Membership Newsletter – August 2024

A lot has happened since our last membership newsletter, especially on the national level. An assassination attempt on President Trump, a successful Republican National Convention, the announcement of Senator JD Vance as our Vice Presidential candidate, and a total candidate swap on the Democrat side.

At the local level, we’ve been working hard to spread our message and working to fulfill our mission of electing more Republicans to office here in St. Clair County. Our candidates have made their presence known by participating in parades in Lebanon, Mascoutah and New Athens. This month, we’ll be participating in parades in Freeburg, O’Fallon and Millstadt.

Our candidates and their volunteers are also taking their message directly to the voters by canvassing priority precincts throughout St. Clair County. The Jay Keeven campaign, who is running against Katie Stuart in the 112th District, has knocked over 7,000 doors. The Schmidt campaign is working hard as well, and has knocked more than 10,000 doors! We’ll be knocking doors for Kevin Schmidt and Jay Keeven this Saturday, August 10th. If you’d like to join us, contact either campaign by emailing schmidt4illinois@gmail.com or jay.keeven@gmail.com .

We’re still seeking Election Judges for the November Election. If you would like to serve as an Election Judge this Fall – specifically in Belleville, Centreville or East St. Louis – please email elections@scilgop.com or text Michael Butler at 618.237.1819.

There are a number of opportunities to meet our candidates and support them (with your time, energy, or money) in the coming days and weeks. Check out the upcoming events below and I hope to see you out on the campaign trail soon!

Michael Butler

RSVP for Fraud Workshop Nelson@mail.house.gov

Josh Loyd is prepared to represent Congressional Dist 13 in Washington DC

Important Election Dates

Sept 26 Vote By Mail applications accepted           application here

Sept 26 Early Voting begins at Courthouse

Nov 5 General Election

Where do I register? Is my registration current? Where is my polling place?

Can I get a sample ballot before I vote?  All of these are answered, just scroll down on the page.

Thank you to Phil Henning who diligently reports on the actions of our own governing County Board. These are the actions which affect us locally.

County Board Report

July 2024

Phil Henning, County Board Member

District 19

1. Animal Services. Ashley Jett, Director reported the heavy rains in mid-July once again flooded the facility resulting in having to evacuate the animals to dry ground.  Many volunteers, including airmen from Scott AFB swung into action.  The average population is 45 dogs and 10 cats.  This will be alleviated when the new Animal Services facility is built near 74^th Street and IL 13/15- on high ground!
2. Environment Committee.   I sit on this committee.  We approved the demolition of 34 houses  in East St Louis/Washington Park to the lowest bidder,  Murphy Construction.  This is the second round of 34 demolitions using a state pool of funds.
3. Finance Committee.  We approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the St Clair Sheriff’s Department and Cahokia School District 187 for the School Resource Office Program for a Deputy.  The school district will pay for the Deputy.
   1. The Board approved an Intergovernmental Agreement between St Clair County and the City of Belleville for the transfer of property located at 500 South Belt East in Belleville for the amount of $250,000, which was appraised for $290,000.  In between committee meetings prior to the main board meeting, I discussed this with Robert Wilhelm (Lebanon) as there was no details as to this transaction.   He asked Chairman Kern during the Finance Committee and Mr. Kern explained the reason why.  Essentially the facility is the former Army Reserve Center, Transportation Company that the Army left about 5 years ago.   Because the original land was owned by Belleville, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) transferred the facility to Belleville at no cost.   The ACOE also ensured full remediation of the building prior to the transfer.  The August 3^rd edition of the Belleville News Democrat reported on this.  Basically, the County is going to move emergency disaster supplies and equipment from a pole barn on the Mid America Airport property and store it in this more suitable facility.  The county has $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act to upgrade the interior.  Mr. Kern said that in the future the facility may house the County Emergency command center.   My question is why we paid Belleville $250, 000 when they got the property for free.   It’s possible the city would sell the building and 5 acres on the private market.  Perhaps $250,000 is a value for this facility.
4. Judiciary Committee.  We approved the list of Democrat and Republican judges for the upcoming General Election on 5 November.
5. Property and Recreation Committee.  We approved Resolution 2940-24-R to apply for and provide matching funds for an establishment of walking trails at Foley Park.  We also approved a fence estimate from Fence and Deck Depot to enclose and repurpose the old ballfield at Foley Park into a dog park for $17, 786.
6. Transportation Committee.  We approved the following ordinances:
   1. Altering the maximum speed limit along Eastview Drive and Eastland Drive in the St Clair Road District.  This is a neighborhood off West Boulevard in Belleville.
   2. We also approved altering the maximum speed limit throughout Weatherstone subdivision, St Clair Road District.  This neighborhood is just off Frank Scott Parkway across from the SWIC campus in Belleville.
   3. We approved awarding the 2024-2025 salt contract to the low bidder, Compass Minerals of America for $978,694.00.
   4. The board approved a contract with SCI Engineering for material testing services on the Imbs Station Bridge Road for $15,000.00.
   5. Finally, the Board approved the purchase of a John Deere tractor and necessary accessories for $178,751.00.   Mr. Ettling, County Engineer, answering Board Member Ed Cockrell’s question, said this was an unplanned and needed purchase.
7. Public Safety Committee.  Lt Col Tom Knapp, St Clair County Sheriff’s Department reported the following:
   1. The patrols issued 92 traffic citations, gave 57 traffic warnings, made 44 felony/misdemeanor arrests, did 315 park patrols, 945 business checks and 36 courthouse checks. Total calls for service, 1009.  It should be noted that Auxiliary Deputies provide security for the Board Meeting as volunteers.
   2. Jail Division.  626 inmates were processed through the facility, with an average stay of 3 days, the oldest admitted was 68 and the youngest 16.  They processed 185 females and 441 males.  Booking types were 196 misdemeanors, 301 felonies, 5 Federal prisoners, 81 fugitives, 24 weekend sentence bookings, 3 county sentence bookings, 11 for IDOC and 5 “other.”   The average daily population is 391.
   3. Public Defender’s office.  They are currently managing 1,831 felony cases with 1,696 full-time represents and 135 part-time represents.  They closed 54 cases in June, had 1 trial and 32 plead outs, 10 cases were dismissed. They represented 49 murders (this likely includes on-going cases) and attended 104 preliminary hearings along with 166 misdemeanor/DUI and traffic cases.  The office also handled 21 new juvenile cases and 20 closed cases in June.  There has been a total of 291 juvenile abuse cases so far in 2024 and 23 new cases in June with 24 closed cases.
   4. Juvenile Detention Facility.  The facility did not exceed the state limit having an average of 38 juveniles housed daily.
8. Regional Office of Education.  Regional Superintendent of Education, Lori Costello provided an extensive Quarterly Report on her office activities.  Of note, there are 301 educators registered in SCC; 312 teaching licenses, 93 substitute teachers registered and 173 teaching licenses issued.  They had 133 student intake referrals, 1267 follow-ups, 175 truancy hearings, 2 high school dropouts with referral to services, 84 agency contacts and referrals, 124 school staff contacts, 245 parent conferences/meetings, 8 social worker/counselor contacts and 3 workshop/trainings and meetings.  Her Administration and Supervision of Schools office reviewed 10 schools.

We approved the Trustee Committee report on property tax payment extensions and collections and the County Auditor’s report and the Treasurer’s report on investments by St Clair County.