South West Illinois News

The Illinois Department of Human Rights has requested Carbondale Mayor John Henry take part in an initiative to study and develop recommendations about best practices to prevent discrimination and promote diversity in employment, housing, public accommodation, financial credit, education, criminal justice and civic engagement.

The request was made public by City Clerk Jennifer Sorrell in a regular meeting held late last month. The findings of the study will result in the delivery of a comprehensive report to the governor.

In other business, Councilman Tom Grant moved a motion, seconded by Councilman Lee Fronabarger, to hold a closed meeting to discuss the purchase or lease of real property and the setting of a price for the sale or lease of real property. The motion was declared carried as such a discussion is permitted under the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

In the public portion, there was a discussion about a boundary agreement with the City of Murphysboro. Discussion focused on how far south the boundary would run, remarks about the former formal agreement, and observations about the respective cities’ population growth. Council members also spoke about the boundary line moving toward Carbondale, the progress made in 10 years of negotiations, taking a broader look at the prospects for Carbondale’s ability for expansion in all directions, the term of the proposed agreement, the flood plain, as well as individual remarks in favor of or in opposition to the current draft of the agreement.