A municipal auditor warned Gillespie city officials Monday night that city revenues are likely to be down in the coming months due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local economic activity. Brenda Masterson, an accountant with Fleming & Tawfall, CPAs, delivered comments on the annual municipal audit during the regular monthly meeting of […]
Board votes to re-open schools for in-classroom learning
Community Unit School District 7 students will have the option of attending in-person classes when the winter break ends on Monday, Jan. 11 as a result of action taken by the Board of Education during a special meeting Thursday night. On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Jenni Alepra, the board voted unanimously to […]
Peace Corp Fellow allied with Grow Gillespie for community development efforts
A 28-year-old Peace Corps Fellow from Western Illinois University has moved to Gillespie to begin an 11-month internship to bolster community and economic development efforts undertaken by Grow Gillespie, the local volunteer group focused on Gillespie’s economic growth. “What I’m going to be doing is help them get on the path to achieve their long-term […]
Manar stepping down from Senate to assume senior advisor spot with Pritzker administration
State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), who catapulted from local politics to became a prominent voice in the Illinois Senate, will step down from his 48th District Senate seat, effective Jan. 17, and assume duties as a senior adviser to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker two days later on Jan. 19. Pritzker announced Manar’s appointment via […]
School board approves tax levy proposal, hears vocational shop expansion update
In a relatively brief meeting, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night gave final approval for the district’s 2020 property tax levy proposal for taxes to be collected in 2021. The proposed levy totals $3,418,604, compared with last year’s total extension of $3,128,969. Because the levy totals more […]
Benld Council waives liquor license fees for 2021
Taverns suffering financially from state-imposed closures due to COVID-19 in Benld will have a reprieve from paying for liquor licenses for the coming year as a result of action taken by the Benld City Council Monday night. With one dissenting vote, the council approved the measure to waive all but $10 of the $400 license […]
Gillespie Council approves levy, sets May 1 labor celebration
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night approved a property tax levy for 2020 taxes to be collected in 2021 amounting to more than $357,000, and agreed to close a portion of Chestnut Street on May 1 for a labor celebration in connection with the dedication of a historic site market to be […]
School Board votes to return to remote learning
With half of its members participating remotely via the Zoom remote conferencing platform, the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night set a public hearing for the 2020 property tax levy, reviewed this year’s “school report cards” and voted unanimously to return to remote learning, effective Nov. 30, due to an […]
Benld Council approves tax levy of $113,000
Members of the Benld City Council voted 4-1 Monday night to approve a municipal property tax levy in the amount of $113,081.76 for 2020 property taxes to be collected in 2021. The levy is approximately $5,000 less than last year’s levy due primarily to the mid-year deactivation of the Benld Police Department. Complying with the […]
Gillespie Council hires legal counsel for labor issues, agrees to participate in year-long peace corps program
Meeting primarily via the Zoom remote conferencing platform, members of the Gillespie City Council on Thursday night voted to partner with Grow Gillespie to bring a Peace Corps community development specialist to Gillespie for 11 months and agreed to hire outside legal counsel to work on labor relations issues. The meeting was reconvened from an […]
Gillespie Council defers majority of meeting agenda to Thursday night
With most of the municipal government in quarantine, the Gillespie City Council took action on issues requiring immediate attention Monday night but deferred the bulk of the previously announced agenda to Thursday night when the council will meet via the Zoom remote conferencing platform. Thursday’s adjourned session is set to convene at 6 p.m. “We’re […]
Macoupin voters overwhelmingly support Trump, Republicans take control of Macoupin County Board
With the outcome of the Presidential election still in doubt, Macoupin County voters overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump in yesterday’s general election balloting. Additionally, Macoupin County voters ousted three incumbent Democrats and one Independent on the Macoupin County Board, replacing them with Republicans and giving the GOP a majority on the 18-member board. County voters cast […]
CUSD 7 School Board accepts annual audit, switches insurance carriers
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night accepted an annual audit of funds required by the state and voted to switch insurance companies for liability, property, vehicles, and other coverage to take advantage of a significantly lower premium for the year. The board voted unanimously to accept the […]
Benld Council renews liability insurance, accepts bid to replace men’s room floor
In a brief, fast-paced meeting Monday night, members of the Benld City Council voted to renew the city’s liability insurance policy with the Illinois Municipal League and agreed to spend $3,775 for repairs to a restroom floor at the city park. With few items on the agenda, the meeting concluded within 25 minutes, including a […]
Gillespie Council to resume water shut-offs in November
Members of the Gillespie City Council voted Wednesday night to resume water shut-offs for delinquent customers as of Nov. 14. The council also approved a deal with Adam Tallman, owner of Dingers batting cages, to expand the parking lot at the Gillespie Police Department station, agreed to investigate a complaint about alleged stormwater diversion from […]
CUSD 7 School Board approves $15.9 million budget, approves resolution to use e-learning in lieu of snow days
A budget approved by the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night calls for more than $755,000 in deficit spending largely due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on both expenditures and revenue for the current fiscal year. The board approved the budget on a motion by Jenni Alepra following […]
School Board votes to return students to classrooms
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted 6-1 during a special meeting of the board Wednesday night to reopen district schools for a hybrid attendance plan starting on Monday, Oct. 5. Upward of 20 community members, several of whom had been vocal advocates for returning students to the classroom, attended […]
Benld Council sets dates, times for trick-or-treating
Despite concerns over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Benld City Council members voted 3-1 Monday night to set trick-or-treating hours from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31. The issue was not on the council’s previously published agenda. Ald. John Balzraine, objecting to the idea of allowing trick-or-treating during the pandemic, voted […]
School Board stays the course with remote learning plan
Several parents of Community Unit School District 7 left disappointed after the Board of Education declined to take action on reversing or reaffirming the district’s remote learning plan currently in place during a special meeting of the board on Wednesday night. Five mothers of CUSD 7 students urged the board to reopen the district for […]
Benld Council hires ordinance enforcement officer
Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night approved the appointment of Jason Simmons, Brighton, as a part-time ordinance enforcement officer for the City of Benld. Mayor Jim Kelly’s recommendation to hire Simmons was approved on a motion by Ald. John Balzraine, seconded by Ald. Dustin Fletcher. “Anything I can do to help improve […]
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