Administrators updated school board members on the impact of an online academic improvement platform during a meeting of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night. The discussion was a focal point of an otherwise brief and fairly uneventful meeting. The board took formal action to extend Supt. Shane Owsley’s contract, […]
Benld Council moves to abate bank building nuisance
In a relatively brief meeting Monday night, members of the Benld City Council agreed to pay for a recently completed structural engineer’s assessment of a former bank building at 223 East Central Avenue and to send a notice to the current owner, Real Tax Developers, along with a copy of the engineer’s report. The measures […]
Gillespie Council moves forward on new TIF district, tables action on Canna Theater for second time
Gillespie City Council members on Monday set a public hearing on a new proposed Tax Increment Financing district for 5:30 p.m., Monday, March 14, at Gillespie City Hall. Keith Moran of Moran Economic Development, participating in Monday’s meeting via phone, said the hearing will collect comments from interested parties, including persons living in the proposed […]
School board reviews state report card, ratifies $3.5 million property tax levy
Administrators from each of Community Unit School District 7’s three schools analyzed data from the Illinois State Board of Education’s annual report card during the regular meeting of the district’s Board of Education on Monday night. High school, middle school and elementary principals acknowledged lower scores on this year’s report, resulting primarily from the COVID-19 […]
Benld Council sets $113,000 tax levy, approves revised ward map
Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night approved a property tax levy of slightly more than $113,000, approved a new ward map, approved a spending resolution for the annual Motor Fuel Tax street maintenance program, and approved a new ordinance to assess fines on persons operating businesses within the city limits without a […]
Gillespie Council takes steps toward TIF district creation
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night took significant steps toward establishing a second Tax Increment Financing district, the objective of which will primarily be to spur new housing development in the city. Additionally, the council approved a new levy for 2021 property taxes to be collected in 2022, approved lake fee hikes, […]
School board eyes $3.5 million property tax levy
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night tentatively approved a property tax levy for taxes to be collected next year in the amount of $3.5 million. A Truth in Taxation hearing is set for the board’s next regular meeting in December, after which the board will officially certify […]
Benld Council debate focuses on trees
Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night approved resolutions to declare two properties as public nuisances, hired a third Maintenance Department employee, and reorganized the Zoning Board to purge city aldermen from membership. But it was an extensive, sometimes heated, debate about cutting trees that took center stage. Ald. Jim Tilashalski objected to […]
Vote on Canna Theater acquisition tabled by Gillespie Council
The much-anticipated vote on whether or not to take possession of the former Canna Theater was tabled until next month by the Gillespie City Council on Monday on the advice of City Attorney Dan O’Brien. Late in the meeting, O’Brien said his advice took into consideration the absence of Mayor John Hicks and the possibility […]
Gillespie Council eyes new TIF district
Gillespie City Council members voted on Monday night to start the process for establishing a new Tax Increment Financing district and ratified a long-awaited contract with city laborers, but a much-anticipated vote on whether or not to take possession of the former Canna Theater was tabled until next month on the advice of City Attorney […]
School board approves non-certificated contract
Meeting in special session Thursday night, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education unanimously approved a three-year contract with the union representing non-certificated employees. Calling for wage increases of 3.75 percent, the contract is nearly identical to the teachers contract adopted by the board in August. The action followed a 70-minute […]
Decision time approaches for Canna Theater
An ad hoc committee appointed by Gillespie Mayor John Hicks to investigate whether or not the city should accept donation of the 100-year-old Canna Theater building is expected to recommend taking ownership of the building when the full council meets Monday night. Even if the full council concurs, however, what the city does with the […]
School board approves annual financing audit, approves parent-funded GMS cross country
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted to accept a state-mandated financial audit prepared by Loy-Milley-Talley, PC, headquartered in Alton, Jerseyville and Greenfield. The action followed a summary presentation by Ken Loy, a senior partner in the firm. While the audit document gives the district a clean […]
Benld Council authorizes yoga classes at Civic Center
The Benld City Council on Monday night authorized a local yoga instructor to use the Civic Center to offer community yoga classes, voted to return a $900 donation to the donor, and voted dedicate upward of $193,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for water system maintenance and improvements. Council members voted 5-1 to […]
Gillespie Council weighs fate of Canna Theater
The Gillespie City Council on Tuesday night approved an ordinance authorizing a sewer rate hike and heard a presentation on city finances from City Treasurer Dan Fisher. But it was a lengthy discussion regarding the Canna Theater that took center stage during the council’s regular monthly meeting. The meeting was scheduled for Tuesday because of […]
School board approves $16.6 million budget
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night unanimously approved a $16.6 million budget for the 2021 fiscal year which began July 1. The newly approved budget exceeds last year’s budget by about $700,000, and projects ending the year $205,000 in the black. Both Supt. Shane Owsley and school […]
Saracco seated as interim Benld alderman
The Benld City Council on Monday night approved Mayor Jim Kelly’s appointment of Jerry Saracco as an interim city alderman to replace Ward 1 Ald. Brian Frensko, who submitted his resignation from the council last month. City Attorney Rick Verticchio administered the oath of office and Saracco was immediately seated on the council. Saracco will […]
School Board hires Transportation Director, votes to expel high school student
Meeting in special session Monday night, the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted unanimously to hire Tim Besserman as District Transportation Director, and voted to expel a Gillespie High School student. Board President Mark Hayes reportedly called the special meeting because of the time-sensitive nature of the disciplinary hearing and anticipated action […]
Gillespie City Council approves roofing contracts, discusses building inspections, permits
The Gillespie City Council on Monday night authorized upward of $58,000 in contracts to replace the roof on the Police Department building and make long-awaited repairs to the roof of the city hall/civic center complex. In other action, the council discussed possible problems with building inspections and building permits, approved trick-or-treating dates and times, and […]
School Board honors long-time member Dobrino, places fiscal 2022 budget on file for public inspection
The late Don Dobrino’s career and contributions to Community Unit School District 7 were recognized by the Board of Education Monday night during the board’s regular monthly meeting. The legendary football coach and long-serving school board member died July 4 after a lengthy battle with cancer. In addition to a 29-year career as head football […]
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