May 3, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Live at Ogden Village Board, August 4, 2022

Ok so the blog crashed and the convo for the first 15 minutes was pretty heated. But the basic gist of the first 15 minutes is former Trustee Sonja Vickers had a petition with 79 signatures asking the board to revisit their decision to allow Ted Hartke to use the alley near his business for parking. Vickers said it’s not fair to other businesses and blocks access to a door on the mason building.

Jim Acklin is not in favor of revisiting it. He said signatures on a petition don’t mean much to him. Sue Esposito asked if he wanted 80 people to come into the board meeting and he said yes.

Acklin said he doesn’t agree with every board decision but he doesn’t go out and try to gather public support for overturning it. Esposito said she does if she feels strongly about something.

A village employee signed the petition and Vickers asked that they not hold it against him. Ben Smith found it insulting that she would think they would do that.


They are going to invite Hartke back in September to discuss it further but I honestly can’t see it changing.

The NE drainage project went to bid and the bids came back at more than a million dollars. The engineer is saying that means the companies didn’t really want to do it. Multiple companies said since it was funded by federal grant dollars they didn’t want to bother with it. They will put it out to bid again in the winter.

Beautification: Little Library is going to be put up soon. They are discussing a welcome sign.

Back to the petition. Acklin claimed residents had told him they didn’t know what they were signing but the petition clearly states: : The below legally registered voters of the Village of Ogden are petitioning the village of Ogden trustees to reverse the decision to rent two parking spots in the alley between the masonic lodge, 111 S. East Street and Ted Hartkey’s building, 109 S. East St. We believe that public street parking, which is less than eight feet from the front of Mr. Hartkey’s building is more than adequate to serve any parking needs his tenants may have. The ordinance passed was unnecessary and should be reversed.

Vickers collected signatures from July 26 to August 4.

Discussing sewer rates now. Haan is suggesting is adopting the $13 fixed feet and the $1.25 cent rate. Basically, if I remember last time the ordinance and the bills don’t match so this will make them match.

The board seems to think this is too complicated. The board keeps saying it’s a computer glitch but the Clerk is saying it is not a glitch the program is only set up for two costs but needs three or more.

They are discussing spring riders at the park. They need to be replaced.

The board has a lot of questions about things that probably could have been asked before the meeting. Like how the replacement options were chosen or how they came up with this company.

MAPPING OGDENS FUTURE CHECKING ACCOUNT TIME. They want a checking account. St. Joe did MAPPING previously and so did Homer. Is it worth the time? I guess it depends if you implement it or not. Basically, Haan doesn’t want checks made out to him because he doesn’t want to be taxed. This makes it all nice for the audit.




Banner
Related Posts

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...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board March 22

March 22, 2022

March 22, 2022

I am here so you don’t have to be and it’s bond discussion night. #letuspray Going over minutes from the...

Talk of the Town with Royal Mayor Bob Vilven

February 18, 2019

February 18, 2019

Every week we are going to ask a village official or school administrator to answer three questions. This week it...

‘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 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 reminds residents not to dump at burn site

June 30, 2020

June 30, 2020

St. Joseph Public Works is reminding residents that it is illegal to dump brush or garbage outside of the St....

Live at Ogden Village Board, July 7, 2022

July 7, 2022

July 7, 2022

Discussing a parking lease downtown for Hartke. I got here four minutes late and they were really going at it...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Nov. 28

November 28, 2023

November 28, 2023

I am a little late. But I am here now. Discussing how Middle School Cross Country would like a Cross...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, May 10

May 10, 2022

May 10, 2022

Me and Sawyer are here at Village Board so you don’t have to be. #dancephotosmadeuslate They discussed the outdoor cafe...

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...

Live at Ogden Village Board, June 3, 2021

June 3, 2021

June 3, 2021

We are live in Ogden. Discussing the village resident who has four dogs according to his neighbor. The resident says...

Peters says goodbye to Public Works

April 12, 2026

April 12, 2026

Every morning before he officially clocked in to work, Mike Peters would drive through the streets of St. Joseph.  He...

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

June 28, 2022

June 28, 2022

I am here early and we are discussing the lines to vote today. Today at 5 p.m. there was a...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board Feb. 22.2022

February 22, 2022

February 22, 2022

Discussing the proposed location of Philo Bank. Max Painter saying the lot has been vacant for a long time. Tami...

Chittick Eye Care to open in early March

February 24, 2020

February 24, 2020

Chittick Eye Care will open its ninth clinic in downtown St. Joseph in early March. The clinic will be staffed...

Comments
Leave a Reply