Meeting in their new quarters for the first time, members of the Benld City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a property tax levy request, approved a first installment payment for work completed at the Benld Family Sports Complex,  and appointed a new deputy city clerk.

As of the last two weeks of December, Benld City Hall has been relocated to its new location at 218 East Central Avenue. The new building, the former location of First National Bank and Associated Bank, provides an improved venue for public meetings, a private room for executive sessions, plus office space and a drive-up window for water customers to drop off payments.

On a motion by Ald. Jerry Saracco, the council voted unanimously to approve a property tax levy request of $123,576.03 for 2024 taxes to be collected in 2025. The new levy request is about $3,000 more than the 2024 levy of $120,605.29. The Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), approved by Macoupin voters in 1995 limits annual increases of no more than five percent or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less. The current CPI, essentially the rate of inflation, currently is 3.4 percent. The levy approved Monday night represents an increase of less than three percent over the previous year’s levy.

Broken down by line item, the new levy seeks property tax revenue of $30,500 for administration, compared with $30,000 last year; $5,900 for the annual municipal audit, compared with $5,800 a year ago; $1,200 for the municipal band, which is unchanged from the previous year; $6,250 for street and bridge maintenance, compared with $6,090 the previous year; $5,350 for parks, compared with $5,250 last year; $44,636 for police protection, compared with $43,169 last year; $5,000 for social security, which is unchanged from the previous year; $1,200 for unemployment insurance, which also is unchanged from a year ago; $2,450 for workers’ compensation insurance, compare with $2,400 a year ago; and $6,500 for liability insurance, compared with $6,386 a year ago.

Additionally, the levy request includes $14,590.03 for the Benld Public Library, compared with $14,110.29 the previous year. Though included in the city’s tax levy request, the library is considered a separate taxing body.

The new levy will be submitted to the Macoupin County Clerk, who is responsible for calculating the appropriate tax rates to generate the levy.

BENLD FAMILY SPORTS COMPLEX PAYOUT

The council voted unanimously to authorize payment of $54,347,94 to J.P. Solutions, Benld, the general contractor for the Benld Family Sports Complex, located on the former site of Benld Elementary School.

The payment covers preliminary earth work at the site, including excavating and grading, sidewalk removal and trenching. City Clerk Terri Koyne reported that workers currently are installing playground equipment.

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Community Unit School District 7 transferred the site to the city after a mine subsidence event destroyed the sever-year-old Benld Elementary School. The city secured a $600,000 Open Spaces Land Acquisition and Development grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources last year. The city will oversee development of the park, after which management and maintenance will be turned over the Benld Sports Association.

Ald. Saracco noted the city has received half of the grant money and voiced concerns that the city could lose the second half if the facility is not completed by the end of April. Mayor Jim Kelly assured the council that HMG Engineers confirmed the facility will be completed on schedule and if the construction does go past April, the second installment of the grant will not be withdrawn.

Earlier in the meeting, Ald. Saracco reported he attended a meeting at Gillespie City Hall regarding the status of nearly $60,000 in CEJA grant funds due to the City of Benld. Saracco said the money was expected to last November or December but has been delayed. Originally, the city planned to use the money to pay for demolition of the former Tarro Supermarket on East Central Avenue. When emergency circumstances arose, however, the city had to proceed with the demolition before receiving the funds. He recommended using the money, when it arrives, to purchase a new emergency siren or to replace a culvert on East Central Avenue.

NEW DEPUTY CLERK

On a motion by Ald. John Balzraine, seconded by Ald. Lance Cooper, the council voted unanimously to appoint Geir Perkins as Deputy City Clerk to assist the City Clerk with office work. In a separate action, the council approved expenditure of about $125 to have Perkins certified as a Notary Public and to buy a notary stamp for her use.

CITY PROPERTIES AND ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS

No action followed a 20-minute executive session requested by City Attorney Rick Verticchio to discuss a small claims lawsuit filed against the city by Monte Oberman in connection with property at 215 East Central Avenue that Oberman agreed to sell to the city in lieu of abating a public nuisance.

In related property matters, the council directed Verticchio to send notice of an ordinance violation to the owners of the former Benld Senior Nutrition Center, 205 East Central Avenue, for bricks falling from the front wall onto the sidewalk.

Verticchio also was directed to pursue action against the owners of 407 and 409 South Fourth Street for allegedly allowing persons to live in the residences without passing a building inspection. Ald. Balzraine said someone is living in a mobile home at 407 South Fourth and in a home located at 409 South Fourth.

Verticchio said he is working in court to get authorization to enter the mobile home for purposes of an inspection. A hearing is scheduled this Friday to obtain an administrative search warrant that will allow the city’s housing inspector to enter the residence.

CULVERT PURCHASE

On a motion by Ald. Dustin Fletcher, the council approved replenishing the city’s stockpile of culvert materials at a cost of $9,506.17.

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SNOW REMOVAL COMPLAINT

Ferdinand Girardi appeared before the council to voice concerns about snow removal practices following the most recent snowstorm. Girardi said city workers threw up a three-foot embankment in front of his driveway when city streets were plowed and refused to plow access to his driveway. Ald. Balzraine disputed that there was a three-foot embankment in front of Girard’s home and confirmed that city crews are not responsible for plowing private driveways.

“What do you expect me to do?” Girardi wanted to know.

“I want you to take care of your driveway like everyone else,” Balzraine replied.

“You expect a 97-year-old man to get out and shovel out a driveway?”

“No,” Balraine responded, “I expect you to hire someone like everyone else does.”

Mayor Kelly reiterated that cars must be moved off  streets during a snow emergency.

“If there’s a car in the road,” Kelly said, “the police will call you to move it. If you don’t move the car, it will be towed. Cars have to be off the road and plows have to be able to get through when there’s a snow emergency.”

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Macoupin County Board members voted unanimously Tuesday night to authorize a $1 million project to resurface about 2.7 miles of Staunton-Bunker Hill Road.

County Engineer Tom Reinhart told the board that the section of Staunton-Bunker Hill Road was selected to expend remaining Rebuild Illinois funds because it could be improved with an overlay without extensive patching or rebuilding. The board resolution approved Tuesday night appropriates $997,904.40, representing the balance of RBI funds allotted to the county, to mill and resurface more than 13,200 feet of Staunton-Bunker Hill Road, proceeding west from the county highway’s intersection with Illinois Route 4 near Staunton. Additionally, the board voted unanimously to approve a resolution entering into a $29,542 contract with Veenstra & Krimm, Inc., Springfield, to provide engineering, consulting and oversight services for the project.

A bid letting for the resurfacing is expected this spring.

In other action, the board agreed to sell 2.5 acres of surplus property and approved a controversial division of one lot in the Gander Subdivision between Brighton and Bunker Hill.

PROPERTY SALE

After an extensive discussion, the board voted unanimously to declare 2.55 acres of county-owned land lying to the east of Poggenpohl Redi-Mix and Construction, north of Carlinville, as surplus property and offer it for sale via sealed bids.  Bids are due by Feb. 28.

Board member Todd Armour said at least one potential buyer has expressed interest in acquiring the property but “some members of the committee thought there might be other buyers.”

The board, however, tabled action on another six acres of property located west of the Poggenpohl facility. 

“There’s another six acres out there,” Armour said. “The committee wondered if we should get an appraisal on all of it, advertise it for sale and get the county out of the property business.” 

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The additional six acres is contingent to the Macoupin County Fairgrounds, Armour said. A potential buyer expressed interest in buying it and allowing the Fair Board to use the property for overflow parking during the fair and other events. 

Armour reported the committee retained Aumann Auctions to appraise the initial properties. The 2.55 acres now offered for sale was appraised at $60,000, with the initial 5.99 acres appraised at $110,000. A new appraisal would include the initial 5.99 acres, plus an additional six acres. State law requires the county to sell the property for a sum no less than 80 percent of the appraisal.

Board member Holly Klausing commented that selling the first 5.99 acres without including the second six-acre parcel could be problematic. “I’m afraid that if we sell these two parcels,” she said, “no one will be interested in the other six acres because it will be landlocked.”

Armour also noted that a farmer who is renting the land from the county has already added soil amendments for the upcoming growing season. “If we sell it out from under him, we’ll have to reimburse him for that,” Armour said.

Ultimately, the board agreed to offer the initial 2.55 acres east of Poggenpohl for sale while tabling a decision on the remaining property pending an appraisal and additional information.

GANDER POINTE SUBDIVISION

With three dissenting votes, the board approved a plan to subdivide Lot 1 of the Gander Pointe Subdivision near Brighton into three separate lots ranging from one acre to 1.5 acres in size.The issue has been under discussion by the board since December, with some board members questioning whether or not the subdivision owners were attempting to circumvent county ordinances defining the difference between major and minor subdivision developments. Gander Pointe currently is a minor subdivision subject to fewer rules and regulations than a major subdivision.

Aaron Coe, the county’s GIS Manager and Plat Officer, told the board that State’s Attorney Jordon Garrison had researched the issue and found no language in the county’s ordinances that would prevent Gander Pointe owners from further subdividing a lot depicted in the original plat. Further, the cities of Bunker Hill and Brighton, exercising their one and one-half-mile jurisdiction, both agreed to the resubdvision plan. 

While the Road and Bridge Committee reviewed the resubdivision plan and recommended approval, a resolution to approve the plan was approved 15-3 with board members Tony Wiggins, Ross Arden and Gordon Heuer voting “no.”

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LOTUS WIND FARM AGREEMENT

The board tabled a resolution to approve an engineering agreement totaling $941,000 for work in connection with improving roads to and from the Lotus Wind Farm project in northwestern Macoupin County. County Clerk Pete Duncan said there were numerous questions about the resolution, including the cost of the contract. Scott Jansen, senior development manager for APEX Clean Energy, participated via telephone, telling the board he questioned the $941,000 figure. Questioned by Duncan, Jansen was unable to confirm whether or not the company would pay the cost directly or reimburse the county for the expense.

“I think the best thing to do is to table this agreement tonight,” Duncan told the board. “Let the committee talk about it and come back next month. We’re talking about a lot of money.”

Reinhardt agreed, suggesting the board invite Jansen to the February board meeting to answer questions and provide additional information.

If approved, the resolution would authorize the county to enter into a contract with Cummins Engineering, Springfield, to oversee road improvements to support the weight of heavy equipment used in developing the wind farm.

“This resolution is solely for oversight,” Reinhardt said. “APEX is paying for it all. There’s no county money involved.”

Stretching across North Palmyra and North Otter Townships, the Lotus Wind Farm will have about 50 wind turbines capable of generating 200 megawatts of power—enough to operate 77,500 homes. The company website claims the project will create more than 100 jobs during the construction phase, plus nine permanent jobs when the facility is up and running. The wind farm is expected to generated upward of $57 million in new property tax revenue over the life of the project.

FOUR MONTH REVENUE REPORT

Duncan presented a financial report for the first four months of the current fiscal year, show revenues for the General Fund to be down by $32,000 from a year ago at this time. He said revenue from sales tax, income tax and the personal property replacement tax have been significantly higher in past years.

“Obviously, it’s going to be tight,” Duncan said, “and that’s why I’ll be doing a review every month.”

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GREAT RIVERS AND ROUTES TOURISM BUREAU

Board members unanimously approved a routine resolution in support of the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau. The annual resolution is assists the Bureau in seeking annual re-certification from the State of Illinois.

“In my opinion, they do a good job for us,” said Armour in moving to approve the measure.

OTHER ACTION

In other action, the board:

• Appointed Dale Lawrence and Joe Perkins, and re-appointed Noah Sisson to three-year terms ending on Feb. 28, 2028, on the Emergency 911 Board, and designated Perkins as an “at-large” member.
• Appointed Duncan as the Freedom of Information Act officer for the county board.
• Approved Chairman Larry Schmidt committee appointments as follows: 
  • Building and Grounds: Harry Starr, chair; Jim Ibberson, vice-chair; John Blank, Gordon Heuer, Ryan Kilduff, John Trevino, Tony Wiggins.
  • Courts: Kristi Dunnagan, chair; Kilduff, vice-chair; John Payne, Molly Rosentreter, Arron Stayton, Blank, Wiggins.
  • Economic Development: Holly Klausing, chair; Starr, vice-chair; Blank, Kilduff, Dunnagan, Payne, Rosenterer.
  • Finance: Payne, chair; Todd Armour, vice-chair; Ross Adden, Mark Dragovich, Bernie Kiel, Blank, Heuer, 
  • General Administrative: Kiel, chair; Stayton, vice-chair; Leann Barr, Klausing, Ibberson, Trevino.
  • Labor Management: Armour, chair;Dunnagan, vice-chair; Stayton, Dragovich, Heuer, Klausing, Trevino.
  • Liquor Commission: Ibberson, chair; Klausing, vice-chair; Barr, Blank Rosentreter, Starr, Wiggins.
  • Public Safety: Stayton, chair; Dragovich, vice-chair; Barr, Adden, Ibberson, Payne, Starr.
  • Road and Bridge: Kiel, chair; Heuer, vice-chair; Adden, Armoiur, Barr, Rosentreter, Wiggins.

No action followed a five-minute executive session to discuss employment in the State’s Attorney’s office.

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Gillespie voters will have an opportunity to vote on whether or not the City of Gillespie can impose a one percent retail sales tax for Public Safety purposes as a result of action taken by the city council Monday night. Council members voted unanimously to approve a resolution prepared by City Attorney Rick Verticchio to put the question on the April 1 consolidated election ballot. The question will be presented in conjunction with the election to choose the mayor, city clerk, city treasurer and three aldermen.

The council discussed the issue of seeking a Public Safety sales tax during the council’s regular meeting on Dec. 9 and during a continued meeting on Dec. 23, at which time there was speculation the city could implement the tax via resolution only without seeking voter approval. The resolution presented Monday night confirms that voters can weigh in at the ballot box on whether or not to impose the tax.

“This is just a resolution so we can have that question on the ballot,” Verticchio told the council.

During the December meetings, Treasurer Dan Fisher said the city agreed to seek the tax during collective bargaining negotiations with the police officers union.  The expected $200,000 will help cover additional costs associated with local police joining the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund system for retirement benefits, as well as the cost of adding additional police officers to cover police protection services in satellite communities. Benld Ald. Jerry Saracco told the Benld Council last month that satellite communities also were being asked to consider seeking a Public Safety sales tax to help defray police protection costs, but there appeared to be no interest on the part of the Benld Council to follow Gillespie’s lead.

In addition to the tax question and city officials, the consolidated ballot also will include elections for three Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education members, as well as township officials.

POLICE STATION PROGRESS

On a motion by Ald. Dave Link, seconded by Ald. Dona Rauzi, the council unanimously voted to release $59,199.26 to contractor John Watson, Gillespie, to pay subcontractors for remodeling work at the new Gillespie Police Station at 124 N. Macoupin St., the former location of Gillespie Chiropractic directly across the street from City Hall. 

Rauzi reported the city had paid Watson $9,000 to start the remodeling project. The additional money will be used to pay various vendors such as Glass Cutters, Carlinville, and Carpani Computers for installing computer networking and internet systems. 

The council also approved a $1,998.85 change order request for the project to cover the cost of reopening exterior stairs that the previous owner had enclosed. The additional money will cover the cost of siding, framing, lighting and replacing stairs that were removed when the entry was enclosed.

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In a related matter, the council formally declared as surplus property a desk that the previous owner left behind and to transfer the desk to Watson. Rauzi said the desk had little value and that no other city office had a use for it. She said the options for disposing of it were to either give it to Watson or store it at the Civic Center.

With the same action, the council declared as surplus unused roof trusses which will be offered for sale via sealed bids.

GRANT MANAGER BILL

On Fisher’s recommendation, the council agreed to pay Fuel Growth Group’s bill of $137,550 for billing and consulting services associated with grant management services related to $3 million in federal grants and $1 million in state grants awarded to the city for its downtown streetscape project. Fisher said the agency’s bill is based on an hourly rate totaling 7.5 percent of the $4 million in grant awards.

Verticchio said he plans to contact the vendor regarding its new contract due to concerns he has about some of the contract’s wording. He said the contract calls for an hourly rate up to $257,000 after the first installment of 50 percent is paid.

“I don’t have any great problem with the contract,” Verticchio said, adding that he wants to revise the contract so the city does not owe the balance if the billable hours do not reach $257,000. “In all probability, we will get to that amount, but I want to make sure that if we don’t reach $257,000, we won’t owe them the full amount.”

EXECUTIVE SESSION

No action followed a brief executive session requested by Ald. Frank Barrett, Lake Chairman, to discuss personnel. While the nature of the discussion was not specified, it is likely the closed-door session focussed on replacing Gary Thornhill, long-time Lake Manager who recently resigned to take another job.

In a related matter, Barrett told the council he is getting pricing from Carpani Computers for a new point-of-sale computer and printer for the Lake Store. 

“When Gary left, we were using his computer and printer at the store,” Barrett said, explaining the need for new equipment.

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COMMUNICATIONS TOWER

Council members briefly discussed the status of a new communications tower, construction of which is likely to start this year. The council previously entered into a franchise agreement to lease property for the tower, which will provide services for AT&T cell phone transmissions and other providers. Ald. Wendy Ottersburg said the company revised its plan to add 20 feet to the tower’s height to expand its range.

Water Plant Operator Dave Pickett said he is eager for the tower to be completed as it will allow the Water Department to implement a computer program enabling the Department to control water flow from the pumping station to the Water Plant without having to physically travel to the pumping station.

“It will be a huge savings for us,” Pickett said.

AUDIT ACCEPTANCE

Upon Fisher’s recommendation, the council voted unanimously to accept the city’s official audit. In a departure from past practice, no representative of the auditing firm appeared before the council to present the audit findings. Fisher said the audit showed the city to “be in the black” but did not mention whether or not the auditor made any other findings.

COUNCIL RADIOS

Mayor John Hicks reported that two-way radios previously issued to city council members are unaccounted for and asked aldermen who might still have a radio to return them to City Hall. He said the radios were issued to aid with communications in the event of an emergency.

“Somewhere along the line, some of them disappeared,” he said.

SNOW REMOVAL

Ald. Bob Fritz, answering criticisms voiced on social media, clarified that the city does not have responsibility for removing snow on sidewalks. He said people were upset because city workers did not remove snow on sidewalks in the area of CUSD 7 schools.

“Those are not our responsibility,” Ald. Rauzi noted.

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Ald. Landon Pettit said that when he worked for the city, city workers were advised by the city’s insurance provider to leave sidewalks alone. 

“The insurance company told us not to do that,” he said. “Once we clean them off, any liability for them is on us.”

CEJA MEETING

Fisher told the council he plans to meet with CEJA grant partners at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall to discuss CEJA expenditures and closing out the grant. The federal Climate and Equitable Jobs Act grant of $1.1 million was awarded last summer. The City of Gillespie retained $70,248.57 with the remainder allotted to various local units of government, including: Village of East Gillespie, $51,654.72; City of Benld, $58,721.50; Village of Eagarville, $50,684.28; City of Staunton, $80,929.61; Gillespie Public Library, $70,248.57; Benld Public Library, $58,721.50; Gillespie Township, $73,458.48; Cahokia Township, $69,004.42; Community Unit School District 7, $98,167.33; North Mac CUSD 34, $98,584.12; Gillespie-Benld Ambulance Service, $133,202.60; Village of Royal Lakes, $51,038.87; City of Bunker Hill, $60,102.51; Village of Mount Clare, $51,878.67; and Brushy Mound Township, $53,919.08.

The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act is a federal program to mitigate against economic conditions that result as the nation moves away from fossil fuels to embrace renewable, “green” energy sources. The local grant award is related to job losses resulting from the idling of Shay Mine No. 1, formerly Monterey Mine No., 1. Each entity was awarded $50,000 plus additional funds based on “job loss” and “revenue loss” factors.

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