With federal agencies facing budget and personnel cuts, and a spending bill to fund government operations in flux, Gillespie City Council members voted 5-2 to tentatively approve a $4 million contract to complete the long-awaited downtown streetscape project. The contract with Stutz Excavating, Inc., Alton, is conditioned upon the city receiving $4 million in grant funds previously awarded by Rural Development, a program administered by the federal Department of Agriculture and potentially at risk of Department of Government Efficiency cuts and/or Congressional failure to approve a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through Sept. 30.

With a bid of $4,032,048.79, Stutz was the lower of two bidders for the project. The second bidder, Kinney Contractors, offered a $4.9 million contract. In addition to the base contract, Stutz offered two alternate bids—$203,000 for additional electrical receptacles on newly installed street light poles, and $210,000 for brick pavers in lieu of stamped concrete for downtown sidewalks. In addition to being less expensive, stamped concrete is recommended for durability and easier maintenance, according to Mike Brandt, and engineer with Curry and Associates Engineering, who presented the bids to the council.

City Treasurer Dan Fisher said the grant requires the project to be completed by the end of 2025. With the grant funds vulnerable, the window for completing the project could narrow. 

“The problem right now is we have DOGE making program cuts and the recurring issue of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government,” Fisher said. The House is likely to pass the CR, according to Fisher, but the bill could easily stall in the Senate. As part of the CR proposal, all earmarks from this year will be frozen, but Fisher said Gillespie’s grant money was earmarked in the prior year. 

“I think we will know one way or another in the next 30 to 60 days,” he said. “The bid is good for 90 days so, in theory, we have three months.”

Ald. Landon Pettit questioned the lack of contingency funds in Stutz’s bid, pointing out unexpected expenses could push the project cost beyond the city’s budget. Fisher said Rural Development recommends contingency funds equal to five to seven percent of the project.

“Ten percent is ideal,” he said. “On a $4 million project, that’s $400,000.”

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Additionally, Fisher said, the city is entitled to negotiate with the contractor once the contract is awarded to reduce the scope of the project to rein in costs. 

“How can you do that after you sign a contract for $4 million and whatever?” Ald. Janet Odell-Mueller asked.

“We have exactly $4 million in grant money,” Fisher said. “The contract is a unit-based contract. We have the ability to reduce the contract by reducing the contract.” As an example, he said the contract may specify a monetary amount for each linear foot for sewer line installation; the city can reduce the contract by reducing the length of sewer line it decides to install. Ultimately, Fisher estimated the city will have to come up with about $250,000 out-of-pocket to complete the project.

Several aldermen expressed discomfort over entering the into the contract when the grant funds are in doubt.

“We have no guarantee this money is coming,” Ald. Pettit said.

“If we sign the contract and the money doesn’t come,” Ald. Wendy Rolando noted, “we don’t have $4 million dollars to spend.” 

Fisher said the grant has been awarded, but the city cannot access the money until after the contract is awarded. If the grant money is stalled, the contract will be void and the project will be terminated.

Ald. Bob Fritz complained that improvements to side streets are no longer included in the scope of work.

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“I was under the impression that we would do the streets for one block off of Macoupin Street,” Fritz said Walnut Street is deteriorated along with sidewalks on Chestnut Street. He said he would like to see Walnut repaved to the curbs to provide additional parking just a block away from the business district. Moreover, he said the sidewalk in front of the former Area News building on Chestnut is deteriorated to the point of being impassable.

“It doesn’t make sense to replace that sidewalk before the building is torn downs, because they will mess it up tearing it down,” he said. He proposed delaying parts of the project until the building is razed.

“We have to have the project completed in 2025,” Fisher replied. “We can’t put $4 million of grant money at risk for a $5,000 sidewalk.”

After several minutes of discussion, a motion by Rolando, seconded by Ald. Bill Hayes, to accept the Stutz contract, conditioned upon the city receiving $4 million in grant funds, was approved with Rolando, Hayes, Dona Rauzi, Dave Link and Frank Barrett voting “yes.”  Ald. Fritz and Ald. Odell-Mueller voted “no,” with Ald. Pettit abstaining.

With a goal of improving the business climate in the downtown area, the Streetscape project has been under discussion for more than two years. Jointly initiated by Grow Gillespie, a civic improvement group, and the City of Gillespie, the project includes lighting, landscaping and parking improvements in the downtown commercial area with an eye toward stimulating economic growth. 

SOLAR FIELD ZONING VARIANCE

With one dissenting vote, the council accepted the Zoning Board’s recommendation to approve a 35-year temporary use permit allowing SunCode Energy to install a power generating solar field on the north end of property owned by the Coal Country Sports Complex. Kent Tarro, representing the Coal Country Sports Association, told the council the solar field will not interfere with existing soccer fields  or use of the property by cross-country runners while generating revenue to maintain and operate the recreational facility.

“This is a way to keep us sustainable while using reclaimed coal mine property,” he said.

Brett Jacoby, SunCode attorney, said the 18-acre solar field will generate about five megawatts of energy—enough to power five average sized homes. Located on the north side of the reclaimed “gob pile” left behind from the Little Dog Coal Mine, the solar field will be “virtually invisible” to persons using the sports complex for recreation, according to Jacoby.

Currently tax-exempt, the property is expected to generate $27,000 in property tax revenue in the first year and $654,000 over the life of the permit. The project is expected to produce 25 local prevailing wage construction jobs during the estimated 12-month construction period.

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Once the temporary permit expires, SunCode will dismantle and remove all equipment and return the land to the Sports Association, according to Jacoby.

Jacoby told the council that power generated from the the field will be uploaded to the Ameren power grid. Local energy customers can participate by subscribing to the project to realize a slight discount on their power bills. 

“There’s no cost to subscribe and subscribers can end the contract at any time,” Jacoby said. “It will take 10 to 15 percent off their monthly electrical bill, so it’s not life changing.”

City Attorney Rick Verticchio reported that during a Zoning Board hearing last week, SunCode officials pledged to offer training sessions for local firefighters and make arrangements for emergency services to have access to the fenced site.

A motion by Ald. Pettit to approve the temporary use permit was approved 7-1 with Ald. Rolando casting a dissenting vote.

SIREN PURCHASE APPROVED

Council members approved spending up to $90,000 to purchase and install four new emergency sirens. Initially, City Treasurer Fisher sidetracked Ald. Fritz’s proposal to purchase the equipment, saying there were no grant programs available and not enough money in the Emergency Services and Disaster Administration fund to cover the cost of new sirens.

“The only grant program available is through Rural Development and they have no funds to distribute until the budget is approved,” Fisher said, again invoking legislative chaos in Washington. He said the city’s ESDA fund had only $62,000.

The council then went on to other matters, only to have Ald. Pettit circle back to the siren issue after a few minutes.

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“If we took some money out of the Revolving Loan Fund, some out of ESDA and some out of TIF II—and I know there’s not a lot in that fund—we could cobble together $80,000 and not hurt the General Fund too bad,” Pettit speculated. Pettit said money transferred from the Revolving Loan Fund and TIF II could be repaid over time. After further discussion, his motion to authorize the purchase was unanimously approved.

The equipment, provided by Sentry Sirens, Inc., will be installed at four locations, including the water treatment plant, city cemetery, Community Unit School District 7 campus, and a mobile home court on the city’s southwest side. Fritz said the sirens will blast different signals to indicate severe weather versus other emergencies.

LAKE LOT ISSUE

Following the city attorney’s recommendation, the council voted to secure a property tax “assignment” on a lake lot located at 10227 Fries Lane on which property taxes are delinquent. Council members, however, referred to committee a recommendation to amend lake lot leases to mandate forfeiture if a lease-holder fails to pay property taxes due.

“We don’t want a taxing body to acquire that property,” City Attorney Verticchio said. Monday night’s action secures the property and enables the city to transfer the lease to another lease-holder.

Verticchio said he would like to add a provision to future leases requiring the lease-holder to pay property taxes or surrender the lot. Ald Pettit said he and Ald. Barrett had other recommendations for amending future leases. He proposed tabling Verticchio’s request until after the Lake Committee can meet to make other changes to the lease.

In a related matter, Pettit asked to have the City Clerk’s office compile a list of all surplus real estate the city owns with an eye toward selling the lots. Verticchio said properties that have previously been advertised for sale but did not attract bidders can legally be sold for a price negotiated between the city and the buyer. 

“Right now no one is paying taxes on those properties,” Pettit said “We can sell them essentially to recover attorney fees, and start getting tax revenue from them.”

EAST GILLESPIE/EAGARVILLE SEWER CONTRACT

As the City of Gillespie eyes a project to replace deteriorating sewer lines in the city, Verticcho recommended renegotiating satellite contracts with Eagarville and East Gillespie to continue treating waste from both communities. Council members voted unanimously to authorize Mayor John Hicks to enter into negotiations to draft new agreements.

The city apparently plans to seek financial assistance from Rural Development to undertake the project, similar to how it financed a project to replace water distribution lines. Verticchio indicated the new contracts should include new rates to comply with mandates Rural Development will require to underwrite the sewer improvement project.

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LAKE POSITION

Following a 30-minute executive session, the council voted unanimously to hire Austin Loftis to step into duties vacated by former Lake Supervisor Gary Thornhill, though the motion to hire did not identify Loftis’ title or address wages. Loftis reportedly had been fulfilling Thornhill’s duties after Thornhill resigned to accept another job. The motion to hire Loftis included a provision for a six-month probationary period.

PROTECTIVE VEST SALE

Acting on a recommendation by Police Chief Jared DePoppe, the council voted to offer a protective vest used by an officer who recently resigned to take another job for sale to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department for $750. DePoppe told the council the vests are fitted specifically to the individual, so it would be essentially useless to the city. He said he based the asking price on the original cost and the amount time it had been used in Gillespie.

HOLLIS RESOLUTION

Council members unanimously approved a formal resolution recognizing Thomas William Hollis, a Gillespie resident who achieved the rank of Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps before he was killed in action at the age of 19 in Vietnam. Born May 24, 1948, Hollis attended Gillespie High School where he was a star athlete. After graduation, he volunteered for the Marine Corps and was killed on Jan. 28, 1968, in Quang Tri Province as a result of artillery rocket mortar fire. He was one of about 55,000 American soldiers killed in action during the Vietnam War.

Passage of the resolution paves the way for the Illinois Department of Transportation to erect signs honoring Hollis on Illinois Route 16 at the east and north entrances to the city.

CONXXUS SOLICITATION

The council heard briefly from Wendy Nobel, representing Conxxus fiber optic internet, before granting a solicitation permit for Conxxus employees to make door-to-door solicitations of Gillespie residents. Nobel said solicitors will explain various plans available to customers and potential benefits of the newly installed $1.6 million system. Nobel said most residents have received solicitation materials in the mail but “we’ve found people don’t always understand the materials and they’re more comfortable dealing with someone face-to-face.”

Solicitors will check in with city hall on the days they plan to work in the city, and voluntarily provide photos of the solicitors to be posted on the city’s social media page. Nobel there usually will be no more than one person working in the city at a time.

POLICE STATION PAYMENT

Council members approved payment of $1,500 to John Watson Contracting for work associated with reconnecting bathroom facilities in the basement of the newly renovated Police Station building on Macoupin Street. The work was not included in the original bid for the work.

In a related matter, the council approved payment of the second installment of $59,199 to Watson Contracting from the city’s Tax Increment Financing Funds for work completed on remodeling the new Police Station.

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OTHER ACTION

In other action, the council:

• Approved advertising for applications for two seasonal worker positions at Gillespie Lake.
• Agreed to spend up to $500 to investigate electrical fixtures at Pomatto Park to determine what is needed for repairs.
• Accepted two bids totaling $950 from Feeley Tree Service to remove two trees located on city boulevards on Cedar Street and on Illinois Route 4 south.

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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night renewed principals’ contracts, viewed a proposed school calendar for the upcoming 2025-26 school year and voted to refer two students to the Regional Office of Education’s Alternative Education program in lieu of expelling them.

Actions to extend the contracts of all three building principals and the district’s assistant principal by one year followed an hour-long executive session to discuss personnel, legal issues and other items. BenGil Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto, Middle School Principal Patrick McGinty and High School Principal Jill Rosentreter are each employed under terms of a three-year contract. The one-year extension extends their contracts to the end of the 2027-28 school year.

In other personnel action, the board voted to hire Denise Garner, Staunton, as an administrative assistant, effective April 1, pending a routine background check.

Board members unanimously accepted the resignation of Chris Fenton, District Custodian, effective Jan. 27, as well as the resignation due to retirement of paraprofessional Shelia Katich, effective at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Motions to accept the resignations also authorized posting vacancies for both jobs.

The board voted unanimously to hire Makayla Huff for a three-hour cafeteria worker position, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check.

In separate actions, the board accepted the resignations of Casey Sholtis as Gillespie High School head mens basketball coach, effective at the end of the 2024-25 season, as well as coaching the parent-funded golf program. Vacancies were posted for both positions.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

The board placed on first reading a proposed school calendar for the 2024-25 academic year. The tentative calendar calls for teacher institute days on Aug. 11 and 12, with the first day of student attendance on Aug. 13. The last day of student attendance would be May 26, but could be as early as May 18 if no emergency days are required.

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School holidays would include Labor Day on Sept. 1, Columbus Day on Oct. 13, Veterans Day on Nov. 11, Thanksgiving, Nov. 26-30, Martin Luther King Day on Jan 19, Presidents Day on Feb. 16, and Memorial Day on May 26. Winter Break would run Dec. 20-Jan. 4, and Spring Break would run April 2-6. Teacher Institute days are tentatively scheduled Oct. 24, Feb. 13, March 20 and the day after the last day of student attendance.

If approved, the calendar calls for commencement on May 17.

Subject to final approval by the board, classes will dismiss at 1:45 p.m. on Oct. 17, Oct. 22, Oct. 23, Dec. 19, March 13 and for the last day of student attendance.

SCHOOL EXPULSIONS

In separate actions, the board agreed to “hold in abeyance’ the expulsion of two district students, referring them to the Regional Office of Education’s Alternative Education program in Carlinville, which will allow them to continue to meet their educational requirements. Supt. Shane Owsley told the BenGil Post that the board will revisit the expulsions after one year to determine if the students can return to classes or continue to attend the Alternative School program.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Supt. Owsley reported to the board that the governor’s budget proposal includes $350 million for education, which could mean an increase in state aid to the district. The amount of the increase, however, will not be known until it is determined whether CUSD 7 is a Tier I or Tier II school based on average per student expenditures for education. Funding for mandated services, however, is not increased in the budget proposal, meaning reimbursement to the district for such things as transporting students for special education needs is likely to fall from 98 percent to about 80 percent.

Owsley also reported that Lewis and Clark Community College has approved two GHS business courses for dual credit, meaning students can earn college credits by taking those courses. Additionally, the South Central Illinois Regional Training and Innovation Center, Litchfield, is now providing four dual credit courses aimed at students who expect to go into teaching as a career.

Owsley acknowledged the recent death of Rose Tebbe who was among the founding members of the Partnership for Educational Excellence, a non-profit organization that provides scholarship funds and classroom grants for CUSD 7.

DISTRICT FOCUS

GHS Principal Jill Rosentreter recognized 17-year-old Emily Bergen, whose safe driving video won first place in the National Road Safety Foundation’s annual contest. A professional video producer visited Gillespie last year to film and edit Bergen’s concept. Competing with entries from through the nation, Bergen’s video was first selected as one of three finalist, then selected as the winner two weeks ago at the Chicago Auto Show. Bergen’s 30-second public service announcement will be featured on the nationally-syndicated Teen Kids News, reaching more than 160 TV stations across the country. Additionally, Bergen earned a $2,000 cash award.

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“Thank you for representing Gillespie High School well,” Owsley told Bergen.

Rosentreter also cited the GHS women’s basketball team for their undefeated season and South Central Conference championship win. She said the team, the first undefeated women’s  team since 1997, will be invited to a future meeting to be recognized by the board.

Additionally, Rosentreter called out Elle Wilson, who recently was named to the All-State Choir.

CONCUSSION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

By a unanimous vote, the board approved members for a state-mandated Concussion Oversight Committee to establish protocols for students to return to class are return to sports participation after having sustained a concussion. Owsley said the protocols are in place but a number of the committee’s original members have retired or left the district.

Committee members approved Monday night are: Supt Owsley, Principals McGinthy and Rosentreter, Assistant Principal Cooper, Ben-Gil Nurse Rachel Bouillon, GHS/GMS Nurse Whitney Page, Athletic Director Jeremy Smith, GHS physical education teacher Tate Wargo, high school teacher and coach Korben Clark, dean of students and coach Casey Sholtis, and special education teacher and coach Cory Bonstead.

OTHER ACTION

In other action, the board voted unanimously to again retain Loy-Miller-Talley, PC, to perform the district’s annual audit at a cost not to exceed $16,850.

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The Partnership for Educational Excellence is pleased to announce that it has made a third consecutive donation of $30,000 to the school children of Community Unit District 7 in Gillespie.

“Every one of these dollars was donated by a community member, family, business, or
professional,” says Donna Prevedell, vice president and an original member of the education
foundation that formed in 1992. “Witnessing and passing on generosity of our community
continues to be a joy.”

To date, The Partnership has invested more than $1 million of donations to classroom and district-wide grants as well as academic tuition scholarships for Gillespie High School graduates entering accredited trade schools, colleges, and universities.

“This remarkable gift from the Partnership demonstrates their deep commitment to
advancing educational opportunities in our community,” said R. Shane Owsley, Superintendent
of Gillespie CUSD #7. “Their support will have a lasting impact on our students’ educational
journey and future success.”

CUSD7 Technology Coordinator Mark Carpani explains: “These are not chrome books
but rather full-blown laptops that are two-in-one design, meaning they can double as a laptop and a tablet, with touch and pen recognition,” he says. “They are specifically designed for education and built to withstand damage more than a traditional laptop. They serve the students well.”

Owsley continues: “This generous contribution will be directly invested in expanding our
students’ access to technology through the purchase of new computers. This significant
investment in our students’ future will enhance their learning experiences and better prepare them for success in our increasingly digital world with vital tools for research, skill development, and academic achievement.

The Gillespie CUSD7 Board of Education, administration, teachers, and students extend their heartfelt appreciation to the Partnership for their dedication to improving educational resources in our district.

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