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New Year’s events Page 24 Car rams plaza Page 3 Award for Stein Serving The Area With Local News Since 1980 Page 8 Randolph fees up Page 14 © Copyright 2013, County Journal www.countyjournalnews.com Volume 34 Number 52 24 Pages Your Local News Leader Friday, December 27, 2013 60¢ Chester makes it certain: school sales tax will be on March ballot By Greg Myers After a unanimous vote by the Superintendent Chester school board December 19, the 1 percent sales tax ques- gives an update on tion will be on the March pri- mary election ballot. the gymnasium The school boards of Sparta, construction plans Steeleville and Coulterville had already passed a similar reso- lution. With Chester’s approval, bility and school security. the requirement that school This will be the third time This small creek south of Percy, Coolie Bottom, is normally just a trickle of water. Last boards representing at least 51 the tax hike has been on the Saturday, with about four inches of rain, it was flooded. percent of the county’s total ballot in Randolph County. It student enrollment was easily was soundly defeated in 2009. met. Last April, the measure was Drenching rain follows snow Only four of the Chester again defeated but by a much board’s seven members were narrower margin. Just as our 9 to 12-inch rain last Friday and Satur- which usually floods during present for the meeting, Micah Following a truth in taxa- snowfall was melting away, day. heavy rains, was impassable. Reiman, Jamie Eggemeyer, tion hearing, the board the area was hit with two The already saturated By Sunday, most of the wa- Jess Cushman and Adam adopted its annual tax levy in days of steady rain last week- ground could not handle the ter was making its way into Gibbs. the amount of $2,604,304. end. additional precipitation, and larger tributaries and should They all voted for the tax However, due to tax caps, the Reports vary, but the Na- there were large puddles in help deepen the very low question to go on the ballot. district will not collect the to- tional Weather Service stated yards. Ditches were full, and Mississippi River. Last week, According to the legislation, tal amount levied. that our area received any- the small creeks were flooded. the stage at Chester was at the tax would be levied on all Superintendent Chris Did- where from 3 to 4 inches of Locust Street in Steeleville, or below zero. purchases of goods except cars, dlebock reported that a bill boats, RVs, mobile homes, food, that was passed in November drugs, and farm equipment by the state’s legislature that and parts. would allow construction to Sparta sports conference meeting The money received from the begin on a new gymnasium sales tax could be used only for and classrooms at Chester It should be an interesting River to River Mississippi day, January 6 at 7 p.m. school facility purposes, in- Grade School, has still not meeting when the public conference since 1993. in the high school gymna- cluding acquisition, develop- been signed by Governor Pat has a chance to discuss Differences of opinion as to sium. ment, construction, recon- Quinn. high school sports in which conference to be in Anyone will be able to struction, rehabilitation, im- “We are still moving forward Sparta. were raised at the December make a comment as to provement, financing, architec- with what we can do,” said That is because Sparta 16 school board meeting, and whether Sparta should tural planning and installation Diddlebock. “When the High School has been in- now the public will have its stay in the River to River of land, buildings, structures weather breaks, we will begin vited to join the Black Dia- chance to comment. or join the Black Diamond and durable equipment. on the water mediation of the mond sports conference. A public meeting on sports beginning with the 2015- The tax can also be applied to campus.” The school has been in the conferences will be held Mon- 16 school year. fire prevention, safety, energy conservation, disabled accessi- Continued on Page 5_______ Pinckneyville has tax levy discussion Usually there is not much public comment at tax levy hearings. That was not the ‘I don’t like to pay case, however, this week in Pinckneyville. taxes anymore than Three residents showed up the rest of you’ Monday night for a truth in taxation hearing at the Mayor Augie Kellerman Pinckneyville City Hall. The hearing was held prior to cuts could be made instead the regular city council of the increasing the levy. meeting during which the Woodside asked if it was council was expected to vote possible to see a report on on the property tax levy for how much each city em- the new tax year. ployee earns. Heisner said The reason for the hear- that is public information ing was that the city in- and can be accessed at the tended to increase the levy city hall. by more than 105 percent of Heisner continued, saying the previous year’s tax ex- that school districts typi- tension. cally increase their tax lev- Commissioner Leonard ies each year by much more Heisner Jr. explained that, than the city is asking for. last year, the city set its levy “I don’t agree with raising then was notified by the money through property state that the city would be taxes,” Commissioner Kevin responsible for an additional Hicks said. “I think it is the $75,000 payment to its po- most unfair way for govern- lice pension fund. That was ments to raise revenue. I’d money the state had been much rather pay income tax paying into the fund, but than property tax, but that PFC Wyatt Eisenhauer Memorial Highway due to the current financial is not an option.” State Representative Jerry Costello II, presents Fred and Gay Eisenhauer of Pinckneyville situation, it is pushing the Heisner said the city is with a road sign December 19 honoring their son, PFC Wyatt Eisenhauer, who was killed responsibility onto munici- making a concerted effort to while serving in Iraq in 2005. Larger road signs are being placed on Illinois 127, north palities. cut expenses. He noted that and south of Pinckneyville, designating that stretch of road as the PFC Wyatt Eisenhauer Heisner said the city had the total payroll for the year Memorial Highway. According to reports, Eisenhauer used the road to and from work. to pull $75,000 from its gen- to date is $1,571,392. He said eral fund to pay the fee last that is nearly $50,000 less year. To avoid having to do than the same period last the same this year, Heisner year. Perry courthouse roof needs repairs said it was necessary to in- “Our total payroll hours to crease the amount of prop- date are 76,617. That is 5,358 It’s looking as if Perry rent roofing was installed be- In other notes, the com- erty tax money the city lev- fewer hours worked than County will not be able to fore 1996. With the life ex- missioners approved the ied. last year, and overtime hours avoid making repairs to the pectancy of a shingle roof county’s participation in the “I really hate to do this,” were 1,535, which is 50 courthouse roof in 2014. about 25 years, Kellerman appellate prosecutor pro- Mayor Augie Kellerman hours less than last year,” The county board did bud- said he did not believe it would gram at a cost $7,000. This said. “I don’t like to pay Heisner said. get $100,000 for roof re- be possible to put off the re- will allow the Perry County taxes anymore than the rest While saying the city had pairs on the courthouse, but pairs much longer. state’s attorney’s office to of you, but I don’t see any no choice but to raise the tax the hope was that the He plans to work on details utilize attorneys from the other way we can resolve levy, Heisner commended county could get by this of the project and let inter- appellate prosecutor’s pro- the problem.” the three residents for com- year without having to ested contractors know when gram in certain instances During the public hear- ing to the public hearing to spend the money. bid packets can be picked up. where the county might have ing, residents Helen Schafer voice their concerns. Sheriff Keith Kellerman He noted that the county may a conflict of interest or if the and Donald and Jeannie “There are over 3,500 resi- showed county commis- want to ask contractors to take state’s attorney needs assis- Woodside questioned the dents in this town, and only sioners photos he recently installment payments if the tance in a particular case. commissioners about the took of the west side of the cost of the project is very city’s other expenses and if Continued on Page 5_______ roof. He noted that the cur- large. Continued on Page 5_______ Page 2 County Journal December 27, 2013 Twardoski in court Police reports for the past week No details are avail- $300 cash. Christopher B. Liter, Isaac L. McMullin, Fire marshal’s report is in able this week about a A 17-year-old boy was 21, of Steeleville was 22, of Chester was ar- break-in that occurrerd also cited for unlawful arreted December 23 by rested December 19 by The Cutler man ac- 10.