum to Expand Hours
The Knox County Museum, housed in Knoxville’s new building, will soon be open more hours throughout the week thanks to Mayor Bob Johnson and the Knoxville City Council. Johnson proposed funding a part-time position for a tourism host twenty hours per week through the hotel –motel tax levy. This was approved by the council on February 6 and it is hoped to have the position filled by the beginning of the spring touring season.

Courtroom to be restored
Knox County Historic Sites, Inc. Board of directors gave the go-ahead to member Lowell Mannhardt to begin returning the upper floor of the courthouse back to a courtroom setting. Although no pictures exist showing the original courtroom, Mannhardt has been reviewing the restoration project at a similar period courthouse in Metamora as a basis for the project.
Sites will be standing the cost of the materials and Mannhardt will donate his labor.

Library hosted local author Linda Edwards

The author and the library were both pleased with public turn-out at the book-signing on February 1, 2012 at the Knoxville Public Library. The event showcased Edwards’ first book, The Legend of White Sky, an adventure story about the brave daughter of a Sioux Indian chief in the early 1800’s.

Librarian Pat Rose, created a special display around a native American theme to go along with the book signing.
The book is written for young readers and is relevant especially to 5th grade students who study an American Indian culture unit in social studies curriculum.