Local Government
Manar: Reform necessary to improve Illinois’ economic development climate
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois is changing its approach to economic development to better focus on creating and retaining jobs, tackling pockets of stagnant unemployment, and recruiting new businesses to relocate to and expand within the state, thanks to a comprehensive reform package sponsored by State Senator Andy Manar (D–Bunker Hill).
After months of negotiations and gathering input from business and community leaders from across the state through several Senate hearings, the Illinois Senate today passed Manar’s House Bill 1544, which requires the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity—the lead state agency responsible for economic development in the state—to develop a comprehensive, statewide economic development plan.
“When it comes to creating jobs and encouraging economic development, Illinois can and must do better,” Manar said. “We can start by reforming our current approach to require a strategic statewide plan. Having a plan will help focus state resources on where they are needed most, maximizing job creation and impact on our economy.”
Under Manar’s proposal, DCEO will consult with business and local economic development organizations to develop an annual economic development plan to submit to the governor and the General Assembly. The plan will focus on strategies for retaining and creating jobs.
“There is a sense that downstate job creation isn’t as important as job creation in other parts of the state,” Manar said. “This bill will require DCEO to place a priority on areas of the state with continual high unemployment.”
The proposal will also create the Business Development Council, a 12-member board consisting of private sector leaders representing small businesses, the coal, health care and agriculture industries as well as representatives from local economic development entities and private sector organized labor. The Business Development Council will be tasked with developing a business development plan to solicit new companies to relocate to Illinois as well as expand existing businesses.
“With some of the most successful businesses in the world right here in Illinois, the state has to do a better job of getting the private sector more involved in economic development,” Manar said. “Who better to advise on how to best promote our state’s resources than our own successful business leaders?”
Senate President John Cullerton (D–Chicago) initiated the call for reform to the state’s economic development agenda during his annual inaugural address back in January.
“During my inaugural address, I noted that Illinois needed to be aggressive with our economic development agenda,” Cullerton said. “Since that time, Sen. Manar has led the charge to bring public and private stakeholders together to spur economic growth. This legislation will result in a strategic development plan that will hopefully attract and retain jobs for years to come.”
House Bill 1544 passed the Senate with bipartisan support and now awaits approval from the House.
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Benld city aldermen authorized expenditures of up to more than $14,000 Monday night to begin retrofitting the former First National Bank building, 218 E. Central Avenue, for use as the City Hall. The city purchased the building this fall for $95,700 via an online auction.
The council unanimously authorized expenditures of up to $3,582.84 with Madison Communications and up to $1,729 with Mark Carpani of Carpani Computers to install telephone and internet equipment. Madison submitted a bid to complete the entire project. Mayor Jim Kelly said Madison, however, is now working with Carpani to cooperatively share the work, meaning either or both companies’ final bills may be less than their original bids. Total expenditures for telephone and internet work should not exceed a total of $5,312.
Council members also voted unanimously to contract with Auto Sound and Security, Staunton, to install security cameras for the newly acquired building.
Additionally, the council agreed to buy six conference tables from Macy’s for slightly more than $1,100. City Clerk Terri Koyne, who has been cleaning the new building, said the existing chairs from the city council chambers can be used with the new tables. She said she cleaned the upholstery on eight additional chairs from the existing break room that can be used in aldermanic council room that can be used for private meetings and executive sessions.
On a motion by Ald. John Balzraine, the council accepted a bid of up to $450 from Chris Hartspencer, Gillespie, to power wash the former bank building prior to moving city offices to the new location.
The fate of current city offices, located in the same building with the Civic Center, has not been determined. One possibility may be providing space for small meetings of outside groups such as Build Benld.
No timeline was discussed Monday night regarding when the city’s offices will move to the new facility.
APPROPRIATION AMENDMENT
Council members approved an amended appropriation ordinance increasing the city’s spending limits for the fiscal year by nearly $240,000. The original $2.2 million appropriation was approved by the council in June to govern spending from May 1, 2024, through April 30,2025. Though required by law, the appropriation is not equivalent to a budget; the ordinance sets spending ceilings for each of the city’s accounts. In the event spending exceeds the amount appropriated, the council is required to approve an amended appropriation to authorize the additional spending.
The lion’s share of the increase in appropriations falls under the are of City Property. The amended ordinance adds $90,000 to $10,000 originally appropriated for Capital Outlay, ostensibly to cover the cost of acquiring the former First National Bank building. The appropriation for Repairs and Maintenance was upped by $60,000. The appropriation for Building Demolition was increased by $20,000, apparently covering costs associated with the city’s increasingly aggressive approach to disposing of nuisance properties.
The Capital Outlay line item under Sewer Fund Expenses was increased by $65,000.
Maximum expenditures from the General Fund for Telephone and Internet Expenses was increased from $4,850 to $8,350—an increase of $3,500.
Maximum expenditures from the Police Fund was increased from $1,000 to $2,000 for Animal Control.
The newly amended ordinance will be filed with the Macoupin County Clerk’s Office.
2025 MOTOR FUEL TAX MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
Following a brief presentation by Doug Ratermann, and engineer with HMG Engineers, Breese, the council voted unanimously to submit to the Illinois Department of Transportation a Motor Fuel Tax street maintenance program in the amount of $100,000. The document, subject to approval by IDOT, outlines anticipated costs for street maintenance next year to be paid from the city’s Motor Fuel Tax funds.
Ratermann said the program is similar to previous years, but with prices adjusted upward for most materials. The total proposed program is estimated to cost about $75,000 but Ratermann said he recommended seeking approval of up $100,000 to allow for possible maintenance work in addition to standard resurfacing and sealing. He said he and Public Works Director James Savant had discussed using a CA7 material to patch some streets not scheduled for resurfacing.
Ratermann said performance of the CA7 material should be superior to the cold patch normally used for patching, and should put those streets in better condition for resurfacing in 2026.
The proposed program calls for purchasing 12,200 gallons of HFE 150 bituminous material sealer at a cost of $39,650, plus 500 tons of rock chips at a cost of $11,515. Another expenditure of $11,515 is expected to apply and roll the chips. Total cost for street maintenance is estimated at $62,665.
Additionally, the proposed program anticipates expenditure of $1,825 for 100 tons of CA-6 aggregate, and $6,500 for 50 tons of bituminous patch for patching streets.
The program includes an estimated $3,798 for engineering costs.
The proposal to IDOT includes engineer estimates only. Pricing for materials and application will be finalized when IDOT lets bids for MFT programs statewide early next year. The document approved Monday night serves as an appropriation setting spending limits to come from MFT funds.
NUISANCE PROPERTIES
No action followed a 10-minute executive session during which the Mayor and council members met with Jono Verticchio, who attended on behalf of City Attorney Rick Verticchio.
Council members were advised that Robert McLain has agreed to surrender property at 217 South Seventh Street in lieu of abating the nuisance. The city sold the home to McLain three years ago with the agreement that he would either raze and repair the building in a reasonable amount of time. Since McLain is in breach of his contract with the city, Verticchio said no formal action was needed for the city to take possession.
“He wasn’t in compliance with the contract, so I don’t think you need a motion to take the property back,” Verticchio said.
SPORTS COMPLEX PAYMENT
On Ratermann’s recommendation, the council approved payment of $26,808.80 to J.P. Solutions, pending proof of insurance. Ratermann said the company is entitled to payment, having removed lamp post bases and a sewer line at the former site of the Benld Elementary School, currently being developed as a sports complex and public park.
The insurance issue is a technicality, as Ratermann explained. Documents originally provided to him fell short on coverage for individual incidents. Since then, the company has been in contact with its insurance carrier and had coverage amounts adjusted upward. Confirmation, however, has not yet been received by Ratermann.
“We do not have a fully executed contract,” Ratermann said. “My recommendation, if you want to approve this, is to approve it pending receipt of a fully executed contract. A ‘fully executed contract’ just means I get a copy of their insurance.”
The council also authorized Mayor Jim Kelly to approve a contract of up to $25,000 for electrical work at the park site.
“We have all the dirt work done and we’re ready for electrical work,” Kelly said. Among the electrical items to be completed are installation of two four-inch conduits that will go under the street adjacent to the park, and underground conduit to bring electrical service to the yet-to-be-installed scoreboards.
RISK MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
Council members voted unanimously to renew the city’s liability coverage through the Illinois Municipal League’s Risk Management Association. The shared risk cooperative is available to municipalities that are members of the Municipal League.
Council members authorized a payment of $25,535.51, which includes $250 in dues for the city to remain a member of IML. Municipalities receive a discount for payment in full as opposed to monthly payments for coverage.
The council also voted unanimously to renew its unemployment insurance at a cost of $1,242.80, which includes a brokerage fee.
RESIDENTIAL REQUEST
Jerry and Sheila Springsmeyer approached the council with a request to use four acres behind their home on Eighth Street to raise three horses. The acreage currently is zoned for agricultural use.
Springsmeyer said Illinois recognizes any farmable land as suitable for livestock. Verticchio advised, however, that city ordinance prohibits farm animals within the city limits.
Mayor Kelly said complying with the Springsmeyer’s request would require amending the ordinance. He invited them to return with a detailed plan about what they have in mind and how changing the ordinance would be justified.
“The council could consider an ordinance change,” Kelly said, “but it won’t be an overnight thing.”
“It just seems like a lot of land just setting out there,” Springsmeyer said, noting the couple currently rents the acreage out for crop producation. “We’d like to be able to use it for ourselves.”
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
• Authorized payment of $4,500 to Joe’s Electric for work completed at the City Park.
• Accepted a bid of $3,700 from Emmons Tree Service, Carlinville, to remove dead trees from city rights-of-way.
• Authorized payment of Christmas bonuses in the amount of $125 for full-time employees and $75 for part-time employees.
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Addressing the Gillespie City Council on Tuesday night, resident Bethanie James sought support from the city and citizens to install Rapid Flashing Beacons on pedestrian crossing signs on Macoupin Street and Maple and, possibly, on Illinois Route 16 at the Gillespie High School/Middle School campus. The flashing signals are meant to call attention to pedestrian crossing signs when a pedestrian is crossing the street. The flashing signals would improve safety and possibly avert vehicle/pedestrian accidents such as the one that seriously injured a student walking to school last week.
The council’s regular monthly meeting was moved from Monday to Tuesday due to Monday’s Veterans Day holiday.
The rectangular flashing signals feature a series of bright LED lights that flash sequentially at a speed of 75 flashes per minute when a pedestrian activates the signal. James said the signals are activated by pushing a button located on both sides of the intersection. According to a website describing the equipment, the lights are solar powered.
“We can file a request for a permit for free and there are grants available (to help cover the cost),” James said. “They bring a lot more attention to the crossing signs and they will help children get to school more safely.”
A key in the process in obtaining a permit, James said, is public support. Residents can voice concerns about the crossing and support for the flashing signals by visiting idot.illinois.gov/travel-information/report-a-problem online.
“This is something I would love to see us rally behind,” James said. The Illinois Department of Transportation is required to respond to complaints within seven days, she said, indicating the number of people who contact IDOT will be critical to get the project off the ground.
“I think the advantage of her proposal is it can be utilized 24 hours a day,” said James’ husband, Nathan. Ultimately, the signals would improve safety not only for school children but also adults who use the crossing.
James said she would keep the city informed about progress on drumming up support for the project.
“This is going to be city-driven because my understanding is the permit application and grant application will have to be filed by the city,” James said.
UPCOMING PROJECTS
City Treasurer Dan Fisher asked committee members to discuss upcoming projects that will be funded with Tax Increment Financing (TIF), American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) funds. Fisher said time is off the essence in nailing down projects to be paid for with TIF, ARPA and CEJA funds. For TIF-funded and ARPA-funded projects, the council must not only obligate the funds for expenditure, but also enter into agreements with contractors or vendors before the end of the year.
Fisher distributed a spreadsheet outlining upward of $800,000 in expenditures for 2025, noting the project plans have to be finalized by the end of the year or the money will have to go back to the federal government. More than $360,000 in ARPA funds and $70,000 in CEJA funds are on the table.
“This is an opportunity for us to really get a lot done next year,” Fisher said.
Subject to committee input, Fisher allotted $150,000 in TIF funds to remodel a building at at 124 N. Macoupin to accommodate the Gillespie Police Department, in addition to $67,833 in TIF funding used to acquire the building. Fisher’s proposal also includes $80,125 in TIF funds and $70,000 in ARPA funding for remodeling and improving the Civic Center. A total of $61,116 in CEJA funding is earmarked for recreation, along with $100,000 in ARPA funds. Fisher said the money earmarked for recreation probably will go to improvements at Big Brick Park since the status of an Open Spaces Land Acquisition and Development grant application will not be known until October next year. The $600,000 OSLAD grant would cover $1.2 million in improvements at Welfare Park but Fisher cautioned against obligating money for the city’s share of the project until the grant is awarded.
Other expenditures outlined include $96,261 in ARPA funds for a new Street Department truck and $95,000 in ARPA funds for new police cars. A total of $25,000 in TIF funds is allotted for pending facade improvement grant awards, along with $45,000 in TIF funds obligated to pay toward loan notes with United Community Bank.
In total, the city is looking at $161,116 in expenditures to improve parks and recreation facilities, $217,833 for the new Police Department building, $150,000 for Civic Center improvements, $191,261 for new vehicles, and $70,000 for grant awards from TIF funds. The budget also includes $6,107 for administrative expenses. Ten percent of the city’s CEJA award is earmarked for a cooperative community project in the amount of $7,024. In aggregate, the city is looking at a potential $803,650 in expenditures for various projects and acquisitions.
The kicker is the time frame.
Fisher said the committees need to not only determine the amounts of money they want to allocate for specific projects but also be prepared for the city to enter into agreements with contractors or vendors before the end of the year. Each line item will require a separate resolution which will be prepared by City Attorney Rick Verticchio for action in December.
“If you have other projects you want to do, we can do that but we would need to know soon so we can move money from one line item to another,” Fisher noted.
Ald. Dona Rauzi noted there is not enough time to obtain formal bids for the projects Fisher’s budget outlines. Bidding for the police station remodel, for example, would not only involve advertising for bids, but also preparing formal architectural drawings and bidding specifications. In the alternative, Fisher said the city can call for a Request for Proposals, in which case the contractor would be required to supply its own drawings and pricing for specific projects.
“There are probably some local contractors who’d be willing to offer a proposal (for the Police Department) as long as we have some sort of hold harmless provision in case material costs go up,” Fisher said. Some projects could have difficulty attracting proposals because contractors may not want to commit to projects coming up after the first of the year. “It’s not that they don’t want to do it,” Fisher said. “They know we want this done quickly and some of them already have work backed up.”
STREETSCAPE PROJECT
Fisher also reported the city should be able to advertise for bids for the city’s extensive downtown Streetscape Project in December or early January after the Illinois Department of Transportation agreed to issue a permit for the project. The ambitious plan to improve the downtown business environment includes landscaping, plantings, new lighting and reconfiguring parking spaces.
Jointly proposed by Grow Gillespie, a volunteer civic improvement organization, and the City of Gillespie, the Streetscape project is an outgrowth of the city’s water infrastructure replacement project completed three years ago. The Streetscape project has been under discussion for about six years.
Fisher said IDOT reviewed drawings for the project and demanded the alignment on diagonal parking spaces be changed from 25 degrees to 30 degrees as a safety precaution. The change will cost the city one parking space for each block, Fisher said, but IDOT would not negotiate on the requirement because of the city’s record for traffic accidents downtown.
“We’re going to have a little less parking,” Fisher said. “But we had seven accidents in five years that happened when someone was backing out of a parking space.”
Fisher said once the drawings are updated, they will be resubmitted to IDOT approval is expected about one week after the agency receives the plans.
PAY INCREASES FOR PART-TIMERS
On motion by Ald. Landon Pettit, the council unanimously approved a measure to increase the hourly wage for part-time police officers from $17.70 to $19. Additionally, hourly wages for part-time police dispatchers and all other part-time/seasonal workers will increase to $16.
Initially, Police Chief Jared DePoppe approached the council with a proposal to increase wages for part-time police and dispatchers, but Pettit argued at the time that the increase should apply to all part-time workers.
CHRISTMAS BONUSES
After some discussion, the council agreed to give Christmas bonuses to city employees this year in the amount of $125. Last year, the city gave workers a $100 gift card in an attempt to circumvent taking out taxes and medicare/social security contributions.
Fisher said that since city employees voted to join the Illinois Municipal Retirement System, IMRF advised that retirement contributions have to be taken out of Christmas bonuses whether or not the bonus is paid by check or in the form of a gift card than can be converted to cash.
On a motion by Pettit, the council agreed to offer bonuses of $125 in an effort to somewhat mitigate against the required deductions.
TOY DRIVE COMPETITION
Police Chief DePoppe reported that police officers will be accepting toy donations for underprivileged families from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, in the parking lot at United Community Bank. The Police Department has conducted the toy drive annually for the past eight years in cooperation with Joyful Angels, the local organization that distributes food and toys to underprivileged local families for the holiday season. While the police do not accept cash donations, DePoppe said a representative of Joyful Angels will be on hand to accept monetary donations.
This year, DePoppe said, the Gillespie Fire Protection District offered a friendly challenge to see which agency collects the most toys for the Christmas Project.
“The loser has to wash the others’ vehicles,” DePoppe said. “So if you have toys to donate, please donate them to us.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Ald. Rauzi publicly thanked the staff of Lumpy’s Bar and Restaurant for providing a meal for election judges at the Civic Center on Election Day. She also thanked Ald. Wendy Rolando for spearheading a project to purchase American flags to display downtown for patriotic holiday, as well as Charlie Conley, Dale Demkey and John Hicks who assisted with putting up the flags for Veterans Day. Rauzi acknowledged Mark and Jody Carpani and Jennifer, Blake, and Bill Carter for spearheading the project to buy and display banners honoring local veterans.
“We had a lot of compliments about how downtown looked for Veterans Day,” she said.
Rauzi acknowledged Bill and Nolan Hayes who recently helped her remove 27 sets of icicle Christmas lights at the Civic Center and replace them with nine sets of LED lights. The LED lights use less electricity and cut down on the number of extension cords needed. She said she spent all but 37 cents of the $300 budget she was given for new lights.
“I just think when people do things for the city, we forget to thank them,” she said.
No action followed a brief executive session requested by Mayor Hicks to discuss litigation and personnel.
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With a commanding two-to-one tally, Republican Amy J. Ashby became the second Republican to capture a county executive office in Macoupin County in General Election balloting Tuesday.
Ashby, a resident of Carlinville, defeated Democrat Dana Carr Skinner, Gillespie, to succeed Democrat Lee Ross, also of Gillespie, as Macoupin County Circuit Clerk––an office held by Democrats since 1948 when Democrat Philip Brown defeated Republican incumbent Elery Hardin.
Republican L. Amber McGartland defeated appointed incumbent in 2022, becoming the first Republican County Treasurer since A.C. “Junie” Bartulis, Benld, held the office from 1966 to 1970.
Unofficial results with all precincts reporting, Ashby captured 14,892 votes (65.44 percent) to Skinner’s 7,863 votes (34.56 percent). Ashby took commanding leads in 43 of the county’s 45 precincts. Skinner tallied 294 votes to Ashby’s 274 in Gillespie 1. In Gillespie 2, the candidates tied with 372 votes each.
A total of 22,755 votes were cast in the Circuit Clerk’s race. Countywide, 23,574 of the county’s 31,516 registered voters cast ballots for a voter turnout of 74.8 percent, meaning more than 800 voters did not express a preference in the Circuit Clerk’s race.
Ashby, a native of Palmyra and graduate of Northwestern High School, touted her legal experience in her bid for the Circuit Clerk’s office. A resident of Carlinville for the past 25 years, Ashby told voters she had 30 years of experience working for various law firms in Macoupin and Sangamon counties. She earned an associates degree in 1994 from Robert Morris University in Springfield.
Skinner holds a paralegal degree and has 25 years of legal experience with 15 of those years directly in the courtroom.
The Circuit Clerk is responsible for establishing, maintaining and keeping all records of the court, as well as several administrative, financial and public services.
DISTRICT 13 CONGRESSIONAL RACE
As of 10:30 p.m., Tuesday night, incumbent Democrat Congressional member Nikki Budzinski, Champaign, was locked in a remarkably tight race for a second term against Republican challenger Joshua Loyd of Virden. Budzinski held a lead with 57.6 percent to Loyd’s 42.4 percent in the 13th Congressional District, which includes Champaign, Springfield, much of Decatur, Metro East St. Louis and Macoupin County. Associated Press and NBC projected Budzinski as the winner.
Macoupin voters heavily favored Loyd with 14,309 votes (62.65 percent) to Budzinski’s 8,532 votes (37.35 percent).
Budzinki is seeking a second term after being elected two years ago. Loyd is a West Point graduate and transplant to Central Illinois where he was a precinct committee person in Southern Illinois but has never held an elective office.
PRESIDENTIAL RACE
In the presidential race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris, Macoupin voters again heavily favored Trump. Macoupin voters cast 16,023 ballots (68.67 percent) for Trump, compared with 6,867 votes (29.43 percent) for Harris.
Moreover, Tuesday night’s results demonstrated no softening of support for Trump in Macoupin County. In 2016, with a voter turnout of 71.55 percent, county voters favored Trump over Hilary Clinton 64.46 percent to 30.11 percent. In 2020, when Joe Biden captured the Presidency, Macoupin voters favored Trump 67.24 percent to 30.66 percent.
Nationally, Associated Press declared Donald Trump as the 47th president of the U.S. around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday with Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, and Alaska not called.
STAUNTON BOND ISSUE
Voters in the Staunton School District decisively authorized the Board of Education to issue $26.1 million in bonds to finance construction of a new school. A total of 1,674 votes (56.53 percent) were cast in favor of the measure, compared with 1,287 votes (43.47 percent) opposed.
Voters in all six precincts included in the district favored the bond issue.
NONBINDING QUESTIONS
Macoupin voters favored all three non-binding statewide questions on the ballot, reflecting results from throughout the rest of the state.
A total of 12,114 voters (53.84 percent) favored a measure to impose a three percent tax on incomes in excess of $1 million with the revenue generated earmarked for property tax relief. A total of 10,388 (46.16 percent) voted against the measure.
A mesure to impose civil penalties against any candidate who interferes with the official duties of election officials was favored by 19,746 voters (87.78 percent), while 2,749 voters (12.22 percent) opposed the measure.
A measure to enact a law requiring all insurance plans that provide pregnancy benefits to also cover assisted reproductive treatments such as in vitro fertilization was favored by 14,185 Macoupin voters (63.71 percent), compared with 8,079 (36.29 percent) opposed.
UNOPPOSED RACES
Incumbent State’s Attorney Jordan Garrison and incumbent Coroner Anthony Kravanya, both Democrats, were returned to office with 16,371 votes and 17,724 votes, respectively. Both totals suggest that upward of 4,000 voters withheld their votes when provided with no choice on the ballot.
Likewise incumbent County Board members were returned to office as follows: Jon C. Payne (R) and Gordon Heuer (R) in District 2, Ross Adden (R) and Mark Dragovich (D) in District 4, and Todd Armour (R) and Molly Rosentreter (R) in District 9. Republican John Trevino was elected to a two-year unexpired term in District 3, also without opposition.
Republican Thomas Denny was elected without opposition as resident Seventh Judicial Circuit Judge, replacing retiring Circuit Judge Kenneth Deihl, a Democrat.
