Collinsville Puts Teeth Into Nuisance Vehicle Ordinance

By Stephanie Malench

smalench@timestribunenews.com

The Collinsville City Council went back to meeting at the Gateway Convention Center for its September 14 meeting.

Mayor John Miller proclaimed the week of September 17-23 Constitution Week and had members of the Daughters of the American Revolution in attendance.

Three new police officers were sworn in: Joshua Hyman, Matthew Morrison, and William Tracy.

The Yard of the Month for September was awarded to Scott Dudley at 344 Sycamore Street.

During Comments from City Staff, City Manage Mitch Bair shared that the city’s fleet vehicles travel 696,850.89 miles during the year, or six times around the Earth. 414,737.89 of those miles are in gas vehicles costing $71,097.92 and 282,113 of those are diesel miles costing $69,964.

Bair’s other “Did you know” fact was that the city spends $9,667.47 a year mowing 13.95 miles of grass in right-of-ways each year because IDOT only mows twice a season.

Under new business, the major ordinance passed was amending Title 10, Vehicles and Traffic, pertaining to nuisance vehicles within the public right-of-way.  Under the new amendments, recreational and commercial vehicles, boats, trailers, yard equipment, vehicles seven feet high above grade or 8 feet wide or over 25 feet long) would be prohibited from parking on streets.

Also prohibited would be vehicles covered for more than 24 hours (operable or inoperable), vehicles blocking mail boxes or in a driveway obstructing the sidewalk.

The ordinance will be enforced by the police and it is at the discretion of the officer that responds whether the vehicle owner gets tagged, up to a $750 ticket, or the vehicle towed.  Bair said the purpose of the ordinance is “passing with intent to enforce”.

The other critical ordinance passed was one that will close the loophole in the hotel and motel privilege tax. Currently the city only collects the 9% tax when a customer books a room directly with the hotel or motel, not when reserved through a travel company or website. The ordinance will take place beginning November 1.

The next city council meeting will be October 12 at 6:30 p.m.