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SPECIFIC COMMUNITY ISSUES
As the Planning Committee considered issues related to the Community, the many positive attributes and aspects of the Community quickly stood out. These positives are the result of the planning and hard work of many current and former residents and civic leaders. Some issues unique to the Pinckneyville Community create opportunities and problems that need to be addressed.
Strengths
1. The Community Is an Attractive Place to Raise a Family and Spend One’s Retirement Years.
The friendly residents, safe environment, plentiful outdoor activities, proximity to metropolitan and educational centers, local education and health care systems, and low cost of living make the Community attractive to all age groups. As the Metro St. Louis and Marion–Carbondale regions converge, the Community should be attractive to those seeking a quality lifestyle.
2. The Community’s Location and Highway System Enables Residents to Commute to Other Regions for Employment.
The Community enjoys good highways that facilitate commuting to St. Louis, Carbondale and other areas for employment. The highways need to be modernized to make them safer, more efficient and capable of handling standard-height, long-haul trucks. The convergence of three state routes on the Square creates congestion and adds to its parking difficulties.
3. Farming and Related Services Provide Significant Economic Input to the Community.
The Community benefits from the farming activities and good agricultural practices that exist throughout the County. Farming provides a significant economic input to, and helps define the image of, the Community. As current farm owners retire, additional non-resident ownership of local farms and an increase in the average acreage of the Community’s farms is expected.
4. Outdoor Enthusiasts Are Attracted to the Community.
Camping, hunting, fishing, shooting, equestrian, field trial and other outdoor enthusiasts find an abundance of things to do within 30 miles of Pinckneyville. As populations continue to grow and the population throughout America rises, the public parks and recreation areas will experience increased usage. The abundance of wildlife in the area will also stimulate investment in private lands in the Community for recreational use.
5. Former Residents Exhibit Strong Loyalty to the Community.
The Community benefits from a strong loyalty and allegiance from High School alumni and former residents. The success of the annual Mardi Gras in attracting former residents to “return home” is the best evidence of their ongoing identification with the Community. The Planning Committee believes this strong allegiance offers an untapped source of influence and funding for the Community’s initiatives.
The Other Issues
1. Communication Channels Are Informal and Dominated By a Few Negative Voices.
As with most small communities, Pinckneyville does not have clear, formal means of communicating issues or events. The lack of a daily newspaper or our own radio station, coupled with the absence of a strong organization to champion progress, creates a communication vacuum that is filled by informal conversations. Frequently, a case for a positive change is never heard by the residents, and a few negative voices are allowed to influence a decision without a real debate or full knowledge of the facts.
2. The Community’s High School Facilities Are 75 Years Old, Making It Difficult to Provide a Quality Education.
Although first–class when built, the High School facilities were designed for much different educational needs and approaches. The use of computers in the classrooms, a higher enrollment and a tight budget collectively place a huge burden on teachers and the administration as they work to provide students with the highest-quality education possible. The facilities are difficult and costly to maintain and provide little flexibility for adaptation to changing educational approaches and needs.
This issue is complex from a financial perspective; there is a limited budget for the High School system, and the high cost of maintaining and remodeling the facilities consumes an excessive portion of that budget. For a number of reasons, including the absence of communication about its merits, the voters have voted “No” on funding a new high school within the last three years. It is common for the voters to reject a new initiative until the proper case is made, and the Planning Committee believes a case for a new or remodeled High School exists. The financing of new or remodeled facilities will require a combination of state, federal, local and private funds.
3. The Community Hospital Must Be Modernized to Offer Quality Services for the Long Run.
Medical technology and practices have experienced dramatic changes since the existing Hospital infrastructure was constructed. To stay cost-competitive, provide quality medical services, and attract quality physicians and other medical experts, a new Community Hospital and related facilities are necessary. The Planning Committee strongly supports the efforts of the Community Hospital Board to solve the numerous issues involving a new hospital. We believe the residents of the Community deserve quality, affordable medical services, and a failure to replace the Hospital will ultimately result either in its closure or in a significant reduction in the services that it provides.
4. The Highway System Requires Upgrades.
The convergence of three state highways is a unique strength of Pinckneyville, as the significant traffic flow allows local retailers to capture sales with outside parties. Community residents use the highway system to commute to employment opportunities in Metro St. Louis and other distant regions. The traffic associated with the World Shooting and Recreational Center, construction of energy projects, and continued expansion of the Marion–Carbondale and Metro St. Louis regions will increase the traffic volumes to intolerable levels in the future. The convergence of the three highways at the Square and the low clearance of the two railroad underpasses on the south and west sides of Pinckneyville complicate the traffic issues.
5. The Ability of City and County Governments to Provide Quality Services Has Diminished.
The loss of local mines and Pyramid State Park from the Perry County tax rolls has reduced and concentrated the tax burden for the City and County governments, School, and other tax districts. This issue has reduced the financial capability of these governments both to provide new services and to maintain the quality of existing services. In addition, the number of candidates who would serve in these governments is diminished because the financial capability to “make a difference” is financially constrained.
6. Housekeeping and Building Standards in the Community Reduce Property Values.
When a potential new business leader or resident tours Perry County or the Pinckneyville Community, the inconsistency of residential and business maintenance is obvious. The worn condition of the 205 School Building, the vacant Consol Shop Facility, certain residences, and some properties near the Square are prime examples. Washington and most other Southern Illinois counties have zoning standards in place. It is worth noting that the new homes on Route 127, between Nashville and Pinckneyville, are in Washington County. The Planning Committee believes property values and the attractiveness of the Community to new businesses and residents are reduced as a result of the lack of zoning.
7. The Layout of the Community’s Retail Sector Requires Planning.
The locations of the retail businesses in the Community have evolved over decades without a synergistic plan. Businesses are dispersed, parking is limited in certain areas, and the buildings have aged. Successful retail businesses today concentrate shopping in a relatively small area for the convenience of the buyer, are new and fresh-looking, and provide ample parking for the convenience of the customers. Clean, fresh shopping centers attract customers throughout the region. Older shopping centers watch customers drive past to more attractive experiences.
8. The Community Has Limited Resources to Obtain Federal and State Funds.
Successful government entities and other organizations are adept at tapping state and federal funds through grants and lobbying activities. When Congressman Costello addressed the Planning Committee, he explained that the growing communities in his district seem to request a new federal grant every week and to seek his help as frequently to push the request through the system. In Perry County, one individual prepares the grant requests for all of the communities, manages the TIF program, and performs economic development activities. The understaffing of this critical position will need to be addressed.
Every community has strengths and weaknesses, and the Planning Committee feels the Pinckneyville Community is in a much better position than most communities in Southern Illinois. There are obvious issues requiring attention and limited local finances to address them with. Fortunately, state and federal monies will help finance some of the initiatives, and the many strengths of the Community will help it grow and prosper.
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