Thursday January 8, 2015 Vol. 2, No. 44
The Weekly Post
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A few new faces emerge to run for local offices By BILL KNIGHT
A few new faces plan to run for local offices at area school boards and municipal offices in April’s elections, but one slot on Elmwood’s City Council and one on Princeville’s school board each has no candidate. Also, Prince-ville’s City Clerk and Williamsfield’s Board of Education secretary haven’t filed, according to local and county officials, but reportedly intend to run. By the Dec. 22 deadline, no one turned in required petitions for Elmwood’s Ward 2, where Alderman Jeff For The Weekly Post
Billtown moves on with grant
Next election The next consolidated election for local offices is April 7.
Lampe is not running for re-election, according to Elmwood City Clerk Melissa Morse. That means that either someone could launch a write-in campaign for the seat or Mayor J.D. Hulslander could appoint someone, according to lawyer Stephanie Schmieg, one of the City of Elmwood’s attorneys. In Princeville, incumbents Dan Bridson and Kristi Daugherty didn’t turn in
petitions, according to Peoria County, and only three candidates have filed for the four open seats. Princeville Superintendent Shannon Duling said, “If only three run for the four open seats, the Board will need to appoint one community member to fill the remaining opening. The Board would make the appointment after the election is over.” Following are official candidates, according to local and county records: Brimfield Village Board: Incumbent Board members Joe Arbogast and Brian Porter filed to run.
WINTER FINALLY ARRIVES
Elmwood City Council: Incumbent Aldermen Bryan Davis (Ward 1) and Bob Paige (Ward 3) filed, and appointed City Clerk Melissa Morse seeks a full term. Farmington City Council: Incumbents Kimberly Gilstrap (Ward 1) and June Whitmer (Ward 3) are running, plus newcomer Ryan Lambert (to fill Jeff Vogel’s Ward 2 seat). Princeville Village Board: Incumbents Teresa Gilroy, Gene Koller and Dave Sutherland are seeking four-year terms, and incumbent Randy Haley a two-year slot. Also, incumbent Clerk Mary Ann Continued on Page 2
Neighbors upset about B.Y.E. site By BILL KNIGHT
By BILL KNIGHT
WILLIAMSFIELD – An environmental statement filed by the Western Illinois Regional Council on behalf of Williamsfield’s paperwork for a $229,000 grant from the state’s Community Development Assistance Program has been approved, Village President Michael Gray said at the Board’s Monday night meeting. That news set in motion two other actions: The board unanimously approved applying to Laura State Bank for the Village’s $76,000 share of the project, which addresses upgrades recommended by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and Trustees started discussing how to pay off that loan in five years, possibly by means of a slight increase in water rates. That rate, which includes sewer, garbage and recycling, could go up about $6 a month, depending on usage, Gray said, but the Board won’t take action until a new garbage contract is settled, probably next month. Williamsfield water has about 250 users. Even with a modest Continued on Page 7
ELMWOOD – A possible new location for B.Y.E. Ambulance Service’s headquarters could be in an older, double-wide modular home on an unkempt lot at the dead end of a residential neighborhood where children play and intersections have no stop or yield signs. B.Y.E. Ambulance Service in late October bought property at 218 S. Knox from CEFCU for $25,500, according to Peoria County, and last summer sold one of its two buildings at 108 E. Hawthorn to Ag-Land FS for $125,000. Some residents in the neighborhood resent the new site – plus not being informed beforehand and hearing nothing from the City of Elmwood about a public hearing about the idea. Indeed, it’s still unclear whether a public hearing will take place concerning the plan, although B.Y.E.’s next monthly meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday (Jan. 12) at its 108 E. Hawthorn Street building. “I tell people, and most say, ‘They’re doing WHAT?’,” said Gerri Pettit, who lives a block For The Weekly Post
For The Weekly Post
Monday’s snow caused the postponement of several basketball games, brought a snow day to Williamsfield students and prompted a variety of snow removal efforts across the area. Photos by Amy Davis (top) and Jeff Lampe.
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