Collinsville City Council declares May ‘Motorcycle Safety, Awareness Month’

Among his first duties as Collinsville’s new mayor, Chase Guidera delivered a proclamation at Monday’s City Council meeting declaring May as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month.
Guidera was elected into office in the May 3 election. Two motorcyclists were in attendance to voice their appreciation and express the need for an increase in awareness when cars and motorcycles are sharing the road.

During the Citizens to Be Heard portion of the meeting, local Ryder Ortowski of Mental Drive, a local nonprofit in Collinsville, addressed the council with observations and concerns regarding his recent experiences interacting with city staff. 

On behalf of Mental Drive, Ortowski recently planned and executed a community event, Drift and Dine, on May 10. The event was to raise awareness about mental health in the community. Ortowski told the council that in trying to plan the event, he was met with resistance, confusion and disrespect from people at the city.

When he first tried to submit the necessary paperwork to initiate the event, Ortowksi said a city employee seemed pleased to inform him that he was a day late in meeting the deadline. Later, he only learned that he would need to present his idea to the city council when his son’s daycare worker said she was looking forward to his presentation.

Ortowski was told he would need to work with city fire and police, but when he met with them and that same city employee, she didn’t know if it was possible to hold the event – something Ortowski felt she should have researched before calling the meeting.

“I love this community. This is not how citizens should be treated when trying to do something good for the community,” Ortowski said. “You should treat citizens with care, not like they’re a problem.”

Ortwoski closed his address by explaining that he felt he couldn’t tell the council about his feelings until after the event was over, worried there might be retaliation.

“That alone should tell you what you need to know,” Ortowski said.

In department reports, it was announced that adult softball leagues will begin Friday, June 13 and will run for five weeks. (There will be no game on July 4.) T.J.’s snow cones will be there, possibly along with another food truck.

Keep Collinsville Beautiful (KCB) is excited to initiate their improved Yard of the Month program, in which each monthly winner will receive a free one-year membership to KCB, a photo and mention in the Whitesboro News-Record and a $25 gift card from Spring Creek Nursery. The program is now in its 15th year and has recognized over 100 yards.

KCB is working on plans to repair the gazebo and will be working with Church of Christ volunteers to put out Memorial Day flags this week. KCB also was happy to provide four scholarships in the amount of $2,500 to graduating high school seniors at this year’s Education Foundation gala.

The Collinsville Area Chamber of Commerce was also pleased to provide $3,000 in scholarships, including the Roger McDaniel Memorial for a graduating senior who will be going into a trade. 

The Chamber is working on plans for Pioneer Day slated for Sept. 20. Austin Lewter will be the event chair, and the event will include a car show (hosted by Southern Cross Car Club), kid zone, vendors, parade and live entertainment. Watch for more details coming soon. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the Chamber.

The Collinsville Community Library is preparing for its Summer Reading  Program. Children who have completed grades 1st-5th will meet Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon for six weeks (June 3-July 8). Children who have completed pre-kindergarten or kindergarten will meet each Friday in June beginning June 6. The reading program will end with a pool party.

The library is also planning a new monthly event called Cookies and Conversation. Enjoy cookies while getting to know new friends and visiting with old friends. The meetings will feature a game, technology information, puzzle or craft. The goal is to build relationships in the community.

The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is finalizing plans for the upcoming stakeholder meeting for citizens at Apologetics on June 7 from 10 a.m.-noon. It’s an opportunity for the EDC to gather input from citizens to be used in shaping the upcoming comprehensive development plan.

Two separate public hearings were held to consider the EDC and IDC boards to provide a total of $62,000 in funds to renovate the library’s storage area into meeting and education space. The current space is an approximately 20’x30’ old field house in need of serious repair. The funds would increase the size by around 650 square feet and provide laminate floors, fresh paint for the walls and a bathroom.

“The EDC takes expenditure of citizens’ sales tax money seriously,” EDC chairman Joseph Cartwright said. “For people wondering how supporting the library helps businesses, the library wants to host classes that provide training and educational opportunities that will hopefully ultimately see new business get started and have the ability to affect our economic future.”

The funds were approved unanimously.

The council agreed to enter into negotiations with Frontier for solid waste and recycling collections. The council also agreed to sell the Public Works 2006 Chevrolet Silverado and 2007 Ford Ranger half-ton, two vehicles with high mileage in need of repair that are just sitting on-site and for which the city is paying insurance. The Public Works Department has a back-up vehicle they could use if necessary.

The council approved to amend an ordinance allowing them to amend the FY 2024-2025 budget and reallocate $20,200 from ARPA to General Funds to cover the cost of a firetruck repair from January.

Alderman Steve Ritchey was appointed as Mayor Pro Tem and Julie Carney was accepted as a Commissioner for the EDC since Guidera stepped down after his mayoral election.