By TONJA GREENFIELD

Publisher

SUBLETTE — The annual Sublette Christmas in the Village has been scheduled.

The annual event was discussed during the Sublette Village Board meeting on Monday, Nov. 8, at the Ellice Dinges Center.

Don Dinges reported that the annual Sublette Christmas in the Village will be held from 6-8 p.m., on Thursday, Dec. 2. The tree-lighting will kick off the event at 6 p.m. in downtown Sublette. Santa will be stationed at the Ellice Dinges Center. Carolers will also be at the school during the event. Carriage rides will take people from downtown to the Ellice Dinges and to Grace Fellowship Church throughout the evening. There will be a vendor fair at the Sublette Community Building. They will also be collecting winter coats, hats and gloves for kids. If you would like to donate, please call Sublette Village Trustee Julie Kessel at 815-440-4689 or Grace Fellowship Church.

Dinges asked the board how much money was budgeted for the event this year. The board agreed to $1,500 to go toward the Christmas in the Village this year. Kessel said that they are going to be hosting a raffle using punch cards.

In other news, Sublette Village President John Stenzel said that the 2020 census numbers were in. He gave a history of the census numbers for the village.

In 1990, the village had 394 people. In 2000, the village had 456 people. In 2010, the village had 449 people. In 2020, the village had 380 people.

In other board news:

• The board agreed to relist the vacant lot on Main Street with Erbes Realty, LLC, for $20,000 for 45 days.
• Surf Broadband Solutions has approached the village about installing fiber optic internet. The company would offer just internet and digital phone, no television service. Stenzel said he didn’t know enough about the business. Sublette Village Trustee Larry Ellis questioned why the village would want a fourth internet business in town when there already are three businesses who provide internet. Stenzel said he thought the village should do more investigating into the business before proceeding. It was mentioned that this company has also reached out to Amboy, Mendota and Dixon, as well.
• The board voted down a motion to purchase a snow removal push box because several village trustees wanted to know the cost of fabricating the push box to the village equipment before agreeing to move forward with the purchase. The cost of the push box is $750. Trustees Ellis, Bob Bulfer, and MacKenzie Belan voted against the purchase. Bulfer said he will get a cost to the board on the fabricating.
• The village will be flushing its hydrants from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 15-19. Residents should not wash any light-colored items during the flushing times. After the flushing, open cold water taps first and when the water runs clear, then open all faucets until the water runs clear. It is also recommended to wash a load of colored items first.

The next village board meeting will be held at 7 p.m., on Monday, Dec. 13, at the Ellice Dinges Center.