Members of the Benld City Council voted unanimously Monday night to adopt an annual appropriation ordinance limiting expenditures for the current fiscal year to $2,144,662. The appropriation for fiscal 2023 is nearly double the typical appropriation for the City of Benld primarily because of a $640,000 sewer improvement project expected to get underway later this […]

With upward of 60 residents crowded into the Gillespie Civic Center, city officials tried to allay concerns over the city’s water supply and warned that correcting the issues will take time. The hour-long confrontation took place during the regular meeting of the city council on Monday night. Residents complained about discolored water coming from their […]

In a relatively brief meeting, the Benld City Council on Monday night accepted a $16,785 bid to replace the sidewalk around the Benld City Hall, agreed to a one-time plan to pick up storm debris from residences, and dealt with a minor controversy over the purchase of five concrete planters. City Property Chair John Balzraine’s […]

Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night approved a $14 million appropriation ordinance for the current fiscal year, hired a new city police officer, and accepted the resignations of two city employees. Totaling $13,933,250, the annual appropriation covers anticipated spending for the fiscal year that began May 1 and nearly double last year’s […]

With a new city attorney in place, the Gillespie City Council on Monday night voted to draft a resolution dealing with public nuisance properties and heard from a group of Gillespie Middle School students advocating for volunteerism to address community issues. Early in the meeting, Mayor John Hicks introduced Rick Verticchio as his appointment to […]

Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to accept Derek Tiburzi’s high bid of $30,000 for six lots formerly occupied by First National Bank in the 200 block of East Central Avenue. The two-story brick structure that formerly occupied the site was razed by the city last month. Tiburzi submitted the […]

Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to approve ordinances creating the city’s second Tax Increment Financing District, approved a five percent increase in water rates charged to satellite water customers, and approved a controversial purchase of a Bobcat skidsteer along with new tread tracks for the machine. In separate actions, […]

Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night approved a three-year contract with the Laborers Union covering the city’s three maintenance workers and voted to offer for sale three properties on Central Avenue that are or soon will be in the city’s possession. Without taking formal action, the council also agreed to make Benld […]

The Gillespie City Council took another significant step toward establishing a new Tax Increment Financing district, conducting a public hearing on the issue prior to Monday night’s regular council meeting. The hearing, a required step before formally establishing the district, was scheduled for 30 minutes but Keith Moran of Moran Economic Development, Edwardsville, fielded questions […]

With expected increases in the cost of materials, members of the Benld City Council voted unanimously to seek bids for an extensive sewer improvement project on the city’s east side. The city has been approved for a $505,000 Community Development matching grant administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The city is […]

After months of sometimes acrimonious debate, the Gillespie City Council on Monday night voted 4-3 to reject the Assembly of God Church’s offer to transfer ownership of the deteriorating Canna Theater to the city. Ald. Dona Rauzi cast the deciding vote, saying she was “torn” between accepting or rejecting the offer. Despite the vote, Mayor […]