September 10, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Sept. 9, 2025

I am here.
So much interesting stuff is on the agenda for tonight.

Jack Flash is here asking for the village to allow video gambling. They would need a pour license.

John Wortman from Jack Flash is here.
“I want to make it clear that we have these in a lot of communities.”

They are making the exact same argument they did the last time they requested this. To recap:

https://www.stjosephrecord.com/2021/01/13/jack-flash-asks-village-to-create-new-liquor-license-so-they-can-have-video-gambling/

To recap: It’s not unusual, they have classy video gaming set ups in other stores, they keep their store clean and well serviced.

“I have been a big tax generator for your community for a long time.” Saying he collects $70,000 a year for the community. He is certain that he is the number one sales tax generator for the community.

Art asking if they have had any issues with anyone taking an open container out of the store and getting in their car. Wortman says no. Wortman saying they aren’t actually pouring drinks. They have a fridge with cans of beer, ect.

Basically, the state requires them to have a pour license to allow video gaming.

Marc Miller talking about the arguments against it. One of the arguments is that it takes away from restaurants who already have video gaming.

Terri asking if they had talked to El Toro, Roch’s, ect. before discussing this.

Walsh saying he would vote yes because it won’t take away from the restaurants.

Straw poll says the trustees are leaning yes. They would have to vote on it at an upcoming meeting.

I am just going to say I have never seen a town where it goes up, it’s always just split because there’s only so many people who gamble. But maybe they are going to prove me wrong.

Discussing parks funding. Page wants a .5 percent sales tax that will be dedicated to the parks. Because there is no set funding mechanism for the parks meaning the parks are funded from the general fund which funds all sorts of things.

Terri saying she supports it. “It won’t take care of everything but we have to start somewhere.”

Art saying the parks are a financial drain. Referencing roofs on the concession stand, ball field upgrades.

The board is in agreement that something needs to be done. Art saying that he isn’t for raising taxes but something has to be done because people are “busting” their chops about stuff that needs done and there is no money to do all of this.

They are approving the sales tax increase. It’s a .5 percent increase that will go to parks. “Painful but necessary.” Page said.

Talking sidewalks now. they can show which sidewalks are bad. Which are good, ect.

Art keeps talking about the pickleball court. He’s making a funny.

Meeting adjourned.




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