Alexander County town prepares to elect first government

Voters in McClure, Ill., will elect the town's first village government Tuesday. But for the small town's first mayor and village board of trustees, the election is just the beginning.

The winners will come into office without a city budget, a city hall or even bylaws by which to operate.

The town plans to rely on a share of state tax money. But first it has to develop a budget and submit it to the state by May.

"It will probably be six months before we have any money in the bank," said Cheryle Brenda Dillon, 56, who spearheaded the successful election last November to create an incorporated village and is now running for mayor.

Her opponent, 62-year-old Gilbert Boren Jr., said starting a town from scratch won't be easy. "We don't have a budget. We don't have a community center. We have nobody to work on the roads," he said.

The board initially may meet in the local elementary school, some candidates have suggested.

Dillon and six of the candidates for village board who helped push creation of the village are seeking election in McClure's first municipal election.

In all, 10 residents in the town of 350 people are running for the six, four-year terms on the village board.

Under the new government, the mayor only votes when board members are deadlocked. After the April election, the board of trustees will select one of the board members to serve as village treasurer, Dillon said.

Setting up a new village isn't the only issue on the ballot in Alexander County.

Voters countywide are being asked to approve a 2.5-cent tax to fund a program that delivers meals to senior citizens.

For a house assessed at $50,000, the cost to the homeowner would be $4 a year or less, said Vermel Huckelberry, executive director of Southern Pride Senior Programs.

Headquartered in Vienna, Ill., the not-for-profit corporation provides senior services in Alexander, Pulaski, Johnson and Massac counties. There is already a tax in place in Pulaski and Johnson counties. Casino revenue in Massac County has aided services there.

Huckelberry said her organization needs the funding help from Alexander County that the tax would provide.

"It is not going to make us rich. It will just help out a little bit," she said. It's estimated the tax would generate $7,000 to $8,000 a year in Alexander County.

Huckelberry said a decline in federal and state funding has added to her organization's budget woes.

"We have lost over $16,000 over the last four years. We have had to tighten our belt quite a bit," she said. The organization has had to cut back on delivery of some home meals.

In Alexander County, Southern Pride operates nutrition centers in Tamms, East Cape Girardeau and Cairo.

In January, the agency served 617 meals at the three centers combined and delivered 1,627 meals to the homebound elderly.

There are other elections in Cairo and Thebes.

In Cairo, seven people are running for the Cairo Board of Education, including four incumbents.

In Thebes, incumbent Mayor Bobbie Shafer faces a challenge from Anthony "Scott" Bomar. Four people are running for two positions to fill two-year terms on the village board in the Mississippi River town, population of nearly 500.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123