EDITORIAL: Discussions on State Street parking needs to continue: Page A4 NEWS: Major rehab of I-255 begins this weekend: Page A2
CURRENT RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE
PAID Jerseyville, IL PERMIT NO. 204
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
P.O. Box 407 Jerseyville, IL 62052
JERSEY COUNTY
JERSEYVILLE, IL 62052
INSIDE NEWS Share your love in the newspaper! See pages A2 Why it pays to say ‘yes’ to 401(k) matches. See pages A3 RENT 20th Anniversary Tour returns to Fox Theatre . See pages B5
FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS
Welcome, baby Duncan. See page A6
SPORTS
Panthers advance in Carrollton Tournament. See pages B2
WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY, JAN. 31
44 30 High
Low
SATURDAY, FEB. 1
44 33 High
Low
SUNDAY, FEB. 2
59 37 High
Low
ONLINE Visit us on the web at
jerseycountyjournal.com
TOP STORIES ONLINE Jan. 22 - Jan. 29 1.Solar panels to light up Jersey Community Schoolse 2. Vehicle burglaries reported across county 3. Need for bus drivers stressed for Jersey Community schools 4. Jerseyville to address watershed issues following survey
JANUARY 29, 2020
OBITUARIES: ARMSTRONG, GILLESPIE, HALL, ROUNDCOUNT, STANTON. JERSEY COUNTY
JOURNAL
© 2020 All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
VOL. 18, NO. 5 - 75¢
State Street to retain angled parking in resurface project By JARAD JARMON Jersey County Journal Angled parking on State Street in Jerseyville was saved — at least for the time being. During their meeting Tuesday, Jan. 28, Jerseyville City Council members authorized Jerseyville Public Works Director Bob Manns to submit a written response to the Illinois Department of Transportation to proceed with the US 67 resurfacing project and to maintain the current striping plan for the segment of the project from Carpenter Street north to Spruce Street. According to Jerseyville city leaders, the street has been in dire need of repair. Road cores taken from the street indicated to officials that the road’s life cycle had run its course. The resurfacing project, set to start this year, includes the mulling and resurfacing of an approximately 5-mile stretch of road, notably going through State Street, a major business corridor in Jerseyville. The IDOT project is planned to run from Crystal Lake Road north to Fulkerson Drive. There was general support and excitement regarding the resurfacing of State Street, but contention arose when considerations were made to re-stripe the downtown corridor to include a bi-directional lane with parallel parking concept. The Illinois Department of Transportation indicated to Jerseyville that this was a safer option than the current striping in the city, Bob Manns, Jerseyville public works director, said. Also too, this lane concept is said to be more efficient, better alleviating traffic congestion along the strip.
However, this plan would’ve removed a large portion of the angled parking on along the strip — a point business owners in the area took issue with. Business owners and some residents along State Street pushed back against the idea in a town hall meeting Thursday, Jan. 23. Many argued that this would kill business on the street — a street they argued already has too little parking. Beth Bear, Jersey County Business Association director, said the association identified 62 building and business owners in the downtown corridor and sought to gauge their opinions on the matter. Of those 62, 54 were successfully contacted. Of that group, 28 were opposed to the idea, six were neutral and the remaining did not want to comment on the matter. During the informational town hall, Manns said that the city is already looking to expand the parking options along the corridor pointing to the satellite parking lots along the strip as well as plans to have more lots, as is the current plan for the city. It was also stressed by those opposed to the idea that customer behavior is volatile. Business owners said customers will simply decide against going into a store sometimes if there is no parking available next to the storefront. The point was made that among the customer base for some of these businesses, there are older individuals who can’t and won’t walk long distances to go to a particular store. Speaking on safety, Manns said there was a noticeable difference in the accidents on (See, PROJECT, A2)
Interest expressed in selling marijuana in Grafton By JARAD JARMON Jersey County Journal What seemed unlikely to some officials in Grafton appears to be more likely than not. Grafton Mayor Rick Eberlin announced at a Grafton City Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 21, that “serious” interest has been expressed in bringing a new industry — or at least newly legal industry — to the city: marijuana. “The people are extremely, extremely serious,” Eberlin said. “They have got the money lined up.” A 3-percent tax on cannabis sales was established in Grafton ahead of an Oct. 1 deadline to establish regulations on cannabis, following a council vote. The tax is imposed upon all who are engaged in the business of selling cannabis other than medical cannabis. The rate will be at 3 percent of the gross receipts from these sales made in the course of that business. At the time it was first presented, the Grafton city leaders said the likelihood that there would be interest in establishing a business in Grafton was slim, noting the steep startup costs associated with being licensed to sell. “I never dreamt that a community as small as Grafton would have the population that would support something like that,” Eberlin said. “…It was a shock to me.” It appears there is interest, though, in bringing the business to town. Still in its
infancy, the intent is to have a business that sells marijuana. Eberlin said interest specifically in a “bakery” was raised in conversations with the potential business owner. Whether the business would be selling recreational, medicinal marijuana or a combination of the two is unclear. Despite accepting a cannabis sales tax, city leaders still can deny business licenses related to the sale of marijuana in the city. Eberlin said he probably would not support the sale of recreational-use marijuana, but stressed he would have to hear more about the intent for the business and from council members and local police on the issue. As far as how the community would react, Eberlin said it could be 50/50. “I think it would be fairly split,” Eberlin said. It comes down to how the city and its residents want to be seen, Eberlin said. “What does Grafton want to be known as,” he said. “Right now, we are a familyfriendly town.” The Sky Tour, eagle watching events, the ice skating rink and the water park were listed as examples of the family-friendly activities in the city. “Is it going to be a net positive for Grafton,” Eberlin asked. He said there are too many unknowns at this time to make a definitive stance on this. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” he said.
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . .A4 News . . . . . . . . . A2-3, B5 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 Our Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B2 Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B3 Public Notice. . . . . . . . .B5
JOURNAL
Area Special Olympics athletes got to boogie By JARAD JARMON Jersey County Journal For local Special Olympics athletes, Friday, Jan. 24, was not a day for the games but one to celebrate each other along with taking time to dance for this year’s Winter Dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Jerseyville. The room was full with laughter, live music and excitement trying out different silly accessories for the photo booth. This was the second year for the dance, Tammy Powell, an organizer for dance, said. “We had one last January. It was about half this size, so it has grown,” Powell said. There was initially concern the snowy conditions were going to deter people, but as the night went along, more and more people filled the event space.
Jarad Jarmon/Jersey County Journal
Individuals boogie their hearts out at the Jersey County Special Olympics Winter Dance Friday, Jan. 24 at Knights of Columbus Hall in Jerseyville. More photos from the event can be found on A3.
Powell said this is important for those served by the Special Olympics. “It is awesome for them,” Powell said.
Powell stressed the teachers, parents and others played a big part in not only making this night happen but ensuring its success.
Jarad Jarmon/Jersey County Journal
WINTER ROYALTY George Thaxton of Jerseyville and Jada Cameron of St. Louis were named king and queen at the Jersey County Special Olympics Winter Dance Friday, Jan. 24, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Jerseyville.
City of Grafton is suing DeSherlia Marina
By JARAD JARMON Jersey County Journal The clash between the City of Grafton and DeSherlia Marina Management has raged on in one facet or another for years in the courtroom, and at the Grafton City Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 21, the two parties’ differences were reignited. Ahead of a heated exchange between the Grafton City Mayor Rick Eberlin and Alderman Jim Spencer on the matter, the Grafton City Council members, except for Spencer, voted to sue DeSherlia Marina Management regarding various differences the two parties have had over the years. Specifically, the aldermen and women voted to affirm the use of litigation against DeSherlia. The resolution accepted at the council meeting says the goal is “to bring resolution to the many issues caused by DeSherlia Marina Management.” Along with this, the resolution also makes numerous assertions against DeSherlia Marina Management, defending the decision to pursue litigation against the Grafton business. The resolution approved by the city council states: Q The City of Grafton finds that there are multiple unresolved breaches of the contract committed by DeSherlia Marina Management regarding the Grafton Marina Lease Agreement, dated August 16, 2002. Q The City of Grafton and its engineer have determined that in the process of the Marina construction DeSherlia Marina Management violated the terms of their PUD (Planned Unit Development) and agreement thus causing multiple problems. Q The City of Grafton has found that slip rental fees/payments due from DeSherlia Marina Management beginning in 2006 were not paid until 2014 and did not accurately reflect the amount required in the agreement, thus depriving the City of approximately $200,000. Q The City of Grafton finds that DeSherlia Marina Management has refused to abide by the Marina Inspection Agreement, requiring annual inspections, dated October 27, 2004 exposing the city, boaters and visitors to an increased risk of injury and financial liability.
“Let this matter be resolved in the court system.”
Jim Schrempf Grafton's corporate council
Q The State of Illinois grant administrator for the original Big P Grant (Boater’s Infrastructure Grant Program) awarded to the City and administered through Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has determined through two inspections (in 2012 and 2019) that DeSherlia Marina Management is non-compliant with the terms of the said grant and has provided false information to said agency to avoid making repairs, thus putting the grantee, the City of Grafton, at potential financial risks in excess of $500,000. Q The State of Illinois grant administrator and legal counsel for the Oslad/ Scenic Byways Grant, administered through IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation), has communicated to the city that DeSherlia Marina Management is non-compliant regarding the requirements of said grant and that a $53,000 over-payment paid by the city was actually the responsibility of DeSherlia Marina Management and should be repaid by DeSherlia Marina Management to the City of Grafton. Q The State of Illinois grant administrator for the IDJD/EDI Grant (Housing and Urban Development/Economic Development Incentive) has communicated to the City that DeSherlia Marina Management illegally used properties constructed with said grant monies and belonging to the City of Grafton as collateral on a $1.4 million loan, and DeSherlia Marina Management still claims ownership of said properties and putting the city at risk of repayment of approximately $192,000. Q The City of Grafton, the lessor of the Marina, has witnessed and been informed of numerous violations committed by DeSherlia Marina Management, the lessee, regarding dredging permits (U.S. Corps of Engineers), storage of hazardous chemicals (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) and the impermissible placement of stone blocks in the floodway (IDNR). Q The City of Grafton, its engineer and its legal representatives have determined that DeSherlia Marina Management has placed a shed and fence in the City of Grafton public right-of-way in violation of the state law, the city’s building and zoning codes and its flood plain ordinance. Q IDOT Field Engineers, have communicated to the City of Grafton that repayment of engineering fees (approximately $25,000) for the Bike Trail would be demanded of the City of Grafton if the Bike Trail is not completed through the marina. Q A 2008 audit conducted by Hughes and Associates identified unexplained costs pertaining to the construction of the marina in excess of $300,000 and directed the City of Grafton to rectify those audit findings which the City of Grafton has not been able to complete. (See, GRAFTON, A2)