We knew it would be bad, but we didn’t know it would be that bad. Joe Biden’s performance in last week’s presidential debate sent shockwaves throughout the Democrat party. After months (probably years) of being gaslit by the White House, Democrat officials, and the fake news media – the facade has finally been lifted. The talking points have been abandoned – videos of Biden struggling to speak and having strange interactions with supporters, other elected officials and world leaders are no longer “cheap fakes.” As one pundit put it, Joe Biden fact checked the media in real time.

Post debate polling is showing a major shift in President Trump’s favor. A flash poll by CNN found that 67% of debate viewers believe that President Trump won the debate. The average of nationwide polls have Trump winning by 2.2% and battleground polling has Trump winning by an even bigger margin – 3.3%. According to the betting odds, Trump has a 55.5% chance of retaking the White House. Things are looking good for President Trump.

Election Day is just 4 months away. While that doesn’t seem like a long time, it’s a lifetime in politics. Will the Democrats abandon Joe Biden and choose another candidate? Who will Donald Trump pick for Vice President? Will Joe Biden redeem himself with a better debate performance in September? Time will tell.

Your involvement will help us turn St Clair County Red!

~Michael Butler, Chairman

“WHAT ARE ELECTION JUDGES?”

Judges of elections are responsible for the administration of election procedures in the polling place on Election Day. They are in the position of ensuring that the election process is administered fairly and in accordance with the law.

Early voting begins September 26th and Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th. We are still seeking Republican Election Judges for Early Voting and the November Election. Election Judges are paid $200 for each day that they serve and can earn additional compensation for attending election judge training and serving as a tabulator. If you would like to serve as an election judge, sign up on our website or email Chairman Michael Butler at Elections@scilgop.com.

Ryan Musick, County Board Chairman

1.        What are the duties of the County Board and the Chairman?The County Board is responsible for the policies and ordinances responsible for the running of St. Clair County. The County Board Chairman is responsible for the county budget, recommending ordinances and resolutions to the County Board, and monitoring expenditures and receipts.

All County Board committee members are appointed by the County Board Chairman. In addition, the Chairman recommends community board members to the County Board. For example, all members of the St. Clair County Health Department Board are appointed by the Chairman.

The County Board Chairman represents St. Clair County before legislative bodies, planning bodies, and regional boards and commissions.

The County Board Chairman also serves as Liquor Commissioner for St. Clair County.

2.           What improvements could the Chairman affect? The Chairman could affect the Health department with recommendations for more natural health alternatives, becoming stricter with enforcement of liquor laws and ordinances, recommendations for urban farming areas, ideas for new ways of bringing in revenue to reduce tax burdens, recommendations in any area to affect the health and well being of the constituents within the county including a homeless shelter and soup kitchen.

3.           What life / work experiences do you have which will help you in this office? The experiences I’ve had to help me run the county effectively are numerous. Division 1 college football taught me how to work hard, be a team player, execute at the right time and place, give no excuses, have a never-give-up attitude, and be relentless and persistent in pursuit of goals. Working for my family’s business since 11yrs old taught me the value of a dollar, keeping money within the community, and providing for family.

Tyler Thompson, Board of Review

1.        Explain what the board does. The Board of Review examines property tax assessment appeals for parcels in St. Clair County both for the assessed value and the exempt status of the parcel.

2.        Your thoughts about property assessments in St Clair  I believe there are multiple issues in St. Clair County with the way property assessments are done and with the way appeals are handled by the Board of Review. To start, there are many issues with the mass assessment system in place. The system hits multiple townships every year with unreasonable increases at the same time as state equalization factors. There are many cases in which the County’s assessors have claimed basements where there are crawlspaces and outbuildings where there are just sheds. This is not fair to residents and these incorrect assessments most often go unnoticed unless the resident knows to ask the County for their property record card. At the same time, the yearly state equalization factor will hit residents which brings their assessments up even if they have not made any improvements to their home. All it takes is for one overpriced house to be sold in a township and everyone suffers, no matter whether they can afford another property tax increase. This hits the most vulnerable residents the worst, especially ones of lower socioeconomic classes and those on fixed incomes, and at times the system seems designed to drive them out of their homes by slowly raising their property taxes every year. Even though there are tax exemptions and freezes available at the County they are not advertised well and for residents who may not have much experience handling bureaucracy this difficulty may be an impassable barrier, not to mention the difficulty of the appeals process. The appeals process requires the appellant to jump through many hoops to have a chance to be heard by the Board of Review but even then the appeal will most likely be denied. In a time of rising inflation, insane housing prices, and almost non-stop property tax assessment and rate raises this is simply not fair to the home-owners of St. Clair County. As a member of the Board of Review I would make knowledge of tax exemptions and freezes more known to the public, simplify the appeals process and make it more accessible to all residents, and be more accepting of appeals to help alleviate the suffering of residents.

3.        How have property values changed in the past 10 years?  Property values have surged to unacceptable levels in the past 10 years and that has caused homeownership to be placed beyond the reach of many prospective first time homebuyers. If the current system of mass assessments and lack of appeals continues this status quo will remain and homes will be bought up by companies and investors. This leaves young families with only one choice, to move away, which deprives the County of population and economic growth.

4.        What life / employment experience do you bring to the office? Firstly as a resident of St. Clair County I have seen the rising assessment and tax rate values. I have seen how it affects me and my family members, especially my grandparents on fixed incomes. As Village Clerk of Swansea I’ve seen the speed at which property taxes increase and experienced the concerns of the residents that have to bear them. I’ve also dealt with correspondence from the Board of Review as the Village’s residents submit appeals. I am also in the process of attending classes to become a Certified Illinois Assessing Officer and I am eager to bring my life and employment experiences to the position for the benefit of the County’s residents.

Brian Triska, Board of Review

1.        Explain what the board does: The Board of Review is responsible for hearing appeal requests from both residential and commercial property owners in regard to disagreement of assessed valuation by the county assessor

2.        Your thoughts about property assessments in St Clair. I feel assessed values as a whole are excessive due to the surge in home sales at record prices. Time will tell how those values equalize as the market calms but hopefully will balance out. Not only home sales but often property owners are taxed on structures/features that no longer exist on their parcel due to oversight. One of my top priorities is to educate tax payers on how to research what they truly are being taxed for and question items on uncertainty.

3.        How have property values changed in the past 10 years? In St Clair County just as nationwide, property values have increased due to supply, demand, and overall costs to improve a parcel from vacant land into a residence. I believe those costs driven by raw materials, fuel (for machinery), and exponential labor expense have artificially inflated property valuation to record levels just as with the insurance market.   Unfortunately, those factors have driven many to leave St Clair County and the State of Illinois as a whole to other more tax friendly areas.

4.        What life / employment experience do you bring to the office? I’m a lifelong resident of St Clair County. My Life started in the Signal Hill Neighborhood on the West end of Belleville and my family now resides in the Rural Area of Millstadt. I’ve spend my entire life surrounded by hardworking family members in the construction trades and farming community. For over 27 years I’ve ran our family Landscape Excavation and Construction business. With many years of knowledge I offer the office a comprehensive understanding of building types, construction valuation, and real world understanding of market cost of properties.

Our candidates have been working hard and earning your vote. Parades, Meet and Greets, Fundraisers, and Days of Action – their calendars are filling up fast and they are taking their message directly to the voters. Check out the list of upcoming events below. There are great opportunities to meet Republican candidates and support them with your time, energy, and dollars. I hope to see you out on the campaign trail in the coming weeks!

June 2024 County Board Report by Phil Henning

Public Comment.  We had a young man from Belleville who spoke passionately on his views of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.  His views were pro-Palestinian which we welcome under the lst Amendment, Freedom of Speech.   While critical of Israel, his message was reasoned and not inflammatory.

1. Appointments. We approved the following appointments:
   1. Commissioner Flood Prevention District- Isabelle Crockett for a three (3) year term effective immediately until June 30, 2027.
   2. Reappointment – Member, St Clair County Public Health Board, Julie Wittenauer, MD for a three (3) year term effectively immediately until June 30, 2027.
   3. Appointment Trustee, Marissa Fire Protection District- Kevin Laumbattus to complete the unexpired term of Bobby Jones due to his passing, effectively immediately and expiring on May 2, 2025.  Note: Mr. Laumbattus has 25 years of volunteer fire fighting experience and represents Washington County’s area under the Marissa Fire Protection District.
2. Environment Committee:
   1. Approval of a Special Use Permit to allow a business establishment to sell liquor/alcoholic beverages by the drink in a “B2” Business Zone at 8410 Collinsville Road in Collinsville, Mr. Taco Guisos and Botana Inc.
   2. Approval of a Special Use Permit to allow a business establishment to sell liquor/alcoholic beverages by the drink in a “B2” business zone at 831 S. Belt West- Cardinal Restaurant Group, LLC.
   3. The County issued fifty-three building permits with a total valuation of $6, 885,466.18.
3. Finance Committee:
   1. Approval of Airport Owners and Operators Liability Insurance Renewal for St Clair County, 911, Intergovernmental Grants Department and MidAmerica St Louis Airport with Lockton Company.  We were advised there will be some cost savings with this policy.
   2. Approval of the Circuit Clerk Audit conducted by Scheffel Boyle, CPA’s.   The audit noted all funds were properly accounted for and the office is being properly managed.
4. Transportation Committee
   1. We approved temporary swine waste lines through county culverts and along county right of way ditches on Klein School Road and Robinson School Road.  This was inspected and approved for the operator’s use.
   2. The Board authorized a permit for the owner of 925 Scott Troy Road to overlay his entrance on the county road right of way.
   3. We approved the County Roads and Bridges to sell or dispose of surplus equipment. The equipment is a 2011 International single axle dump truck and a 2013 Ford F250 crew cab pickup.
   4. We authorized the Roads and Bridges department to purchase a zero-turn mower (Lazer Model X993 E BV 60 XI) for $15,359.00.
   5. The Board approved an Intergovernmental Funding Agreement between St Clair County and Belleville to reapply pavement markings at various locations.  This cost will be split between the two agencies: $92,097.24 SCC and $122,183.85 Belleville for various municipal streets.
   6. We approved an Intergovernmental Funding Agreement between SCC and Belleville to improve the intersection of Frank Scott Parkway and North Belt West.  The funding is:  $217,725 .00-Federal; St Clair County- $83,773.36 and Belleville-$53,301.85.
   7. We awarded the 2024 County Oil and Chip program to the low bidder, DMS Contracting for $716,583.85
   8. We awarded the County Striping Program to the low bidder, Right Way Traffic Control for $183,231.16.
5. Trustee Committee.  The Board approved the extension of property tax due with property owners who are re-paying back taxes.   The county collected a total of $33,791.42 and after payments to the County Clerk’s office for administrative costs as well as costs to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.  The net amount collected was $20,163,63.
6. Animal Services.   Ashley Jett, Director reported they had some success in adoptions and return to owners in May.  They did 25-26 adoptions and did the “Bissell Empty the Shelters” campaign as well. Mr. Trentman, Committee Chair reported that Belleville West Sophomore shop classis working on a doghouse project. Pu
7. Public Safety.  Lt Col Knapp, SCC Sheriff’s Department reported the average daily jail population is 374 of 418 maximum capacity. They had 659 “pass throughs” through bookings and intakes.  Patrol issued 113 tickets, ninety-two warnings and served sixty-one warrants. They had 1,208 calls for service. The Juvenile detention center did not exceed the state mandated maximum capacity.