Community Issues

These are issues brought up by the people of our community. We are making this list to try and come up with the solution to fix them. We need our community to come together to voice their opinions on these issues. You can add to this list my using our Contact Us page, send me an email (Contact@AaronEubanks.com) or talk to me Aaron Eubanks. This list is in order that they were received.

1. Dogs not on leash. Possible solution: Be a good neighbor put your down on a leash. Check leash laws. 2021-2024 Buckner and Franklin County has an ordinance that you must have animals on a leash.
2. People can’t walk their dogs down the street without dogs chasing them. Possible solution: Be a good neighbor put your dog on a leash, fence or pen. Check leash laws. 2021-2024 Buckner and Franklin County has an ordinance that you must have animals on a leash.
3. People can’t go walking or jogging without dogs chasing them. Possible solution: Be a good neighbor put your dog on a leash, fence or pen. Check leash laws. 2021-2024 Buckner and Franklin County has an ordinance that you must have animals on a leash.
4. Dogs in other’s yard chasing attacking animals and pooping in their yards. Possible solution: Be a good neighbor put your dog on a leash keep your dog in your own yard. 2021-2024 Buckner and Franklin County has an ordinance that you must have animals on a leash.
5. Abandoned dilapidated houses and properties. Possible solution: Help owners fix up or remove the houses and clean up the properties by applying for grants to help. If we can’t get any grants we can still help clean up the properties by trimming trees, picking up trash and cutting the grass. Some of this the Village workers are already doing this. 2021-2024 The Village of Buckner purchased a dilapidated house, Mayor Eubanks tore it down with his equipment and Buckner paid for dumpster fees. Mayor Eubanks purchased and tore down a dilapidated business/house on Main St with his own equipment. Another resident purchased and tore down a house. A person from out of town purchased a torn down house and cleaned it up. A person has purchased several homes and is remodeling them. A grant can be used for this too if the house is abandoned.
6. People living campers. Possible solution: (Check ordinances) We are not allowed to live in a camper within the Village of Buckner. People can go in their campers just can’t hook up to water and sewer to live in them. We need to work with the community to inform them what can and can’t be done. Still working to prevent people from living in campers. Village ordinances are being enforced. 2021-2024 Enforce ordinances as campers can’t be hooked up to sewer.
7. Abandoned vehicles in people’s yards. Possible solution: (Check ordinances) Abandoned vehicles without registration and insurance must be removed, covered or in a garage. There is also the issue of those vehicles leaking fluids on the ground that could warrant a visit from the EPA. We need to work with the community to correct these issues. 2021-2024 Franklin County Bi County issue and Village of Buckner has an Ordinance about abandon vehicles.
8. Problems with ditch drainage and water flooding in yards. Possible solution: Work with the community and city workers to clean ditches each year. Replace damaged drainage tiles as needed. 2021-2024 Several culverts have been changed and rip rap was placed in some ditches. A main drainage culvert was changed on Hwy 14 and Jennette St on the North side.
9. Water supply line has no clean out on Miller St. Possible solution: Would have to check with city workers and engineer to correct the problem. 2021-2024 Still working on the issue.
10. No police presence in the Village of Buckner. Possible solution: Look at grants we can apply for funds to have a full time police officer. Another is to have Franklin County Sheriffs department patrol every day. 2021-2024 we couldn’t afford to keep the department. The board would like to reinstate the police department once we are able to afford.
11. Need more transparency about income and expenses for the Village of Buckner. Possible solution: Have a list of our income and our expenses posted at each board meetings. The community needs to attend board meetings to voice concerns in open discussion. Meetings are held the third Thursday of the month. A list of when the board is meeting is posted at the Post Office and on the door of the Community Building. 2021-2024 a warrant report is provided to the board each month which includes monthly expenses, income and bank balances.
12. Speeding on several roads. (2nd, 3rd, Mine, Silkwood, George and Jenette Streets) Possible solution: Add stop signs and have police start issuing tickets. Safety of our community is very important please obey speed limits. We need to speak with the community first about resolving these issues. 2021-2024 this has not been corrected.
13. Vehicles running stop signs at several locations in Buckner. Possible solution: Start issuing tickets to those that don’t obey the stop signs. Safety of our community is very important please obey stop signs. We need to speak with the community first about resolving these issues. 2021-2024 this has not been corrected.
14. Need to fix roads. Possible solution: We have funds for the roads to be repaired. Don’t know if we would have enough money to replace all the roads. City workers do their best to fill and patch the roads. 2021-2024 each year we spend about $24,000 to oil and chip the streets.
15. Need additional stop signs at several locations in town. (4-way stop signs around the park for safety of the kids traveling to and from the park) Possible solution: We can place stop signs through out the community and hope that drivers obey them. We need to speak with the people of the community and try to slow down traffic first. 2021-2024 we have replaced stop signs and had almost all of our street signs donated by a couple.
16. Park upgrade and complete pavilion/dance floor ceiling. Possible solution: apply for grants, ask for donations and have dinners to fund projects at the park. The ceiling of the pavilion needs to be completed first to keep it from further damage of the wiring and lights. The outside lights need to be fixed most are hanging from their wires. Maybe add gutters to the buildings to ensure water doesn’t splash against it and rot them. We need some new swing seats, new playground equipment and would like a smaller picnic area over the concrete pad were the old building was tore down. Need gravel to park at the basketball court and on Silkwood along the pavilion for people that visit the park. Maybe add some motion lights for security. 2021-2024 camera were donated by Aaron Eubanks Southern Illinois Storage, three spring loaded ride on play ground equipment was donated by Mary Ann and Charles Mulpas, funs for the ceiling has been approved but not purchased yet.
17. Trash truck takes too many trips up and down roads and cuts corners into residents property. Possible solution: Create a route with them may have to place your trash bin on one side of the road. This will make less trips on our roads and the trash company will save time. 2021-2024 Trash company states that it is a saftey issue where the driver only turns one direction.
18. Trash blowing from trash bins and littering Possible solution: Individuals clean up when their trash bin is knocked over. We have some animals knocking some over. Once a month have volunteers pick up trash along the streets. 2021-2024 Village Wide Cleanup has been done each year by my wife and family. Others have picked up on their own without recognition.
19. Need extra trash can (2nd trash bin) Possible solution: Residents that have or need an extra trash bin would have to pay an extra fee. The community would need to voice their opinions on this issue. 2021-2024 Residents must contact trash company to arrange a second trash can and pay them directly.
20. Water bill online payment option. Possible solution: Their is an online water department processing portal. It charges a convince fee and not sure if the community would want to pay $2-$3 fee to pay your water bill. A suggestion by one of our residents was made to move the drop box closer to the road. I think this is a great idea. Another suggestion was the water clerk needs a set few days that they are up at the Village Hall so residents could pay their bill in person if necessary. 2021-2024 the company we get our water software from provides credit card processing charged to the water customers.
21. Reports of vehicles blocking alleys. Possible solution: Check to see if we have ordinances about blocking alleys. Pour gravel on your property so you can pull off the alley so your neighbor can safely pass. 2021-2024 Ordinance Violation residents were sent letters and Bi-County was called after the Village had no luck getting the resident to clean it up. The alleys are now cleared
22. Need a newer Village work truck. Can purchase a new or used 1 ton dump truck. Would have to do research with the board to see what can afford. 2021-2024 A new 2024 F150 was approved to be purchased in 2024 from Ford Square Mt Vernon Illinois.
23. SAVE MONEY: We changed internet providers from Fontier about $501 a month to Sparklite done away with the fax machine and now pay about $256 a month.
24. SAVE MONEY: We corrected the number of trash customers we have. Someone reported that we had 239 trash customers were we only had 197 trash customers. We have 239 water customers but the customers North of the Village don’t have trash service. We saved about $350 per month.
25. VILLAGE HALL: Village Hall was painted, and new gutters were installed.
26. Diesel Fuel Tank: Village board approved to purchase a new fuel tank for Maintenace department. Still in the process of getting the tank from Southern FS then having Lyod Electric run the electrical to the fuel tank.
27. Backhoe: Two new tires and a manual thumb were purchased for the Backhoe.
28. OSHA inspection: Village workers worked with OSHA to upgrade several items within the Village Hall and Maintenace area.

Fill out the form below to add your concern and possible solution to our list.