Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to approve an appropriation of $15,758,490 for the fiscal year that began May 1. State law mandates an annual appropriation to set spending ceilings for specific municipal funds. The ordinance sets spending limits only and does not serve as a budget, according to outgoing City Treasurer Dan Fisher, who conducted a 15-minute public hearing prior to the council meeting. 

Actual city expenditures are likely to be no more than a third of the appropriation total, Mayor Landon Pettit said. The city’s actual annual expenditures average around $3 million to $4 million. 

The newly approved appropriation is about $1.4 million less than last year’s appropriation of $17,130,799, which was inflated by anticipated grant funds for the city’s ambitious streetscape project and Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) funds. The new appropriation also inflated somewhat by $4.5 million, representing grant and local funds, for the streetscape project, and $1.3 million in anticipated CEJA grant funds. Removing those two items would take the appropriation of primarily local funds down to about $10 million, which is significantly less than pre-COVID appropriations.

The new ordinances authorizes expenditures of up to $2,400,600 for the Water Department, compared with $2,845,700 last year. The Water Department appropriation includes up to $200,000 for water line system improvements and $100,000 for a water tower improvement project.

Up to $1,855.000 in expenditures is authorized for the Police Department, compared with $2,316,000 last year. The appropriation of General Administrative Expenses comes in at $1,364,500, compared with $1,356,500 a year ago. A spending ceiling of $929,000 is set for the Street Department, compared with $1,281,500 last year. The appropriation for Parks and Recreation is $697,800, compared with $846,000 a year ago.  A total of $200,000 is appropriated for Parks and Recreational Areas, which is the same as last year’s appropriation. The ordinance appropriates $665,000 for Motor Fuel Tax expenditures, compare with $600,000 last year. Expenditures of up to $200,000 are appropriated from the Tax Increment Financing Fund, compared with $280,000 last year.

The new ordinance sets spending limits for the Emergency Services and Disaster Administration (ESDA) at $58,900, which compares with $33,900 last year and includes money to replacement storm/emergency sirens.

The ordinance appropriates $170,500 for Administrative Building costs, down from $220,000 last year. The ordinance sets a spending limit of $165,000 for FICA, compared with $160,000 last year; $65,000 for Liability Insurance, which is the same as the previous year. 

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The ordinance appropriates $42,020 for Salaries of General Elective and Appointed City Officials, which is unchanged from last year.

A total of $40,670 is appropriated for the Public Library, and $5,000 for the Municipal Band, both of which are the same as last year.

Presenting the Public Hearing was the last official act for Fisher. Soon after convening the council’s regular monthly meeting, Rusty Fredericks was sworn in to serve a two-year appointive term as City Treasurer. Fredericks will have the option to run for election to the office in April 2027.

STREETSCAPE UPDATE

Mayor Pettit told the council the long-awaited streetscape project to enhance the downtown shopping district is set to begin soon. In the meantime, he said the city will schedule public meetings with downtown business owners to advise them about when and how construction might affect their businesses. 

The streetscape project has been in discussion for about six years. Aimed at improving aesthetics and the business climate downtown, the plan calls for establishing downtown as a cultural center for small festivals, farmers markets, concerts and other activities. The plan includes converting parking from perpendicular spaces to diagonal spaces. The parking arrangement will marginally reduce the number of spaces. Triangular “dead spaces” at intersections will be converted into “green spaces” with small trees and other plantings, along with green spaces interspersed along each block. Sidewalks will be replaced, drainage will be improved with grates leading to the city’s storm sewer system, and new, more attractive light poles will be installed. With the creation of green spaces at intersections, the distance for pedestrian crossing will be reduced from 76 feet to 46 feet, not only improving aesthetics but also improving safety for pedestrians. 

The city received a $4 million grant from Rural Development, a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and awarded a construction contract in March to Stutz Excavating, Inc., Alton, contingent upon the federal funds being released to the city. Pettit said the first installment of the grant money has been received, enabling the city to start construction.

In a related matter, the council voted unanimously to employ Lake Manager Ethan Martin to the city’s on-site manager for the project. Martin basically will monitor construction to ensure the work is congruent with contract provisions. Martin will be paid a supplemental salary in addition to his earnings as Lake Manager for the duration of the project, after which his wages will return to their original level.

WELFARE PARK IMPROVEMENTS

On the Mayor’s recommendation, the council voted unanimously to spend up to $50,000 for new bleachers and playground equipment for Welfare Park. Pettit said the existing wooden bleachers at the park are deteriorating and dangerous to spectators. He recommended replacing them with six four-row aluminum bleachers—two for each athletic field—which require less maintenance than the existing bleachers. The aluminum bleachers are low enough to not require handrails and will cost a total of $15,480, plus about $380 for hardware. Pettit said he also located playground equipment with plastic covered metal for about $3,000 from Uline, Inc., not including shipping and engineered mulch.

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Improvements are nearing completion at Big Brick Park, which includes new playground equipment, picnic tables and other improvements. 

“I’d like to see a little more focus on our parks,” Pettit said. “They’ve been let go for too long.”

“That’s why it’s so expensive when we do improvements,” said Ald. Wendy Rolando, who moved to authorize the expenditure.

Pettit said the city is due to received $70,000 in CEJA funding as part of the current grant cycle. That money should arrive in two to three months.

In the meantime, he said the city can pay for the improvements with existing funds and reimburse itself when the grant funds are available.

In a related matter, the council authorized the mayor to apply for a new round of CEJA grant funding for the current fiscal year.

BENLD POLICE CONTRACT

The council approved Ald. Dona Rauzi’s proposal to cease police protection services to the City of Benld if Gillespie and Benld can not reach an agreement for a new contract within 30 days. The current contract expired April 30, and Gillespie has continued to provide police protection to Benld for $20,000 per month under terms of the current contract. In April, both parties agreed to a 90-day extension to continue negotiations.

The 90-day extension will end next month, after which the City of Gillespie will terminate services.

Gillespie has provided police protection services to Benld for five years after the Benld Police Department was disbanded. 

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NUISANCE PROPERTIES

The council added 416 East Elm to a previously prepared resolution to declare 307 E. Elm as nuisance properties, after neighbor Geri Meyer voiced concerns to the council about the condition of the house.

“It’s a dilapidated house,” Meyer said, citing loose siding and a large whole that allows raccoons and other wildlife to enter the home. “It’s right there on what I call the main drag, and I was just wondering when someone was going to do something about it.”

Ald. Dona Rauzi said she spoke to the property owner, who assured her he was working with a contractor to start work on the house within the next two weeks.

“That’s exactly what he told me when I moved in two years ago,” Meyer commented.

“Other than that, I don’t know what I can do,” Rauzi explained. “I can’t force him to remodel his house.”

City Attorney Rick Verticchio agreed. “While you can’t force him to do it, this council can declare it a public nuisance,” Verticchio said, which would give the property own 30 days to at least start the work or face further legal action. “If you need to give him more time, you can do that but the first step is to declare it a nuisance.”

FOOD TRUCK ORDINANCE

On a motion by Ald. Rauzi, the council voted unanimously to amend an existing food truck ordinance to offer an annual permit at a cost of $300. The current ordinance required a daily permit fee of $25. Rauzi’s motion included a provision to waive fees for food truck operators who have already spent $300 or more for permits this calendar year.

Rauzi said the amendment will benefit food truck operators, and simplify record keeping for the Deputy City Clerk.

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LJ AVENUE PARKING

Also on a motion by Rauzi, the council voted 6-1 to rescind a previously approved ordinance banning parking on the west side of  LJ Avenue. The school district plans to post no parking signs in front of gates to the football field and along a 50-zone zone to restrict parking near a fire hydrant.

The issue has been somewhat controversial since Community Unit 7 School District rerouted buses at the beginning of the school year to synchronize class starting and ending times for all three attendance centers. 

Ald. Janet Odell-Mueller case the sole negative vote. Ald. Rauzi, Ald Rolando, Ald. J.Q. Halteman, Ald. Dave Link, Ald. Frank Barrett and Ald. Bob Fritz all voted in favor of the measure. Ald. Bill Hayes was absent.

In a related matter, the council tabled further discussion of repairs to Plum Street.

Without taking formal action, the council agreed to have Ald. Fritz survey the city for missing street signs. Ald. Rolando said she had several phone calls regarding missing signs on Broadway and Frey. Mayor Pettit said street signs also frequently go missing from several other streets, including Baker and High. He said street signs are relatively inexpensive and the city should have money to pay for them. He recommended finding which signs are missing and placing an order for all of them.

“If there are some that go missing all the time, go ahead and order extras,” he said.

CIVIC CENTER CHANGE ORDER

Council members voted unanimously in support of Ald. Fritz’s motion to approve a $7,272 change order for ongoing remodeling work at City Hall and the Civic Center. Fritz said contractors discovered that the original fiberglass ductwork installed when the building was constructed is deteriorating and releasing fiberglass fibers. Mayor Pettit assured the council the city has available Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds to cover the expense.

The council also voted Monday night to close out the TIF I fund and transfer remaining funds to TIF II.

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SIDE-BY-SIDE

The council authorized the expenditure of up to $15,000 for a new Kawasaki 4×4 side-by-side for use at Gillespie Lake. The city previously used a UTV belonging to the former lake manager, who took his personnel equipment with him when he changed jobs.

The new machine will come from Action Powersports, Litchfield.

OTHER ACTION

In other action, the council:

• Tabled action on a policy regarding workers who want to return to work early after a medical leave. Attorney Verticchio is expected to review the proposed policy to resolve possible liability issues.
• Accepted a bid of $925 to be paid from Motor Fuel Tax funds from Emmons Tree Service, Carlinville, to remove three trees from boulevards on Chestnut and Maple streets.
• Referred a proposed ordinance to govern burning back to committee for further work before being presented to the full council.
• Referred to committee the issue of whether or not to hold a city-wide clean-up day. Mayor Pettit said the city’s cost for the event could be up to $18,000 for dumpster rentals. Meanwhile, Ald. Rauzi again pointed out that adopting a single-provider city-wide trash hauling service would include two annual city-wide clean-ups at no cost to the city. Ald. Rolando said a city-wide program would reduce costs for local consumers and limit the number of trash hauling trucks on city alleyways.

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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 33.10% of market value, based on sales of properties in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

The equalization factor currently being assigned is for 2024 taxes, payable in 2025. 

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 27-Mar-2025 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.

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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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Following a lengthy discussion and a brief executive sessions, Benld City Council members voted Monday night to table action on a zoning ordinance amendment to tighten the  definition of “agricultural use,” and an ordinance amendment to place restrictions on the type and number of animals permissible on lands within the city limits that are zoned for agricultural use.

The issue is centered on property owned by Jerry and Sheila Springmeyer on North Eighth Street. Jennifer Zippay, who lives with her husband Mike on Meadowlark Drive that back’s up to the Springmeyer property, appeared at last month’s council meeting to voice concerns about Springmeyer’s plans to put horses on his property, which is zoned for agricultural use.

The current city code prohibits “livestock” within the city limits except for property zoned for agricultural use.

On Monday night, Springmeyer told the council that it will be a two-year project for him to erect fencing, build sheds and plant grass for his horses. He said the shed will be removable and will go with them if they sell the property in the future.

Springmeyer said he did everything “by the book,’ and objected to changing the ordinance after he announced his intentions for the property. He also objected to the possibility of limited the number of animals permitted. Assuming his horses are “grandfathered,” he would be unable to replace a horse that dies if the ordinance allows fewer animals than he has on his property.

Springmeyer previously told city officials he planned to have up to three horses on his far east side land.

Zippay said she and her husband want more clarification on the number and type of animals permitted on property zoned for agricultural use.

Ald. Dustin Fletcher asked why the city council was considering the issue rather than the Zoning Board. City Attorney Rick Verticchio replied that the council would have final say on amending the ordinance regardless of whether the question was considered by the Zoning Board. Verticchio said he would write up whatever the council wants after Fletcher noted that limiting the number of animals would be an “easy fix.”

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The council then entered into a brief executive session, after which the council agreed to refer the issue of whether to amend the ordinance to limit the number of animals allowed on agricultural property back to committee for further study and a recommendation to the full council. Likewise, the council referred to committee the issue of amending the zoning ordinance to define “agricultural use.”

Fletcher announced that whatever happens, the Springmeyers use of their property will be governed by current ordinances which do not limit the number of animals or the type of livestock allowed on agricultural land. If the property sells, however, it will be subject to whatever new requirements the council approves and codifies into ordinance.

LOCK BOX RENTALS

After a brief discussion, the council voted to have Verticchio draft a rental agreement subject to council approval in regard to renting lock boxes left in place in the new City Hall building. The best offer the city was able to confirm for selling the equipment was $250 for all of the boxes left behind by the bank that previously owned the building.

The rental agreement Verticchio was directed to draft will include provisions banning firearms from being stored in the facility, and acknowledging the boxes will be subject to random inspections by drug sniffing dogs. Mayor Jim Kelly suggested requiring a deposit for lock box keys in case the city has to replace keys and drill out locks when a renter fails to return keys.

MCGRADY PROPERTY

Charlie McGrady appeared before the council to ask the city to drop a nuisance complaint against his property since a derelict shed on the parcel has been torn down. McGrady said no decision has been made whether to raze a building on the property or replace the roof.

Kelly told McGrady the city could not move forward without hearing from both McGrady and Brian Page, who co-owns the property with McGrady. Kelly invited both owners to attend an upcoming committee meeting on June 2.

In other action, the council agreed to have Verticchio to contact the property owners at 306 Park Avenue and Ald. John Balzraine to contact Macoupin County Animal Control regarding a number of feral cats in the garage at the residence.

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