Community News
Gillespie Council hears drainage complaint, accepts Dively resignation
Ray Litzau presented an extensive presentation alleging that raising the level of an alleyway next to his property at 311 Adams Street has altered the natural flow of storm water, causing his property to flood.
With Ald. Dave Tucker acting as Mayor Pro-Tem in the absence of Mayor John Hicks, the Gillespie City Council on Tuesday night heard a complaint from a city property-owner regarding the possible diversion of storm water onto his property and accepted the resignation of Ward 3 Ald. Roger Dively. The meeting was moved to Tuesday night because of the Columbus Day holiday on Monday.
[pullquote]The resignation is effective immediately.[/pullquote]Dively was first elected to the council in 2011 and was re-elected to a second term last year. A deputy with the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department, Dively became the focus of criticism in recent months because of his inability to attend regular meetings of the council. Last December, he cast the sole negative vote against the 2016 meeting schedule, noting that his work schedule would prevent him from attending most meetings. In August, the council unanimously approved Ald. Steve Kluthe’s request to replace Dively on the council’s Emergency Services and Disaster Administration Committee with newly appointed Ald. Colin Mussatto.
Dively’s job commitments and personal commitments preclude him from fulfilling his obligations to “the city and citizens of this great community,” Dively said in his letter of resignation. “It has been an honor to serve the City of Gillespie for the years I have been able to.”
The resignation is effective immediately.
DRAINAGE ISSUE
Council members agreed to run a preliminary survey to determine the natural grade of the land after Ray Litzau presented an extensive presentation alleging that raising the level of an alleyway next to his property at 311 Adams Street has altered the natural flow of storm water, causing his property to flood. Using maps and photos, Litzau claimed there was a small puddle of water infested with mosquito larvae when he purchased the property, which he drained as part of the process of improving the property. He also said he used a shovel to restore what he identified as a natural swale across the alley to drain water to the south toward Bear Creek.
Sometime after that, he claimed, neighbors Ed and Tina Whitfield raised the level of the alley with construction debris purportedly to keep water from draining onto their property and flooding a patio that he said is “below grade” on the Whitfield property. Litzau said that after he complained to Ald. Jerry Dolliger, the city responded by installing another layer of rock on the alley, further exacerbating the problem.
During a heavy rain, Litzau said, his property flooded resulting in a virtual “waterfall” into his basement. Likewise, the property of another neighbor, Linda Orr in the 200 block of East Elm, was flooded even though it had not flooded in the past.
[pullquote]You cannot redirect the natural flow of water. It’s illegal. We have four buildings, possibly five, that are getting wet because of a patio that is built incorrectly.[/pullquote]”That water is flowing north,” Litzau said. “You cannot redirect the natural flow of water. It’s illegal. We have four buildings, possibly five, that are getting wet because of a patio that is built incorrectly.”
Litzau identified himself as a landscape architect who was involved with the construction of the St. Louis Amphitheater among other high profile projects.
“I want it to go back to the original grade,” he said. “You can’t just bury your neighbors for a patio.”
Apart from the flooding issues, Litzau said he worried about the possibility of disease-bearing mosquitos breeding in standing water resulting from the diverted flow.
“My wife and I lost a four-year-old daughter to a viral infection in 22 hours,” he said. “I’m not going to allow another family to go through that.”
Litzau presented the council with four demands:
- Immediate removal of all “illegally placed material” and establishment of a four-foot swale with a two-percent grade across the alley.
- Removal of an excessive crown on Adams Street so it doesn’t impede the flow of water where the alley meets the street.
- Removal of eight inches of “illegally placed debris” that has accumulated over the past 17 years, restoring the grade to six inches below the top of the concrete floor pad at 311 Adams Street, and installing two inches of new rock to repair the alley surface.
- Permission for Litzau and his wife to install a sidewalk, three and one-half feet wide with an attached trough, across the alley at their own expense.
Litzau said he was keeping his options open if the demands are not met.
[pullquote]If it’s not fixed, someone is going to get sued[/pullquote]”If it’s not fixed, someone is going to get sued,” he said. “The city is my neighbor. It’s the city’s responsibility to recede the water from my property.”
Tina Whitfield also appeared before the council and disputed Litzau’s claim that the Whitfield’s patio is improperly constructed below grade. She alleged that Litzau dug a “ditch” across the alley in September and she and her husband placed concrete construction debris in the alley to fill the ditch.
“That is a public access,” she said. “We put the rock back in because people were tearing up their cars You can’t have a ditch in the middle of an alley.”
City Attorney Kevin Polo said the city would be unable to resolve the issue without first surveying the area to determine the natural grade.
“That’s the key issue,” he said. “We need to get a surveyor out there to determine the natural grade.”
“We can’t do anything until we get a crew out there with a transect,” said Ald. Tucker.
City Treasurer Dan Fisher, who also works as an engineer, said he could be at the location after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday with a transect to investigate the area.
LAKE TRUCK & LAKE EMPLOYEE
On a motion by Kluthe, seconded by Ald. Frank Barrett, the council voted unanimously to approve the purchase of an F-250 Ford pick-up truck for the Lake Department at a cost of about $25,000. Later in the meeting, the council amended the action to give Mayor John Hicks power to act on determining whether or not to finance the purchase or purchase the truck outright.
Last month, the council agreed that lake employees could use a surplus truck at the Water Department for tasks at the lake while waiting to buy a new truck, but Kluthe said that system had proven unwieldy.
“They say they need that truck, so our lake employees have to run into town and get the truck when they need it and take it back when they’re done with it,” Kluthe said. “It’s not a good system. We need to move ahead on this.”
A truck formerly used by lake personnel has been deemed unsafe to drive, according to Kluthe. In addition, he worried about the city’s liability for covering lake employees driving their personal vehicles back and forth between the lake and Water Plant when they are on city business.
Fisher said the city appropriated $35,000 for new equipment purchases for the lake this fiscal year and the truck purchase will largely deplete that appropriation. Kluthe said the only other equipment purchase he anticipates is a new brush hog and that purchase can be deferred until the start of the next fiscal year.
Also on a motion by Kluthe, the council agreed to promote Gary Thornhill from a part-time to full-time employee at a wage of $13.08 per hour.
“We’ve developed a list of duties that will keep him busy for 40 hours a week,” Kluthe said. “Making him full-time would be beneficial to getting everything back on track at the lake. I know there are some people on the council who don’t think this should be a full-time job but believe me, there’s enough work out there. We are making good progress.”
In addition to his lake duties, Thornhill will be able to assist with meter reading and other duties that do not conflict with union contracts.
TRICK-OR-TREAT HOURS
By a vote of 3-2, the council approved Trick-or-Treating hours from 6-8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 30, and Monday, Oct. 31. Ald. Jim Alderson voted against the measure, saying he favored Saturday and Sunday nights to avoid a school night, and Ald. Kluthe voted “no,” saying he favored one night of trick-or-treating only.
INSURANCE
Following a 25-minute executive session, the council appointed a committee consisting of Polo, and Ald. Tucker and Kluthe, to negotiate with the Laborers Union in regard to switching health insurance policies as of Jan. 1. Polo said the city is opting to switch insurance carriers and that Blue Cross-Blue Shield is offering about 15 different plans to consider.
“We can have up to five plans as long as they are all Blue Cross-Blue Shield,” he said.
He said Benefits Planning Consultants, the firm the city uses to coordinate benefits, will charge a one-time fee of $250 to change plans. Benefits Planning Consultants recommended delaying the switch until Jan. 1 to avoid conflicts with annual out-of-pocket expenses.
The committee was given power to act in selecting plans based upon its negotiations with union representatives.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- approved the expenditure of about $550 for the purchase of a new radar gun for the Police Department.
- agreed to transfer a lake lot lease for Lot 311 on the New Lake to Andrea Williamson.
- accepted a bid of $467.50 to replace gutters on a garage at Gillespie Lake.
- approved expenditure of up to $500 for four doors and one ceiling fan and light to be installed in the new Police Station on Pine Street.
- set Sunday, Dec. 4, as the date for the annual city-sponsored senior citizens Christmas dinner.
- approved a resolution making the Water Department Superintendent and Lake Supervisor positions hourly positions instead of salaried positions, bringing the city’s wage ordinance into compliance with new Federal Department of Labor rules that require positions earning less than $47,500 per year to be paid hourly and making the city liable for overtime pay.
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Community News
Benld prepares to celebrate 72nd annual Italian American Days over Memorial Day weekend
A beloved community tradition returns this Memorial Day weekend as the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days brings three days of food, music, and family fun to Benld City Park from Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24.
Hosted by the Italian Club of Benld, the long-running festival celebrates the area’s rich Italian heritage while welcoming visitors from across the region for a full slate of activities.
Festivalgoers can expect a wide variety of homemade Italian favorites served throughout the weekend, including salami and meatball sandwiches, tortellini soup, bagna cauda, and cannoli. A daily fish fry featuring cod and whiting will also be available, along with classic festival fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian beef, and carnival treats. Beer, wine, and soda will be available for purchase.
In addition to the food, the event will feature carnival rides provided by Conner Family Amusement, Inc., with unlimited ride sessions offered throughout the weekend. Bingo will be held nightly at 7:00 p.m., and festival-themed shirts will be available for purchase.
Live music and dancing will take center stage each evening. Friday night entertainment includes a performance by Flip the Frog from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., with the park open from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Saturday highlights include the Italian Club Car Show, with registration from 8:00 a.m. to noon and judging beginning at noon. The park opens at 11:00 a.m., and live music will feature Pat Jones in the afternoon followed by Borderline in the evening.
Sunday kicks off with the “Meatballs on the Run” 5K at 9:00 a.m., sponsored by the Gillespie Cross Country Boosters. You can sign-up to participate online here. The day continues with free spaghetti served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a bocce ball tournament beginning at noon, and a full lineup of live music throughout the day, including performances by Unbroken, Syner-Gee, and B&B Strings.
Connors Family Amusements will provide carnival armbands for $30. Armbands will be valid Friday (May 22) from 6:00 to 10 :00 p.m. and again on Saturday (May 23rd) and Sunday (May 24th) from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m, Advanced armband sales will be available from May 4th through May 21st at the Frank Bertetti Public Library and Benld City Hall for $25. Debit and Credit Cards will NOT be accepted.
Organizers note that no outside beverages are permitted in the park or at club events.
With its mix of tradition, entertainment, and community spirit, the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days promises to once again be a highlight of the summer season in Macoupin County. For more information and updates, follow the festival on Facebook at Benld Italian American Days.
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Gillespie will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, May 11 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.
To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 7101336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. You may also call ImpactLife at 800-747-5401 to schedule.
Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available
through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate.
For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 7475401. Donors who last gave blood on or before March 16, 2026, are eligible to give at this drive.
Blood donation is a safe, simple procedure that takes about 45 minutes to one hour. Individuals with diabetes or controlled high blood pressure may be accepted as eligible donors.
ImpactLife is a nonprofit community organization providing blood products and services to more than 100 hospitals and emergency medical service providers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as researchers and resource sharing partners across the country.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Wednesday night approved a package of four capital improvement projects totaling more than $160,000 in value. Work will start on the projects after the end of the current school year and is expected to be completed before the start of the 2026-27 academic year in August.
The board met on Wednesday night after Monday’s inclement weather forced the district to reschedule the board’s regular monthly meeting.
The board approved entering into a contract with Fisher Tracks, Boone, Iowa, to resurface the district’s all-weather track at a cost of $105,209. Supt. Shane Owsley told the board the district will use about $50,000 from an all-weather track activity fund, with the remainder to be paid with proceeds from an alternate revenue bond issue approved last year for capital improvements.
Great Western Abatement, Jerseyville, was retained to remove flooring containing asbestos from the choir room floor and middle school gymnasium school at a cost of $40,700. Great Western’s bid was the lowest of seven bids, ranging up to $65,000, submitted for the work. Additionally, the district is paying $8,900 to Reliable Environmental Services, Springfield, for engineering and design work associated with the asbestos removal.
All-purpose rubberized flooring material will be installed on the middle school gym floor by Dynamic Sports Construction, Leander, Texas, at a cost of $51,424.
For the first time in a number of years, the high school gymnasium floor will be sanded and refinished with new artwork. Blast Technologies, St. Louis, was hired to sand the 4,200-square-foot floor at a cost of $5,250. Designs Unlimited, Pinckneyville, will paint game lines and logos on the floor before sealing it with a clear stain at a cost not to exceed $18,738.
The board also accepted a bid of $33,890 from DeLaurent Construction, Wilsonville, to resurface the 118,700-square-foot parking lot at Benld Elementary School.
Though no action was taken, Board President Mark Hayes reported that the Building and Grounds Committee had directed Owsley to investigate the cost of replacing the CUSD 7 administrative building.
“This building is very much in need of replacement,” Hayes said. “It’s beyond its time.” During Monday’s torrential rainfall, Hayes said water came in through windows and water seeped in under the sill plate, bringing displaced nightcrawlers into the building. Staff members ran fans after the storm in an effort to dry out the interior.
According to Hayes, the school has been in contact with the local Baptist Church to investigate the possibility of acquiring the former Trinity Baptist Church for use as an administrative building. Church officials, however, have not yet made a decision about the fate of the former sanctuary after Gillespie’s two Baptist churches merged.
Owsley said the current administrative building comprises about 6,000 square feet. Current estimates are $400 per square foot for new construction which would translate into about $2.5 million to replace the administrative facility. The district might be able to shave some dollars off that estimate by reducing the size of the building.
“There’s a lot of unusable space in this building,” Owsley said, suggesting a more efficient floorpan could reduce cost. He also mentioned the possibility of a basement to provide storage space for outdated documents.
In addition to construction costs, Owsley noted, the district would be responsible for tearing down the existing building.
“I have no idea what’s in this building,” Owsley said, raising abatement concerns. “I’m guessing disposal of this building is going to be expensive.”
Hayes said Kevin Wills, the district’s bond issue advisor, will attend the June board meeting to discuss the possibility of refinancing some existing bonds to free up enough revenue to build a new administrative building. The administration currently is housed in a “temporary” structure that has served as the administration building for several decades.
MINE SUBSIDENCE STUDY
After several minutes of discussion, the board took no action in relation to entering into a contract with Marino Engineering and Associates to assess the district’s risk for incurring damage from a mine subsidence event. Owsley said existing maps show that portions of Gillespie Middle School are undermined. While the high school is not undermined, a major subsidence would likely damage the high school as well as the middle school. In recent months, more than one residential home on Elm Street near the school property has experienced damage from mine subsidence.
Marino’s $94,000 Phase I proposal would “determine the likelihood of something happening to one of our buildings,” Owsley said. The problem is that too much information could negatively impact the district’s ability to purchase subsidence insurance. “Information is great until it’s not.”
The district currently pays about $300,000 for mine subsidence insurance on the middle school, high school and vocational arts building. The school carries no subsidence insurance on BenGil Elementary because mine shafts under the building were grouted before the school was built.
“If we find out there’s not a major concern,” Owsley noted, it could reduce the district’s subsidence insurance costs.
On the other hand, if the study reveals a high risk of experiencing mine subsidence, the insurer could drop the district at the end of the current policy’s term. With only two companies in the country offering subsidence insurance, the district could end up with no insurance at all to cover damage from mine subsidence.
The only way to avoid that scenario would be to implement whatever options Marino might recommend to reduce risk. Those recommendations would likely include grouting (backfilling) mine shafts under the middle school. Grouting for the elementary school cost $4 million. To grout under the middle school would likely run as much as $6 million or more.
The only way the study would make sense, Owsley suggested, would be if the district was “comfortable making the corrections the study is going to make.”
Moreover, $94,000 would cover only a preliminary assessment.
“To get a full understanding of what’s going on underground, we’d be looking at a half million dollars,” said Owsley.
The issue was allowed to die when no board member moved to consider the contract.
COMMUNITY SOLAR PARTICIPATION
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to enter into a contract with Summit Ridge Solar to participate in a community solar project. Under terms of the 15-year contract, the district will realize a 13 percent savings on electrical power bills. The contract is automatically renewable for five years unless the district chooses to withdraw.
“Illinois provides a number of incentives for using solar,” Owsley said. “However, not everyone likes the look of having solar panels on their property. This will get us the benefits without putting up solar panels on our property.”
Summit Ridge’s proposal was the most lucrative of the proposals the district received. Other companies offered shorter terms with savings of five percent.
After 20 years, it’s likely the savings would drop to five percent. Owsley said he was told the district was better off going with the longer contract to get 13 percent in savings for as long as possible.
The school district was able to secure such favorable rates, according to Owsley is because there is an issue with solar fields storing the power they generate. “Our main usage time is during their maximum production time.”
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, the board recognized sophomore Matrix Wright, whose art was the only entry from the United States included in the 2026 TOLI International Student Art Exhibition. The exhibition is a project of The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies in New York. The exhibit includes student art relating to themes associated with the Holocaust.
Wright’s work, entitled “An Immortal Continuum,” attempts to portray “the constant entrapment a Holocaust survivor might feel.”
Exhibition organizers received more than 250 entries from around the globe.
BUDGET PROCESS
On a motion by Peyton Bernot, seconded by Board President Hayes, board members voted unanimously to begin work on developing a district budget for fiscal 2027. Board members also approved a routine measure to permit expenditure of fiscal 2027 funds after July 1, pending approval of a new budget.
The school district’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 but new budgets typically are approved two to four months after the start of the fiscal year.
The current fiscal year’s $19 million budget was approved in September last year.
PERSONNEL
Following a one-hour executive session to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to approve the request of long-time middle school English and language arts teacher Kim Henderson, effective at the end of the 2028-29 school year.
Board members also voted unanimously to hire Andrew Crook as a first-year, non-tenured high school English teacher for the 2026-27 school year, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check. A graduate of Gillespie High School, Crook earned his teaching certificate at Illinois College, Jacksonville and for the past two years, he taught English at North Mac High School.
In separate actions, the board made multiple assignments to staff the district’s summer school program. Those hired include: Jessica Kelly as a middle school teacher, Ashlee Gibbs as a high school math teacher, and Jennifer Brown and Rob Macias as high school drivers’ education instructors. Each of the positions are contingent upon adequate student enrollment to offer the classes. In addition to academic staff, the board hired Andy Hirstein as a summer school food service worker.
The board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Foli Seferi as high school paraprofessional and as assisted football coach. Both resignations are effective immediately.
In other personnel action, the board appointed Cate Plovich as the BenGil Elementary School yearbook sponsor, and appointed Josh Ross as a volunteer assistant football coach, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
• Approved a mens highs school soccer coop with the Carlinville School District, with the provision Carlinville will dissolve the agreement if it pushes its program into a higher competitive classification.
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Lewis and Clark Community College under which the college will recognize some high school courses as college level credits.
• Approved early graduation requests for an undisclosed number of students, provided all graduation requirements are met.
• Approved renewing the district’s membership in the Illinois Elementary Schools Association.
• Approved the final calendar for the 2025-26 school year pending no further emergency days. Barring the use of emergency days, Monday, May 18 will be the last day of student attendance, with graduation ceremonies set at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 17.
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