The Carbondale Library has enough funds and does not need to cut jobs or reduce service, City Manager Jeff Doherty wrote in a letter read at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

Doherty, who was not at the meeting, stated in his letter to a local newspaper, that the Library has a healthy cash budget. He said $181,490 will be left over for the library at the end of fiscal year 1996, and $178,000 will be left over at the end of fiscal year 1997.

Doherty stated that serious discussions on how the library will fund itself will take place soon, but the library could continue operating without reducing services or cutting jobs.

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The Carbondale Public Library requested an additional $58,000 dollars for fiscal year 1997 in addition to the library’s 3-percent budget increase on Feb. 13. The City Council denied the library the funds because it was uncertain of funds it would have to spend to salvage an Amtrak route to Carbondale.

No representative from the library was present to comment.

Also at the meeting, Tom Redmond, Carbondale Development Services director, said Carbondale will start work on a comprehensive plan that will outline changes and economic growth within the city.

He said the previous plan adopted in 1979 is outdated and said it is time for a new plan.

Mayor Neil Dillard said he has appointed a 26-member commission of Carbondale citizens to assist Camiros Ltd., a planning company contracted to draft the new plan.

Representing SIUC on the commission will be James Tweedy, vice chancellor of administration, Kim Clemens, Undergraduate Student Government president and a representative from the Graduate and Professional Student Council.

A special City Council meeting will take place Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers to describe the planning process, Redmond said.

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The City Council also approved two other contracts with the city.

E.T. Simonds Construction Company received a contract for parking lot reconstruction for the new City Hall/Civic Center, at the northwest corner of Illinois Avenue and Walnut Street. The company’s bid for the project was 11 percent under the $247,505 estimate by the city engineer.

A tentative labor contract was approved with Carbondale and the International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO (Local No. 1961). The agreement provides a 3-percent pay increase for fiscal year 1997 and a $250 uniform allowance increase. Dillard said the last uniform increase for city fire fighters was in fiscal year 1991.

During the citizens comments and questions section of the City Council meeting, fifteen residents of Norwest Drive spoke to the City Council. They presented evidence of dirty water coming out of water pipes in their homes.

The residents brought dirty rags that had wiped glasses, pictures of bath tubs of dirty water and a jar full of water with mineral deposits. Residents said the water is ruining laundry and said they do not know if it is safe to drink.

Ed Reeder, Carbondale Public Works director, said the mineral deposits were caused by a dead-end pipeline. He said the city is trying solve the problem, but it is taking longer than planned.

Before the City Council meeting, the Liquor Control Commission fined K.I. Hideaway, 827 1/2 E. Main St., $250 for allowing patrons to remain in the establishment 26 minutes after close. Janet Vaught, City Clerk, said this was K.I. Hideaway’s second violation of allowing patrons to remain in the bar after close.