Village to Buy New Sign, Raise Gaming Machine Fees

By Travis Volz

The Okawville Village Board voted to replace the sign in front of village hall and raise video game machine fees during the regular meeting Monday night.

The wooden sign in front of the village hall will be replaced by an electronic messaging center at a cost not to exceed $41,762.81 following approval by the board.

According to Mayor Dave Jasper, the cost for the new sign will be split from three funds: $15,000 from the village’s CDAP fund, another $15,000 from TIF funds and the balance of about $12,000 from the general fund.

Per the recommendation of the Police and Liquor Committee, the board voted to raise the fee on video gaming machines to $50 per machine per year.

The fee has not changed from the original fee of $25 per machine annually that has been in place since gaming was legalized in Illinois. 

“We have never changed the fees, and law says we can charge as much as $250 per machine, so we think this is fair,” Jasper said.

Read the full story in this week’s issue