Community News
Gillespie Council eyes ARPA, CEJA expenditures, One percent public safety sales tax proposed
Gillespie City alderman hammered out details for spending down federal grant funds during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the city council. Council members also voted unanimously to authorize City Attorney Rick Verticchio to begin work on necessary paperwork to place a sales tax referendum on the upcoming Consolidated Election ballot to raise money for Public Safety.
City aldermen proposed projects worth more than $400,000 to spend down funds remaining from American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) and Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grants, as well as funds remaining from a soon-to-expire Tax Increment Financing District (TIF). City Treasurer Dan Fisher told alderman last month that federal ARPA and CEJA grant funds need to be committed before the end of the calendar to avoid losing the money. More than just earmarking the funds, however, Fisher said grant requirements would require to city to have actually entered into contracts for the projects by Dec. 31. He asked committees to nail down project costs and vendors before Monday night with an eye toward approving contracts before the grant programs expire.
The city holds about $360,000 in ARPA funds and $70,000 in CEJA funds which must be committed before the end of the year.
In the absence of Mayor John Hicks, Mayor Pro Tem Dona Rauzi chaired the meeting. Instead of adjourning at the end of the night, the council “recessed” the meeting to 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 23, at which time the council is expected to approve formal resolutions to enter into contracts to execute the projects outlined this week.
The city is expected to commit $190,000 to remodel a recently acquired building at 124 N. Macoupin Street to serve as headquarters for the Gillespie Police Department, $120,000 for improvements to the Civic Center, $100,000 for improvements to Big Brick Park, and $20,000 for street projects.
While the specifics for most of the projects will be approved later this month, the council took action to approve a $60,999 expenditure from CEJA funding for new playground equipment to be installed at Big Brick Park. Ald. Wendy Rolando said the committee had secured an $11,000 discount on the purchase which was set to expire before Dec. 23. ProPlayground, Peoria, will supply and install the three-level fort-style playground, along with a mulch-type material to go under the equipment.
Rauzi reported she had obtained a quote from Watson Contracting, Gillespie, to remodel the Police Department building at a cost of $159,997.77. Watson’s also offered three add-on options, including $12,100 to replace a furnace and air conditioner that is leaking coolant; $2,500 to remove water lines and replace them with copper plumbing; and $3,000 to move and install an emergency generator located at the Police Department’s current building.
Additionally, the Police Department has to get pricing for moving or replacing the Police Department’s communications tower. Police Chief Jared DePoppe said he is getting final pricing but has been told that replacing the tower could be more cost-effective than moving the old one.
“Moving the generator has to be done,” said Ald. Landon Pettit, “so I don’t really see that as an ‘option’.”
Likewise, Ald. Janet Odell-Mueller, said replacing the furnace and air conditioner should also be considered an essential item.
“My thought is to go with all three options,” Rauzi commented. “Do it now, rather than later.”
Fisher agreed, adding, “This is the only time we will have this money to spend. Do it all and get it done is the best use of the money.”
Ald. Bob Fritz outlined about $119,000 in expenditures for remodeling and updating City Hall and the Civic Center.
The project includes $73,511 to Watson Contracting for remodeling, including reconfiguring bathrooms to meet ADA requirements, $22,500 to Glass Cutters, Carlinville, to replace Civic Center doors and ADA compliant entries, $19,950 to Glass Cutters for replacement windows, and $3,000 to Bauer Electric, Gillespie, for electrical upgrades.
Fritz also sought $18,000 to pave parking areas for disabled visitors and to repave a drive-up area to drop off water bills. Fisher, however, deferred, saying the city is awaiting about $30,000 in TIF funds currently held by the County Treasurer.
“If we don’t get that this year, we can’t spend it on these projects,” Fisher noted. “I would look for an economies we can, and reconvening in two weeks to finalize the budgets, contingent on receiving the TIF funds.” The pending TIF funds represent the final revenue the city will realize from TIF District I which included the downtown business district and expires at the end of this year.
Pettit and Ottersburg reported expenditures for the new playground equipment, plus other work including electrical upgrades, new trash cans, new picnic tables and benches, and patching and resealing the tennis courts at Big Brick Park. Those expenditures, totaling $90,223, will come from ARPA and CEJA funding.
The council will reconvene in two weeks, at which time the council will act on resolutions to formally authorize the projects and expenditures. Fisher told aldermen that once the resolutions are approved, the city will have to actually enter into contracts for the work before Dec. 31.
TAX REFERENDUM
On a motion by Rauzi, the council voted unanimously to direct the City Attorney to prepare documents to file in order to place a Public Safety tax referendum on the ballot for the Consolidated Election in April. If approved, the referendum would impose a one percent sales tax on retail goods, similar to the County School Facilities Sales Tax approved several years ago, with the proceeds to support Public Safety.
Fisher said additional revenue is needed after the city began providing police protection services to the City of Benld in addition to Gillespie and other satellite municipalities, in addition to expenses associated with city police enrolling in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund system.
“We had in our plan that we would seek additional funding with a tax referendum,” Fisher said.
If approved, the sales tax would be imposed on retail goods in Gillespie only. The city may, however, urge municipalities that rely on Gillespie for police protection to also seek a Public Safety sales tax measure.
TAX LEVY
The council tabled action on a proposed tax levy pending a public hearing set for 5:45 p.m., Monday, Dec. 23. The hearing will preceded resumption of Monday night’s recessed meeting of the council. The levy will enumerate the amounts of revenue the city will seek from 2024 property taxes to be collected in 2025.
In the absence of Mayor Hicks, the council also tabled approval of a preliminary engineering services contract, a resolution to alter water department billing procedures, and a request for additional funding to buy Christmas decor after the 2024 holiday.
TIF EXPENDITURES
Council members unanimously approved a resolution to pay $22,162.42 from the TIF Fund to United Community Bank. The payment represents the next to the last payment to UCB per an agreement with the bank executed when the city’s first TIF District was created. The city offered the property tax relief in connection with UCB’s agreement to build a new bank and establish a loan processing center in Gillespie.
The council also voted unanimously to transfer $22,386.33 from the TIF II Fund to the TIF I Fund. The action reimburses TIF I for expenditures it subsidized for TIF II while TIF II was waiting to collect its first revenues.
In addition, the council approved expenditure of $237.50 in TIF funds to Moran Economic Development for work the agency completed in establishing the second TIF District and closing out the first.
UPCOMING MEETING
The council will reconvene in two weeks at 6 p.m., Dec. 23, to finalize ARPA, CEJA and TIF fund expenditures discussed Monday night, as well as items tabled from Monday’s agenda. That meeting will be preceded by a public tax levy hearing at 5:45 p.m.
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2:18 Missions, a nonprofit focused on home repair projects in the Gillespie area and humanitarian efforts at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky, has launched a spring food drive to support families served by the Henderson Settlement Food Pantry. The pantry assists low-income families across five counties in the Appalachian region, where a steady supply of nourishing food is essential.
The organization emphasizes that no donation is too small or too large. Right now, all contributions received from now through the first week of April will directly fund food for families in need. It costs roughly $35 to provide food for a family of four for an entire month, a goal that this drive aims to meet for as many families as possible.
Donations can be made in several convenient ways. Checks or cash may be given to any 2:18 Missions team member. For those who prefer digital options, donations are accepted via Venmo or PayPal at 2:18 Missions Nfp. Community members are also encouraged to follow and engage with updates on the 2:18 Missions Facebook page.
2:18 Missions stresses that every contribution, regardless of size, makes a tangible difference in the lives of families working to make ends meet in the mountains of Kentucky and the residents of Gillespie who support their neighbors in need. The organization invites the public to join in this effort and to help spread the word through social media and word of mouth.
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The Gillespie Public Library invites the community to its 13th annual Night of Trivia and Games, a popular evening of competition, camaraderie, and cash prizes. The event is set for Saturday, March 28, 2025, with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. and play beginning at 7 p.m. at the Gillespie Civic Center.
Attendees can expect a safe, social night out as organizers have arranged tables to accommodate social distancing, ensuring guests can enjoy the fun in a comfortable setting. The evening features prizes for first, second, and third place, along with a 50-50 drawing and other assorted cash games and prizes.
In keeping with the event’s lighthearted spirit, there will be no silent auction. Organizers emphasize that the goal is “Only laughs and fun,” with a chance to win money while enjoying a friendly competition format.
Entry is a $100 team fee, with a maximum of 10 players per team. Participants are encouraged to pre-register by March 25 to guarantee a table. Registration options include mailing a form to Gillespie Public Library, 201 W Chestnut, Gillespie, IL 62033; calling the library at 217-839-3614; or contacting Steve Joyce at 217-839-2839.
For those interested in joining or learning more, team captains should designate a contact person and provide a reachable phone number during registration.
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The estate of the late Lindell and Jean Loveless, longtime Macoupin County pork producers, has made generous equal gifts to The Partnership for Educational Excellence in Gillespie CUSD #7 and to the Carlinville CUSD #1 Education Foundation. The gifts come from the remainder of a family trust established to ensure high-quality end-of-life care and were divided upon Jean Loveless’s passing, with equal shares allocated to the education foundations in each district.
Tim Loveless, local businessman and son of Lindell and Jean, emphasized the family’s enduring commitment to education and practical life skills. “It was my parents’ desire to use these remaining funds to support and enhance career and technical education programs in our schools,” Loveless said. He recalled his family’s deep roots in hard work and the value of life skills, noting that “the spirit of this gift is to prepare students for life in general, and to prepare them to earn a living by learning a trade.”
“The bottom half of the class,” Tim continued, “needs financial education and practical skills. A person can learn and earn their way to success.” He described his parents’, grandparents’, and great-grandparents’ diverse ventures—from farming and cattle to turkey production, nursing homes, meat processing, swine production, and subdivisions—and underscored that high formal education is not the sole path to success, but motivation and skill are crucial. He expressed hope that the gift will help school districts boost opportunities for students who may doubt their ability to succeed.
John Fassero, Jr., president of The Partnership for Educational Excellence in CUSD7, welcomed the gift as a strong alignment with the Partnership’s mission. “This Loveless family gift is a perfect fit for the established goals and policies of The Partnership,” Fassero said.
Since its founding in 1992, The Partnership has awarded nearly 600 scholarships based on goals and hard work rather than GPA or class rank. Fassero noted that the organization has several scholarships targeted to the trades, and that nearly 20 scholars have pursued trade school education in the past four years alone. “In addition, two-thirds of The Partnership’s giving is directed to curriculum enhancement across all three schools and in all specialties, including shop and FFA,” Fassero added.
