Local Government
Macoupin County opposes closure of Postal Facility
OPPOSES CLOSURE OF SPRINGFIELD POSTAL FACILITY
Board Adopts Resolution Opposing Closure Citing Job Loss, Inefficiencies and Negative Impact on Small Business
Carlinville – From Shipman north to Virden, all zip codes that begin with “626” in Macoupin County have the potential to be greatly affected by a change underway by the United States Postal Service.
“As a County Board, this is an issue that we should take a stand on knowing that it will impact not just communities in Macoupin County but all of Central Illinois as a region,” said Board Chairman Andy Manar. “What is at stake here is the loss of 400 regional jobs and a mail delivery system that is less efficient and more costly for small businesses.”
By a unanimous vote, the County Board voted 23-0 at Tuesday’s meeting to demonstrate their opposition to the closure of a mail processing and distribution center located in Springfield that currently provides mail service to all those zip codes beginning with “626,” most of which are in the northern two-thirds of the County. Nineteen of Macoupin’s twenty-six townships are serviced through the Springfield Processing Center on Cook Street.
The Postal Service is currently studying the potential closure of the Springfield facility along with as many as 250 others nationwide.
Manar cited the importance of the postal system to the economy of rural communities. He said he has been in contact with employee labor representatives, elected officials in Springfield and Sangamon County and recently attended a public hearing conducted by the Post Office at Springfield High School regarding the potential closure.
The City of Springfield and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce have also taken action to oppose the closure.
In addition to the impact that this closure could have on the efficiency and effectiveness for individuals and business in Macoupin County, estimates have also indicated that more than 400 jobs may be lost and hundreds of thousands of dollars in local sales tax revenue as a result.
James O’Connell, President of the Lincoln Land Area Local 239 American Postal Workers Union was on hand at the Board meeting on Tuesday in Carlinville, relaying to Board members some of the potential effects.
“I would like to thank the Macoupin County Board for standing up to oppose to the closure being considered in Springfield.” said O’Connell. “This truly shows me that many people are starting to notice and understand just how widespread the impact could actually be, far beyond the boundaries of Springfield and throughout much of the Central Illinois region if such a change is made.”
As stated in the adopted resolution, the operations of the Colonel John H. Wilson, Jr. United States Post Office Mail Processing Center would be transferred out of state to St. Louis.
In August, the Macoupin County Board also adopted a resolution opposing the closure of six post offices in Scottville, Eagarville, Hettick, Piasa, Sawyerville, and Nilwood, all of which are located in the County.
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The Gillespie City Council appears poised to enact a one percent sales tax to generate revenue for public safety purposes without the formality of a voter referendum. Action to approve a resolution to impose the tax is likely to come during next month’s regular meeting of the council on Monday, Jan. 13.
Earlier in December the council briefly discussed putting a public question on the April Consolidated Election ballot to seek voter approval for the tax. During an unusual reconvened meeting on Monday, Dec. 23, the council was advised by Treasurer Dan Fisher that the city could implement the tax with a council-approved resolution.
Fisher said City Attorney Rick Verticchio, who did not attend Monday’s meeting, had researched the issue and learned the state legislature created an option for non-home rule municipalities to approve a one percent sales tax to replace a one percent grocery tax formerly collected by the state. Legislation to repeal the grocery tax was approved in August and will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. The city’s one percent public safety tax, if approved, would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Fisher initially recommended putting the sale tax issue on the April ballot, but changed his recommendation Monday night based on Verticchio’s advice.
“I would encourage the council to go this route,” he said. “In collective bargaining (with the police union), we agreed to look into this and, in return, they agreed to scale back their demands.”
The revenue is needed, according to Fisher, because of additional expenses resulting from city employees, including police officers and dispatchers, joining the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, and hiring additional officers to service the City of Benld and other satellites that contract with Gillespie for police protection services.
As a result of the discussion, the council agreed to put the issue on the agenda for the council’s next regular meeting.
In other action, the Council approved the city’s annual property tax levy request and approved a series of resolutions to authorize expenditures of Tax Increment Financing funds, American Recovery Program Act (ARPA) funds. The council took the unusual step of recessing instead of adjourning its regular meeting on Dec. 9 in order to commit ARPA funds before the end of the calendar year.
TAX LEVY
Approval of the tax levy came after a brief public hearing during which there were no questions or comments from the public or from council members. The levy was approved unanimously on a motion by Ald. Landon Pettit, seconded by Ald. Dave Link.
The levy request is for $434,028 for 2024 property taxes to be collected in 2025. The amount the city actually receives, however, is likely to be less because of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law approved by Macoupin County voters in 1995. PTELL limits the increase in the amount of property taxes the city receives to no more than five percent or the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. The current CPI is 3.4 percent, limiting the increase in property tax revenue to no more than 3.4 percent.
The new levy compares with $413,412 levied last year.
Broken down by line item, the new levy requests $71,186 for corporate purposes, compared with $67,804 last year; $30,648 for Police Protection, compared with $29,193 a year ago; $41,524 for Streets and Bridges, compared with $39,552 a year ago; $11,860 for Emergency Services and Disaster Administration, compared with $11,298 last year; $69,208 for Liability Insurance, compared with $65,920 last year; $17,794 for Parks, compared with $16,950 last year; $3,955 for the Municipal Band, compared with $3,768 last year; $124,578 for Social Security, compared with $116,658 last year; and $63,275 for the Public Library, compared with $57,454 last year.
Revenue from property taxes represents about 10 percent of the city’s annual budget which typically totals about $4 million.
CITY PROJECTS
Council members approved several resolutions related to upcoming city projects to be funded with ARPA funds and TIF funds. The ARPA expenditures had to be committed by the end of the year in order to keep from having to forfeit the grant.
City alderman unanimously approved a resolution committing $263,772.95 in ARPA funds for city projects, including the following:
- $60,999 for purchase and installation of playground equipment at Big Brick Park.
- $90,000 to purchase two new police cars.
- $112,773.95 to reimburse the General Fund for public safety equipment previously purchased by the city.
The council unanimously approved a resolution committing TIF funds for capital improvements as follows:
- $183,597.77 to Watson Contracting, Gillespie, for remodeling a newly acquired building at 124 North Macoupin Street for use as a Police Department headquaters.
- $73,511 to Watson Contracting for remodeling work at the Civic Center.
- $19,950 to Glass Cutters, Carlinville, for new windows and replacement doors at the Civic Center.
- $3,000 to Bauer Electric for electrical work at the Civic Center.
Additionally, the council approved a resolution to reimburse the city $15,000 from funds generated from the city’s first TIF district for design expenses associated with the city’s downtown Streetscepe Project.
Council members also approved reimbursing the city $5,000 from the city’s first TIF district for payments to Moran Economic Development, Inc. for work associated with creating and administering the city’s TIF districts.
Finally, the council approved a resolution to use TIF funds to reimburse United Community Bank $22,182 for property taxes paid in 2023 and $25,000 for 2024 property taxes to be collected in 20025.
NEW FIRM FOR MFT ADMINISTRATION
On a motion by Ald. Link, seconded by Ald. Pettit, the council voted unanimously to retain Henneghan and Associates, Jerseyville, for engineering work and administration associated with the city’s annual Motor Fuel Tax street maintenance program.
Henneghan contracted to complete all engineering and administrative services for a flat fee of $10,000.
“What’s the issue with who we have now?” Ald. Dona Rauzi wanted to know.
“These guys are cheaper,” Ald. Link replied.
Mayor John Hicks asked Maintenance Director Dale Demkey for his input.
“I’d like to go with them (Henneghan),” Demkey replied.
“And your reason is?” Hicks asked.
“They’re better. That’s why,” Demkey responded. “They take care of everything.”
Curry and Associates previously handled the MFT street maintenance program for the city.
CHRISTMAS DECOR
The council authorized Rauzi to spend up to $300 to spend for new Christmas decorations for the Civic Center. Rauzi, who organizes the annual Senior Christmas Dinner and is responsible decorating the Civic Center for the event, said she plans to takes advantage of after-Christmas clearance sales to replace some of the city’s failing decorations.
SURPLUS PROPERTY
Council members agreed to declare as surplus and offer for sale a 10-by-10-foot white garage door with opener; a 10-by-8-foot white garage door with opener; (29) 50-pound bags of turf fertilizer; seed starter and mulch with tackifier.
No action followed a five-minute executive session requested by Ald. Pettit to discuss personnel.
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Benld city offices will officially move to their new digs at 218 East Central Avenue this week. City Clerk Terri Koyne reported during Monday night’s regular meeting of the Benld City Council that the current city office will be closed Thursday and Friday while workers move files and furniture to the former location of the First National Bank. She said she expects the new office to be open from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, and during regular office hours thereafter.
Security cameras have been installed at the new building, she said, and Madison Communications will install new phones on Thursday. During the time phone service is down, persons calling city offices will be automatically redirected to Koyne’s personal cell phone so there will be no disruption of a public services.
The city purchased the building this fall for $95,700 via an online auction.
Other action during Monday night’s meeting—the last council meeting to be held in the old city hall—the council approved a bid for electrical work and agreed to seek bids for grading work at the former site of the Benld Elementary School, which is currently being redeveloped as a sports complex/public park.
ELECTRICAL WORK APPROVED FOR BENLD FAMILY SPORTS COMPLEX
On a motion by Ald. John Balzraine, the council unanimously accepted a recommendation from Doug Ratermann, an engineer with HMG Engineers, to enter into a $19,100 contract with Joe’s Electric, Inc., Staunton, to provide and install electrical wiring and equipment at the Benld Family Sports Complex, which is being developed on the former 11-acre site of Benld Elementary School.
Ratermann said Joe’s Electric’s bid came in about $25,000 under the next lowest bid HMG received. The bid was one of three solicited by HMG.
According to Ratermann, the original proposal called for installing an 800 amp service panel capable of servicing scoreboards, electrical outlets and lighting for the pavilion and other buildings. The panel also would be adequate to handle lights to illuminate playing fields for nighttime games. Vendors, however, told Ratermann that the 800 amp panel was expensive and virtually impossible to get. Best estimates were at least a year before they would be available.
In view of the circumstances, Ratermann adjusted the parameters to allow a smaller service panel capable of handling scoreboards, regular lighting and power outlets. The panel can be added to at a later date if and when the city decides to install lighting to illuminate playing fields.
As part of the contract, Joe’s Electric will run underground conduit from the transformer to the pole for Ameren to hook up electrical service, set a meter base, and installed underground conduit to the pavilion location and to the scoreboard locations.
Also on a motion by Balzarine, the council agreed to seek bids for final grading work at the facility, which will set the stage for installing water and sewer lines.
Koyne reported that playground equipment for the new park has been shipped and should arrive at the site soon.
Community Unit School District 7 transferred the site to the city after a mine subsidence event destroyed the seven-year-old Benld Elementary School. Earlier this year, the city secured a $600,000 Open Spaces Land Acquisition and Development grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The city will oversee development of the park, after which management and maintenance will be turned over the the Benld Sports Association.
CLOSED SESSION MINUTES RELEASED
On the recommendation of Mayor Jim Kelly, the council voted unanimously to make public the minutes from an executive session conducted during a special meeting of the council on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. The action comes after the the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor responded to a request for review filed by John Kraft of the Edgar County Watchdogs in February 2019 alleging the council violated provisions of the state’s Open Meetings Act. The Public Access Counselor issued a determination on December 9 confirming the council technically violated provisions of the act and advised the council to make the minutes public.
City Attorney Rick Verticchio argued the closed session was justified because of the potential for litigation with the City of Gillespie to break a contract to provide water to Benld in the event Benld contracted with another provider for water. The Attorney General concurred with Kraft’s contention that the litigation exemption was applicable only if litigation was imminent or probable.
The meeting, minutes from which are now public, dealt with a discussion held with Justin Vonder Haar of HMG Engineers regarding a cost/benefits analysis of buying water from an alternate source. Among the options discussed were acquiring water from Staunton, Litchfield or as a secondary customer from Lake KaHo. At the time, council members concurred buying water from Litchfield was the most viable option but ultimately the city made no changes in its public water program.
DERELICT HOUSING
No specific action followed a five-minute executive session with Jono Verticchio, representing City Attorney Rick Verticchio. In open session, however, city aldermen quizzed Verticchio about two situations involving families moving into residences that have not been inspected or which failed inspection.
Ald. Jerry Saracco addressed the situation at 407 N. Fourth Street where persons allegedly moved into a mobile home that has not been inspected and lacks water and sewer services.
“We’ve been going to court for two and half years to get rid of that trailer,” Saracco said. “Now, all of sudden, there are people moved in. There’s no water. There’s no sewer. I don’t understand how they can just move in and we can’t get them out. We need to get them out of there and remove the trailer. It’s that simple.”
Verticchio said most police departments are reluctant to evict persons from residences.
“That means your only recourse is to go to court,” Verticchio said.
“We’ve got another one over on First Street,” Balzraine reported. “Someone moved in and there’s no water.”
Koyne said she accepted a water deposit from the person planning to move into the First Street home but the water has not been turned on, pending a housing inspection. The residence was inspected earlier and failed the inspection, she said.
“We’ll need some kind of evidence that someone is actually living there,” Verticchio said. “We’d be happy to file an ordinance violation. The problem is an ordinance violation doesn’t have the same teeth as a nuisance action. I think that if you file an ordinance violation, it might build a fire under him (the property owner) to get something done. He’s going to want to get someone in there so he can start collecting rent.”
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council approved committee and council meeting dates for 2025. With the exception of the Labor Day holiday, committees will meet on the first Monday of each month and the council will meet on the third Monday.
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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.
