The Benld City Council on Monday night approved Mayor Jim Kelly’s appointment of Jerry Saracco as an interim city alderman to replace Ward 1 Ald. Brian Frensko, who submitted his resignation from the council last month. City Attorney Rick Verticchio administered the oath of office and Saracco was immediately seated on the council. Saracco will […]
Gillespie City Council approves roofing contracts, discusses building inspections, permits
The Gillespie City Council on Monday night authorized upward of $58,000 in contracts to replace the roof on the Police Department building and make long-awaited repairs to the roof of the city hall/civic center complex. In other action, the council discussed possible problems with building inspections and building permits, approved trick-or-treating dates and times, and […]
Former Benld resident may underwrite Civic Center renovation
The Benld Civic Center may be in line for a major facelift, members of the Benld City Council were told Monday night during the council’s regular monthly meeting. Appearing before the council, retired Community Unit School District 7 administrator Ed Saracco said he recently was contacted by Rick DeStefane, who grew up in Benld and […]
Benld Council tightens mobile home regulations, approves resolution to launch sewer improvements
Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to approve an ordinance calling for an update to the city code regarding mobile homes located within the city limits and approved a resolution committing local funds for construction costs associated with a proposed sanitary sewer project. The ordinance to amend the city code […]
Bourne announces coffee and conversation events
State Representative Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) will be hosting Coffee and Conversation events throughout the 95th district to meet with constituents, hear their feedback, and provide updates on legislative issues. All area constituents are encouraged to attend to meet their representative, discuss topics important to them, ask questions, and enjoy a cup of coffee. The events will […]
City Council offers Ambulance Service one-year agreement for dispatching services
The Gillespie City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to offer a one-year dispatching services agreement for the Gillespie-Benld Ambulance Service at a cost of $12,000. The measure is subject to approval by the Ambulance Service Board of Trustees later this month. If approved by the Ambulance Board, the council could finalize the agreement as […]
Benld Council approves $1.8 million appropriations ordinance, Awards demolition contracts for nuisance properties
The Benld City Council on Tuesday night approved an annual appropriations ordinance projecting expenditures of up to $1,818,422.76 for the current fiscal year. The meeting was postponed from the council’s regular meeting Monday, June 21, when the council failed to achieve a quorum. Ald. Brian Frensko and Ald. Dustin Fletcher were absent for Tuesday night’s […]
Gillespie Council approves $7.2 million appropriation ordinance, debates ambulance dispatching counteroffer
Members of the Gillespie City Council voted unanimously Monday night to adopt a new appropriations ordinance to govern spending during the current fiscal year. Though not a budgetary document, the state-mandated annual appropriations ordinance sets spending ceilings for specific line items for the fiscal year. This year’s ordinance authorizes expenditures of $7.2 million, compared with […]
Bus driver urges higher pay for drivers, board authorizes sale of residential lots
Former district teacher Steve Joyce made an impassioned plea to the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night urging the board to consider higher pay for bus drivers. Since retiring from teaching, Joyce has been employed as the Gillespie Public Library librarian and also drives a full bus route for the […]
Benld Council seats re-elected officials, eyes maintenance truck purchase
The Benld City Council on Monday night saw the swearing-in of recently re-elected aldermen and officers but otherwise dealt with routine business during a relatively brief monthly meeting. City Attorney Rick Verticchio, asking officeholders to place their right hands on his mother’s Bible, administered oaths of office to newly re-elected Mayor Jim Kelly, City Clerk […]
Gillespie Council eyes proposed new fireworks ordinance
A newly seated Gillespie City Council on Monday night got its first glimpse of a proposed ordinance to govern the use of fireworks within the city limits. The draft ordinance is a response to numerous complaints last year regarding allegedly irresponsible fireworks displays, some of which endangered private property. Additionally, the council awarded several facade […]
County launches license and permit hub
At the direction of the Macoupin County Board, the county’s website now has a single page for information and applications for any licenses and permits a county office may issue. While the number of licenses and permits may not be large, knowing which office to apply for one can be confusing for a business or […]
Benld Council approves new library board liaison, amends rental agreement to reflect COVID restrictions
Benld City Council members on Monday night approved Mayor Jim Kelly’s appointment of Ald. John Balzraine to serve as the council’s liaison to the Benld Public Library Board of Trustees and voted to amend the rental agreement for city-owned facilities to reflect current COVID restrictions. The council ratified Kelly’s appointment of Balzraine shortly after the […]
Kelly wins re-election, two new aldermen elected in Gillespie
With just a 17 percent county-wide turnout in last week’s consolidated election, Benld voters decided to keep Jim Kelly as mayor and Gillespie voters elected two new aldermen. In Benld’s only contested race, incumbent Jim Kelly received 192 votes (62.75 percent) compared to Lindsay Bearden’s 114 (37.25 percent) to keep the mayor’s gavel in a […]
Benld among recipients of infrastructure grant
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced the recipients for the 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Public Infrastructure. A total of $18.2 million will be awarded to 34 communities across the state, enabling cities and towns in non-metropolitan areas to make repairs to shared water and sewer […]
Benld Council eyes demolition of downtown storefronts
An eyesore marring downtown Benld for nearly a decade may be removed in the near future as a result of action taken by the Benld City Council during the council’s regular monthly meeting Monday night. On a motion by Ald. John Balzraine, seconded by Ald. Mickey Robinson, the council voted unanimously to authorize Mayor Jim […]
Gillespie Council accepts attorney resignation, approves bee-keeping project at water plant
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night accepted the resignation of long-serving City Attorney Kevin Polo, approved an environmentally friendly bee-keeping project at the city’s water treatment facility site, and approved a $190,000 payment to Haier Plumbing and Heating and Curry and Associates as the city’s aggressive water infrastructure replacement project winds down. […]
Bourne outraged that Pritzker signs law enforcement bill
Contributed content from the Illinois House Republicans Today Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 3653 into law. This bill, opposed by every law enforcement organization in the state, will turn suspected criminals back on to the streets hours after being arrested, take away resources from local counties, set new costly mandates on law enforcement, and […]
Benld Council beefs up inspection ordinance, votes to purchase pump, aerator
Benld City Council members voted Monday night to amend the city ordinance requiring inspections of residential rental properties and voted unanimously to purchase a pump to replace a unit damaged by cold weather, as well as an aerator for the city’s sewage treatment lagoon. Council members also heard a brief update on plans to redevelop […]
Gillespie Council eyes development plan, votes to increase bulk sewage rates
Members of the Gillespie City Council voted Monday night to draft a “letter of support” authorizing Peace Corps Fellow Ethan Fogg to initiate work on a plan to guide the city’s long-term economic development efforts. The council also approved a measure to increase bulk sewage rates and voted to hire a full-time police officer. Fogg […]
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