Community News
Benld considers impound lot construction
Pastor Larry Cook of Cornerstone Ministries presented a $720 donation to Police Chief Zirkelbach for the use of the Police Department.
The Benld City Council on Monday night referred to the Police and City Property committees the issue of whether or not the city should establish its own impound lot to hold vehicles impounded by the Police Department. The committees are expected to collect information, including the project’s total anticipated costs, before making a recommendation to the full council sometime in the future.
Ald. Teresa Tucker reported that the Police Committee had discussed the issue during its regular monthly meeting, along with the possibility of revamping portions of the city’s policies on vehicle impoundment.
Currently, the city contracts with an area auto repair shop to tow vehicles impounded by police. Those vehicles are either stored at the repair shop or simply parked unsecured behind the Benld Police Department. To redeem impounded vehicles, vehicle owners must pay the towing bill and a flat $50 fee for storage.
Establishing an impound lot, Tucker said, would enable the city to not only impound vehicles resulting from DUI or no-insurance arrests but also seize derelict cars that are in violation of city ordinances.
If the city chooses to establish an impound lot, Police Chief Jim Zirkelbach recommended revising the redemption ordinance to charge vehicle owners for the towing fee, plus $50 for the first day of storage and an additional fee for each day the vehicle is held. “If we do that, it will pay for itself pretty quick,” Zirkelback said.
[pullquote]Police Chief Jim Zirkelbach recommended revising the redemption ordinance to charge vehicle owners for the towing fee, plus $50 for the first day of storage and an additional fee for each day the vehicle is held.[/pullquote]
The city reportedly is looking at a location immediately to the north of the city maintenance building located near the city water tower. Zirkelbach the cost of materials alone for fencing would run $2,500 to $3,000 for a 50-by-50-foot lot capable of hold about 10 vehicles. Additionally, the city would need to install a relatively inexpensive surveillance camera for security. He said the potential location was selected in part because it already has adequate lighting.
No formal action was taken on the issue Monday night, but it is expected that the council will act on the committees’ recommendation, possibly as early as next month.
ELECTRIC POWER BID
Mayor Jim Kelly announced that a public meeting has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 26, with representatives from the Stone River Electrical Aggregate. The city contracts with the aggregate to supply electrical power, transmitted through Ameren Illinois power lines, at a reduced rated.
Kelly was previously given the power to act on accepting the company’s bids, which were opened last week. Kelly said the representative will discuss the new rates with local residents as well as residents’ options for “opting out” of the program if they wish.
[pullquote]My understanding is that you’re in unless you opt out.[/pullquote]
“I asked them if they would come down and explain things to our people,” Kelly said. “My understanding is that you’re in unless you opt out.”
The new rates, according to Kelly, are 4.3 cents per kilowatt hour from mid-December through mid-June, and 4.98 cents per kilowatt-hour from mid-June through Jan. 20. Last year’s rate was approximately 5.44 cents per kilowatt-hour.
POLICE DONATION
Early in the meeting, Pastor Larry Cook of Cornerstone Ministries presented a $720 donation to Police Chief Zirkelbach for the use of the Police Department. The money represented the proceeds from a recent Krispy Kreme donut sale conducted by church members to raise money for the police department.
[pullquote]We appreciate what the police department is doing.[/pullquote]
“People in this community must really like donuts,” Pastor Cook quipped.
“I’d like to thank you for what you did,” Mayor Kelly told Cook after the presentation.
“We appreciate what the police department is doing,” Cook replied.
Ald. Mickey Robinson announced that the Macoupin-Montgomery Chapter of CrimeStoppers announced last week that it is awarding a $500 grant to the Benld Police Department to purchase radio equipment for a recently acquired police squad car.
TRICK OR TREAT HOURS
Council members voted unanimously to set trick-or-treating hours from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, and Tuesday, Oct. 31. Additionally, on a motion by Ald. Brian Frensko, seconded by Ald. Lance Cooper, the council approved the purchase of up to $200 worth of candy for participants in the Head Start program’s Halloween parade and for a Trunk-or-Treat event at the Benld Public Library.
Mayor Kelly also announced that a city-wide clean-up day has been set for Saturday, Oct. 14. Residents with items to be picked up should have their items at the curbside by 6 a.m. In addition to the city-wide pick-up program, Kelly said a truck will be available at the city park to collect used electronic devices. A fee may be charged for some electronics, such as large television sets.
NUISANCE PROPERTIES
Council members voted unanimously to advertise for bids to demolish a condemned property at 416 South Main Street. The council asked City Attorney Rick Verticchio to add a provision to the bid specifications requiring the successful bidder to fill any wells that might be discovered during the demolition.
The council also approved a resolution declaring the property at 105 South Fifth Street to be a nuisance property and authorizing Verticchio to pursue legal proceedings against the property.
Police Chief Zirkelbach reported that the property recently was signed over to the state because the owner currently is a nursing home patient.
Verticchio expressed surprise that the state would accept the property and said he would pursue the state to abate the nuisance.
After some discussion, the council agreed to have the Police Chief contact the owner of property in the 300 block of North Seventh Street, where a business allegedly is being operated without a business license in a residential area. Ald. Jim Tilashalski brought up the issue, saying an individual requested an application for a business license as well as a petition to request a zoning variance for the property. Neither of those documents was returned to the council for formal action, according to Tilashalski.
“My understanding is that the house doesn’t belong to the individual who made the request,” Tilashalski said. “Now they have a lot of equipment in a residential area.” He asked Verticchio if the city could pursue the matter as a zoning violation or for operating a business without a permit.
“I think we could go on either basis,” Verticchio said. “If they’re operating a business in an area that’s not zoned for that you could file an action to shut them down.”
On the recommendation of Ald. Frensko, however, the council agreed to first have the Police Chief contact the parties before authorizing Vertichio to pursue any kind of legal action.
Also in the area of City Properties, the council accepted a bid of $1,100 from Ruff ‘n Tuff Tree Service to remove a tree from the city-owned boulevard in the 300 block of North Kentucky Street.
CDAP GRANT SURVEYS
Mayor Kelly asked for aldermen to volunteer to go door-to-door this coming week to collect the remaining household income surveys needed to determine whether the city is eligible to apply for a $450,000 Community Development and Assistance Program grant to subsidize 75 percent of a proposed $600,000 sewer improvement project.
To be eligible for the grant, the city must demonstrate that 75 percent of the homes in the areas benefiting from the project are low or moderate-income households. Kelly said the city needs about 40 more completed surveys to reach the magic 75 percent level.
[pullquote]The project tentatively includes replacing two sewer lines on the northeast side of the city, renovating two lift stations and improving 20 manholes.[/pullquote]
Up until now, the city has depended upon residents voluntarily returning survey forms that were sent out by mail. To collect the remaining needed surveys, however, volunteers need to make face-to-face contact to collect the information.
Ald. Cooper said he went door-to-door to collect some surveys last week.
“It’s much easier if you tell them you’ll fill it out with them,” he said. When it comes to the part of the form that requires household income disclosures, Kelly said it is best to let the survey participants complete that information themselves and insert the completed form in the envelope. The collected information is private and is protected from Freedom of Information Act petitions.
The project tentatively includes replacing two sewer lines on the northeast side of the city, renovating two lift stations and improving 20 manholes. Kelly said no decision on proceeding with the project can be made until the city determines its eligibility for grant funds.
“We need to get these back so we can decide what we’re going to do,” Kelly said.
ITALIAN-AMERICAN CLUB
At the request of the Italian-American Club, the council dropped plans to purchase newspaper ad space to thank the club for its contributions to the community. Ald. Tilashalski proposed the idea last month, but Mayor Kelly said the club president told him club members would prefer that the city put whatever money it would spend on an ad toward some civic project.
TREE CONTROVERSY
The council briefly discussed an issue that arose when it was discovered that a tree in the city park that was donated by a local family was cut down several years ago. To remedy the problem, the committee had suggested that the family be allowed to pick out an existing tree at the park and have it marked with a sign or plaque in honor of the family.
Ald. Tilashalski objected, saying that six of the ten remaining trees in the park were trees he paid for from his own funds. He said he had no objection, however, if the family could choose from the remaining four trees near the playground area.
BILLS DUE BEFORE COUNCIL MEETINGS
Mayor Kelly asked Verticchio for suggestions for paying bills that come due before regularly scheduled council meetings and which accrue late fees if not paid before the full council can approve payment of bills. Specifically, he cited the Verizon bill that runs $74.09 per month and the Madison Communications bill that runs about $250 monthly.
Verticchio said the council could adopt a policy to immediately pay bills of less than $500 that would accrue late fees if not paid prior to the regular meeting. In such instances, payment of the bills would be ratified during the regular meeting when the council votes to pay monthly bills.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Accepted the resignation of Ald. Tucker as the council’s liaison to the Benld Public Library Board of Trustees and approved the Mayor’s appointment of Ald. Tilashalski to take her place.
- Approved the Mayor’s reappointment of Vicki Laughlin, Dona Hubert and Mary Ann Scopel to the Benld Public Library Board of Trustees.
- Voted to pay $300 to re-enroll in the state’s Law Enforcement Support Office program which allows the city to purchase surplus police equipment from the State of Illinois for the local police department.
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Community News
Benld prepares to celebrate 72nd annual Italian American Days over Memorial Day weekend
A beloved community tradition returns this Memorial Day weekend as the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days brings three days of food, music, and family fun to Benld City Park from Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24.
Hosted by the Italian Club of Benld, the long-running festival celebrates the area’s rich Italian heritage while welcoming visitors from across the region for a full slate of activities.
Festivalgoers can expect a wide variety of homemade Italian favorites served throughout the weekend, including salami and meatball sandwiches, tortellini soup, bagna cauda, and cannoli. A daily fish fry featuring cod and whiting will also be available, along with classic festival fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian beef, and carnival treats. Beer, wine, and soda will be available for purchase.
In addition to the food, the event will feature carnival rides provided by Conner Family Amusement, Inc., with unlimited ride sessions offered throughout the weekend. Bingo will be held nightly at 7:00 p.m., and festival-themed shirts will be available for purchase.
Live music and dancing will take center stage each evening. Friday night entertainment includes a performance by Flip the Frog from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., with the park open from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Saturday highlights include the Italian Club Car Show, with registration from 8:00 a.m. to noon and judging beginning at noon. The park opens at 11:00 a.m., and live music will feature Pat Jones in the afternoon followed by Borderline in the evening.
Sunday kicks off with the “Meatballs on the Run” 5K at 9:00 a.m., sponsored by the Gillespie Cross Country Boosters. You can sign-up to participate online here. The day continues with free spaghetti served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a bocce ball tournament beginning at noon, and a full lineup of live music throughout the day, including performances by Unbroken, Syner-Gee, and B&B Strings.
Connors Family Amusements will provide carnival armbands for $30. Armbands will be valid Friday (May 22) from 6:00 to 10 :00 p.m. and again on Saturday (May 23rd) and Sunday (May 24th) from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m, Advanced armband sales will be available from May 4th through May 21st at the Frank Bertetti Public Library and Benld City Hall for $25. Debit and Credit Cards will NOT be accepted.
Organizers note that no outside beverages are permitted in the park or at club events.
With its mix of tradition, entertainment, and community spirit, the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days promises to once again be a highlight of the summer season in Macoupin County. For more information and updates, follow the festival on Facebook at Benld Italian American Days.
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Gillespie will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, May 11 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.
To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 7101336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. You may also call ImpactLife at 800-747-5401 to schedule.
Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available
through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate.
For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 7475401. Donors who last gave blood on or before March 16, 2026, are eligible to give at this drive.
Blood donation is a safe, simple procedure that takes about 45 minutes to one hour. Individuals with diabetes or controlled high blood pressure may be accepted as eligible donors.
ImpactLife is a nonprofit community organization providing blood products and services to more than 100 hospitals and emergency medical service providers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as researchers and resource sharing partners across the country.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Wednesday night approved a package of four capital improvement projects totaling more than $160,000 in value. Work will start on the projects after the end of the current school year and is expected to be completed before the start of the 2026-27 academic year in August.
The board met on Wednesday night after Monday’s inclement weather forced the district to reschedule the board’s regular monthly meeting.
The board approved entering into a contract with Fisher Tracks, Boone, Iowa, to resurface the district’s all-weather track at a cost of $105,209. Supt. Shane Owsley told the board the district will use about $50,000 from an all-weather track activity fund, with the remainder to be paid with proceeds from an alternate revenue bond issue approved last year for capital improvements.
Great Western Abatement, Jerseyville, was retained to remove flooring containing asbestos from the choir room floor and middle school gymnasium school at a cost of $40,700. Great Western’s bid was the lowest of seven bids, ranging up to $65,000, submitted for the work. Additionally, the district is paying $8,900 to Reliable Environmental Services, Springfield, for engineering and design work associated with the asbestos removal.
All-purpose rubberized flooring material will be installed on the middle school gym floor by Dynamic Sports Construction, Leander, Texas, at a cost of $51,424.
For the first time in a number of years, the high school gymnasium floor will be sanded and refinished with new artwork. Blast Technologies, St. Louis, was hired to sand the 4,200-square-foot floor at a cost of $5,250. Designs Unlimited, Pinckneyville, will paint game lines and logos on the floor before sealing it with a clear stain at a cost not to exceed $18,738.
The board also accepted a bid of $33,890 from DeLaurent Construction, Wilsonville, to resurface the 118,700-square-foot parking lot at Benld Elementary School.
Though no action was taken, Board President Mark Hayes reported that the Building and Grounds Committee had directed Owsley to investigate the cost of replacing the CUSD 7 administrative building.
“This building is very much in need of replacement,” Hayes said. “It’s beyond its time.” During Monday’s torrential rainfall, Hayes said water came in through windows and water seeped in under the sill plate, bringing displaced nightcrawlers into the building. Staff members ran fans after the storm in an effort to dry out the interior.
According to Hayes, the school has been in contact with the local Baptist Church to investigate the possibility of acquiring the former Trinity Baptist Church for use as an administrative building. Church officials, however, have not yet made a decision about the fate of the former sanctuary after Gillespie’s two Baptist churches merged.
Owsley said the current administrative building comprises about 6,000 square feet. Current estimates are $400 per square foot for new construction which would translate into about $2.5 million to replace the administrative facility. The district might be able to shave some dollars off that estimate by reducing the size of the building.
“There’s a lot of unusable space in this building,” Owsley said, suggesting a more efficient floorpan could reduce cost. He also mentioned the possibility of a basement to provide storage space for outdated documents.
In addition to construction costs, Owsley noted, the district would be responsible for tearing down the existing building.
“I have no idea what’s in this building,” Owsley said, raising abatement concerns. “I’m guessing disposal of this building is going to be expensive.”
Hayes said Kevin Wills, the district’s bond issue advisor, will attend the June board meeting to discuss the possibility of refinancing some existing bonds to free up enough revenue to build a new administrative building. The administration currently is housed in a “temporary” structure that has served as the administration building for several decades.
MINE SUBSIDENCE STUDY
After several minutes of discussion, the board took no action in relation to entering into a contract with Marino Engineering and Associates to assess the district’s risk for incurring damage from a mine subsidence event. Owsley said existing maps show that portions of Gillespie Middle School are undermined. While the high school is not undermined, a major subsidence would likely damage the high school as well as the middle school. In recent months, more than one residential home on Elm Street near the school property has experienced damage from mine subsidence.
Marino’s $94,000 Phase I proposal would “determine the likelihood of something happening to one of our buildings,” Owsley said. The problem is that too much information could negatively impact the district’s ability to purchase subsidence insurance. “Information is great until it’s not.”
The district currently pays about $300,000 for mine subsidence insurance on the middle school, high school and vocational arts building. The school carries no subsidence insurance on BenGil Elementary because mine shafts under the building were grouted before the school was built.
“If we find out there’s not a major concern,” Owsley noted, it could reduce the district’s subsidence insurance costs.
On the other hand, if the study reveals a high risk of experiencing mine subsidence, the insurer could drop the district at the end of the current policy’s term. With only two companies in the country offering subsidence insurance, the district could end up with no insurance at all to cover damage from mine subsidence.
The only way to avoid that scenario would be to implement whatever options Marino might recommend to reduce risk. Those recommendations would likely include grouting (backfilling) mine shafts under the middle school. Grouting for the elementary school cost $4 million. To grout under the middle school would likely run as much as $6 million or more.
The only way the study would make sense, Owsley suggested, would be if the district was “comfortable making the corrections the study is going to make.”
Moreover, $94,000 would cover only a preliminary assessment.
“To get a full understanding of what’s going on underground, we’d be looking at a half million dollars,” said Owsley.
The issue was allowed to die when no board member moved to consider the contract.
COMMUNITY SOLAR PARTICIPATION
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to enter into a contract with Summit Ridge Solar to participate in a community solar project. Under terms of the 15-year contract, the district will realize a 13 percent savings on electrical power bills. The contract is automatically renewable for five years unless the district chooses to withdraw.
“Illinois provides a number of incentives for using solar,” Owsley said. “However, not everyone likes the look of having solar panels on their property. This will get us the benefits without putting up solar panels on our property.”
Summit Ridge’s proposal was the most lucrative of the proposals the district received. Other companies offered shorter terms with savings of five percent.
After 20 years, it’s likely the savings would drop to five percent. Owsley said he was told the district was better off going with the longer contract to get 13 percent in savings for as long as possible.
The school district was able to secure such favorable rates, according to Owsley is because there is an issue with solar fields storing the power they generate. “Our main usage time is during their maximum production time.”
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, the board recognized sophomore Matrix Wright, whose art was the only entry from the United States included in the 2026 TOLI International Student Art Exhibition. The exhibition is a project of The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies in New York. The exhibit includes student art relating to themes associated with the Holocaust.
Wright’s work, entitled “An Immortal Continuum,” attempts to portray “the constant entrapment a Holocaust survivor might feel.”
Exhibition organizers received more than 250 entries from around the globe.
BUDGET PROCESS
On a motion by Peyton Bernot, seconded by Board President Hayes, board members voted unanimously to begin work on developing a district budget for fiscal 2027. Board members also approved a routine measure to permit expenditure of fiscal 2027 funds after July 1, pending approval of a new budget.
The school district’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 but new budgets typically are approved two to four months after the start of the fiscal year.
The current fiscal year’s $19 million budget was approved in September last year.
PERSONNEL
Following a one-hour executive session to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to approve the request of long-time middle school English and language arts teacher Kim Henderson, effective at the end of the 2028-29 school year.
Board members also voted unanimously to hire Andrew Crook as a first-year, non-tenured high school English teacher for the 2026-27 school year, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check. A graduate of Gillespie High School, Crook earned his teaching certificate at Illinois College, Jacksonville and for the past two years, he taught English at North Mac High School.
In separate actions, the board made multiple assignments to staff the district’s summer school program. Those hired include: Jessica Kelly as a middle school teacher, Ashlee Gibbs as a high school math teacher, and Jennifer Brown and Rob Macias as high school drivers’ education instructors. Each of the positions are contingent upon adequate student enrollment to offer the classes. In addition to academic staff, the board hired Andy Hirstein as a summer school food service worker.
The board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Foli Seferi as high school paraprofessional and as assisted football coach. Both resignations are effective immediately.
In other personnel action, the board appointed Cate Plovich as the BenGil Elementary School yearbook sponsor, and appointed Josh Ross as a volunteer assistant football coach, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
• Approved a mens highs school soccer coop with the Carlinville School District, with the provision Carlinville will dissolve the agreement if it pushes its program into a higher competitive classification.
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Lewis and Clark Community College under which the college will recognize some high school courses as college level credits.
• Approved early graduation requests for an undisclosed number of students, provided all graduation requirements are met.
• Approved renewing the district’s membership in the Illinois Elementary Schools Association.
• Approved the final calendar for the 2025-26 school year pending no further emergency days. Barring the use of emergency days, Monday, May 18 will be the last day of student attendance, with graduation ceremonies set at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 17.
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