Martinsville City Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. Alderman Chris Davidson was absent during roll call but arrived shortly after the meeting began. All other members of the council were present.
No members of the public spoke during public comment.
Council Approvals
The council approved rebuilding the North York Street lift station, which pumps wastewater through portions of the city sewer system, at a cost of $105,704.20 through Vandevanter Engineering.
The council also approved replacing the brown carpet behind the counter and in the mayor’s office at a cost of $3,495.25. When asked which fund would cover the expense, Treasurer Terri Connelly said the cost would be paid from the General Fund.
The council decided to postpone setting a date for Elected Officials Training until later in the winter to make scheduling easier for members.
Enterprise Zone Requirements
Mayor Bob Lovell revisited the city’s requirements for participation in the Clark County Enterprise Zone, specifically the minimum amount a property owner would need to invest in improvements before qualifying for enterprise zone benefits.
Lovell said the council had previously discussed several possible thresholds but had not taken formal action. He noted that lower investment amounts could qualify, but the application and reporting process requires considerable paperwork for the city, both at the beginning of the project and again at the end of the year.
Lovell said other participating communities had established higher minimums, including $20,000 in Marshall and $10,000 in Casey and Westfield. Council members discussed possible thresholds, including $5,000 and $10,000, and generally agreed that the previously discussed $1,500 amount was too low.
By straw vote, the council indicated support for setting Martinsville’s minimum qualifying investment at $10,000. Formal action is expected at a later meeting.
Tire Recycling Day
Lovell asked the council whether the city should consider holding a tire recycling day. He noted that Marshall plans to hold one and said Martinsville could obtain a dumpster capable of holding approximately 1,000 passenger vehicle tires for $3,150.
Council members discussed the cost, possible incentives for residents to participate and concerns about potential abuse of the program. No formal action was taken.
Code Enforcement Inspections
Lovell said the Central Illinois Land Bank Authority could provide access to a licensed code inspector for the city. According to Lovell, the inspector currently performs inspections for Marshall and Casey and charges $75 per hour for code enforcement work.
Lovell suggested Martinsville could potentially share the inspector’s time and cost with Casey, with the inspector spending part of a workday in each community.
In addition to conducting inspections, Lovell said the inspector prepares reports that can be submitted to a judge as documentation supporting the demolition of unsafe properties. For commercial buildings, Lovell said the inspector would first evaluate the property from the exterior and could then assist the city with seeking an entry warrant if an interior inspection were necessary.
No formal action was taken on the proposal.
Splash Pad Opens
Mayor Lovell reported that the splash pad used approximately 25,000 gallons of water, costing about $100, on its opening night.
Based on the first night’s usage, Lovell said Shannon Woodard estimated the splash pad could cost the city approximately $10,000 in water over the course of a full season.
Routine Business
The council also:
- Approved meeting minutes from July 22 and Aug. 26, 2026.
- Approved payment of bills totaling $82,482.85.
- Approved the August 2026 Treasurer’s Report.
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