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 […]
Former Benld resident may underwrite Civic Center renovation
The Benld Civic Center may be in line for a major facelift, members of the Benld City Council were told Monday night during the council’s regular monthly meeting. Appearing before the council, retired Community Unit School District 7 administrator Ed Saracco said he recently was contacted by Rick DeStefane, who grew up in Benld and […]
School Board ratifies teachers contract
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted unanimously to ratify a three-year contract with Macoupin County Federation of Teachers Local 528. The action, taken during a special meeting of the board, ends weeks of negotiations that ultimately went to federal mediation. Under terms of the new contract, […]
Gillespie Council to consider sewer rate hike, finalizes dispatching deal with Ambulance Service
The Gillespie City Council is likely to vote on raising sewer rates as early as next month, City Treasurer Dan Fisher told council members Monday night during the panel’s regular monthly meeting. Fisher’s discussion followed the council’s approval of $40,000 in emergency spending to repair a deteriorating sewer line on Clark Street which feeds the […]
Burns named to school board
A long-time Gillespie High School teacher and coach has stepped into the school board vacancy created by the death of veteran school board member Don Dobrino. Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted unanimously to seat John “Jack” Burns of Benld to complete Dorbrino’s term during a special meeting of […]
School Board, teachers union seek federal mediation to reach contract agreement
School Board President Mark Hayes and representatives of the Illinois Federation of Teachers Macoupin County Local 528 disclosed Monday night that they will seek federal mediation to conclude negotiations on a new teachers’ contract. The union rejected the board’s initial offer last month alleging the offer did not meet expectations to meet cost of living […]
Timeline set to fill school board vacancy
A new member of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education is likely to be named and seated Wednesday night, Aug. 4, after the board meets in special session to interview candidates interested in filling the seat vacated as a result of board member Don Dobrino’s death. Dobrino, a former Gillespie High School […]
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