January 19, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, March 8

I am here so you don’t have to be.

VIllage Clerk Tiffany McElroy Smetzer is wearing a shamrock sweater which I can get down with because I am 75% plus Irish.

They are doing the minutes, bills, treasurer’s report. The stuff they gotta do but is boring. #itsbasicallyhousework

Crowd control: It’s just me. Said the St. Joseph DQ is going to be awesome and is going to hold a fundraiser for the splash pad. Date TBD.

Board is discussing the different type of residential zoning. R1, R2, R3, R4 are all different but barely. They are discussing when the zoning meetings are to discuss the updated zoning map. This does not have anything to do with Philo Exchange Bank. This is the zoning update they have discussed previously which was first discussed 5 years ago. (I know it was five years ago because I was on maternity leave with Sully.) #historicalknowledge #Nooneelsewouldknowthis #trivia

Picnic table time. There are 1800 pounds of bottle caps that have been collected. #somany The kids at Prince of Peace Early Learning Center count them, sort them, ect. then the village stores them and when there is enough they can have picnic tables and park benches made out of them.

Max Painter is discussing how they could do a park bench in honor of Ross Booker. It would cost $300 plus the plaque. Tami saying there is no set policy on this for the village. Tami is recommending the village order it and then people who want to donate to the cause donate towards the bench. So they are ordering four benches, one will be to honor Ross and if you want to donate towards it contact the village.

They are discussing a fee for people who want to do solar panels on their home or in their yard. Are there enough people in town that want solar panels that they need a fee? I guess so.

The fee for solar panels and wind turbines will be $50. #gogreeniguess

Discussing the minimum wage increase through 2025. Joe has information from other communities.

They have been discussing this for a while but it’s all theoretical so I am not going into it. Basically, they will eventually, sometime in the future discuss it again.

The next meeting will feature the village’s bond council. #pleasesendhelp #bondsareboring

The community survey results are in. I will get the results. #didyousayyouwantedasplashpad #youbetterhave.

They are announcing the winners of the gift cards. The winners are Amber Barnett and Julie Woller. Come to village hall to claim your IGA gift card.

The village hall has lost WIFI. No one panic. #Wehavebeenlosingitatourhouseallday

Tami saying please keep the Booker family in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. They are discussing the Gift of Life flag-raising ceremony that was held earlier for Ross at Carle due to his organ donation.

MIke Sennert is here and trying to get the internet back up. #idontknowifitwillwork #heistryingthough

Art is saying he has spoken to two people who moved from Champaign to other area towns because of the school situation in Champaign. He feels like the village needs to do something to expand residential development in order to encourage more people to live here. Tami said Joe is having meetings to spur development along.


Meeting adjourned.





Banner
Related Posts

Storm cleanup to take place this week

July 11, 2023

July 11, 2023

Help has arrived. The cities of Champaign, Effingham and El Paso, in addition to Champaign County Highway staff and various...

Brush pick-up discussion still ongoing in St. Joseph

July 1, 2019

July 1, 2019

The Village of St. Joseph is discussing having residents purchase bags from the village for brush pick-up. Village board members...

Mayor urges residents to think about neighbors and loved ones during pandemic

November 25, 2020

November 25, 2020

St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges is encouraging residents to wear their masks. Fruhling-Voges told village board members that a resident...

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...

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...

Lewis wants to give back to hometown

April 5, 2021

April 5, 2021

Brandon Lewis has one goal as trustee—give back.  Lewis is running for Ogden Village Board on April 6.  “I want...

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...

Village expected to accept bid for Boy Scout Building

September 13, 2022

September 13, 2022

The village is expected to accept a bid for the former Boy Scout Building tonight. Roche and Heather Cain submitted...

Email billing to start next month for sewer

July 28, 2022

July 28, 2022

Starting next month St. Joseph residents can get their sewer bills in their email. The paperwork to sign up is...

Dan Davis and Jim Wagner resign from St. Joseph Village Board

September 12, 2023

September 12, 2023

Two St. Joseph Village Board members have resigned. Jim Wagner and Dan Davis submitted letters of resignation, effective immediately, on...

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...

LIVE AT ST. JOE VILLAGE BOARD

September 24, 2019

September 24, 2019

Tonight they are finalizing the vote to not allow dispensaries. Sewer main in the alley behind old firehouse that feeds...

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

February 9, 2021

February 9, 2021

My hot spot failed me so I posted this a little late. #WHYVERIZONWHY????????? Also, it’s National Pizza Day. What is...

St. Joseph Public Works quarantining

December 9, 2020

December 9, 2020

The St. Joseph Public Works Department is quarantining until the first of next week. Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges made the decision...

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...

Comments
Leave a Reply