Community News
Gillespie Council discusses fate of former Dollar General building
The Gillespie City Council appears likely to approve an ordinance establishing a vacancy tax to leverage occupancy for vacant downtown commercial properties. City Attorney Rick Verticchio agreed to write a draft ordinance for council action following a lengthy discussion during Monday night’s regular monthly council meeting regarding the status of the building that formerly housed the Dollar General Store at 109 N. Macoupin St.
The building has been vacant since Dollar General moved to a new building about five years ago. The building, which features early 20th century architectural details on the second-story facade, is listed for sale online for an asking price of $600,000.
Local business owner Ruth Loveless, who owns a business across the street, told the council she inadvertently became involved with the building’s current owners and their attempts to dispose of the property. Loveless said the building actually is owned by a 101-year-old man in New York who is the beneficiary of a trust. Getting the trustees to commit to anything in writing has been challenging, according to Loveless.
Originally, the trustees agreed to deed the building to the city with the provision the city would provide the estate with an appraisal placing the worth of the building at a minimum of $250,000. Based on local property values, the city apparently responded that no appraiser would place the value that high. After withdrawing the original offer, Loveless said the trust offered to pay for replacing the roof if the city could find a tenant willing to make repairs to the interior. In exchange, the trust reportedly agreed to allow the tenant to use the space rent-free for an unspecified period of time. Loveless said that offer fell apart when she pressed the trust to commit to the amount of time the tenant could use the building rent-free in writing.
More recently, she said the trust took all previous deals off the table and said they would attempt to sell the building outright in an “as-is” condition. The trust reportedly told Loveless they would not accept less than $250,000.
Loveless said her recommendation to the city would be to condemn the building and take possession via court order.
Verticchio said that option is not available to the city at this time. “I can’t tell you that building is in nuisance condition,” Verticchio said. The city attempted to declare the building a public nuisance last year, which prompted a building inspection by an engineer who confirmed the building is structurally sound. Even though the interior may not be fit for commercial use, Verticchio said there is no danger of bricks falling, etc., that would qualify the structure as a nuisance.
Ald. Dave Link, who sold the building to the trust, said he offered to buy it back for what he paid for it originally—$37,500—but was told the owners “would rather let it fall in than sell it for that price.”
“If they did that, we could take action,” Verticchio said, “when things start falling off and threatening public safety.”
Treasurer Dan Fisher offered a “vacancy tax” as a possible incentive for property owners to find tenants for their spaces. He said he learned of the strategy from attending municipal conferences where other communities reported having success with the tactic.
“This is not an uncommon problem,” he said. “You have to have a Downtown Business Association, which we have.” The tax can be stringent and can be collected after an extended period of time during which a building has been vacant. He said the period of time before the tax is imposed should be fairly liberal to give owners time to locate a tenant when their property becomes vacant.
Verticchio agreed to research the issue and draft an ordinance for the council to review.
NEW BOAT DOCK
After several minutes of discussion, the council voted to accept a $253,757 bid from Blue Ridge Boat Docks, Lake of Egypt, to build a new multi-slip boat dock at the New Gillespie Lake. The company expects to start construction the first or second week of May and have the facility available for use by the Memorial Day weekend.
Two other bids, ranging from $378,900 to $475,280, were received for the project.
The city received a $200,000 grant to subsidize the project and discussion Monday night focused on where the remaining $53,000 would come from and whether or not the city should authorize the additional expense. Fisher said he expected the city’s share of the project would come from the Lake Fund and the Bond & Interest Fund, but several aldermen expressed concerns about spending the money at all.
The measure passed unanimously, however, after Ald. Landon Pettit pointed out that failing to use the grant money would not only cost the city $200.000 but also jeopardize future grant applications.
CEJA GRANT APPLICATION
On Fisher’s recommendation, the council unanimously authorized the Mayor to sign a grant application for grant funds under the federal Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) program. The grants are aimed at helping to replace lost revenue resulting from the idling of the Shay Coal Mine, formerly Monterey Coal, in Brushy Mound Township. Taxing bodies within 20 miles of the mine.
To reduce costs associated with the application process, Fisher said Gillespie will act as the sponsoring agency for 17 other taxing entities. In addition to the City of Gillespie, the associated applicants include Community Unit School District 7, the Gillespie-Benld Area Ambulance Service, Gillespie, Cahokia and Brushy Mound Townships, the Benld and Gillespie public libraries, and the communities of Benld, Staunton, Bunker Hill and Royal Lakes.
If the application is successful, Fisher said the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will award a lump sum which will be distributed among the other applicants. Individual awards will amount to a minimum of $50,000, Fisher said.
DUMPSTER ORDINANCE
Verticchio agreed to draft an ordinance for action next month regarding oversized trash dumpsters in residential areas after a brief discussion about the issue.
“I don’t think dumpsters belong in residential areas on a permanent basis,” Mayor Hicks told the council. There were several minutes of debate, however, before the council agreed to ban dumpsters in excess of three yards in size in residential areas. The new ordinance will carve out exemptions for temporary dumpsters placed for construction, remodeling and similar projects. In those instances, the dumpsters can remain no longer than 30 days without council approval.
“If you’re going to do this, they need to be off the sidewalk and off the city right-of-way,” Ald. Link noted.
PORTABLE BUILDING SETBACKS
In response to questions from Ald. Link, Verticchio agreed to write a draft ordinance for council action next month regarding setback rules for portable storage buildings and unattached carports. Link initially wanted to know if such structures were subject to building permit requirements.
Ald. Pettit said such structures currently are not subject to the property tax code and are exempted from needing a building permit unless they are not erected on a permanent foundation. “As of right now, there’s nothing on our books,” he said, regarding building permits or setbacks for portable structures.
Link suggested portable buildings should be subject to setbacks outlined in the zoning code in consideration of fire hazards to neighboring properties, and Verticchio agreed to write a proposed ordinance.
Also in response to Link, Verticchio advised he would write a draft ordinance to require housing inspections on an annual basis for rental properties. Link said he was approached by a landlord who said he would welcome annual inspections to protect his properties. Currently, housing inspections are required only before a new tenant moves in after a former tenant moves out. Annual inspections, the landlord told Link, would have prevented his property from being damaged by a tenant who allowed a water leak go unaddressed for several years, causing structural damage to his property.
Earlier in the meeting, Gillespie landlord Tim Loveless addressed the council over his concerns regarding a recently approved ordinance governing the operation of Airbnbs. Loveless, who operates one Airbnb in the city, said the ordinance is “an affront” to the “freedom to start and run any business without governmental interference.” Loveless said the ordinance unfairly targets Airbnbs by imposing a tax on the proceeds.
Loveless asserted he would close his operation rather than comply with the new ordinance, adding that having places to stay for short-term visitors is a benefit to the city.
Loveless also briefly addressed concerns about a dumpster at his newly relocated business office.on Spruce Street. He said he uses a backhoe to press down trash in the dumpster and any trash that escapes is picked up immediately.
In a related matter, Ald. Rauzi encouraged aldermen to report substandard housing units in their wards so the properties can be added to a growing list of potential nuisance properties. Rauzi said there are at least 24 houses on the list now, with three or four burned out houses yet to be added.
Additionally, Ald. Rolando said she would write an ordinance citation against the owner of a property on Oak Street who allegedly piled debris from a downed tree on the sidewalk, and allowed junk to accumulate on the property. She said she would ask the Police Department to serve the ticket on the defendant.
REMOTE VOTING AND PARTICIPATION
On the recommendation of Ald. Rauzi, the council authorized Verticchio to draft an ordinance permitting council members to participate and vote during council meetings via telephone or Zoom. Rauzi said municipalities routinely held remote meetings during the COVID crisis but at least one municipality encountered legal issues after allowing a member to vote remotely after the pandemic ended.
Rauzi said several council members travel extensively in connection with their jobs and remote voting will better ensure full participation.
“This will put it on our books so there is no question about whether it’s allowed,” Ald. Pettit commented.
ORDINANCE OFFICER
A proposal to hire a special officer to enforce ordinance violations was put on hold after Ald. Rauzi said the concept will need extensive thought and work. She said she contacted the City of Benld, which has a police protection contract with Gillespie, and was told the neighboring community is interested but wants more details before signing on.
“How are we going to pay for it?” Rauzi asked. “How many hours are they going to work? I think it is going to require quite a bit of work.”
THUMBS DOWN ON UTV PURCHASE
Council members narrowly defeated a measure to purchase a new Utility Vehicle (UTV). Ald. Bob Fritz said the new equipment is needed and presented eight bids ranging from $10,562 to $20,662. Mayor Hicks, however, said the city could buy a used UTV for $5,500 and that there currently is no place to store the vehicle when not in use. Moreover, he suggested the expenditure would be unwise when the city is facing costs of up to a half-million dollars to build a new city garage and renovate the former Fire Department space for use by the Police Department.
The UTV currently used by the Street Department is under a lease that will end at the end of this month.
When brought to a vote, the council tied with Ald. Frank Barrett, Bill Hayes, Pettit and Fritz voting “yes,” and Ald. Janet Odell-Mueller, Dona Rauzi, Wendy Rolando and Link voting “no.”
Forced to break the tie, Mayor Hicks voted “no,” but urged Fritz to bring the issue back next month when the city might have a better idea about financial resources available for the purchase.
NEIGHBOR COMPLAINT
Verticchio told Shelly Montgomery there was nothing the council could do to help her after the Park Avenue resident complained about numerous bogus police calls to her house, allegedly instigated by her neighbor. Montgomery said she moved into her home last October. Since that time, her neighbor has called police to her home no fewer than eight times. Further, she alleged the neighbor has set up surveillance cameras aimed onto her property and into her home in violation of her property rights.
“Nobody in my block is a criminal,” Montgomery said. “It has to stop. We have to be able to live in our own homes without being harassed.”
Verticchio said the city council has no power to address Montgomery’s complaint, but suggested she could retain a private attorney to pursue a civil lawsuit. In the alternative, he recommended she contact the Police Department to see if the neighbor has criminal liability, in which case her complaint might be referred to the States Attorney for prosecution.
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FELONIES
Domincqua N. Contreras, 31 of Bunker Hill, is charged with aggravated battery in a public place in connection with a January 8 incident.
Dillion D. Grether, 25 of South Roxana, is charged with possession of methamphetamines’ (<5 grams) in connection with an October 15 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Cory J. Dodson, 36 of Carlinville, is charged with theft/unauthorized control (<$500) in connection with a December 6 incident.
Megan J. Morgan, 33 of Carlinville, is charged with theft/unauthorized control (<$500) in connection with a December 6 incident.
Robert D. Sanson, 34 of Belleville, is charged with criminal trespass to a building in connection with a December 2 incident.
Christopher R. Lott, 47 of Carlinville, is charged with theft of labor/services/property and criminal trespass to land in connection with a January 7 incident.
Amiel K. Kimsey, 20 of Homewood, is charged with minor in possession of liquor in public and driving 15-20 mph above the limit in connection with a January 1 incident.
TRAFFIC
Dawn M. Malone, 57 of Collinsville, is charged with driving on a suspended license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, disregarding a stop sign, no turn signal lights, unsafe loading, operating a motor vehicle vehicle with suspended registration, and unregistered/expired registration in connection with a January 4 incident.
Cheri L. Bagwell, 47 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a suspended license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and transporting/carrying alcohol in connection with a January 1 incident.
Siera A. Lewis, 28 of Alton, is charged with driving on a suspended license, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a January 1 incident.
Stephen C. Springman, 37 of Shipman, is charged with driving on a revoked license in connection with a December 17 incident.
Shundrana M. Roy, 29 of Milwaukee, WI, is charged with driving on a suspended license and driving 21-25 mph above the limit in connection with a January 1 incident.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Trent Eichen and Summer Melton, both of Carlinville
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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.
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.
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.
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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