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 […]
Gillespie Council, Police cite young crime stopper
While concerns about water quality dominated Monday night’s meeting of the Gillespie City Council, the council dealt with a number of items including a Certificate of Appreciation award presentation to Zavier Allen Hogskins, a young boy who told his parents about suspicious activity when he saw a male subject stealing a bicycle in his neighborhood. […]
Residents seek water quality answers from Gillespie City Council
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 […]
School board votes to lease three new buses
Members of the Community Unit Community School District 7 Board of Education voted Monday night to commit to a five-year lease for three new school buses, agreed to make middle school softball a school-funded sport and approved an amended 2021-22 district budget. With an aging bus fleet threatening to siphon money for repairs, the board […]
Benld Council approves sidewalk bid
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 […]
Gillespie Council approves appropriation, hires police officer
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 […]
School board eyes school funding for GMS softball program
The Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education is expected to vote next month on whether or not to transition the Gillespie Middle School softball program from a parent-funded to a school-funded activity next year following an extensive discussion of the issue during the board’s regular monthly meeting Monday night. The discussion comprised nearly […]
Benld Council accepts sewer project bid
Members of the Benld City Council voted unanimously Monday night to award a $619,347 contract for a long-awaited sewer improvement project to Haier Plumbing and Heating, Inc., Okawville. Jesse Maynard, an engineer with HMG Engineering, said Haier provided the lowest of five bids received from potential contractors. Bids were opened May 5 and ranged from […]
Gillespie Council eyes derelict properties
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 […]
School Board names successor for Alepra
Two weeks after accepting the resignation of Vice President Jenni Alepra from the board, the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night named Amanda Ross, Gillespie, as Alepra’s successor and elected Weye Schmidt as the board’s new Vice President. Alepra resigned last month after nearly two decades of service to the […]
School board member Alepra resigns
Community Unit School District 7’s Board of Education on Monday night accepted the resignation of a long-serving member and approved a new class schedule for the 2022-23 school year designed to provide additional instruction time without increasing the amount of time teachers are on the clock. Board President Mark Hayes said it was “with a […]
Benld sells surplus property for potential commercial development
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 […]
Gillespie Council moves forward with TIF district, votes to approve skidsteer purchase
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, […]
School Board hires teachers for 2022-23, posts positions for summer school
In a meeting heavy on personnel action, the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night rehired tenured and non-tenured teachers for the 2022-23 school year, and voted to post vacant teaching positions for summer school classes set to begin in a few weeks. On a motion by Jennie Alepra, seconded by […]
Benld Council approves union contract, offers condemned properties for sale
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 […]
TIF district consultant fields questions during public hearing
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 […]
School board renews building principals’ contracts, tables action on renewing skyward software
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night recognized this year’s crop of Illinois State Scholars, heard an extensive presentation regarding the school district’s bond status, and agreed to hire an area accounting firm to conduct the district’s annual audit. But the board balked at renewing a contract with […]
Amid anticipated increasing costs, Benld Council moves to seek bid for sewer improvement project
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 […]
Gillespie City Council rejects Canna Theater offer
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 […]
Gillespie School Board rescinds student masking mandate – for now
Meeting in special session Monday night, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to rescind its long-standing policy requiring students and staff to wear face coverings on campus. The action comes just days after Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow signed a 29-page temporary restraining order on […]
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