Community News
Benld Proclaims Rotary Citrus Month
The Benld/Gillespie Area Wide Rotary Club’s Annual Citrus Fruit Sales, the club’s only fund-raiser for the year, is underway.
Benld Mayor Jeff Hendricks proclaiming Rotary Citrus Month.
Rotarians kicked off this year’s sale with Benld Mayor Jeff Hendricks signing a proclamation Saturday morning at Benld City Hall declaring November as “Rotary Citrus Month” in the area-wide community. “It’s a pleasure to sign this proclamation,” Hendricks said. “The rotary Citrus sale is sort of the start of the Holiday Season.”
Through November 22, area residents can order 40-pound boxes of pink grapefruit for $26.00 or 40-pound boxes of navel oranges for $26.00. Half cases are available for $15.00.
The fruit will be available to be picked up from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 10, at the Fassero Building on Illinois Route 4 at Route 138 across from PaPa JoDanni’s Restaurant in Benld. Rotarians will make limited deliveries to customers unable to pick up their orders.
Persons wishing to order citrus fruit this year can do so by calling Rotarian Shawna Heddinghaus at 217-835-7724 or Rotarian Tina Olroyd at 217-839-4385 or Rotarian Jessica Ely at 217-839-2106 or Rotarian Greg Craine at 618-635-3678 or any other Benld-Gillespie Rotarian.
Payment is not expected until the fruit is picked up on Dec. 10.
Each box of navel oranges contains 44 to 60 oranges. Pink grapefruit come with a count of 45 to 52 per box.
“This high quality citrus fruit is shipped to us from the famed Indian River area of Florida,” said Rotary President Greg Craine. “It is packed and shipped to Benld Rotary on the day it is picked.”
The annual citrus sale is the club’s only fund-raiser. The moneys raised are returned to the community through various projects sponsored by the Rotary Club. “We have ongoing major projects that we make commitments to that go for a number of years, and then we have people that we support on an annual basis,” said Craine.
Craine added, “The club’s first priority is to do all it can to enhance the lifestyle of the community. Public support is essential to the fundraiser’s success. Your patronage and support is a wish come true.”
In recent years, the club initiated and sponsored the construction of the Benld-Gillespie Bike Trail, was sponsoring agency for the Benld Rotary Senior Citizen Housing Development, contributed to the purchase of new playground equipment at the Benld Elementary School, assisted with the building of the Frank Bertetti Benld Public Library, and co-sponsored the local Lions Club Kid-Care ID program.
The club has hosted a group of businessmen from Northern Italy and Rotary International’s Group Study Exchange Program and sent a local businesswoman to the Philippines under the same program.
For years they have co-sponsored with the Benld Lions Club, the Italian Club of Benld, and the Coal Country Chamber of Commerce free activities for children in Benld including a Halloween parade, a Christmas movie, and an Easter Egg Hunt.
Comments
Bunker Hill – Zion Lutheran Church in Bunker Hill is excited to announce a rummage sale taking place on Thursday, March 20, Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22. The sale will be held at the church located at 609 East Warren Street in Bunker Hill. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to Illinois Valley Meals on Wheels in Macoupin County, a vital program that prepares and delivers over 1,500 meals daily to those in need across three counties.
Donations for the rummage sale are warmly welcomed and can be dropped off at the church’s north entrance starting Monday, March 17. Items of all kinds are appreciated, and your contributions will directly support the dedicated efforts of volunteers who ensure that nutritious meals reach our community members.
The sale will run from 4 to 8 PM on Thursday and then 8 AM to 4 PM on Friday and Saturday, making it convenient for everyone to stop by and find great deals while supporting a crucial service in our area.
For more information about the rummage sale or how to donate, please contact Jane Baker at 618-973-2666.
Comments
FELONIES
Bryer D. Greff, 30 of Virden, is charged with retail theft (<$300) with a previous conviction in connection to a March 1 incident.
Michael J. Weaver, 34 of Carlinville, is charged with methamphetamine delivery (400<900 grams), possession of methamphetamine (400<900 grams), and felon in possession of a weapon in connection with a March 3 incident.
Patrick D. Greer, 39 of Mount Olive, is charged with burglary and theft/unauthorized control (>500<10k) in connection with a January 23 and March 3 incident .
Brian H. Duff, 50 of Alton, is charged with theft/unauthorized control (>500<10k) in connection with a January 30 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Allison S. Cisco, 18 of Carlinville, is charged with battery/causing bodily harm in connection with a March 1 incident.
Andrew C. London, 19 of Wilsonville, is charged with retail theft (<$300) in connection with a March 5 incident.
Shelby L. Veach, 23 of Staunton, is charged with resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee and criminal damage to property in connection with a December 16 and December 21 incident.
Robert J. Zumwalt, 43 of Livingston, is charged with resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee in connection with a December 21 incident.
TRAFFIC
Andrew J. McDaniel, 56 of Littleton, CO, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with a February 23 incident.
Connor E. O’Brien, 25 of Riverside, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with a February 24 incident.
Anthony M. Reed, 29 of Fayette, MS, is charged with driving on a suspended license and driving 15-20 mph above the limit in connection with a February 22 incident.
Patrick M. Nejmanowski, 58 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a revoked license and driving 21-25 mph above the limit in connection with a February 25 incident.
Michael A. Coates, 49 of Staunton, is charged with driving on a revoked license and operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration in connection with a February 16 incident.
Carl R. Albracht, 50 of Palmyra, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a February 25 incident.
Jessica M. Jenkins, 40 of Gillespie, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a February 24 incident.
Jason L. Peter, 48 of Carlinville, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a February 22 incident.
Matthew D. Knick, 21 of Mount Olive, is charged with driving on suspended license in connection with a February 27 incident.
Julia A. Schall, 68 of Shipman, is charged with driving on a revoked license in connection with a February 27 incdient.
Amy N. Gomer, 39 of Shipman, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a March 4 incident.
Dalton C. Bunyard, 32 of Wood River, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with a February 28 incident.
Edward Tumpach III, 33 of Hillsboro, is charged with reckless driving, improper traffic lane usage, and disregarding a traffic control device in connection with a March 5 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Neil Ringer versus Whitney Ringer
- Christina Essington versus John Essington
- Scott Huddleston versus Jessica Huddleston
Comments
Community News
Gillespie council provisionally approves $4 million streetscape contract, greenlights solar project at CCSC
With federal agencies facing budget and personnel cuts, and a spending bill to fund government operations in flux, Gillespie City Council members voted 5-2 to tentatively approve a $4 million contract to complete the long-awaited downtown streetscape project. The contract with Stutz Excavating, Inc., Alton, is conditioned upon the city receiving $4 million in grant funds previously awarded by Rural Development, a program administered by the federal Department of Agriculture and potentially at risk of Department of Government Efficiency cuts and/or Congressional failure to approve a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through Sept. 30.
With a bid of $4,032,048.79, Stutz was the lower of two bidders for the project. The second bidder, Kinney Contractors, offered a $4.9 million contract. In addition to the base contract, Stutz offered two alternate bids—$203,000 for additional electrical receptacles on newly installed street light poles, and $210,000 for brick pavers in lieu of stamped concrete for downtown sidewalks. In addition to being less expensive, stamped concrete is recommended for durability and easier maintenance, according to Mike Brandt, and engineer with Curry and Associates Engineering, who presented the bids to the council.
City Treasurer Dan Fisher said the grant requires the project to be completed by the end of 2025. With the grant funds vulnerable, the window for completing the project could narrow.
“The problem right now is we have DOGE making program cuts and the recurring issue of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government,” Fisher said. The House is likely to pass the CR, according to Fisher, but the bill could easily stall in the Senate. As part of the CR proposal, all earmarks from this year will be frozen, but Fisher said Gillespie’s grant money was earmarked in the prior year.
“I think we will know one way or another in the next 30 to 60 days,” he said. “The bid is good for 90 days so, in theory, we have three months.”
Ald. Landon Pettit questioned the lack of contingency funds in Stutz’s bid, pointing out unexpected expenses could push the project cost beyond the city’s budget. Fisher said Rural Development recommends contingency funds equal to five to seven percent of the project.
“Ten percent is ideal,” he said. “On a $4 million project, that’s $400,000.”
Additionally, Fisher said, the city is entitled to negotiate with the contractor once the contract is awarded to reduce the scope of the project to rein in costs.
“How can you do that after you sign a contract for $4 million and whatever?” Ald. Janet Odell-Mueller asked.
“We have exactly $4 million in grant money,” Fisher said. “The contract is a unit-based contract. We have the ability to reduce the contract by reducing the contract.” As an example, he said the contract may specify a monetary amount for each linear foot for sewer line installation; the city can reduce the contract by reducing the length of sewer line it decides to install. Ultimately, Fisher estimated the city will have to come up with about $250,000 out-of-pocket to complete the project.
Several aldermen expressed discomfort over entering the into the contract when the grant funds are in doubt.
“We have no guarantee this money is coming,” Ald. Pettit said.
“If we sign the contract and the money doesn’t come,” Ald. Wendy Rolando noted, “we don’t have $4 million dollars to spend.”
Fisher said the grant has been awarded, but the city cannot access the money until after the contract is awarded. If the grant money is stalled, the contract will be void and the project will be terminated.
Ald. Bob Fritz complained that improvements to side streets are no longer included in the scope of work.
“I was under the impression that we would do the streets for one block off of Macoupin Street,” Fritz said Walnut Street is deteriorated along with sidewalks on Chestnut Street. He said he would like to see Walnut repaved to the curbs to provide additional parking just a block away from the business district. Moreover, he said the sidewalk in front of the former Area News building on Chestnut is deteriorated to the point of being impassable.
“It doesn’t make sense to replace that sidewalk before the building is torn downs, because they will mess it up tearing it down,” he said. He proposed delaying parts of the project until the building is razed.
“We have to have the project completed in 2025,” Fisher replied. “We can’t put $4 million of grant money at risk for a $5,000 sidewalk.”
After several minutes of discussion, a motion by Rolando, seconded by Ald. Bill Hayes, to accept the Stutz contract, conditioned upon the city receiving $4 million in grant funds, was approved with Rolando, Hayes, Dona Rauzi, Dave Link and Frank Barrett voting “yes.” Ald. Fritz and Ald. Odell-Mueller voted “no,” with Ald. Pettit abstaining.
With a goal of improving the business climate in the downtown area, the Streetscape project has been under discussion for more than two years. Jointly initiated by Grow Gillespie, a civic improvement group, and the City of Gillespie, the project includes lighting, landscaping and parking improvements in the downtown commercial area with an eye toward stimulating economic growth.
SOLAR FIELD ZONING VARIANCE
With one dissenting vote, the council accepted the Zoning Board’s recommendation to approve a 35-year temporary use permit allowing SunCode Energy to install a power generating solar field on the north end of property owned by the Coal Country Sports Complex. Kent Tarro, representing the Coal Country Sports Association, told the council the solar field will not interfere with existing soccer fields or use of the property by cross-country runners while generating revenue to maintain and operate the recreational facility.
“This is a way to keep us sustainable while using reclaimed coal mine property,” he said.
Brett Jacoby, SunCode attorney, said the 18-acre solar field will generate about five megawatts of energy—enough to power five average sized homes. Located on the north side of the reclaimed “gob pile” left behind from the Little Dog Coal Mine, the solar field will be “virtually invisible” to persons using the sports complex for recreation, according to Jacoby.
Currently tax-exempt, the property is expected to generate $27,000 in property tax revenue in the first year and $654,000 over the life of the permit. The project is expected to produce 25 local prevailing wage construction jobs during the estimated 12-month construction period.
Once the temporary permit expires, SunCode will dismantle and remove all equipment and return the land to the Sports Association, according to Jacoby.
Jacoby told the council that power generated from the the field will be uploaded to the Ameren power grid. Local energy customers can participate by subscribing to the project to realize a slight discount on their power bills.
“There’s no cost to subscribe and subscribers can end the contract at any time,” Jacoby said. “It will take 10 to 15 percent off their monthly electrical bill, so it’s not life changing.”
City Attorney Rick Verticchio reported that during a Zoning Board hearing last week, SunCode officials pledged to offer training sessions for local firefighters and make arrangements for emergency services to have access to the fenced site.
A motion by Ald. Pettit to approve the temporary use permit was approved 7-1 with Ald. Rolando casting a dissenting vote.
SIREN PURCHASE APPROVED
Council members approved spending up to $90,000 to purchase and install four new emergency sirens. Initially, City Treasurer Fisher sidetracked Ald. Fritz’s proposal to purchase the equipment, saying there were no grant programs available and not enough money in the Emergency Services and Disaster Administration fund to cover the cost of new sirens.
“The only grant program available is through Rural Development and they have no funds to distribute until the budget is approved,” Fisher said, again invoking legislative chaos in Washington. He said the city’s ESDA fund had only $62,000.
The council then went on to other matters, only to have Ald. Pettit circle back to the siren issue after a few minutes.
“If we took some money out of the Revolving Loan Fund, some out of ESDA and some out of TIF II—and I know there’s not a lot in that fund—we could cobble together $80,000 and not hurt the General Fund too bad,” Pettit speculated. Pettit said money transferred from the Revolving Loan Fund and TIF II could be repaid over time. After further discussion, his motion to authorize the purchase was unanimously approved.
The equipment, provided by Sentry Sirens, Inc., will be installed at four locations, including the water treatment plant, city cemetery, Community Unit School District 7 campus, and a mobile home court on the city’s southwest side. Fritz said the sirens will blast different signals to indicate severe weather versus other emergencies.
LAKE LOT ISSUE
Following the city attorney’s recommendation, the council voted to secure a property tax “assignment” on a lake lot located at 10227 Fries Lane on which property taxes are delinquent. Council members, however, referred to committee a recommendation to amend lake lot leases to mandate forfeiture if a lease-holder fails to pay property taxes due.
“We don’t want a taxing body to acquire that property,” City Attorney Verticchio said. Monday night’s action secures the property and enables the city to transfer the lease to another lease-holder.
Verticchio said he would like to add a provision to future leases requiring the lease-holder to pay property taxes or surrender the lot. Ald Pettit said he and Ald. Barrett had other recommendations for amending future leases. He proposed tabling Verticchio’s request until after the Lake Committee can meet to make other changes to the lease.
In a related matter, Pettit asked to have the City Clerk’s office compile a list of all surplus real estate the city owns with an eye toward selling the lots. Verticchio said properties that have previously been advertised for sale but did not attract bidders can legally be sold for a price negotiated between the city and the buyer.
“Right now no one is paying taxes on those properties,” Pettit said “We can sell them essentially to recover attorney fees, and start getting tax revenue from them.”
EAST GILLESPIE/EAGARVILLE SEWER CONTRACT
As the City of Gillespie eyes a project to replace deteriorating sewer lines in the city, Verticcho recommended renegotiating satellite contracts with Eagarville and East Gillespie to continue treating waste from both communities. Council members voted unanimously to authorize Mayor John Hicks to enter into negotiations to draft new agreements.
The city apparently plans to seek financial assistance from Rural Development to undertake the project, similar to how it financed a project to replace water distribution lines. Verticchio indicated the new contracts should include new rates to comply with mandates Rural Development will require to underwrite the sewer improvement project.
LAKE POSITION
Following a 30-minute executive session, the council voted unanimously to hire Austin Loftis to step into duties vacated by former Lake Supervisor Gary Thornhill, though the motion to hire did not identify Loftis’ title or address wages. Loftis reportedly had been fulfilling Thornhill’s duties after Thornhill resigned to accept another job. The motion to hire Loftis included a provision for a six-month probationary period.
PROTECTIVE VEST SALE
Acting on a recommendation by Police Chief Jared DePoppe, the council voted to offer a protective vest used by an officer who recently resigned to take another job for sale to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department for $750. DePoppe told the council the vests are fitted specifically to the individual, so it would be essentially useless to the city. He said he based the asking price on the original cost and the amount time it had been used in Gillespie.
HOLLIS RESOLUTION
Council members unanimously approved a formal resolution recognizing Thomas William Hollis, a Gillespie resident who achieved the rank of Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps before he was killed in action at the age of 19 in Vietnam. Born May 24, 1948, Hollis attended Gillespie High School where he was a star athlete. After graduation, he volunteered for the Marine Corps and was killed on Jan. 28, 1968, in Quang Tri Province as a result of artillery rocket mortar fire. He was one of about 55,000 American soldiers killed in action during the Vietnam War.
Passage of the resolution paves the way for the Illinois Department of Transportation to erect signs honoring Hollis on Illinois Route 16 at the east and north entrances to the city.
CONXXUS SOLICITATION
The council heard briefly from Wendy Nobel, representing Conxxus fiber optic internet, before granting a solicitation permit for Conxxus employees to make door-to-door solicitations of Gillespie residents. Nobel said solicitors will explain various plans available to customers and potential benefits of the newly installed $1.6 million system. Nobel said most residents have received solicitation materials in the mail but “we’ve found people don’t always understand the materials and they’re more comfortable dealing with someone face-to-face.”
Solicitors will check in with city hall on the days they plan to work in the city, and voluntarily provide photos of the solicitors to be posted on the city’s social media page. Nobel there usually will be no more than one person working in the city at a time.
POLICE STATION PAYMENT
Council members approved payment of $1,500 to John Watson Contracting for work associated with reconnecting bathroom facilities in the basement of the newly renovated Police Station building on Macoupin Street. The work was not included in the original bid for the work.
In a related matter, the council approved payment of the second installment of $59,199 to Watson Contracting from the city’s Tax Increment Financing Funds for work completed on remodeling the new Police Station.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Approved advertising for applications for two seasonal worker positions at Gillespie Lake.
- Agreed to spend up to $500 to investigate electrical fixtures at Pomatto Park to determine what is needed for repairs.
- Accepted two bids totaling $950 from Feeley Tree Service to remove two trees located on city boulevards on Cedar Street and on Illinois Route 4 south.
