Today's News - June 10, 2008

Columbia City Administrator Resigns; Heading To Maplewood, Mo.

Anthony Traxler

Columbia City Administrator Anthony Traxler has announced he will step down from his position as of Aug. 6.

“I got an offer I couldn’t refuse,” said Traxler, who has been employed with the city of Columbia since November 2004.

Traxler declined to give any specific reasons for his decision to seek other employment.

He accepted a job with the city of Maplewood, Mo., which is where he was employed before taking the position in Columbia. His duties will include working as the assistant city administrator, zoning administrator and the director of public works.

Traxler said he enjoyed his time in Columbia and got along well with the other employees at City Hall.

“I especially liked working for Mayor Hutchinson. He is a really great guy,” Traxler said.

“Mr. Traxler was a huge asset to the city and he will be missed,” said Hutchinson. “His knowledge and hard work were apparent in the quality of his work and his ability to keep the city functioning smoothly.”

Alderman Jay Unnerstall, who frequently disagreed with Traxler on city issues, especially the Columbia Crossing development, also had kind parting words for Traxler.

"I wish him all the best in his new position," said Unnerstall.

Traxler will begin working for the city of Maplewood on Aug. 7. He and his family will continue living in Columbia, he said.

Electrical Fire In Rock City Caves
by Carol Floarke

A small but smoky electrical fire Wednesday morning in the Rock City cave complex in Valmeyer caused only minor damage. The Valmeyer Fire Department responded at 8:50 a.m. to a fire located in the battery backup system inside an electrical control room.

“We made sure the fire was out and we assessed the damage,” said Fire Chief Floyd Floarke.

Workers inside the facility were not evacuated, although they had to clear the immediate area.

Floarke noted the firefighters made good use of the self-contained breathing apparatus the fire department purchased through a 2004 Federal Homeland Security grant.

Informational Meeting Set To Discuss Levee Repair Issue

A public informational meeting to discuss various aspects of the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention Initiative and how it pertains to levees in Monroe County is set for Thursday, June 12. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Monroe County Courthouse’s second floor west meeting room.

FS Grain Building Coming Down Brick By Brick

Demolition work continues at the Gateway FS elevator facility in Waterloo. The 1870s-era brick building is being torn down and will be replaced with new structures. “The salvage company is saving every board and brick,” said Location Manager Randy Floarke. He said upkeep and maintenance costs were getting out of hand so the decision to demolish the aging structure was made. When the tearing down and debris removal project is completed, a new FS office building, scale and store building will be constructed to the north east of the current concrete elevators.    – photo by Carol Floarke

Beautiful Evening For Music In Waterloo

The lawn around the Monroe County Courthouse bandstand was filled Tuesday evening with people sitting on lawn chairs and blankets for the weekly Waterloo Municipal Band summer concerts. Next week’s concert, June 17, will be part of the Porta Westfalica Festival in downtown Waterloo.

IDOT Receives Funds To Resume Highway Grass Mowing

IDOT highway crews were busy mowing grass along Route 3 on Tuesday and Wednesday. Earlier this spring, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich suspended funding the project. With pressure from elected officials, the governor relented and gave IDOT the go-ahead to once again cut the grass.

If it happens in Monroe County, it's news to us!

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