Community News
Manager of Post Office Operations speaks to Benld residents
Benld is in negotiations to seek a different building
Sue Betts, Manager of Post Office Operations, represented Gateway Wednesday, April 4 for a meeting at the Benld Post Office concerning the suspension of the postal service at the Benld site. Ms. Betts was in the office from 2:00 till 4:00 p.m Wednesday afternoon to answer questions.
The largest contingent of residents arrived at 2:00 p.m. including Mayor Jeff Hendricks, Alderman Mike Heddrick and Mickey Robinson, Police Chief Kozak, Build Benld members: Jerry Saracco, Cathy Petrak, Lynn Shehorn, Gloria Sidar and Lynn Fraelle as well as about 25 other Benld residents.
Build Benld presented letters from local residents in support of keeping the Benld Post Office open. Ms. Betts reiterated that negotiations with the owner of the building, Leonard Spodek, New York, were not progressing well, but there were other options open if an agreement could not be met with Mr. Spodek.
Ms. Betts indicated that the decision to suspend the Benld Office was not in her purview. She went on to say she had taken pictures of the city, noted the various businesses, the amount of traffic and felt that the size of Benld warranted looking for other options to keep a Post Office open here. Ms. Betts stated the zip code would remain the same in Benld if mail were temporarily handled by the Gillespie Post Office. She pointed out that although the Post Office was the third largest employer in the country, revenue generated is that significant importance in keeping any facility open.
Benld resident, Frank Wargo, noted that there was adequate parking for handicap citizens at the Benld site and suggested Ms. Betts take a picture of the Gillespie facility. Currently there is no handicap accessible parking in Gillespie except to park in the middle of the street. There is one parking place in front of the Gillespie facility and it is not marked for handicap parking. This presents grave difficulties for handicap residents.
Other area residents asked pertinent questions about mail service, postal box availability, etc. There was discussion about what type of facility would be acceptable if another site in Benld could be found to house a “village post office” or a smaller, regular facility.
Mayor Hendricks is in negotiations with the Postal Office for an alternate site for the Benld Post Office and a representative toured that building on Wednesday. “We hope to hear if this meets with the Post Office’s requirements soon,” Lynn Fralle stated.
Local residents are urged to contact their congressmen for support in keeping the Benld Post Office open. Contact either Senator Dick Durbin or Congressman Bobby Schilling by clicking on the following links to find office telephone numbers.
To view Dick Durbin’s office locations, scroll to the bottom of this page and call any number listed. To contact Bobby Schilling, call any of the numbers listed on this page.
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SPRINGFIELD, IL, – Macoupin County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR).
The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier,” is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g., school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there was no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result.
Under a law passed in 1975, property in Illinois should be assessed at one-third (1/3) of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures. Farmland is assessed at one-third of its agriculture economic value and not subject to the state equalization factor.
Assessments in Macoupin County are at 33.17% of market value, based on sales of properties in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
The equalization factor currently being assigned is for 2025 taxes, payable in 2026.
Last year’s equalization factor for the county was 1.0000.
The final assessment equalization factor was issued after a public hearing on the tentative factor. The tentative factor issued on 08-Jan-2026 was 1.0000.
The equalization factor is determined annually for each county by comparing the price of individual properties sold over the past three years to the assessed value placed on those properties by the county supervisor of assessments/county assessor.
If the three-year average level of assessment is one-third of the market value, the equalization factor will be one (1). If the average level of assessment is greater than one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be less than one (1). And if the average level of assessment is less than one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be greater than one (1).
A change in the equalization factor does not mean total property tax bills will increase or decrease. Tax bills are determined by local taxing bodies when they request money each year to provide services to local citizens. If the amount requested by local taxing districts is not greater than the amount received in the previous year, then total property taxes will not increase even if assessments increase.
The assessed value of an individual property determines what portion of the tax burden a specific taxpayer will assume. That individual’s portion of tax responsibility is not changed by the multiplier.
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The Benld Public Library will host two Illinois state service events, providing convenient access to essential resources for area residents.
On Tuesday, May 5, the Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias Mobile Driver Services Unit will be on-site at the library. Services available will include written and road tests, driver’s license renewals, issuance and renewal of state identification cards, and the purchase of license plate stickers. No reservations are required. Please note that payment will be accepted by credit card or check only; cash will not be accepted.
Additionally, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., staff from Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ Office will be available to assist residents through the I-Cash program. This service helps individuals locate and claim unclaimed property or missing money.
Both events will take place at the Benld Public Library, located at 308 East Central Avenue. The facility is accessible from both the parking lot and street parking.
For more information, please contact the Benld Public Library at 217-835-4045. Reservations are not required for either event.
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LITCHFIELD, Ill. — The HSHS St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary will sponsor a drive-thru dinner on Monday, May 11 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. to support the hospital’s Family Maternity Center.
The meal will feature a grilled pork chop, loaded mashed potatoes, glazed carrots and a roll prepared by Nelson’s Catering of Springfield plus a dessert provided by the Auxiliary. Cost per meal is $15.
Dinners must be ordered by noon on Monday, May 4. Orders can be placed online at stfrancis-litchfield.org/dinners, or at the hospital gift shop. The drive-thru dinner pickup will take place in front of the main hospital entrance.
“We are excited to be continuing this series of drive-thru dinners that provide a convenient opportunity to take home a delicious meal while supporting our hospital’s Family Maternity Center and its patients,” shared Gwen Barcum, St. Francis Hospital’s Auxiliary President.
Additional drive-thru dinners with various menus will take place on June 8, July 13, Aug. 10, Sept. 14 and Oct. 12.
For more information, visit stfrancis-litchfield.org/events or call Gwen Barcum at 217-324-8678.
