March, 2014

From the Desk of Mayor Jerry Cross…

Congratulations to RIESS FORD!

Riess Ford has been operating their car dealership in our village for 50 years. The Riess family has been a vital part of Marissa, giving back to the community in various ways for years. Without a doubt, when you think of Riess Ford, you think of Marissa. Thank you again to the family of Don Riess for all they have done for the village. I hope theywill enjoy many more successful years at their present location.

HELP CLEAN UP MARISSA

Along with the Township, churches, Boy Scouts, BPW, Sorority and WM, the Village have begun a project to physically help residents improve the appearance of their yards. If you agree that this is a worthwhile endeavor, you are welcome to help. Sign up to volunteer at the Village Hall.

The aim of this project is: 1) to present an image of a neat and clean town to all who visit here;

2) to maintain property values; and 3) to instill a sense of community pride in all who call Marissa home.

EXERCISE FACILITY

In an ongoing effort to work for thebetterment of our community’s residents, the Village, Township, and Sparta Hospital have teamed up to provide an exercise gym, which will be located in part of the old high school. Renovation and equipment costs will be split. The facility will have locker rooms, a walking track and a room for classes. The monthly rate will be as low as economically feasible, to encourage maximum usage by residents. Please make an effort to use this facility after its expected opening in late spring.

CROSS CONNECTION INVENTORY FORM Please complete and return the enclosed copy of this form to the Village Hall with your next water bill payment. You can also mail the form to: Village Hall; 212 N Main; Marissa, IL 62257 or fax it to 618-295-3438. The E.P.A. requires that these forms be completed every 2 years to stay in compliance.

CODE RED EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

I would like to remind everyone in the Village that they need to register for the CODE RED system. This phone system is used to alert you of emergency situations, weather alerts, road oiling, change in trash pickup, etc. To date, we have about 75% of the residents signed up to be eligible for the system. You can sign up atthe Village Hall or go to the Village website at villageofmarissa.com and sign up for the code red alert system at the bottom of the page. Enter your contact information where prompted.

COMMUNITY TORNADO SHELTER

If you do not have a basement, you can use the Community Tornado Shelter located in the Baptist Church by the 4-Way Stop.

WATER LINES

I am very happy to announce the new water lines installed a few years ago are a huge success! The amount of water the Village is losing has gone from a high in 2010 of 45% to our current rate of 8%. In the year 2013, there was ONE water break. For those of you who have lived here for years, did you notice the uninterrupted service? You should expect steady service from now on. Yes, it did cost money to improve the lines but savings were realized because of the need for less overtime, supplies and equipment usage.

SEWER LINES

Good news Marissa residents! The new sewer lines are about 65% complete. This means that we are already seeing a decrease in infiltration within our sewer system. Therefore, our wastewater treatment plant will not have to work as hard and will last longer. Also, I hope this will decrease the water that has backed up in some basements. And lastly, this means a decrease in overtime for setting up pumps during heavy rains. Thank you everyone for your patience.

MARISSA PUBLIC LIBRARY

“Paws to Read” Summer Reading Program will begin June 12. The library has its children’s summer reading on Thursday morning 10:30 am-11:30 am. Story Hours are for children 3-7 years of age and Discover Club is for children 8-12 years of age. Our opening program will be the C.H.A.M.P. Dog Program. They will cover “How to Safely Greet a Dog” and “How Dogs Help People”. Service dog Calgary will demonstrate the training and skills needed to help someone with a disability. Discover Clubs being planned are Render Lake Rangers, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race by Melanie Portz and Alice Childers, and Illinois Animal Fur Program by Carl Holland, Conservation Officer. Story Hours will be full of stories about pets and other animals. The closing program will be held July 10, at 12:00 pm -1:00 pm with Animal Tales, Inc. “Creepy Critters Program.” The closing program time was changed to accommodate the children who will be attending Vacation Bible School that week. Friedens United Church of Christ will be hosting Vacation Bible School during the week of July 7-11.

New this summer will be a teen and adult summer reading program. Plan to make this summer a whole family reading time and join in the programs. Teen and adult programs will extend to the end of July. Look for more summer reading news in the coming months.

The library has received word that they were awarded their grant application for “Another Opportunity for Back 2 Books Grant” – “Summer Reading and Beyond.” The $5,000 award will be used to purchase books, such asa new encyclopedia set, state set, black history biographies, and other non-fiction books to help students when they return to school in the fall. The library will be working with Nancy Wagner’s class through the grant. It will also purchase fiction, audio books, and non-fiction DVDs. Material will be for all age levels, purchased to encourage summer reading for the whole family.

March 13PTT Meeting 3:30pm

March 15Friedens UCC Wurstmarkt

3pm-7pm

March 22Sorority Chicken & Beer Dance (Bullpen in New Athens) 7pm

March 23American Legion Auxiliary

Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner

11:30am-2pm $8 for adults

April 5Little Black Dress Event Marissa Girl

Scout Cadette Troops

7pm-11pm

April 6Macke Senior Center

Chicken Dinner

11:30am-1:30pm

April 10PTT Meeting 3:30pm

April 11Chamber of Commerce

Talent Show

April 12BPW Easter Egg Hunt

Ages birth to 8

Rain date April 19

April 19Marissa Girl Scouts

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

4-Way Stop

May 3CITY WIDE YARD SALE

May 8PTT Meeting 3:30pm

May 9Movies in the Park

May 17Cinco Milla de Mayo

Marissa Fire Department

May 26Memorial Service

Old Salem Cemetery 10am

Marissa Township Cemetery 11am

June 12Marissa Public Library

Summer Reading Program

10:30am-11:30am

June 12-13-14COAL FESTIVAL

June 14Parade 4pm

June 21Girls Gone Walking for a Cure 5k Run/Walk and

1 mile Fun Run

Marissa Township Building 6pm

July 7-11Friedens Church of Christ

Vacation Bible School

July 19 Macke Senior CenterRummage Sale & Lunch

10:00am-2:00pm

August 9Diva’s Day Out

August 16Macke Senior Center

Kids rummage sale & Lunch

September 7Macke Senior Center

Chicken Dinner

11:30am-1:30pm

September 12Movies in the Park

September 25Marissa Historical & Genealogical Annual Dinner Meeting

September 27 RUSHING FOR THE CURE

October 4Friedens UCC Wurstmarkt

3pm-7pm

October 5Macke Senior Center

Chicken Dinner

11:30am-1:30pm

October 10Movies in the Park

October 11CITY WIDE YARD SALE

Krispy Kremes at 4-Way Stop

October 24Trunk or Treat

November 2Macke Senior Center

Chicken Dinner

11:30am-1:30pm

November 8Toast of MarissaGrape Stomp 5K

December 6BPW Lunch with Santa

December 6Secret Santa Crawl

December 7Macke Senior Center

Chicken Dinner

11:30am-1:30pm

Little Black Dress Event

“Date Night” or “Girls Night Out”

Saturday April 5, 2014 7:00pm - 11:00pm

World Shooting Complex

1 Main Street Lane, Sparta, IL 62286

Cover Charge $5.00 per person

Advance Tickets can be purchased from any Marissa Cadette Girl Scout

Event Includes:

D J Music

Red Bud Winery

Cash Bar by Joe Boccardi’s

Basket Raffles * 50/50 Drawing * Heads & Tails Game

Shop over 30 vendors

Organized by: Nanette Campbell 618-317-4907 / Tawna Wyninegar 618-317-4343 /

Chrissy Robinson 618-713-0351 / Pam Hall 618-660-6418

Proceeds will go to Marissa Cadette Girl Scouts

Emergency (Fire/Police/EMS)

911

Police Department

(Non-emergency)

295-3622 or dispatch 295-3022

Village Hall

295-2351

Marissa Post Office

295-3051

Waste Management

295-2809

Dog Catcher

Kerry Daugherty

317-4022

To reserve the

Marissa Township Building

Shirley Geralds

295-2014

Mayor Jerry Cross

Village Clerk Carol Laumbattus

Trustees

Jacob Wright

Chris Smith

Bryan Bingel

Paul Sinn

Roy Dean Dickey

Village Board Meetings are the

1st & 3rd Mondays of every month

7pm

Village Hall Hours

Monday – Friday

8am-4:30pm

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Village of Marissa

Marissa Police Department

Marissa Public Library

REMINDERS

If you are planning any type of exterior remodeling on your home or business, make sure to contact the Village Hall to inquire if a building permit is necessary and if you are in compliance with our zoning ordinances. Building permit applications may be obtained at the Village Hall. Fence and pool permits are also required and can be obtained at the Village Hall.Any pool over 3 feet deep is required to have a 6 foot fence or a locking gate/fence surrounding the top of the pool. If the pool contains water over 2 feet deep, you are required to have a fence at least 4 foot tall with a locking gate. In addition, housing inspections and occupancy permits are required anytime there is a change of occupants.

Abandoned, inoperable, and/or unlicensedmotor vehicles or any part thereof that can be viewed by the general public, on public streets, or private property within the Village, are prohibited by our Village ordinance. The police may issue citations for any violations pertaining to this ordinance. In addition, the police may remove vehicles and/or parts of vehicles at the owner’s expense if the problem is not resolved.

Village ordinance prohibits the accumulation of rubbish, garbage, and/or debris including the failure to maintain grass (over 8 inches in height), weeds, and other plant life on property within the Village of Marissa. The Village ordinances prohibit property owners from allowing graffiti to exist on buildings, structures, fences or walls on property in the Village. The Marissa Police will enforce these ordinances, issue citations to those who violate these ordinances and taking the necessary steps to remove the violation at the owner /resident’s expense.