Community News
County Board Votes to Cut Pay & Size
Board to be reduced by one-third following 2012 election; both moves expected to save County near $40,000 annually.
Macoupin County – After being debated for nearly an hour Tuesday, with a vote of 18-5-1, the Macoupin County Board chose to follow through on the results of a public referendum and reduce the number of County Board members from 27 to 18.
“In my opinion, it is our duty to follow through with the wishes of the voters of Macoupin County,” said Chairman Andrew Manar. “We asked the voters what they wanted and regardless of how difficult it may be to take this path as individuals, it is no time for selfishness. Reducing the size of the County Board is about taking the action that is in the best interest of the citizens of Macoupin County. I want to commend my colleagues on the County Board for making the right decision”
Manar’s proposal to reduce the Board by one-third comes as a result of a public referendum that the people of Macoupin County voted on in the 2008 General Election. The idea to put the question of whether or not to reduce the Board size to the voters was originally considered in a “Financial Blueprint” that Manar presented to the Board in early 2008 following the closure of several local coal mines. Tuesday’s vote was the first opportunity the Board had to address the results of the referendum (where nearly 62% of the voters were in favor of the reduction) as State law provides that each county board is required to determine its size following a decennial census, or only every ten years.
In addition to passing an ordinance to reduce the size of the County Board, an additional ordinance debated at Tuesday’s Board meeting considered cutting the monthly salaries of Board members by 5%. The county ordinance, which was adopted unanimously, will reduce the monthly per diem received for attending monthly Board meetings, the stipend for attending committee meetings, and the salary allotted to the Chairman.
“By adopting this ordinance, we are showing the people of Macoupin County that we continue to be serious about taking every step that we can to maintain our balanced budget,” said Manar. “We understand that this is a time where taxpayers expect their board members to make disciplined decisions and be fiscally responsible.”
Combined, both measures are expected to save taxpayers between $35,000 and $40,000 on an annual basis. Manar noted that the County’s general fund spends about as much money in the current fiscal year as it did in 2001.
The two ordinances adopted by the Board are the latest in a series of steps over the past four years that have been designed to protect core services of county government, while at the same time continuing to seek maximum efficiency and reductions in spending where possible in the County budget.
“For the past several years, we as a Board have demanded that County officials preserve services for county residents and achieve savings whenever possible by streamlining their office operations to become more efficient. Today, the County Board took a big step by saying that we hear and accept what the voters have to say and we, too, have to do more with less. I am proud of my colleagues; we made the right decision,” said Manar.
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FELONIES
Ronald R. Arnold, 35 of Gillespie, is charged with aggravated battery in a public place in connection with a December 28 incident.
Kenneth E. Ray, 39 of Bethalto, is charged with aggravated fleeing while involving the disobedience of two or more official traffic control devices, fleeing/attempting to elude officers, speeding 25-34 mph over the limit, and driver’s license expired more than a year in connection with a December 19 incident.
Jacklyn M. Wichman, 30 of Decatur, is charged with possession of methamphetamines (< 5 grams) in connection with a December 30 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Levi R. Ladendorf, 31 of Staunton, is charged with battery/causing bodily harm in connection with a July 17, 2023 incident.
Demian E. Ellis, 46 of Benld, is charged with battery/making physical contact in connection with a December 30 incident.
Steven D. Lewis, 33 of Virden, is charged with two counts of violation of a protection order in connection with a December 30 incident.
TRAFFIC
Jason A. Keffer , 28 of Standard City, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a December 23 incident.
Daniel R. Gooding, 36 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a December 28 incident.
Douglas D. Davis, 27 of Benld, is charged with driving on a revoked license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and expired registration in connection with a December 26 incident.
Brandon E. Swarringin, 26 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a December 21 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Terry L. Lumma versus Robert L. Lumma
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Pietro Lentini of Carlinville and Anna Jean Triplett of Greenfield
- Morgan Barber and Emilee Bridgwater, both of Benld
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Summer Repertory at Carlinville is pleased to announce the return of a comedy play to the stage. Performances of Ripcord will be held January 17 and 18th at 7:30 PM and January 19 at 2 PM at Blackburn College Bothwell Auditorium.
Ripcord, by David Lindsay-Abaire, is based in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility. The rivalry of odd couple roommates Abby and Marilyn, results in high stakes comedy of conflict for control of territory.
Cindy Rice and Joe Hardy bring their combined experience directing the small cast of seasoned actors.
Rice, who has directed place and musicals In Illinois and Texas, spent 15 years co-directing musicals at North Green high school.
Hardy, who began acting at age 7 with notable roles in Summer Repertory Theatre’s Shrek The Musical, The Little Mermaid , and Suessical, has also performed at several Springfield, Illinois, theaters. He has a BA in Theatre Performance from SIUE.
Tickets for Ripcord may be purchased at the door only. Ripcord is rated PG-13. For more information, see Summer Repertory Theatre at Blackburn College Facebook page.
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The Partnership for Educational Excellence is gearing up for an exciting trivia night on Saturday, February 15, 2025.
The lively evening is the education foundation’s one-and-only fund raiser. Proceeds will allow The Partnership to continue programs benefitting all CUSD7 students. Since 1992 the it has awarded more than $1 million to the improved and continuing educations of local students.
Since 1992 every student in every classroom in CUSD7 has benefitted from classroom mini-grants, school-wide academic grants, and – over the past three years – district-wide grants of $90,000 for improved and enhanced student computers.
In addition, The Partnership offers individual $2,000 academic tuition scholarships to GHS graduates enrolled in accredited state and private, academic and trade colleges and universities. In 2024, a record 40% of GHS graduating seniors received these awards.
The “For the Love of Education” Trivia Night will be held at the Gillespie Civic Center, 115 North Macoupin (behind City Hall). Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the competition begins at 7:00 p.m.
Mulligans will be for sale; games and lightning rounds will keep the evening lively; and a variety of door prizes will be awarded. Contestants are invited to bring their own beverages and snacks. Alcoholic beverages are permitted with a photo I.D.
In addition, The Partnership’s annual Grand Raffle will kickoff. Two “early bird” winners will receive $100 each on February 15. Their tickets will remain eligible for the grand prize of $5,000 on Saturday 12 April 2025. The fee is only $100 per table, up to 10 people per team.
There are four ways to register:
- phone Director Mary Griffel at 217-556-5456;
- visit www.thepartnership7.org to register online or to print out a mail-in form;
- write to The Partnership, P.O. Box 125, Gillespie IL 62033.
