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MATTOON — The City Council has approved an annexation and rezoning request regarding Rural King's plans to eventually expand its DeWitt Avenue distribution center northward.

The council voted 5-0 Tuesday evening to annex 40 acres of farmland along the east side of Coles County Road 300E and rezone this property from rural suburban to general commercial district status. This property is directly north of the Mattoon-based company's distribution center at 4216 DeWitt Ave.

During the council meeting, drainage district representative Steve Degler asked to have input on the engineering plans for the future expansion to help keep this project from worsening the already problematic flow of storm water into farm fields, field tiles and the ditch on the northwest side of Mattoon. He said past upgrades to Illinois Route 121 and Rural King's property have already increased storm water runoff.

"That's going to change from a big sponge that holds the rainwater to impervious surfaces," Degler said of part of the 40 acres being converted into buildings and paved surfaces. He said the drainage district is only designed to handle farm field runoff.

City Administrator Kyle Gill said the engineering plans will be designed to ensure that storm water does not flow off the property any faster than it currently does.

Blake Pierce, director of real estate for Rural King, said the company does not have any set plans for expanding the distribution center. He said Rural King will meet all requirements from the city when the expansion does start to move forward with the goal of being a good corporate citizen.

In other matters, the council awarded the 2022 motor fuel tax miscellaneous patching contract to Bartels Construction of Mattoon for $63,880. This year’s work will include concrete patches on Dettro Drive near Walmart and McDonalds.

The council also acknowledged the retirement of Deputy City Clerk Marsha True after more than 24 years of service; re-appointed Laura Glenn and Greg Ray and appointed Harold Pettigrew to the Mattoon Public Library Board; employed Michael Starwalt as a public works maintenance worker; and allocated a $7,500 hotel/motel tax fund grant to the Sept. 9-10 CIL-CON at the Cross County Mall.

1959: In an effort to better serve the growing needs of the Midwest, Southwest and Far West market for flexible metal hose and tubing the American Brass Co. built its American Metal Hose Division plant in Mattoon.

1963: A new line of paving equipment is exhibited by the Mattoon Blaw Knox plant at the Construction Equipment Exposition and Road Show, Chicago.

1988: Burtschi is the first store in Illinois south of Springfield to offer Hummel figurines. 

1959: The Eastern Division of the CIPS is completing a move into the new building in Mattoon. The structure has 36 offices and 23,000 square feet of office space. 

1991: The CTA office is carpeted, air conditioned, well-lit and features work stations designed around employee needs. Telemarketers generated $435 billion in sales last year. For each customer who says yes, 99 say no. 

1977: Acquisition of the Douglas Nursing Center will complete another phase in Wesley Tower's total care package. 

1985: aerial view of downtown Mattoon. 

1992: A group of children wait in line to challenge the winner to a game of tether ball at the E. Rudy Street housing project. 

1992: A bicyclist pedals along East Rudy Street where a row of new duplexes were built, next to a subsidized housing project. 

1989: Pat and Rodney Williamson are ready to dine. Owner Leonard Losch looks on at Ellen Kay's. 

1950: Proof that flash photography has become a national hobby is the Mattoon plant of the General Electric Co. which manufactures flash bulbs almost exclusively. A few incandescent or regular light bulbs in larger wattages are made here also. 

1965: The school is housed in the former Humble Oil Co. building on Route 45 on the south side of Mattoon. 

Contact Rob Stroud at (217) 238-6861. Follow him on Twitter: @TheRobStroud

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Rob Stroud is a reporter for the JG-TC, covering the city of Mattoon, Lake Land College, Cumberland County and areas including Oakland, Casey and Martinsville.

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