Community News
Summary of Latest Benld City Council Meeting
Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night approved a $1.9 million appropriation ordinance for the current fiscal year, accepted a certificate of substantial completion for the Eiler Avenue Water Main Project, and approved a tax abatement ordinance in regard to water and sewer bonds issued by the city.
The new appropriation ordinance is “pretty much right down the line with last year’s,” Mayor Jeff Hendricks told the council. “I don’t foresee any significant increase in income, so there’s no real increase in spending.”
Totaling $1,905,092, the appropriation sets spending ceilings for specific line items for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2012. The appropriation is not a budgetary document, but does set the maximum amount the city can spend from any one fund.
Broken down by fund, the appropriation ordinance sets maximum spending levels as follows: Administration, $220,355; Police Department, $281,180; Maintenance Department, $136,147; City Property, $67,180; ESDA, $1,000; Band, $3,000; Audit, $10,507; Tort and Liability, $10,349; Social Security, $30,862; Workers Compensation, $10,349; Recreation and Park Development, $5,000; Cemetery, $5,000; Library, $70,503; Unemployment Compensation, $5,121; Purchase and Lease, $25,512; Motor Fuel Tax, $50,000; Water Department, $377,000; Sewer Department, $179,000; Alternate Bond and Interest Fund, $117,000; Water Depreciation Fund, $100,000; and Infrastructure Expenditures, $200,000.
After hearing a report from Jesse Maynard of Henry, Meisenheimer and Gende Consulting Engineers, Carlyle, the council voted to accept a “certificate of substantial completion” on the Eilers Avenue water main project and authorized payment to Korte & Luitjohan, the general contractor responsible for the work.
Maynard said the new water main “is in and is working.” The only items left to be completed, he said, are grading, seeding and road repair work.
On Maynard‘s recommendation, the council authorized payment to the contractor, pending delivery of final paperwork. Maynard said the entire contract was valued at $163,000, $54,000 of which has already been paid. The council authorized paying the remainder of the contact, less a 10 percent retainage and the estimated cost of work remaining to be done.
In a related matter, the council approved a $500 amendment to HMG’s contract to pay for preparation of a grant application to make repairs to a damaged storm sewer.
Maynard said the sewer project could be considered a “water project” under terms of HMG’s contract, which will allow the city to pay for the grant application work with grant funds.
Responding to a question from Ald. Peyton Bernot, Maynard said HMG is asking the city to pay $10,700 of its current fee from the city’s general fund because terms of the grant preclude the firm from receiving full payment from proceeds of the grant. He said the original grant was for installation of a transmission line between Gillespie and Benld, and that a portion of that grant was set aside for engineering fees. However, the city used all of the grant to pay the general contractor.
A second grant for the Eiler Avenue project has a limit on the amount that can be spent for engineering services. HMG’s total fee for the transmission line and the Eiler Avenue project exceeds that ceiling, necessitating the city to pay a portion of the bill from its general fund.
On the recommendation of City Attorney Rick Verticchio, the council approved an ordinance to abate the portion of property taxes collected to retire $75,375 in revenue bonds for water and sewer improvements. Verticchio said the city has repaid the bonds with water and sewer department revenues. One of the conditions of the bond issue was that the city impose a levy for repaying the bonds in the event water and sewer department revenues were not sufficient.
While the city never collected the tax levy, the levy itself remained on record with the County Clerk’s office.
Verticchio said past practice had been for municipalities to simply tell the County Clerk they did not intend to collect the levy. Newly elected County Clerk Pete Duncan, however, had advised Verticchio that the levy needed to be formally abated.
“Pete (Duncan) says that unless we formally abate the tax, he’s going to extend it,” Verticchio said.
The council tabled approval of a new contract for rental of city facilities, including the Civic Center and City Park. City Property Chairman Mickey Robinson presented the revised contract, but Mayor Hendricks said he still had questions about insurance requirements for renters who serve alcohol.
“I’m not out to make this a money-maker for the city,” Hendricks said. “These are public facilities and I think our citizens should have access to them. On the other hand, the air condition it doesn’t run for free. We need to recoup some of our costs.”
Robinson said one aspect of the proposed rental policy would require rental fees to be split between the city’s general fund and a special fund to be used for repair and maintenance of the facilities.
Council members unanimously voted to authorize the Benld Public Library Board to seek bids for a contractor to begin removing damaged portions of the library’s parking lot to determine the cause of the damage. The library has sustained significant structural damage in the last few years. Cracks have appeared in interior and exterior walls, and part of the parking lot has sunk. So far, the city’s insurance carrier has refused to cover the damage because the library boar has been unable to conclusively attribute the damage to mine subsidence.
Emmlee Robinson, Library Board Secretary, told the council the board has received a letter from Brian Hummert with Henry, Meisenheimer and Gende that discusses possible causes of the damage. In his assessment, the damage may be due to the 12-inch footings originally installed for the building may not be big enough, soil settlement due to mine subsidence or other factors, or failure of a piping system to drain excess water from the site.
“They’re not totally discounting the possibility of mine subsidence,” Robinson said.
She said Hummert suggested “carefully removing” the damaged portion of the parking lot to ascertain the cause of the damage. “We would like to get started on that as soon as possible,” she said.
“It’s a nice building and we don’t want to see it continue to go down, down, down,” said Mary Ann Scopel, City Treasurer and a member of the Library Board.
“Yes,” Hendricks agreed. ‘We had two nice buildings in town, but one of them has already fallen down.”
Written and Contributed by David Ambrose
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Gillespie voters will have an opportunity to vote on whether or not the City of Gillespie can impose a one percent retail sales tax for Public Safety purposes as a result of action taken by the city council Monday night. Council members voted unanimously to approve a resolution prepared by City Attorney Rick Verticchio to put the question on the April 1 consolidated election ballot. The question will be presented in conjunction with the election to choose the mayor, city clerk, city treasurer and three aldermen.
The council discussed the issue of seeking a Public Safety sales tax during the council’s regular meeting on Dec. 9 and during a continued meeting on Dec. 23, at which time there was speculation the city could implement the tax via resolution only without seeking voter approval. The resolution presented Monday night confirms that voters can weigh in at the ballot box on whether or not to impose the tax.
“This is just a resolution so we can have that question on the ballot,” Verticchio told the council.
During the December meetings, Treasurer Dan Fisher said the city agreed to seek the tax during collective bargaining negotiations with the police officers union. The expected $200,000 will help cover additional costs associated with local police joining the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund system for retirement benefits, as well as the cost of adding additional police officers to cover police protection services in satellite communities. Benld Ald. Jerry Saracco told the Benld Council last month that satellite communities also were being asked to consider seeking a Public Safety sales tax to help defray police protection costs, but there appeared to be no interest on the part of the Benld Council to follow Gillespie’s lead.
In addition to the tax question and city officials, the consolidated ballot also will include elections for three Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education members, as well as township officials.
POLICE STATION PROGRESS
On a motion by Ald. Dave Link, seconded by Ald. Dona Rauzi, the council unanimously voted to release $59,199.26 to contractor John Watson, Gillespie, to pay subcontractors for remodeling work at the new Gillespie Police Station at 124 N. Macoupin St., the former location of Gillespie Chiropractic directly across the street from City Hall.
Rauzi reported the city had paid Watson $9,000 to start the remodeling project. The additional money will be used to pay various vendors such as Glass Cutters, Carlinville, and Carpani Computers for installing computer networking and internet systems.
The council also approved a $1,998.85 change order request for the project to cover the cost of reopening exterior stairs that the previous owner had enclosed. The additional money will cover the cost of siding, framing, lighting and replacing stairs that were removed when the entry was enclosed.
In a related matter, the council formally declared as surplus property a desk that the previous owner left behind and to transfer the desk to Watson. Rauzi said the desk had little value and that no other city office had a use for it. She said the options for disposing of it were to either give it to Watson or store it at the Civic Center.
With the same action, the council declared as surplus unused roof trusses which will be offered for sale via sealed bids.
GRANT MANAGER BILL
On Fisher’s recommendation, the council agreed to pay Fuel Growth Group’s bill of $137,550 for billing and consulting services associated with grant management services related to $3 million in federal grants and $1 million in state grants awarded to the city for its downtown streetscape project. Fisher said the agency’s bill is based on an hourly rate totaling 7.5 percent of the $4 million in grant awards.
Verticchio said he plans to contact the vendor regarding its new contract due to concerns he has about some of the contract’s wording. He said the contract calls for an hourly rate up to $257,000 after the first installment of 50 percent is paid.
“I don’t have any great problem with the contract,” Verticchio said, adding that he wants to revise the contract so the city does not owe the balance if the billable hours do not reach $257,000. “In all probability, we will get to that amount, but I want to make sure that if we don’t reach $257,000, we won’t owe them the full amount.”
EXECUTIVE SESSION
No action followed a brief executive session requested by Ald. Frank Barrett, Lake Chairman, to discuss personnel. While the nature of the discussion was not specified, it is likely the closed-door session focussed on replacing Gary Thornhill, long-time Lake Manager who recently resigned to take another job.
In a related matter, Barrett told the council he is getting pricing from Carpani Computers for a new point-of-sale computer and printer for the Lake Store.
“When Gary left, we were using his computer and printer at the store,” Barrett said, explaining the need for new equipment.
COMMUNICATIONS TOWER
Council members briefly discussed the status of a new communications tower, construction of which is likely to start this year. The council previously entered into a franchise agreement to lease property for the tower, which will provide services for AT&T cell phone transmissions and other providers. Ald. Wendy Ottersburg said the company revised its plan to add 20 feet to the tower’s height to expand its range.
Water Plant Operator Dave Pickett said he is eager for the tower to be completed as it will allow the Water Department to implement a computer program enabling the Department to control water flow from the pumping station to the Water Plant without having to physically travel to the pumping station.
“It will be a huge savings for us,” Pickett said.
AUDIT ACCEPTANCE
Upon Fisher’s recommendation, the council voted unanimously to accept the city’s official audit. In a departure from past practice, no representative of the auditing firm appeared before the council to present the audit findings. Fisher said the audit showed the city to “be in the black” but did not mention whether or not the auditor made any other findings.
COUNCIL RADIOS
Mayor John Hicks reported that two-way radios previously issued to city council members are unaccounted for and asked aldermen who might still have a radio to return them to City Hall. He said the radios were issued to aid with communications in the event of an emergency.
“Somewhere along the line, some of them disappeared,” he said.
SNOW REMOVAL
Ald. Bob Fritz, answering criticisms voiced on social media, clarified that the city does not have responsibility for removing snow on sidewalks. He said people were upset because city workers did not remove snow on sidewalks in the area of CUSD 7 schools.
“Those are not our responsibility,” Ald. Rauzi noted.
Ald. Landon Pettit said that when he worked for the city, city workers were advised by the city’s insurance provider to leave sidewalks alone.
“The insurance company told us not to do that,” he said. “Once we clean them off, any liability for them is on us.”
CEJA MEETING
Fisher told the council he plans to meet with CEJA grant partners at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall to discuss CEJA expenditures and closing out the grant. The federal Climate and Equitable Jobs Act grant of $1.1 million was awarded last summer. The City of Gillespie retained $70,248.57 with the remainder allotted to various local units of government, including: Village of East Gillespie, $51,654.72; City of Benld, $58,721.50; Village of Eagarville, $50,684.28; City of Staunton, $80,929.61; Gillespie Public Library, $70,248.57; Benld Public Library, $58,721.50; Gillespie Township, $73,458.48; Cahokia Township, $69,004.42; Community Unit School District 7, $98,167.33; North Mac CUSD 34, $98,584.12; Gillespie-Benld Ambulance Service, $133,202.60; Village of Royal Lakes, $51,038.87; City of Bunker Hill, $60,102.51; Village of Mount Clare, $51,878.67; and Brushy Mound Township, $53,919.08.
The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act is a federal program to mitigate against economic conditions that result as the nation moves away from fossil fuels to embrace renewable, “green” energy sources. The local grant award is related to job losses resulting from the idling of Shay Mine No. 1, formerly Monterey Mine No., 1. Each entity was awarded $50,000 plus additional funds based on “job loss” and “revenue loss” factors.
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FELONIES
Ronald R. Arnold, 35 of Gillespie, is charged with aggravated battery in a public place in connection with a December 28 incident.
Kenneth E. Ray, 39 of Bethalto, is charged with aggravated fleeing while involving the disobedience of two or more official traffic control devices, fleeing/attempting to elude officers, speeding 25-34 mph over the limit, and driver’s license expired more than a year in connection with a December 19 incident.
Jacklyn M. Wichman, 30 of Decatur, is charged with possession of methamphetamines (< 5 grams) in connection with a December 30 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Levi R. Ladendorf, 31 of Staunton, is charged with battery/causing bodily harm in connection with a July 17, 2023 incident.
Demian E. Ellis, 46 of Benld, is charged with battery/making physical contact in connection with a December 30 incident.
Steven D. Lewis, 33 of Virden, is charged with two counts of violation of a protection order in connection with a December 30 incident.
TRAFFIC
Jason A. Keffer , 28 of Standard City, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a December 23 incident.
Daniel R. Gooding, 36 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a December 28 incident.
Douglas D. Davis, 27 of Benld, is charged with driving on a revoked license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and expired registration in connection with a December 26 incident.
Brandon E. Swarringin, 26 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a December 21 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Terry L. Lumma versus Robert L. Lumma
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Pietro Lentini of Carlinville and Anna Jean Triplett of Greenfield
- Morgan Barber and Emilee Bridgwater, both of Benld
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Summer Repertory at Carlinville is pleased to announce the return of a comedy play to the stage. Performances of Ripcord will be held January 17 and 18th at 7:30 PM and January 19 at 2 PM at Blackburn College Bothwell Auditorium.
Ripcord, by David Lindsay-Abaire, is based in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility. The rivalry of odd couple roommates Abby and Marilyn, results in high stakes comedy of conflict for control of territory.
Cindy Rice and Joe Hardy bring their combined experience directing the small cast of seasoned actors.
Rice, who has directed place and musicals In Illinois and Texas, spent 15 years co-directing musicals at North Green high school.
Hardy, who began acting at age 7 with notable roles in Summer Repertory Theatre’s Shrek The Musical, The Little Mermaid , and Suessical, has also performed at several Springfield, Illinois, theaters. He has a BA in Theatre Performance from SIUE.
Tickets for Ripcord may be purchased at the door only. Ripcord is rated PG-13. For more information, see Summer Repertory Theatre at Blackburn College Facebook page.
