Author: joeward7

Brenden Moore
The State Journal-Register

After hearing testimony from a handful of residents opposed to legalized marijuana for recreational use, members of the Springfield City Council Tuesday evening moved forward with a pair of ordinances that begin debate on zoning restrictions dictating where facilities for cultivating and selling could go in the city and how tax revenue generated from sales would be spent.

While receiving a sympathetic ear from some alderman who did not support statewide passage of legalization for recreational use, council members were mostly in agreement that if

Brenden Moore
The State Journal-Register

For nearly 30 years, Paul LeJuene has sold used cars along Clear Lake Avenue. The first location of his business, Patriot Auto Sales, drew significant attention for the 1955 two-door Bel Air hardtop perched atop a three-story pole out front, which has been nicknamed by locals “Chevy-on-a-stick.”

Despite the cool sign fronting his lot, LeJuene was happy to move across the street 12 years ago to his current location, 2601 Clear Lake Ave. — and, as a result, out of Springfield city limits.

Since then,

Brenden Moore
The State Journal-Register

Ownership of Town & Country Shopping Center will soon change hands after a lender filed a foreclosure claim against the center’s ownership group, which includes local developer Corky Joyner and city attorney Jim Zerkle, for failing to make required monthly mortgage payments.

According to Sangamon County Circuit Court filings, JPMorgan Chase in 2015 loaned $13.65 million to Town & Country Group, a limited liability company owned by Joyner and Zerkle. But the ownership group has not made required monthly payments on the loan in 2019, according to court records.

Greg Sgro, an attorney for the Town & Country owners, confirmed that the center “is being remitted to

Bruce Rushton
The Illinois Times

Town and Country shopping center, one of the largest tracts of retail space on the MacArthur Boulevard corridor, will be turned over to a lender that has filed foreclosure, according to an attorney for an ownership group that includes developer Corky Joyner and Jim Zerkle, Springfield corporation counsel.

According to foreclosure papers filed in Sangamon County Circuit Court, JP Morgan Chase Bank loaned $13.65 million to the owners in 2015. The bank since has assigned its interest to a trust, according to the lawsuit,

Bruce Rushton
The Illinois Times

Yard waste disposal costs would more than double under a deal between the city of Springfield and Evans Cartage, which holds a contract to find a final resting place for yard waste.

The city council next week is scheduled to vote on a new contract for Evans, which makes mulch from waste and spreads it on farmland. Under the contract that would retroactively take effect on July 1 and expire next March, the city would pay $720,000 for disposal. Under the previous deal, the city paid $331,000 for a full year of waste disposal.

Brenden Moore
The State Journal-Register

Shawn Gregory is set to become the new alderman for Ward 2 on the Springfield City Council after the likely conclusion of a recount battle that has captivated Springfield over the past 3 1/2 months.

Gregory, 35, was named the victor of the April 2 election after a random drawing held Thursday evening broke a tie between him and fellow candidate Gail Simpson, 66.

The drawing — which was done by placing two ping-pong balls labeled 1 and 2 in a bag and having someone draw one out — was necessary because earlier Thursday evening, city council members voted 9-0 that Gregory and Simpson had

Brenden Moore
The State Journal-Register

In a dramatic turn of events, the Springfield City Council on Tuesday failed to accept the recommendation of a recount hearing officer that Ald. Gail Simpson be declared the winner of the race to represent Ward 2.

Council members at Tuesday’s special meeting were split over former Judge John Mehlick’s recommendation, which found that Simpson edged Gregory by 0.361 of a vote after taking into account recounted ballots and his rulings on which disputed ballots should be awarded to a candidate or thrown out.

After Mehlick presented his case and attorneys for both candidates offered arguments before the council, a motion to accept the recommendation received the support of five council

Brenden Moore
The State Journal-Register

With insurance for City Water, Light and Power properties set to expire this weekend, the Springfield City Council approved a new coverage plan at a special meeting Thursday.

The ordinance pays up to $2.1 million to R.W. Troxell and Co. to insure 40 CWLP properties, including Dallman Power Plant Units 31, 32, 33 and Unit 4. With it, the city narrowly avoided a lapse in coverage.

The urgent situation caught city council members off guard, with many saying it was first brought to their attention at Tuesday’s regular city council meeting. The ordinance was ultimately approved with an 8-0 vote on Thursday.

Brenden Moore
The State Journal-Register

With insurance for City Water, Light and Power properties set to expire this weekend, the Springfield City Council will hold a special meeting Thursday evening to approve a new contract and thus prevent a lapse in coverage.

The proposed ordinance would authorize payment of up to $2.1 million to R.W. Troxell and Co. to insure 40 CWLP properties, including Dallman Power Plant Units 31, 32, 33 and Unit 4.

Under the proposed arrangement, several insurance companies will split coverage, with STARR Companies and AIG covering the majority, 43 and 35 percent, respectively. But

Springfield Business Journal

While White Oaks Mall lost two anchor stores with the closings of Sears and Bergner’s in 2018, plans are already underway to redevelop the 125,000-square-foot space previously occupied by Bergner’s. Simon Property Group, the parent company that owns and operates White Oaks Mall, purchased the space after it failed to sell at auction earlier this year.

On July 17, the Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to hear a petition for rezoning that would allow both indoor and outdoor automotive sales on the lower level of