Children's Easter Carnival and Egg Hunt on Saturday in St. Joseph
New banking facility opens in St. Joseph
ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph Community Bank is now open at its new location at 802 E. Warren Street. On February 8, the new location will host its "Home Opener" open house to showcase the full-service facility from 4pm - 6pm. Illini head baseball coach Dan Hartleb and several players will be at the event to greet guests and sign autographs.
The lobby is now open Monday-Friday 8am - 5pm and on Saturday by appointment. The drive-up hours are Monday-Friday 7am - 6pm and Saturday 8am - 12pm.
In addition to traditional teller operations, the new facility will have safe deposit boxes, drive-up lanes, an ATM and night depository, and a coin machine available to the public.
The loan department will be led by Executive Vice-President and Senior Lender Les Hoveln and Jason Snyder, Vice-President of Lending.
For more information about the bank's services and upcoming "Home Opener", call (217) 469-2100.
The lobby is now open Monday-Friday 8am - 5pm and on Saturday by appointment. The drive-up hours are Monday-Friday 7am - 6pm and Saturday 8am - 12pm.
In addition to traditional teller operations, the new facility will have safe deposit boxes, drive-up lanes, an ATM and night depository, and a coin machine available to the public.
The loan department will be led by Executive Vice-President and Senior Lender Les Hoveln and Jason Snyder, Vice-President of Lending.
For more information about the bank's services and upcoming "Home Opener", call (217) 469-2100.
New library rules now in effect
With the state entering a new phase in its pandemic mitigation strategy, the St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library has updated their visitor rules in accordance to Illinois' newly relaxed restrictions.
Effective yesterday, the library will allow 25 people in the building. That maximum number includes both staff and patrons. Patrons, who must also wear mask when admitted, will be allowed 30 minutes a day inside. Restrooms and water fountains will not available for public use.
The library will continue to offer curbside service for those who can not or object wearing masks inside the building.
Residents and patrons who have a question about the updated policy can contact the St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library by phone at
(217) 469-2159 or via email at stjosephtownshiplibrary@gmail.com.
Effective yesterday, the library will allow 25 people in the building. That maximum number includes both staff and patrons. Patrons, who must also wear mask when admitted, will be allowed 30 minutes a day inside. Restrooms and water fountains will not available for public use.
The library will continue to offer curbside service for those who can not or object wearing masks inside the building.
Residents and patrons who have a question about the updated policy can contact the St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library by phone at
(217) 469-2159 or via email at stjosephtownshiplibrary@gmail.com.
St. Joseph village board meeting agenda updated
Three additional items were added to tonight's St. Joseph village board meeting for discussion and possible approval by trustees.
In addition to discussing the new village administrator position and taking care of routine budget duties, the board will also listen to a presentation from Roch's on outdoor dining and discuss moving lighting to accommodate potential out dining space.
The board will also discuss and approve the final draft of a new, long-awaited food truck ordinance.
The third addition to the agenda is a discussion on the county's upcoming redistricting options. An informational webpage at http://www.co.champaign.il.us/countyexecutive/redistrictingadvisory.php offers five possible plans under consideration. The mapping application compares redistricting proposals created by or submitted to the Champaign County Redistricting Advisory Group.
Village of St. Joseph board meeting agenda this Tuesday set
The St. Joseph village board meeting will be held this Tuesday at the Municipal Building at 7pm.
After the motion to approve minutes from April 13 and pay Village bills, trustees will consider approving six items on the April 27 agenda.
The following items are up for discussion and approval:
Members of the community are welcome to express their input. If you plan to attend the meeting, only the side door which enters directly into the Village Board room will be open. The rest of the building will not be accessible during the meeting. Guests are required to observe social distancing guidelines. If you have something that you want to bring up at the Village Board Meeting but do not want to attend in person, you may email the information to tasmetzer@gmail.com. Please include your full name, phone number, and address in the email.
Members of the community may address the Board/Committee by completing the information requested on the Attendance/Oath Sheet prior to the start of the meeting. After state their name and address for the record, speakers will have the floor for a maximum of five minutes to address the board.
- A MFT Resolution for Maintenance
- Approval a contract with Jamaica Fireworks
- Approval of the bid for directional boring for the streetlights conduit
- A motion an ordinance and policy prohibiting Sexual Harassment
- Review and approval a resolution and the employee manual with a drug and alcohol policy
- Approval of a resolution accepting the low bid for drainage improvement at Meadow Circle
Members of the community are welcome to express their input. If you plan to attend the meeting, only the side door which enters directly into the Village Board room will be open. The rest of the building will not be accessible during the meeting. Guests are required to observe social distancing guidelines. If you have something that you want to bring up at the Village Board Meeting but do not want to attend in person, you may email the information to tasmetzer@gmail.com. Please include your full name, phone number, and address in the email.
Members of the community may address the Board/Committee by completing the information requested on the Attendance/Oath Sheet prior to the start of the meeting. After state their name and address for the record, speakers will have the floor for a maximum of five minutes to address the board.
Food trucks a no-go in St. Joe, at least for now
Food trucks will not be allowed to operate inside the Village of St. Joseph border. After nearly an hour long discussion, village trustees put off the decision to allow or ban mobile restaurants services.
The discussion was initiated after it was announced via a post on Facebook that the Piato Food Truck had made plans to roll into town on June 15 and serve their signature cuisine.
Trustee Dan Davis contributed a post three days later, citing a committee meeting resolution, informing readers that food trucks were not allowed to set up shop in St. Joseph.
Responding to Davis' post close to an hour later, Office Manager Julie Hendrickson added to the thread, "I called the truck owner Friday and told him that we don't allow Food trucks."
Resident Amber Anderson, a day later, questioned the policy. She soon learned there was not a codified statute or policy on the books regulating food trucks operating in the village.
At the February 4 meeting, Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges as well as Trustees Davis and Jim Wagner were present. Local businesses were represented by Roche's Frederick Sturts and Roche Cain, Bob Patel from Dairy Queen, Padano Pizzeria's Hassan Fadel, Kelly Reynolds from Scratch along with Tracie Trotter from Wyldewood Cellars and Denise Hatfield from Jack Flash. Also on hand were Jay Whealer from Monical's Pizza, Kathy Lyons for Geschenk Coffee Haus and Todd Woods from the St. Joe IGA.
The group, who felt the competition would be detrimental to their bottom line, unanimously opposed the idea of allowing food truck vendors operate inside the village. With the rising threat of the pandemic starting to gain ground in North America, the village administrators did not take further action on the issue.
"I’ve been in email contact with the mayor and there currently isn’t any food truck policy," Anderson wrote on June 18. "Things were spoken in this thread incorrectly, Piato should have never been told not to come, and are getting an apology from the town."
Last month's June 23 board meeting, the council plunged into the issue starting with statements sent via email from business owners after a presentation by former Champaign City Manager Steve Carter, who is seeking a similar position with the village.
In her statement, Trotter, from Wyldewood Cellars, said she could see the issue from both sides.
"Small business are not thriving," she said. "I don't want to see businesses close."
Trotter wrote that whatever decision that is eventually reached, it does needs to be fair.
In keeping the playing field level, she suggested that food trucks pay a permit fee and taxes to the village. She was neither for or against them providing their services to those in the community looking for alternative meal options.
The majority of the opposition from local business owners centered around the unfair advantage food truck services have over brick and mortar establishments.
Scratch's owner said local businesses have more financial responsibilities to navigate such as rent, utilities, bank notes and payroll.
"It will only result in a smaller piece of the pie," said Reynolds, who use to have a food truck business at one point and pointed out her restaurant, pre-Covid, regularly was frequented by visitors from Champaign, Danville, Monticello and Mahomet.
Later during the meeting she asked, rhetorically, "I am a little confused. Why do they (food trucks) want to come to a bedroom community of 4,000?"
Hatfield, who was also present for the open forum, voiced her opposition to the board. She had concerns about the competition food trucks potentially posed for Jack Flash.
Trustee Davis called local businesses stakeholders in the community. He pointed out that St. Joseph business owners contribute to the local economy in several different ways like advertising in athletic programs and at games.
He called for a decision to ban food truck operations for the time being. Davis suggested the issue be revisited in the future, perhaps after the local economy rebounds from the effects of state's shelter-in-place subsequent Restore Illinois plan.
Roche added that not many people see what he and other local business owners do for the community like "donating $500 right off the bat" to the St. Joseph-Ogden high school athletic program and providing generous donations to other programs in the school district.
"We feed the teams," he said. "There's never enough money."
After explaining the how tough it was for him to open his establishment eight years ago along with the financial and sweat equity he has invested into Roche's, he said flatly, "I'm not a fan."
"We made the commitment to our local businesses," said trustee Art Rapp. Earlier in the meeting, he admitted that he would hate to detour new business in the village but echoed Davis' sentiment. "Maybe at sometime it might be good to entertain (allowing) food trucks. I think a prohibition is in order."
Anderson asked the board to consider policy that will fair and will cover all food trucks that would like to or currently offer service in the village. She added that a policy governing food trucks should not be made out of fear.
She closed her time before the board asking the village to set a time frame to revisit the issue.
Before moving on to move on to other business, Fruhling-Voges said the decision for or against allowing food trucks won't come for a while.
"There is a lot to think about in creating a village policy," she said.
Pancake breakfast in St. Joseph on hold
From the Mayor; Share those welcoming smiles
Dear Village of St. Joseph Residents,
Over the last three months our community along with the rest of the world has experienced something that none of us could have ever imagined. Each of us will remember this time in different ways.
For some it’s been a time to reflect on where our life priorities should be and may have been able to enjoy the time to slow down their pace of living, but for others it’s been a troubling time either for health, financial, business survival, or concerns of living in a free
society. As we navigate our way through the next few days, weeks, and months ahead please be patient with each other.
You will begin to see many things begin to open to the public. To allow some of our businesses to take advantage of the Governor’s announcement to move into Phase 3, the village has worked out a plan to give them some space temporarily in our downtown.
Unfortunately, our downtown has limited parking, but accommodations have been made to try and make the best of the situation. Please take extra precautions as you drive through the downtown on Lincoln Street. This portion of Lincoln Street will remain one way while we allow outdoor seating for those businesses. Our community has done a great job so far to give the village’s businesses their support.
I encourage you to continue to shop local, support the curbside services, take advantage of some outdoor dining and be sure to thank those business owners for doing an extraordinary job serving our community during this time. St. Joseph is fortunate to have every one of them. The Village is continuing to monitor the guidelines set forth by the State of Illinois to open the parks slowly and safely.
Beginning next week, we can allow practices at the ball fields, the tennis courts will be open and within the week we will open the restrooms. The pavilions and picnic tables are available for use, but large gatherings and the playgrounds are still prohibited. The Municipal Building will open to the public during regular business hours but renting the meeting room will still be limited.
We encourage our community to continue to follow the guidelines set forth by the State and Local Public Health Departments. I also wanted to thank our village residents for taking the time to complete your Census response. The Village of St. Joseph has a comfortable lead in our response rate. Currently we hold the lead at 81%, the best in the County. Great job, St. Joe!
Thank you for being such a great group of residents. Continue to share those welcoming smiles, lending a helpful hand, saying a kind word and please work with us as we make those steps to bring our lives back to a healthy and safe normal. God Bless and Enjoy your summer.
Tami Fruhling-Voges, Village President/Mayor
Village of St. Joseph office closed to the public until further notice
While there has been only one confirmed case of the Coronavirus in Champaign County, following the lead of government offices around the state, village officials have closed their physical office in St. Joseph to the public.
There was no indication on the village website when they might reopen at this time.
Residents can, however, still interact with the village and leaders by phone or email during normal business hours. Staff members will be available to answer phones, respond to email and process all payments as usual.
Sewer payments are asked to be made by using the night box on the left hand side of the building. While checks and money orders are the preferred methods as they leave a paper trail to verify receipt, cash payments will be accepted by the village and a receipt will be mailed as soon as possible.
For more information contact the village office by phone at (217) 469-7371. Questions or concerns can be emailed to office manager Julie Hendrickson at julie.quednau@stjosephillinois.org or Debbie Routh at debbie.routh@stjosephillinois.org.
St. Joseph announces 2020 meeting schedule
The St. Joseph Village Board has released their biweekly meeting schedule for 2020. The first meeting of the year is scheduled for next Wednesday, January 14.
Meetings are held at the St. Joseph Municipal Building located at 207 East Lincoln Street and start 7pm. Residents are welcome to attend.
Minutes from past village board meetings are available online here. Upcoming agendas are available here online.
| January 14, 2020 | Regular Meeting |
| January 28, 2020 | Regular/Study Session Meetings |
| February 11, 2020 | Regular Meeting |
| February 25, 2020 | Regular/Study Session Meetings |
| March 10, 2020 | Regular Meeting |
| March 24, 2020 | Regular/Study Session Meetings |
| May 12, 2020 | Regular Meeting |
| May 26, 2020 | Regular/Study Session Meetings |
| June 9, 2020 | Regular Meeting |
| June 30, 2020 | Regular/Study Session Meetings |
| July 14, 2020 | Regular Meeting |
| July 18, 2020 | Regular/Study Session Meetings |
| August 11, 2020 | Regular Meeting |
| August 25, 2020 | Regular/Study Session Meetings |
| September 8, 2020 | Regular Meeting |
| September 22, 2020 | Regular/Study Session Meetings |
| October 13, 2020 | Regular Meeting |
| October 27, 2020 | Regular/Study Session Meetings |
| November 10, 2020 | Regular Meeting |
| November 24, 2020 | Regular/Study Session Meetings |
| December 8, 2020 | Regular Meeting |
| December 22, 2020 | Regular/Study Session Meetings |
Christmas tree pick-up schedule for St. Joseph set
The Village of St. Joseph offer a community-wide Christmas tree pick-up during a special collection dates starting on January 13 through January 17, 2020. Village officials ask that all decorations be removed and that trees be protected from the elements until the pick up. Residents must place unwanted trees on the curb and any plastic slip cover used to protect the tree prior to pick up be removed.
Brush pick-up still on hold
There won't be a brush pick-up this month in St. Joseph.
Last month the Village suspended collection, a service that the community has enjoyed for more than a quarter of a century according to Public Works superintendent Mike Peters.
"The committee is getting some new policies in place," he said. "I can't tell you much more than that or when we will have something in place."
The problem for Public Works is they can only burn the collected debris when certain conditions are met. Due to the proximity of the piles, burns have to take place when the wind is blowing out of the east to carry the smoke westward away from the village. Complicating the issue is the abundant amount of rainfall this year that has kept the brush too moist to burn. Peters said wet wood smokes too much when burned.
So far, perfect burn days have been few.
In the interim there are several local companies that can provide convenient removal and pick-up services.
Residents can use their smartphone or tablets to photograph their pile of brush or lawn waste and send it to Cheap Charlie Hauling for a free estimate.
"We do offer yard waste pick up," said owner Thomas Stumborg, who says Cheap Charlie accepts cash or checks. "We take it to the Landscape Recycling Center in Urbana. A full pickup with side boards is about seven yards. We would charge about $100 to $150 for a load this size."
He added that a load that would fill a trailer could run (around) $300 for those have a lot of limbs and brush to get off their property.
Another local company that provides brush removal is Under Cutters Lawn Care.
Now in his second season, owner Thomas Dickey employs local high school student and carefully trains each one to give them a valuable skill set for the future.
"I have lived in St Joe for 20 years and care about the appearance of our community," Dickey said. "I had a mentor who had a very successful lawn care business."
Under Cutters accepts cash, check and Vemno.
"My pricing has been determined by going rates charged by other companies in the area," Dickey said.
For quotes and estimates, text or call Under Cutters Lawn Care at 419-2580. Cheap Charlie Hauling can be reached at 417-5601. Both businesses are in the 217 area code.
Last month the Village suspended collection, a service that the community has enjoyed for more than a quarter of a century according to Public Works superintendent Mike Peters.
"The committee is getting some new policies in place," he said. "I can't tell you much more than that or when we will have something in place."
The problem for Public Works is they can only burn the collected debris when certain conditions are met. Due to the proximity of the piles, burns have to take place when the wind is blowing out of the east to carry the smoke westward away from the village. Complicating the issue is the abundant amount of rainfall this year that has kept the brush too moist to burn. Peters said wet wood smokes too much when burned.
So far, perfect burn days have been few.
In the interim there are several local companies that can provide convenient removal and pick-up services.
Residents can use their smartphone or tablets to photograph their pile of brush or lawn waste and send it to Cheap Charlie Hauling for a free estimate.
"We do offer yard waste pick up," said owner Thomas Stumborg, who says Cheap Charlie accepts cash or checks. "We take it to the Landscape Recycling Center in Urbana. A full pickup with side boards is about seven yards. We would charge about $100 to $150 for a load this size."
He added that a load that would fill a trailer could run (around) $300 for those have a lot of limbs and brush to get off their property.
Another local company that provides brush removal is Under Cutters Lawn Care.
Now in his second season, owner Thomas Dickey employs local high school student and carefully trains each one to give them a valuable skill set for the future.
"I have lived in St Joe for 20 years and care about the appearance of our community," Dickey said. "I had a mentor who had a very successful lawn care business."
Under Cutters accepts cash, check and Vemno.
"My pricing has been determined by going rates charged by other companies in the area," Dickey said.
For quotes and estimates, text or call Under Cutters Lawn Care at 419-2580. Cheap Charlie Hauling can be reached at 417-5601. Both businesses are in the 217 area code.
Village brush pick-up ends this week
After a suspension of service, the Village of St. Joseph announced public works employees will pick brush left on village curbs until June 21 today.
As long as weather conditions allow it, the village will remove brush currently placed curbside that conforms to guidelines until this Friday.
Despite recent issues, the board would like to have some sort of regular brush removal program for the community.
"The village sees the value in providing this service to our residents," says a media release from the village received earlier today. "Due to some of the issues that have evolved over the last several years, we will need to make some revisions to our policies."
After Friday homeowners will be responsible the removal of their own yard waste and brush disposal until further notice.
"I know residents have made recommendations on Facebook with different companies," said Debbie Routh, Treasurer for the village. "We are not advertising any companies at this point."
In addition to policy changes, scheduling issues will be addressed by village trustees.
"The board will review the current policy and man hours spent to provide this service," states the release. "It is our goal to continue to provide this courtesy to our village residents."
Items that are not allowed during this week pick up includes whole trees, bags of clippings weighing over 30 pounds, mulch, stump grindings, dirt and topsoil, plastic trash bags, and trash. Brush should be no longer than 6 feet in length and 10 inches in diameter. Employees will not take yard waste left in trash cans or landscape timber.
Residents are asked to leave 18 inches between each pile left on the curb.
For more information contact the Village of St. Joseph during regular office hours Monday thru Friday from 7:00am to 3:30pm. The office is closed for lunch between 12:30-1:00pm. Inquiries can also be made by phone at (217) 469-7371.
As long as weather conditions allow it, the village will remove brush currently placed curbside that conforms to guidelines until this Friday.
Despite recent issues, the board would like to have some sort of regular brush removal program for the community.
"The village sees the value in providing this service to our residents," says a media release from the village received earlier today. "Due to some of the issues that have evolved over the last several years, we will need to make some revisions to our policies."
After Friday homeowners will be responsible the removal of their own yard waste and brush disposal until further notice.
"I know residents have made recommendations on Facebook with different companies," said Debbie Routh, Treasurer for the village. "We are not advertising any companies at this point."
In addition to policy changes, scheduling issues will be addressed by village trustees.
"The board will review the current policy and man hours spent to provide this service," states the release. "It is our goal to continue to provide this courtesy to our village residents."
Items that are not allowed during this week pick up includes whole trees, bags of clippings weighing over 30 pounds, mulch, stump grindings, dirt and topsoil, plastic trash bags, and trash. Brush should be no longer than 6 feet in length and 10 inches in diameter. Employees will not take yard waste left in trash cans or landscape timber.
Residents are asked to leave 18 inches between each pile left on the curb.
For more information contact the Village of St. Joseph during regular office hours Monday thru Friday from 7:00am to 3:30pm. The office is closed for lunch between 12:30-1:00pm. Inquiries can also be made by phone at (217) 469-7371.
Ameren announces lower utility rate for St. Joseph
St. Joseph residents can knock a few dollars off their power bill for the next 12 months.
Recently Ameren Illinois announced lower residential electric rates to the tune of 4.6 cents per kilowatt hour (kwh) starting with this month's meter readings. With the transmission fees, the rate is estimated to be about 4.7 cent per kwh.
According to a press release from the village's electric aggregation consultant Simec, the low bidder for supplying electrical services to residents, the new rate is approximately three-tenths of one cent less than their rate of 5.031 cents.
The average consumer in St. Joseph would save roughly $36 a year switching to Ameren.
Customers that choose to opt out of the aggregation program offered by the village are subject to a lockout period of 12-months with Constellation, the default provider for village. Regulations require consumers who opt out to remain a total of 12 months with Ameren or a supplier of their choice if they do not switch to a new provider within the first two months of the initial change in service.
Once a customer opts out they will be returned automatically to Ameren or to the specified retail electric supplier.
One thing to keep in mind, Ameren, who cites decreased costs in delivering electrical service at this time, may raise their rates at any time if they file with the ICC and demonstrate that their operational expenses have changed. The sole benefit of municipal aggregation is it does offer some measure of price stability since the rates are locked in for a specific period of time.
While Constellation negotiated rate with St. Joseph is among the lowest in the state, Ameren's new rate is appreciably lower in many communities. Quincy's provider bills 5.09/kwh. Effingham residents pay 6.285 with their aggregator. Godfrey’s current municipal electrical aggregation contract with Homefield Energy is at 5.496 until December 2020.
According to the release issued by Simec, residents currently with Constellation can opt out at any time and at no cost. To opt out, they will need to contact Constellation’s customer care center toll free number at (844) 312-9122 and will need only their account number. Customer account numbers can be found at the top of their bill.
Recently Ameren Illinois announced lower residential electric rates to the tune of 4.6 cents per kilowatt hour (kwh) starting with this month's meter readings. With the transmission fees, the rate is estimated to be about 4.7 cent per kwh.
According to a press release from the village's electric aggregation consultant Simec, the low bidder for supplying electrical services to residents, the new rate is approximately three-tenths of one cent less than their rate of 5.031 cents.
The average consumer in St. Joseph would save roughly $36 a year switching to Ameren.
Customers that choose to opt out of the aggregation program offered by the village are subject to a lockout period of 12-months with Constellation, the default provider for village. Regulations require consumers who opt out to remain a total of 12 months with Ameren or a supplier of their choice if they do not switch to a new provider within the first two months of the initial change in service.
Once a customer opts out they will be returned automatically to Ameren or to the specified retail electric supplier.
One thing to keep in mind, Ameren, who cites decreased costs in delivering electrical service at this time, may raise their rates at any time if they file with the ICC and demonstrate that their operational expenses have changed. The sole benefit of municipal aggregation is it does offer some measure of price stability since the rates are locked in for a specific period of time.
While Constellation negotiated rate with St. Joseph is among the lowest in the state, Ameren's new rate is appreciably lower in many communities. Quincy's provider bills 5.09/kwh. Effingham residents pay 6.285 with their aggregator. Godfrey’s current municipal electrical aggregation contract with Homefield Energy is at 5.496 until December 2020.
According to the release issued by Simec, residents currently with Constellation can opt out at any time and at no cost. To opt out, they will need to contact Constellation’s customer care center toll free number at (844) 312-9122 and will need only their account number. Customer account numbers can be found at the top of their bill.
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