Relief Work Starts Aug. 15 in Marion
Marion Mayor Robert Cooksey reported to the City Council Monday general assistance recipients will begin a work program in the city on August 15.
He said the city will have to arrange tools and water supplies for 50 to 60 men who will begin work with improvements of drainage of Mule Creek.
Commissioner Bob Yearack requested a group of the men to be used to clean up the city’s dump. Cooksey said they can be used for any drainage improvements and to eliminate “any unsightly conditions.”
(Southern Illinoisan, August 9, 1960, Page 2)
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Shrinking Relief Rolls End Project
Work on drainage projects by general assistance recipients in Marion will end Saturday because there are no longer enough men on the relief rolls; Mayor Robert Butler was notified Tuesday.
The Williamson County General Assistance office notified Butler by letter that there are not enough able bodied men on rolls to warrant continuing the project.
Butler said four years ago, there would be about 120 men working on projects at the start of each month. Some had as much as 120 to 160 hours a month to work at the rate of $1.50 an hour to earn their allotments.
The number was down to 10 to 12 at the start of each month with a maximum of 56 hours to work out.
The Illinois Public Aid Commission has carried on a program of educational and vocational schooling to train welfare recipients for jobs. Many have obtained jobs in the area industries or have moved to jobs elsewhere.
Employment of Carl Kelton as supervisor of project workers at $350 a month paid by the state was not justified because of the few men working at the start of each month and none working after the first week and a half.
Butler said the welfare workers “did a lot of good” on their projects.
They cleaned out creeks and ditches running through the city, which has helped to eliminate flooding conditions.
The program was started in 1960.
(Southern Illinoisan, July 12, 1967, Page 3)