Balla appointed to fill vacancy on St. Charles City Council

Longtime St. Charles resident Richard Balla on Monday was appointed to fill a vacancy on the St. Charles City Council created by the recent retirement of 1st Ward Alderman Dan Stellato.

At Monday’s St. Charles City Council meeting, aldermen unanimously approved Mayor Lora Vitek’s recommendation that Balla be appointed to fill the seat. Balla will finish out Stellato’s term, which doesn’t expire until April 2023.

Stellato, who had been on the City Council since 1995, stepped down in June. Balla grew up in St. Charles and is a graduate of St. Charles East High School.

Balla, who was not successful in his bid to defeat 1st Ward Alderman Ron Silkaitis in the April election, has lived in the 1st Ward since 1997. In applying for the open seat, Balla talked about some of his goals as alderman.

Balla said he believes that the ongoing development of First Street in downtown St. Charles along with development of the former police station and the redevelopment of Charlestowne Mall are “paramount for our community’s future.”