Community News
Gillespie Council approves $280,000 tax levy, debates absenteeism
Brenda Masters, CPA, presented the city’s annual audit.
The Gillespie City Council on Monday night approved a tax levy totaling $280,140, but it was the routine matter of approving meeting dates for 2016 that provoked the most heated discussion. The council also accepted the city’s annual audit and approved the purchase of workers compensation insurance and liability insurance on the dams impounding the new and old Gillespie lakes at a cost that is about 50 percent higher than last year.
The 2016 meeting schedule approved by the council calls for the council to meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12, Oct. 11, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. The Public Works, Safety and Finance committees will meet at 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 25, Feb. 22, March 28, April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25, Aug. 22, Sept. 26, Oct. 24, Nov. 28 and Dec. 26. Additional Finance Committee meetings are set for 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 8, Feb. 5, March 11, April 8, May 6, June 10, July 8, Aug. 5, Sept. 9, Oct. 7, Nov. 10 and Dec. 9.
I can’t just take off. I’m a supervisor, plus we have to have a certain number of cars on patrol in the county at all times.
“I work, plain and simple,” Diveley said. “My schedule is set for 2016. I can’t just take off. I’m a supervisor, plus we have to have a certain number of cars on patrol in the county at all times.”
Diveley said he was aware of comments on social media about his frequent absences from council meetings, and he alleged some members of the council had talked about the issue “behind my back.”
“I wish people would come to me and talk to me about it in person,” he said.
City Treasurer Dan Fisher countered that running for a seat on the council obligated Diveley to attend meetings. “If you can’t do it, you need to quit,” Fisher said, citing previous examples of city aldermen who resigned their seats when their work schedules changed and created a conflict with regular attendance at city council meetings.
“I disagree with that,” Diveley countered, adding that much of the job, in his view, involved fielding citizen concerns and responding to complaints.
Fisher agreed that constituent service is part of the job, but at its core, the position of alderman is a “legislative duty.”
“You can’t fulfill that if you can’t make it to the meetings,” he said.
Ald. Steve Kluthe commented that when an alderman misses a number of consecutive meetings, that alderman is not privy to discussion that may have taken place prior to the time when a specific issue comes up for a vote. “If you don’t have all the information from the previous meetings, you can’t make an informed decision,” Kluthe said.
“Fine,” Diveley said, “this will be my last meeting.” He later said he was angry when he made the statement and would further explore whether or not he should resign from the council.
“I come when I can,” he said. “My first priority is my family. Personally, I don’t think my whole job is just sitting here at this table.”
To be their representative, you have to be here
Diveley was first elected without opposition in 2011 and was re-elected to a second term this year. When he first ran, he said, his schedule permitted him to attend council meetings. When he ran this year, he said he had decided that if anyone else filed for election, he would step aside, in part because of his inability to attend meetings on a regular basis. “No one else wants the job,” he said, adding that he called the City Clerk’s office before the filing deadline to see if anyone else would run for the seat.
Mayor John Hicks brought the discussion to a close, saying, “There’s the meeting schedule. If you can’t make it to the meetings, you have to decide if you need to submit your resignation. It’s your call.”
Brought to a vote, the meeting schedule was approved 6-1 with Diveley voting no.
TAX LEVY & AUDIT
Council members voted unanimously to approve the tax levy for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2016. There were no members of public present to comment on the proposed levy during a brief public hearing set 15 minutes before the start of the regular council meeting.
The new levy calls for the following amounts to be generated from property taxes for the following line items: Corporate, $45,956; Police Protection, $19,782; Street & Bridge, $26,802; Emergency Services and Disaster Administration, $7,657; Liability Insurance, $44,669; Parks, $11,486; Municipal Band, $2,552; Social Security, $80,405; and Library, $40,841.
The council also unanimously accepted the city’s annual audit, which was performed by Fleming & Tawfall Certified Public Accountants, Litchfield. Brenda Masters, an accountant with the firm, distributed copies of the audit and briefly discussed its findings. There apparently were no findings or recommendations for improving the city’s accounting methods. In fact, Masters complimented Krystal Norville, assistant City Clerk, for the records she provided to complete the audit.
There apparently were no findings or recommendations for improving the city’s accounting methods.
Masters also noted that revenues and expenditures for water and sewer have remained relatively stable over the past five years. She took note of a significant jump in expenditures for salaries related to the Lake Account, from about $41,000 in fiscal 2014 to $77,363 at the end of the past fiscal year on April 30. That increase, however, was explained by allocating salary costs when workers from other departments performed work at the lake.
“It makes sense to do that,” she said. “You can raise rates to meet expenses easier than you can magically raise taxes.”
WORKERS COMPENSATION AND DAM INSURANCE
After several minutes of discussion, the council voted to buy Workers Compensation coverage through the Illinois Public Risk Fund and liability insurance for the dams at both Gillespie lakes through One Beacon, an insurance company that exclusively insures government owned properties. The total annual premium for both policies will be $112,284–nearly 50 percent higher than the previous year’s expenditure of about $83,000.
“That’s a pretty good pop up,” said City Treasurer Dan Fisher.
Matt Gazda with Gazda Insurance Agency, Carlinville, said the city has had a good record with Illinois Public Risk for Workers Compensation. Rates have remained stable despite a substantial claim arising from the Water Department. The new rate for Workers Compensation, he said, will be $33,353, which is only slightly more than the previous year’s premium costs.
The total annual premium for both policies will be $112,284–nearly 50 percent higher than the previous year’s
Link said properties downstream from the new lake dam that could be damaged in the event of a breach include a couple of residences, a bridge, farmland and a few outbuildings. Based on those potential losses, the policy would pay up to $1 million per incident, with an aggregate ceiling of $3 million.
There is no insurance available for the dams themselves, according to Link. “They won’t insure dirt is what they told us,” he said.
City Treasurer Fisher, Mayor Hicks and some of the aldermen expressed concerns about the lack of business interruption insurance.
“A million dollars wouldn’t make us whole,” Fisher said. “If we lost the lake, we’d be out of water in a day and a half. There’s all sorts of liability questions.”
Asked whether less expensive coverage might be available through the Illinois Municipal League, Link said IMl probably would not consider bidding on coverage for the city.
“They don’t like to work with smaller cities,” he said, “and they don’t like to bid and get beat, which is what happened the last couple of times. They wouldn’t even talk to us.”
Faced with a current policy that expires at the end of the year, the council opted to accept the policies presented by Gazda and Link despite the significantly higher costs, and directed Link to look into the cost of supplemental mine subsidence and earthquake insurance, as well as coverage for business interruption. The business interruption policy would be for the Water Department as a whole. Ostensibly, the policy would cover the loss of business the city might incur in event the water treatment plant or distribution system is disabled for any reason, not just the loss of a dam.
LAKE LEASES
On a motion by Kluethe, seconded by Ald. Frank Barrett, the council approved an amendment to a lake lot lease belonging to Rita Smith to allow her grandson, Casey Smith, to live at her permanent residence on the lake for a probationary period of six months and the end of which the council will review the issue and determine whether a previously imposed ban should be rescinded. Both Rita Smith and Casey Smith attended the meeting to plead their case for the action.
Kluethe said Casey Smith was barred from lake property in 2004 because of behavior issues. He did not go into detail regarding the nature of the complaint against Smith.
“I was 17 years old at the time,” Smith told the council. “I was a bad kid and I had a lot of problems.” In the decade since he was barred, Smith said he has matured. He has sole custody of his young son, he said. Earlier this year, he said he lost his job and is now working part-time 25 hours a week. He said he and his son want to be able to live with his grandmother temporarily until he can get back on his feet.
“I don’t cause a problem,” he said. “I’m inside most of the time.”
Rita Smith said she wanted the council to approve the measure. “I really don’t have much of anyone else to help me,” she said.
Kluethe said both he and Barrett had interviewed Casey Smith and were of the opinion that the ban could be lifted.
“Due to the amount of time that has passed, I think we can lift the bar and let him live there,” Kluethe said.
“Teenagers mature,” Barrett offered.
Fisher argued, however, that there is no clear protocol for revoking the ban. He asked about who would make the determination at the end of six months whether or not Smith would be added to the lease and what criteria would be used to make that determination. He also questioned whether the council would proceed in the same way if the circumstances were to arise again with other lake tenants.
“We’re painting ourselves into a very uncomfortable corner,” Fisher said.
Barrett commented that in 2004, the “hammer” used to enforce the ban was the threat to revoke Rita Smith’s lease and evict her. She was allowed to keep her lease on the condition that her grandson did not enter onto lake property.
“Our action in 2004 worked,” Barrett said.
In a related matter, the council voted to amend the ordinance regarding permanent lake residences to permit leaseholders to maintain permanent status while using the cabin as a part-time residence as long as that period of part-time residency does not exceed five years. The change was made to accommodate Charles and Diane Patterson, who purchased a permanent residence cabin with the intent of using it as a part-time residence until the time of Charles Patterson’s retirement, at which time they planned to use the cabin as a full-time residence. Previously, city ordinance dictated that permanent residence lots would revert to part-time lots if the owner did not live at the lake full-time.
Charles Patterson said the change was acceptable, though he wasn’t sure he would be able to retire in five years. His current target for retirement is eight years.
“What happens then?” he asked. “Do we come back and do this again?’
“We can’t make any representation as to what a council will do in five years,” City Attorney Kevin Polo said.
Also related to lake lots, the council unanimously approved an ordinance to increase lot rent from $600 per year to $900 per year–the first increase enacted in 12 years. Lake Committee Chair Barrett said the increase will affect about 30 lake residents.
Fisher suggested the Lake Committee should consider an ordinance to increase the rental periodically, based on the rate of inflation or some other factor.
“The $900 rate is fine, but I think we need to key this more to how it affects our overall revenues,” Fisher said. “Twelve years is too long to wait.”
FOP CONTRACT
Following a brief executive session to discuss collective bargaining, the council voted unanimously to approve a new contract with the Fraternal Order of Police, the union that represents Police Department employees. The three-year contract calls for raises of two percent in the first and second year, and one percent for the third year. Additionally, the new contract eliminates a $500 sign-on bonus.
The council formerly awarded the contract to replace two deteriorating culverts on Cedar Street to Baxmeyer Construction of Waterloo. Baxmeyer was the low bidder when bids were opened in October with a bid of $169,799.25. The council had delayed awarding the bid at that time because of uncertainty about whether the city would have enough funds available to do both projects.
Mayor Hicks indicated Monday night that the city would be able to do both culverts.
Fisher reported that one of the culverts will require some work to be done on a sewer main at the same time. While city workers might be able to do that work, he suggested it would be more efficient to approve change orders to allow Baxmeyer to do the work once the culvert project begins.
In other action, the council:
- Approved Christmas bonuses of $50 for full-time employees and $25 for part-time employees.
- Agreed to donate $1,000 to a vocational entrepreneurship program at Gillespie High School.
- Agreed to donate $1 per student for an Adopt-A-Class program through Community Unit School District 7.
- Agreed to renew a contract with Homefield Energy to supply electricity for city facilities for one year at a rate of about 5.1 cents per kilowatt.
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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.
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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
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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.
