May 6, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Nov. 9, 2021

I am here at village board. Terri Cummings, Jeff Van Buskirk are not here. Wagner is on zoom.

The Hitts and the Parsons are here. You may remember them from last time with the sewer issue.

Kirsten Schaefer is also here to discuss her food project.

They are doing investments and bills right now.

Schaefer is speaking now. She has worked on a community service project “Feed your Neighbor.” The project helps with food insecurity. She created the project because her friend has to pay for their own dinner from their birthday or Christmas money.

10 percent of the hs is food insecure. Restaurants around St. Joseph allow people to pay for a meal at Roch’s, Scratch, El Toro, and the Ribcage. Food insecure residents can go to restaurants and redeem a free meal.

I am going to get more info. This is an amazing project she has put together.

Fruhling-Voges said she thought it was a good project.

Hitt and Parsons time. Painter wants to wait until the next meeting because there are so many people gone.

Art kinda hinted that the insurance company refused the claim again but didn’t say it outright.


To recap, the lift station failed, the alerting system failed, the Parsons ended up with sewage in their basement. It cost more than $7,000 to clean up not even counting the build back and the family wants some form of payment from either the insurance or the village since it was the village’s lift station that failed.

Todd Hitt is asking for clarifications and saying he has rebuttals to what the insurance company has said. Joe the village administrator said he wants the rebuttals in writing.

Hitt says the village is negligent. He is disappointed people aren’t here to take the vote, ect.

Basically- they aren’t giving them an answer tonight.

Clark Dietz gave the village a pro/con list of locations for the splash pad. I am going to get a copy of it. They are being vague but whatever. Next meeting is when Water Odyssey is going to be here. Art wants to know how much water it is going to use. Question- would the public be willing to pay a 25 cent surcharge on their sewer bill so $3 a year to fund the water?

We raised more than $800 from the trunk or treat. THank you Wagners and IGA. The fire wives are donating 10 percent of their Christmas Pancake Breakfast to the splash pad and we are placing doorhangers out.

Max suggested a QR Code.


Go to Stjosephsplashpad.com I made this website to keep people updated and you can also donate to our go fundme from there.

Discussing pedestrian walk ways now.

Luke is talking about the changes they are making to keep the lift station failure from happening again.

Oh wait, Dan Davis isn’t here either. SO its Wagner, painter and Art. It’s only a quorum since Tami is here and can vote.

Mike saying previously the lift station had alarms and no one called. HOW is that possible. If someone hears a boom it’s on the St. Joseph page. How would no one call for a blaring alarm? I mean I believe it but lord.

They are discussing selling vehicles, buying new ones.

They are discussing light bars for vehicles.

Discussing staff coaching and governing body coaching services. It sounds like this is “hey, you can do this this and this as a trustee” but you shouldn’t do “this this or this.” Its probably to tell them that they are to decide policy not like nitty gritty stuff like where the signs for a business are going to be located.

Costume parade was very very well attended. About 30 kids attended. (My three were there!) It was a good event and beautiful day, the mayor said. (It was. So cute.)

On Veterans Day Shawn Hallett, the SJO resource officer, will be speaking at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Monument near the HS. and then the legion will host ham and beans and chilli after the presentation.

Discussing some tree situation. Painter hates that they didn’t buy local. They bought trees in Bloomington and Painter wanted them to buy local. #makessense

Mike saying he did get a quote and they were higher.

Meeting is over.

Banner
Related Posts

Chittick Eye Care to open in early March

February 24, 2020

February 24, 2020

Chittick Eye Care will open its ninth clinic in downtown St. Joseph in early March. The clinic will be staffed...

Live at Ogden Village Board March 4, 2021

March 4, 2021

March 4, 2021

Tonight we will find out the fate of the Ogden Easter Egg Hunt. Philo, St, Joseph and Tuscola have canceled...

Village installs crosswalk signs on Rt. 150

June 8, 2022

June 8, 2022

Cross Rt. 150 just got a little safer. The Village of St. Joseph recently installed lighted push-button-activated crosswalk signs near...

St. Joseph holds public meeting on Marijuana Sales within the village

August 20, 2019

August 20, 2019

We are here at the public meeting. Held at St. Joseph Middle School. It starts at 6:30 p.m. So far...

Village reminds residents not to dump at burn site

June 30, 2020

June 30, 2020

St. Joseph Public Works is reminding residents that it is illegal to dump brush or garbage outside of the St....

Village Gardeners to kick off season Monday

April 12, 2019

April 12, 2019

On Monday, the St. Joseph Village Gardners are kicking off their 2019 season. Member Samuel Furrer said the group’s first...

Live at Village Board, April 25, 2023

April 25, 2023

April 25, 2023

We are here. On the agenda, the festival committee, the Fourth of July parade, outdoor dining for Roch’s and El...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

I am here so you don’t have to be. Here are the big items on the agenda. They are going...

Village to take vote on dispensary Sept. 10

August 27, 2019

August 27, 2019

Residents have until Sept. 10 to make their opinions on a dispensary within the village known. During the August 27...

Village hopes to accommodate restaurants for outdoor seating

May 26, 2020

May 26, 2020

The Village of St. Joseph is hoping to help its restaurants in any way it can. Governor JB Pritzker announced...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Jan. 24, 2023

January 24, 2023

January 24, 2023

I am here live so you don’t have to be. Jim Wagner just said it will be a short meeting...

Mayor discusses administrators pay increase

December 18, 2024

December 18, 2024

The Village Administrator of St. Joseph is getting a raise. The annual salary for the position will be increased to...

Safety first: Village urges residents to slow down near school crossing guards

August 25, 2021

August 25, 2021

When Matt, Andrew and Mark Case were young, their mother Beverly was thankful for a crossing guard to help them...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board Feb. 22.2022

February 22, 2022

February 22, 2022

Discussing the proposed location of Philo Bank. Max Painter saying the lot has been vacant for a long time. Tami...

Fruhling-Voges lays out Phase 3 plans for St. Joseph

May 29, 2020

May 29, 2020

St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges wants St. Joseph residents to be patient with one another as the State of Illinois...

Comments
Leave a Reply