January 30, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, June 14

Our live blogs are sponsored by MX Electric.


I am the only one here besides the board, Mike Sennert and Debbie Routh.

Discuss how SJO wants to take control of an alleyway behind the properties they own. Currently, the village owns it and it is cutting through the school’s property. The village is adding a note in the agreement that they can’t build over the alley because the sanitary sewer goes down it.

Discussing a village logo. The staff picked out a top 5 and now the village board will narrow it down. Tami saying after the village board narrows it down to three they will allow the public to vote.

Jim Wagner and Max Painter don’t like any of them. Wagner offering to create a logo. Tami is saying they took the time to submit ideas for the logo and contract with the company. Art doesn’t like the logos either.

They are still discussing it. Tami is saying it is for branding and it doesn’t have to be a logo of something that is actually in downtown, ect.

Luke pointing out we are still a farming community and the elevator has beautiful aspects to it, ect. when the sunrise hits it. “The best thing I can see when I pull into this town is the water tower and the elevator. You see it, you are home.”

Wagner is offering to do the logo again and Terri Cummings said they had already moved down the road with the company. “No one asked us to do it. We stepped away because I am on the board.”

“That would probably be the proper thing to do,” Cummings replied.

Art wants to include a “none of the above option.”

A lot of the logos include the bridge, the elevator and the water tower.

The board is voting on their top 5. Ballot time.

Joe is tallying the votes! Results forthcoming.

Getting info about a grant for biking communities.

They are applying for the grant and will approach the chamber about businesses who would like to participate in the signage.

Broker’s opinion on the village buildings time.

The broker estimates they could sell the annex for $143,800 roughly.
The Boy Scout building could be sold for $25,000
Village Hall could be sold for $216,000.
Tami saying they have options and they can sell all the buildings, none of the buildings, add on to the current village hall, build a new village hall, ect. So I guess they could sell the annex and the boy scout building and add on to this building.

The metal roof for the concession stand came back higher than anticipated. They approved the higher cost so it doesn’t go even higher.

Wagners is buying some of the patio behind their building to expand.

Discussing lack of handicap parking in downtown. Basically, they need some. If you have strong feelings about where handicapped spaces should go please call the village or email them and let them know. They will create an ordinance to create the spaces.

Update to the golf cart situation: Basically, they would like people to follow the ordinance. Don’t let kids drive, ect. The crosswalk at RT. 150 now has a push button. Luke is very adamant that you still need to wait. DO NOT push it and just walk out.

The village has started on a new parking lot off second street. #MOREPARKING

Last week village workers saw hundreds of bicyclist on Rt. 150. He wishes people would ride on the bike path because it is safer.

`150th celebration is still coming along. More information is forthcoming.


Fourth of July Parade Starts at 10 a.m. at the Middle School. Follows usual parade route.

GOOD NEWS! You can now sign up electronically for sewer bills. #YES!NOWIWONTBELATEALLTHETIME.

Meeting adjourned.





Banner
Related Posts

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...

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 St. Joseph Village Board

October 8, 2019

October 8, 2019

The past few meetings have been packed… not this one. Only two audience members. They approved the minutes, are going...

Live at Ogden Village Board

May 5, 2022

May 5, 2022

I am here so you don’t have to be. The village just voted to purchase lime for the baseball diamonds....

‘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...

St. Joseph addresses brush pickup

May 30, 2019

May 30, 2019

The Village of St. Joseph is suspending brush pick up for a second month in a row. The wet Spring...

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...

Live at Village Board, March 12, 2024

March 12, 2024

March 12, 2024

My internet here wasn’t working but we are in business now. I am at village board with approximately 20 of...

Cunningham wants to help Homer grow

April 6, 2021

April 6, 2021

Ray Cunningham feels he has unfinished business.  Cunningham is running for reelection as Homer’s mayor on April 6.  “I am...

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...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Dec. 17, 2024.

December 17, 2024

December 17, 2024

 I am here so you don’t have to be.  It’s a special board meeting- meaning they combined two December meetings...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Nov. 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

I am here so you don’t have to be. Doing the consent agenda. Basically, they approve the minutes, ect. all...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Jan. 11, 2021

January 11, 2022

January 11, 2022

Village administrator Joe Hackney saying they need to have more cash on hand in the accounts instead of CDs because...

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...

Library releases statement about TIF

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

The St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library Board of Directors thought this was important information you should know about the village...

Comments
Leave a Reply