October 23, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Live at Ogden Village Board

Seven people are here for Ogden Village Board. That’s quite crowd for a night when they aren’t discussing flooding.

They are discussing bills and when a debit card can be used.

Public comment- a woman is discussing photos being taken at the festival and asking why the photos were taken.

I am not sure what this is about honestly. Apparently, someone fell into a car and photos were posted. The resident is pretty upset. Trustee Jim Acklin said “Why is this a village issue?”

Mayor Gabe Clements said the photo has been removed.

Trustee Jim Haan asking who owned the camera the photo was taken on.

Trustee Sue Esposito saying it was an unfortunate situation and an apology is owed.

Acklin telling resident that if the issue is with the comments made on the photo that is an issue that should be taken up with the village resident not the village board. “This is not the venue to do it.”

Trustee Kelly Cooper apologizing. Mayor Clements moving on. Resident apologizes to the rest of the audience.

Numerous people here to discuss the recycling dumpster. Apparently, it will be moved back to the park when the cameras come in. Resident unhappy because she can see it out her window currently while it is at village hall. The village moved it because people were illegally dumping at the park.

“It is very distressing to have it up there.” Residents said other people don’t like it either but were afraid of “retribution” if they came to the meeting.

Side note:
This is why other towns have gotten rid of their recycling. People never want it near their house and people dump trash in it.

Resident saying if the village won’t move it she will contact more people. (People in Ogden are super passionate about this Dumpster.)

Resident saying other residents wouldn’t come for fear of retribution. Acklin says that is “BS” and “You can quote me.” #Idid

He said that he knows the people on the board and there is no reason for anyone to be afraid of speaking to them. #Ithinkthatstrue

THE DUMPSTER WILL BE MOVED BACK TO THE PARK WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH. #therecyclingsaga

Intergovernmental agreement time. For drainage tile.

POINT OF ORDER: from Haan. He wants them to read the ordinance in the motion.

They are discussing a drainage project that hasn’t happened yet and the governor put a stop it.

Discussing upgrading billing software for water and sewer. “Our current software is obsolete,” said Trustee Jim Haan. Haan did his due diligence on this. Found other companies, compare prices and asked for references.

Esposito saying she doesn’t want to spend $16,000 to pay online. She doesn’t want to pay $6,000 either- which is the other company cost. Clements saying if the current system goes down they would have to handwrite out the bills. They would have to have training for new software regardless of which company they go with.

This is important because it deals with a large amount of money and how people will be billed. Haan saying people want to pay online.

Acklin saying he would pay online.

Clements asking for a conference call with the companies during a committee meeting.

They tabled it until next Harvest festival will be October 26 from 3-5 pm. $700 expense.


This is a great event. Tons of people attend and there is a great costume contest. One year some parents dressed as chefs and their baby was a lobster in a pot. #LOVEDIT

Anyway, they are buying less candy this year because they had a lot left over and they had to give it away.

Here is what we are here for… dispensary talk.

Sonja is very passionate about it. “Do you want to take a vote or listen to me.”
Acklin “I would love to listen to you Sonja.” it

Sonja: You can opt-out and opt-in later. She thinks the village should opt-out.

She’s arguing that no one would want to open one in Ogden since they can’t keep a grocery or hardware store. Also said there are a lot of unknowns.

Sonja reiterating that people can use marijuana but this is to prohibit the sale.

Ogden is opting out. No dispensary for them. #itliterallytooklike15minutes #stjoehasbeendiscussingitforweeksmaybemonths

Moving on to the water tower. There’s black junk on the bottom. It may be #mold but it may just be dirt. Discussing if it should be painted.

Cameras will go up in 2 weeks at the shed so the recycling dumpster will be moved. There will be signs saying that there is video and if you illegally dump you will be fined. #seriously #don’tdump

Events: Movie in the Park is next Saturday. They are showing the Sandlot. “If you don’t come we won’t do it next year and we just bought that massive huge movie screen.” Library will do concessions. If it rains it will be in PVO South’s gym.

Sue telling people they need help with the Harvest Festival. #peoplerunninggames #peoplebakingcakes #themayorwillbethere

Don Wauthier telling the board the festival was amazing. #itwastrue #tonsofevents

Kelly saying it helps people learn that Ogden has a ton of businesses.





Banner
Related Posts

Group asking for feedback on community building proposal

January 27, 2020

January 27, 2020

Almost exactly a year ago, St. Joseph resident Jim Page presented the St. Joseph Village Board with a plan to...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Dec. 14, 2021

December 14, 2021

December 14, 2021

I am here so you don’t have to be. This time about five years ago Bob Rigdon and BJ Hackler...

Ogden Village Board, March 7, 2024

March 7, 2024

March 7, 2024

I am here at Ogden Village Board. Also in attendance is Girl Scout Troop 2069. The troop is earning their...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Dec. 17, 2024.

December 17, 2024

December 17, 2024

 I am here so you don’t have to be.  It’s a special board meeting- meaning they combined two December meetings...

Brush pick-up suspended indefinitely in St. Joseph

June 17, 2019

June 17, 2019

St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges has suspended brush pick-up indefinitely. Fruhling-Voges said she understands why residents are upset with the...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Jan. 25

January 25, 2022

January 25, 2022

Tonight at St. Joseph Village Board we will get some honorary street designations, a discussion and vote regarding special event...

5 Questions with Republican Caucus candidate Terri Cummings

December 2, 2024

December 2, 2024

What made you want to run?  When my husband and I moved to St Joseph 14 years ago I felt...

Girl Scouts plan for Community Christmas Tree

April 24, 2024

April 24, 2024

Girl Scout Troop 2191 wants to make Christmas a little more merry in St. Joseph.  The troop presented the village...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Nov. 28

November 28, 2023

November 28, 2023

I am a little late. But I am here now. Discussing how Middle School Cross Country would like a Cross...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board June 22

June 22, 2021

June 22, 2021

Tonight at St. Joseph Village Board they may hire an administrator. I have spoken to the candidate via email and...

Live at Ogden Village Board

May 5, 2022

May 5, 2022

I am here so you don’t have to be. The village just voted to purchase lime for the baseball diamonds....

Live Blog, St. Joseph Village Board May 11, 2021

May 11, 2021

May 11, 2021

We are here at village board. Van Buskirk is absent as is Davis. Rapp, Cummings, Painter and Wagner are here...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Oct. 11, 2022

October 11, 2022

October 11, 2022

We are live at village board. The news everyone is waiting for. Halloween Trick or Treat hours are Oct. 31...

Village accepting bids for Boy Scout building

August 5, 2022

August 5, 2022

A piece of St. Joseph history will be sold. The village board is moving forward with selling the “Boy Scout...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board

May 12, 2020

May 12, 2020

We are live at St. Joseph Village Board. Terri Cummings is being appointed to fill Bob Rigdon’s trustee position. Four...

Comments
Leave a Reply