On 9/27/18, it was announced on Greater St. Louis Area Council's website:
"Greater St. Louis Area Council and Lincoln Trails Council, headquartered in Decatur, IL, will merge to form one unified council effective January 1, 2019. The merger decision was approved by a vote of each council's voting membership this week. The newly merged council, which will retain the Greater St. Louis Area Council name, will serve nearly 69,000 youth throughout 63 counties in Missouri and Illinois.
"By combining efforts, a unified council will offer better quality programming and service to Scouting families in the Lincoln Trails Council which has been financially stressed and faced declining membership over the past several years. This new opportunity allows for more resources, such as the Greater St. Louis Area Council's innovative STEM programs and state-of-the-art camp facilities, to serve youth in a way that will help Scouting thrive throughout central Illinois."
Reference: St. Louis and Decatur, Illinois Boy Scout Councils Approve Merger
So, this means that the new combined council with have four lodges! Hopefully, the council will recognize the value of keeping them, especially considering how large a territory this new mega-council includes.