Featured

Peyton Bernot announces candidacy for Mayor: Letter to the Editor

Published

12 years ago

February 13, 2013

Peyton Bernot pictured with Asleigh Feldmann (Peyton’s Sister), Elexia Feldmann (Peyton’s Niece), and Rylee Bernot (Peyton’s Brother).

I am writing this letter to announce my candidacy for Mayor of the City of Benld. For nearly two years, I have been an Alderman in Benld in Ward #3 and a Board of Education member representing school district 7. I want to first thank all of you for having the confidence and faith in me to elect me to these two positions in April of 2011. It is no doubt that I want to make a career serving the public’s interests.

Upon being elected, I was appointed Chairman of the Water Committee in Benld and still serve in that capacity today. From the time I was elected, many changes were instituted in the Water Department. The Water Department’s billing system was updated, more people were helped and not ignored when it came to misreads on water meters, a grant (obtained by our late Mayor Turcol) to update the City’s water infrastructure by installing new water mains and new water meters that would give the consumer a more accurate read was carried out, and money from the water fund is transferred to the alternate bond and interest fund on a consistent monthly basis to pay off our outstanding bonds. Also, because of this consistent monthly transfer, the City will have a nice “rainy day fund” after the bonds are paid off. Furthermore, the city has applied for a grant that would improve the city’s sewer infrastructure. That grant, as of now, is still in the works with the state.

Additionally, one of my actions has directly saved the city money. I initiated the council to cut all elected officials pay, including my own, by over $200 per year, per elected official. This has resulted in the City saving over $1,600 per year.

I also want to take this opportunity to explain my stance on the police department. I never advocated, nor will I ever advocate the disbandment of the City’s police department. Public safety is vitally important to all of us and especially in a community that has our aspirations to grow. Moreover, I will never let one department encumber the initiatives to improve the city. I will, at all costs, prevent the City from emulating the financial peril the State is in now.

Being 20 years old can be very advantageous for the City of Benld and its residents. I have the drive, the spirit, and the love for this City to be an effective Mayor and an efficient leader. I have the energy and vigor to make ideas and thoughts become realities for our City. I was taught, and do practice in many aspects of my life, the notion of “leaving things better than what I found them.” My sole responsibility is to make sure the types of things that are being done today on the state level do not occur here, or any time in the future.

My responsibilities in public service, furthering my education, and to the taxpayers of this City of Benld will enact me to make sure that does not happen. Moreover, I see Benld in a progressive state, not in a stagnant one. I will be progressive in ensuring that this city gets what it deserves, and that is cultivating this city to its true potential, effective government, effective leadership in its government, and integrity within the municipal government of Benld.

Additionally, problems in Benld have to be solved with common sense and innovative solutions. The priorities I have focused on in my capacity as an alderman is: infrastructural improvements within the city, fiscal stability and responsibility, and the growth of our city that we all love and cherish. I will continue to focus on these priorities. If I am elected as your mayor, I will tirelessly work to bring ideas realities in this City and restore the integrity and stability back to the City’s government. I would appreciate your vote for mayor on April 9. Please call me at 217-825-9340 if you would like to talk to me in further detail.

Respectfully,
Peyton Bernot

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Featured

Gillespie man injured in DUI accident

Published

10 years ago

October 16, 2015

BenGil Staff

Genisio's Ford Mustang in the City of Gillespie's impound lot Tuesday morning.

A Gillespie man was taken to a local hospital after suffering injuries following a single-vehicle accident that occurred Sunday morning, October 11, after he drove off the roadway and into a deep ditch near the intersection of Route 16 and Charles Street in Gillespie.

Gillespie Police Chief Jared DePoppe reported that the police department was dispatched to the scene of the accident shortly before 3 a.m. Officers arrived to find Jonathan Genisio, 29, of Gillespie as the driver and only occupant inside the Ford Mustang vehicle.

Genisio was arrested, but give a notice to appear in court so he could seek medical treatment. He was charged with six different counts in addition to having his vehicle impounded. His charges include driving under the influence of alcohol, no insurance, improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, failure to notify SOS of an address change and failure to wear a seat belt.

At the time of publication on Thursday evening, the vehicle was recovered from impound and Genisio was discharged from the hospital. The extent of his injuries was unable to be released by medical personnel.

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Community News

Gillespie council discusses budget and meeting process

Published

10 years ago

August 1, 2015

BenGil Staff

Treasurer Dan Fisher (right) addresses the council.

The treasurer for the City of Gillespie had a lot to say about how city officials handle their subcommittees and how city funds are spent during the city’s committee meeting held Monday evening, July 27.

Dan Fisher, the elected treasurer for Gillespie, spoke to the council for over 30 minutes about how bills are paid and more importantly, how purchases are appropriated for and planned. During the city’s board meeting held earlier this month, Fisher suggested the council move their meeting dates to coincide with how the bills are paid.

He explained that many council members bring up issues or have questions about certain bills during the council meetings, but the questions are left to be answered by the city clerk who isn’t present at the board meetings. In addition to dragging out the meetings, Fisher said the questions should be taken care of before the meeting is held.

“We need to have a standardized process on how we buy things,” Fisher told the council Monday evening. “We need to spend more time on appropriating.”

We need to have a standardized process on how we buy things

Fisher distributed a “Budget Basics” packet to board members during the committee meeting held Monday and said the council should consider implementing a purchase order system to account for all purchases. “That way when the bills come in, we can match the form up with it and everyone knows what the purchase was for and what account it comes out of,” he clarified.

Council members agreed with what Fisher had to say to them. “We need to spend a lot of time when do our appropriation and it’s going to take a lot of time from everyone, including myself,” he continued. “We need to find a way to be collective in how we do things.”

Fisher closed by adding that the council also takes too long at their regular city council meetings, which are held on the second Monday of each month. Speaking of the city’s July meeting that lasted nearly 3 hours, Fisher said the council needs to be much more “business-like”.

“We take too long at our meetings,” he closed. “It’s been proven that people lose focus after 90 minutes and there is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to get a meeting done in 1 hour and 15 minutes.”

City clerk Frances Smith spoke up after Fisher referred to the council’s last meeting. She prefaced her statement by saying she didn’t intend to saying anything, but continued by saying that the council’s July 13^th meeting took her three days to transcribe. “It makes the clerk’s job hard – whoever it is,” she said. “There is a lot of side conversations and it’s very hard to hear on the tape.”

Ash Street Project

Alderman Steve Kluthe informed the board that he received the bid specifications back for the Ash Street Project which allows the council to advertise the specs to get an idea how much drainage project will cost.

Kluthe said the bid specifications cover everything including equal opportunity employer and prevailing wage information, but said the project could probably be handled by a local contractor. The project includes installing a culvert that will transfer the water to Cherry Street.

The council hopes the completed project will then alleviate the water that currently gets backed up north of Ash Street. “They are going to put a culvert underneath Ash Street to the north and grade the ground on the north side so the water flows to the culvert and down to the south end where there is a storm drain,” Kluthe explained.

TIF District

We should stretch the money out and begin to reinvest the money into community development

Fisher informed the council that the tax bills for the TIF district went out and the city can expect to receive close to $60,000. He reminded the council that even though the city made a big payment to United Community Bank last year in excess of $90,000, there will still be a payment made to UCB for their portion paid into the TIF until the TIF expires, which Fisher said is 12-14 more years.

After the city pays UCB, Fisher said the council can expect to still have somewhere north of $40,000 remaining each year. “I would like us to start to look at other projects that meet the TIF criteria that we could spend $20-$30,000 per year,” Fisher explained. “Long-range projects – projects that could last 10-12 years. We should stretch the money out and begin to reinvest the money into community development.”

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