January 15, 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.





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