Posted by MeadowMutt on September 19, 2023, 6:02 pm
I don't know what's going on in Pontoon Beach but most of the area looks terrible. The only thing decent about the entire area is the shopping center getting a badly needed facelift and the old Christian bookstore building being remodeled.
The weed growth near or on or along the sidewalks, the gravel and dirt and trash that line the curbs all along Pontoon road speaks volumes of the priorities of those in charge. Take a look at the dumpster area that sits damn near on the sidewalk and right off Pontoon road in front of the old Toddle Town daycare that has since been sold and switched ownership.
Why has that dumpster area been allowed a free pass for over 6 months if not a year with broken, rotted fencing with the gates that are supposed to stay closed to hide the mess of overflowing trash all around the dumpster, literally falling off the hinges and into pieces and left wide open to every vehicle and person who drives or walks down the road?
What in the hell has that DJ's truck lift business turned into? Has the village hall given this business some kind of auto salvage yard license? They have what looks like a damn auto salvage/junk yard sitting right in the middle of the village, who has allowed this? Was this transformation discussed at a meeting I missed, or did it even go before a vote? I have a hard time believing if this DJ's auto salvage yard that looks trashy as hell wanted to relocate out to the entrance of Timberlake Manor, that would have EVER been allowed!
For starters how about removing all the "SLOTS HERE" flags and signs that line a huge stretch of Pontoon Road? It makes the area look like crap and trust me, we ALL know these places have slots to play, keep the signs off the streets, and make them keep them near their front doors or buildings.
Borrow or rent a damn street sweeper for God sakes, a couple times per season this isn't an unreasonable request or expectation, clean the village up!
Where are the patrol cars, does the police department even drive the streets of the area any longer? If so, they need to start harassing the hell out of these bike riding, backpack toting riders during the late-night hours or in the middle of the night that are constantly lurking in the damn shadows of the neighborhoods. Why aren't the police stopping and questioning these tweaking meth-heads that burn the sidewalks up during all hours of the day and night on Pontoon Road? At any time of the morning, afternoon or evening and night, you can drive between the RR tracks coming into the village and highway 111 and see people fighting and arguing with someone from their drugged up imagination. If you drive up and down this stretch enough you will see some of them dancing, stumbling, begging for money or sitting on the sidewalk long enough to fire up the crack pipe or shoot up.
I used to appreciate living in Pontoon Beach instead of Granite City. Not any longer, I don't want to live in either now, not with the way Pontoon Beach now looks, it's embarrassing. Somehow along the way priorities have shifted and the main concern now seems to be a year's worth of work geared towards the PATB and anything other than that has been overlooked, neglected and either dismissed all together or at a minimum been put on a back burner.
Years have now passed with the promises of new retail and restaurants being built on the land in front of the warehouses, and still nothing. Plenty of warehouses and the rest never came. Who is the Economic Developer for the area, or is there one, and if so, what have they accomplished? Does the area have a grant writer seeking out funding for projects? Has the current administration become jaded or complacent? Is it time for a change in leadership?
I don't have the answers to these questions, but I do know it's time for some positive changes and improvements. We can't just sit back and say and do nothing and allow our property values to plummet.
Your last paragraph says it all. You don’t have answers so run for office. I hear a trustee resigned so go talk to Pagano about appointing you. I’m sure he would appreciate your expertise.they did not fail, because they did what their country asked of them....
Just because I do not have the answers, doesn't mean the answers to these problems shouldn't be searched for. Or that these problems do not exist. Instead of going on the defense, why not take a drive to Pontoon Beach and have a look around, spend some actual time in the area and see this situation for what it is.
Not everything you said is wrong, but you may have exaggerated the problems to a degree. The main thing I agree with you on is the 40-year-old men riding bikes at 2 AM and casing houses. I have often said, Pontoon Beach doesn't have a lot of violent crimes, but these meth heads can and will steal about anything that isn't nailed down. The police department is more of a reactive force than some, but they are doing a decent job, and they will come if you call them. That is not the case everywhere. So while you make some decent points, i don't think we are quite as bad off as you claim. Remember when Trump said, if they bring a knife, we bring a gun?? Oh wait a minute...
You missed the point. If you don't have the answers, maybe they are not easy to find. However, you apparently have a good eye for things and maybe, just maybe, if you join that board, you can be a part of fixing things. At least you care enough to bring it up. We have similar issues in GC and it has gotten better. These bike riding idiots out at 3 a.m. are up to no good. I would hope your community and ours put a stop to that they did not fail, because they did what their country asked of them....
I couldn't disagree more about Mutts comments about Pontoon Beach.
I've lived 24 years in PB, and 44 years prior in GC. Things have continually improved in those 24 years. In just the last few years, there have been several new businesses along Pontoon Road. The park behind McDonald's wasn't there, and it continues to be improved. Plus there' a new mini park on Pontoon Road next to the lake. In addition, the monthly concerts in the park during the summer are very nice. In our subdivision, every year several streets that are literally crumbling get repaired.
Yes, I would like to see a street sweeper come our way occasionally, but I try to do my part by keeping the street in front of my home clean, and I often pickup trash along the street when I walk my dog. Unfortunately, many folks think it's OK to throw trash out their car window.
And although I was concerned about all the warehouses along 111, I have to say that the property around those warehouses are kept up better than many homes.
And there is a restaurant going in near the Amazon warehouse and we are looking forward to it opening. Additionally, where once stood a shabby looking truck repair facility at 111 and Chain of Rocks Rd has been replaced by a new gas station.
Pontoon Beach will never be an Edwardsville, but I don't pay the kind of taxes those folks do.
Every time I've had an issue that I had to contact the village hall the issue has been addressed. I have a great deal of faith in our mayor and trustee's at the village hall, and I'm happy to call PB my home. Maybe if you're that ashamed of living here you should find another place to live...
This is ok, we don't have to agree. If you think the dumpster area I spoke of that sits a few feet from Pontoon Road at that daycare is acceptable with the way it looks, we really don't have much to talk about here.
You can appreciate the park you mentioned where the PATB is held, but at the same time, there is much more to the village than that park and the PATB and other concerts.
I'm not saying I don't have any faith in the mayor and trustees, but I am saying this is not a new administration. How long has it been since the Denham years, at least 12 years ago, so I would hope you would see some improvements in 12 years.
As far as me being ashamed of living in the area, with the way it is being allowed to look, I am. Even if that strikes a nerve with you. Hopefully it will strike enough nerves to make cleaning the area up a priority.
I have never witnessed such Edwardsville envy as I've read on this board over the years. What makes you think I envy Edwardsville or want the village to look like it? I Just want clean, weed free streets. Dumpsters that are allowed to sit on the main street of the village to have to be maintained and in decent shape, and for our police force to possibly patrol Pontoon Road and some neighborhoods more often to get these people lurking in the shadows during the night, moving along.
I think it's a little unrealistic to expect residents to grab a broom and attempt to clean off Pontoon Road, as you say you do your own street, but whatever. I also have no problem with the area around the warehouses, if the entire village looked that clean and updated, we wouldn't be having this conversation. The restaurant you mention that is going in near the Amazon warehouse was announced well over a year ago and there it still sits not even half way built, although I read somewhere that some zoning/legal, mapping issues did crop up that delayed the project.
Hopefully everyone who may see the problems that I do and wants better for the village takes a pass on your advice to just move away. I would rather see the problems taken care of than have to sell my home. Although I am looking at retirement and doing just that is not completely off the table.
Dear Friends in Granite City, I moved to California in 1964. It was dramatically life-changing for me and I have lived a dream life here. But the nightmare is upon California and I fear Illinois as well. Illinois has the highest unsolved murder rate of any state. California has more illegals from south of the border, more homeless, more welfare cases and is a tossup with Illinois for having the craziest state government. Our "leaders" are so berserk that they passed a law to take away children from their parents if the children want to change their sex and parents will not allow it.
Both states are Democrat bastions. This is why both are in such dire straits, whether you like the truth or not.
"Poor people have been voting Democrat for fifty years and they're still poor." - 'Sir' Charles Barkeley
I was a poor boy growing up in a poor Granite City family. Happily, I left the poor category decades ago.
I've watched Mayorkas dodge questions about the lack of border security, the influx of drugs, the cities being flooded with illegals for the past several months.
This gutless, weenie of a man has no clue about his job. Between him and the weak-kneed Merick Garland, the lame ass President Biden and other democrats in power, the border is definitely in crisis.
There is an avenue for people to cross legally and apply for citizenship but when you want people here, give them money, housing and in some cases, a path to vote, you could care less about America.
Well guess what boys, people in democratic cities are fighting back now. New Yorkers and Californians have had enough. You may hold these states, but you will lose votes and hopefully in Congress.
Weak leaders with no guts. they did not fail, because they did what their country asked of them....
Isn't it funny how all of a sudden it is now a border "crisis"? The bleeding hearts welcomed them no questions asked, drug mules and sex traffickers and all with open arms and compassion in abundance until they landed in their own backyards.
Now they are crying foul and begging for border control. I'll never forget the looks on those pinch faced oldsters on Martha's Vineyard when DeSantis gifted the island with only 50 illegal migrants. They had them bussed out of there so fast their heads had to spin.
The problem is that the Republicans are enablers and half of them are almost as bad as the Democrat slime. The country is gone folks, it will never rejuvenate.Remember when Trump said, if they bring a knife, we bring a gun?? Oh wait a minute...
MeadowMutt, I apologize if you took my comments as a personal attack on you or your comments. It was merely me stating that from my viewpoint I continue to see improvements in PB.
I do agree that there are a couple of businesses that could use much needed maintenance, but I see improvements.
I just did while driving thru the area. I haven't been out of the house for days, been a bit under the weather and finally starting to feel better. The whole area driving down Pontoon road looked better, even the streets looked cleaner.
Whoever was responsible for this, I thank them, and the neighborhood thanks them too. The dumpster area in question looks fantastic!
on September 19, 2023, 6:02 pm
