Manar Leaves County Board with Message Promoting Bi-Partisanship and Working Together
Carlinville - While the November meeting of the Macoupin County Board signaled an end to the 27-member board, preparing for a new beginning was the message that Board Chairman Andy Manar left with the board members and general public. Manar gaveled out the county meeting for the last time, concluding an eight-year tenure as the Board’s Chairman.

Manar commended the Board for working with him through some very difficult times over the last eight years to solve problems. “I am proud to say that all 27 of us in this room today worked together to tackle the problems of Macoupin County and we were able to do it by putting aside our petty differences,” said Manar. “We as a Board were able to hold property taxes low, consistently balance our county budget, grow the reserve funds by more than a million dollars, and do so all without laying off a single employee.”.... read more

Macoupin County Adopts Stricter Ethics Standards
Carlinville - Over the last decade, instances of “pay-to-play politics” across the nation have led to governmental bodies reconsidering their own ethics codes to ensure honest government. Macoupin County reviewed their ethics ordinance in 2004 in an effort to make significant changes concerning prohibited political activities and the gift ban among other changes recommended by the State’s Attorney General at the time.

Last Tuesday, the Board took an opportunity to again review the ethics ordinance to look for additional updates that needed consideration. The result: stricter requirements for those looking to secure large contracts with the county.... read more

County Board Supports Project To Add 14 New Jobs
Carlinville – Growing the local economy is a target of every municipality and county government in the state of Illinois today. For the last several months, the Macoupin Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) and County Board Chairman Andy Manar have been doing their part to grow the Macoupin County economy by working with anchor businesses also looking to grow themselves like TDS Transport in Staunton.

Manar and the County Board approved a plan at its October meeting to support a TDS expansion project which will create 14 new jobs at their Staunton headquarters within the next six months... read more

County Board Cuts Spending To Ten Year Low
Carlinville – The Macoupin County Board took action this week to adopt a Fiscal Year 2012 General Fund budget that in the words of Chairman Manar will “continue our annual trend of pragmatic, fiscal discipline and living within our means.”

The Board adopted a General Fund budget plan that included spending of $6.39 million for county offices. According to County Board Chairman Andy Manar, this represents... read more

Local Extension Office brings Students to Shadow Macoupin County Officials
Carlinville – At the County Board's August meeting, a first-of-its kind event took place where Macoupin County students affiliated with the University of Illinois Extension and 4-H were able to shadow a county official for the day. The event was facilitated by the local Extension office in conjunction with the County Board office over the last several months and resulted in a total of 15 local students participating.

Board Chairman Andy Manar said it was a unique opportunity that allowed students the chance to see first-hand how local government works. “Many of the students that shadowed the officials had very good questions during our board meeting and all showed a real interest,” said Manar... read more

Macoupin County Welcomes New Squad Car into Fleet
Carlinville – In late March of this year, Macoupin County was notified that the Sheriff’s Office was one of 24 Illinois local law enforcement agencies that would be awarded federal grant funding to purchase a new squad vehicle. The total award of $18,854 was part of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority’s (ICJIA) Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistant Grant Awards for Law Enforcement Vehicles.

County Board Chairman Andy Manar and Sheriff Don Albrecht cited the significant and growing need for a new replacement vehicle that could be reliably depended on for patrol... read more

Ground Broken on New Roadway to Service County's Business Park
Carlinville - Macoupin County, Carlinville City officials and interested business park stakeholders gathered Friday for the official ground breaking ceremony of the Macoupin County Business Park’s main internal road – Macoupin Business Park Drive.

The construction of the roadway is just the next phase in the County’s plan to offer a shovel-ready business park. In September of 2011, a water main extension project brought Carlinville City water... read more

Macoupin County One of 13 Illinois Counties Selected to Receive Free Video Tour Book to Market Area
Macoupin County - Macoupin County Board Chairman Andy Manar said the County was first approached by CGI Communications, a media marketing firm out of New York, who connected with the county through its membership with the National Association of County Officials (NACo) back in January. Manar said CGI asked the county to consider its no-cost video marketing plan which would create promotional videos and provide the county ownership of the footage. The last week in June will reflect the culmination of the last six months' planning efforts to arrange the video shoot.

“The video shoot will focus on areas such as the top quality of our schools and our ever-expanding efforts to boost economic development and tourism,” said Manar. “Macoupin County will have to continue to capitalize on its geographic location as a ‘bedroom county’ to the St. Louis metro area,... read more

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The Ben-Gil Boosters is a community-based organization comprised of parents and educators dedicated to rebuilding an elementary school for the children of CUSD #7. Learn more by visiting the Ben-Gil Boosters Website. Volunteer Macoupin!