Well it is now available. The agreements are very long and will remind you of the time you received the two hundred page pamphlet regarding the merger of XYZ Corporation-- fifty shares of stock you got from your grandfather as a kid. Here is the website for Treasury Department's Transparency Program, just click here and on your selected company’s Treasury Department agreement (at the bottom of reading). Enjoy.
The following article from Taxpayers for Common Senses (TCS) questions the Stimulus Plan . TCS’s criticizes four area of the plan: 1. Number of jobs, TCS estimates actual jobs to be half of the Stimulus Plans estimate 2. Stimulus Plan leaves it up to the state to determine priority—such as whether a repair of highways is more important than new construction. 3. TCS believes the Stimulus Plan shortchanges large metropolitan area 4. Stimulus Plan does not supply a good definition of “high priority areas”, which in the end should be receiving much the Stimulus Plan.”
See the article for yourself and let me know what you think:
In case you have trouble with the link the http is www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?category=&type=Project&proj_id=1828&action=Headlines%20By%20TCS
Click on the pictures below for official jobless rates for December from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The chart on page 2 shows Belvidere City is the highest in the area with 17.9%, this was in part due to the Chrysler holiday shut-down. Don’t expect Belvidere’s number to improve until February when the returning Chrysler workers and suppliers are working again.
By Kevin Haas
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Jan 28, 2009 @ 12:49 AM
Last update Jan 28, 2009 @ 07:00 AM
BELVIDERE —
A proposed peaker power plant in rural Boone County cleared its first hurdle Tuesday with a unanimous recommendation for approval from a county panel. More than 30 people attended a public hearing on a proposed 100-megawatt, natural-gas-fired, reciprocating peaking power plant that would sit east of Garden Prairie Road and south of Interstate 90 in eastern Boone County. Few stayed through to the end of the nearly three-hour deliberations. Peaker plants are intended to operate during times of high demand for electricity to bring a stable electric power source to the region.
After recommending a few additional protections, the county’s Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5-0 to recommend approval to the County Board. The recommendation was to the dismay of neighbors who don’t want the prime agricultural land the plant would sit on swapped for a power facility.
“Is this the best site, or is it an easy site?” Glen Volkening asked. “If we need power, wonderful, but put it where it belongs.”
Before the plant can get local approval it still needs to go before the Planning, Zoning and Building Committee Feb. 4 and the full County Board Feb. 11.
Power Ventures Group LLC, the developers behind the project, also needs a bunch of state and federal permits before moving forward. Not to mention an investor to run the plant, which they are in the process of obtaining. Construction would begin no sooner than fall 2010, which would bring the plant on line by May 2012, developers say.
“This is a region that we have identified that is projected to be deficit in terms of not having enough power to meet the needs of the region around the 2012 time frame,” Jeff Greig of the architectural firm Burns & McDonnell said.
But for nearby residents the concerns were lowered property values and noise and light pollution. The plant would have 12 exhaust stacks that could be as tall as 75 feet.
“How do they expect my property values not to go down when the first thing people are going to see when they go down this road is a power plant?” said Kevin Ernesti, who lives immediately south of the proposed plant. “One of the reasons people like living out there is because of the lack of light pollution. ... That’s one thing about living out in the country, you can actually see the stars.”
Developers said the noise from Interstate 90 would overshadow the noise produced by the plant, leading to minimal effect. They said no smoke or exhaust can be seen coming from the stacks. The Environmental Protection Agency does not consider peaker plants a large source of emissions.
Five people spoke against the project Tuesday; others simply wanted questions answered. The three who spoke in favor, which included Mark Williams of Growth Dimensions, reminded the panel of the need to create jobs and tax dollars.
The construction would create about 125 jobs at its peak, developers say. It would significantly increase the county’s property tax revenues, Williams said.
Staff writer Kevin Haas can be reached at khaas@rrstar.com or 815-544-3452.
Two of the nineteen conditions are being slightly amended: #7 if possible, a four feet burm should be included in the landscaping; #15 a performance bond with specified amounts and dates will be required to insure removal in case of abandonment of the project before completion. Click on either of the two pages to make them larger.
The BBC says that Fiat is talking to Italian government for a bailout:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/default.stm It is no longer there, the BBC caught their error. Here is what was there.
Berlusconi mulls Fiat aid
Any bailout would be conditional, Mr Berlusconi says
The Italian government might bail out the country's troubled industry group Fiat, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said.
Fiat is the most important privately held company in Italy
Silvio Berlusconi
Italian Prime Minister
"The government is available to examine the possibility of taking measures for Fiat," Mr Berlusconi said.
His words of hope came a day after the indebted loss-maker said it would lay off 2,800 workers at its car making unit Fiat Auto.
The company blames large losses at its car making unit for its troubles.
Friday meeting
Italy's Labour Minister Roberto Maroni and Fiat executives are set to hold meetings on Friday.
Fiat Auto's cars are not as popular as they used to be
"If necessary, we would intervene," Mr Maroni told the Italian news agency Ansa ahead of the meeting.
"Fiat is the most important privately held company in Italy, and therefore we sincerely hope that Fiat... will be able to recover quickly," Mr Berlusconi said.
But any bailout from the government would be conditional to ensure that "such actions don't violate free market competition," Mr Berlusconi said.
Angry workers
Fiat Auto's job cuts, most of which will go from plants around Turin, came the day after the firm revealed losses of 529m euros (£161m; $235m) for the first three months of 2002.
Wednesday's statement followed a meeting with union leaders, who had reacted angrily to the lay-offs, pledging industrial action.
The job cuts are the latest in a series of measures Fiat has sought to trim losses which have widened from the 16m euros reported for the first three months of 2001.
The firm on Tuesday said it hoped to raise at least 1bn euros altogether from selling shares in Ferrari and in the tractor maker CNH Global.
Sorry for this false alarm. BILL
Take a look here to see the state by state break down.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123307183916519783.html
The per capital figure on the charts are very interesting.
Another measure of the housing industry's ill health was released Tuesday, this one showing record rates of annual price declines in 11 of the nation's 20 metropolitan housing markets.
The 20-city S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index released Tuesday tumbled by a record 18.2 percent from November 2007, the largest decline since its inception in 2000. The 10-city index dropped 19.1 percent, tied with October for the biggest drop in its 21-year history.
Both indices have recorded year-over-year declines for 23 straight months. Prices are at levels not seen since February 2004.
Housing prices in the Chicago area posted the largest monthly decline on record, falling 2.8 percent in November, after a 1.6 percent drop in October, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices.
On an annualized basis, area home prices fell 12.5 percent, yet the local market continued to fare much better than Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix and key Florida markets.
Fourteen of the 20 metropolitan areas surveyed had November year-over-year price declines of more than 10 percent.
"The freefall in residential real estate continued through November 2008," said David Blitzer, chairman of S&P's Index Committee.
Prices in the 20-city index have plummeted 25.1 percent from their peak in July 2006. The 10-city index has fallen 26.6 percent since its peak in June 2006.
All 20 cities recorded year-over-year declines in November.
The press release below was sent by 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo:
Manzullo to Offer Tax Credit for New Vehicle Purchases as Amendment to House Stimulus Bill
(WASHINGTON) As the U.S. House prepares to vote this week on a flawed $825 billion bill that does little to put Americans back to work, Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) is offering an amendment to stimulate the economy and create jobs by giving Americans a $5,000 tax credit to purchase a new vehicle.
With 13 million Americans employed by the automobile industry and its suppliers, Manzullo’s tax credit amendment – which he offered as a stand-alone bill (The Get America Moving Again Act -- HR 550) earlier this month – would immediately stimulate vehicle sales and put millions of Americans back to work. The automobile industry accounts for 20 percent of all U.S. retail sales, and billions of dollars in state and local sales taxes. 
The drop in U.S. vehicle sales from 16.2 million in 2007 to 10.5 million in 2008 removed $175 billion directly from our economy and has been one of the leading causes of America’s economic downturn and huge job losses.
“The current stimulus bill is chocked full of spending that has nothing to do with stimulating the economy or creating jobs, including hundreds of millions of dollars for contraceptives, the National Endowment for the Arts, and laying new sod on the National Mall,” Manzullo said.
“My vehicle tax credit proposal is a real stimulus that will bolster vehicle sales, put Americans back to work, and re-ignite our economy. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment so we can get America moving again.”
Manzullo is scheduled to testify later today before the House Rules Committee to seek approval to offer his amendment for a vote on the House floor tomorrow. The Rules Committee determines whether amendments are allowed to proceed to the floor for votes. 
The Get America Moving Again Act of 2009 (HR 550) would bolster American manufacturing and spur vehicle sales and production by giving Americans tax credits of $5,000 to purchase a new vehicle costing less than $50,000 and $2,000 to purchase a late model used vehicle through Dec. 31, 2009.
The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), co-chair of the House Auto Caucus, and is supported by the American International Automobile Dealers Association and Chrysler.
Judicial Candidates for Associate Judge Position Announced 
The Administrative Office of Illinois Courts announced the following certified list of candidates who have applied to fill the vacant associate judgeship in the 17th Circuit:
Ronald A. Barch James P. Hursh Charles J. Prorok
Lawrence M. Bauer Joseph B. Kosek Michael W. Raridon
Susan M. Brazas Gary L. Kovanda Ruth E. Robinson
Wendell Coates Francis M. Martinez Bradley J Schreiber
Gregory E. Cox Robert Montgomery Paul R. Vella
Mary J. Gaziano Philip J. Nicolosi Glen R. Weber
Mary L. Green Frank A. Perrecone Robert R. Wilt
Douglas R. Henry
The Circuit Judges of the 17th Circuit are inviting written comment regarding these candidates from all interested individuals and organizations. Comments must be in letter format and received by the Chief Judge no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 30, 2009. Letters may be sent via U.S. mail, fax, or e-mail to perickson@co.winnebago.il.us. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Anonymous letters will not be accepted. Letters will be placed in each of the candidate's files. There shall be no other direct or indirect contact with any Circuit or Associate Judge regarding an individual’s candidacy.
Anyone wishing to comment should direct their letters to Chief Judge Janet R. Holmgren, Winnebago County Courthouse, 400 W. State Street, Rockford, IL 61101.
Tomorrow’s Rockford Register Star will announce that every position for School Board is being challenged. I feel so very happy. For the first time in many years voters are being given choices. I thank all the challengers. And ask that you considered myself and the other new faces for this important position. Do remember that there is no monetary payment for these position so everyone who is running is offering to donate a whole bunch of time.
Here is a pamphlet regarding my candidacy. You can enlarge it by clicking on it. Click on the small envelope at the bottom of this posting to email this to your friends. Check again in a few days and a color version of this ad and a small poster will be available.
The City of Belvidere is considering a roll back in the utility tax for Fiscal Year 2010, beginning May 1, 2009. Take a look at the article in the Rockford Register Star: www.rrstar.com/boone/x1589174724 or read it below:
Residents may get a little tax relief starting this spring in the form of a 2 percent reduction to the city’s utility tax.
Plans to cut back on the tax charged to gas and electricity use were laid out Saturday during part of an all-day retreat for the City Council. The majority of the retreat was spent reviewing the city’s proposed $12.7 million budget for the coming year.
The reduction was proposed to give businesses and households relief during a tough economic climate, Mayor Fred Brereton said.
The city’s fiscal 2010 budget, which runs May 1 through April 30, 2010, will be formally introduced today, when aldermen will have their first chance to make any amendments. Officials plan to approve the budget by March 16.
If approved, the utility tax on gas and electricity will be dropped by 2 percent during the budget year. At that time, the city will assess the possibility of making the cut permanent.
Tax often debated Debate surrounded the use of the 5 percent utility tax throughout 2008. First, Brereton proposed using a surplus in the tax to pay for additions and renovations to the Public Safety Building. Officials sought a public-safety sales tax increase instead, which voters defeated.
Ald. Andy Racz tried twice last year — in April and again in October — to get fellow aldermen to agree to cut the tax by 2 percent, but his proposal failed each time. Only Aldermen Mark Sanderson and Ray Pendzinski supported the measure at the time. Money from the tax pays for road construction projects and maintenance. “They say nothing happens until the time is right,” Racz said. “It’s an idea whose time has come, and it is the right thing in terms of our budget.”
Reducing the tax will take about $867,000 out of the city coffers, according to budget estimates provided during the retreat. About $319,400 will be left in the city’s utility tax fund balance at the end of fiscal 2010, according to projections.
The city plans to suspend its street reconstruction program for the coming year, which featured a roughly $1.5 million makeover of Columbia Avenue, Brereton said. The project was part of the city’s submission for federal economic stimulus money.
Revenue down 4 percent
The coming year’s budget is slimmer thanks to a roughly 4 percent drop in revenues. The city plans to spend about $12.7 million in 2010, compared with the $13.3 million it budgeted for fiscal 2009.
Brereton called it a “maintenance budget,” one that’s intended to maintain the services already in place and go through the year without staff reductions. The budget presented calls for a hiring freeze and a halt on capital expenditures, but it doesn’t require layoffs.
Residents also are expected to pay a lower property tax rate than last year. The lower rate equates to lower taxes paid if a home’s assessed value does not change. However, housing values grew by about 4 percent across the board in Boone County this year.
The city’s property tax rate has dropped from 1.1184 percent in 1999 to 0.9291 percent in 2007, largely because of the city’s increase in equalized assessed value.
The city’s total equalized assessed value grew from $201 million in 1998 to $416 million in 2007 thanks to residential, industrial and commercial growth.
The city’s retreat Saturday also featured an update and review on the federal economic stimulus package and a presentation on the National Incident Management System, which is a guide for responding to a crisis.
Staff writer Kevin Haas can be reached at 815-544-3452 or khaas@rrstar.com.
Jim Wise gave a statement on the utility tax issue on http://belvideresovereignty.wordpress.com/ for your convenience I am copying it below:
‘Residents may get a little tax relief this spring…’ a story in the Rockford Register Star announced. Following the Belvidere City Council retreat of Saturday, January 24 the papers reported that Mayor Brereton was offering tax relief to the citizens and businesses of Belvidere in the form of a reduction of the Utility Tax rate for the 2010 fiscal year. “The reduction was proposed to give businesses and households’ relief during a tough economic climate, Mayor Fred Brereton said.”
Sounds good, but this is nothing more than a cheap election year ploy. For two years Mayor Brereton had attempted to convince the citizens of Belvidere to approve an increase in the public safety sales tax to pay for an expansion of the PSB. If that effort had succeeded, you would be paying $100-$125 more a year in sales taxes than you are now. This “tough economic climate” began more than a year ago, yet now mayor Brereton is realizing the impact that this is having on the citizens of Belvidere.
Now, in an attempt to prove that he is protecting the pocketbooks of the citizens. Mayor Brereton is proposing a reduction in the Utility tax rate of two percentage points (from the current 5% rate to a 3% rate) for the 2010 budget. This would be the equivalent of paying 40% less in utility taxes this coming year than you paid last year. If you pay $200 in utility taxes between May 1, 2009 and April 31, 2010 then this would equal a savings of $80. Wow!!! Now that’s some real relief!
Where was this consideration during the recession of 2002 brought on by the events of 9-11? Then our economy suffered through an 8 month recession. Yet, I don’t remember Mayor Brereton offering to reduce the utility tax rate then. Or, what about when times were good? When revenues were up? When sales taxes, income taxes and property taxes were rising could the city have forgone a few hundred thousand dollars in utility tax revenue then? Mayor Brereton did not think of reducing the rate then either. But now when an election year nears, Mayor Brereton is ready to play his hand. And, he’ll throw in the ultimate election year teaser, saying that “…the city will assess the possibility of making the cut permanent.”
Apparently, Mayor Brereton is attempting to create the appearance that he is looking out for the best interests of the citizens of Belvidere. It is unfortunate that Mayor Brereton only thinks of these things during an election year. I think that he is grasping at straws desperately trying to find any means possible to secure a fourth term as our mayor. He’ll even go so far as to play the ‘I will lower your taxes’ charade while all the time hoping that you will have forgotten that he spent the last two years trying to raise them.
Jim Wise
\
See the story from the Rockford Register Star : http://www.rrstar.com/boone/x1278515891 or see it below:
By Kevin Haas
Posted Jan 23, 2009 @ 07:32 PM
Last update Jan 23, 2009 @ 07:46 PM
BELVIDERE —
As expected, Boone County assessors received a record number of protests to their home values this year.
On Friday, the final tally of challenges was 552, which well exceeds the record 434 in 1994, Supervisor of Assessments Pat Elder said.
The deadline for challenging the assessment was Jan. 16, but the high volume of challenges took assessors a week to process.
“Back in the late ’70s and ’80s, we’re told there was close to this many, but this has broken the record since I’ve been here,” said Elder, who’s been in the office since 1993.
By comparison, there were 201 assessment protests last year and 205 in 2007. There were 70 challenges in 2006 and 61 in 2005, Elder said.
The board of review has gone over about 60 to 70 written challenges so far and will issue tentative notices to property owners based on its reviews. Property owners have five days from receiving that notice to respond and set up a personal hearing with the board, Elder said. They also can take their challenge to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.
The assessed value of a home directly relates to how much is paid in property taxes.
Assessments have risen about 4 percent across the board in Boone County, despite the recent housing slump. That’s because assessments are made on what a home was worth
Jan. 1, 2008, and based on sales between a willing buyer and seller for the three previous years. Foreclosures, which have spiked recently, do not count when determining assessed value.
The average home price in Boone County grew about 5 percent from 2005 to 2007, according to statistics provided by the Rockford Area Realtors.
Home and condominium prices dropped 3.7 percent in 2008 across the Rock River Valley, according to the Realtors association.
Staff writer Kevin Haas can be reached at 815-544-3452 or khaas@rrstar.com.
I am doing some research on the process, have attended a number of the Board of Review working sessions. and hope to report back to you later. If you have questions about the Board of Review, email me here or at my personal email and we will see if we can get an answer.
Illinois received approximately 3.9% of the total. Take a look at the various programs that are being proposed for Illinois’ share. http://www.ncsl.org/print/statefed/StateAllocations.pdf
If you wish other details or more recent events regarding the stimulus see: http://www.ncsl.org/statefed/2009economicstimulus.htm
The December 2008 Consumer Price Index is out. If there are no changes to the law, Illinois Department of Revenue should be announcing 0.1% as the tax cap for 2009 taxes (those paid in 2010). If local government and schools are having a difficult time meeting rising costs just wait to they need to budget for FY 2010, when real estate taxes are capped at nearly zero and property assessments maybe falling.
I thank Cal Skinner and his blog: www.mchenrycountyblog.com for the graphics.
![[CPI+2008+Chart.jpg]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lBj9yn6-cnfSh5tTqxzLLKzfEeZBPBB5IdUvaVVEhPqPhYIDiv49evNORA9npabvju2Pz4S_p_euTR07B_nq34ypLGdiBptDygSXV0UKmKZA5scqLpOyrTe-c1ZwOxcsGbQMp95gt_I/s1600/CPI+2008+Chart.jpg)
Just received the actual numbers being reported to Boone County Finance Committee regarding its monthly revenue. I hope to use these monthly reports to keep everyone aware of county finances in this troubled time.
There are five main sources of taxation. Each of the five sheets will enlarge if you click on it. As of now the county is down $33,188.78 or 4.27% of December/January projected revenue.
Here is the calculation from these sheets:
Shortfall/Overages: -3251.30+-6151.92+6814.54+-1448.53+-29151.57=-33,188.78
Actual Revenues: 175875.70+167542.81+293002.26+24246.63+84119.31= 744765.71
Projected Revenue=744765.71+33188.78=777954.49
Shortage is 33188.78/777954.49= 4.27%
Analysis of the trends in these various accounts is still quite difficult. Of most concern is the State Income Tax (immediately above) it is down 25.7%. State Income Tax is 31.2% of the total $6,053,704 of tax revenue, however figures are only for December. One Cent Sales Tax is down 1.8%, 1/4 Cent Sales Tax is down 3.5%, Public Safety Sales Tax down 2.4%, Personal Property Replacement Tax down 5.6%. Most of these taxes are collected by the state in a prior month therefore further decreases may be possible based upon the continued downturn in the economy.
See this breaking news:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28767687
If President Obama froze the salaries of all White House employees making over $100,000, do you think our local governments and school districts should follow the lead of the President?
Patrick Mattison, Republican, District 3, believes that the size of the projected shortfall at the county is being underestimated. The $300,000 deficit is more on the order of $800,000. Here is his presentation based upon the county’s most recent figures:
| Boone County Boone County Sales Tax | Boone County Projected Tax Revenues FY 2009—per budget | Revenue Shortfall Basis: January 2009, Collection Potential Annual Revenue Loss
|
| 1 cent unincorporated | $ 911,960.79 | $ 107,821.44 |
| 1/4 cent county wide | $1,041,729.82 | $ 98,452.29 |
| Sales Tax 1/2 cent | $1,644,757.00 | $ 80,916.53 |
| Boone County Personal Property Replacement Tax | $ 567.408.00 | $ 31986.86 |
| State Income Tax | $1,887,848.00 | $ 484,526.17 |
| TOTALS | $6,053,703.61 | $803,703.29 |
Going by collections reported for January , 2009, the County shortfall will be approximately $804,000 for the year. The potential short for the year based on these figures is 13.28 %. It could be worse if the economy worsens.
What are the Boone County Board's plans if this happens?
Pat M.
See the other posting from January 21 for the Rockford Register Star’s take on the deficit.
The “maybe” deficit is becoming real for the Boone County Board. See this article from the Register Star: www.rrstar.com/boone/x1621254117/Boone-officials-expect-budget-shortfall
Note the comments, I am Bill Blank.
The fight is on—everyone has an idea how to get things going again in this country. How can we possibly keep up. One source that is keeping track of the raw proposals is: http://www.ncsl.org/statefed/2009economicstimulus.htm
When you get a chance take a look. For history buffs we may be doing an reenactment/update of FDR’s First Hundred Days. It will be difficult to hear, see or know what is being proposed, passed and really implemented. Good Luck.
I just found out that Maple Crest Nursing Home is on the tax rolls. It is assessed at $747,162. One acre of land and the buildings are taxed, the other 24 acres is considered exempt since it is used by the county. The tax ID number is 05-14-100-015. The following indicates the taxes paid since 2002:
| 2008 | $45,168.18 |
| 2007 | $46947.92 |
| 2006 | $31,506.14 |
| 2005 | $30,883.72 |
| 2004 | $29,861.96 |
| 2003 | $30,959.68 |
| 2002 | $46,973.58 |
I am somewhat unclear if the county will continue to use any of the land if the assisted living facility is approved. That facility will use only 8 acres according to Kevin Haas article in the Register Star which I posted on January 14.
By Kevin Haas
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Jan 14, 2009 @ 12:21 AM
BELVIDERE —
A developer’s plan for what would be Boone County’s first assisted-living facility may hinge on the city’s receipt of a hefty state grant.
Belvidere will ask the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for $600,000 to construct new water and sewer lines for the proposed center.
Water and sewer lines would be stretched from Belvidere North High School to the proposed site for the senior living facility — 7 acres owned by the county near the intersection of Squaw Prairie Road and U.S. Route 76.
The land would be leased to the owners and operators of the facility, a partnership of private groups led by The Kensington Group, which operates the next-door nursing home, Maple Crest Care Center, said County Administrator Ken Terrinoni said.
The 120 units of Glen at Belvidere would be the county’s first supportive-living center, providing affordable housing to the elderly.
“This is definitely an underserved area,” said Steve Horve, owner of Horve Builders of Forsyth, the developer and a partner in the project. “There are nursing homes, but there is not a single, affordable assisted-living center in Boone County.”
The Belvidere City Council meets Monday to consider approval of the state grant application.
The Glen at Belvidere is anticipated to create about 45 jobs. It will be managed by Blair Minton and Associates, which manages more than 25 assisted-living facilities in Illinois, Horve said.
The project is estimated to cost $21.7 million. The facility will accommodate elderly residents receiving public aid as well as private-pay residents.
“There are very few assisted livings that accept Medicaid patients,” said John Slattengren, executive director of the Boone County Council on Aging. “We think that it would make a great asset because there are people in this community who are in between. They don’t need a nursing home, but can’t live in house or apartment and afford the private care.”
Developers hope construction starts this spring and concludes in Summer 2010.
Staff writer Kevin Haas can be reached at 815-544-3452 or khaas@rrstar.com.
I attended Monday’s (1-12-2009) public hearing regarding the grant application for sewer connection to the county’s Maple Crest nursing home and proposed assisted living center. It was very interesting because I discovered a few facts that I wish the administration/politicians would have revealed before.
First this is really not a new grant application, but rather a resubmission because the application in 2007 was rejected for “incompleteness”. When I get a chance I hope to go to the courthouse and review the old application and the rejection notice, then I can speak with more confidence regarding this matter of why the reapplication.
The actual developer for the assisted living project is Horve Builders from the Decatur, Illinois area. I talked to Steve Horve, the owner, and he answered many of the questions which until now were unanswered. (1) The assisted living facility would be on the real estate rolls. The facilities would be owned by a for-profit corporation, possibly an affiliate of his own company. (2)The company wants a 99 year lease for the property because in doing so the land cost can be amortized. (if they purchased actual land they would probably sell the land to a third party to achieve this financial advantage) (3) Usually the units rent for approximately $2,700 per month (including nursing assistance), with financial assistance from the government that cost could be as low as $570 per month. One of the real positives of the facility is that if an individual’s resources run out there would be smooth transition to government assistance without the need to change facilities.
Below is a handout which Ms. Tobin gave the aldermen which provides a synopsis of the grant. Click on it to make it more readable.
With Mr. Wise’s permission, I copied his article about the train and Boone County. The article is from his campaign blog: www.belviderecommunityfirst.com I am not a voter in Belvidere and am not endorsing Mr. Wise but his take on the train issue coincides with mine. Some of the links maybe unnecessarily political but I think it is factual. If the local government officials are really asking the Obama Administration for a train let see what you might get.
Is the Train Coming to Belvidere?
"The train will be here in five to seven years."
Mayor Brereton, 2001
I am seeking another term, as your mayor to...
"make sure passenger rail service is implemented in four years."
Mayor Brereton, 2008
Our current mayor was once quoted as saying something along the lines of "the train will be coming to Belvidere in five to seven years." That was near the end of his first term.
Now, Mayor Brereton has announced that he will seek a fourth term because he wants to "make sure passenger rail service is implemented in four years."
This is getting to be the mayor's reoccurring refrain. He makes this comment at the end of each term as the reason why he wants to remain your mayor for yet another term.
What you are not hearing is how much will this cost? Who will pay for it? And, is it feasible?
In 2005, our local representatives (municipal, state and federal) secured millions of dollars to complete a "study" to determine the feasibility of bringing passenger rail to Belvidere.
In 2007, Amtrak was asked to conduct their own study and guess what?
The "local" study reads that it is feasible to bring passenger rail service to Belvidere while the Amtrak study reports that it is not.
Who would you believe?
To the right, I have placed several URL's that will direct you to these study's.
What I am asking you to do is read these study's and see for yourself that there are two sides to every story.
Our local passenger rail advocates are leading you down the path of fantasy by using misinformation, half-truths and overzealous optimism.
Please do not get me wrong. Bringing passenger rail to Belvidere would be good for the community and the region, but not at the expense of our cities' resources. Or, an increase in our taxes.
To bring passenger rail to Belvidere. A referendum must be approved to annex Boone County to the METRA transportation district. A second referendum to increase sales taxes by .075% to subsidize METRA and its expenses will also need to be approved. Other passenger rail options will require an increase in property taxes to subsidize passenger rail.
Even better yet, it may take an increase in BOTH taxes to make the mayor's dream of bringing passenger rail service to Belvidere.
Is passenger rail coming to Belvidere?
Or, is our incumbent mayor just telling you that in the hopes that you will let him serve a fourth term as our mayor?
Our incumbent mayor recently announced his intention to seek a fourth term as our mayor and that he was doing so because he wants to..
"make sure passenger rail service is implemented in four years."
Here is the link to the BDR story reporting on the announcement that Mayor Brereton is seeking "another" term
http://belvideredailyrepublican.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1152&Itemid=43
Within this story you will also read that the...
..Union Pacific Railroad recently announced that "Belvidere is the locally preferred site for commuter rail service through METRA or Amtrak."
Really?
The Union Pacific Railroad has never made such a statement.
Below is a link to an editorial by RRS editor, Chuck Sweeney. In this editorial you will read that "consultants" selected the UP line as the preferred route for passenger rail to serve Belvidere and Rockford.
These "consultants" are Tran Systems, the consultants selected by NICTI to conduct this study.
Who is NICTI?
NICTI, (Northern Illinois Commuter Transportation Initiative) is the locally organized passenger rail consortium comprised of Belvidere, Rockford, Winnebago and Boone County officials.
NICTI hired the consultants named above, TranSytems, to conduct a study of the feasibility of bringing passenger rail to Belvidere. This study is the one cited by Chuck Sweeney in the May, 2008 editorial.
Now why wouldn't you expect that a consulting firm hired to conduct a study, and be paid hundred of thousand's of dollars to do so, not give you what you paid for.
What NICTI paid for was a "yes it can be done" study that says it is feasible to bring passenger rail to Belvidere.
And what would the cost be?
Bringing passenger rail to Belvidere, according to TranSystems, is only $247 million!
This link below is the NICTI report that was published in April, 2008.
This is the study which is cited by Mayor Brereton as proof that passenger rail is coming to Belvidere.
On April 12, 2007 RATS (Rockford Area Transportation Study) a local government oversight committee, responsible for the distribution of federal funds used for transportation improvements and comprised of local municipal and county officials, voted to create a resolution that will...
"support the most feasible route, which is the route that IDOT recommends to the Illinois General Assembly to restore intercity passenger rail service."
The link below is a PDF of the April 12, 2007 meeting minutes.
You will see at the end of this meeting minutes report that our mayor voted "present" to the motion of the committee approving a resolution of support for IDOT's choice of the "most feasible" passenger rail route. Rather than stand his ground (his current re-election motto is "Still Standing for Belvidere") and vote no to the committee's resolution to support IDOT's choice of the "most feasible" passenger rail route, he instead decides to not upset his fellow "regional" politicians. How's that for putting his community first! And, you will also note that the Boone County Board Chairman, a member of this committee, voted "yes" to the resolution. This says loads about the mayor's supposed ability to build a "consensus of support" among local leaders.
This link directs you to the Amtrak study (May, 2007) that outlines the routes studied, identifies the preferred route and declares "Route C" as the "most feasible route." This route does not include a stop in Belvidere.
http://www.dot.state.il.us/amtrak/RCK_Feasibility.pdf
This link directs you to the press release from the NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION, (May, 2007) which details our legislative representatives' comments regarding the Illinois Department of Transportation selection of "Route C" as the passenger rail route that will serve northern Illinois. This route does not include a stop in Belvidere.
http://www.returnthetrain.com/files/ ATK_07_057_Rockford_route_ decision_1_.pdf
This link directs you to a McHenry County blog which highlights the Amtrak study and its public release. There are some interesting facts listed in this blog regarding the costs associated with bring passenger rail to Belvidere. (the article is 3/4 down the page listed under - appropriately, April 1, 2007.)
http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/ labels/ IDOT.html
The link below directs you to the,
2009-2012 Illinois Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
http://www.dot.il.gov/opp/FY 2009-2012 STIP.pdf
This plan details the State's transportation plan. Within this plan you will find, in Appendix H, the allocation of $60 million for:
Chicago-Dubuque: Rehab track, ties, surfaces, switches, crossings, signals to prepare for resumption of passenger service. The planned fiscal year to begin this project is 2011 (June 2010).
The amount of funds allocated for this project is the amount estimated that it will cost to rehabilitate the CN rail line identified as "Route C" and formerly known as Amtrak's "Blackhawk" route. This route does not include a stop in Belvidere.
This actually gives you an idea of what is happening.
From the website of : http://www.boonecountyil.org , note you need to click on “General News”, and then “The Glen”.
The county/city was able to supply this overview as to what the hearing on the grant application is all about.
Now that wasn’t so hard was it. Remember the hearing is Monday at 6:00 PM at Belvidere City Hall, if you still are interested.
Families USA January 2009 1
INTRODUCTION
The current recession is having a devastating impact on working American
families. By November 2008, more than 2.7 million people had joined
the ranks of the unemployed since the recession began in 2007, and
10.3 million people were unemployed.1 Many of those people (and their families)
lost their health coverage when they lost their jobs. Researchers estimate that, for
every one percentage point increase in unemployment, the number of uninsured
people increases by 1.1 percent. Some workers who had insurance through their
former employers may be able to continue to purchase the same coverage—but
they must pay the full cost out of their own pockets. This continuation coverage,
called “COBRA” (from the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1985), could provide a vital health care lifeline for many families. Unfortunately,
for most individuals and families, the cost of this coverage is prohibitively high,
especially when compared to average unemployment benefits.
This report shows that, to maintain their employer-based health coverage under
COBRA, most unemployed people would have to devote an unrealistically high
proportion of their incomes to health insurance. For many, it would take their
entire unemployment check and more to continue coverage for themselves and
their families. However, if laid-off workers do not continue their employer-based
coverage by electing COBRA and instead seek coverage in the individual health
insurance market, those with health problems are likely to find that no insurer will
sell them a policy that will cover their pre-existing conditions at any price. Thus,
many American workers find themselves in a catch-22.
from Family USA, for the complete study go to: www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/cobra-2009.pdf
“Everyone thinks of changing the World though no one thinks of changing himself.”
Leo Tolstoy – via Rockford Register Star, Cryptoquote, January 8, 2009
Here is what they do in the tall, thin building in the half occupied industrial park as you get off the tollway.
January 2009 – Belvidere, Illinois – NDK (Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.) announces the availability of the world’s smallest low profile high reliability surface mount crystal. The NX1612AA series measures only L=1.6 mm x W=1.2 mm x H=0.3 mm, taking only 40% of the volume and 60% of the board space of NDK’s previous generation crystal products. These devices operate in a fundamental frequency range of 26~80 MHz. Frequency tolerance at 25ºC is ±10 ppm and their frequency stability vs. temperature is: ±10 ppm over –20 to +70ºC. The NX1612AA exhibits a maximum series ESR (equivalent series resistance) of 200W in the frequency range of 26~36 MHz and 100W in the 36~80 MHz frequency range. The Standard load capacitance is 7 pF, however other values can be made available. Applications for this tiny crystal include mobile phones, Bluetooth, WLAN, Zigbee, NFC, and many other small wireless devices and module components. The NX1612AA is presented in a lead-free, RoHS conformance package and meet the re-flow profiling requirements for lead-free solder.
“As the market demands for ultra compact WLAN and Bluetooth wireless products continues to grow so does the quest for smaller components. NDK’s NX1612 are the world’s smallest mass production high reliability crystals,” said Mike Walczak, President of NDK America, Inc.
Cost for 10,000 pieces of the NX1612AA is under $1.00 and delivery is 8 to 12 weeks. They are packaged in tape and reel. A complete set of technical data and application engineering support, and engineering samples are available on-line at www.ndk.com, by calling 800-NDK-XTAL (635-9825), or by emailing sales@ndkxtal.com.
For Additional Press Information Contact:
Ken Hennessy, General Sales Manager Sales and Engineering, 815-544-7917
NDK America, Inc.
Hey take a look at the Zoning change notice. Sonics is coming to Belvidere. During the Christmas holiday I was shopping at Algonquin Crossings off of Randall Road in Algonquin. They were opening one of these restaurants. There was a block long traffic jam of cars all trying to get into the drive-up. If you kids attend any of the colleges in the Southern part of the state they can tell you all about the menu.
1/2/9/16
Notice of Public Hearing
You are hereby notified that a public hearing will be held by the Belvidere
Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 6:00
P.M. at the Belvidere City Hall, 401 Whitney Boulevard, Belvidere, Illinois,
61008 for the purpose of considering a special use application submitted
by the applicant, Mason Harrison Ratliff Enterprises, LLC on behalf of the
owner, Landmark Five, LLC to amend the approved planned community
development (Section 150.907 of the Belvidere Zoning Ordinance) for
the commercial development of a Sonic Restaurant on .75 acres near the
intersection of State Street and Van Epps Drive in Belvidere Township (PIN:
05-22-403-001). The property is zoned PB Planned Business District.
The subject property is legally described as follows:
Lot One of Plat 1 of Landmark Crossings, the plat of which is recorded in
Plat Index File Envelope 324-A as Document Number 2005R07560 in the
Recorder’s Office of Boone County, Illinois, being a subdivision of part of
the East Half of Section 22, Township 44 North, Range 3 East of the Third
Principal Meridian, Boone County, Illinois.
All persons interested in said petition may attend and be heard at the stated
time and place.
Dan Snow, Chairman
City of Belvidere Planning and Zoning Commission
Published in the Boone County Journal 1/2/09
I just found out a few things about the sewer/water grant that the City of Belvidere (I think) is applying for. It is for $600,000. It will connect from the facilities at Belvidere North High School and run along the road to the nursing home. It is a 4 inch water pipe, 12 inch sewer with an 8 inch service to the property at Squaw Prairie and Route 78. The line is intended for a $20,000,000 apartment/extended care facility to be built and operated by the current management of Maplecrest Nursing Home on land owned by Boone County. The county would lease the land to Maplecrest management. The total cost of the city’s water/sewer project is in the neighborhood of $1,000,000 which would not include a required lift station which would be built and operated by Maplecrest management. This is all “third hand” so I may have taken it down wrong.
Ms. Becky Tobin, Assistant Administrator of Boone County, is writing the grant (for the city I guess). I understand that by Friday evening Ms. Tobin will have a skeleton of the grant application on the county’s website: http://www.boonecountyil.org Thus written details of the grant application should be available for public review before the official public hearing on Monday, January 12, 2008. That meeting is at 6:00 PM at Belvidere City Hall.
I hope to attend. I would be happy to relay any questions; use the email site above or my personal email.
Does anyone know if the county has completed the formal agreement (lease) for this planned apartment/care facility?
If you want to remember what the issues were, take a look at the Boone County Journal’s February 22, 2008 article concerning the school board’s “tabling of the issue”. See: http://boonecountyjournal.com/news/Boone-County-News-02-22-08.pdf it is on page 1. Or if you wish look at today’s posting on: http://district100watchdog.blogspot.com
I just received a correction on this section--Boone County borrowed $5,200,000 ( before I stated just under $5,000,000) for the courthouse and administrative building remodel and construction. The county only netted $4,995,000 for the bonds; the rest paid for underwriting cost, primarily insurance on the bonds. Thus those cost were $205,000/$4,995,000 or 4.1%. That seems high perhaps someone else can comment. I am quite amazed because before the actual sale of bonds, the county administrator’s cash flow projections was using the entire $5,200,000 as the projected cash flow for the building project.
Using a present valuation of principle and interest payments, I calculated the effective interest as 5.12% because only $4,995,000 actual cash was received. If no insurance had been paid the rate would only have been 4.62%. The difference is 0.5 %. My calculations are below:
Repayment will be from the Quarter Cent sales taxes which the county receives. These funds also are a revenue source for the county’s general fund. If there is inadequate sales tax revenue, will the county board increase our county real estate taxes?
Here are some of the numbers which I currently have: First is the Quarter cent sales tax, note that it is running way below budget. It is short approximately $26,000 ; it is only 87% of the budgeted amount as of the end of October. Hopefully I can receive some updates in regard to the current months and see if there is any improvement.
As shown below the cash flow needs for the bonds is a little less than 50% of the total cash flow of the Quarter Cent tax. The total bond interest and principle due for FY 2009 is $437,366.26.
The Quarter Cent sales tax is not the only revenue source which is below budget. Is the county watching the numbers?
