Granite City’s Loss Is South Carolina’s Gain
Darren Miller, Cancer survivor and longtime advocate about the benefits of Medical Marijuana and his wife and partner Dr. Amy Miller announced their upcoming move to South Carolina. Leaving Granite City for the sand and the sun and shores of Myrtle Beach, as they will be planting new roots in what was once a favorite vacation destination, now to be called home.
Darren and Amy are well known not just in the Granite City area, but their stories are far reaching for their compassion for others and genuine caring hearts. Darren has made himself available to countless Cancer patients, sharing his knowledge and story to those with questions. Darren has often referred to his wife Amy, as his living angel and with good reason. During Darren’s Cancer journey Amy’s drive and determination for information and education helped to pave his path to wellness and recovery.
Dr. Amy Miller, better known to many as Amy, her compassion doesn’t stop with her husband. Her caring personality is often extended beyond family as her caring nature knows no boundaries. Her selfless act of being a living donor of a kidney saved the life of her friend and neighbor. Amy knew she had the gift of life to give and did so without hesitation. Dr. Amy has a long list of accomplishments and being a talented artist is just one among many. Amy is also a talented writer that we at GraniteCityGossip.com have had the pleasure of having as our website Columnist. Beyond the Doctor, the artist, and columnist is our friend that we are so thankful to have had the chance to get to know and love. Let us speak on behalf of our community when we say, we wish you both all the best in your exciting new adventure!
Happy Endings For Homeless Dogs
To find the newest furry addition to your family click the link to contact Granite City Animal Control.
Please send comments and questions for Dr. Miller to GraniteCityGossip@yahoo.com. To read archived articles and responses click here.
Ward 4 Alderman Brad Eavenson recaps the March 7, 2023
Granite City Council meeting.
City Council Meeting Summary March 7th.
Several committee meetings were held prior to the city council meeting. In the Public Works committee meeting, Mr. Koberna announced we will be returning to the spring/summer hours at the leaf and yard waste site effective March 20th. Hours will be Monday -Friday 8-5 and Saturday and Sunday 11-3. Republic Service does have a yard waste program if you want to pay for that service. Please call them for details.
The city council meeting opened with the Mayor reading a resolution proclaiming Sunday, March 5th, 2023 as Stacy Monroe Day in the city of Granite City. Stacy owned and operated Fast Freddy’s Hair Salon in Granite City and was a true ambassador of the community prior to her untimely passing. She was credited for helping hundreds of people and charities. Members of her family accepted the proclamation on her behalf.
The mayor then recognized the GCHS Warriors Championship Hockey team and their coaches. Each member of the coaching staff was presented with an honorary key to the city. This is the third year this team has brought hockey gold back to our city. I’m thinking “dynasty”.
Under Legal and Legislative, the council adopted an ordinance to amend 5.04.125 of the Granite City Municipal Code pertaining to short-term liquor licenses.
The council approved the Granite City MFT Traffic Signal / Street Light Maintenance Bid Results and the 2023 MFT Material Letting Program bid result. These bids are for materials used by the Public Works Department including, asphalt, oil and concrete. We also contract for service to maintain our traffic lights and streetlights owned by the city.
The council also approved moving the April 4th meeting to April 5th to accommodate election day.
All other actions were standard operating procedures of approving committee minutes, the bill lists, and reports presented by our fire and police departments.
Prior to adjournment, Mr. Bill Jones, the executive director of the Wastewater Treatment Plant announced his retirement from the city. Bill has done an excellent job in that capacity. We wish him continued success with his new position in a neighboring community.
Reminder: This is a summary of events and not to be construed as the official minutes of the meeting.
Chef Jon Serves Lunch To A Bunch!
When one hundred and eighty hungry fourth graders from Mitchell School needed to be fed, in a flash, after their recent field trip to see the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, who are you going to call? Chef Jon from Jerry’s Cafeteria, you know he can make this happen! The next question is, where are you going to go to facilitate this many starving students? The banquet hall at Twig’s is the answer. Their space was graciously offered to receive everyone for a fantastic lunch of chicken tenders, Jerry’s Famous Twice Bake Potatoes, a gooey fudge brownie and a cold juice drink. Jon was quickly recognized by many of the children as Chef Jon from the “Cooking With Chef Jon” classes that he offers to young future cooks. He was peppered with questions and received many hugs from the wonderful students from Mitchell. What a great afternoon!
Making her way to the south end of her district, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Illinois, stopped in Monday to visit with the staff and children at the Riverbend Head Start program in Granite City. Showing some serious skills with crayons and safety scissors, Budzinski joined one class of youngsters crafting cards for the “Valentines for Veterans” program.
“I could stay here all day,” Budzinski said as she pared a heart from construction paper to put on a card. “This is a great stop.”
Budzinski is a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and also serves on its health subcommittee. She started the program last month and will distribute the cards her office has received to veterans in her district.
The Riverbend organization has two locations in Granite City and serves about 550 children in the Metro East area.
Planning and Zoning:
An ordinance to approve partition of lots commonly known as 2665 and 2667 E 23rd Street. This was a simple clean-up of easement lines for this property. The ordinance was adopted.
An ordinance annexing a track of land commonly known as Odd Fellows Cemetery along Schaffer Road to the city of Granite City, IL. The cemetery was in a “donut hole” as it was surrounded completely by properties within the city. The ordinance was adopted.
During the planning and zoning committee meeting that preceded the council meeting, we addressed a concern of a resident about a dumpster on a Madison Avenue business being overloaded. The problem has been taken care of.
We also talked about the food truck ordinance. We will be reviewing this ordinance as well as the business license for vendor and pop-up businesses at the next committee meeting. These ordinances are works in progress and may be amended as we go along.
Fire Committee:
We are reviewing the non-resident cost for ambulance fees which have not been adjusted since 2014. Our department chief will bring back more details for council review.
A handicapped parking zone was approved for a resident in front of their home. These spaces are granted for a two-year period and the owner must present medical verification that there is a need for such a space in front of their home.
Finance Committee:
The committee approved these two bids that will be opened prior to the next meeting. They are annual standard operating issues. Granite City traffic signal and street light maintenance bid notice, Granite City material letting for MFT maintenance estimate bid notice.
The council also approved the payroll for city employees.
Other issues included:
Approval of some temporary “No Parking” to accommodate the St. Elizabeth Parish Picnic on a section of Johnson Road. This was done last year.
A “One House at a Time” project house was approved at 2326 Hodges.
We filled a vacancy on the Granite City Housing Authority Board as recommended by Mayor Parkinson. (Ms. Wilma Powell)
REMINDER: This is a summary of the topics discussed/approved during the meeting and are not to be confused with the official minutes of the meeting provided by City Clerk Jenna DeYoung. Meeting agendas and minutes are posted on the city web page.
Mayor Mike Parkinson Talks About the City’s Progression with Channel 4 News Reporter Deion Broxton
The mayor and his team have worked to promote and develop the city beyond the label of a “Steel Mill Town” and want the city to be seen as progressive and looking into the future. The community has expressed the desire for more retail and this administration seems to be making that one of their top priorities.
Mayor Mike Parkinson told News 4 Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Cavalier Furniture will fill vacant spaces in the Nameoki Corridor. Parkinson said Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Cavalier Furniture’s redevelopment of an old grocery store and K-Mart is totaling $12 million. He said the stores are expected to bring in millions in sales. Both stores, including a dollar store, are expected to open as early as March
See the Channel 4 interview by clicking here.
Who Was Your Super Bowl Pick?
The wagging tails and cold nose residents of the Granite City Animal Control facility didn’t seem to favor one team over another, but the Super Bowl treats were certainly the hit of the day.
All of the partying pups were on their best behavior while the caring staff made sure they were not forgotten on Super Bowl Sunday. Eager to please, the dogs patiently waited for tasty homemade treats and cheeseburgers. The dogs are up to date on shots and have been spayed or neutered and waiting for a loving family to call their own.
Give Animal Control a call at 618- 452- 6233 to ask about making one of these dogs a member of your family. You can also fill out an adoption application by clicking here. (Adoption Form)
Madison County Looking For Chief Assessment Officer
Madison County will hold testing for the position at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27.
The examination will determine candidates who are eligible for appointment for the chief assessment officer. The chief county assessor will serve a four-year appointment.
The chief assessment officer oversees the valuation of real estate throughout Madison County for the purpose of property taxes. No person may serve as the chief assessment officer who is not qualified by experience and training in property appraisal and property tax administration. No person may serve for the position who has not passed an examination prepared and administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) to determine his or her competence to hold the office.
Individuals interested in taking the exam should contact the Carla Zimmer, county coordinator, at (618) 296-4562 or email ckzimmer@madisoncountyil.gov by 10 a.m. the day before the test to register
The IDOR will administer the examination at the Madison County Administration Building, 157 North Main Street, Edwardsville. Examination scores are good for a period of three years from the date of the examination.
From the Riverbender
Ice Jam at the Dam Returns
In about a week, Ice Jam at the Dam will return for its second installment. It will again be held on Saturday February 18th at the National Great Rivers Museum located next to the Mel Price Lock and Dam. The winter festival will have educational booths, bald eagle viewing parties, firepits and refreshments, and a reenactment of what winter camp life was like for Lewis and Clark at Camp Dubois.
There will be family-friendly movies inside the facility’s theater and live animal shows at 11am, 12:30pm, and 2pm, provided by the TreeHouse Rehabilitation Center. Corrinne O’Brien, Natural Resources Specialist/Park Ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tells The Big Z she is hoping for a chill in the air.
Behind the museum at the foot of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam, local organizations will have educational booths where visitors can learn about winter wildlife, view bald eagles, and hear about the Lewis and Clark over-wintering at Camp Dubois alongside a replica of the boat used on their expedition.
By Doug Jenkins – Big Z Media
The City’s Second Mardi Gras Celebration Is Now in the Books
The cool temperature didn’t slow down the celebrations as area residents and neighboring communities gathered to watch the Mardi Gras parade making its way down Niedringhaus Avenue. Candy and beads were plentiful along the parade route as excited children scrambled to gather the sweet treats.
From the local homemade crafts, honey and other goods being sold from the indoor market, and food trucks lining the streets to the many tasty food offerings of all types and styles, there was no shortage of entertainment and fun for all ages. The interest from area vendors has grown each year, along with the crowds, making Mardi Gras in Granite City even more promising for 2024!
Granite City Rotary Club Volunteers Prepare Civic Park For Mardi Gras
Ward 4 Alderman Brad Eavenson recaps the February 07, 2023
Granite City Council meeting.
So, their movement still provides retail for our community while sending a message to the landlord of Crossroads that they need to fix their property or continue losing tenants and face further citations by the city inspection department for their property.
Planning and Zoning:
Three more properties were approved for demolition. The list of these properties continues to grow, and they are removed as funds become available. They are an eyesore on neighborhoods and create potential safety problems. Often times, it takes a year or more to clear ownership hurdles, liens on properties, etc. so it may seem like they are not coming down fast enough. We are following the law and making sure we don’t take down a property without proper authority. The council also transferred ownership of a vacant lot, owned by the city, to a private resident through the mow to own program.
Public Works:
A handicapped parking zone was approved for a resident in front of their home. These spaces are granted for a two-year period and the owner must present medical verification that there is a need for such a space in front of their home.
Economic Development and Negotiations:
The council adopted an ordinance to approve the redevelopment agreement for the property at 3653 Nameoki Road, the former K-Mart site. This agreement provides incentives for the developer to enhance not only the building but the disaster of a parking lot that has plagued that area for years. Upon project completion, to the satisfaction of the city, the developer can receive reimbursements from the sales tax to offset his personal cost.
The council also approved an ordinance declaring #4 Konzen Court as surplus city property and approved the sale agreement for that property in the amount of $985,000.
Finance:
The council approved a bid for a shelter over the police department rear parking lot. The canopy will protect police vehicles from potential hail and storm damage. The city is seeking grant funding for this project, and it will only be constructed if those funds are available.
The council also approved the application process for roadwork on several major streets in the city. Applications will be submitted to the state for funding approval.
REMINDER: This is a summary of the topics discussed/approved during the meeting and are not to be confused with the official minutes of the meeting provided by City Clerk Jenna DeYoung. Meeting agendas and minutes are posted on the city web page.