Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night approved two zoning variances for David Wycoff and Ben Maracacci but decline to override the Zoning Board’s decision to deny a petition for a zoning reclassification on the city’s east side.

Amanda Yeager appeared before the council, hoping the council would override the recommendation of the Benld Zoning Board regarding reclassification for a parcel of property on the east side of Illinois Route 138 across from the Cabin Bar and Restaurant. Yeager was referred to the Zoning Board in January after she appeared before the council hoping to have the parcel reclassified from residential to agricultural use. At that time, she told the council she wanted the property rezoned to make it more sellable. On Monday night, however, she indicated that she plans to build a house on the property a keep one to three farm animals—horses, goats and/or sheep.

Yeager pointed out that the property is surrounded by property already zoned for agricultural use. Two out of five property owners neighboring the Yeager property objected to the Zoning Board regarding the reclassification. One of those property owners, Yeager pointed, lives on property that already is zoned for agricultural used.

“It’s not a democratic process,” City Attorney Rick Vericchio explained. Even though a majority of the neighbors either supported or have no opinion on the matter, the Zoning Board could base its recommendation on other factors.

According to Yeager, some members of the Board told her privately after the hearing that if they had known about the number of neighbors who supported or had no objection, they would have voted to recommend reclassification.

“You want this council to override the Zoning Board?” Mayor Jim Kelly asked Yeager.

When Kelly called for a motion to reclassify the property, none of the aldermen responded. “I would need more information before I vote on this,” said Ald. Jerry Saracco. With no motion on the floor, the matter died.

Ald. Norm Emmons advised Yeager to reapply to the Zoning Board and restart the hearing process, after which the council could vote on the Board’s recommendation.

The council was unanimous in granting a zoning variance for Ben Marcacci to build duplexes on two of three lots at 311 W. Central Avenue, 208 West Spruce and 210 West Spruce. Marcacci reportedly plans to build a home on speculation on the third lot.

The council also was unanimous in granting a variance to David Wykoff to bring in a mobile home for 18 months while he builds a new home on 4.83 acres of property just off Cahokia Street. Wykoff said he will consult with the Macoupin County Department of Public Health to advise him on installing a septic system to service the new home.

In other housing action, the council voted unanimously to declare 206 South Second Street a public nuisance—a formality that authorizes the City Attorney to send a letter to the owners demanding they clean up the property within 60 days. The home reportedly is vacant and needs to have the grass mowed.

Council members also discussed an ongoing public nuisance case against property at 306 Park Avenue. Brian Komanetsky, owner of the house, is pursuing an eviction action against the occupant and has promised the city he will clean up the property once the tenant is removed. An eviction hearing is set for April 28.

“By our next meeting we’ll have a better handle on when she will be out,” Veritcchio advised. “Does he intend to clean it up? He says he does.”

STOP SIGN

On the recommendation of Ald. Dustin Fletcher, the council voted 5-1 to install a stop sign on Short Street at Willow Street. Fletcher said residents in the area complained about speeding vehicles on Short Street.

Ald. John Balzraine cast the single “no” vote.

ANNUAL AUDIT

The council gave the Mayor power to act to retain Scheffel Boyle Public Accountants to complete the city’s annual audit at a cost not to exceed $20,000. The accounting firm had not submitted a formal proposal before Monday night’s meeting. Last year, the audit was completed at a cost of $18,500.

City Clerk Terri Koyne reminded aldermen the firm already has been retained at a cost of $5,000 for a special audit of IDNR grant funds expended on building the new Benld Family Sports Complex.

CEJA PROJECT

Council members voted unanimously to spend about $5,000 in Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grant money to install a new floor and paint in the former City Hall when the CEJA grant funds become available. The renovated space will be offered as a community meeting venue for civic group meetings.

GOLD STANDARD AWARD

Ald. Balzraine announced that the DeStefane Events Center was recognized as a Gold Standard award recipient by the Macoupin County Department of Public Health for compliance with food handling safety regulations. The Events Center was one of 33 recipients recognized by the Health Department.

Advertisement

Balzraine said Sue McCoy is in charge of ensuring the Events Center is in compliance and “she does a fantastic job.”

Comments

comments

Macoupin County Public Health Department (MCPHD) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Gold Standard Award in food safety and service. The Environmental Services department congratulates 33 Macoupin County establishments that earned this prestigious honor, out of 306 licensed food service establishments in the county. This achievement reflects an exceptional commitment to excellence in food safety, sanitation, and customer service.

“We are thrilled to recognize these facilities for maintaining the highest standards of food safety and protecting the health of our community,” said Derrek Tiburzi, MCPHD Environmental Services Director. “Being recognized among this distinguished group highlights the dedication these recipients have to ongoing quality and accountability in food service.”

Gold Standard Award recipients span a diverse range of food service operations, from grocery delis and bakeries to full-service restaurants and hotels. The list below showcases the establishments that met the Gold Standard criteria for 2026:

• South Macoupin Head Start
• Walmart Deli/Bakery
• Medora Intermediate School
• GG’s Smokehouse
• Big Skillet Catering
• Ray’s Tater Wagon
• Carlinville Intermediate School
• Sips Coffee (Carlinville)
• Besserman SuperBowl
• GG’s Smokehouse Mobile Unit
• DeStefane Event Center
• TJ’s Liquor Store
• St. Alphonsus
• Gram-way Cattle & Hay
• Bunker Hill Municipal Building
• North Mac Middle Intermediate & Middle School
• Virden First United Methodist Church
• Carlinville Zion Lutheran Church
• Catholic Charities
• McEuen Farms
• Memorial Christian Church
• Hogan’s Hamlet
• Griffel Farms Beef
• Centennial 6 Farms
• Kazoo Coffee
• Mel’s Place
• Mt. Olive Care Center
• Northwestern Food Pantry
• CVS Pharmacy
• Green Room Gaming
• Virden Community Center
• Camp Hugh
• Beaver Dam Café

This recognition not only highlights the exceptional performers but also reinforces the broader importance of high standards in food service and sanitation. MCPHD’s Food Service and Retail Food Sanitation program continues to monitor and support establishments to ensure safe, healthy dining experiences for Macoupin County residents and visitors.

For more information about MCPHD’s Food Service and Retail Food Sanitation program, please visit: https://mcphd.net/food-service-and-sanitation-program/

Botanist William McClain of New Berlin and career orchardist Bob Malham will discuss the history of orchards in Macoupin County during a meeting of the Macoupin County Historical Society at 7 p.m., Monday, April 6, at the MCHS Ruyle Genealogy Building, 900 Breckenridge, Carlinville.

The program is open to the public free of charge. The Ruyle Building is handicapped accessible.

McClain will use a PowerPoint presentation to discuss current and former Macoupin orchards, including Broom, Malham, Sooy, Hoelting, Morse and Paul. His portion of the presentation will include photos of orchard equipment and practices.

Malham will discuss orchard management, including variety selection, disease and pest control, pruning and other topics.

Time will be provided for questions and for audience members to talk about other orchards in Macoupin County.

The presentation coincides with current efforts to establish an apple orchard on the Society’s grounds. For the MCHS orchard, McClain, Malham and MCHS members Paul Mihalek and Rodney Eichen plan to plant 24 heirloom varieties in an area west of the rural church. Varieties being planted include Winesap, Esopus Spitzenburg, York Imperial, Black Twig, Newtown Pippin, Jonathan, Grimes Golden, Sheepnose and Arkansas Black.

“Once the trees are established in a few years, we hope to be able to sell apples from the orchard, produce cider and make apple pies for sale during the Society’s spring and fall festivals,” McClain said.

To help defray costs, interested persons may sponsor a tree for $60 each. Trees can be purchased as a memoriam for deceased friends or family members, or as a way of honoring persons who are living. Persons who would like to sponsor an apple tree may call Paul Mihalek at (217) 556-2179, or Rodney Eichen at (217) 370-3692.

McClain holds botany degrees from Eastern Illinois University and Miami University, Ohio. He was a botanist for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for many years, concentrating on prairies, forests and rare plant species in Illinois. Over the past 60 years, he has been published extensively in scientific journals and nature magazines.

“My interest in apples extends back some 35 to 40 years ago when I had a few apple trees and belonged to a group called the Fruit Dabblers,” McClain said. He has years of experience growing peaches and apples at his home.

As the owner and operator of Malham Orchard, Malham has decades of experience in orchard management.