Community News
City of Benld purchases truck, tables action on building permit changes
The Benld City Council on Monday night agreed to purchase a new truck for the Maintenance Department at a cost of $54,111, retained an auditing firm for the upcoming city audit, and accepted the resignation of the Deputy City Clerk. Council members, however, tabled action on an amendment to the city’s building permit ordinance and tabled action on approving a business license application.
Mayor Jim Kelly opened the meeting by observing a moment of silence for the late Wanda Bernot who previously served the city as City Clerk.
In other action, council members heard a brief update regarding the status of redevelopment work for a sport and recreational park on the former site of the Benld Elementary School. Mayor Jim Kelly said Doug Ratterman of HMG Engineers had visited the site and plans to have a proposal for a new ball field on the site within the next five weeks, at which time the ball field project will be sent out for bids.
“They’ve staked it,” Kelly said, adding the engineers will give the city proposed plans soon. “They’re setting it up for the least amount of dirt moving,” he said.
In association with the non-profit Benld Sports Association, the city is developing the 11-acre site as a sports and outdoor recreation park. Community Unit School District 7 transferred the property to the city several years after a mine subsidence event destroyed the then seven-year-old Benld Elementary School. With the city acting as the sponsoring agency, the project was awarded a $600,000 Open Spaces Land Acquisition and Development Grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Once construction is complete, maintenance and operation of the facility will be the responsibility of the Sports Association.
TRUCK PURCHASE
On a motion by Ald. John Balzraine, the council voted to purchase a 2022 Dodge Ram truck from Victory Lane Ford. Mayor Kelly said that with the addition of a snow plow and required lighting, the cost of the truck comes to $54,111, which will be paid in full from the city’s general funds.
Kelly said the city is not earning enough interest on investments to make it cost-effective to secure a loan for the vehicle. Since Victory Lane is selling the truck under terms of a state bid contract, no bidding process was required.
CITY AUDIT
Council members agreed to retain Scheffel Boyle Certified Public Accountants to perform the city’s annual audit at a cost not to exceed $17,450.
“It will be a regular audit since we didn’t spend more than $300,000 in grants,” said City Clerk Terri Koyne. She said the audit also is likely to be done early because the auditor assigned to Benld is expected to be leaving for maternity leave.
BUILDING PERMITS
The council took now action on approving an amendment to the city’s building permit ordinance, pending further revisions to be added by City Attorney Rick Verticchio. Essentially, the amendment will require building permits to be issued to the owner of the property, rather than the contractor retained to do the work.
“We have too many solicitor contractors seeking building permits,” City Clerk Koyne said. According to Koyne, the contractors applying for the permit sometimes turn out to be out-of-area contractors who solicited residents to secure a contract. Such solicitations, she said, are illegal without a soliciting permit issued by the city. “I’d love to be able to deny permits for contracts obtained illegally,” she said.
Mayor Kelly said the amendment also should address persons buying a house contract-for-deed. “I’d like for the actual property owner to be the one to apply for the permit,” he said.
Jono Verticchio, representing the Verticchio Law Firm, said the amendment can be written to require permits to be issued to the property owner only. A revised amendment will be presented at next month’s meeting.
BUSINESS LICENSE
The council also tabled action on a business license application submitted by Ed Rieffer. Mayor Kelly said he advised Rieffer to attend the meeting so aldermen could ask questions before approving the permit.
Essentially, council members voiced concerns about the nature of the business Rieffer is proposing. From his description on the application, there were indications Rieffer plans to open a pawn shop, while describing it as a loan business. Pawn shops are subject to additional restrictions and state licensing requirements, according to Verticchio.
“If it’s a pawn shop, it’s a pawn shop,” Verticchio said. “You can’t get around that by calling it something else.”
DEPUTY CLERK RESIGNATION
Council members voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Deputy City Clerk Carol Wood, effective May 24.
Mayor Kelly said Koyne and City Treasurer Cindy Crites will screen applicants for the job and forward their recommendations to the full council. The council will have an opportunity to interview recommended candidates before hiring a new Deputy Clerk. In the meantime, Koyne advised she may be working more than 60 hours per month.
SURPLUS PROPERTY
The council voted unanimously to add a Ford truck and Crown Victoria to the list of surplus property to be advertised and offered for sale to the highest qualified bidders.
NUISANCE PROPERTIES
On a motion by Ald. Jerry Saracco, seconded by Ald. Dustin Fletcher, the council voted to declare properties at 207 and 211 East Central Avenue as public nuisances. The property owners will be issued citations giving them 30 days each to abate the nuisance to avoid court proceedings.
CAT ISSUES
Ald. Balzraine reported that Macoupin County Animal Control recently trapped 18 feral cats in the city, and plans to return for more trapping programs. He advised city residents to stop feeding stray cats, noting that feeding feral animals is a violation of city ordinance.
STOP SIGN ORDINANCE
The council directed the City Attorney to draft a proposed ordinance making the intersection of Illinois at Kentucky streets a four-way stop. Ald. Fletcher said he asked Police Chief Jared DePoppe about the need for the additional stop signs, who agreed the ordinance is needed.
City aldermen are expected to formally act on the ordinance in June.
SUPPLIES PURCHASE
Council members unanimously approved the purchase of $3,055 in fittings from Schuette Supplies.
WATER REPORT
The council voted unanimously to pay $100 to post city water reports on the ILRWA website. City water customers can review mandated water quality reports at www.ilrwa.org/CCR/Benld.pdf.
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2:18 Missions, a nonprofit focused on home repair projects in the Gillespie area and humanitarian efforts at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky, has launched a spring food drive to support families served by the Henderson Settlement Food Pantry. The pantry assists low-income families across five counties in the Appalachian region, where a steady supply of nourishing food is essential.
The organization emphasizes that no donation is too small or too large. Right now, all contributions received from now through the first week of April will directly fund food for families in need. It costs roughly $35 to provide food for a family of four for an entire month, a goal that this drive aims to meet for as many families as possible.
Donations can be made in several convenient ways. Checks or cash may be given to any 2:18 Missions team member. For those who prefer digital options, donations are accepted via Venmo or PayPal at 2:18 Missions Nfp. Community members are also encouraged to follow and engage with updates on the 2:18 Missions Facebook page.
2:18 Missions stresses that every contribution, regardless of size, makes a tangible difference in the lives of families working to make ends meet in the mountains of Kentucky and the residents of Gillespie who support their neighbors in need. The organization invites the public to join in this effort and to help spread the word through social media and word of mouth.
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The Gillespie Public Library invites the community to its 13th annual Night of Trivia and Games, a popular evening of competition, camaraderie, and cash prizes. The event is set for Saturday, March 28, 2025, with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. and play beginning at 7 p.m. at the Gillespie Civic Center.
Attendees can expect a safe, social night out as organizers have arranged tables to accommodate social distancing, ensuring guests can enjoy the fun in a comfortable setting. The evening features prizes for first, second, and third place, along with a 50-50 drawing and other assorted cash games and prizes.
In keeping with the event’s lighthearted spirit, there will be no silent auction. Organizers emphasize that the goal is “Only laughs and fun,” with a chance to win money while enjoying a friendly competition format.
Entry is a $100 team fee, with a maximum of 10 players per team. Participants are encouraged to pre-register by March 25 to guarantee a table. Registration options include mailing a form to Gillespie Public Library, 201 W Chestnut, Gillespie, IL 62033; calling the library at 217-839-3614; or contacting Steve Joyce at 217-839-2839.
For those interested in joining or learning more, team captains should designate a contact person and provide a reachable phone number during registration.
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The estate of the late Lindell and Jean Loveless, longtime Macoupin County pork producers, has made generous equal gifts to The Partnership for Educational Excellence in Gillespie CUSD #7 and to the Carlinville CUSD #1 Education Foundation. The gifts come from the remainder of a family trust established to ensure high-quality end-of-life care and were divided upon Jean Loveless’s passing, with equal shares allocated to the education foundations in each district.
Tim Loveless, local businessman and son of Lindell and Jean, emphasized the family’s enduring commitment to education and practical life skills. “It was my parents’ desire to use these remaining funds to support and enhance career and technical education programs in our schools,” Loveless said. He recalled his family’s deep roots in hard work and the value of life skills, noting that “the spirit of this gift is to prepare students for life in general, and to prepare them to earn a living by learning a trade.”
“The bottom half of the class,” Tim continued, “needs financial education and practical skills. A person can learn and earn their way to success.” He described his parents’, grandparents’, and great-grandparents’ diverse ventures—from farming and cattle to turkey production, nursing homes, meat processing, swine production, and subdivisions—and underscored that high formal education is not the sole path to success, but motivation and skill are crucial. He expressed hope that the gift will help school districts boost opportunities for students who may doubt their ability to succeed.
John Fassero, Jr., president of The Partnership for Educational Excellence in CUSD7, welcomed the gift as a strong alignment with the Partnership’s mission. “This Loveless family gift is a perfect fit for the established goals and policies of The Partnership,” Fassero said.
Since its founding in 1992, The Partnership has awarded nearly 600 scholarships based on goals and hard work rather than GPA or class rank. Fassero noted that the organization has several scholarships targeted to the trades, and that nearly 20 scholars have pursued trade school education in the past four years alone. “In addition, two-thirds of The Partnership’s giving is directed to curriculum enhancement across all three schools and in all specialties, including shop and FFA,” Fassero added.
