Community News
Gillespie Council debates lake issues, liquor licenses
Gillespie Lake (Archived photo)
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night debated the hiring of seasonal workers at Gillespie Lake, discussed the possibility of revamping the city’s liquor license structure, addressed problems with receiving payments from water customers paying online and discussed derelict properties within the city limits. But the council took formal action on only a handful of issues during the 90-minute session.
The council voted to give the Lake Committee power to act on the issue of hiring three seasonal employees to work at Gillespie Lake this summer, but the discussion drifted into a more detailed examination of lake revenues and expenditures projected for the coming fiscal year. Ald. Steve Kluthe said the committee received about 10 applications for three summer positions at the lake. Two of those positions would work in the lake office/store and one would be assigned to outdoor maintenance work. He said two office workers are needed because their duties also include taking care of camping areas, picking up trash, taking care of restroom facilities and patrolling the swimming beach for litter. The outdoor maintenance person primarily would assist Lake Supervisor Gary Thornhill and perform work under Thornhill’s direction.
In the past, Kluthe noted, the city hired only one seasonal worker for the lake each summer.
[pullquote]We’ve doubled in almost everything—size, business, activity, everything. One person can’t do it all now.[/pullquote]
“We’ve increased the amount of acreage at both lakes,” he said. “Last year was just amazing. We’ve doubled in almost everything—size, business, activity, everything. One person can’t do it all now.”
Kluthe said much of the outdoor work at the lake involves lifting that requires two people. He said he and Ald. Frank Barrett, also a member of the Lake Committee, had assisted Thornhill in past summers with chores such as pulling up buoys and other jobs requiring more than one person.
“Gary is in the union now,” Kluthe said. “That limits our ability to do that now because it could result in a grievance.”
Responding to a comment from City Attorney Kevin Polo, Kluthe confirmed the seasonal worker hired to do outside work at the lake would work exclusively at the lake. Polo had pointed out that the city’s contract with the Laborers Union prohibits the seasonal worker from being assigned to do Street Department work in town.
Kluthe said the committee is proposing hiring the outdoor maintenance worker at $8.74 per hour. Among the applicants for the available positions are two who have worked in the lake office during past summers and are likely to be favored for those positions. The employees will work from April through October and will be allowed to log no more than 30 hours per week. Some weeks, Kluthe said, the employees may work less than 30 hours depending upon need.
City Treasurer Dan Fisher concurred that additional employees may be needed at the lake, but he cautioned the council to be wary about committing to additional expenditures.
“The only thing I’d want you to do is to come up with some kind of a budget for the lake for the fiscal year,” Fisher said. The current fiscal year ends April 30. Fisher reviewed the net revenue generated from the lake for the past five years. For the years 2013 through 2016, the lake generated profits ranging from $10,000 to $60,000, according to Fisher. Last year, however, the lake posted a loss of $63,000, largely due to expenditures for infrastructure improvements that included electrifying campsites, reopening the swimming beach and remodeling the office/store building.
[pullquote]Last year, however, the lake posted a loss of $63,000, largely due to expenditures for infrastructure improvements. I think it’s going to be better for the city this year at the lake.[/pullquote]
“We raised rates on some things but we still have to be cautious about how we allocate our money,” Fisher said.
“I knew when you read the numbers for 2017 that it was going to look bad,” Kluthe said. “Our infrastructure out there was below par and we had to spend some money upfront just to get back to par. We have done things now that are permanent that we’re not going to have to be going back to. I think it’s going to be better for the city this year at the lake.”
“If you haven’t been out to the lake lately,” said Ald. Jerry Dolliger, “there have been days when I’ve counted 75 people at the beach.”
“That’s why we had to increase the size of the parking lot,” Kluthe commented.
With the official lake opening for the season set for April 2, the council voted to give the committee power to act on hiring new workers on a motion by Kluthe, seconded by Ald. Diana Brickey.
Later in the meeting, the council entered into executive session for 15 minutes at the request of Ald. Barrett. Barrett said he needed to discuss a “lake lot problem” that could involve the acquisition of real estate and “maybe” litigation. No action followed the closed-door session.
Also related to the lake, the council approved lake lot leases for Brandy Cole to lease a full-time residential lot at 15051 Oak Lane on the New Lake, and for Anthony and Mary Brooks to lease a lot at 41 Bishop Drive located across from the campground.
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
On a motion by Ald. Dave Tucker, seconded by Ald. Jan Weidner, the council approved the purchase of bond insurance to cover Mayor John Hicks, Treasurer Fisher and City Clerk Frances Smith for financial transactions related to a USDA grant to subsidize a $10 million water system infrastructure project expected to get underway this summer. City Attorney Polo said the USDA requires city officials who may sign checks drawn on grant funds to be bonded to the level of the largest annual payment to service the loan. He said the city’s insurer, Gazda Insurance Agency, Carlinville, provided a bid of $528 per official for a total of $1,584 per year to bond the three officials to the amount of $265,000.
Also related to the water infrastructure project, the council authorized city officials to open multiple special bank accounts for grant money awarded by USDA. Fisher said establishing the accounts is another requirement of the grant award. He indicated, however, that the city may not have to establish a relationship with a separate banking institution, suggesting it may be possible for the city to draw down on grant funds directly from USDA as those funds are needed to pay contractors for the project.
On a motion by Tucker, the council also authorized the issuance of a request for proposals and requests for quotes regarding the possible construction of a solar panel field at the water treatment plant that would provide energy needs for the plant. Fisher said the project if the city chooses to proceed with it, would be paid for with USDA grant and loan funds awarded for the water infrastructure project.
“So this is just to get a price?” Ald. Weidner asked.
“Yes, this would be just to get a price,” Fisher responded. “If the price exceeds our resources, the project would die.”
AUDIT BID
After several minutes of discussion, the council voted unanimously to accept a bid from Tawfall & Flemming, CPAs, Litchfield, to perform the city’s annual audit at a cost not to exceed $12,000. The firm has conducted the city audit for the past several years.
“Do we want to shop around?” asked Ald. Barrett.
“We’ve tried before and no one wants to take it because we aren’t set up to use QuickBooks,” Mayor Hicks responded. “Once we get QuickBooks set up in the clerk’s office, I think this might get cheaper.”
Fisher said the clerk’s office is working on converting to QuickBooks, a popular computer accounting program, but Tawfall & Flemming has encouraged the city to condense the number of separate funds it uses to track expenditures and revenue. He said there may be some accounts that could be reasonably consolidated to reduce the number of funds, but he said the council would have to take action on that.
“It’s a council decision,” he said. “I don’t want to be responsible for making that call. The council needs to think about it because once you do it, you can’t go back.”
Kluthe asked if the city could be provided with a list of funds “so we can discuss it at another meeting and say, ‘these are combinable’ or ‘these overlap’.”
“There really is no overlap,” Fisher said. “For example, it would make sense to combine the Lake and Water funds, but with the bond issue (for the water infrastructure project) there are limitations on what we can do.”
Ultimately the council agreed to set aside time during a committee meeting later this month to discuss the possible consolidation of funds with office staff and a representative from Tawfall & Flemming to determine which funds can be merged and which ones must remain separate.
POTENTIAL LIQUOR LICENSE REVAMP
Mayor Hicks again urged the council to consider revising the system of liquor license classifications to reflect the nature of license holders’ actual businesses.
“I’ve asked you guys before to come up with a fee schedule,” Hicks said. “I think we need to go back and look at that to set up a fee schedule according to what the establishments actually do.”
Hicks said he was bringing the issue back to the council after being approached by a representative of the one of city’s convenience stores that holds a package liquor license but is considering the installation of video gambling machines. Since the city has no license to cover gambling establishments, Hicks said the city has no control over such situations.
“As long as he has a package liquor license, I don’t think there’s anything we can do,” he said.
“None of the quick stores have (gambling) machines,” Ald. Weidner noted.
“No,” Hicks replied, “but it’s going to come.”
“You have a lot of leeway on what your can charge for a liquor license, but not so much for gambling,” Attorney Polo advised, noting that gambling license fees are governed by state law.
Hicks suggested the city should have more classifications of liquor licenses to cover establishments that serve liquor but not food, serve liquor and food, serve liquor in conjunction with video gambling, sell package liquor only or sell package liquor in an establishment that also offers video gambling.
“Would this be an expansion of our liquor licenses?” Weidner asked.
“No,” said Hicks. “It would expand our categories and, maybe, expand our fees.”
While taking no formal action, council members generally agreed the issue should be taken up by committee to return to the council with a fully developed proposal at a later date.
Currently about a dozen local establishments hold licenses to serve or sell alcoholic beverages.
ONLINE BANKING ISSUES
Council members discussed but took no action on the issue of delayed payments to the Water Department resulting from customers using online banking systems to pay their bills. Even though customers may make their online payments before the due date, Hicks said, the payment may not reach the city until well after the due date.
“We’ve been lenient so far,” Hicks said, adding that the city expects to start charging late fees for online payments that arrive after the due date. “If they’re paying online and they get a late fee, it’s not our fault. It’s either a problem with the bank or the post office.”
“It’s not the bank or the post office,” Ald. Weidner said, “it’s the processor.”
Weidner said processors, some located as far away as North Carolina, hold online payments for a period of time and then mails a check to the city for the total.
“Theoretically, the customer gets a bill and it’s due on the 15th,” Treasurer Fisher explained. “They go online a pay the bill on the 14th, a day before the due date, but we may not get the payment until the 22nd.” He said waiving late fees for such payments would be a problem because the software used for Water Department billing automatically adds a late fee for payments received after the due date.
“I called one of the processors, and they told me it’s not their problem,” Hicks said.
Weidner suggested the solution is for customers to take into account that payments are being delayed and making their online payments well ahead of the due date, or pressuring their bank to find a different processor. “I think it’s up to the customer to get ahold of their bank and tell them it’s a problem,” she said.
DERELICT PROPERTIES
Mayor Hicks asked the aldermen to canvass their wards to document derelict properties.
“We have some properties that need to be cleaned up, torn down, sued or something,” Hicks said. Specifically, he took note of a house on Walnut Street that was damaged by a fire a year ago, and a house on Shelby Street hat has been vacant for two decades. He asked the aldermen to come back to the council with addresses and photos of properties in need of abatement. “I think it’s time for us to do something about some of these,” he said.
ILLINOIS MAIN STREET PROGRAM
On a motion by Kluthe, seconded by Brickey, the council voted to give the Public Works Committee power to act on a proposal to revive the Illinois Main Street program, which provided grants to revitalize downtown districts in Illinois communities. Treasurer Fisher reported that the state previously participated in the program but the state’s Main Street office fell victim to budget cuts at the state level. Since that time, the national Main Street program has “agreed to step in and run an Illinois branch” of the program, Fisher said.
Under the proposal, communities that want to participate in the program can join for three years at half the normal cost of joining, Fisher said. He said dues normally were $2,000 per year, meaning Gillespie could participate for three years at a cost of $3,000. The deadline for making a decision, however, is in April, necessitating the move to give the committee power to act.
Fisher cautioned that if the city decides to participate, it will require hiring a full-time employee to run the program locally. “That’s something we need to keep in mind,” he said.
“The Main Street program has a really good national reputation,” he said. “It’s been around a long time and it’s highly regarded.”
GARBAGE TRUCK DISCUSSION
Resident Rick Fulton addressed the council regarding damage being caused to city streets by heavy garbage trucks operating in the city. Ald. Jerry Dolliger said the trucks also have damaged culverts in some areas.
“They’re doing some serious damage to our roads,” Fulton said.
Attorney Polo noted the City of Benld implemented a single-provider system for trash hauling, adding the cost of trash service to residents’ water bills. “That opens a whole other set of issues,” he said.
As an alternative, Fisher said the city could require a license for trash haulers to operate in the city, setting the cost of the licenses on the basis of the size of trucks the company uses.
“We can charge them an appropriate amount as a license to do business in the city and earmark that money for roads,” Fisher said. “We’d have to be aware that whatever that fee is, they would pass that on to their customers.”
Another option, he said, the city could establish weight limits on city streets, but those limits would have to comply with Department of Transportation guidelines.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Approved a resolution to seek permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to close a portion of Illinois Route 4 in downtown Gillespie from noon, May 31, through 8 a.m., June 1, to accommodate the Black Diamond Days street festival.
- Approved a resolution to modify the contractual wage rate for some city employees. Attorney Polo said the resolution primarily acknowledges the addition of Lake Manager Gary Thornhill to the union contract and raises wages for police dispatchers to $12.36 per hour, which is comparable with wage raises given to other city employees.
- Generally agreed to allow Tim Disherlia to use a portion of a city-owned parcel adjacent to Disherlia’s property in the 300 block of Park Avenue to plant a small garden this summer. Mayor Hicks told Disherlia the permission was contingent upon Disherlia keeping the garden clean and weed-free, and locating the garden in an area that won’t interfere with the city’s access to utility easements.
- Approved a $180 reimbursement to Fisher for attending a Rural Affairs Council meeting in Springfield. Fisher said he met several people during the meeting who he has invited to Gillespie to help the council with various issues ranging from participating in Illinois Main Street to better utilizing TIF and Enterprise Zone districts.
- Tabled a request to vacate a portion of Third Street to accommodate a resident’s plan to build a garage, pending receipt of additional information. Polo said the proposed location of the garage may not require vacating any of the street.
- Approved purchase of a machine to add lime to water at the water treatment plant at a cost of $6,476.90.
- Discussed the possibility of purchasing a pump to remove water when making repairs to water main breaks. During a recent break, the city had to rent a pump at a cost of $3,000 and pay $10,000 for 24 hours of labor. “Those two figures together would have bought a rebuilt pump,” Hicks said. The cost of a pump of the size need reportedly ranges from $12,000 for a rebuilt unit to $30,000 for a new one.
- Voted to spend $560 to defray the cost of planting 28 planters in downtown Gillespie. Ald. Tucker, who moved to approve the expenditure, said this may be the last year for the planter program for a least a year since the upcoming water system infrastructure project is expected to require temporary removal of some sidewalks in the downtown area.
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Ye Olde Christmas is the theme of the Macoupin County Historical Society’s annual Christmas Show, which will be held Friday through Sunday, December 5–7, at the John C. Anderson Home and Museum, 920 West Breckenridge in Carlinville.
“The Christmas Show is one of the most magical times to visit the Anderson Home,” said MCHS Board Member and House Manager Brandy England. “Some families make it an annual Christmas tradition to visit the Anderson Home when it is decorated for Christmas. It’s a great opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit and pick up some ideas for decorating your own home for the holidays.”
MCHS member Kendra Mize, of Bunker Hill, who has coordinated the decorating effort for more than two decades, has again marshalled a small army of volunteers to decorate all 13 rooms of the home. Each room features a themed Christmas tree, along with mantle pieces, centerpieces, tabletop decor, garlands and florals, and other special touches.
The home will be open for self-guided tours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 5; from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 6; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 7.
“We’re very excited to offer for the first time candlelight tours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday,” said Shawna Ashby, who serves as a co-manager with England. “Viewing the decorated home by candlelight promises to be a magical experience.”
The final candlelight tours on Friday and Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the home is five dollars for adults and one dollar for children ages five to 12, with four-year-olds and younger admitted free of charge.
The Anderson Home Gift Shop will be open during tour hours, offering one-of-a-kind gift items and stocking stuffers. Santa Claus will be on hand in the downstairs parlor to greet children and listen to their Christmas wishes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.
While the decorated home is the centerpiece of the Christmas Show, several other features on the Historical Society’s grounds will be open. The Red Barn will be open and serving hearty beef stew, chili, homemade pies, and warming holiday beverages such as wassail and hot chocolate on Friday and Saturday.
The General Store and Print Shop will be decorated and open to the public, with the Print Shop offering its popular handmade Christmas cards and other items produced in the shop; kids can print their own blank “Santa List” to keep track of their Christmas wishes.
“The General Store offers unique gift items, including some small antiques, for shoppers to peruse,” England noted.
Local blacksmiths will demonstrate their craft in the MCHS Blacksmith Shop located on the north side of the Historical Society Grounds, with wrought iron gift items, including stocking hooks and decorative pieces, available for purchase.
The Macoupin County Historical Society’s Christmas Show runs concurrently with the Carlinville Christmas Market and Downtown Christmas events, and a free trolley and shuttle buses include the Anderson Home as a regular stop during the festivals, enabling visitors to ride from the square or the Macoupin County Fairgrounds to the Historical Society grounds.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted to approve a property tax levy request totaling $3,920,295 for 2025 property taxes payable in 2026. Because of tax caps and other factors, however, the district expects to collect only an estimated $3,786,607 of the requested amount.
In addition to acting on the tax levy, the board also held a lengthy discussion regarding annual district “report cards” issued by the Illinois State Board of Education to assess school performance from last year, approved a high school band/choir performance trip to Chicago in March, and agreed to apply for a school maintenance grant of up to $50,000 in matching funds.
The new proposed levy exceeds last year’s tax extension of $3,599,569 by more than $320,726—an increase of about nine percent if the levy were to be approved at the county level. The more realistic anticipation of $3,786,607 exceeds last year’s extension by $187,038, or an increase of about three percent. A Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), approved by Macoupin County voters in 1995, restricts increases in the levy to five percent or the federal Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. This year’s CPI is estimated at 2.9 percent.
The approved levy seeks $1,650,000 for the Education Fund while expecting to realize $1,653,831; $450,229 for Operations & Maintenance, while anticipating $438,041; $200,000 for Transportation while expecting $180,434; $35,000 for Working Cash while expecting $42,602; $174,700 for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund while anticipating $117,788; $154,101 for Social Security while expecting $105, 248; $247,264 for Tort while anticipating $240,570; and $33,501 for Special Education while expecting $32,593. For Bond and Interest, which is not subject to PTELL, the district is levying $975,500 while anticipating the same amount.
Local property tax revenue accounts for about 20 percent of the district’s overall annual budget.
Because the levy request exceeds 105 percent of the previous year’s extension, a public hearing is required. That hearing is scheduled at the start of the board’s regular December meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 15. In the meantime, the proposed levy is available for public inspection on the district’s website and in the district office.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Owsley emphasized the levy request is essentially a wish list for what the district would like to raise through property taxes.
“The levy is the ‘Christmas list’ I talk about every year,” Owsley said. “If you don’t put it on the list, you’re not going to get it.”
Projecting what the district can legally seek under tax caps can be challenging because the district’s total equalized assessed valuation will not be confirmed until after Jan. 1 while state law requires the district to file its levy request before the end of December. For that reason, local school districts routinely file requests that exceed what they actually expect to receive in property tax revenue, and rely on the County Clerk to adjust the request to the maximum amount the district can receive.
“Because of tax caps, we have one shot to capture increases in the EAV and new construction,” Owsley said. “If we don’t do that, we lose it in perpetuity.”
To calculate the new levy, Owsley projected a 15.12 percent increase in the EAV—nearly double the previous year’s rate of increase. By overestimating the EAV growth, the district expects to capture the entire increase in assessed valuation when that number is finally determined.
“Even though we know the EAV will likely be around the historical average, we base our levy on a much higher amount so as not to lose revenue from new growth,” Owsley told the board. “We can do this without running the risk of overtaxing taxpayers because the district will receive no more than what we are entitled to by law.”
Owsley said relatively stable increases in EAV have resulted in a steadily declining tax rate. Since 2014 when the rate was $4.24 per $100 in EAV, the rate has fallen to $3.20 for 2024. In other words, the county can use a lower rate to generate the extension to which the district is entitled because the value of taxable property has increased.
“As long as the EAV goes up by more than the Consumer Price Index, our tax rates are going to go down,” Owsley noted.
SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT CARDS
The board spent several minutes discussing recently released school report cards issued by the Illinois State Board of Education. Interested persons can view local report cards by visiting https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
All three attendance centers received a “Commendable” designation, meaning there are no student groups that are underperforming academically, and the high school graduation rate exceeds 67 percent. Last year, BenGil Elementary School achieved an “Exemplary” designation—the top designation a school can achieve.
Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto said administrators knew the school would not earn an Exemplary rating, even though students are state average in English/language arts, math and science. The Report Card designations are based on growth rather than academic performance. With students already exceeding state standards last year, the opportunity for growth was limited.
Assistant Principal Tara Cooper agreed, noting BenGil Elementary’s student performance is in the upper half of schools statewide that are meeting academic standards. “So, while we are not ‘Exemplary,’ we’re very happy with where we are.”
Supt. Owsley told the board the State Board of Education is working on revamping the assessment system because of the growth vs. performance issue. “That’s why they’re redoing all of this because they are penalizing schools for meeting goals,” he said.
For Gillespie Middle School, the report card shows students meeting or exceeding state averages in math and science but significantly lagging in English/language arts.
“ELA is our most concerning area,” Principal Patrick McGinthy told the board, “along with absenteeism.” The report card shows a chronic absenteeism rate of 25 percent, but Owsley and other administrators said the rate is exacerbated by the State Board of Education including nearly all absences whether or not they are excused.
Rosentreter noted the State Board will allow a student to be absent five days for illness without a doctor’s excuse. On the sixth day, however, the absence is unexcused unless the parent or guardian provides a doctor’s slip. Many parents, however, are reluctant to pay for a doctor’s visit for a child that is suffering from a minor illness.
McGinthy said Middle School teachers are attempting to address the deficiency in English/language arts by increasing writing exercises and requiring students to write in conjunction with other curriculum areas.
Rosentreter noted that the assessment standards for high schools differ from the standards for elementary and middle schools in that the State Board emphasizes graduation rates. For Gillespie, the graduation rate is an impressive 86 percent, though chronic absenteeism checks in at 31 percent.
“Math is definitely our shining star,” Rosentreter said, noting the school scored 17.8 points compared with the state average of 18. The school performed less well in the areas of English/language arts and science, scoring 16 points on ELA compared with the state score of 18 and 17.2 points compared with the state average of 19.
The report cards are based on results for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test for elementary and middle school students, and ACT scores for high school students.
Administrators said it’s difficult to motivate students to do well on state-mandated tests since the tests do not affect the student’s grade point average. To incentivize testing, Rosentreter said the high school is offering to let students skip final exams if they hit state standards on the mandated tests.
Owsley noted that the district report card documents the continuing decline in school enrollment—dropping from 1,325 seven years ago to 1,082 for the 2024-25 academic year.
“We don’t see that turning around anytime soon,” Owsley said. “It’s not just a Gillespie thing; it’s a trend for schools throughout Macoupin County.
BAND/CHOIR TRIP TO CHICAGO
Following a presentation by band/choir instructor Brad Taulbee, the board approved a high school band and choir performance tour to Chicago set for March 19-21. Taulbee said the tour company retained for the trip places emphasis on security and safety for traveling students. The company supplements hotel security with its own security personnel to monitor student rooms during the trip.
The tour includes workshop sessions at Vandercook College in downtown Chicago, and performances by the choir at the John Hancock Center and by the band at one of the city’s museums.
Taulbee said he is attempting to keep the cost affordable for participating students. Depending upon the number of students who ultimately go on the trip, he said he expects the cost to be about $739 per person. Additionally, he is lining up sponsors who can help with expenses for students who could not otherwise afford to participate.
“Security is my main concern,” said Board President Mark Hayes. “We just came back from there and seven people were shot in the area we were in.”
Taulbee said he expects to recruit seven to 10 chaperones and will ensure that the ratio of students to chaperones does not exceed 1:10.
SCHOOL MAINTENANCE GRANT
The board concurred with Supt. Owsley’s recommendation to again apply for a state School Maintenance grant of up to $50,000. The grant is a “matching” grant requiring the district to match grant funds dollar for dollar. The district has successfully applied for the grant for the past several years.
If the application is successful, Owsley said the funds will likely be used to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles in the choir room and elsewhere in the Middle School.
PERSONNEL
Following an executive session of about 40 minutes to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Tim Wargo as an assistant high school baseball coach and post the position as vacant, and voted to appoint Wargo as the head high school baseball coach for the coming season.
In separate actions, the board approved maternity leaves for Alexis Lupkey, district paraprofessional, and Gear-Up Coordinator Jordan Bartok. Lupkey’s leave is tentatively scheduled from Dec. 8 through March 18. Bartok’s leave is expected from Dec. 12 through Jan.6.
Board members voted unanimously to hire Christopher Whaley as a substitute bus driver, pending a routine background check and documentation of certification.
The board also voted unanimously to terminate Makayla Huff as a three-hour cook and post the position as vacant.
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to rehire fall coaches as follows: Jordan Bartok as head high school girls volleyball coach with Shelsie Price, as an assistant coach; Cory Bonstead as head football coach with Nate Henrichs, Jarrod Herron, Korben Clark, Alex Jasper, J.O. Kelly, Billy Gill and Florian Seferi as assistant and volunteer assistant coaches; Jay Weber as head coach for the parent-funded high school cross-country program with Jack Burns as a volunteer assistant coach; Jake Kellebrew as head coach for the parent-funded high school golf program, with Michael Otten as a volunteer assistant coach; Tim Wargo as head middle school baseball coach with Trae Wargo as assistant coach; Michelle Smith as head middle school softball coach with Jim Matesa, Joe Kelly and Melissa Heigert as assistant coaches; and Liz Thackery as head coach for the parent-funded middle school cross-country program with Laura Peterson as a volunteer assistant coach.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, Supt. Owsley introduced newly hired School Resource Officer Jacob Linhart, and High School Principal provided a report with photos of a recent school-wide Veterans Day observance.
Linhart, who has served five years as a police officer on the Gillespie Police Department, replaces Wade Hendricks, who recently retired after serving three years as the CUSD 7 School Resource Officer.
Linhart said it is a “great privilege” to serve as a Resource Officer, protecting students and staff. “I’m honored that you guys are allowing me to do it,” he said.
High School Principal Rosentreter said the school served breakfast to about 200 veterans and their families Tuesday morning, Nov. 11. Later, the veterans were joined by nearly 700 high school and middle school students for a recognition ceremony in the high school gymnasium.
Since the event coincided with the 25th anniversary of CUSD 7’s Wall of Honor program, the annual event did double duty as an induction ceremony for five are individuals, all of whom happened to be U.S. Military veterans.
The inductees included the late Sergeant Major John Marion Malnar, Command Sergeant Major John “Jack” Burns, Colonel Mark Daley, Lieutenant Colonel William P. Falke and Captain Robert Leone. Rosentreter said Daley and Leone traveled with their families from Colorado and Texas, respectively, to attend the ceremonies.
Burns, a retired CUSD 7 teacher, later visited BenGil Elementary School to present a program and teach students how to properly fold an American flag.
Rosentreter recognized the City of Gillespie for a donation of $1,000 to help purchase food for the veterans.
Born in Benld and a resident of Sawyerville, “Big John” Malnar earned a Silver Star during the Korean Conflict and a Gold Star, awarded posthumously after he was killed in action in 1968 in Vietnam. A Marine training center at Camp Geiger in North Carolina is named in his honor.
Though not a Wall of Honor inductee, Jacob Miller, a 100-year-old World War II veteran and recipient of two Purple Hearts, was recognized with a standing ovation.
The annual Veterans Day breakfast and ceremony provides students with an opportunity to meet and recognize local veterans as potential role models for their own futures.
Owsley said the event is a major event on the district’s calendar which grew out of a simple flagpole ceremony initiated 25 years ago.
CEJA GRANT FUNDS
Board members briefly discussed plans for about $74,000 in anticipated Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grant funds. The federal program is intended to compensate communities that have experienced revenue loss as a result of coal mine closures.
Owsley said the district committed about $86,000 in last year’s CEJA grant funds to the City of Gillespie to help pay for improvements to Plum Street, which is heavily used by district school buses. He has not transferred those funds, however, pending the start of the project.
Owsley said he was seeking the board’s input on how the money should be used.
“We could continue to partner with the city on Plum Street,” he said. “But there are plenty of project areas within the school.” The money could be used, for example, for continuing asbestos abatement. He identified other upcoming needs, including a new roof for the high school/middle school and an HVAC project.
President Hayes pointed out the school district paid for improvements to Kelly Street when BenGil Elementary was built and subsidized a project to reconfigure drainage on Broadway Street, in addition to the dollars committed for Plum Street.
“The school district is not in the business of building roads,” he said. “I think we’ve been more than generous with the city.”
Board member Peyton Bernot agreed the money should be committed for use by the school district.
TRIPLE I CONFERENCE
Several board members who attended a conference for board members and administrators Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23, in Chicago, commented briefly about their take-aways from conference sessions. Popularly known as the Triple I Conference, the convention is sponsored by the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.
Owsley said more than 700 Illinois school districts were represented, making the Triple I the largest gathering of education professionals in North America.
Bernot briefly reported on a session he attended regarding upcoming legislation and financial outlooks for school districts. He described the session as “much less optimistic” than sessions he’s attended in the past.
Owsley was among the convention presenters, discussing social-emotional learning. He commented that several districts attending reported efforts to involve students in school administrators. Some districts, he said, appointed a non-voting student representative to the school board to take part in discussions directly affecting students.
“When you think about it, we hear from faculty members and we hear from parents,” Hayes commented. “The people we don’t hear from are the most important part of what we do.”
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The Holiday Sparkle Committee of Gillespie is preparing for the 4th Annual Holiday Sparkle Lighted Parade and Community Tree Lighting, set for Sunday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m. in downtown Gillespie. This beloved community tradition invites residents and visitors to kick off the holiday season with lights, music, and festive cheer.
Food trucks will line the parade route starting at 4:00 p.m., offering a variety of tasty options for families to enjoy before and during the celebration. The event will culminate in the illuminated parade and the ceremonial lighting of the community tree, signaling the official start of the season’s celebrations.
A highlight of this year’s festivities will be a special performance by Gillespie area students in grades 3 through 5. The group will join together to sing Christmas carols, lending their voices to the town’s joyous welcome to the holidays.
Parade participants are invited to bring extra sparkle to the evening—whether by entering a parade float, walking in the parade, or simply attending to enjoy the atmosphere. Participation helps make the event truly magical for the entire community. The only requirement for the parade is all entries have to incorporate holiday lighting.
To join the parade lineup, interested participants can sign up at https://forms.gle/L7Q4tEkgjj8Lt5E47. The Holiday Sparkle Committee expresses gratitude for the ongoing support of residents, businesses, and volunteers who help bring this festive occasion to life each year.
The second part of the holiday festivities will take place on Saturday, December 13 when the Sparkle will sponsor the vendor fair and food trucks in downtown Gillespie including a visit from Santa. Vendors will be located in the Gillespie Civic Center, Zion Lutheran Church, and Emma G’s Upscale Boutique while local businesses and eateries will also be open. An egg nog jog benefitting Gillespie Cross Country will also be held on December 13 and interested participants can join here.
The Holiday Sparkle Committee invites everyone to mark their calendars and join in the celebration. For more information, please contact the committee by email at gillespieholidaysparkle@gmail.com or visit Gillespie Holiday Sparkle on Facebook.
