January 17, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

LIVE AT ST. JOE VILLAGE BOARD

Tonight they are finalizing the vote to not allow dispensaries.

Sewer main in the alley behind old firehouse that feeds Subway and vacant house on Main. Luke Fisher is suggesting redoing it before Fire Department pours concrete because right now they cannot access the Subway sewer.

I really love the board’s public participation policy. It is basically acting with some decorum.

Donnie Goodwin- Lives on Park Avenue. He’s having some issues with his neighbors. His HOA is helping with his neighbor situation. HOA doesn’t have policies regarding renting, ect.

Goodwin saying his lawyer said to sue the neighbors, the homeowner, the HOA and the village. His wife is too afraid to leave their home unless he is home.

Residents in attendance have all had issues with the neighbors.

Goodwin said he wants something done before “something bad happens.”
“This is a recipe for something super bad,” he said.
Goodwin said there are six people living in the house.

Goodwin said the neighbors are threatening him.

Goodwin saying he has told them to stay off his property.

Goodwin said the police have said they cannot do anything.

Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges said she has talked to the village lawyer and she has a meeting on Thursday with the Sheriff’s Department to discuss the situation and some other issues.

Deputy who is here saying there is more than one way to document an issue. “There are several different ways to document things.” Saying event numbers are specific to each call made and can be used as official documentation.

Goodwin says that the neighbors seem to know the hours a deputy is in the village.

Deputy discussing disorderly conduct- we use it as a last resort but it is something we can use in a case like this. It’s a class C misdemeanor.

Deputy is having to discuss hypotheticals.

I am going to have to look up whether the village has an ordinance regarding the number of people who can live in a house.

Goodwin discussing the discrepancies between deputies that come and what they will do.

These deputies are really trying to find a resolution.

Board asking if they can move deputies from 3-11 to a different time.

Deputy discussing the fact that they have body cameras and they have to turn them on when they respond to a call.

Joe Lierman urging Goodwin to keep documenting issues. Lierman said “someday or another I am guessing we will end up in court.” Lierman said he is sorry Goodwin is going through this.

Dan Davis said the village is working on the issue. z

Fruhling-Voges said that as a property owner of rentals she has things on her leases so things like that would not go on at her rentals.

Deputy urging all the neighbors to call in if there are issues because then it becomes an issue of multiple people versus one on one.

Deputy urging people to talk to the landlord. Goodwin saying he talked to the landlord. He was under the impression their lease was up during the summer and nothing has happened.

Goodwin saying he feels like everyone’s hands are tied and feels like something bad will happen if it is not addressed. “There are only two things in this world I care about, my boys and this woman sitting next to me. (his wife)”

Goodwin has asked the HOA to make it so people cannot rent out homes there. It would take 2/3 of the homeowners. Goodwin said he will go door to door if he needs to.

Joe urging all the neighbors to document. “All that will be helpful when this ends up in court.”

Tami Fruhling-Voges is going to look at the ordinances to see what can be done.

Mayors Desk: Fruhling-Voges urging board members to attend Champaign County Board meeting Thursday regarding solar farms.

They are discussing IML things now. Basically, they go to presentations and learn stuff.

Bob Rigdon is discussing the phosphorus building at the sewer plant.
#punchlist

Visit for the parks grant went well. “She was impressed overall.”

GOLF CART DRAMA. Apparently, people have complained about the “high” fees. Wagner wants to lower fees to $20 for permitted drivers. #DONTBECHEAP

Fruhling-Voges is pumping the breaks. Wants to know how they got the fee structure. Wagner saying that the committee came up with the fees.

Fruhling-Voges said they are going to monitor the expenses and income on the golf carts. #sheisfiscallyresponsible Tami points out if you can afford a golf cart you can probably afford the higher fees. Roy McCarty discussing how golf carts are harder to see versus cars.


I’ve heard from lots of people in the general public that they are not fans of the golf carts. #whatisyouropinion?

Wagner got the fees lowered so get the permit and drive responsibly.

Discussing food truck permits. Apparently, someone wants to start a food truck here. #nopizzaplease


Dan Davis wants a farmers market.

They are going to do the restroom roof at Hackler Park.

5-0 on the ordinance to ban dispensaries.

Arcadia power has been sending letters to people. Fruhling-Voges recommends doing your research. “I was not impressed with what I read online.”

WE ARE STILL WITH CONSTELLATION, Mayor Fruhling-Voges said. “Please do your research before you sign on with anything,” she said.

Fruhling-Voges saying something pretty cool now. Talking about the long term business owners in town who are immigrants. Saying the village is proud that they are here and that she is proud that the village residents have been welcoming to them.

Motion to adjourn.

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