January 16, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, May 23,2023

It’s a big night. They are going to approve the sewer plant expansion and upgrade. (unless someone totally throws me for a curve ball)

Thanks to MX Electric for sponsoring these live blogs. Got an electrical problem call Max!

There are five people here in the audience. I am hoping it’s sewer plant related.

The mayor is doing the IML civility pledge.

“In the interest of civility, I pledge to promote civility by listening, being respectful of others, acknowledging that we are all striving to support and improve our community and understanding that we each may have different ideas for achieving that objective.”

No public comment.
No old business.

SEWER PLANT TIME! #ITSALLHAPPENING

A motion to approve the bid by Schomburg and Schomburg is on the floor. #thankyoujimwagner


Art is making a comment about how he is going to “hold his nose and vote for it.”

Basically, the bids came in higher than expected so I think that’s what he is a little hesitant about but if they do not vote to approve this, I have been told, they will lose $4 million in federal funding.


Art seconded Jim’s motion.

Art talking about how they have to do this because it’s an unfunded mandate from the EPA. Which is true but they also have to do it to increase capacity. I think they could add something like 17 houses with the current plant.

Approved.

Community festival committee time. Basically, they are taking the Community festival under the umbrella of the village for insurance concerns. They are going to appoint people to the committee. #dontcallitthefallflop

Art is saying that the commission should select its own chair. The ordinance says the mayor picks the chair. #itsgoingtobemikepetersorweriot

The Commission has been created. The members are: Mike Peters- Chair, Eric Buzzard, Jim Wagner, Ashley York, Nora Maberry and Kenny Schrock. #ifyouwanttobeavendorhitmeup

Discussing the festival event application now. Dan asking if the pickleball courts will be removed. #theybetterbe #wherewillihostlittleprinceandprincessiftheyarent?

Solar panels at the sewer plant up for discussion. Joe has made homework packets for the board. Basically, they will discuss it again in June. They could put the panels out there and make some $. #gogreen #butprobablynotturbines

Fun fact: They had 214 cars go through Dumpster Day. #somuchstuff They filled 10 to 12 Dumpsters.

In the next month, the village will dig up the bricks on the sidewalk on Main. The bricks will cost $1. You gotta pick your own bricks up though.

Your friend and mine, Reg of the Electric Aggregation group, has reached back out and the new rate is 25 percent less than Ameren. #WHAT??!?! The letters will go out Friday to explain your options about opting out. #whywouldyouoptout? #savethatmoney. You are automatically enrolled unless you opt out.
Your friend and mine, Reg of the Electric Aggregation group, has reached back out and the new rate is 25 percent less than Ameren. #WHAT??!?! The letters will go out Friday to explain your options about opting out. #whywouldyouoptout? #savethatmoney. You are automatically enrolled unless you opt-out.

Tami got a “Nice” email and is sharing it. They thanked the village for Dumpster Day and also complimented Public Works for being awesome. #theyareallawesome The emailer also appreciate brush pick up.

The Taste of St. Joseph committee is wrapping up its plans. June 9. PLEASE ATTEND. GET YOUR PUNCH CARDS AT VILLAGE HALL. Punch cards are $15 and the funds go to Parks and Rec. The village is passing out Frisbees.

Max discussing how the Pickleball group is growing and they could put two pickleball courts courts over the tennis court and share it. Dan asking where the Tennis team could practice then. “I get that pickleball growing but I am not for taking that tennis court away from the girls tennis team.” Davis saying he wants to support the girls tennis team. Max saying he is supporting pickleball but didn’t say to get rid of tennis court. Tami saying that they don’t want to take the court away from the tennis team. They would make it work for both.

Art talking about how he went to a presentation on solar panels and the panels infastructure don’t damage drainage tiles.

Meeting adjourned.

Banner
Related Posts

Registration open for electronics recycling event

September 9, 2019

September 9, 2019

Residents in St. Joseph, Homer, Royal, Ogden and unincorporated Champaign County can now register for the county-wide electronic recycling event....

Live at St. Joseph Village Board

April 28, 2020

April 28, 2020

We are here and zooming in. #safetyfirst Jeff Van Buskirk will be replacing Roy McCarty on the village board. They...

Village asking for feedback on liquor license

January 25, 2021

January 25, 2021

The Village of St. Joseph is asking residents for feedback regarding a proposed new liquor license. During a Jan. 18...

Board to decide on new liquor license classification tonight

January 28, 2020

January 28, 2020

Tonight, the St. Joseph Village Board will discuss and vote on whether to create a new liquor classification that would...

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...

5 questions with Republican caucus candidate Steven Peters

December 2, 2024

December 2, 2024

1. What made you want to run? I have been a member of this exceptional community for the past 20...

Talk of the Town.. Ogden Mayor Gabe Clements

June 17, 2019

June 17, 2019

Every week we ask a village mayor, trustee, school administrator or school board member three questions. This week we talked...

Sewer rate increase to take place in May

April 26, 2023

April 26, 2023

St. Joseph residents can expect a sewer rate increase in May. Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges said the rate increase is going...

Ogden Live Blog, May 6, 2021

May 6, 2021

May 6, 2021

I am four minutes late and I feel like I missed a lot. There are some neighbor complaints going on....

Administrator stops work for Arndt Municipal Support

June 19, 2024

June 19, 2024

Village Administrator Joseph Hackney is no longer doing work for Arndt Municipal Support. In an email dated May 27, 2024...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board July 12, 2022

July 12, 2022

July 12, 2022

Jim Page, Synthia Snydor, Tracy Sharp, Craig Harper and Mike Voges are here with the usual crew. MX electric sponsors...

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...

Philo Exchange Bank holds meeting to address concerns

March 1, 2022

March 1, 2022

Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges wants residents near a proposed location for Philo Exchange Bank to know she is not in favor...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Feb. 13, 2024

February 13, 2024

February 13, 2024

I am two minutes late and we are knee-deep in sewer rates. I am just going to leave this story...

‘It’s probably the biggest event, the biggest natural disaster we have had’

June 30, 2023

June 30, 2023

Assistant Public Works Director Luke Fisher has never seen anything like it. “It’s probably the biggest event, the biggest natural...

Comments
Leave a Reply