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Designing and Building the Midwest the Community Segment powered by Sips Coffee Co: Featuring Carlinville Mayor Doug Downey · Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time

0:00
SPEAKER_05: Hey, welcome to designing and building the Midwest one community at a time.
0:03
SPEAKER_05: I'm Chris Hardstock with Big Dog Construction, your local Window Depot.
0:07
SPEAKER_08: And I'm Caitlin.
0:08
SPEAKER_08: This is the show where we bring you real insights, expert input, and a lot of entertainment along the way.
0:13
SPEAKER_08: It's the podcast you didn't know you needed.
0:15
SPEAKER_05: Hey, every week, our main focus is bringing you the best advice on home improvement, remodeling, and how to take care of your biggest investment.
0:22
SPEAKER_05: But we don't stop at the property line.
0:24
SPEAKER_08: Exactly! We also dive into our realtor segment to cover the ins and outs of buying and selling locally.
0:29
SPEAKER_08: And our community segment where we talk about giving back charity and what's really happening across the Midwest.
0:35
SPEAKER_05: Plus, we regularly sit down with some fantastic guests from all walks of life to hear their unique stories and perspectives.
0:42
SPEAKER_08: Whether we're talking blueprints or community roots, we've got you covered.
0:45
SPEAKER_08: Let's get into today's episode.
0:47
SPEAKER_07: Big dog! Hi, it's Lindy with Sip's Coffee Cup.
0:51
SPEAKER_07: When we first opened, my biggest dream was simply to create a welcoming space for our community.
0:56
SPEAKER_07: Now, across our three locations, that community has grown into a true family.
1:01
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1:11
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1:13
SPEAKER_07: Enjoy this week's community segment of designing and building the Midwest one community at a time.
1:21
SPEAKER_05: Hey, welcome back to Designing and Building the Midwest one community at a time.
1:25
SPEAKER_05: I am your host, Chris Hartzook, with Big Dog Construction, your local window depot.
1:30
SPEAKER_05: And as always, I've got my lovely co-host, Caitlin Bogini with me.
1:34
SPEAKER_08: Hello.
1:35
SPEAKER_05: Hey, we're coming to you from the Big Dog Studio where we bring you conversations with people, businesses, organizations, and community leaders who are making a difference throughout our communities here in the Midwest.
1:45
SPEAKER_05: At Big Dog Construction, we believe we're not just building houses, we're building relationships, we're building businesses, and we're helping to build stronger communities.
1:53
SPEAKER_05: And that's exactly what our community segment is all about.
1:56
SPEAKER_05: Before we get started, we want to recognize our 10x partner and official drink sponsor of the podcast, Sips Coffee, with their three locations.
2:04
SPEAKER_05: Sips continues to grow while staying connected to the communities they serve.
2:08
SPEAKER_05: We are proud to have them as our partner and bringing these community stories to you.
2:12
SPEAKER_05: So grab yourself a sips, settle in, and let's get started.
2:16
SPEAKER_05: Hey, today we are talking about City of Carlinville.
2:19
SPEAKER_05: Caitlin's laughing at us.
2:20
SPEAKER_08: I know I like that one.
2:21
SPEAKER_08: I like that.
2:22
SPEAKER_05: What's happening around town?
2:23
SPEAKER_05: Uh, again, talking about the city of Carlinville, what's happening around town, the projects and improvements that affect our everyday lives and the vision where Carlinville is headed in the future.
2:32
SPEAKER_05: And joining us in the studio is someone who has a front row seat to it all, the Carlville mayor, Doug Downey.
2:40
SPEAKER_05: Doug, thanks for being with us.
2:41
SPEAKER_04: And thanks for having me.
2:42
SPEAKER_04: This is an awesome opportunity to, you know, and I'm all about transparency.
2:46
SPEAKER_04: So I just want to push out as much information as possible, answer any questions for the residents, and just make sure they know what the city is doing.
2:53
SPEAKER_04: I love that.
2:54
SPEAKER_08: I want to put this out to our listeners.
2:56
SPEAKER_08: We called Doug this morning, literal hours before this.
3:00
SPEAKER_08: And we were like, Doug, can you come on?
3:01
SPEAKER_08: He said, Yes, I can be there.
3:03
SPEAKER_08: So that just proves about your transparency and your passion for communicating to our town.
3:10
SPEAKER_05: Yep.
3:10
SPEAKER_05: And we're going to get to know Doug a little bit, talk about what it takes to lead a city, discuss current projects and infrastructure, and to find out what's coming up for Carnival.
3:20
SPEAKER_05: Doug, again, welcome and we're glad you're here.
3:22
SPEAKER_05: So, Doug, I want to start out, and all of our listeners and followers want to know who is Doug Downey?
3:28
SPEAKER_05: What's your connection to Carnaville?
3:30
SPEAKER_05: And what led you to want to lead the city?
3:32
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
3:33
SPEAKER_04: Sorry.
3:33
SPEAKER_05: Big shoes there.
3:34
SPEAKER_04: Are you good for a long story?
3:36
SPEAKER_05: By all means.
3:36
SPEAKER_05: By all means.
3:38
SPEAKER_05: I've got my sips, I'm settled in, I'm ready to go.
3:40
SPEAKER_04: Yes.
3:41
SPEAKER_04: So I had um obviously uh went to high school, went to college, uh, went to college in at uh McMurray in Jacksonville, Illinois.
3:50
SPEAKER_04: Love it.
3:50
SPEAKER_04: After college, obviously everybody's looking for that big job uh that they want to do.
3:55
SPEAKER_04: So I had uh saw a job by the federal government at the Via Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.
4:00
SPEAKER_04: So I after college packed all my stuff up, went to Columbia, Missouri, starting my big career, and uh then the federal government started cutting back.
4:08
SPEAKER_04: And the department I was in, they eliminated.
4:11
SPEAKER_04: So I was in Columbia, Missouri, two years there, and then looking to find an employment.
4:18
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
4:18
SPEAKER_04: So uh I had also uh during high school attained my paramedic license.
4:22
SPEAKER_04: Oh.
4:23
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
4:23
SPEAKER_04: So I had a friend here in Carlville, and we were talking, and they said, hey, Carlville Hospital has an amateur service that they just acquired from the city to manage, and they were looking for someone to manage the amate service.
4:36
SPEAKER_04: So I applied.
4:38
SPEAKER_04: Ken Reed, who you all know.
4:40
SPEAKER_04: Oh, we love Kenny was the vice president of the hospital, hired me.
4:44
SPEAKER_04: Uh, I did that for eight years, and then the hospital sold the city, or I'm sorry, the hospital sold the ammo to a private company.
4:53
SPEAKER_04: Right, right.
4:53
SPEAKER_04: Right.
4:53
SPEAKER_04: And then obviously then they took over management of that.
4:56
SPEAKER_04: And I I still stayed with them for a while uh as a part-time employee, and then started with the state with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
5:04
SPEAKER_04: Right.
5:04
SPEAKER_04: And so I am where where I'm still employed and kind of winding down my career there.
5:08
SPEAKER_04: Right.
5:09
SPEAKER_04: So I moved to Carlville, obviously.
5:11
SPEAKER_04: And then when my eight years at the hospital was over, I had opportunities to move elsewhere, uh offers elsewhere.
5:16
SPEAKER_04: One Chicago, I was contemplating very, very seriously.
5:19
SPEAKER_04: Right.
5:19
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
5:20
SPEAKER_04: Uh but then I I just I remember the for the time I came to Carlleville, it was just a welcoming, friendly community.
5:28
SPEAKER_04: And I loved it.
5:29
SPEAKER_04: And I've always loved small communities.
5:31
SPEAKER_04: I'm not a big city person.
5:33
SPEAKER_04: Not sure you were like Chicago then.
5:34
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
5:35
SPEAKER_04: So and the first person I met was Janie Ashworth, who at that time, at that time, she had it was the the old welcome wagon committee.
5:44
SPEAKER_04: She was kind of the head of that.
5:45
SPEAKER_04: And so she came and brought me a big sack of stuff.
5:48
SPEAKER_04: Welcome to the community, welcome to Carnival, answer any questions.
5:52
SPEAKER_04: Here's a bunch of stuff in this bag, you know, some gift cards and some discount cards and and other memorabilia.
5:59
SPEAKER_04: And so I I uh she said, Call me anytime.
6:02
SPEAKER_04: So I had called her for various things uh over the years and became very good friends with her.
6:07
SPEAKER_04: And at the hospital, the hospital where I worked for eight years was just one big family.
6:13
SPEAKER_04: Right.
6:13
SPEAKER_04: And they introduced me to so many people, and so I just got integrated into the community, got very familiar with the community, and fell in love with it.
6:21
SPEAKER_04: So when the opportunity came to move, I'm like, I'm not gonna leave this.
6:24
SPEAKER_04: It's a it's a beautiful community, it's a very friendly community, and it's just it would know it's it's not that far from my family where they live.
6:30
SPEAKER_04: So I I stayed here and then took a job, obviously, and had to commute to the job for a while.
6:36
SPEAKER_04: And then uh eventually someone in the park district said, Hey, there is a commissioner seat open in the park district, like you run.
6:42
SPEAKER_04: Right.
6:43
SPEAKER_04: So I ran for that, did that for eight years, and then in the meantime, I got on the Christmas market board.
6:48
SPEAKER_04: Yes, and the chamber board, and I just got fully involved in the community.
6:51
SPEAKER_04: Right.
6:52
SPEAKER_04: And then first and met a lot of people, and then we did a lot of good things.
6:56
SPEAKER_04: And I'm still on the chamber and I'm still on the Christmas market committee.
6:59
SPEAKER_04: And right now we're heavily planning for the Christmas market, but oh yeah, met a lot of people through that, and it it's it just you see all that work you put in, and then when that when the event happens, all of the visitors and the tourism that it draws is just is just overwhelming and and just satisfying.
7:17
SPEAKER_04: Of course.
7:18
SPEAKER_08: Just being part of the community.
7:19
SPEAKER_08: So did someone approach you and say, Hey, we want you to be mayor?
7:23
SPEAKER_05: So so here's how it happened.
7:24
SPEAKER_05: So I was How did you get into the city of Carloville?
7:27
SPEAKER_05: The city.
7:27
SPEAKER_05: So yeah.
7:28
SPEAKER_04: So I I was a park district commissioner and Deanna De Museo, who we all know.
7:32
SPEAKER_04: Yes.
7:33
SPEAKER_04: Um, of course, I met her on the Chris, she was on the Christmas market board too.
7:36
SPEAKER_04: Uh, got very close to her family, and she said, Doug, I'm running for mayor and I want you to run for Alderman.
7:42
SPEAKER_04: And that was thir 14 years ago.
7:44
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, you've been on there a while.
7:45
SPEAKER_04: And so I said, Okay.
7:47
SPEAKER_04: I said, great leader, great team.
7:49
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
7:49
SPEAKER_04: So I put my head in the ring for Alderman for Ward 3.
7:53
SPEAKER_04: There was two other candidates at that time.
7:55
SPEAKER_04: I beat them hands down.
7:57
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, uh, not a problem.
7:59
SPEAKER_08: 10x, baby.
8:00
SPEAKER_04: So I did I did three terms as Alderman for Ward 3 and loved it and enjoyed it.
8:06
SPEAKER_04: It's very, it's very rewarding work uh when you can take someone's problems and issues and fix them, help them, yeah.
8:12
SPEAKER_04: Um, and improve the community.
8:15
SPEAKER_04: And so Deanna ran, obviously ran two times and was getting ready to run a third time when sadly she passed away.
8:22
SPEAKER_04: Right.
8:23
SPEAKER_04: And I had several people approach me saying, You should run, throw your hat because it was just right at the time that they were taking petitions for the third, the third term.
8:32
SPEAKER_04: So they said, Hey, you should run, put your hat in the ring.
8:34
SPEAKER_04: And at that time, I I was just I had a lot of other things going on to commit.
8:39
SPEAKER_04: Timing just didn't feel right.
8:40
SPEAKER_04: The timing didn't feel right.
8:41
SPEAKER_04: And so I I set that one out and I I just ran again as a but you're as I say, you're still an alderman.
8:46
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I ran again as alderman, um, which is uh just a little bit easier job.
8:50
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, but just one area to worry about.
8:52
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
8:54
SPEAKER_04: Yes.
8:55
SPEAKER_04: So I I did that and then this last last election, which was two years ago, right?
8:59
SPEAKER_04: I decided to put my hat in the ring.
9:01
SPEAKER_04: I it felt right, it was a good time.
9:03
SPEAKER_04: Um, the mayor at that time, Sarah Oswald was was exiting, and so I felt it was a good time.
9:08
SPEAKER_04: So that's I ran and uh there were there were four can there were three other candidates at first.
9:13
SPEAKER_04: Um obviously one dropped out and then the other two kind of ran.
9:16
SPEAKER_04: And so I won that election with a good lead, uh, which shows that the community supported me and and thought I had a good plan.
9:22
SPEAKER_04: And so here I am.
9:24
SPEAKER_05: You felt the pulse of the city and you and you knew that.
9:27
SPEAKER_05: So a lot of people only see the the title, right?
9:30
SPEAKER_05: But they don't know the daily grind.
9:32
SPEAKER_05: What does a typical day in the life actually look like at managing the city?
9:37
SPEAKER_04: So if you think you've got a lot of meetings, there there are just a ton of meetings at City Hall with, you know, not only the the staff that you have, right, the directors of each department that you have, and each department itself.
9:49
SPEAKER_04: Because when I ran for mayor, I I had a goal for various parts of the city.
9:54
SPEAKER_04: I had objectives that I wanted to meet.
9:56
SPEAKER_04: Right.
9:56
SPEAKER_04: Right.
9:56
SPEAKER_04: And so when I won, I approached each department head and I said, hey, this is what I want to do here, this is what I want to do here.
10:02
SPEAKER_04: Right.
10:02
SPEAKER_04: So we pushed that, we pushed those those visions out.
10:06
SPEAKER_04: And so now it's just the process of just constantly checking up to see where we're at uh with those projects and those goals.
10:13
SPEAKER_04: And so so there's just a lot of meetings with those folks there.
10:17
SPEAKER_04: You obviously want to keep your eye on the budget, you want to keep your eye on the pulse of the city to see what residents want.
10:23
SPEAKER_04: So you're I'm meeting a lot of residents every day that come in and they have concerns, they have suggestions.
10:30
SPEAKER_04: So I meet with those folks.
10:31
SPEAKER_04: I probably uh met three people yesterday, and we're gonna meet two this afternoon after I'm done here.
10:36
SPEAKER_04: Right.
10:37
SPEAKER_04: Wow, Doug.
10:38
SPEAKER_04: Who have concerns?
10:39
SPEAKER_04: So it's just it's a lot of meetings with a lot of folks, just to not only just to check on how things are going, but to find out what the residents' concerns are, how we can address them, what we can do to fix them.
10:50
SPEAKER_08: One thing I noticed about you too, you're constantly updating on social media.
10:54
SPEAKER_08: I've never seen a mayor do that.
10:55
SPEAKER_05: I saw that yesterday with the power up.
10:57
SPEAKER_05: The Amhern that was so helpful.
10:58
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, yeah.
10:59
SPEAKER_05: Caitlin was freaking out.
11:00
SPEAKER_08: Oh, Chris, don't even tell about the text I sent him.
11:03
SPEAKER_05: Well, I can read it, but you might be embarrassed.
11:05
SPEAKER_08: We'd have to beef it out.
11:06
SPEAKER_04: I wouldn't be.
11:06
SPEAKER_04: And Amar's come a long way.
11:08
SPEAKER_04: They have representatives in what's in their districts, and they have they have the phone number for every mayor and every elected official.
11:14
SPEAKER_04: And that's the first person they call to let them know what's happening in their community.
11:19
SPEAKER_04: Yes in their community.
11:20
SPEAKER_04: So if there's if there's a significant power audience, they're they're calling me and say, Doug, we've got in this sector, blah, blah, blah.
11:26
SPEAKER_04: Here's our anticipated power return time.
11:29
SPEAKER_04: So they have come a long, a long way.
11:31
SPEAKER_05: Because I know I think it was last week there was a transformer that blew just up here by the East Shell.
11:35
SPEAKER_05: Yes.
11:36
SPEAKER_05: Yep, which our power went off but came back on.
11:38
SPEAKER_05: But there was a lot of homes out of power that were directly tied to that transformer.
11:41
SPEAKER_05: Right.
11:41
SPEAKER_08: So I like that you shared that because you know, everybody on Facebook, power, my power's out, power's out.
11:47
SPEAKER_05: Yep.
11:48
SPEAKER_08: Everybody listen.
11:48
SPEAKER_08: If there's a power out, you go to Doug's page.
11:51
SPEAKER_08: He's he's still a direct line to Amaren, okay?
11:54
SPEAKER_05: That's right.
11:54
SPEAKER_08: Yeah.
11:55
SPEAKER_05: So, so Doug, what's one thing about being the mayor that you think most residents don't realize?
12:01
SPEAKER_04: You know, I I think a lot of residents don't realize that it sounds like a lot to most people, but our budget is only about$14 million.
12:10
SPEAKER_04: And when you start thinking about all the personnel cost and all of the the cost to upgrade equipment and maintain equipment and keep it going, that we are on a very shoestring budget.
12:21
SPEAKER_04: Uh we're not spending extravagantly anywhere.
12:23
SPEAKER_04: Um, I always make sure, I mean, we're constantly, me and my finance chair are constantly watching that budget just to make sure we're not over in any line item.
12:31
SPEAKER_04: Right.
12:31
SPEAKER_04: And then so it again, it sounds like a lot, but for a city our size and compared to other cities our size, our operation budget is low.
12:39
SPEAKER_04: I mean, other cities our size are about$20 million.
12:42
SPEAKER_04: Wow.
12:42
SPEAKER_04: And so we're getting by with a very shoestring budget.
12:45
SPEAKER_04: And and people are, I don't think they understand that it takes a lot of money to keep infrastructure going, right?
12:51
SPEAKER_04: To keep police in the streets, to keep public works in in the streets and and to keep the city operating.
12:57
SPEAKER_05: Right.
12:57
SPEAKER_05: What's what's one of the most rewarding things about serving the people of Carmelville?
13:02
SPEAKER_04: When someone comes to you and they've tried to solve a problem on their own or an issue on their own, um, it could be they they have all you know water coming in through their basement, you know.
13:12
SPEAKER_04: Right.
13:12
SPEAKER_04: Even though it doesn't involve the city directly, if we can provide them guidance and send them the right way, right.
13:18
SPEAKER_04: If they have a high water bill, want to know why, I sit down with them.
13:21
SPEAKER_04: Well, that's a hot button.
13:22
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
13:23
SPEAKER_04: Yes, it is a hot button.
13:24
SPEAKER_04: Literally.
13:25
SPEAKER_04: But we we sit down with them and we show them here's your what daily water usage and here's here's what's going on.
13:30
SPEAKER_04: And a lot of people could have leaks that are on their side that they don't know about, and that and they can't afford to have it fixed or repaired.
13:38
SPEAKER_04: So we've connected them to some resources out there that will help them and assist them and those kind of things.
13:44
SPEAKER_04: And and then when they when that problem is solved and they call and and they say, Hey, you know, thank you for that.
13:50
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I couldn't have done that on my own.
13:52
SPEAKER_05: You know, that's that's what's rewarding to me is is seeing things through and yes, making sure answers are given.
13:58
SPEAKER_05: Yes.
13:59
SPEAKER_05: Maybe not the answers they want, but answers are given, right?
14:01
SPEAKER_08: I'm glad you used that specific example because that's just a daily thing that happens to regular people.
14:06
SPEAKER_05: Right.
14:06
SPEAKER_08: And Doug's here to help help us regularly exactly, exactly.
14:10
SPEAKER_05: Well, let's let's talk about updates, right?
14:12
SPEAKER_05: Everyone always wants to know about the roads and infrastructure.
14:15
SPEAKER_05: What are some of the major projects the city is currently working on andor wrapping up?
14:20
SPEAKER_04: Sure.
14:21
SPEAKER_04: So obviously everybody is very familiar with what West Maine.
14:24
SPEAKER_04: With West Maine.
14:26
SPEAKER_04: And so, you know, the shock bottles.
14:29
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
14:30
SPEAKER_04: That has been one of the biggest things that we've or I've done since I've been mayor, obviously.
14:34
SPEAKER_04: But when we started with this, we I again on social media, I made sure I pushed out as much information I could to prepare people.
14:40
SPEAKER_04: It's take gonna take a while.
14:43
SPEAKER_04: Take it's gonna take a while, and it's not gonna be smooth until it's done.
14:46
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
14:47
SPEAKER_04: And so everything that all the temporary in the trenches, all the temporary fill that was in there was just temporary.
14:53
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
14:53
SPEAKER_04: But so the state came to us four years ago and said, hey, because it's a state route.
14:58
SPEAKER_05: You had to coordinate and work with the iLot.
15:01
SPEAKER_05: It's it's on that.
15:02
SPEAKER_04: It's their road, but underneath the road is our infrastructure.
15:05
SPEAKER_04: So it's our sewer and our water, storm drains, and all underneath that road.
15:09
SPEAKER_04: So they came to us and they said, Hey, we're gonna, we are gonna repave that road just to let you know if anything you want to do uh to your infrastructure below that road, you better start planning for it.
15:19
SPEAKER_04: And so we've got a six-foot sewer line under there and a uh water line that runs underneath there.
15:25
SPEAKER_04: So this year, as most people are aware, they started placing all of the water lines.
15:30
SPEAKER_04: The new a new four-inch water line uh goes down West Main, and then every building has uh a new water line going to it.
15:37
SPEAKER_08: I guess I didn't know you were putting lines in there.
15:39
SPEAKER_08: I'm so stupid.
15:40
SPEAKER_08: I I don't know what I was thinking.
15:41
SPEAKER_08: I thought the bricks were like crumbling, so that's why I thought you did it on the sides.
15:46
SPEAKER_08: I swear, that's what I thought.
15:47
SPEAKER_08: But it's not as it's not as bumpy right now.
15:49
SPEAKER_04: It's not, it's not.
15:50
SPEAKER_04: And so and so they're not where you choose your path.
15:53
SPEAKER_08: I've gotten smart, you know.
15:54
SPEAKER_04: Obviously, they put that the trench down there to replace the main water line, but then it was just that they just put some fill in there, asphalt, and it was bumpy as heck off.
16:02
SPEAKER_04: And we told people they're not done yet.
16:04
SPEAKER_04: When the project is done this year, they're they'll excavate that and put a foam fill in there, concrete, to smooth it out.
16:10
SPEAKER_04: And people are so much happier now that that's done.
16:13
SPEAKER_04: Yes, but what happens next is the sewer is our next one, and so next April we'll start excavating and coordinate along with iDot to replace a sewer.
16:24
SPEAKER_04: On the south side, right?
16:25
SPEAKER_04: The problem, the sewer's in the middle.
16:27
SPEAKER_05: Sewer right down the middle.
16:29
SPEAKER_04: So that dam.
16:30
SPEAKER_04: So what we're gonna have to do is we we can't have traffic still negotiate that road while the sewer's going because it was snug what they were doing on the north side.
16:39
SPEAKER_04: So iDot will shut down a block at a time.
16:41
SPEAKER_04: Oh, okay.
16:42
SPEAKER_04: Next year spring.
16:43
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, okay.
16:44
SPEAKER_04: We'll shut down a block at a time, and then we'll replace that sewer, and then once that's done, we'll do a temporary patch.
16:49
SPEAKER_04: Okay, temporary.
16:50
SPEAKER_04: Everybody temporary patch.
16:51
SPEAKER_04: Temporary temporary patch, and then we'll go to the next block.
16:54
SPEAKER_04: And then once we get that all done, iDot is gonna come in and tear up the whole road, okay?
16:59
SPEAKER_04: All the way from square to the track.
17:01
SPEAKER_04: Yep.
17:01
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, and so the first block, the first gone.
17:04
SPEAKER_04: No, well, the first block is gonna have poor stamp concrete.
17:07
SPEAKER_04: So we got that approved.
17:08
SPEAKER_05: Yes, it's approved.
17:09
SPEAKER_05: Awesome.
17:09
SPEAKER_05: So the brick stamp pattern appearance will be there and it'll match the square.
17:13
SPEAKER_05: Yep.
17:14
SPEAKER_05: And then last a lot longer than the brick.
17:16
SPEAKER_08: Oh my goodness, Doug, I'm in tears.
17:18
SPEAKER_08: Do you know how pretty that's gonna look?
17:19
SPEAKER_04: It's gonna look and and they asked us, obviously, they asked us what we wanted.
17:23
SPEAKER_04: Now that obviously they said that we will pay for the first block, but if you want stamp concrete, the rest of the we gotta come up with the bucks.
17:30
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
17:31
SPEAKER_04: So that was on us.
17:32
SPEAKER_04: So they fronted the cost for that first block, and which we are very appreciative of.
17:36
SPEAKER_04: And it will match the square, and it would be a lot more durable than the bricks themselves.
17:42
SPEAKER_04: A lot of traffic going out that west side.
17:44
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
17:44
SPEAKER_04: And so next year, uh they're gonna come in, asphalt the second block all the way to the railroad tracks.
17:50
SPEAKER_08: I still think that's gonna look so nice.
17:51
SPEAKER_04: Yes, yes, it's gonna it's gonna be the best road to do that.
17:53
SPEAKER_04: The redoing sidewalks.
17:54
SPEAKER_04: So new sidewalks, curbs, and gutters are are also going to be installed all the way down.
18:00
SPEAKER_08: Are we getting lighting?
18:01
SPEAKER_08: New lighting or no?
18:02
SPEAKER_08: I didn't know.
18:02
SPEAKER_08: And so here's the deal.
18:03
SPEAKER_04: We we also it now would have time, would it be the time, which and we've asked, and we've got a price for to bury all of the overhead to get down below.
18:14
SPEAKER_04: But AirMra doesn't like that.
18:16
SPEAKER_04: They don't like buried cable.
18:17
SPEAKER_04: Oh, yeah.
18:17
SPEAKER_04: And plus the cost would be on the city, and it's close to two million dollars.
18:21
SPEAKER_08: Oh, my Lantia.
18:22
SPEAKER_04: So I our lines are just fine.
18:24
SPEAKER_08: Doug, they're just fine.
18:25
SPEAKER_04: You know, and if you ever go to a new city and you see or a new subdivision and it just looks so clean because there's no overhead power lines, right?
18:33
SPEAKER_04: That's what the look I was trying to obtain.
18:34
SPEAKER_08: Like Gillespie, yeah.
18:36
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, that they did through theirs.
18:38
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, beautiful.
18:39
SPEAKER_05: Right.
18:39
SPEAKER_08: But theirs is a lot smaller than ours.
18:42
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, shorter, shorter.
18:43
SPEAKER_05: Shorter, that's what I mean.
18:44
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, but but twice as wide.
18:45
SPEAKER_05: Yes.
18:46
SPEAKER_05: You didn't think about that.
18:47
SPEAKER_05: Because all the angled parking they have is twice as wide.
18:49
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, yeah.
18:49
SPEAKER_05: So but no, that's awesome.
18:51
SPEAKER_05: So 2027 starting in the spring, sewer line down the middle, shutting block down at the top, but then temporary fill, but then when it's all done, they're coming in and redoing from square to the tracks, and that should be completed by the end of summer.
19:06
SPEAKER_05: End of summer.
19:07
SPEAKER_05: Yep.
19:07
SPEAKER_08: Oh my goodness.
19:08
SPEAKER_05: Yep, which September 21st is in the summer, just let everybody know that.
19:11
SPEAKER_05: So wow.
19:13
SPEAKER_04: So it's that is gonna be a beautiful street.
19:15
SPEAKER_04: It's in fact, uh, coming off the square, that's with the new sidewalks and the ADA completing together.
19:20
SPEAKER_05: It's a beautiful view down that andor the beautiful view heading east, coming towards the square.
19:28
SPEAKER_08: Doug, I just want to point this out.
19:29
SPEAKER_08: The one like chamber masterminds meeting I went to at 8 a.m.
19:34
SPEAKER_05: There's another one coming up.
19:35
SPEAKER_08: Two years ago.
19:36
SPEAKER_08: Two years ago, everybody.
19:37
SPEAKER_05: Right.
19:37
SPEAKER_08: You talked about this exact plan, and I just remembered it, and and it's matching up.
19:41
SPEAKER_08: That's why everybody said he said it and he did it.
19:44
SPEAKER_05: Without a without a vision, without a plan to make that vision happen.
19:47
SPEAKER_08: It was at Pro Boot Shoe, Doug.
19:49
SPEAKER_08: Do you remember this?
19:49
SPEAKER_08: I do.
19:50
SPEAKER_08: I was a yes.
19:51
SPEAKER_05: Yep.
19:51
SPEAKER_08: Okay.
19:52
SPEAKER_08: Just wanted to tell everybody.
19:53
SPEAKER_05: Well, what other projects that people would see or not even see that might be in the works and or coming up?
20:00
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
20:00
SPEAKER_04: So we have a couple.
20:01
SPEAKER_04: So obviously, people have heard about lead lines and the dangers of lead lines.
20:06
SPEAKER_04: So in the last three years, we have replaced, I think, close to 350 homes of Yeah, we don't want to be a Flint Michigan.
20:13
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
20:13
SPEAKER_04: And we've gotten rid of the lead lines.
20:15
SPEAKER_04: Of course, it was all due and thanks part to grants that we received from the estate to do those.
20:20
SPEAKER_04: So we applied every year and got uh a good size, every year we got a good chunk of money to start replacing those.
20:26
SPEAKER_04: And then we were we applied this year.
20:28
SPEAKER_04: We still have a herd for this year, but we've got a small amount left that we know are out there, and we hope to get another grant and replace those.
20:36
SPEAKER_04: But up till now, I think we're about 350, 400 homes that we have replaced that we knew had lead lines.
20:42
SPEAKER_04: Right.
20:42
SPEAKER_04: Wow.
20:43
SPEAKER_04: Now the others obviously have had been newer or been replaced on their own.
20:47
SPEAKER_04: Right.
20:48
SPEAKER_08: Right, right.
20:49
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
20:49
SPEAKER_04: The other one other project, the big project that's gonna happen also in coordination with next spring is shipment blacktop starting at the depot, the train depot, yes, and going out to Renica Road.
21:02
SPEAKER_04: They're gonna come back and re-asphalt it and widen it four feet for turn lanes.
21:07
SPEAKER_04: So IDOT is iDot, yes, yes.
21:10
SPEAKER_04: Awesome.
21:10
SPEAKER_04: So awesome.
21:11
SPEAKER_04: That's another big project.
21:12
SPEAKER_04: And so the concern we have obviously is we try we're trying to schedule that around school traffic and school.
21:17
SPEAKER_04: So we're just the primary school on the train.
21:19
SPEAKER_04: So we're trying, we're trying to hold that one off until at least till the middle of May, into May, uh when school lets out.
21:25
SPEAKER_04: Right.
21:26
SPEAKER_04: That's a good idea.
21:27
SPEAKER_04: Summer traffic there.
21:28
SPEAKER_04: And then the the another big contention is how what's our alternate routes?
21:32
SPEAKER_04: And so everybody knows Loveless Park has the gate.
21:35
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
21:36
SPEAKER_08: I love this episode right now because this is okay, go on.
21:39
SPEAKER_08: I love everything.
21:40
SPEAKER_08: Yeah.
21:41
SPEAKER_04: So we one of our alternate routes is going to be through Loveless Park.
21:44
SPEAKER_04: And so obviously, we know the gate has been up for a few years now, and a lot of people have commented on it and asked why it is there because it limits access to neighborhoods and that sort of thing.
21:55
SPEAKER_04: So we have worked, uh obviously that belongs Loveless Park belongs to the city.
21:59
SPEAKER_04: Right.
21:59
SPEAKER_04: But It's managed by the park district.
22:02
SPEAKER_04: Yep.
22:02
SPEAKER_04: And so we've already talked to them.
22:03
SPEAKER_04: They they already know that this is coming, that we're gonna open that up.
22:06
SPEAKER_04: Speed bumps will be enforced.
22:08
SPEAKER_04: Yes, speed bumps will they're there.
22:09
SPEAKER_04: So someone someone took them up.
22:11
SPEAKER_04: We don't know who, but they're gone.
22:13
SPEAKER_04: Really?
22:13
SPEAKER_04: So yeah, the speed bumps are gone.
22:14
SPEAKER_04: But we've we've got like a criminal?
22:17
SPEAKER_04: I I don't know.
22:18
SPEAKER_04: They just they just came back and said the speed speed bumps aren't they asphalt or were they the bolt down?
22:23
SPEAKER_05: They're the bolt down.
22:24
SPEAKER_05: So someone kinda went in and somebody went in.
22:26
SPEAKER_08: The cover of darkness.
22:27
SPEAKER_08: Now when I was younger, I grew up in the bluffs.
22:29
SPEAKER_08: They had speed bumps that were as fossil.
22:33
SPEAKER_08: And I'm not kidding though, but that's the way I took to high school, and I'm not lying.
22:37
SPEAKER_08: I was lying over every morning.
22:39
SPEAKER_08: So I'm I'm not gonna I'm only gonna say one thing.
22:42
SPEAKER_08: I agree with the gate, but then again, I don't.
22:43
SPEAKER_08: Okay, both I see both sides.
22:44
SPEAKER_05: So we say we can do reverse speed bumps and make them trenches.
22:47
SPEAKER_08: Yes, you can like that.
22:49
SPEAKER_08: Your car.
22:51
SPEAKER_05: That's right.
22:52
SPEAKER_05: That's right.
22:53
SPEAKER_05: We'll make soft edges in and out, but they're gonna be a trip.
22:56
SPEAKER_08: Someone took the speed bumps.
22:57
SPEAKER_04: So someone took the speed bumps.
22:58
SPEAKER_04: The park the park district doesn't know where they went to, so but we we're gonna put some specific.
23:04
SPEAKER_05: We're gonna put some fencing in on the side so people aren't driving around those speed bumps.
23:08
SPEAKER_08: Oh, that's a good thought.
23:09
SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
23:09
SPEAKER_05: A lot of people do.
23:10
SPEAKER_05: It's like City of Greenfield, the the lake.
23:12
SPEAKER_05: They have speed bumps where the ball diamonds are and stuff.
23:15
SPEAKER_05: The entire tracks, they pull around in the grass all the time.
23:17
SPEAKER_08: I'm literally laughing.
23:18
SPEAKER_08: Yeah.
23:18
SPEAKER_08: They fly around the game.
23:19
SPEAKER_08: It's so funny.
23:20
SPEAKER_05: So, but no, it's good thinking.
23:21
SPEAKER_08: That is, thank, and thank you.
23:23
SPEAKER_08: I'm sure people are gonna love to hear this.
23:25
SPEAKER_05: Yes.
23:25
SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
23:26
SPEAKER_05: So any other projects we need to need to be aware of that are happening or gonna be happening, it sounds like 2027 is gonna be a banner year for the city of Carlville for a lot of construction.
23:34
SPEAKER_04: And it's gonna it's gonna beautify the city drastically.
23:37
SPEAKER_04: Now, another thing one of my other initiatives is sidewalk replacement.
23:41
SPEAKER_04: Yes.
23:41
SPEAKER_04: So if you drive around Carloville, you'll notice that our sidewalks are in very poor, poor condition.
23:46
SPEAKER_04: For non-existent in some areas, non-existent where they used to be.
23:49
SPEAKER_04: And so we we have Bobby Bates, who is our grant writer, has been has numerous grants and and we've gotten some, but none for sidewalks yet.
23:58
SPEAKER_04: So we're working with our legislative liaisons and those folks to try to get some money for sidewalk replacement.
24:04
SPEAKER_04: And then we're trying to budget.
24:06
SPEAKER_04: And this last year budget, I asked for$300,000 for to start.
24:09
SPEAKER_04: Right.
24:10
SPEAKER_04: Sidewalks are expensive.
24:11
SPEAKER_04: But I wanted a starting point.
24:12
SPEAKER_04: So I asked for$300,000.
24:13
SPEAKER_04: I said, we've got to start replacing sidewalks because when I drive this community as a resident, I'm like, I get a poor perception.
24:20
SPEAKER_04: Right.
24:21
SPEAKER_04: Imagine if you're a visitor and you drive through this community or a college student.
24:24
SPEAKER_08: A lot of people that walk or run.
24:26
SPEAKER_08: When I used to run, I would run on the road instead because you break an ankle.
24:30
SPEAKER_08: You break an ankle or trip or okay, think of a stroller.
24:33
SPEAKER_08: And I feel bad because I love Carnival.
24:35
SPEAKER_08: There are some nice sidewalks, but there's a lot that are Yeah.
24:38
SPEAKER_05: Some are OG original.
24:40
SPEAKER_05: Yes.
24:40
SPEAKER_05: 1914.
24:41
SPEAKER_04: But you know, it's just the perception of a city doesn't look good when your sidewalks aren't just right there.
24:45
SPEAKER_04: So I I I am pushing I my budget got knocked out this year to$75,000.
24:50
SPEAKER_04: Right.
24:50
SPEAKER_04: When but when you start thinking about it, it it's a start.
24:52
SPEAKER_04: So we're gonna spend that money and we're gonna start replacing a sidewalk.
24:55
SPEAKER_05: Does the city still have in the program where if you have a city sidewalk running in front of you that you will work with the homeowner to pay half?
25:01
SPEAKER_05: Is that still in the middle?
25:02
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, we have a 50-50 program.
25:03
SPEAKER_04: So if if if there's a sidewalk in front of your house that you want to replace, there's an application uh to come in before you replace it, and we'll pay half and then you pay half.
25:13
SPEAKER_05: Now, is that with their contractor or the city's contractor?
25:15
SPEAKER_04: It's theirs.
25:16
SPEAKER_04: But we pay a set amount per square foot.
25:18
SPEAKER_04: Correct.
25:19
SPEAKER_04: Yes, right.
25:19
SPEAKER_05: So is that come out of your$75,000 or is that separate?
25:22
SPEAKER_05: It comes out of$75,000.
25:24
SPEAKER_05: Okay, gotcha.
25:25
SPEAKER_04: But the problem with that program is a lot of folks uh don't believe that that's their responsibility.
25:30
SPEAKER_04: Correct.
25:30
SPEAKER_04: Okay, because that's not my sidewalk, it's a city sidewalk.
25:32
SPEAKER_04: Right, it's on your easement.
25:33
SPEAKER_04: It's your replacement.
25:35
SPEAKER_04: So that's that's the perception that we get, and that's the response that we get from the residents.
25:40
SPEAKER_04: And I'll be honest with you, I agree with them.
25:41
SPEAKER_04: Right.
25:42
SPEAKER_04: It's a city sidewalk, right?
25:43
SPEAKER_04: Which should be our responsibility.
25:44
SPEAKER_05: Right.
25:45
SPEAKER_05: No, I that's great.
25:46
SPEAKER_08: We should pay half.
25:48
SPEAKER_05: But yeah, we pay set segueing a little bit here, community events and how the city works with that and the future of Carnival.
25:56
SPEAKER_04: You know, so this summer has been a very stellar year.
25:59
SPEAKER_04: Obviously, a very stellar year for events and activities.
26:02
SPEAKER_04: I mean, it's the 100-year anniversary of Ralph 66.
26:06
SPEAKER_04: So we had the 626.
26:07
SPEAKER_04: And who would have thought 62626 day, June 26th, fell on a Friday.
26:12
SPEAKER_04: Beautiful, nice segue to a weekend.
26:14
SPEAKER_04: Yep.
26:14
SPEAKER_04: The rain came and went and had a great event.
26:16
SPEAKER_08: Well, no one even cared.
26:17
SPEAKER_08: Boy, it was so packed, remember?
26:19
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
26:19
SPEAKER_04: And so, you know, but but what was so odd about that?
26:22
SPEAKER_04: As soon as the rain stopped, I was I was there just sitting outside.
26:25
SPEAKER_04: As soon as the rain stopped, people just came out of everywhere.
26:27
SPEAKER_05: I know.
26:27
SPEAKER_04: It's like droves.
26:29
SPEAKER_08: It was crazy.
26:29
SPEAKER_08: Me and my husband were sitting behind Brave Hazel in our car, like waiting for the rain go.
26:34
SPEAKER_08: I'm not kidding.
26:35
SPEAKER_08: I looked at my phone and I looked out.
26:37
SPEAKER_08: It was a sea of people.
26:38
SPEAKER_04: Yes.
26:39
SPEAKER_04: They were just waiting.
26:40
SPEAKER_04: They're waiting.
26:41
SPEAKER_04: But so we had the 626 day.
26:43
SPEAKER_04: You know, and we work the city works hand in hand with the chamber.
26:46
SPEAKER_04: The chamber has been re-energized under the new the new.
26:50
SPEAKER_04: Yep, we had John on a couple weeks ago.
26:52
SPEAKER_04: That that group is doing fantastic stuff.
26:55
SPEAKER_04: Fantastic stuff.
26:56
SPEAKER_04: And is I I love to see that group energized, and I just want to see keep that momentum going uh because they have a lot of good ideas.
27:03
SPEAKER_04: They're they're helping businesses, you know.
27:06
SPEAKER_05: Because the city partnered, how do I want to say that?
27:10
SPEAKER_05: Sponsored the part of the 62626 day, or was it the we sponsored the whole thing.
27:14
SPEAKER_05: Correct.
27:15
SPEAKER_05: Or we pay, I should read flat amount.
27:17
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, we paid for it.
27:18
SPEAKER_05: You guys response, correct?
27:19
SPEAKER_05: Because that was the taste of Carnaville second annual, because it fell on the Yeah, but it was a little bit different since it was.
27:26
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, so that's why.
27:27
SPEAKER_05: And that's phenomenal because it it allowed them to help now focus because they knew that money was there to now focus on the advertising, promoting them and not worry about, hey, can you give us money?
27:37
SPEAKER_05: You give us money to make it.
27:38
SPEAKER_04: You know, that's that's the the thing I hate about the chamber that they have to go out and beg their business.
27:42
SPEAKER_04: Solicit for money.
27:43
SPEAKER_04: Right.
27:43
SPEAKER_04: So we went to them and said, hey, we've got money in the tourism budget budget.
27:47
SPEAKER_04: It's a this is a perfect year to do it.
27:48
SPEAKER_04: It's a perfect year to do it.
27:49
SPEAKER_04: Let's let's not let you worry about fundraising, let us pay for that, and you worry about promoting it.
27:55
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, but and and there's been a ton of events, you know, and you could go on the square any weekend, and and there's so many car groups that come through.
28:04
SPEAKER_04: Oh my gosh, motorcycle groups.
28:07
SPEAKER_08: Well, John had said 42 weekends out of 52.
28:11
SPEAKER_08: Yes, there's something going on at Carnival.
28:12
SPEAKER_08: And and there could be some added.
28:14
SPEAKER_08: You know what I mean?
28:14
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, and earlier earlier this week, I literally saw a group of T-birds.
28:18
SPEAKER_05: Yes, I saw the Thunderbirds coming through.
28:21
SPEAKER_05: All convertibles, dude.
28:22
SPEAKER_05: Yep.
28:23
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, it was amazing.
28:24
SPEAKER_05: It was it was awesome.
28:25
SPEAKER_08: I can't forget to talk about the Hallmark.
28:28
SPEAKER_04: Hallmark, Hallmark.
28:29
SPEAKER_04: And so this is obviously everybody knows about Hallmark because hopefully you all voted multiple times.
28:34
SPEAKER_04: Multiple, multiple, several different emails.
28:35
SPEAKER_04: And so I I actually I had no clue that Hallmark had a contest going on when it first came to my attention.
28:41
SPEAKER_04: I didn't know there was such a contest.
28:43
SPEAKER_04: But Karen Doolin' Chamber.
28:46
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
28:46
SPEAKER_04: And she she is a go-getter, I tell you, she's a go-getter.
28:49
SPEAKER_04: But she said, Doug, I put Carlinville in for the Marius City contest from Hallmark.
28:55
SPEAKER_04: And here's my video that I sent in and the information.
28:58
SPEAKER_04: I started watching.
28:59
SPEAKER_04: I'm like, Did you cry?
29:00
SPEAKER_04: Oh my God, it was such a the production that she the detail and the information that she put in into that.
29:07
SPEAKER_04: I mean, I felt like, you know, you're winner already.
29:10
SPEAKER_04: I I a hundred percent agree.
29:11
SPEAKER_08: I don't even think there should be any other 25 years.
29:14
SPEAKER_04: I agree, I agree.
29:15
SPEAKER_04: And so I I watched that video and then uh we started getting together with the chamber to come up with a promotion and to push it out and to make sure that people knew what the contest was and how to vote to uh to vote for Cardinalville.
29:28
SPEAKER_04: And so for that whole month, you know, we were every day, yeah, we were all on social media, you know, don't forget to vote today, don't forget to vote today.
29:36
SPEAKER_04: And so obviously I think the last day was September the 24th, if I remember right, to vote.
29:41
SPEAKER_04: And so Hallmark uh they reached out to us and they uh they let us know that they thought about October the 18th to the 25th that we should know what uh the outcome of that right that contest is.
29:54
SPEAKER_08: And so you know are they gonna announce it tomorrow?
29:57
SPEAKER_08: I'm freaking out.
29:58
SPEAKER_08: They have to be.
29:59
SPEAKER_08: I think we won.
30:00
SPEAKER_08: Why else would they come?
30:01
SPEAKER_08: Tell them tomorrow night, guys, they're coming to the courthouse.
30:04
SPEAKER_04: 4 15 for a picture.
30:06
SPEAKER_08: Everybody in this town is welcome to come.
30:07
SPEAKER_04: Yes, yes.
30:08
SPEAKER_04: So that's Midwest magazine, obviously.
30:10
SPEAKER_04: And so they they saw the the Mary's city uh Hallmark Mary's contest, and they want to come do a photo shoot, and they want to put us in their December edition.
30:19
SPEAKER_04: So they came a couple weeks ago to scout out some locations to do some setup for large mass pictures, yes.
30:26
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, and so I met them, a bunch of good folks.
30:28
SPEAKER_04: They're coming back tomorrow.
30:29
SPEAKER_04: Um, they want they want to do a huge picture with as many residents as they can get on the courthouse steps or around the courthouse.
30:37
SPEAKER_04: Obviously, if it rains, our bad plan B is to go inside the courthouse.
30:41
SPEAKER_05: Oh, that'd be beautiful too.
30:43
SPEAKER_04: Wow.
30:43
SPEAKER_04: We we would like to be outside, yeah.
30:45
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, the steps make a perfect auditory or type thing.
30:48
SPEAKER_08: What's that thing called at the top of the courthouse?
30:50
SPEAKER_08: Everybody likes the dome.
30:52
SPEAKER_05: The dome, the dome, yeah, the thing.
30:54
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, yeah.
30:55
SPEAKER_05: So that's awesome.
30:56
SPEAKER_05: So again, just for clarifications, it's not Hallmark coming to take the picture.
31:00
SPEAKER_05: It's Midwest magazine.
31:02
SPEAKER_08: Okay.
31:02
SPEAKER_05: Okay.
31:02
SPEAKER_05: Yep.
31:03
SPEAKER_05: See, I'm I'm associated with the side.
31:04
SPEAKER_05: She's getting all wound up.
31:05
SPEAKER_05: I I sometimes have to like.
31:07
SPEAKER_08: I heard they were bringing fake snow too.
31:09
unknown: It's over.
31:09
SPEAKER_05: There might be fake snow.
31:10
SPEAKER_05: I don't know.
31:11
SPEAKER_05: So but but this is all tied into the last thing we'll talk about, the Christmas market coming up, right?
31:16
SPEAKER_05: Yes.
31:16
SPEAKER_05: The annual, how many years has that been going on?
31:18
SPEAKER_04: 36 now.
31:19
SPEAKER_04: 36.
31:20
SPEAKER_04: This will be the 36th.
31:21
SPEAKER_04: The 36th year for the Christmas year marketing.
31:24
SPEAKER_04: The one year we had it uh because of COVID.
31:26
SPEAKER_04: They had one, obviously.
31:28
SPEAKER_04: And COVID.
31:28
SPEAKER_04: Oh, yeah.
31:29
SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
31:30
SPEAKER_05: So it is December 4th, 5th, and 6th.
31:32
SPEAKER_05: Yes.
31:33
SPEAKER_05: Correct.
31:33
SPEAKER_05: Yes.
31:33
SPEAKER_05: So Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
31:35
SPEAKER_05: Yep.
31:35
SPEAKER_05: Beautiful time to come out.
31:36
SPEAKER_05: Hopefully we have the snow like we've had some years.
31:39
SPEAKER_04: And last year was beautiful.
31:40
SPEAKER_04: We had we had, if you remember, of course, if we had that 10-inch snow, but it was it was on the Monday.
31:45
SPEAKER_04: And then by the time the weekend came, we were able to clean up it all.
31:48
SPEAKER_05: Snow, but streets were clear and just beautiful.
31:51
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, I know.
31:51
SPEAKER_05: Very Christmasy.
31:53
SPEAKER_05: It did.
31:53
SPEAKER_08: And we'll be having some some Christmas market representatives and Christmas and Carnival representatives coming in and telling everybody about it.
32:00
SPEAKER_05: So exactly, exactly.
32:02
SPEAKER_05: Doug, we appreciate you coming in.
32:04
SPEAKER_05: I just a couple things to wrap this up.
32:06
SPEAKER_05: What do you believe Carloville's biggest opportunities are over the next several years?
32:10
SPEAKER_04: You'd be surprised how many people come that want to tour Carloville and make a weekend of it or night of it, and they're looking for lodging in Carlonville.
32:20
SPEAKER_04: And obviously, we do have the Carlin Villa, but it is an older hotel.
32:24
SPEAKER_04: I get it.
32:24
SPEAKER_04: But that's not what folks are looking for.
32:26
SPEAKER_04: They're looking for more modern, up-to-date hotel.
32:29
SPEAKER_04: So we have been working with our economic development committee.
32:32
SPEAKER_04: We have identified some ground just north of town and are talking to a hotel chain to locate here.
32:40
SPEAKER_04: It's a small 200 hotel unit operation right now.
32:44
SPEAKER_04: But it's uh it's geared for smaller towns.
32:46
SPEAKER_04: Yep.
32:46
SPEAKER_04: And so that's one of the biggest things before my mayorship is up.
32:50
SPEAKER_04: I want to see a hotel in this town.
32:51
SPEAKER_04: Right.
32:52
SPEAKER_08: I 100% agree, Doug.
32:53
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
32:54
SPEAKER_04: And the college has been very supportive.
32:56
SPEAKER_04: The fact the college is the first one that came to me and said, we've got so many people, parents coming here for parents' weekend.
33:02
SPEAKER_04: We've got professors, visiting professors that come here and they want to stay.
33:06
SPEAKER_04: But these are they have to eat.
33:08
SPEAKER_04: And we've got some beautiful Airbnbs in town.
33:10
SPEAKER_04: Yes.
33:10
SPEAKER_04: And they're very nice ones.
33:12
SPEAKER_04: But they they want a hotel and they have to send them to Lichfield.
33:14
SPEAKER_04: That's what's sucks.
33:15
SPEAKER_08: But there's not enough Airbnbs for like the Black Room events or Christmas markets.
33:19
SPEAKER_05: And there goes our rest of our economy going to Lichfield or other surrounding towns because they're not buying food here.
33:24
SPEAKER_05: They're not buying gas here.
33:25
SPEAKER_05: They're buying it over there.
33:26
SPEAKER_05: Yep.
33:26
SPEAKER_08: Bingo.
33:27
SPEAKER_05: So we're missing all that.
33:30
SPEAKER_05: Tensor market at the plaza.
33:31
SPEAKER_05: Bring them here, build it here, and hotel, same thing.
33:34
SPEAKER_05: Let them stay here.
33:34
SPEAKER_05: And so and the hospital's the same way.
33:36
SPEAKER_05: They've also voiced that they oh yeah.
33:39
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, exactly.
33:40
SPEAKER_05: It can help them with things and all that.
33:42
SPEAKER_05: Doug, if residents of Carnival wanted to get involved in the city of Carnival, how can they or what can they do to reach out to that?
33:49
SPEAKER_04: And so there are so many opportunities.
33:51
SPEAKER_04: Obviously, now election is coming up in April.
33:54
SPEAKER_04: Um for your position?
33:56
SPEAKER_04: No, for uh there are six alterment positions of alternating out.
34:00
SPEAKER_04: That are al not not alternating out, but there are six positions that are up for either re-election or now we've got a couple that obviously said that they're not going to run again.
34:08
SPEAKER_04: So there are open spots.
34:10
SPEAKER_04: So if if anybody's ever been interested in city government and helping their city as an alderman, it doesn't, it's not a lot of time commitment.
34:18
SPEAKER_04: I mean, you just have to you just have to be able to be the voice of your ward.
34:22
SPEAKER_04: And you have to be able to reason through stuff and be a good communicator and a negotiator.
34:28
SPEAKER_04: Because there's a lot of negotiation that goes on in city government.
34:31
SPEAKER_04: So there is there is an opportunity.
34:33
SPEAKER_04: Like I said, every ward has one position up there, or two that have two positions up.
34:37
SPEAKER_04: So if you're interested in ever you ever thought about running for alderman, um, you could go up to city hall and there's a nominating petition up there.
34:44
SPEAKER_04: They are due by October 26th.
34:46
SPEAKER_04: That's due to date for that.
34:48
SPEAKER_04: And other than that, we we have a lot of committees.
34:50
SPEAKER_04: We have Tree City Committee, we have the zoning and economic development committee that residents can be on.
34:56
SPEAKER_05: Okay, that's what I was gonna say.
34:57
SPEAKER_05: You don't have to be an alderman if you're gonna be able to do it.
34:59
SPEAKER_04: You don't have to be an alderman of that.
35:01
SPEAKER_04: You could be a resident of the city and say if you so if you want to commit an hour or two every month, that's when they meet once a month.
35:06
SPEAKER_05: How do people know about those committees?
35:08
SPEAKER_04: So you can on the website?
35:09
SPEAKER_04: There is information about each committee on the city of Carnival website, right?
35:13
SPEAKER_04: Or they can call me and I will be glad to share with them what the responsibilities of each committee are and the duties of each committee and how because we're always looking for new members for those and and when when does the city council meet?
35:26
SPEAKER_04: So the city council meets the first and the third Monday of everyone.
35:30
SPEAKER_05: Twice a month.
35:30
SPEAKER_05: Twice a month.
35:31
SPEAKER_05: They're they're doing their business, they're doing city business.
35:33
SPEAKER_04: Then there's each the each committee, there's four committees, they meet the week between the city council.
35:39
SPEAKER_05: Sure.
35:39
SPEAKER_05: Sure.
35:40
SPEAKER_05: So okay.
35:40
SPEAKER_05: And so if people want to come, it's open to the public to some of these meetings.
35:43
SPEAKER_04: In fact, we encourage people to come.
35:44
SPEAKER_04: Right.
35:45
SPEAKER_04: That's the sad thing when you're up there in the seats looking out at the audience, and there's if there's no audience, or but but usually there's a couple that show up.
35:53
SPEAKER_05: So Doug, Doug, thank you for coming into the studio.
35:57
SPEAKER_05: We really did almost a double type podcast today in length, but you're such a a wealth of information, and I can see the passion and hear the passion from you for the the city of Carlin.
36:09
SPEAKER_05: And that's what a city needs is a mayor that is for the people, right?
36:13
SPEAKER_05: And that that's awesome.
36:14
SPEAKER_08: So I like how he has so much experience in different committees and different areas of leading people and government that I didn't know all that about you, Doug.
36:22
SPEAKER_08: That is so cool, and you're so smart and awesome, and you I just love so much.
36:26
SPEAKER_05: His head will not fit up.
36:28
SPEAKER_08: I will vote for him and I will die on this head.
36:30
SPEAKER_04: And you say that because it's true.
36:31
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
36:32
SPEAKER_05: He is humble, folks.
36:33
SPEAKER_05: So hey, I think conversations like this are important because sometimes we go about our daily lives without really thinking about everything that goes into keeping a community running.
36:42
SPEAKER_05: We drive the roads, we use the utilities, we attend the events, we visit our local businesses, we raise our families here, but there's a tremendous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to make all of that possible.
36:54
SPEAKER_05: And that's why we wanted to have this conversation today.
36:57
SPEAKER_05: We want people to understand what's happening in their community, what challenges we're facing, what opportunities are ahead, and what it takes to keep moving forward.
37:05
SPEAKER_05: Because building a strong community isn't the responsibility of one person, one business, or one organization.
37:10
SPEAKER_05: It's something we all have a part in, like Doug was just explaining, how you can be a part of that.
37:16
SPEAKER_05: And that brings us to the challenge we want to leave with everyone listening today.
37:20
SPEAKER_05: Don't just complain about what needs to change.
37:23
SPEAKER_05: Get involved, ask questions, support your local businesses, attend community events, stay informed about what's happening in your city.
37:31
SPEAKER_05: Tune in to Doug's Facebook page.
37:33
SPEAKER_05: He'll he'll let you know what's going on.
37:34
SPEAKER_06: He really does, yeah.
37:36
SPEAKER_05: And when you see an opportunity to make a difference, step up and be a part of the solution, not the problem.
37:41
SPEAKER_05: Because the future of Carnival isn't just something that happens to us, it's something we help build together.
37:47
SPEAKER_05: A big thank you to Mayor Doug Downey for joining us and sharing his perspective on the city, its current projects, and the vision for Carlinville's future.
37:56
SPEAKER_05: And of course, thank you to our 10x partners and the official drink sponsor of the podcast, Sips Coffee.
38:01
SPEAKER_05: Find them at their three locations, Carlinville, Verden, and Gillespie.
38:05
SPEAKER_05: We're proud to partner with this business because they continue to invest in the communities they serve.
38:10
SPEAKER_05: Carlinville being one of those.
38:11
SPEAKER_05: And to everyone listening, make sure you search for Design Building the Midwest, one community at a time, and subscribe on whatever streaming service that you listen to your podcast on Apple, streaming, Amazon, Music, Spotify, any of that.
38:25
SPEAKER_05: At Big Dog Construction, we believe we're not just building houses, we're building relationships, we're building businesses, and we're helping building stronger communities throughout the Midwest.
38:35
SPEAKER_05: Because at the end of the day, what makes a community great isn't just the buildings, the roads, or businesses.
38:41
SPEAKER_05: It's the people who call it home.
38:42
SPEAKER_05: I'm Chris Hartsook, and that this has been another episode of Designing and Building the Midwest, one community at a time.
38:49
SPEAKER_05: Keep designing, keep building, keep investing in your community because we're not just building structures, we're building communities together.
38:56
SPEAKER_05: We'll see you next time.
38:57
SPEAKER_00: Bye.
38:58
SPEAKER_00: Bye.
38:59
SPEAKER_00: In the military, there's no such thing as good enough.
39:02
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40:04
SPEAKER_05: Hey, listeners and followers, we have something big coming out that'll be launching January 1st, 2027.
40:10
SPEAKER_05: Yes, I said 2027.
40:12
SPEAKER_05: It is upon us already.
40:14
SPEAKER_05: We're almost done with the third quarter rolling into the fourth.
40:17
SPEAKER_05: But we are rolling out the Big Dog Home Guardian program.
40:21
SPEAKER_05: It's a residential service and maintenance agreement.
40:24
SPEAKER_05: You ever have those the annoying beeping smoke alarm that's like, oh crap, I forgot to replace the battery in that, or it's too high, I don't have a ladder, I can't get up there safely, or that furnace filter that you're like, oh, I forgot to change the furnace filter.
40:38
SPEAKER_05: Gutters need cleaning, it's just a mess, whatever that is.
40:41
SPEAKER_05: We are gonna have that in our home dog, big dog.
40:45
SPEAKER_05: Home dog.
40:46
SPEAKER_05: Home dog, the big dog home guardian program to where we can take care of those things, or the little handyman stuff that you need taken care of, right?
40:54
SPEAKER_05: The squeaking storm door, the squeaking bedroom door, squeaky loose floorboard, whatever that is, we can take care of you.
41:00
SPEAKER_05: We're gonna have three tiers of service low, middle, and high.
41:05
SPEAKER_05: Each one of those will have their own things that we offer.
41:07
SPEAKER_05: Obviously, the higher the tier, the quicker response time you'll get put on the schedule.
41:12
SPEAKER_05: Okay?
41:12
SPEAKER_05: So stay tuned and be looking for more information on the Big Dog Home Guardian program.
41:18
SPEAKER_05: Until then, we'll catch you next time.
41:20
SPEAKER_03: Hey, it's Ryan Cleman.
41:22
SPEAKER_07: And Lindy.
41:23
SPEAKER_03: We are the community partners for the Big Dog Podcast.
41:25
SPEAKER_07: As the owners of SIPS Coffee Co., community is at the heart of everything we do.
41:30
SPEAKER_07: We want to support the people who make this area great.
41:33
SPEAKER_07: So if you are a local business or organization that would like to be featured right here on this podcast, or if you want to work together with us to make the Midwest the absolute best community it can be, please get a hold of us.
41:44
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42:16
SPEAKER_08: And that wraps up another episode of Designing and Building the Midwest, one community at a time.
42:22
SPEAKER_08: Thank you so much for tuning in and listening with us today.
42:25
SPEAKER_05: We hope you walked away with some valuable insights to use in your home or neighborhood.
42:29
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42:34
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42:40
SPEAKER_05: Until next time, I'm Chris.
42:42
SPEAKER_08: And I'm Caitlin.
42:43
SPEAKER_08: Thanks for hanging out with us, and we'll see you next time.
42:45
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42:47
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42:59
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