Community News
Gillespie Council eyes derelict properties
With a new city attorney in place, the Gillespie City Council on Monday night voted to draft a resolution dealing with public nuisance properties and heard from a group of Gillespie Middle School students advocating for volunteerism to address community issues.
Early in the meeting, Mayor John Hicks introduced Rick Verticchio as his appointment to the position of City Attorney following the recent resignation of former City Attorney Dan O’Brien. O’Brien, who also recently resigned as the Carlinville City Attorney, had served Gillespie since March 2021 after long-serving City Attorney Kevin Polo resigned for health reasons. Verticchio represents several other area municipalities, including Benld.
After a few minutes of discussion, the council directed Verticchio to prepare a draft resolution to codify procedures for declaring derelict properties “public nuisances,” and outlining protocol for abating the nuisances. The move represents a more aggressive stance on the part of the city for cleaning up derelict properties. In recent years, Verticchio has helmed Benld’s legal efforts to compel property owners to clean up nuisance properties. The Gillespie resolution, expected to come up for consideration next month, probably will outline parameters for declaring a public nuisance, outline time frames to allow property owners to correct situations on their properties, and detail procedures for taking property to court.
SIXTH GRADERS OFFER INPUT
Gillespie Middle School teacher Kim Henderson appeared before the council with several of her sixth-grade students involved in a class assignment focussing on community improvement. “I like to get my kids involved in community service,” she said. Three of her students accompanied her to read from an essay they wrote dealing with building “a bigger, better Gillespie.”
Henderson, who also is a member of the Grow Gillespie group, said she surveyed her students to identify their primary concerns regarding community development. Their No. 1 concern was cleaning up trash, and providing trash receptacles and recycling bins in public areas. Next on the students’ list was improving and expanding parks to provide recreational opportunities. Finishing out the list was helping the food pantry and getting illegal drugs off the streets. Henderson said she did not prompt the students in any way, allowing them to prioritize their concerns without influence.
Reading from their essay, Gillian Smith called for improvements to city parks. She suggested replacing Big Brick Park with a bigger, better park, and taking steps to clean up and maintain tennis courts. “Without places to play and hang out, Gillespie will not be a bigger, better community,” she read.
Sophie Knetzer read a paragraph emphasizing volunteerism for community improvement. Volunteers, she read, could be recruited for tasks such as picking up trash. “Volunteerism would be an amazing way to make Gillespie a bigger, better community,” she read. Carla Bruhn read a concluding paragraph calling for widespread community involvement.
Before introducing her students, Henderson expressed her own concerns about keeping downtown streets and sidewalks clean and presentable.
“As a business owner, I think it’s important to have clean streets,” she said. She cited accumulations of dirt at the curb where it apparently has been deposited by street sweeping operations. Additionally, she was critical of using weed eaters to trim around planters and sidewalk cracks because the equipment can pick up rocks and damage windows.
Henderson recalled an experience when she stopped to assist several older women who were picking up trash and cleaning planters downtown. She said she helped them load debris into her truck to haul away, which the women appreciated.
“I don’t think that should be the job of 70- and 80-year-old ladies,” she said. “That should be done by street workers.”
Mayor Hicks commented that volunteer efforts are always welcome but volunteerism “is a thing that has gone by the wayside.”
“We need to get more people involved in volunteering,” Hicks said, adding that volunteerism can be contagious. He recalled an incident when he and his wife started cleaning up trash and performing minor maintenance tasks downtown. People started stopping and asking what they were doing. “They’d say, ‘Let me run home and get my shovel and rack, and by the end of the day we had 50 people working.”
SIDEWALK REPAIRS
Ald. Bob Fritz reported he had solicited a bid from a concrete contractor to repair numerous sidewalks that incurred damage during the water infrastructure improvement project. The vendor, whose identity was not disclosed, offered an estimate of $76,000 to make all of the necessary repairs.
“First of all, $76,000 is too much to award to one person without a bidding process,” said City Treasurer Dan Fisher. “If we paid for it with Water Department money, it has to go by Rural Development (the federal agency that underwrote the project with grants and loan
Ald. Landon Pettit said the repairs might take several years to complete, advocating for doing the project in phases to spread out the cost. Moreover, Ald. Wendy Rolando said each alderman should survey their wards to compile a list of all sidewalks damaged during the project to ensure the city makes repairs to all sidewalks that need them.
“I’d like to compile a list, along with photographs, and let people bid on it,” Hicks agreed. Fisher said the list probably should be submitted to the city engineer and possibly bid as an alternate project in conjunction with the Streetscape program. He said engineers plan to seek bids for the first phase of the Streetscape project in June with an eye toward awarding the contract in July. Phase One will focus on renovating the sewer system in downtown Gillespie by replacing sewer lines that need to be replaced and relining areas where relining is appropriate. The scope of work, once awarded, is expected to take about 45 days.
While no action was taken on the issue, Fritz objected to making sidewalk repairs on a piecemeal basis. “It’s not fair to take care of one place and not another,” he said.
In a related issue, the council voted to reimburse $6,257.80 to Sarah Bertelli for sewer repairs at her home in the 300 block of Western Street. Ald. Dona Rauzi said the repairs were required as a result of damage caused by the water infrastructure improvement project. The reimbursement includes the cost of equipment rental and more than $6,000 paid for work done by RotoRooter.
Hicks urged residents who have damage they suspect was caused by the project to contract the Street Department first to see if city workers can resolve the issue before attempting repairs themselves.
MOSQUITO SPRAYING
The council voted to contract with Hank’s Pest Control to oversee mosquito fogging operations and complete state-required paperwork for the summer season. The action comes after learning the pesticide applicator license held by the city has expired and no window for renewal exists before spraying will be required. Under the arrangement, a licensed individual will ride along during fogging operations using the city’s truck and chemicals. Hanks Pest Control will then complete paperwork to submit to state authorities.
The cost will be $75 per hour with a three-hour minimum.
LAKE INTERNET SERVICE
The council voted unanimously to switch from Frontier to an independent vendor to provide 4G internet access at the Gillespie Lake Office. Ald. Rauzi said the Frontier has been charging $85 per month, compared with $160 the city will pay for 4G service but the city can suspend service during winter months when the office isn’t open,
Lake Manager Gary Thornhill said the Frontier service is often unreliable, especially when processing credit cards or debit cards.
“How much money do we lose due to the internet service?” Ald. Pettit asked.
“Sometimes I have to send them into town to get money and they don’t come back,” Thornill said. “In a busy month, I’d say it can be up to $1,000.”
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Voted to formally grant permission to High School Cross-Country Coach Jay Weber to use public facilities such as the bike trail, soccer fields and railroad right-of-way for cross-country training.
- Authorized hiring two summer workers for the Street Department.
- Gave permission to close a portion of East Chestnut Street for a Corvette show to be held May 14 in conjunction with a 5K run scheduled for the same day.
- Authorized the purchase of six metal panels at a cost of $40 each to make repairs to a damaged section of the exterior wall at the Civic Center.
Comments
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2024
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Macoupin Street and Pine Street. Jaylen M. Ronald, 22 of Gillespie, was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of North 4th Street in Benld in reference to a theft.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of Shelby Street in reference to animal neglect.
Walter L. Vester, 30 of Benld, was arrested on a Macoupin County warrant for failure to appear for domestic battery.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of Berry Street in Mt. Clare in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of North Hard Road in Mt. Clare in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Litchfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to a home security check.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2024
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a male in reference to telephone harassment.
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a male in reference to a child custody issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Hickory Street in Benld in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of North 8th Street in Benld in reference to an unwanted solicitor.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Broadway Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Easton Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was speaking with a female in the 200 block of North Mt. Olive Road in Eagarville in reference to a civil issue.
An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference to harassment by telephone.
An officer was dispatched to the 15000 block of Western Drive at Gillespie Lake in reference to neighborhood trouble.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South 4th Street in Benld in reference to an animal complaint.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2024
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a male in reference to a child custody issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Chestnut Street in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer spoke with a subject at Gillespie Police Department in reference to identity theft in the 200 block of Park Avenue.
An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference to spam callers.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Walnut Street in Benld in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of Henrietta Street in reference to a suspicious circumstance.
An officer was dispatched to the Gillespie bike trail in reference to a suspicious person on a motorized bike.
An officer spoke with a female at Gillespie Police Department in reference to a juvenile issue.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2024
An officer spoke with a female at Gillespie Police Department in reference to a civil issue in the 100 block of Maple Street in Benld.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 900 block of North Hard Road in Mt. Clare in reference to a traffic crash.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of Park Avenue in reference to criminal trespass to property. Joseph F. Frew, 49 of Gillespie, was issued a citation for littering prohibited.
An officer was dispatched to the 111 South 6th Street in Benld in reference to a civil stand by.
An officer was dispatched to the 10000 Friese Lane at Gillespie Lake in reference to a theft.
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a male in reference to a civil issue.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2024
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a male in reference to a theft in Benld.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of Francis Street in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of North 8th Street in Benld in reference to a theft.
An officer was out in the 100 block of South Hard Road in Mt. Clare with a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to Macoupin Street and Walnut Street in reference to a suspicious person.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Litchfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to a 911 call.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2024
Juan A. Cortez, 40 of Danville, was arrested on multiple warrants. Cortez had warrants out of Collinsville for possession of methamphetamine, Sangamon County for failure to appear for drugs, and Coles County for failure to appear for traffic.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Southern Street to speak with a male in reference to a civil issue
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of North 7th street in Benld in reference to a 911 call.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Park Street in Benld in reference o a medical assist.
An officer was dispatched to the 1100 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Hickory Street in Benld in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of North 8th Street in Benld in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of West Elm Street in reference to an alarm call.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of North 4th Street in Benld in reference to a civil issue.
An officer met with a female at Gillespie Police Department to collect an item that she found.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Maple Street in reference to an alarm sounding.
An officer was dispatched to Staunton Road and Heritage Health in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to South 4th Street and East Spruce Street in Benld in reference to recovered stolen property.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of North Jersey Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2024
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of West Walnut Street in reference to a hit and run traffic crash.
An officer was dispatched to Maple Street and Oregon Street in reference to found property.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of North Hard Road in Mt. Clare in reference to a suspicious female in a vehicle. Kourtney K. Claro, 33 of Benld, was issued citation for no valid driver’s license.
An officer was dispatched to a business in the 900 block of Springfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to an alarm sounding.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of Park Avenue in reference to juvenile issues.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Maple Street in reference to an alarm sounding,
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of North 4th Street in Benld in reference to a fire call.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Maple Street in reference to an alarm sounding.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Hickory Street in Benld in reference to a medical assist.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Comments
FELONIES
Kyle W. Bennett, 37 of Carlinville, is charged with a felon failure to return from furlough in connection with a November 8 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Dewey E. Morgan, 66 of Carlinville, is charged with retail theft (<$300) in connection with an August 29 incident.
Elizabeth A. Marfell, 35 of Gillespie, is charged with disorderly conduct in connection with an October 8 incident.
Dorothy J. Anderson, 40 of Staunton, is charged with criminal trespass to residence and resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee in connection with a November 27 incident.
TRAFFIC
Matthew D. Knick, 20 of Gillespie, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a November 7 incident.
Jennifer L. Arnotti, 34 of Staunton, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a November 11 incident.
Kelan J. Stevenson, 27 of Gillespie, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a November 17 incident.
Ernest L. Stevenson, 21 of Benld, is charged with improper use registration/title, unlicensed, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a November 16 incident.
Joshua T. Koniak, 43 of Gillespie, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a November 16 incident.
Casey R. Ness, 48 of Greenville, is charged with driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a November 18 incident.
Gary R. Priddle, 46 of Benld, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a November 19 incident.
Travis J. Bramley, 42 of Virden, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a November 19 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Matthew Diamond versus Stephanie Diamond
- Marilyn K. Loveless versus Jerel D. Loveless Sr.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Timothy H. Johnson and Jennifer Kay Woolsey, both of Staunton
- Daniel Allen Balai of Bunker Hill and Chloe Renee Yinger of Alton
Comments
FELONIES
Rex J. White, 49 of Mount Olive, is charged with aggravated fleeing police (21 mph over), reckless driving, improper use of registration/title, unlicensed, operating a motor vehicle with registration/suspended , and driving 1-10 mph above the limit in connection with a November 15 incident.
Britteny D M Herr, 30 of Brighton, is charged with violation of an order with a prior violation in connection with a November 17 incident.
Christopher L. Black, 42 of Virden, is charged with aiding/abetting/selling a stolen vehicle and driving on a revoked license in connection with a November 17 incident.
Jesse D. Cimino, 42 of Troy, is charged with possession of methamphetamine (<5 grams) in connection with a September 1 incident.
Jennifer R. Haneline, 39 of Godfrey, is charged with burglary and theft/authorized control (>500<10k) in connection with an August 6 incident.
Simone R. Para, 51 of Girard, is charged with possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence of drugs in connection with an October 13 incident.
Crystal D. Hoffman, 45 of Staunton, is charged with obstruction of justice/destroying evidence and driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with a November 11 incident.
Andrew P. Hansen, 47 of Carlinville, is charged with received/possession/selling stolen vehicle and possession of meth (<5 grams) in connection with a November 20 incident.
Justin C. Grider, 42 of Carlinville, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault/operating a motor vehicle in connection with a November 21 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Jacqueline B. Jessen, 42 of Girard, is charged with giving/selling liquor to a minor in connection with a November 14 incident.
Perry L. Lair, 62 of Virden, is charged with giving/selling liquor to a minor in connection with a November 14 incident.
Kara E. Estes, 37 of Girard, is charged with giving/selling liquor to a minor in connection with a November 14 incident.
Melissa R. Robinson, 36 of Farmersville, is charged with giving/selling liquor to a minor in connection with a November 14 incident.
Kenneth J. Barker, 38 of Litchfield, is charged with resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee in connection with a November 19 incident.
Julio Isaias Pedro Felipe, 36 of Springfield, is charged with giving/selling liquor to a minor in connection with a November 14 incident.
TRAFFIC
Amanda J. Eberwein, 27 of Virden, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a November 12 incident.
Katherine F. Fugitt, 33 of Springfield, is charged with driving on a revoked license in connection with a November 15 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Michael C. Cummings versus Tracy L. Cummings
