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

Mondays with the Mayor… Ray Cunningham

Every Monday we will ask a Mayor from an area village to answer three questions. This week it is Homer Mayor Ray Cunningham.


What was the village’s biggest accomplishment in 2018?

I believe we have three accomplishments this year that stand out. The first is the purchase of 13.8 acres adjacent to the village hall. This was due to the generosity of Carl Goad who left the village $3.6 million and from the interest of this fund we purchased land when it came up for sale. Our second accomplishment was the construction of our new playground next to the village hall. This was due to the hard work of board member Joe Bear who had the vision to create the playground. Many volunteers gave time and money toward this playground and we are grateful for their efforts. The village completed the acquisition of the Grand Army of the Republic cemetery which had been administered so well by the Homer post of the American Legion. Our village board stepped up to the responsibility and the first year of operation has worked out well due to the hard work of the new cemetery board and the volunteers who mow and maintain the GAR cemetery.

What are you hoping to accomplish in 2019?
2019 brings the village challenges as we look to plan for the revitalization of downtown and work at resolving drainage issues. We want to work on the downtown infrastructure with an engineering firm to come up with a plan to replace the sidewalks and develop a new look for Main Street. Drainage issues have been a longstanding issue in Homer. We have been working with Farnsworth Group to give us options on resolving drainage issues.

What is the most important thing people should know about your village?
People should know that our village board is working hard to solve issues and work on improving Homer for families and businesses.  

Banner
Related Posts

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 St. Joseph Village Board, Feb. 27, 2024

February 27, 2024

February 27, 2024

Thanks to MX Electric for sponsoring our live blogs. I am 11 minutes behind but they are going over the...

Hackler to be honored with street sign

January 25, 2022

January 25, 2022

Former Mayor B.J. Hackler used to spend a lot of time on Lincoln and Main Streets in St. Joseph. If...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, April 11

April 11, 2023

April 11, 2023

The mayor is doing a proclamation declaring April as Autism Awareness Month. Doing the general stuff they always do- bills,...

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...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board March 23, 2021

March 23, 2021

March 23, 2021

We are here. This could be a pretty amazing meeting. LIQUOR LICENSE TIME. We are moving the agenda around so...

Vickers looks to the future of Ogden

April 5, 2021

April 5, 2021

Sonja Vickers considers Ogden her forever home.  “I just want to see good done for the village for now and...

Cooper looks to make a difference in Ogden

April 5, 2021

April 5, 2021

Kelly Cooper wants to make a difference in Ogden.  That is why she ran for village board in 2017 and...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board

May 25, 2021

May 25, 2021

Jim Wagner is running IT tonight. The new lawyer is here. Marc Miller. #somanychanges Bill time. Apparently Spring Green took...

‘Julie has been the backbone of this village for a long time’

December 28, 2021

December 28, 2021

Julie Hendrickson loves St. Joseph. And a piece of the small town’s footprint will soon step away from a long-time...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Feb. 28, 2022

February 28, 2023

February 28, 2023

I am here tonight. Tonight on that agenda- drainage concerns with the new high school softball field which should be...

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...

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....

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...

Foundation wants Community Building at Woodard Park

July 22, 2024

July 22, 2024

A foundation has been created to bring a community building to St. Joseph. The St. Joseph Recreation Foundation was registered...

Comments
Leave a Reply