HR1289 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1289 LRB098 22979 MST 61939 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize the Village of Fairmont City on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its founding; and

WHEREAS, On February 11, 1914, a petition was filed with St. Clair County to incorporate the Village of Fairmont City, and on March 3, 1914, with a population of over 300, the citizens voted in favor of incorporation; and

WHEREAS, Shortly after incorporation, ordinances were passed officially creating the village, establishing the municipal offices, and defining the responsibilities of office holders; the first village elections took place in April of 1914, and the budget for 1915 was established at $5,100; the first mayor of Fairmont City was Philip H. Cohn; and

WHEREAS, In 1936, Fairmont City Hall was built by the Works Progress Administration; the Mexican-American Society of Fairmont City was organized in 1941 for the purpose of providing assistance and social opportunities to the Mexican community; and

WHEREAS, The first Bottle Cap Tournament was held in 1972, and in 1989, Rose Lake School was demolished and the Gazebo Park was built; the Veterans Memorial was moved from the Granby Diamond to the new park; and

WHEREAS, Alex Bregen became Fairmont City's mayor in 1996; and

WHEREAS, Zinc has long been an important commodity to the people of Fairmont City; the Granby Mining Company from Granby, Missouri built a zinc smelter in the village in 1912; the beginning of World War I, in June of 1914, created a shortage of European zinc and increased the demand for American zinc; the American Zinc Company purchased the Granby Mining Company in 1916; in 1967, the American Zinc Plant closed; and

WHEREAS, As of 2010, Fairmont City boasts a population of over 2,600 people and stretches between St. Clair and Madison counties; and

WHEREAS, The citizens of Fairmont City will celebrate its founding on October 18, 2014, beginning with a parade to Granby Park, and ending with the activation of the park's new lighting; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Village of Fairmont City; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Fairmont City Mayor Alex Bregen as a symbol of our respect and esteem.