Banks wants to motivate SV aldermen

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SPRING VALLEY – Monday’s Spring Valley City Council meeting began with a lengthy challenge to the aldermen by Mayor Cliff Banks.

“I want to see more things going on in Spring Valley,” Banks said after the meeting. “Everything I said is try to motivate and get them to thinking.”

The challenge came in the form of Banks’ mayor’s report, which he began by discussing last week’s meeting of the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. At the meeting, he said LaSalle Mayor Jeff Grove discussed a picture he had of a prosperous Spring Valley.

“It’s weighed on my mind,” Banks said.

Banks went on to list a variety of different issues with the city. He began by talking about the Spring Valley Inn, and efforts he has made to try to get people to stay there. Banks said he was relying on the city’s “pillow tax” on the motel to help the city, and he was concerned about the motel’s future if something doesn’t change.

“They spent a lot of money under your direction to clean the place up,” he said.

Then Banks discussed the citizens’ group formed to buy and renovate some of the buildings in the downtown. Banks said there has been some action, but then nothing more.

Banks turned to the city’s fire department. Banks praised the efforts of the department, calling it one of the best around, and citing its support for adjoining cities.

But Banks said there needed to be more interest in the fire department,

“We need to get them training,” he said. “We’ve got to do something.”

Assistant Fire Chief Todd Bogatitus said there were numerous classes available for advanced training, but they were quite expensive and the department can only afford to send a few men. Bogatitus said firefighting techniques change quickly, and the department needs to keep up to date.

Alderman Walt Marini didn’t see any difficulties with getting the funds for the training, and told Bogatitus he should provide the council with a description of any course desired for consideration.

Banks then began discussing clean-up issues, and said the city needs to figure out a place where residents can dump their tree limbs and leaves.

Banks then returned to a topic from the last council meeting. He asked aldermen what they thought about his idea for bringing bands into the downtown during farmers markets.

“Do you want to pay for the bands out of the pillow tax?” he asked.

Alderman Jim Taliano said it was a good idea, and Alderman Mike Richetta said it was an appropriate use of the pillow tax. McFadden said the issue would be discussed in more detail at tonight’s, Tuesday’s, Spring Valley Booster Club meeting.

Banks finally brought up the subject of a carnival, and after a brief discussion, Taliano agreed to make some telephone calls and suggest some possible dates at a later meeting.

After the meeting, Banks said his efforts with the aldermen had begun paying off.

“I’ve already got a couple of them that’s starting to pitch in more,” he said.

Banks agreed that his words to the aldermen could sound argumentative.

“They know I’m a fighter,” he said. “I want them to start taking more charge of the town. When I was elected, they told me they were the ones that run the town, so I want them to prove it.”

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