Community News
Benld Council distances city from alderman’s Capital Development letter
Police Chief Jim Zirkelbach in an archived photo appeared before the council to answer questions about the proposed reduction of police coverage.
The Benld City Council took the unusual step of taking official action to clarify that a letter written by a city alderman to State Sen. Andy Manar requesting consideration of several local projects for inclusion in a potential Capital Improvement bill does not represent official correspondence from the city. The measure was unanimously approved on a motion by Ald. Teressa Tucker, seconded by Ald. Lance Cooper, after City Attorney Rick Verticchio advised the city would be within its rights to officially distance itself from the letter. The letter’s author, Ald. Peyton Bernot, joined with other aldermen on the council in voting to approve the measure.
At issue was a four-page letter from Bernot to Sen. Manar outlining a number of projects that Bernot recommended for inclusion in a state Capital Improvement bill. There currently is no Capital bill under consideration, but legislative committees are cataloging possible “needs” that could be included in the legislation. Projects included in the final bill—if signed by the government and funded by the legislature—would be funded at a level of 100 percent, according to Bernot.
“He has every right to do this as a private citizen,” Mayor Jim Kelly said. “My concern with it is that I think everyone on the council should have had some input.”
Among the requests included in Bernot’s letter are funding for replacing the Central Avenue bridge over Bear Creek; extending a culvert north from the bridge to North Fourth Street, enabling the owner of the No. 5 Mine Winery to further develop the property; funding to develop the 12-acre former site of Benld Elementary School as a public park; funding to repave and maintain North Hard Road Street, formerly part of Illinois Route 4; funding to move electrical service lines in the downtown area underground; and funding for constructing a water line to bring water to the city from Litchfield and for improvement sewer system infrastructure.
Responding to concerns from other aldermen on the council, Bernot said he wrote the letter as a private citizen and that any citizen is entitled to similarly lobby state legislators.
“With all due respect, when you use the title ‘alderman,’ it might be construed that it’s coming from the city,” Verticchio said. He advised that if aldermen were concerned about legislators being led to believe the letter represented the views of the council, someone could move to go on record to indicate that Bernot’s letter was not authorized by the full council.
“So do we leave it as it is now?” asked Ald. Tilashalski. “Or do we submit it as a city council?”
Mayor Kelly expressed concerns that Bernot’s letter could endanger previously approved funding through the Illinois Department of Transportation to repair the Central Avenue bridge over Bear Creek. Bernot responded that the IDOT funding has been approved by the legislature and the only way it could be rescinded would be through another piece of legislation. He suggested that scenario is unlikely, especially since approval of a new Capital bill is several months away.
“The Capital Development bill is in the early stages,” Bernot said. “Basically what they are doing is cataloguing needs” that might be included in the final bill. Bernot said there is a rumor the legislature wants to finalize and approve a Capital bill before the end of the current session, which would mean a bill could be in place by the end of May. “I’ve never seen a bill move that quickly,” he said.
“It’s really nice what you’ve done here,” Ald. Cooper told Bernot, “but I out of respect for your fellow aldermen I think we should all have been involved.”
POLICE PATROL REDUCTION FAILS TO PASS
By a vote of 4-2, the council rejected another Bernot initiative which would have reduced the number of hours Benld Police patrol in the city by four hours per day. Two months ago, Bernot outlined how such a reduction could reduce personnel costs for the financially beleaguered department. Assuming passage of a proposed property tax increase to increase revenue for the police department, Bernot said the move would bring the Police Department within about $16,000 of covering its current annual spending deficit.
The council tabled the measure in February on the premise that Bernot should be present for the vote.
“If we do indeed cut police patrols by four hours, would that be a threat to public safety?” Bernot asked Police Chief James Zirklebach, who attended Monday night’s meeting.
“Yes,” Zirkelbach said firmly. “You think those bad guys aren’t going to figure out which four hours we don’t patrol? You’re going to have more problems than you can imagine. Another problem is going to be liability. Who’s going to cover those four hours? The county isn’t going to do it. Gillespie isn’t going to do it.” Zirkelbach said the county would respond to emergency calls but response time could be unreasonably long depending upon the location of the county’s patrol car at the time of the call.
Again responding to a question from Bernot, Zirklebach said it would not be possible to stagger the four hours during which patrols are inactive. To schedule officers patrol times, he said, the four hours would occur at the same time daily.
Ald. Tucker, who chairs the Police Committee, recommended delaying consideration of cost-cutting measures until after the April Consolidated Election so the council will know whether or not the tax referendum is approved by voters. “I think we need to put a hold on this until after the referendum,” she said.
On a motion by Tilashalski, seconded by Bernot, the council rejected the measure with Ald. Mickey Robinson, Ald. Brian Frensko, Ald. Tucker and Ald. Cooper voting “no.” Tilashalski and Bernot cast the two affirmative votes.
CHANGES IN CITY CLERK’S OFFICE
Council members voted unanimously to accept “with regret” a resignation from long-serving Deputy City Clerk Gina Frensko and took several other actions to fill the void created by her departure. Frensko cited a “need to focus on my health and my family” as reasons for her resignation, which was effective March 4.
In other action, the council agreed to post a vacancy for a part-time clerical worker for work in the City Clerk’s office, and authorized City Clerk Terri Koyne to exceed 40 hours per month to be in the City Clerk’s Office during office hours. On the recommendation of Koyne, the council also approved a change in office hours to better accommodate city residents who work outside the community. The new hours, effective Monday, April 1, are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday; and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
In a related matter, the council approved an ordinance to codify the City Clerk’s salary which had been established earlier via resolution.
ENTERPRISE ZONE
By a vote of 5-1, the council agreed to be a part of the Macoupin County Enterprise Zone at a cost of about $1,500 in the event the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity approves the county’s application to renew the Zone. The current Enterprise Zone, which involves only the county and the cities of Gillespie and Carlinville, is about 20 years old and is due to expire. In apparent bid to improve its chances of approval, the county is reaching out to involve more municipalities in its application to renew the Enterprise Zone.
The Enterprise Zone benefits economic development by providing tax incentives for businesses seeking to expand or locate in participating communities. Those incentives include a waiver on sales tax paid on the purchase of building materials purchased from businesses located in the county and a temporary freeze on real estate assessments for property tax purposes.
“My personal opinion is that for $1,500, we should do it,” Mayor Kelly said.
“I think it is a win-win for us,” Bernot commented.
As part of the deal, the county is agreeing to pay for a $6,000 economic study to evaluate the percentage of low and moderate income persons living in Benld.
Ald. Tucker was reticent about the proposal, wanting more assurances that the city’s total investment would be limited to $1,500.
“If we don’t want to take action tonight, I think we could take action later,” Ald. Tilashalski commented.
Ultimately, Bernot moved to join the Enterprise Zone. His motion, seconded by Ald. Frensko, was approved with Tucker casting the sole negative vote.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Approved a resolution holding rental property owners responsible for unpaid water and sewer bills accumulated by their tenants. The ordinance paves the way for the city to file property liens against rental properties if neither the tenant nor the owner pay unpaid water and sewer bills.
- Approved purchase of a $1,500 portable gas detection device required by OSHA following a recent inspection of city facilities.
- Approved amending the city’s rental agreement for the civic center, city park and ball fields to require renters to buy dram shop insurance for any event where alcohol will be consumed. The old agreement required dram shop coverage for events where alcohol was “served” and several renters had argued they shouldn’t have to have insurance for events where attendees brought their own alcohol.
- Agreed to contract with Scheffel and Boyle CPAs to perform the annual city audit at a cost not to exceed $11,350.
- Set May 18 as the date for the city’s annual Clean-Up Day.
No action followed a 10-minute executive session with the City Attorney to discuss pending litigation involving the city.
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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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