Community News
Benld Council approves online bill paying system, accepts bid to raze derelict property
Benld Council (archived photo)
With one dissenting vote, the Benld City Council on Monday night agreed to offer water customers the option of paying their monthly bills online, while emphasizing that participation in the program is voluntary. Mayor Jim Kelly also allayed concerns about how quickly the city would receive deposits, noting the company with which the city is contracting will direct deposit payments to the city’s account upon receipt from the customer.
Ald. Jim Tilashalski voted against the motion by Finance Chair Lance Cooper, seconded by Ald. Brian Frensko, to contract with CourtMoney.com to provide online bill payment services to city water customers who wish to take advantage of the program. Ald. Cooper, Frensko, Teresa Tucker and Mickey Robinson voted in favor of the issue. Ald. Peyton Bernot was absent. Tilashalski offered no explanation for his negative vote.
Presenting the proposal to the council, Cooper said he had talked to the owner of the company as well as several nearby municipalities that use the service. Wilsonville and Royal Lakes are among area communities that offer online bill payment through CourtMoney.com, he said.
“I reached out to Shiloh,” Cooper said, adding that the representative he talked to, “said it was working really well and she very much recommended their services.” Using the service, he said, is completely voluntary for customers. Communities using the CourtMoney.com service continue to accept payments by mail or in person, he said.
The cost of the program is free to the city. Customers, however, will pay a convenience fee of $1.75 for payments under $50, or 3.25 percent of the amount for payments in excess of $50.
“I know there are some people on the council that don’t want this, but I think it’s a great idea to offer our citizens,” Cooper said. “It’s strictly voluntary. If they don’t want to use it they don’t have to. It doesn’t cost us a dime. To me, we’d be offering a service to our citizens that we don’t have to pay for.”
[pullquote]Cooper said the company also will provide a credit card terminal free of charge to enable customers to use their debit or credit cards to make payments in the City Clerk’s office[/pullquote]
In addition to providing a venue for Benld citizens to make payments to the city from their home computers, Cooper said the company also will provide a credit card terminal free of charge to enable customers to use their debit or credit cards to make payments in the City Clerk’s office—a service the city currently does not provide.
“This has nothing to do with the banks mailing us a check,” Mayor Kelly noted, citing last week’s discussion during a meeting of the Gillespie City Council regarding delays in receiving payments from online payment processors. “It’s a direct deposit to us on the day of the transaction.”
Established in 1994, CourtMoney.com was created primarily as a way for persons to pay court fines and fees online. The company has since expanded, however, to offer online payment services for municipalities and private businesses.
NUISANCE PROPERTIES
On a motion by Tilashalski, seconded by Cooper, the council voted to accept a bid of $4,300 from Robert McLain of Benld to demolish and remove the so-called “Carr property,” located at 105 South Fifth Street. The property previously declared a public nuisance and the city was authorized by the court to abate the nuisance. In his bid, McLain pledged to demolish and remove the nuisance property within one week, weather permitting. Two other bids, ranging from $4,448 to $10,000, also were received.
Following a 10-minute executive session to discuss real estate and litigation with City Attorney Rick Verticchio, the council voted unanimously to declare parcels at 408 South Main Street and 111 South Fourth Street as public nuisances. The action sets in motion a process under which the property owners will be served with a resolution calling on them to abate the nuisance or face legal action from the city.
Verticchio reported to the council reported that the court has entered an order enabling the city to seek collection of the cost of abating nuisances at 709 Rose St., 711 Rose St., and 416 S. Main St.
“They’ll either pay us or they will be sold on April 26,” Verticchio said.
Based on Verticchio’s report to the council, city aldermen voted to accept the title to a nuisance property on South Fourth Street in lieu of seeking reimbursement from the owner for the cost of demolishing the home. Verticchio said the owner, Lloyd Gillette, lives in Florida. In response to a resolution declaring the property a public nuisance, Verticchio said Gillette’s attorney called him and said, “We’ll just give you the house.”
“You can pursue it as a complaint to abate a nuisance,” Verticchio said. “But do you want to gamble on trying to get back what we have in it, or take the home?” He said the cost of pursuing the matter could cost upward of $4,500 to $6,500 since the city would have to hire an attorney to argue the case in Florida.
On a motion by Tilashalski, seconded by Frensko, the council voted to accept the house and discontinue further legal action.
Verticchio said he is trying to secure a court date for a hearing to resolve the latest wrinkle in the long-standing case against former resident John Tenikat, who owns property in the 300 block of Park Avenue. The city has a substantive lien against the property for mowing that the city is attempting to collect.
“Mr. Tenikat has filed a counter claim against us,” Verticchio announced. “He called the court and said he is removing the case to federal court.” While Tenikat, a resident of Iowa, told the court he is petitioning the court to remove the case to federal court, Verticchio said the actual petition he filed makes a “preemptive” argument, contending the federal court preempts any claims filed at the circuit court level.
“Removing a case to federal court is about a semester in law school,” Verticchio said. “I don’t think his claim has any merit but Mr. Tenikat is being as difficult as he possibly can be.”
As a resident of another state, Verticchio said Tenikat could possible argue for removal if the amount of the claim exceeds $7,500, which the Benld claim does not. He said he is trying to get a hearing to get a ruling in the Circuit Court on whether or not Tenikat’s petition is for removal or preemption.
“If it’s removed, we have to go to federal court to get it back,” he said. If the Circuit Court agrees that Tenikat has petitioned for preemption, Verticchio said the matter can be heard locally.
AUDITOR’S BID
On a motion by Tucker, seconded by Frensko, the council accepted a bid from Scheffel & Loy Public Accountants to perform the city’s annual audit at a cost not to exceed $4,800.
The price is contingent upon whether or not the city uses a cash or accrual basis for its accounting activities. Like other small municipalities, Benld intended to convert from cash to accrual in response to a mandate from the State Comptroller’s Office. The bills, however, are pending in the legislature that would allow small communities to continue on a cash basis for their bookkeeping, if passed and signed into law.
“If they allow us to go with cash, it would be less than that amount,” City Clerk Terri Koyne said.
“We’ve never paid that much for an audit before,” Mayor Kelly noted. “It’s okay for us to go ahead and get them (Scheffel & Loy) hired and hold them off a little to see what happens in Springfield before we have them start.”
CAPONE’S CHANGING HANDS
The council tentatively agreed to issue a liquor license to Tina Fisko to operate a bar at the current location of Capone’s Saloon, pending completion of a background check and other requirements. Fisko said she has managed the business for the past 14 years and plans to change the name of the business when she takes over ownership late next month.
Fisk must pass a background check before the city can issue the license. She must have a city license in hand before she can be issued a state liquor license. Fisk also will be required to obtain Dram Shop insurance before assuming control of the business.
PART-TIME POLICE PAY ISSUE TABLED
At the request of Tilashalski, the council tabled a measure to authorize increasing wages for part-time police office by 11 cents. The increase would put the rate at $15 per hour.
“I’d like a lot more information on this before we vote on it,” Tilashalski said. He noted the city spends 40 percent or more of its budget on the police department. When the council authorized increasing the number of part-time officers from three to four, he said, it was with the provision that it would reduce the amount of overtime paid to full-time officers. “It didn’t work out that way.”
“I would argue with that,” said Mayor Kelly. “Our overtime has gone down.” Kelly said some overtime is unavoidable, such as when a full-time officer has to complete paperwork or complete an investigative procedure before clocking out from his or her shift.
The measure apparently will be brought back for a vote by the council next month.
IMPOUNDMENT LOT PROPOSAL TABLED
Council members agreed to table further discussion of the possibility of building an impoundment lot for vehicles impounded by police, and opted to not open bids from vendors after being advised that the project should be publicly advertised for bids. Ald. Tucker, Chair of the Police Committee, had solicited bids from three private vendors, but Mayor Kelly declined to open the bids after asking Verticchio whether or not the project should be publicly advertised.
Kelly said that since the project needed to be publicly bid, it would be unfair to open the bids Tucker had obtained.
Tilashalski and Frensko debated whether or not the fees collected for impounding vehicles would pay for the cost of the lot. Cooper said he asked the Chief of Police for an estimate about how many vehicles the Police Department impounds and was told about 10 vehicles had been impounded since Jan. 1.
Koyne said 32 vehicles impounded for one day only would generate $3,000 for a year. Vehicles typically are impounded for more than one day.
Frensko voiced concerns about getting stuck with vehicles that might be abandoned by the owner. An abandoned vehicle might generate a bill of $3,000 for impoundment, but only bring in $2,000 if the city gains the title and sells the vehicle. He said such a scenario would result in a $1,000 loss.
[pullquote]Mayor Kelly said he would like to advertise for bids before next month’s meeting so the council will have an accurate idea of how much building the lot will cost.[/pullquote]
“Not really,” said Koyne, “because that’s $2,000 you wouldn’t have otherwise.” Even though the bill might total $3,000, she said the city would not actually be out that much money.
Tucker recommended tabling the issue and referring it back to the Police Committee so the committee can research city ordinances to determine how long the city has to hold a vehicle before selling it.
“We can table it if you want,” Kelly said, “But we’ve drug this out a long time.” He said he would like to advertise for bids before next month’s meeting so the council will have an accurate idea of how much building the lot will cost.
“If we’re interested in doing this, we need to get bids,” he said. “This has been going on for quite a while.” The vendors from whom Tucker solicited bids may resubmit formal bids after the project is advertised, he said.
The current proposal calls for building an impoundment lot capable of holding 10 vehicles at a time adjacent to the city shed on the north side of the city. The lot would be lit with lighting already in place and would be equipped with surveillance cameras. Currently, impounded vehicles are placed in an unsecured area behind the police station or sent to a Gillespie facility for which the city pays a storage fee.
DAMAGED BASEMENTS
Kelly reported that the city had received bills from several city residents who claimed damage to personal property caused by water backing up into their basements during recent heavy rains.
“We have never paid for damage to basements,” Kelly noted. “If there is a claim, we can turn it in to insurance. It has to our fault for our insurance to pay.”
Verticchio agreed, saying the claims should be a matter for the city’s and homeowner’s insurance companies to resolve.
“If you decide you’re going to start paying claims, you’re opening up a big box,” Verticchio said.
Frensko suggested the city should start setting aside money annually to fund improvements to the city sewer system, attacking a small section of the system at a time. He also advised homeowners to contact the city as soon as they notice water entering their basements. If the city is notified early enough, he said, it might be possible for the city to address the issue before the back-up causes serious damage.
“They need to call us before it gets to be two or three feet,” he said.
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Ye Olde Christmas is the theme of the Macoupin County Historical Society’s annual Christmas Show, which will be held Friday through Sunday, December 5–7, at the John C. Anderson Home and Museum, 920 West Breckenridge in Carlinville.
“The Christmas Show is one of the most magical times to visit the Anderson Home,” said MCHS Board Member and House Manager Brandy England. “Some families make it an annual Christmas tradition to visit the Anderson Home when it is decorated for Christmas. It’s a great opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit and pick up some ideas for decorating your own home for the holidays.”
MCHS member Kendra Mize, of Bunker Hill, who has coordinated the decorating effort for more than two decades, has again marshalled a small army of volunteers to decorate all 13 rooms of the home. Each room features a themed Christmas tree, along with mantle pieces, centerpieces, tabletop decor, garlands and florals, and other special touches.
The home will be open for self-guided tours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 5; from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 6; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 7.
“We’re very excited to offer for the first time candlelight tours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday,” said Shawna Ashby, who serves as a co-manager with England. “Viewing the decorated home by candlelight promises to be a magical experience.”
The final candlelight tours on Friday and Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the home is five dollars for adults and one dollar for children ages five to 12, with four-year-olds and younger admitted free of charge.
The Anderson Home Gift Shop will be open during tour hours, offering one-of-a-kind gift items and stocking stuffers. Santa Claus will be on hand in the downstairs parlor to greet children and listen to their Christmas wishes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.
While the decorated home is the centerpiece of the Christmas Show, several other features on the Historical Society’s grounds will be open. The Red Barn will be open and serving hearty beef stew, chili, homemade pies, and warming holiday beverages such as wassail and hot chocolate on Friday and Saturday.
The General Store and Print Shop will be decorated and open to the public, with the Print Shop offering its popular handmade Christmas cards and other items produced in the shop; kids can print their own blank “Santa List” to keep track of their Christmas wishes.
“The General Store offers unique gift items, including some small antiques, for shoppers to peruse,” England noted.
Local blacksmiths will demonstrate their craft in the MCHS Blacksmith Shop located on the north side of the Historical Society Grounds, with wrought iron gift items, including stocking hooks and decorative pieces, available for purchase.
The Macoupin County Historical Society’s Christmas Show runs concurrently with the Carlinville Christmas Market and Downtown Christmas events, and a free trolley and shuttle buses include the Anderson Home as a regular stop during the festivals, enabling visitors to ride from the square or the Macoupin County Fairgrounds to the Historical Society grounds.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted to approve a property tax levy request totaling $3,920,295 for 2025 property taxes payable in 2026. Because of tax caps and other factors, however, the district expects to collect only an estimated $3,786,607 of the requested amount.
In addition to acting on the tax levy, the board also held a lengthy discussion regarding annual district “report cards” issued by the Illinois State Board of Education to assess school performance from last year, approved a high school band/choir performance trip to Chicago in March, and agreed to apply for a school maintenance grant of up to $50,000 in matching funds.
The new proposed levy exceeds last year’s tax extension of $3,599,569 by more than $320,726—an increase of about nine percent if the levy were to be approved at the county level. The more realistic anticipation of $3,786,607 exceeds last year’s extension by $187,038, or an increase of about three percent. A Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), approved by Macoupin County voters in 1995, restricts increases in the levy to five percent or the federal Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. This year’s CPI is estimated at 2.9 percent.
The approved levy seeks $1,650,000 for the Education Fund while expecting to realize $1,653,831; $450,229 for Operations & Maintenance, while anticipating $438,041; $200,000 for Transportation while expecting $180,434; $35,000 for Working Cash while expecting $42,602; $174,700 for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund while anticipating $117,788; $154,101 for Social Security while expecting $105, 248; $247,264 for Tort while anticipating $240,570; and $33,501 for Special Education while expecting $32,593. For Bond and Interest, which is not subject to PTELL, the district is levying $975,500 while anticipating the same amount.
Local property tax revenue accounts for about 20 percent of the district’s overall annual budget.
Because the levy request exceeds 105 percent of the previous year’s extension, a public hearing is required. That hearing is scheduled at the start of the board’s regular December meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 15. In the meantime, the proposed levy is available for public inspection on the district’s website and in the district office.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Owsley emphasized the levy request is essentially a wish list for what the district would like to raise through property taxes.
“The levy is the ‘Christmas list’ I talk about every year,” Owsley said. “If you don’t put it on the list, you’re not going to get it.”
Projecting what the district can legally seek under tax caps can be challenging because the district’s total equalized assessed valuation will not be confirmed until after Jan. 1 while state law requires the district to file its levy request before the end of December. For that reason, local school districts routinely file requests that exceed what they actually expect to receive in property tax revenue, and rely on the County Clerk to adjust the request to the maximum amount the district can receive.
“Because of tax caps, we have one shot to capture increases in the EAV and new construction,” Owsley said. “If we don’t do that, we lose it in perpetuity.”
To calculate the new levy, Owsley projected a 15.12 percent increase in the EAV—nearly double the previous year’s rate of increase. By overestimating the EAV growth, the district expects to capture the entire increase in assessed valuation when that number is finally determined.
“Even though we know the EAV will likely be around the historical average, we base our levy on a much higher amount so as not to lose revenue from new growth,” Owsley told the board. “We can do this without running the risk of overtaxing taxpayers because the district will receive no more than what we are entitled to by law.”
Owsley said relatively stable increases in EAV have resulted in a steadily declining tax rate. Since 2014 when the rate was $4.24 per $100 in EAV, the rate has fallen to $3.20 for 2024. In other words, the county can use a lower rate to generate the extension to which the district is entitled because the value of taxable property has increased.
“As long as the EAV goes up by more than the Consumer Price Index, our tax rates are going to go down,” Owsley noted.
SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT CARDS
The board spent several minutes discussing recently released school report cards issued by the Illinois State Board of Education. Interested persons can view local report cards by visiting https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
All three attendance centers received a “Commendable” designation, meaning there are no student groups that are underperforming academically, and the high school graduation rate exceeds 67 percent. Last year, BenGil Elementary School achieved an “Exemplary” designation—the top designation a school can achieve.
Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto said administrators knew the school would not earn an Exemplary rating, even though students are state average in English/language arts, math and science. The Report Card designations are based on growth rather than academic performance. With students already exceeding state standards last year, the opportunity for growth was limited.
Assistant Principal Tara Cooper agreed, noting BenGil Elementary’s student performance is in the upper half of schools statewide that are meeting academic standards. “So, while we are not ‘Exemplary,’ we’re very happy with where we are.”
Supt. Owsley told the board the State Board of Education is working on revamping the assessment system because of the growth vs. performance issue. “That’s why they’re redoing all of this because they are penalizing schools for meeting goals,” he said.
For Gillespie Middle School, the report card shows students meeting or exceeding state averages in math and science but significantly lagging in English/language arts.
“ELA is our most concerning area,” Principal Patrick McGinthy told the board, “along with absenteeism.” The report card shows a chronic absenteeism rate of 25 percent, but Owsley and other administrators said the rate is exacerbated by the State Board of Education including nearly all absences whether or not they are excused.
Rosentreter noted the State Board will allow a student to be absent five days for illness without a doctor’s excuse. On the sixth day, however, the absence is unexcused unless the parent or guardian provides a doctor’s slip. Many parents, however, are reluctant to pay for a doctor’s visit for a child that is suffering from a minor illness.
McGinthy said Middle School teachers are attempting to address the deficiency in English/language arts by increasing writing exercises and requiring students to write in conjunction with other curriculum areas.
Rosentreter noted that the assessment standards for high schools differ from the standards for elementary and middle schools in that the State Board emphasizes graduation rates. For Gillespie, the graduation rate is an impressive 86 percent, though chronic absenteeism checks in at 31 percent.
“Math is definitely our shining star,” Rosentreter said, noting the school scored 17.8 points compared with the state average of 18. The school performed less well in the areas of English/language arts and science, scoring 16 points on ELA compared with the state score of 18 and 17.2 points compared with the state average of 19.
The report cards are based on results for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test for elementary and middle school students, and ACT scores for high school students.
Administrators said it’s difficult to motivate students to do well on state-mandated tests since the tests do not affect the student’s grade point average. To incentivize testing, Rosentreter said the high school is offering to let students skip final exams if they hit state standards on the mandated tests.
Owsley noted that the district report card documents the continuing decline in school enrollment—dropping from 1,325 seven years ago to 1,082 for the 2024-25 academic year.
“We don’t see that turning around anytime soon,” Owsley said. “It’s not just a Gillespie thing; it’s a trend for schools throughout Macoupin County.
BAND/CHOIR TRIP TO CHICAGO
Following a presentation by band/choir instructor Brad Taulbee, the board approved a high school band and choir performance tour to Chicago set for March 19-21. Taulbee said the tour company retained for the trip places emphasis on security and safety for traveling students. The company supplements hotel security with its own security personnel to monitor student rooms during the trip.
The tour includes workshop sessions at Vandercook College in downtown Chicago, and performances by the choir at the John Hancock Center and by the band at one of the city’s museums.
Taulbee said he is attempting to keep the cost affordable for participating students. Depending upon the number of students who ultimately go on the trip, he said he expects the cost to be about $739 per person. Additionally, he is lining up sponsors who can help with expenses for students who could not otherwise afford to participate.
“Security is my main concern,” said Board President Mark Hayes. “We just came back from there and seven people were shot in the area we were in.”
Taulbee said he expects to recruit seven to 10 chaperones and will ensure that the ratio of students to chaperones does not exceed 1:10.
SCHOOL MAINTENANCE GRANT
The board concurred with Supt. Owsley’s recommendation to again apply for a state School Maintenance grant of up to $50,000. The grant is a “matching” grant requiring the district to match grant funds dollar for dollar. The district has successfully applied for the grant for the past several years.
If the application is successful, Owsley said the funds will likely be used to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles in the choir room and elsewhere in the Middle School.
PERSONNEL
Following an executive session of about 40 minutes to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Tim Wargo as an assistant high school baseball coach and post the position as vacant, and voted to appoint Wargo as the head high school baseball coach for the coming season.
In separate actions, the board approved maternity leaves for Alexis Lupkey, district paraprofessional, and Gear-Up Coordinator Jordan Bartok. Lupkey’s leave is tentatively scheduled from Dec. 8 through March 18. Bartok’s leave is expected from Dec. 12 through Jan.6.
Board members voted unanimously to hire Christopher Whaley as a substitute bus driver, pending a routine background check and documentation of certification.
The board also voted unanimously to terminate Makayla Huff as a three-hour cook and post the position as vacant.
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to rehire fall coaches as follows: Jordan Bartok as head high school girls volleyball coach with Shelsie Price, as an assistant coach; Cory Bonstead as head football coach with Nate Henrichs, Jarrod Herron, Korben Clark, Alex Jasper, J.O. Kelly, Billy Gill and Florian Seferi as assistant and volunteer assistant coaches; Jay Weber as head coach for the parent-funded high school cross-country program with Jack Burns as a volunteer assistant coach; Jake Kellebrew as head coach for the parent-funded high school golf program, with Michael Otten as a volunteer assistant coach; Tim Wargo as head middle school baseball coach with Trae Wargo as assistant coach; Michelle Smith as head middle school softball coach with Jim Matesa, Joe Kelly and Melissa Heigert as assistant coaches; and Liz Thackery as head coach for the parent-funded middle school cross-country program with Laura Peterson as a volunteer assistant coach.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, Supt. Owsley introduced newly hired School Resource Officer Jacob Linhart, and High School Principal provided a report with photos of a recent school-wide Veterans Day observance.
Linhart, who has served five years as a police officer on the Gillespie Police Department, replaces Wade Hendricks, who recently retired after serving three years as the CUSD 7 School Resource Officer.
Linhart said it is a “great privilege” to serve as a Resource Officer, protecting students and staff. “I’m honored that you guys are allowing me to do it,” he said.
High School Principal Rosentreter said the school served breakfast to about 200 veterans and their families Tuesday morning, Nov. 11. Later, the veterans were joined by nearly 700 high school and middle school students for a recognition ceremony in the high school gymnasium.
Since the event coincided with the 25th anniversary of CUSD 7’s Wall of Honor program, the annual event did double duty as an induction ceremony for five are individuals, all of whom happened to be U.S. Military veterans.
The inductees included the late Sergeant Major John Marion Malnar, Command Sergeant Major John “Jack” Burns, Colonel Mark Daley, Lieutenant Colonel William P. Falke and Captain Robert Leone. Rosentreter said Daley and Leone traveled with their families from Colorado and Texas, respectively, to attend the ceremonies.
Burns, a retired CUSD 7 teacher, later visited BenGil Elementary School to present a program and teach students how to properly fold an American flag.
Rosentreter recognized the City of Gillespie for a donation of $1,000 to help purchase food for the veterans.
Born in Benld and a resident of Sawyerville, “Big John” Malnar earned a Silver Star during the Korean Conflict and a Gold Star, awarded posthumously after he was killed in action in 1968 in Vietnam. A Marine training center at Camp Geiger in North Carolina is named in his honor.
Though not a Wall of Honor inductee, Jacob Miller, a 100-year-old World War II veteran and recipient of two Purple Hearts, was recognized with a standing ovation.
The annual Veterans Day breakfast and ceremony provides students with an opportunity to meet and recognize local veterans as potential role models for their own futures.
Owsley said the event is a major event on the district’s calendar which grew out of a simple flagpole ceremony initiated 25 years ago.
CEJA GRANT FUNDS
Board members briefly discussed plans for about $74,000 in anticipated Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grant funds. The federal program is intended to compensate communities that have experienced revenue loss as a result of coal mine closures.
Owsley said the district committed about $86,000 in last year’s CEJA grant funds to the City of Gillespie to help pay for improvements to Plum Street, which is heavily used by district school buses. He has not transferred those funds, however, pending the start of the project.
Owsley said he was seeking the board’s input on how the money should be used.
“We could continue to partner with the city on Plum Street,” he said. “But there are plenty of project areas within the school.” The money could be used, for example, for continuing asbestos abatement. He identified other upcoming needs, including a new roof for the high school/middle school and an HVAC project.
President Hayes pointed out the school district paid for improvements to Kelly Street when BenGil Elementary was built and subsidized a project to reconfigure drainage on Broadway Street, in addition to the dollars committed for Plum Street.
“The school district is not in the business of building roads,” he said. “I think we’ve been more than generous with the city.”
Board member Peyton Bernot agreed the money should be committed for use by the school district.
TRIPLE I CONFERENCE
Several board members who attended a conference for board members and administrators Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23, in Chicago, commented briefly about their take-aways from conference sessions. Popularly known as the Triple I Conference, the convention is sponsored by the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.
Owsley said more than 700 Illinois school districts were represented, making the Triple I the largest gathering of education professionals in North America.
Bernot briefly reported on a session he attended regarding upcoming legislation and financial outlooks for school districts. He described the session as “much less optimistic” than sessions he’s attended in the past.
Owsley was among the convention presenters, discussing social-emotional learning. He commented that several districts attending reported efforts to involve students in school administrators. Some districts, he said, appointed a non-voting student representative to the school board to take part in discussions directly affecting students.
“When you think about it, we hear from faculty members and we hear from parents,” Hayes commented. “The people we don’t hear from are the most important part of what we do.”
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The Holiday Sparkle Committee of Gillespie is preparing for the 4th Annual Holiday Sparkle Lighted Parade and Community Tree Lighting, set for Sunday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m. in downtown Gillespie. This beloved community tradition invites residents and visitors to kick off the holiday season with lights, music, and festive cheer.
Food trucks will line the parade route starting at 4:00 p.m., offering a variety of tasty options for families to enjoy before and during the celebration. The event will culminate in the illuminated parade and the ceremonial lighting of the community tree, signaling the official start of the season’s celebrations.
A highlight of this year’s festivities will be a special performance by Gillespie area students in grades 3 through 5. The group will join together to sing Christmas carols, lending their voices to the town’s joyous welcome to the holidays.
Parade participants are invited to bring extra sparkle to the evening—whether by entering a parade float, walking in the parade, or simply attending to enjoy the atmosphere. Participation helps make the event truly magical for the entire community. The only requirement for the parade is all entries have to incorporate holiday lighting.
To join the parade lineup, interested participants can sign up at https://forms.gle/L7Q4tEkgjj8Lt5E47. The Holiday Sparkle Committee expresses gratitude for the ongoing support of residents, businesses, and volunteers who help bring this festive occasion to life each year.
The second part of the holiday festivities will take place on Saturday, December 13 when the Sparkle will sponsor the vendor fair and food trucks in downtown Gillespie including a visit from Santa. Vendors will be located in the Gillespie Civic Center, Zion Lutheran Church, and Emma G’s Upscale Boutique while local businesses and eateries will also be open. An egg nog jog benefitting Gillespie Cross Country will also be held on December 13 and interested participants can join here.
The Holiday Sparkle Committee invites everyone to mark their calendars and join in the celebration. For more information, please contact the committee by email at gillespieholidaysparkle@gmail.com or visit Gillespie Holiday Sparkle on Facebook.
