Community News
Gillespie Council approves $17 million appropriation, eyes boundaries for proposed new TIF district
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night approved the annual appropriations ordinance, got a first look at boundaries proposed for a tentative new Tax Increment Financing district, hammered out details of a counter-offer on a contract to provide dispatching services for the Gillespie-Benld Area Ambulance Service, and approved a zoning change that paves the way for a new drive-in restaurant on the city’s southeast side.
The council again met via the Zoom conferencing system due to COVID-19 pandemic precautions with some members and officials meeting in the Gillespie Civic Center and others participating from their homes.
City aldermen voted unanimously to approve a $17,211,450 appropriations ordinance governing municipal spending for the fiscal year that began May 1. Though required by law, the appropriations ordinance is not a formal budget. Instead it sets the maximum amount that can be spent for specific line items. Though rare, municipalities can amend the ordinance if emergency expenditures are required.
Once again the 2020-2021 appropriation appears inflated because of the ongoing $10 million water infrastructure improvement project. Before work began on the project, annual appropriations typically totaled less than $6 million. The newly approved appropriation exceeds last year’s appropriation of $16,901,650 by $309,800. Because of the water infrastructure project, the lion’s share of the appropriation is devoted to the Water Department. A total of $12,177,500 is appropriated for the Water Department, compared with $12,220,500 a year ago. Stripped of the $10 million earmarked for the infrastructure project, the base appropriation for Water Department operations is about $2,177,500.
The ordinance appropriates $1,296,400 for General Administrative Expense, compared with an appropriation of $1,280,900 last year. The line item includes $1 million in state funds included in a Capital Project Bill approved last year by the state legislature. Two years ago, the General Administration appropriation was $271,500.
One of the largest increases in the appropriation is for the Police Department, whose appropriation grew from $822,500 last year to $1,059,500 this year to cover anticipated additional costs associated with providing police protection services to the City of Benld.
A total of $891,000 is appropriated for the Street Department, compared with $826,000 a year ago. The Sewer Department appropriation is increased from $533,660 last year to $545,160 for the new fiscal year. The appropriation for Recreation and Parks gets a moderate increase from $442,200 last year to $450,200 this year. Emergency Services and Disaster Administration (ESDA) and the Gillespie Public Library both have slight increases in their appropriations to total $21,400 and $40,670, respectively. The FICA appropriation also is increased from $97,000 last year to $110,000 this year.
All other appropriations are identical to last years as follows: Salaries of General Elective and Appointed City Officials, $39,820; Administrative Building (which includes repairs and maintenance), $64,800; Parks and Recreation Areas, $47,000; Municipal Band, $3,000; Liability Insurance, $50,000; Motor Fuel Tax Fund, $200,000; and TIF Fund, $215,000.
City Treasurer Dan Fisher presented the appropriations ordinance during a brief public hearing held 15 minutes prior to Monday night’s regular meeting of the council.
PROPOSED TIF DISTRICT
Keith Moran of Moran Economic Development, LLC, presented a map showing tentative boundaries for a proposed new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district on the city’s northwest side, and asked council members to identify derelict properties that he might be able to include in the district by adjusting the boundaries. Properties within the district must be contiguous, he noted. To facilitate that requirement, the map also shows a city-owned railroad right-of-way and other city-owned properties that could potentially be used as stepping zones to connect properties identified with the new TIF district.
Substantial portions of the proposed TIF districts are city-owned properties, including property occupied by the city’s water treatment plant. Moran emphasized his map is tentative and subject to revision on the basis of council recommendations. As it stands, the roughly L-shaped district is bounded by Harding Street on the north end and Broadway on the south end, Montani Avenue of the west and Western Avenue on the east side.
‘We’re hoping you guys could identify additional areas that could benefit from included in a TIF district,” Moran said. He asked council members to provide him with addresses for derelict buildings that could be torn down and replaced, which would improve the tax base, benefit the school district and address complaints from neighbors living near neglected properties.
TIF districts capture increases in property tax revenue for a Tax Increment Financing Fund, which can then be used within the district for infrastructure improvements and other improvements. Moran said the city’s current TIF district, which basically encompasses the downtown business district, generates $50,000 to $60,000 in revenue for the city annually. The area he tentatively included on the map, he said, represents a potential for housing developments featuring energy-efficient homes utilizing solar power. Such developments, he said, could add to the housing stock, encourage new residents to locate in Gillespie, and benefit local businesses.
Finalizing the boundaries and applying for TIF district status remains in the future. “What we’re looking at now is what properties to include in the district,” he said. “What all communities should consider in establishing a TIF district is identifying which properties would benefit most from being included.”
“This could be a very effective way to obtain funding to rehabilitate some derelict properties,” City Attorney Kevin Polo commented. “If the aldermen can identify derelict properties in their wards, then Keith can plot them on a map and see if there is a way to incorporate them into a TIF district. We have some city-owned property we can use as corridors. We have a railroad right-of-way that basically runs all the way through town and we have some vacant lots. Those are ideal because they are currently vacant, so any development with be captured by the TIF.”
Moran expects to present a revised map next month incorporating as many properties identified by council members as possible.
AMBULANCE COUNTEROFFER
After several minutes of discussion, the council agreed to send a counteroffer to the Gillespie-Benld Ambulance Service after the Ambulance Service board of directors rejected the city’s proposed contract asking the service to pay $26,000 per year for dispatching services. The city police department has provided dispatching for the ambulance service for many years but as the ambulance organization expanded its service area, the amount of time devoted to dispatching ambulance drivers has increased. Previously, the ambulance service made a “donation” of $5,000 per year, ostensibly as compensation for dispatching services.
City Treasurer Fisher said city officials analyzed the cost of dispatching ambulances and asked the ambulance service to pay about half of what the city estimates it spends on dispatching ambulances. The ambulance service submitted a counter-offer of $10,000, which Fisher described as substantially less than what the city sought.
“Their argument is that we have to pay our dispatchers anyway, whether they are dispatching ambulances or not,” Fisher said. “But the ambulance service covers a larger area now, but we’re the only paying that cost.” He said dispatchers handle an average of 172 calls per month for ambulance calls, more than 90 percent of which are nursing home transfers. “Those aren’t residents of Gillespie,” Fisher said. “They’re nursing home residents” who may have come from surrounding communities are even cities like St. Louis.
He said dispatching ambulances does indeed add to the workload and to the city’s expense. Logging calls, for example, require dispatchers to keep two sets of records since the ambulance service uses a different system from the one used by police.
Ald. Dona Rauzi said she estimated it would cost the ambulance service upward of $81,000 to provide its own dispatching system. She also indicated her research showed the ambulance service has cash assets of $1.4 million, suggesting that asking the service to pay a portion of the dispatching bill would not constitute a debilitating financial burden.
“We’re not even asking for one percent of that,” she said. “We’re not asking for half or 30 percent.”
Ultimately the council agreed to go to the ambulance board with a counter-offer asking for $15,000 in the first year of a three-year contract, $17,500 in the second year and $20,000 in the third year. Additionally, under the proposed contract, the ambulance service would pay $7.50 for each call in excess of 220 per month in the first year, $7.75 in the second year and $8 in the third year.
Ald. Jerry Dolliger noted that the ambulance service currently does not charge the city when ambulances are summoned by city police or city workers on the job. “That could change,” he warned.
“They don’t charge Carlinville or Mount Olive either,” Polo countered, “but they don’t provide dispatching for them.”
Representing the ambulance service board, Josh Ross joined the meeting by phone. He said the board would meet in a couple of weeks to consider the new proposal. “My concern would be the incremental increases each year,” Ross said. “That’s going to coincide very closely with when we get hit with minimum wage increases. I will take this back to the board. We appreciate the council’s willingness to consider a multi-year contract.
ZONING AMENDMENT
With a unanimous vote, the council ratified the Zoning Board’s recommendation to change the classification for a lot located west of the former Drew Ford used car lot from residential to commercial. The change will allow Jeff Johnson, Bunker Hill, to proceed with plans to build a Village Drive-In restaurant at 241 West Pine Street.
Johnson, who owns the Bunker Hill Village Drive-In, plans to build a two-story building to house his business. The restaurant will feature a drive-through window that exits onto Illinois Route 4.
“I think it will be an asset to the community,” said Ald. Dallier who moved to approve the Zoning Board’s recommendation.
ORDINANCE VIOLATION PROTOCOLS
A citizen’s complaint about dog owners allowing their animals to defecate in his yard led to a larger discussion about ordinances and protocols aldermen should follow when dealing with ordinance complaints. Participating in the meeting via Zoom, Rick Fenton said he contacted Ald. Wendy Rolando about a dog walker allowing his animal to use his front yard without cleaning up after the canine.
Rolando said both she and the police spoke to the individual.
“If it happens again, he will be fined,” she said.
Polo agreed to prepare a draft ordinance after Rolando pointed out there is no specific ordinance requiring pet owners to clean up after their animals. The only relevant ordinance she could find, she said, is an ordinance addressing nuisance animals that cause “unsanitary, dangerous or offensive conditions.”
“It would be easier to enforce with a specifically worded ordinance,” said Polo, agreeing to present a draft ordinance next month.
Later, Rolando cited a need to establish a protocol for aldermen dealing with ordinance violation complaints. Without such a protocol, she said, aldermen are likely to handle complaints differently on a case-by-case basis. Earlier in the meeting, Police Chief Jared DePoppe endorsed the idea of writing a protocol for aldermen to follow.
“Right now, we’re not on the same page,” Rolando said. For example, she said she had given a property owner five days to clean up a public nuisance. Later she learned police give offenders seven days to correct such situations.
“I don’t want to get too hung up on the number of days,” Polo said. “These are not ordinance violation citations you’re writing, these are warnings. Bear in mind that if an officer writes a ticket, he’s going to give them a certain number of days, and if it goes to court, the court will give them a certain number of days.”
Polo agreed five days might be too brief because, if the warning is mailed, the property owner may have only one or two days to address the situation when the letter arrives. Ultimately, it was recommended that aldermen refer the issue to police if the property owner fails to abate the nuisance after receiving a warning from an alderman.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Approved pay requests in the amount of $284,783.33 to Haier Plumbing and Heating and $13,625.37 to Curry and Associates Engineers for work completed to date on the ongoing water infrastructure replacement project.
- Approved lake lease transfers as follows: Allan and Teresa Pettit, 9 Bishop Drive; Landan Pettit and Allison Dukes, 10 Bishop Driver; Rob and Angela Sandretto, 11 Bishop Drive; Frank and Karrie Lenihan, 3 Oak Lane; Rob and Tammy Masiero, 4 Oak Lane; Gary and Pam Sanner, 2 Walnut Lane; Brian and Judith Johnson, 2 Vegher Lane; Jody Siar, Sr., Picnic Lot 401-New Lake; and Stevie and Jeremy Johnson, Picnic Lot 382-New Lake.
- Approved payments from the TIF fund for materials used for improvements to the city garage.
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Representatives of a food management company pitched their vision for reshaping school lunch and breakfast offerings at Community Unit School District 7 schools during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education. Later, however, the head cook at BenGil Elementary School expressed doubts about what the company promised to deliver. “They make it sound like it’s all a gravy train,” said Jackie McKinney. “It’s not.”
No action followed a 20-minute presentation by Bill Fritcher, Business Development Associate, and Angie Eden, a food service worker, from Opaa! Food Management, Inc., Chesterfield, Mo. There was no clear indication whether the board or district administration is leaning toward contracting with the company.
Founded in 1978, Opaa! Provides food management services to more than 800 schools in 250 school districts spread out over seven states. The company serves 21 schools in Illinois, including the nearby Staunton, Litchfield, Jersey and Nokomis school districts. The company claims a 97 percent retention rate among its client schools.
Fritcher, a former administrator in the Neoga school district, said the company emphasizes home-cooked foods made from scratch. Opaa! provides both hot and cold entrees, and schools can tailor offerings to meet their needs and budgets. Hot entrees include items such as roast turkey, meatloaf, cheeseburgers, pizzas and spaghetti. The company also serves a variety of cold sub sandwiches. Again, depending upon the details of its contract with a school district, the company can provide a salad bar, along with fresh fruit.
Breakfast offerings can include hot or cold cereal, waffles, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast burritos. Some client schools offer a “breakfast on the go” option where students can grab a breakfast item during the mid-morning hours of the school day. As part of its service, Opaa! would provide an all-day “Gulp Station” with dispensers of lemonade, iced tea and water.
“There’s a lot of local control over menu items,” Fritcher said. “If a school doesn’t want us serving coffee to students, we don’t serve coffee.”
Fritcher said the school district would continue to set pricing for school lunches and breakfasts, collect payments and control the revenue stream. The district also would continue to own food service equipment and facilities. At a minimum, Opaa! would place it’s own employee as a food service manager, but other food service workers can be either Opaa! employees or employees of the school district. In either case, the school district would have final say over who is allowed to work in the school district.
“You’d have control of who is working in the school and is around your kids,” Fritcher said.
According to Fritcher, the company emphasizes presentation.
“We want the food to look good so kids will eat it,” he said. “We strive to make it enjoyable for the kids.”
Client schools submit photos of daily offerings to the home office for approval, Eden said. As an example, she cited an instance when she submitted a photo from Neoga that included broccoli as a side item. The home office said the broccoli looked too brown and demanded it be replaced with fresher produce.
Fritcher said the company employees an executive chef to create recipes and standards for food served to students. The chef has created a number of streaming videos used to train on site staff.
Key to the operation is a computer program for food management. Eden said the program monitors what food the district has in the freezer and pantry, and adjust menus to best utilize resources on hand. The program also provides a portal parents and students can access to see weekly menus.
A food management contract would be subject to state bidding requirements, according to Fritcher. To start the process, the district would create a Request for Proposals to solicit bids. If Opaa! Is the successful bidder, the company would offer a five-year fixed price agreement, renewable on an annual basis. Either party would be able to end the contract upon a 90-day notice.
During a public comment period, McKinney alleged Opaa!’s promises have not matched reality in nearby school districts. The head cook at Litchfield, she pointed out, quit soon after Opaa! took over. Pizzas and some other food items, she said, do not match the company’s claims.
“We were told this is not about the money, it’s about the choices,” she said. “If you want more options, someone needs to tell us.”
McKinney said she has been employed by the district in food services since 2002. The proposal to hire an outside food management company, she said, comes as “a slap in the face.”
McKinney predicted problems if the district contracts with Opaa!, particularly in the elementary school.
“I don’t see how our kindergarteners are going to be able to carry their own tray and serve themselves,” she said. “They’re going to drop their trays. We get our kids through the serving line in five minutes so they have time to sit down and eat. When they have to make their own tray, how long do you think that’s going to take?”
McKinney also predicted issues with food sanitation when young children with runny noses and/or dirty hands are expected to serve themselves from the food line.
McKinney said an outside company cannot be expected to know local students like local food service workers know them.
“I watch for a little boy who comes through my line every day because I know he doesn’t get food at home like he does here,” she said. “We’re here for the kids and I don’t think these people are.”
In a somewhat related matter which could facilitate transitioning to an outside food service, the board accepted with “regret” the retirements of head high school/middle school cook Penny Feeley and GHS/GMS cook Janice Hammann, both effective on June 30.
PERSONNEL
The board took action on a number of personnel issues following an executive session of about one hour.
In separate actions, the board voted unanimously to rehire the following fourth-year teachers and grant them tenure for the 2024-25 school year: Nikki Jenner, Katie Lievers, Alex Newton, Pete Visintin and Jacob West.
The following non-tenured staff were hired for the 2024-25 school year: school nurse Rachel Bouillon, fifth grade teacher Radeana Gentzyel, speech pathologist Kaylee Collins, special education teacher Jaiden Braundmeier, kindergarten teacher Jessica Yeager, fist grade teacher Sydney Owsley, band teacher Brad Taulbee, chorus teacher Ben McCullough, Tim Biggs, special education teacher Cory Bonstead, and Dalton Barnes.
On a motion by Peyton Bernot, seconded by Mark Hayes, the board rehired the following tenured teachers for 2024-25: Lorraine Strutner, Jody Dunn, Melissa Bussmann, Tracy Hostettler, Darrick Urban, Kara Saracco, Kelly Lyons, Holly Nejmanowski, Jennifer Parker, Anastasia Hobaugh, Cate Plovich, Amy Price, Nickie Barrett, Jessi Luketich, Mindy Savant, Karissa Smith, Beth Sees, Valerie Jubelt, Carrie Scott, Dana Tieman, Marcia Johns, Colleen Favre, Celia Jubelt, Jamie Schmidt, Nancy Schmidt, Lori Emmons, Vanessa Barrett, Amy Geddes, Lisa Ballinger, Amber Allan, Kim Henderson, Christina Blevins, Chase Peterson, Jessica Kelly, Tammy Garde, Nate Heinrich’s, Casey Edgerton, Kyle Lamar, Stephanie Wilson, Elizabeth Thackery, Shanna Conner, Matthew Browner, Jeremy Smith, Rachelle Prough, Jarrod Herron, Jill Stole, Korben Clark, Kayla Wills, Nikki Browner, Kevin McNichols, Katie Orange, Robert Macias, Casey Sholtis, Jennifer Brown, Jeff Nelhs, Mark Goldasich, Troy Barker, Michelle Smith, Holley McFarland, Michael Bertagnolli, Mary Schuette, Nichole Stoecker, Amy Goldasich, David Edgerton, Ashlee Gibbs, Stuart Ringer, Kelly Bully, Whitney Page and Stephanie Bray.
The board accepted “with regret” the retirement of BenGil Elementary teacher Dana Tieman, effective at the end of the 2027-28 school year. The board also accepted “with regret” the resignation for purposes of retirement of GMS paraprofessional Ella May Roemer, effective at the end of the 2024 fiscal year, and posted the position as vacant.
Board members accepted the resignation of high school paraprofessional Darian Gill, and posted the position as vacant. The board also accepted Gill’s resignation at the GHS/GMS cheerleading coach and posted that position as vacant.
Board members unanimously agreed to post vacancies for the following summer school positions: high school math, English and drivers’ education; middle school math, English and science; and six elementary positions. Additionally, the board posted two summer school food service positions.
The board accepted “with regret” the resignation of long-time GHS head women’s basketball coach Kevin Gray, and posted the position as vacant. The board also accepted the resignation of Korbin Clark as GMS seventh-grade basketball coach and posted the position as vacant.
The board voted unanimously to appoint Elizabeth Eaker as a volunteer assistant dance coach, pending verification of certification and a background check. In separate actions, the board agreed to appoint Foley Seferi and James Bryant a volunteer assistant high school football coaches, pending verification of certification and a background check.
By a unanimous vote, the board accepted the resignation of district custodian Owen Parker, and posted the position as vacant. The board also voted to post vacancies for two full-route bus drivers for the 2024-25 school year, and hired Billie Bowles as a substitute bus driver, pending verification of certification and a background check.
REPAVING
The board awarded a $62,524 contract to DeLaurent Construction Co., Inc., Wilsonville, to repave five district parking lots. DeLaurent was the low bidder for the project. The contract will be paid from proceeds of a $1.6 million alternate revenue bond sale for capital projects.
Supt. Shane Owsley reported that he is starting to gather estimates for other upcoming projects to be underwritten with bond revenue, including a project to refinish the high school gym floor, a project to reline the all-weather track and a major HVAC project.
SURPLUS WEIGHT ROOM EQUIPMENT
On Owsley’s recommendation, the board accepted a list of surplus weight room equipment and agreed to offer the equipment for sale via sealed bids. The equipment, which includes stationary bikes, running machines, free weights, benches, dumbbells and racks, was replaced with new equipment as part of a recently completed project to renovate and re-equip the weight room.
EARLY GRADUATION REQUESTS
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board unanimously approved early graduation requests for Maria Alger, Eliana Barrios-Madison, Owen Baugh, Gage Bonds, Abby Carter, John Q. Halterman, Eva Hidden, Felicia Lambert, Emma Luckshis, Ashley Markulakis, McKenna Montoro, Kaden Reiffer, Abigail Sharp, Jayden Stangle, Cooper Wentler, Ashton Whitlow and Avery Young. The students will be allowed to graduate at the end of their eleventh year of high school at the end of the current school year, provided all graduation requirements have been met.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, the board recognized high school women’s basketball coach Kevin Gray, who is retiring after a career of 16 seasons. High School Principal Jill Rosentreter noted that Gray led this year’s team to the Sectional Tournament in Beardstown after winning their first regional championship since 2012. The team also won its first County Tournament since 2002, and celebrated 26 wins—the most ever.
During the Carlinville Rotary’s All-Star Game, Gray was named Rotary’s Coach of the Year.
“On behalf of CUSD 7 and all you former players, we express much gratitude for your many years of service, dedication, leadership, wisdom and professional demeanor on and off the court,” Rosentreter told Gray.
Also during the District Focus, a group of fifth graders told the board about their recent field trip to Busch Stadium, where they learned about practical math applications and other subjects.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Gave final approval to the 2024-25 school calendar, calling for the first day of school attendance on Aug. 14 with the last day of school set for May 29, or earlier if no emergency days are used.
- Approved a schedule of board meeting dates for the coming year. The board will meet in executive session at 6 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month with the open session beginning at 7 p.m. The December meeting is set one week earlier on Dec. 16 to avoid conflict with the winter break.
- Awarded the annual bid to supply fuel to low bidder M & M Service Co., Carlinville.
- Voted to renew the district’s annual membership in the Illinois High School Association.
- Rescheduled the April board meeting from Monday, April 22, to Tuesday, April 23, to avoid a conflict.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Elm Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Biddle Street in reference to child abuse.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Walnut Street in reference to criminal trespass to property.
An officer was dispatched to Madison Street and Wilson Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Chestnut Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was out in the 400 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a security check.
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Abba Street in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of LJ Avenue in reference to a domestic battery. Regan M. Treadway, 22, of Hillsboro was arrested for domestic battery.
Gillespie Police Department assisted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department with a criminal investigation.
An officer was dispatched to the 900 block of South Madison Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Burton Street in reference to an ordinance issue of illegal burning. Charles H. Daubman, 62, of Gillespie was issued a citation for illegal burning.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a noise complaint.
An officer during normal patrol in the 100 block of South 7th Street in Benld noticed a trunk open on a vehicle. The officer made contact with the owners and they secured the trunk after checking it.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of North 4th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a male in reference to illegal dumping.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Hickory in reference to a civil standby.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South 2nd Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Easton Street in reference to a civil standby.
The School Resource Officer called in requesting assistance in reference to a female student that had left the school.
TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Madison Street in reference to criminal damage to property.
An officer was dispatched to Route 4 by the nursing home to check on a person on a bike with no lights.
An officer was dispatched to Maple Street and Route 138 in Benld in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of East Spruce Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Gillespie Street in reference to juvenile issues.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a dog at large.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 300 block of North Macoupin Street in reference to an animal complaint.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and 2nd Street in Benld. Logan G. Lawson, 22, of Roodhouse was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop in the 200 block of North Hard Road in Mt. Clare. David E. Schmidt, 46, of Staunton was issued citations for speeding, expired registration, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Spruce Street in reference to illegal parking.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Jersey Street in reference to an open line 911 call.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Broadway Street and LJ Avenue. Candace N. Carlen, 36, of New Douglas was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference to a theft in the 200 block of West Oak Street.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious noise.
An officer was dispatched to West Dorsey Street and South Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to reckless driving.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Biddle Street in reference to a medical assist.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and Main Street in Benld. Esha V. Bhatt, 30, of Edwardsville was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Central Avenue and Main Street in Benld. Nicole L Richey, 34, of Wilsonville was issued a citation for speeding and expired registration.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South 4th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of 9th Street in Benld in reference to a suicidal subject
An officer was out with a suspicious person at Main Street and Spruce Street in Benld.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Macoupin Street and Elm Street. Walter L. Vester, 29, of Gillespie was arrested on a Glenn Carbon warrant for larceny.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Broadway Street and LJ Avenue. Jordan L. Jett, 23, of Hillsboro was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Litchfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to aggravated assault. Levi T. Kroll, 34, of Carlinville was arrested for aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, and operation of a vehicle with suspended registration.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of North 5th Street in Benld in reference to a theft.
An officer was dispatched to LJ Avenue where multiple vehicles were parked in a no-parking zone. After multiple announcements asking them to move, two vehicles remained and received citations. Jeromy J Moore, 47, of Greenfield and Matthew E. Raffety, 52, of Bunker Hill were issued citations for parking in a no-parking zone.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a domestic battery. Mitchela P. Zbornak, 34, of Gillespie was arrested for domestic battery.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Wilson Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a juvenile issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Madison Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of West Oak Street in reference to an ordinance issue for illegal burning.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Oak Street in reference to a possible burglary.
The School Resource Officer called in reckless driving in the high school parking lot.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 900 block of Springfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to retail theft and criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to Illinois Street and Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to a loud vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to a suspicious person.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Oak Street in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Chestnut Street in reference to a 911 hang-up call.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Oak for a 911 untraceable call the officers checked the area and were unable to find an emergency.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Illinois Street in Benld in reference to a medical assist.
An officer was dispatched to down wires at Dorsey Road and 1st Street in Mt. Clare. Ameren was contacted to remove the wiring.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Community News
Denby wins judicial nomination in three-way race; Trump, Biden top choices for Macoupin voters
Carlinville attorney Thomas Denby easily sailed to victory in a three-way race to be nominated as the Republican candidate for Resident Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge in Macoupin County in Tuesday’s Primary Election balloting.
Denby captured 63.26 percent of the Republican vote, easily besting Jonathan Verticchio’s 23.46 percent and Aaron Bellm’s 13.28 percent. In terms of raw vote numbers, Denby landed 2,534 votes to Verticchio’s 940 votes and Bellm’s 532 votes.
There were no judicial candidates for the race on the Democrat side of the ballot.
As a result of Tuesday’s election, Denby is likely to step into the office being vacated Resident Circuit Judge Kenneth Deihl, who was first elected as a Democrat in 2006, when he narrowly defeated Republican nominee Kevin Polo. It’s unclear whether or not the Democrat Central Committee can legally name a candidate to run against Denby in the General Election this fall, meaning Denby is the likely successor to Deihl.
There were no surprises locally in the Presidential races. Macoupin Democrats favored incumbent Joe Biden with 89.62 percent of the vote, while Republicans cast 83.39 percent of their votes for former President Donald Trump.
Although no longer a candidate, Nikki Haley gained 12.18 percent of the Republican vote. Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie and Ryan Brinkley each took less than three percent of the Republican vote. On the Democrat side, Biden’s support was eroded by 10.28 percent of the vote shared by Dean Phillips, Marianne Williamson and Frank Lozada.
A total of 5,741 voters cast votes in the Macoupin Primary, representing 18.67 percent of the county’s 30,757 registered voters. That could indicate a softening of interest in the Biden/Trump rematch. In 2016, when Trump and Hilary Clinton were nominated, a stunning 45.82 percent of Macoupin’s voters cast ballots in the primary election. Four years later, 23.54 percent of the county’s voters participated in the primary, despite restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the Republican nomination for U.S. Congressional Representative for the 13th District, Joshua Loyd took 57.28 percent of the Macoupin vote, compared with 42.72 percent for Thomas Clatterback. The Congressional vote mirrored voting district-wide in which Loyd took the nomination with 55.9 percent of the total vote. Loyd will take on freshman Representative Nikki Budzinski on the Democrat side, who ran unopposed for the nomination.
A number of county races were unopposed. On the Democrat side, incumbent Jordan Garrison took 1,387 votes for State’s Attorney, while incumbent Coroner Anthony Kravanya took 1,471 Democrat votes. On the Republican side Amy J. Ashby took 3,448 votes to be nominated for Circuit Clerk. Ashby becomes the likely successor to Democrat Lee Ross who is stepping down.
Though not likely, both parties could name candidates to run for county offices in November. Otherwise Garrison, Kravanya and Ashby will run unopposed for the General Election. A win by Ashby would make her the second Republican constitutional officer in the Courthouse. Two years ago, County Treasurer Amber McGartland became the first Republican elected to a Courthouse office since A.C. “Julie” Bartulis served as Treasurer in the 1960s.
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