Community News
Gillespie City Council: Newingham sheds light on Clark Street water line
Newingham stated he is tired of reading untrue statements about his water line work.
Ned Newingham came before the Gillespie City Council on December 12 during a regular scheduled meeting because, “[he] is tired of reading things in the paper that are just not true.” In previous meetings, the council has discussed annexing the property into city limits because Ned never attended any council meetings after he was sent a letter. Furthermore, Ned did not attend the meeting that he signed up to be on the agenda to speak.
Ned explained that he never received a letter and his wife was going through a hard time when he was scheduled to speak. He went on to install 930 feet of water line along Clark Street to a vacant piece of land he owns so his animals have something to drink. He tapped onto Benld’s main 10 inch water line for his water access.
“In 2009, I was told by the mayor and city attorney that I can dig across the bike trail if I did it in city limits on Clark Street,” Ned opened. “At this time, I asked the City of Gillespie if I could tap on somewhere or they could run me a water line to my property and I was told by the mayor and city council, ‘I could not until I annexed the property into city limits’.”
In the meantime, Ned decided not to annex his property into city limits and inquired an application to dig in the street. According to Ned, no one from the council ever contacted him about his plans. Ned went on to pay for his tap-on fee to the City of Benld and paid the fee for digging in the street to the City of Gillespie in the year 2010. Then in September of 2011, he started the installation of his 4″ water line. He installed a shut off valve after he connected to the 10″ main pipe that flows to Benld.
Newingham went on to install 930 feet of water line to reach his property. At the property, Ned installed a hydrant on the end of the line along with a meter to measure the amount of water he used.
“The City of Benld gave you permission to tap onto their line, but you cannot tap onto their line inside of city limits,” Mayor Hicks responded, “And you are inside of city limits.” Newingham went on to say it is not his fault because he was not contacted or not advised that he was inside of city limits.
City Attorney Kevin Polo instructed Newingham that he was never granted permission to go under the bike trail inside or outside of city limits. “You were told three or four times that you could not do that without an easement from the railroad,” Polo stated. Newingham agreed with Polo, but went on to say he was told later by city officials that he could go down Clark Street and cross the bike trail without any problems.
Fisher stated that the pipe installed by Newingham could be in violation of EPA regulations.
“This can be resolved,” Mayor Hicks noted, “The resolution may take a while to work out.” Hicks went on to say that he should visit the Benld Council meeting and work his problem out with the City of Benld because Benld has to satisfy the pipe with the EPA.
The council heard from Chief of Police Jared DePoppe in executive session and after returning to open session, the council promoted officer Stinnet to ordinance officer after a 6-1 vote. The promotion will bring a $0.20 salary increase per hour.
After hearing a handful of stories from citizens with high water bills due to leaks, the council assessed the water bills first. Brian Wagner, Charlotte Thomas, and Ryan Dann bills were all adjusted by 1/3. Wagner’s bill was $212.15 compared to $11.78. Thomas’ bill was $53.34 compared to a previous $13.29 and Ryan Dann’s bill was $495 compared to a prior $15 bill.
In new business, the council approved Chuck Price a loan for $6,000 for CP’s Five and Dine to renovate the restaurant into a sports bar and grill. The loan was approved with a 5% interest rate after a 6-1 vote.
Dave Tucker advised the council that the city received a $5,000 water bill payment from the construction of the new school and the city is able to purchase the other 3 hydrants that are on hold for next year. 3 of the 6 hydrants were already purchased and the remaining three will be purchased next year. Tucker went on to say he talked to an engineer about the sewer line connection.
The engineer advised Tucker that they can route the sewer line from the new school to Oak Street and go south or to LJ Avenue and go west. If the council chooses to route it to Oak Street, the lift station will be replaced and a generator will be added at no charge to the city. The sewers are not scheduled to be installed until late summer, so the council has plenty of time to ponder it.
City attorney Kevin Polo explained that Newingham was never granted permission to dig under the bike trail in or out of city limits.
Under other issues, the council voted 4-4 to give city employees a Christmas bonus. The bonus was decreased by 50% compared to last year. Full time employees will receive a $50 bonus while part time employees will receive $25. Mayor Hicks broke the tie vote and favored the 50% decrease in holiday bonus.
In closing, the council voted 8-0 to give the police department up to $10,000 to purchase a used car. A new car is planned to be purchased in spring of 2012.
Comments
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that a 14-mile patching and resurfacing project on Interstate 55 from Litchfield to the Macoupin/Madison County line begins Monday, April 21. Work is expected to be completed by the end of September.
Additionally, ramps for Litchfield (exit 52), Mount Olive (exit 44) and Staunton (exit 41) will be resurfaced. Most of the work is expected to take place between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday nights through Friday mornings.
Lane closures are expected, and message boards will be used to direct traffic through the work zones. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Benefits of this project include a smoother driving surface.
To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment.
Comments
George Kuchar of Eagarville is the winner of The Partnership for Educational Excellence 2025 Grand Raffle. The prize is $5,000.
“Education is important. I want to help these students get on in life,” says George, who is the owner of Kuchar Combine, an international agribusiness based in Mt. Olive.
Grand Raffle ticket sales kicked off this year at The Partnership’s “For the Love of Education” annual trivia contest in February. When welcoming the trivia players that evening, Donna Prevedell, vice president and a charter member of education foundation, asked participants: “What would we do without you? Your steadfast trust and generosity are the only resources The Partnership has ever had. Our very first major donor, John Schmidt, said that he would support us only if we could prove that we had solid community backing – which you immediately gave and continue to give 33 years later! Thank you.”
The result is The Partnership’s investment of more than $1 million donor dollars into the students of CUSD7. “We treasure your trust and humbly pass on your generously-shared, hard-earned dollars to our children – our future,” she said addressing CUSD7 staff and teachers, past scholars and parents, and dozens of new and established donors in attendance.
“It’s such solid donor support that allowed The Partnership to increase its scholarships from $1,000 to $2,000 last year. All we could afford in 1992 was three $250 scholarships. Friends and neighbors like you have made it possible to increase that nearly tenfold,” she said.
Another milestone was reached in 2024: a record 38% of the GHS graduating class was awarded scholarships.
The Partnership for Educational Excellence is a 501(c)3 education foundation. All donations are tax deductible. For more information and to donate: www.thepartnership7.org
Several Partnership directors gathered Saturday 12 April at Lumpy’s Restaurant in Gillespie where cook Mary Gray drew George Kuchar’s name from 500 tickets.
Comments
FELONIES
Kaytlin Hudgins, 29 of Carlinville, is charged with burglary and causing a child to be endangered in connection with a March 23 incident.
Jacalyn Walker, 35 of Carlinville, is charged with theft ($500-10k), six counts of official misconduct/forbidden act, and five counts of wire fraud in connection with multiple incidents.
Michael J. Sullivan, 38 of Collinsville, is charged with aggravated battery of a child less than 13 and causing bodily harm in connection with an April 3 incident.
Emiliano R. McGill, 20 of Litchfield, is charged with criminal damage to property ($500-10k) in connection with an April 11 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Brett S. A. BilBruck, 19 of Hettick, is charged with possessing a firearm without a valid FOID in connection with an April 5 incident.
Mya R. Stewart, 20 of Wilsonville, is charged with resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee in connection with a March 22 incident.
Timothy A. Dugger, 23 of Carlinville, is charged with aggravated assault using a deadly weapon in connection with an April 10 incident.
TRAFFIC
Jonathan A. Graves, 33 of Wilsonville, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with an April 2 incident.
Michael T. Mitchusson, 32 of Virden, is charged with driving on a revoked license in connection with a March 28 incident.
Michelle A. Meyers, 49 of Staunton, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a March 28 incident.
William E. Rhodes, 56 of Litchfield, is charged with fleeing/attempting to elude an officer and expired registration in connection with a March 31 incident.
Lauren R. Washburn, 40 of Godfrey, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a March 30 incident.
Steven J. Henn, 33 of Highland, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a March 27 incident.
Jacob A. Roof, 41 of Springfield, is charged with driving on a revoked license, reckless driving, improper traffic lane usage, improper passing on the shoulder, changing lanes without signal, exceeding speed in a school zone, obstructed windshield, and expired registration in connection with an April 3 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Stephanie G. Emery versus Jacob L. Emery
- Stacy Schuette versus Clay Schuette
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Joseph Daniel Baum of Mount Olive and Cynthia Maria Aberle of Staunton
- Aaron Michael Bush and Candise Lynn Spurgeon, both of Bunker Hill
- Joseph Andrew Rosentreter of Rock Island and Madison Elizabeth Schneider of Brighton
- Alexander Nicholas Overby and Madison Delany Shanks, both of Springfield
- Bobby Jay Gilmer and Melindajoe Violet Heigert, both of Staunton
- Matthew William Hartsook and Brooke Ann Buffington, both of Carlinville
