room in our wastewater just alone in that particular area to handle quite a lot of growth,” Mayor Shimer says. The oversized facility eliminates a common barrier that hampers development in similarly sized communities, where aging or maxed-out treatment plants force expensive upgrades before new projects can proceed. Water supply has no constraints either.The RobinsonPalestine Water Commission manages the system, providing abundant water resources for residential and commercial needs. Ameren is the primary electrical provider, while internet connectivity meets modern business requirements.“We have very good utility service. I would say we’re very pleased with that and we have plenty of room for expansion there too,” Mayor Shimer notes. The city maintains an aggressive ongoing infrastructure maintenance program rather than waiting for systems to fail.“We reline a lot of sewer lines every year. We have companies come in and upgrade that,” Mayor Shimer explains. Robinson recently completed a new sewer line installation from North Cross to North Jefferson Street, addressing a specific capacity need. The public works department operates its own filming equipment, allowing staff to inspect all wastewater and storm sewer lines internally.The city has mapped its entire underground infrastructure and upgraded filming systems within the past three years, creating detailed records that inform maintenance decisions and prevent costly emergency repairs. BUILDING A FAMILY-CENTERED COMMUNITY Mayor Shimer frames Robinson’s two-year priorities around a simple philosophy: “Keep people interested, informed, engaged, and inspired.” Housing expansion tops the agenda, alongside continued business community growth and downtown beautification. Working to enhance life’s possibilities Our Robinson refinery, located in Crawford County in southeastern Illinois, processes both sweet and sour crude oils and plays an essential role in supporting regional energy demands. 600+ employees 253,000+ barrels per calendar day of crude oil refining capacity Products Manufactured: • Gasoline • Distillates • NGLs • Petrochemicals • Propane • Heavy Fuel Oil Robinson Re nery 84 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 02
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