Carbondale, Illinois
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Carbondale is a city in Jackson County, Illinois. Known as "The Capital of Southern Illinois", it is located at the junction of Illinois Route 13 and U.S. Route 51, 96 miles southeast of St. Louis, Missouri, on the northern edge of the Shawnee National Forest. Carbondale is the home of the main campus of Southern Illinois University. As of a 2009 census estimate, the city had a total population of 26,235.[1] In addition, the city is a part of the Carbondale-Marion-Herrin, Illinois Combined Statistical Area with 123,272 residents. In 1971, Carbondale won the All American City achievement award, and was a finalist in the 2009 contest.[2][3]
[edit] Website evaluation
In 2010 and 2011 Carbondale earned a Sunny Award for having a perfect website transparency score.
- Main article: Evaluation of Illinois city websites
This site was most recently reviewed on 24 Jan 2011.
[edit] The good
- Current budget and five year projections posted.[4]
- Meeting locations, minutes and agendas are posted online. They have also been archived on the site for several years.[5]
- Elected officials are posted with contact information.[6]
- Has a complete listing of the city administrators and their contact information, including e-mails.[7]
- Forms and applications for Permits and Zoning are posted online.[8][9]
- Current and past Comprehensive Financial Auditors Reports are available.[10].
- An area has been allotted to post bids for contracts.[11]
- Information is posted on the role of lobbyists and the Mayor's role in solely representing the city, as well as disclosure of the employment of The Livingston Group.[12]
- Information is provided on how to file for public records.[12]
- Tax information, including that no property tax is collected, is provided on the site.[12][13]
- An online checkbook register is posted.[14]
- Disclosure of their membership to a taxpayer-funded lobbying association, the National League of Cities.[15]
[edit] Website upgrade
The website was officially upgraded to meet the standards of the Transparency Checklist in March of 2009. The Mayor, Brad Cole, said, "Open governance and accessible information are keys to building public confidence, and we are committed to a high level of accountability that can be seen in all our municipal activities..."[16]
[edit] Elected Officials
[edit] Mayor and City Council
The City of Carbondale operates under a Council-Manager form of Government. The Mayor and six City Council members are elected at-large for four-year staggered terms in non-partisan elections. The City Council acts as the policy making body for City Government and hires a City Manager to serve as the Chief Administrative Officer. The Mayor is the official head of the City and with City Council consent, is responsible for appointing members to the various boards, commissions, and committees of the City.[17]
Regular City Council meetings are held on designated Tuesdays of the month at 7:00 p.m., at City Hall/Civic Center, 200 South Illinois Ave. Check the City Council Meetings Calendar for the appropriated day. All meetings are open to the public. Every agenda includes the item "Citizen Questions and Comments" to permit discussion of any topic by any citizen.[17]
There are no term limits for individuals serving in elected office in Carbondale. The Mayor and all City Council members are elected at-large (community-wide) and serve staggered, four-year terms of office.[18]
The Mayor is the official head of the City, presides at all meetings of the City Council, and is empowered to declare civil emergencies during which time he may take any steps necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and the community.[18]
By virtue of his office, the Mayor serves as Chairman of the Local Liquor Control Commission, is a board member of the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group (regional drug task force), and appoints all members of City boards, commissions and committees.[18]
Current members of the City Council:[6]
| Member |
|---|
| Mayor Joel Fritzler |
| Corene McDaniel |
| Chris Wissmann |
| Lance Jack |
| Don Monty |
| Jane Adams |
| Lee Fronabarger |
[edit] Administrative Officials
[edit] City Manager
The current City Manager is Kevin Baity.[6]
The City Manager is appointed by the City Council and is the Chief Executive Officer of the City, supervising department heads that direct the administrative functions of the City. The City Manager serves the seven member City Council by carrying out City policy and managing the operations of the City.[19]
By statute, the City Manager is responsible for enforcement of all laws and ordinances within the municipality, the implementation of City Council goals, policies and programs, and, through City departments, the provision of City services. The City Manager and support staff provide professional management and leadership to City departments. The City Manager serves as a liaison with the Council and other government and public agencies.[19]
The City Manager is the City’s Budget Officer and prepares the City’s annual operating budget and the annual five-year capital improvements budget for City Council consideration and enactment. The City Manager appoints, suspends or removes all employees of the City, including all directors of administrative departments. All employees perform their duties subject to the direction of the City Manager.[19]
[edit] Public Employees
The City employs approximately 283 full-time employees. Services provided by the City include Police Protection[20] and Fire Protection[21], Development Services[22], Public Works, and Public Library[23]. The City also operates, on an enterprise basis, Water and Sanitary Sewer operations, Parking System maintenance and operations, Solid Waste Collection and Recycling operations, and City-owned Rental Properties maintenance and operations.
[edit] Spending
The FY 2012 Expenditure Budget for all funds totals $40,958,284 compared to the FY 2011 Authorized Budget of $50,262,548, a decrease of $9,304,264. The decrease in budgeted expenditures is primarily due to the following items:[24]
- CIP Expeditures including: Public Safety Center, Reed Station Road, Reed Station Parkway
- Reduction in personnel and associated benefit costs in the General Fund.
- Postponement of the relocation of the Fire Station capital project until a future date.
- Postponement of the Mill Street Water Main and the Water Storage Facility capital projects.
[edit] Lobbying
The Mayor and City Council monitor legislation at the local, state and federal levels to stay abreast of issues that may affect the community. The Mayor is the official spokesman for the city government in all political and legislative affairs and when dealing with other elected officials.[25]
The City of Carbondale is a dues-paying member of numerous associations that may conduct legislative advocacy initiatives at the state and/or federal levels. These associations include the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities and the Illinois Municipal League.[25]
[edit] Taxes
The City of Carbondale collects various taxes and fees, such as sales tax, utility tax, user and registration fees, to fund the general operation of the government. The City collects no property tax for general government purposes and is one of only a few cities in Illinois to do so. Information concerning the revenue sources of the City of Carbondale may be found in Section III - Major Revenue Sources of the operating budget.[25]
[edit] External links
- City of Carbondale website
- City data, Carbondale
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- The Southern Newspaper
- Carbondale Public Library
[edit] References
- ↑ Illinois Population Estimates 2009
- ↑ National Civic League
- ↑ All-America City: Past Winners
- ↑ FY2011 budget overview
- ↑ Meetings
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 City Officials
- ↑ Staff Directory
- ↑ Permits and Zoning
- ↑ Forms and Applications
- ↑ Comprehensive Financial Auditors Reports
- ↑ Public Bid Notices
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Citizen Access
- ↑ Revenue sources
- ↑ Check register
- ↑ National League of Cities, Illinois Members
- ↑ Carbondale Press Release, Mayor Cole Announces New City of Carbondale Website, March 2, 2009
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 government overview
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 mayor
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 city manager
- ↑ police
- ↑ fire dept
- ↑ development servicees
- ↑ library
- ↑ http://ci.carbondale.il.us/sites/default/files/pdf/financial-12/city%20managers%20letter.pdf
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 citizen access
