January 18, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, May 24

It’s a full, full house. I am standing by the door typing so no one throw open the door.

There is a Girl Scout troop here. I think they are brownies!

It’s Troop 2191. They have done a project for the community and wanted to share it.

Bird houses that are going in community parks. They used recycled materials to build the birdhouses and bird feeders. This is a take action project as part of their journey reward.

Public comment time. Public comment reminder: The village would love if you didn’t curse, scream, ect. at the trustees.

No public comment.

Matt Crider, Ken Cooley and Diana Foltz are reappointed to the Zoning Board. Doug Dahl stepped down and Tami is appointing Curt Harsbarger to the commission. (I hope I spelled that right, apologies if I did not)

The red barn thing on the land on Rt. 150 is going goodbye. The board approved the zoning change for Philo Exchange Bank. They will build on Rt. 150 on the land that has been vacant for about a decade. The administrator said they had two neighbors show up at the zoning meeting.

Approved the ordinance regarding outdoor eating. It gives the village some control over outdoor eating spaces like at Roch’s, El Toro and the Ribcage.

El Toro is here discussing their plans for outdoor seating.

Discussing having a fourth of july parade. A local resident is planning it. #weloveaparade #freecandy #bringyourbucketsandgetsome

They are jumping all over this agenda to try and clear out the room. LOL Apparently people don’t love hanging out at village board the way I do.

Discussing building a building where -I think the storage facilities are- near the rail trail. The building would be the new home for St. Joseph Overhead Doors. It was sold four weeks ago.

Discussing Elm Street and Douglass Street projects.

Northern Utility Expansion Study time. The study was approved.

The bids for the sidewalk and street repair were approved.

They are going to do a metal roof on the concession stand and shingles on the shed.

Discussing banning smoking at the park. A lot of the board members aren’t fans of government overreach.

But they previously discussed fines for tall grass so I don’t really understand what the difference is other than they can enforce the tall grass ordinance with letters and mowing I guess.

Lawyer Marc Miller is saying you could have a progressive fine.

Lots of villages have smoke free areas.

Some board members feel unless you come to speak at the village board meeting its really not that big of a deal to you.

An actual question: if you reach out to your representative and speak about it should that count?

Golf Cart registration issues. People aren’t re-registering.

Banner
Related Posts

Live at St. Joseph Village Board

May 26, 2020

May 26, 2020

They are discussing a variance for a property. I am in two zoom meetings currently. SJO School Board and St....

Village votes no on TIF

February 7, 2019

February 7, 2019

After two years, the answer is no. The village of St. Joseph has voted not to proceed with a residential...

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...

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

November 9, 2021

November 9, 2021

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

‘Being the first of anything comes with challenges, but also a lot of opportunity’

July 13, 2021

July 13, 2021

St. Joseph Village Administrator Joseph Hackney likes challenges. “Being the first of anything comes with challenges, but also a lot...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, June 13, 2023

June 13, 2023

June 13, 2023

No one is here in the audience. Are you all watching on Youtube? Anyway… Jim Wagner isn’t here, neither is...

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...

Richards hopes to make difference as Homer mayor

April 6, 2021

April 6, 2021

Jeremy Richards has plans for Homer.  That is why he is running for mayor in the April 6 election.  “I...

Is a new village hall in St. Joseph’s future?

March 29, 2022

March 29, 2022

The Village of St. Joseph is discussing selling three properties downtown. And it could come with a new use for...

Ogden Village Board to discuss recycling tonight

June 6, 2019

June 6, 2019

The Ogden Village Board discussed recycling again in May and will do so again tonight at their June meeting. In...

Live at the St. Joseph Village TIF public meeting

April 15, 2025

April 15, 2025

I am here so you don’t have to be. Nothing is being voted on today. It’s a public comment type...

Village to look at signage for downtown, parks

July 9, 2024

July 9, 2024

The Village of St. Joseph is considering adding wayfinding informational signs to the town. Wayfinding informational signs provide directions, identify...

Remembering B.J. Hackler: ‘He made people smile’

September 10, 2021

September 10, 2021

B.J. Hackler liked to stay busy. He belonged to the St. Joseph Tea-Totalers, a group of residents who meet in...

Acklin named acting mayor of Ogden

November 3, 2023

November 3, 2023

Jim Acklin is the acting mayor of Ogden. Acklin was selected at the Nov. 2 meeting by the Ogden Village...

‘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...

Comments
Leave a Reply