Michelle Smith, President of the local Federation of Teachers union, addressed the Gillespie CUSD 7 school board Monday evening to express the union’s desire that remote teaching and in-classroom teaching will be approached separately in the coming school year. Smith thanked the administration and Board of Education for their support of teachers and students during […]
School Board hires summer school teachers, offers district-owned city lots for sale
Gearing up for an expanded program, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night approved hiring teaching staff and non-certificated staff for this year’s summer school. The action followed formal certification of election results and swearing-in of three members re-elected to their seats during the consolidated election earlier this […]
Benld Council approves new library board liaison, amends rental agreement to reflect COVID restrictions
Benld City Council members on Monday night approved Mayor Jim Kelly’s appointment of Ald. John Balzraine to serve as the council’s liaison to the Benld Public Library Board of Trustees and voted to amend the rental agreement for city-owned facilities to reflect current COVID restrictions. The council ratified Kelly’s appointment of Balzraine shortly after the […]
School Board approves return to in-classroom learning, authorizes prom to be held
A year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced local schools to switch to remote learning, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education took several actions Monday night to start the long journey toward normalcy, including approval of the administration’s plan for reinstating in-classroom learning. The board also posted vacancies for teaching positions […]
Benld Council eyes demolition of downtown storefronts
An eyesore marring downtown Benld for nearly a decade may be removed in the near future as a result of action taken by the Benld City Council during the council’s regular monthly meeting Monday night. On a motion by Ald. John Balzraine, seconded by Ald. Mickey Robinson, the council voted unanimously to authorize Mayor Jim […]
Gillespie Council accepts attorney resignation, approves bee-keeping project at water plant
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night accepted the resignation of long-serving City Attorney Kevin Polo, approved an environmentally friendly bee-keeping project at the city’s water treatment facility site, and approved a $190,000 payment to Haier Plumbing and Heating and Curry and Associates as the city’s aggressive water infrastructure replacement project winds down. […]
School Board extends principals’ contracts
In an exceedingly brief Monday night meeting, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education unanimously voted to extend the contracts of all three building principals, contingent upon each of the administrators meeting agreed-upon goals for the coming year. The action followed a 90-minute executive session during which the board apparently discussed […]
Benld Council beefs up inspection ordinance, votes to purchase pump, aerator
Benld City Council members voted Monday night to amend the city ordinance requiring inspections of residential rental properties and voted unanimously to purchase a pump to replace a unit damaged by cold weather, as well as an aerator for the city’s sewage treatment lagoon. Council members also heard a brief update on plans to redevelop […]
Gillespie Council eyes development plan, votes to increase bulk sewage rates
Members of the Gillespie City Council voted Monday night to draft a “letter of support” authorizing Peace Corps Fellow Ethan Fogg to initiate work on a plan to guide the city’s long-term economic development efforts. The council also approved a measure to increase bulk sewage rates and voted to hire a full-time police officer. Fogg […]
Gillespie Council amends FOP contract
Gillespie City Council members voted Monday night to amend the city’s contract with the Fraternal Order of Police, the union representing local police officers in collective bargaining negotiations. The action took place during a special meeting of the council held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled committee meeting. The amendment provides for paying a bonus […]
School Board votes to return to five-day in-classroom instruction
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to return to in-classroom instruction five days a week as of Monday, Jan. 25. The action was approved on a motion by Jenni Alepra, seconded by Weye Schmidt. As a result of the action, Wednesday will no longer be a […]
Benld Council eyes grant application
Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night voted to start the process of gathering information with an eye toward applying for a Housing and Urban Development Abandoned Properties grant to pay for demolishing dilapidated housing units in the city. Last week the City of Gillespie took a pass on seeking a grant under […]
Gillespie Council hears financial report detains, eyes grant program to raze abandoned properties
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 […]
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