Area News
City economic director explains TIF Districts
The Vandalia City Council recently reviewed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District funds for distribution to local requests for building improvements. However with the discussion came much discussion of explaining to the public the purposes and operations of a TIF district. Vandalia has two TIF districts, which were formed to meet one or more of three…
Read MoreWaste transfer station issue tabled until next county board meeting
To avoid any possible legalities regarding confusion in the publishing of a legal regarding a meeting held Friday night, the matter of a proposed waste transfer station was tabled for 30 days. Despite assurances by State’s Attorney Joshua Morrison that the meeting was valid, as the legal mentioned the matter would be handled at the…
Read MoreCounty opens new, and first, animal control shelter near lake
Fayette County now has its own animal control center, which was completed last week. The shelter, the first ran by the county, has already had its first residents as well, according to recent reports. Prior to the shelter being built, captured animals were held with Dr. Durbin’s office in St. Peter. The new shelter completely…
Read MoreSt. Elmo to use half million dollar grant on water project
CARISSA SITKI During the Wednesday, April 7, St. Elmo City Council meeting, Mayor Ernie Myers announced that the City had received their $550,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for the 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). St. Elmo will be putting this grant to use in the second phase of…
Read MoreNew officer sworn in at Vandalia council meeting
Administrator, board members resign from health department
Fayette County will be looking for a new Health Department administrator, and three board members, following the resignations of all of those officers last Thursday night, April 1. According to Jenny Waggoner, Fayette County Board chairman the following people submitted their resignations: Melissa Storck, administrator; board president Dr. Dawn McDaid, as well as board members…
Read MoreGottman reelected Two towns to see new heads, one contest remains undecided
Fayette County saw a 20 percent voter turnout on Tuesday for the April 6 consolidated election. There were 2,676 voters out of 13,607 who went to cast their ballots in many local contests. “We were done virtually by 8:30 p.m. It was our best one yet,” said Fayette County Clerk Jessica Barker. In results, two…
Read MorePalmer sworn in as Fayette County sheriff
There’s a new sheriff in town. No, really. Interim Fayette County Sheriff Chris Palmer was sworn into office officially Thursday morning, Apr. 1 by Fayette County Judge Don Sheafor. Palmer, a Pana native, is no stranger to the Fayette County area as he served 14 years on the Vandalia Community Unit District 203 school board,…
Read MoreTIF monies spotlighted in council discussion Monday
The debate of just how much Tax Increment Finance (TIF) monies should be granted to businesses for improvement projects within the City of Vandalia. In the first order of business dealing with the TIF monies, a proposal was brought before the council listing the “best practices, recommended by the advisory board. The advisory board is…
Read MoreLeader-Union parent company buys Taylorville publications
Pamela Rensing [email protected] Greg Hoskins, publisher and owner of Better Newspapers, Inc., parent company of the Leader-Union, announces the acquisition of two Illinois newspapers: The Breeze-Courier and The Shopping Spree, both in Taylorville. Based in Mascoutah, Better Newspapers, Inc. is a family-owned company now operating 26 publications in Illinois and Missouri. The Breeze Courier is…
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