Community News
School Board rehires all tenured teachers
Moves Borgini and Garde to tenure
Tieman thanked Gail Niehaus for all her years of service at CUSD #7.
During a regular scheduled board meeting on March 26, the Board of Education placed Don Borgini, high school physical education instructor, and Tammy Garde, middle school special education instructor, on tenure for fiscal school year 2013.
Board member Peyton Bernot expressed his concern with placing Borgini on tenure during a discussion session after Billy Carter made the motion. “I will be voting no. I am not degrading his coaching abilities in any way. I think he is an outstanding person and coach, but to pay him the money we do is ludicrous,” Bernot explained, “I am voting no on that reason only.”
“Point well taken,” Dave Griffel responded, “He is paid according to the salary schedule for his level of teaching in this district. He is treated equally to his years of teaching, so I just wanted to clarify.” After Griffel’s comment, Borgini was placed on tenure after 5 yes votes, 1 no vote, and a present vote from Mark Hayes.
The board went on to employ all tenured teachers as presented for FSY 2013: Holley McFarland, Mary Kirk, Rick Spencer, Beth Zehr, Jack Burns, Trudy Giaudrone, Mike Bertagnolli, Margaret Fisher, Robert Macias, Casey Sholtis, Jennifer Brown, Jeff Nehls, Connie Whitehead, Mark Goldasich, Jerry Rosentreter, Troy Barker, Joni Paine, Michelle Smith, Katie Weigand, Angela Brink, Nichole Stoecker, Deb Olson, Karen White, Jarrod Herron, Kim Henderson, Kyle Lamore, Stephanie Wilson, Casey Willmann, Jill Rosentreter, Matt Brawner, Jeremy Smith, Mike Blotna, Stephanie Bray, Barb Schmid, Susan Tiburzi, Gail Niehaus, Gayla Crites, Kellie Vesper, Tracy Petersen, Lorraine Strutner, Kimberly Link, Sharon Schwab, Jody Dunn, Gail McGowan, Leanna Sawyer, Melissa B ussmann, Tracy Hostettler, Darrick Orban, Kara Saracco, Kelly Lyons, John Wiemers, Holly Nejmanowski, Jennifer Parker, Anastasia Henderson, Cate Plovich, Amy Price, Nickie Barrett, Jessi Luketich, Mindy Savant, Casey Niehaus, Karissa Smith, Beth Sies, Valerie Barrett, Beth Rull and Donna Easton.
Tom Hyde explained that foundation work was scheduled to have started on March 29.
After employing all tenured teachers, the board employed all non-tenured teachers as well: Amy Goldasich, HS English, 4th year; Kelly Bulla, HS Resource, 3rd year; Ashlee Gibbs, HS Math, 2nd year; Zach Simon, Band, 2nd year; Daniel Edgerton, MS Math, 3rd year; Christina Blevins, MS Language Arts, 2nd year; Rachelle Prough, MS Special Education, 1st year; Marci Johns, Elementary, 4th year; Colleen Favre, Elementary, 4th year; Celia Jubelt, Elementary, 4th year; Jami Schmid, Elementary, 3rd year.
Moving down on certificated personnel, the board appointed winter coaches for FSY 2012 as presented: high school boys’ basketball, Terry Allan, head coach; Casey Sholtis, assistant coach; Matt Brawner, freshmen coach; high school girls’ basketball, Kevin Gray, head coach; Andy Easton, assistant coach; middle school volleyball, Lana Odorizzi, head coach; Celia Jubelt, assistant coach; middle school boys’ basketball, Daniel Edgerton and Tim Wargo; middle school cheerleading, Carrie Scott-Palmer and appointed Chris Rademacher as high school volunteer boys’ baseball coach. The board also appointed Casey Niehaus as middle school boys’ track coach for FSY 2012.
The board then accepted with regrets the resignation for retirement of Gail Niehaus, Pre-K Instructor at the end of the FSY 2012 and to post the Pre-K Instructor for 2013. Assistant Superintendent Joe Tieman thanked Gail, “I want to thank Gail for all her years of service at our district. She is a great person and a great instructor.”
Tieman went on to explain that the reason this job is being posted as vacant at such an early date is because it takes a special certification to teach this position. “You have to have an early childhood certificate, an elementary certificate and this position requires an early childhood certificate,” Angela Turcol, principal of Benld Elementary, clarified.
Under non-certificated personnel, the board approved the resolution authorizing honorable dismissal of educational support personnel: Amy Baker, Cathy Barylske, Trinity Bray-Jett, Theresa Carter, Sharon Heyen, Misty Parker, Ella May Roemer, Tim Wargo, Kathy Wheeler, Nicole Zenner.”This is something we have traditionally done historically,” Tieman shed light, “We assess our need for those aids and then as an administrative team, we come before the board and ask that some or possibly all of these aids be rehired.”
Tom Hyde then gave an update on current capital projects. “The mine grouting work has been completed,” Hyde started. Hayward-Baker has demobilized their equipment from the site. The storm water piping and manhole for connection of the District’s storm water detention area to the adjacent field tile piping has been installed.
Foundation work is scheduled to start March 29. Contegra will be on site as soon as a portion of the building is available for them to begin work. Korte and Luijhon expect 400 million feet per day in gray beam. “There should be some visible signs shortly,” Hyde closed, “It is starting to move.”
The board approved change order #2 FBE/MBE subcontractors. “This is being required by the state,” Hyde clarified. 5% each in the total amount of $105,173, subject to final verification and approval from Capital Development Board and authorized the Superintendent to act as soon as approval is received.
In other actions, the board authorized to advertise and seek bids for Data Wiring as well as approved and adopted plans for specifications for the New Elementary School. Hyde needs these documents to submit to the Regional Superintendent for review and issuance for a Building Permit.
School administrators then provided updates of events and programs underway in each attendance center. Mr. Dennis Tiburzi, high school principal, explained to the board that the juniors took a practice PSAE/ACT test to help prepare them for the upcoming test in April. The environment was the same as it will be in April. In other activities, the vocal ensemble group received “Best of the Day” during an IHSA Solo/Ensemble contest in Jerseyville. “This is fabulous, I can’t remember getting this award in the 15 years I have been here,” Tiburzi noted.
Tiburzi went on to say the faculty and staff were updated on the synthetic drug use in the area by Gillespie Police Chief Jared DePoppe and Litchfield Police Chief B.J. Wilkenson. He went on to close with a congratulatory spiel toward the soccer team for winning the Metro East Cup, the boys and girls track team on early accomplishments, and named members that were All-Conference members for basketball which included: Shelby Jarman, Alexis Burns, Michael Bussmann and Ellen Gray who received honorable mention.
Middle school principal Lori Emmons congratulated science fair winners and explained Stephen DeMartini and Marissa Hartke will go to the next level and attend the State Science Fair in Champaign. In other middle school news, the honors banquet will be on May 2nd and the GMS Indian Invite will be on April 7. “We had a great turnout last year and we invite everyone to join us this year again,” Emmons explained. The Indian Invite is an annual track meet for grades six through eight.
Lastly, Angela Turcol notified the board that 45 new kindergarten students attended the kindergarten preview. She then went on to say that herself and Mrs. Rull joined the advisory board at Macoupin County Maple Street School Health Center and are working on a relationship with the Health Center to become aware of the programs they offer. “Mrs. Rull is working with their education representative to build participation in the programs the Center offers to elementary and middle school students,” Turcol closed.
The board then approved the payment of March bills in the amount of $93,439.42 and adopted the 5-year plan. The board also approved membership in the IHSA for fiscal school year 2013. “This allows us to compete in the post season,” Tiburzi clarified.
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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.
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An engineer from Juneau Associates, Inc. Edwardsville, outlined sweeping improvements to the city’s water and sewer systems that the city may opt to pursue in the future.
“Buckle up,” Mayor Landon Pettit told members of the city council before Anthony “Tony” Vercellino outlined immediate needs and potential future needs during the council’s regular monthly meeting Monday night, April 13.
Vercellino identified repairs and renovations to two sewer system lift stations as immediate needs that need to be addressed.
Though engineers did not yet have cost estimates, Vercellino said both pumps in the systems interceptor lift station are failing. Replacing the pumps with either grinder units or trash pumps is necessary to keep the lift station in operation. During previous meetings of the council, Sewer Department Manager Ethan Martin has said he has been having to replace pumps periodically to keep the lift station operable. One of the main culprits, both Martin and Vercellino said, are purportedly “flushable” baby wipes.
“They may say they’re flushable but they’re not,” Mayor Pettit said.
A main flow lift station is in need of a new electronic control panel to enable city employees to monitor the status of its operation off site.
In addition to the lift station work, Vercellino said Pettit asked him to draw up a proposal to create a designated site for waste haulers who add sewage to the city’s system for processing. Vercellino said the dedicated site would alleviate situations where waste haulers “pop a manhole cover” to unload waste.
Vercellino said he is working on a proposal for all three projects which presumably will include engineers’ cost estimates for council action at a later date.
For the longer term, Vercellino outlined a number of projects that would run into millions of dollars over a period of several years. He recommended seeking a low interest loan through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Agency to improve the city’s water and sewer systems.
“My recommendation is to get as much money as you are comfortable with,” Vercellino said, and pay it back over 30 years at an interest rate of one to two percent. Under the right circumstances, according to Pettit, the city may be eligible for forgiveness on as much as 30 to 60 percent of the principal
Vercellino said the long-term projects are not critical but would avoid problems in the future. “These are not critical projects,” he said. “You’re not being fined right now.”
One area in need of attention is the chemical storage area at the water treatment plant, which currently does not meet EPA standards. There also is a need to complete and pressure test a new supply line from between the lake and the treatment plant to deliver raw water. Vercellino said Juneau engineers also are looking at the possibility of raising the lake level in lieu of dredging to increase water storage capacity. Raising the water level one foot, he said, would result in an additional 1.3 million gallons and only minimally affect the shoreline profile.
According to Vercellino, the city should consider a hydraulic study to provide the city with “a computer model of the distribution system” in the city and satellite communities that get water from Gillespie. The study also would provide engineers with an understanding of where additional fire hydrants may be needed to not only improve water quality but also improve fire protection.
Vercellino also recommended getting flow testing done on existing hydrants in conjunction with the Community Unit 7 Fire Protection District’s annual hydrant flushing. Flow testing hasn’t been done since sometime in the 1990s and getting it done now should result in lower home insurance rates for homeowners.
“It’s not cheap to get flow testing done,” Vercellino said. “The fact the Fire Department is willing to do this with us is a major advantage.”
“One of the biggest problems we have is with maps and locating water and sewer lines,” Pettit said, adding that the city is using maps from the 1930s to find underground water and sewer lines. On his recommendation, the council voted unanimously to purchase a subsurface locator from Subsurface Solutions, Inc.,at a cost of $15,092.20, with the cost split evenly between the Water and Sewer funds.
Later in the meeting, Martin expounded on issues with the city’s two sewer system lift stations. In January, he said, the city installed a new $20,000 pump in the interceptor lift station only to have it burn out eight days later. The culprit, again, was “flushable” baby wipes clogging the trash system.
“We can’t continue to drop 20 grand every couple of months,” he said. “I can tell you, it’s not going to get any better.”
Ald. Dona Rauzi suggested asking resident to refrain from flushing baby wipes.
“It’s a problem everywhere, not just here,” said Ald. J.Q. Hatleman. “The problem is we have the wrong pump in that station.” He suggested seeking a $10 million loan for 10 years to address the issues at both lift stations.
Martin said IEPA is recommending the city repair aerators at the sewage lagoon and remove vegetation from rip-rap around the lagoon, but neither recommendation is a priority.
“These are recommendations,” Martin said. “These are things they want to see done but they’re not critical. We are not of noncompliance.”
BANK LOAN
On a motion by Ald. Wendy Rolando, seconded by Ald. Janet Odell-Mueller, the council approved a plan to open a line of credit with United Community Bank and secure it with a $125,000 certificate of deposit. Mayor Pettit said the city is renewing an existing $100,000 certificate of deposit and buying a new $125,000 certificate of deposit with money from the Water Department Fund.
The credit line will preclude the necessity for inter-fund loans that have to be paid back before the end of the fiscal year.
“This gets us out of the cycle we’ve been in the last few years,” Pettit said. “Essentially, we are borrowing our own money.” He said the interest rate on the loan is essentially the same what the city earns on the certificate of deposit.
LIBRARY ASSIST
Without taking formal action, the council generally agreed to loan the Public Library up to $10,000 if needed. Librarian Steve Joyce told the council the library may come up short on a roofing project if Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grant money is not released in time.
Joyce said the library has been paying for improvements from the renovation fund but could run out of money while waiting for CEJA money to be released. The library was set to receive about $60,000 in CEJA dollars. It has already spent about $48,000 for repairs, an entry door, and materials for the roofing project.
“The roof needs to be fixed immediately,” Joyce said, adding that the library may not be able to come up with the balance without the city’s help. He asked the city to front the library $10,000 with the expectation the library would reimburse the city when CEJA funds are released.
Delays in releasing CEJA has been an increasingly common complaint from local governments who have committed to spending funds due to them.
“My understanding is that they are going through everything line by line,” Pettit said, before disbursing funds.
In a related CEJA matter, the council approved using CEJA funds to pay a $10,000 third installment for a Business Boot Camp that took place last year.
CIVIC CENTER RATES
The council unanimously approved a resolution implementing a rental fee structure for non-profit groups renting the Civic Center. Under the new rates, non-profit groups are exempted from paying a damage deposit fee.
STREETSCAPE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
On a motion by Ald. Rolando, the council set a limit of $10,000 to buy flowers and plants for green areas included in the extensive downtown Streetscape development. Rolando said she had consulted with La Bella Fiori to choose plants for the project, while Grow Gillespie members have volunteered to do weeding, watering and maintenance.
While included in the project scope, the landscaping aspect was not part of the contractor’s bid.
“If we’re going to do this, I really think we should do something with our Welcome to Gillespie signs,” Ald. Janet Odell-Mueller commented.
PAY ESTIMATE
On a motion by Ald. Rauzi, seconded by Mueller, the council unanimously approved payment of Pay Estimate No. 8 to Stutz Excavating, Alton, for work completed on the downtown Streetscape project.
“We’re getting close to the end,” Pettit noted. Work on the $4 million improvement project began earlier this year.
STREET ISSUE
A measure to vacate a portion of Virginia Street that is platted but has never developed, was tabled until May while City Attorney Rick Verticchio determines whether or not there is an easement that would preclude the action. Anita McLain, who asked for the measure, owns lots on Clinton Street on both sides of the undeveloped portion of Virginia Street.
“This is a road that doesn’t exist,” said Mayor Pettit. “The road behind it is in East Gillespie.”
Assuming there is no easement, “I don’t see any issue with this,” said Pettit. “It was previously used as a driveway.”
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
City aldermen approved a memorandum of understanding with the Village of Mt. Clare to link Mt. Clare’s storm siren system with Gillespie’s. The city has similar agreements with Benld and Wilsonville. City Attorney Verticchio said the agreement exempts the city from liability in the event the link does not work.
MOWER PURCHASE
The council gave the committee power to act on the purchase of two Cub Cadet self-propelled lawn mowers at a cost of about $680 each.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
• Approved a business license for the Snack Shack, owned by Caysea Gray, at 201 W. Pine St.
• Agreed to pay $1,320.78 in delinquent property tax on 307 East Elm St. The property was acquired by the city through a nuisance property action. Now that it is owned by the city, the property will be tax exempt going forward.
• Approved a liquor license for the Coal Country Kitchen, formerly the Barracks, at 206 W. Spruce St.
• Approved a 60-day liquor license for Jumping’ Jimmy’s, 506 E. Elm St., pending the hiring of a new general manager.
