ANNA TARGETS STREET IMPROVEMENTS

ANNA, Ill. -- Street improvements, further construction on a waste-water disposal project, and a new veterans center are among notable projects scheduled in Anna in 1992.

"We're looking at improvement projects for Davie Street and Lime Kill Road this year," said Anna Mayor Ken Kohler. "These projects will be funded by motor fuel tax funds which are allocated to the city."

Kohler and City Clerk Steve Guined discussed a number of projects for the city.

"We've always tried to maintain our streets here," said Guined. "We recently completed a $100,000 street renovation of one entire block. With a post office, a lumber yard and several residences located on the block, it'll be of benefit to a lot of people."

Some other street improvements for 1992 will include oil-chipping of some alley streets, paving and spot patching of other streets.

"We have an active maintenance program here," said Guined. "Our normal street maintenance is paid for from the city's general fund."

The city is in the second phase of its waste-water treatment system improvement work. "This will allow the city to meet EPA guidelines," noted Kohler.

The Phase II construction, at a cost of about $1.5 million, will include a new lagoon and some sewer line work. Funding will come from local and state sources, and bids will be let in early spring with construction to start in mid-summer.

The city also will extend a water line to the site of the new Anna Veterans Center.

"The veterans home will provide employment for 60 to 70 people," said Guined.

Construction of the center is expected to get under way this spring.

The facility, which will provide skilled nursing care for veterans, will be a 39,000-square-foot center. Completion is expected within 15 months. It will be built on a 16-acre track near the Clyde Choate Mental Health Center Development Center.

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs will operate the facility when it is completed.

Another health facility Rural Health Inc. was recently completed near Union County Hospital, and is expected to open soon.

One of the key issues facing the city in 1992 is one familiar to most Illinois cities: trash disposal.

"The city council has voted to close the present landfill in September," said Kohler. "The council is looking into various options a recycling center or transfer station and is expected to be making some decisions soon."

The city is picking up trash for a fee of $5. "That fee is likely to go up," Kohler said.

Kohler said the city's budget would have to undergo some adjustments for 1992, but should "be in pretty good shape. "We haven't had to ask for an increase in taxes yet," he said. "Sales tax figures were down some for 1991, but we're making the adjustments."

Many of Anna's residents work in nearby Carbondale or Cape Girardeau, but there are several businesses that offer a variety of employment.

"One of our largest employers is the Clyde Choate Mental Health Center, which employs about 500 people," said Guined.

Other notable employers include a Florsheim Shoe factory; Holcomb Welding, a fabricating manufacturing firm; Bunny Bread Bakery; Anna Quarry; Transcraft Corp., and Union County Hospital.

"We're talking with a couple of new business prospects," said Guined.

Joe Johnson, new president of the Anna-Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce, is also talking with a new business prospect.

"Our goal this year is to increase industrial activity and development in Union County," Johnson said during the chamber's recent annual meeting. "We want to show our appreciation for existing industry and give support to development to new industry."

Chamber membership is around the 100 mark.

"We usually have a couple of fund-raisers during the year to help fund the chamber and its projects," said Johnson.

On the schedule for 1992 is a circus to be held in April, and a golf tournament to be held at the Union County Golf Course on a date to be announced later.