>>Rameen Karbassioon: Coming up on City Spotlight, we're talking Mattoon with the mayor of Mattoon, Tim Gover.

We will discuss the latest with the new public works building, as well as some other buildings projects, plus future work on Marshall Avenue.

We will also talk education in Mattoon with Mattoon High School Principal Michele Sinclair.

That's all next on City Spotlight.

[music plays] City Spotlight is supported by Consolidated Communications.

CCI is honored to salute the cities and their leaders in the area, as well as providing TV, Internet, and phone service for the local homes and businesses.

We live where we work, and are proud to support the communities we serve.

More information available at consolidated.com.Thank you to all of you for joining us for this latest edition of City Spotlight.

Today we're talking about Mattoon.

And joining me on set is the mayor of Mattoon, Tim Gover.

>>Tim Gover: Hello, glad to be here.

Always enjoyable.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Excellent, Tim.

Thank you for being on, and I believe it was about a year ago we taped our first City Spotlight, and we had you on to talk about Mattoon.

So, a year has transpired, and glad to have you on again.

And how did 2015 go for Mattoon?

>>Tim Gover: 2015 was great, and it doesn't seem like it's been a year.

We had a lot of good things going on in Mattoon in 2015, and so, you know, it was a good year overall.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Excellent, look forward to hearing some of your comments on things that have gone on and will be going on.

I think let's start with economic development, as we're taping here at the end of January.

And we had you on in August last time, and talked about possible new businesses coming to Mattoon.

Some have come, and they've started doing business in Mattoon.

What's going on there with new businesses in Mattoon?

>>Tim Gover: Well, back in 2015, among other things, Advanced Auto Parts opened.

We had the beginning of KC Summers GMC dealership start, and that is continuing now into 2016.

The Sears Hometown Store has opened in downtown Mattoon on Broadway.

A number of smaller businesses have opened.

We've had a number of expansions of businesses, and businesses that are looking to come to Mattoon in 2016.

We had a number of churches, in fact, that have actually had expansions that were either completed in 2015, started in 2015, or are continuing or will start in 2016.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: And what does that say from seeing those businesses, and even the churches, that's wonderful news, for these types of expansions moving forward, it's a bright future.

>>Tim Gover: I think it is.

And I think it shows that Mattoon is moving ahead, that we have good economic development, not only in Mattoon but in the surrounding area.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Okay, let's stick with buildings and some structural things that are going on.

And we talked about this a couple times now.

The new public works building, how is that going?

>>Tim Gover: We're starting on that, actually doing some groundwork on that now.

We hope to start the actual construction probably some time in the spring.

And speaking of that building, before we went on air you mentioned the old building or the one where we are now, which is located at 12th and Richmond.

When the new public works building is completed, that building at 12th and Richmond will be demolished.

And we have plans, I think we may have mentioned this in August, but we want to expand the bike trail.

The bike trail right now, whether you're talking about beginning or ending at the bike trail, is at 10th and Richmond.

And we would like to expand that to the Y.

And then eventually Dean Barber, our public works director-- [coughing] --Excuse me, has plans to expand that to 43rd Street.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Okay, so stretch across there, cover a lot of ground, and... >>Tim Gover: It will.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Avid bikers can look forward to that.

>>Tim Gover: And that's for long term.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Excellent, very good.

Let's talk about the old factory building there by the post office that's been there a number of years, and kind of part of the community, part of Mattoon.

And tell us a little bit about that old building.

>>Tim Gover: Yeah, that's a Young Radiator property.

And that is, as we are speaking right now, as you said taping in late January, that building is being demolished, or what remains of a number of buildings that are on that property.

That property will be cleaned up, and we're very thankful for that.

It's something that a number of different administrations have worked on for probably 20-plus years.

And that's taken a lot of work by a lot of people.

When I became mayor, I talked with our city administrator and city attorney, and I said I have two primary things on my agenda.

Number one, do something with Young Radiator.

Number two, let's clean up the city.

And so, we are after five-and-a-half years having something done with Young Radiator, and I'm proud that this is being done during the time that I'm mayor.

The cleaning up the city, we sort of labeled as "Community Pride."

And that's an ongoing process.

It's not something that'll ever end, it's continuing.

And as we get into the spring and summer, grass, weeds, etc., that'll continue, as well.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Something, as you said, you're very proud of, something that right off the bat when you became mayor you wanted to see accomplished, and about to happen, so... >>Tim Gover: Right, and that's with the cooperation of our city council, and our city attorneys, and our city administrator.

So, it's taken work by a lot of people to get that accomplished.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Very good.

Another building I want to ask you about, the Burgess Osborne Auditorium needs some repairs after some unfortunate damage done in November.

What's going on there?

When can we see repairs to the Burgess?

>>Tim Gover: They're underway right now.

There was an unfortunate incident, where a car ran into the building.

And so, it necessitated some major repair there.

In the process we also had received a grant, and we're doing some remodeling inside, making it more, I'd say people friendly, where maybe we can have more wedding receptions or other kinds of meetings there.

So, that's ongoing as we speak.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Beautiful building, many things done over there over the years.

Tim, and want to ask you for any comments you can lend to us on some recently donated property at 1812 Western Avenue to the PADS community organization.

They're looking for a new location for their operation.

And I understand they need to demolish the property there.

What can you add to that?

>>Tim Gover: Yes, the Kull family donated that property at 1812 Western, it's between Western and Prairie.

In fact, it's right across the street from City Hall, south of City Hall.

And that's about a 10,000 square foot building.

As I understand it reading in the newspaper, they plan to demolish that building and then put up, again as I understand it, a 4,000 square foot building on that property.

So, that will be I think a good location for them.

It's only about two blocks from where they are currently.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Okay, convenience of the location.

Thank you, Tim, for those comments.

>>Tim Gover: And it's not in a residential neighborhood, so... >>Rameen Karbassioon: Correct.

>>Tim Gover: That's one of the things that we were concerned about, and many people within our community were concerned that it would be in a residential neighborhood.

And this is not.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Alright, an update to something people have been talking about, that's been in the news.

Let's move forward and talk about construction on Marshall Avenue.

It's a three-phase project, you told me.

And when does that get started?

>>Tim Gover: That should get started this spring, as well.

Marshall Avenue is a very highly travelled street in Mattoon.

First phase will be from 6th Street to 9th Street, and that will be reconstructed, be concrete.

The intersection at 9th and Marshall will also be reconstructed.

All of that we expect to have done before school begins.

Then the next two years we will do the rest of it, from 9th to 17th Street.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Excellent, so much needed work there for heavily travelled road on Marshall Avenue in Mattoon.

As we conclude on the construction, road work type things, Tim, is there anything else you want to talk about, as far as construction of buildings or roadwork here in 2016?

>>Tim Gover: Well, we have our normal types of things.

We have some sidewalk projects, we have some road projects that are on the drawing board, that we plan to start and complete in 2016.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Okay, I think we talked before the show here, the taping, Heritage Park, any work there?

>>Tim Gover: Yes, glad you brought that up.

Heritage Park is located at 17th and Broadway, some land donated by the Lumpkin Family Foundation.

We had hoped to get started on that this past spring, but the bids came in way over our estimates.

And so, we had to do some tweaking of that and put that out for bidding again.

That came in then what we expected and wanted.

And talking with Dean Barber, our public works director, that will probably begin in the spring, as well.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Alright, look forward to that.

Tim, I want to ask you, it's been just a couple of days since the State of the State was given by Governor Rauner.

And state budget is something we've been talking about with other leaders here on City Spotlight since last spring.

And hoping to have it at the start of this new year.

Things are looking kind of tough for organizations, communities, higher education.

Your thoughts, Tim, on where things are with the state, and how it may affect Mattoon this year?

>>Tim Gover: Well, from what I've heard, it doesn't look like we will get a budget for fiscal year 2016 until after the November elections, when we'll really be into basically fiscal year 2017.

Right now we are working with our department heads and putting together our city budget, because the city fiscal year begins May First.

And so, it's sort of like it was last year.

It's beguess and begosh, because we don't know what to expect.

We're just going on what we hope will happen, and it's a pretty tough situation trying to build a city budget not knowing what state funds will be.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: And we've, you know, we've talked about the uncertainty with many leaders such as yourself, and have to deal with it a second time now.

And it's, you know, lingering, the uncertainty.

It's got to be tough in how you guys are able to deal with that and operate as a city.

>>Tim Gover: Well, it's tough for the cities, it's tough for the school districts, it's tough for Lake Land College, for Eastern Illinois University.

And of course that all has an impact on the area economy.

People working at the schools, college, university, do they want to do out and spend money when we don't know what's happening in the budget or the budget may be cut tremendously, and jobs may be eliminated?

So, it's having an impact throughout the state, and certainly within our local communities here.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Very good, and you tied into the next thing I wanted to ask you about.

Our two forms of higher education in Coles County, we have Lake Land College, Eastern Illinois University.

They're trying to maintain the education that's going on in their respective campuses.

We had Lake Land College President Dr. Josh Bullock on in December.

Tim, how does Lake Land College impact Mattoon?

>>Tim Gover: I think to a great extent.

We have people who live in Mattoon who work at the college as faculty or staff.

We have students who live in Mattoon that maybe are from out of town, but they may have an apartment or a room in Mattoon.

They shop in Mattoon.

And so, it has a major impact.

The college buys items from vendors in the City of Mattoon.

So, it has been a major contributor.

And we have a very, very good working relationship between the City of Mattoon and Lake Land College, and Eastern Illinois University and the community unit school district.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Are there any programs that Mattoon and Lake Land College work on together that maybe you want to highlight at this time?

>>Tim Gover: Nothing that I can think of specifically at this point.

But we do cooperate whenever it is necessary.

We meet with President Bullock on a regular basis, as well.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Okay.

Mentioned Charleston, and as we wrap up here, Tim, kind of the last thing I want to ask you about is that neighboring towns, Mattoon and Charleston here in Coles County, your staff as well as Mayor Brandon Combs' of Charleston staff, you guys meet on numerous occasions.

And once a year you hold a joint city meeting.

Once a year, two towns meeting together, what's that like when both staffs meet together for this joint meeting?

>>Tim Gover: Well, it's quite interesting.

We meet at the Lifespan Center.

We met not too long ago.

And we have all the council members from the two communities and our department heads from the two communities.

We meet, it's an official meeting for both Mattoon and Charleston.

We do some business legally, as we have to.

And it's been a very good meeting.

It's an opportunity for the people in both communities to get to meet one another.

It's open obviously to the public, and there were quite a few members of the public who did attend that meeting.

You mentioned Mayor Combs.

Mayor Combs and City Manager Scott Smith, and our City Administrator Kyle Gill and I meet on a monthly basis.

We alternate between meeting in Mattoon and Charleston.

Our department heads meet on a monthly basis, as well.

So, a great deal of cooperation between the two communities, as it should be.

As I've said many times, what's good for Mattoon is good for Charleston, what's good for Charleston is good for Mattoon.

So, working together we can accomplish much more than trying to work individually.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Alright, very good.

Glad to hear those comments.

And we'll have Charleston on here soon on City Spotlight again.

Tim, as we move along here at the very end of this show, is there anything that we've maybe missed or that you want to reiterate here, as we conclude?

>>Tim Gover: Well, I think we've covered most of the major things.

But I think we've got a very vibrant community.

I think the people of Mattoon, I speak of Mattoon but Charleston as well, but I think the people in this area are very good people.

And we work together, and we're moving ahead.

And that's what we have to do, always looking ahead for economic development.

I know our Mattoon City Council is very proactive, pro-business, and that has helped develop business within the community over the last several years.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Well, great to hear what's going on here as 2016 starts, Tim.

And best of luck, and we'll have you on again very soon.

>>Tim Gover: Well, thank you.

I appreciate it.

It's always enjoyable, and I wonder where'd all the time go so quickly.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: I know, it's flown by in one year.

We've had you on a number of times.

Now we look forward to having you on again.

>>Tim Gover: Thank you.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Mayor of Mattoon, Tim Gover, thank you for your time on City Spotlight.

>>Tim Gover: Thank you.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: And coming up next on City Spotlight, we'll talk education in Mattoon with Mattoon High School principal, Michele Sinclair.

But first, let's take a look at some of the upcoming activities going on in Mattoon.

[music playing] And we're back on City Spotlight.

We're now turning our attention to education in Mattoon.

And we're at Mattoon High School with the principal of Mattoon High School, Michele Sinclair.

>>Michele Sinclair: Hi, nice to be here today.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Excellent, thank you for taking the time to be on here, and we look forward to your comments about things going on here at MHS.

Before we get started, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

>>Michele Sinclair: Sure, I actually student taught here in the math department in 1983, so a long time ago.

Taught a couple of years math over at Arthur Junior/Senior High School, and returned to Mattoon High School in the fall of 1985, where I taught math in the classroom for 19 years.

And then in the 2004-5 school year, I became assistant principal.

I did that for five years.

And in the fall of 2009, I became the head principal.

So, been in that position since then.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Very good, and I want to hear about some of the programs going on here at Mattoon High School.

And let's start with the BIONIC program.

It's been going on a few years, and it's a mentoring program.

>>Michele Sinclair: It is, this is our third year for the program.

And there are actually four teams that help support students.

We've done a needs analysis of the kinds of problems that our students had transitioning to Mattoon High School.

And of course one of the major transitions is freshman year.

So, we have a huge freshman mentoring program.

We also have a grief team, because we know that many students, and faculty, and staff experience grief, and that can cause a disruption to their education.

And then we have the students who transfer in, and those students need mentoring and help acclimating to Mattoon High School.

And then we have a team where students who miss extended days get support and tutoring from our BIONIC students.

So, kind of an all-encompassing program that really addresses some of the needs that our students have.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Well, I was looking up things about goings on at MHS here, and I saw that Mattoon had a mentoring program.

Thats something that I would have loved to have back in my day at the high school, not personally with myself, but a lot of kids probably could use it.

So, how has it benefited, or maybe improve the atmosphere of the students here at Mattoon High School?

>>Michele Sinclair: Well, it's kind of a two-fold thing.

first of all, it really does help our freshmen and other students, as I mentioned earlier, in knowing that someone cares about them, they have someone to go to, they learn about the high school.

They learn how to navigate the lunch room, just simple things like that.

And also, the other side of it is that we're really developing leaders in our juniors and seniors.

And they're learning how to lead in a positive way.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: So, it's helping the students get around, feel better about themselves, and you're developing leadership skills for students.

Do you find that students that have gone through the program go on to be mentors themselves?

>>Michele Sinclair: I think this is what we really saw this year.

The juniors were the first group who had been mentored as freshmen.

And we had an overwhelming number of juniors who were interested in being a part of it.

And as a matter of fact, of our 120, 130 mentors, the vast majority of them, over 80, are juniors.

So, they saw positive and negative things, and they wanted to make a difference.

So, it's really changing the culture of Mattoon High School.

And those students stepping up and taking, really ownership in our school.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: I'm sure there's some other programs you may want to highlight, other programs, activities going on now into this school year.

What are some things you'd like to highlight?

>>Michele Sinclair: Well, one of the really cool things that we started in the 2011-12 school year was our positive incentive program.

So, students earn positive points for attendance, for no discipline, for their GPA, and for test scores that we give.

And then if they don't have any of those negative things like in school or out of school suspension, at the end of first quarter qualifying students with 70% of the points get a free pizza day.

And then second quarter if they have 75% of the points, we take them to a movie.

So, we have 753 qualifying students for movie days, which is taking place on February 12.

And then the third quarter if they have 80% of the points, then we take them to Six Flags.

So, from feedback from student surveys, one of the things they mentioned a few years ago was that, you know, everything was all consequential, and we didn't recognize students for doing the right thing.

So, that came as a result of input from our students.

We just have so many really cool things.

One of the things that I'm really happy about, in addition to what I've already spoken about, is the dual credit that we have.

And our students can, are coming out of Mattoon High School with 30-35 hours of college credit.

And this last two years, we've really tried to give more vocational opportunities to students.

So, we have nine students that are currently out at Lake Land in the morning in an automotive tech program.

And KC Summers actually paid the tuition for those kids, which is 1,500 dollars per student.

So, that's a huge thing.

And then we're also offering next year dual credit for construction skills, which is a program where students go and build a house every year.

It's another awesome opportunity for students who are in that vocational area.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: That's something that we've heard from other educators on City Spotlight, about opportunities for students to get out and learn work skills that could benefit them in the future moving forward.

Very good.

You've been here, you said a little over 10 years as the principal at MHS.

How would you describe the Mattoon school district as a whole?

>>Michele Sinclair: I think Mattoon High School and Mattoon school district as a whole is looked upon from the area schools as the leading edge of things.

I think we really try to stay on top of the research, do what's best for students.

You know, we're kind of a model for the area.

And I think that's the forward thinking of our upper administration, to be honest.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Okay, very good.

And talking about the community in Mattoon as a whole, kids growing up, people live here, work here.

What are some things that you like most about Mattoon, Illinois?

>>Michele Sinclair: Well, I like that Mattoon is a small community, yet big enough that it offers, you know, lots of opportunities for people, lots of places to work.

I raised both of my children here.

They both graduated from Mattoon High School and have gone on to be successful people.

And I feel like if you are motivated and you take advantage of the things that we have to offer, you can come out of here and do anything you want.

And we have many, many students who are very successful people in every aspect of life.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Okay, and I understand at the end of this school year, you'll be retiring.

And I know this is kind of a broad question, but whatever comes to the top of your head, what are some things you're proud of that have been accomplished here at MHS during the time you've been here?

>>Michele Sinclair: Well, there are so many things.

And probably one of them I think that gives me the greatest pride are actually the people.

We have an amazing faculty who just bends over backwards to help students.

And then there are the students themselves, who have grown, and it's so fun to watch them learn and grow, and become young adults.

And our support staff who just do everything they can to make things nice here for students.

So, I think the people that I'm leaving behind are going to be the thing that I miss the most.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: We know that the next Mattoon High School principal will be someone that we've had on City Spotlight not too long ago, Rich Stuart.

He's currently the Shelbyville High School principal.

And he worked here under you for a little bit.

And so, he's coming back to a place he's familiar with.

What is Mattoon High School getting in Rich Stuart?

>>Michele Sinclair: Rich Stuart is the kind of man who puts students' interests at heart first.

He's also someone who is a student of education.

In that respect, I think he does a lot of reading, and talking to people, and working with people.

And I know he'll do a fantastic job.

And I feel like I'm leaving Mattoon High School in good hands.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: And do you have any words of advice for Rich, coming in here to MHS, a place he's familiar with?

Now, he doesn't have to move too far from Shelbyville to Mattoon.

Any words of advice for Rich?

>>Michele Sinclair: I think if you always keep what's best for students at heart, you'll make the right decisions.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: We just covered a wide variety of things going on at MHS, yourself and MHS moving forward.

Is there anything else that maybe here as we conclude here with you that you'd like to bring up or highlight?

Something you're looking forward to?

>>Michele Sinclair: There are so many things, let's see.

I think continuing to grow our dual credit program and making sure that we have vocational opportunities for students.

I'd like to invite people to come to our extracurricular activities and support our students, and continue to support Mattoon High School and Mr. Stewart in the upcoming years.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: Well, thank you, Michele Sinclair, the Mattoon High School principal, for being on City Spotlight.

We appreciate your time.

>>Michele Sinclair: Well, thank you for having me.

>>Rameen Karbassioon: I would like to thank all of you for taking in this latest episode of City Spotlight, and we'll see you next time.

[music plays] City Spotlight is on youtube.

Past episodes can be viewed on East Central Illinois towns, that have been featured on City Spotlight.

Just search on youtube, City Spotlight with the show number, and the name of the town.

Listed on your screen are the recent episodes of City Spotlight.

[music plays] City Spotlight is supported by Consolidated Communications.

CCI is honored to salute the cities and their leaders in the area, as well as providing TV, Internet, and phone service for the local homes and businesses.

We live where we work, and are proud to support the communities we serve.

More information available at consolidated.com.

[music plays]