Government Job Openings

The following is taken from:  http://www.boonecountyil.org/page/employment-opportunities

Two Belvidere Township 2013-14 budget hearings last ten minutes | Belvidere Daily Republican

supervisor’s pay went from $38,000 to $39,140; the town clerk’s salary increased slightly, from $13,544 to $13,950, with extra office help increasing from $40,000 to $50,000.

The finance administrator/assistant supervisor/general assistance intake employee’s salary stayed the same, $40,000, as did pay for the four trustees, totaling $13,133.

Salaries for the assessor, clerk, road commissioner and superevisor are increasing by 3 percent in each of their four upcoming years in office and they will be paying 20 percent of their health insurance premiums, down from 25 percent in the previous four years.

Click on the following for more details:  Two Belvidere Township 2013-14 budget hearings last ten minutes | Belvidere Daily Republican

Sister Cities Association of Belvidere receives grant | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

the grant will be used for the 2013 Tri-City Rendezvous with Belvidere’s sister cities, Schwieberdingen, Germany and Vaux-le-Penil, France hosted here in our home community of Belvidere. The week-long event will take place Sept. 26 through Oct. 1, 2013.

Click on the following for more details:  Sister Cities Association of Belvidere receives grant | Belvidere Daily Republican

Garden Prairie Organics denied extension of hours of operations

Here is the denial letter. Note however there are appeal rights.

 

 

 

Impact of sequestration on federal agencies - The Washington Post

 

How is the sequester affecting federal agencies?

The government-wide spending cuts known as the sequester took effect on March 1, forcing $85 billion in budget reductions by the end of September. The federal workforce faces furloughs, hiring freezes, and reduced overtime. Agencies say the cuts will mean reduced government services. Initial effects include closing of contract airport towers and longer customs lines, but other reductions will materialize in coming months. Congress’s new short-term funding plan locks in the cuts while shifting some agencies’ funds to help ease the burden. Check back for updates.

Click on the following for a department by department summary of the cuts:  Impact of sequestration on federal agencies - The Washington Post

A job nobody would miss: Illinois lieutenant governor - Chicago Tribune

Voters could get the chance to answer that question next year. A proposed constitutional amendment that would abolish the lieutenant governor's job was approved by the Illinois House 83-28. If it passes the Senate, it would go on the 2014 ballot. Our next lieutenant governor could be our last

Click on the following to read more about the job:  A job nobody would miss: Illinois lieutenant governor - Chicago Tribune

Japan and Russia want to finally end World War II, agree it is 'abnormal' not to - CSMonitor.com

 

Still, since the nuclear disaster at Fukushima, Japan's reliance on Russian energy supplies, particularly liquified natural gas, has grown significantly.

As Russia's geopolitical focus pivots eastward, Moscow is also eager for outside investment and expertise to develop its vast, resource-rich but largely unpopulated Siberian and far eastern regions. Japan is a logical go-to place for the capital and technology that Russia needs.

Japan might also be keen to distract Russia from its burgeoning partnership with China, with which Tokyo has increasingly tense relations, and introduce a bit more balance in fast-changing Asia Pacific.

Click on the following to read what agreements have been made:  Japan and Russia want to finally end World War II, agree it is 'abnormal' not to - CSMonitor.com

Stephenson County joins Workforce Investment Board alliance - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

It also funds ongoing services like the resource room for job hunting and job fairs throughout the year at its locations in Rockford and Belvidere.

As part of the merger, Stephenson County will be leaving its current partnership with Jo Daviess, Ogle, Carroll and Whiteside counties. Those counties will join a similar group based in LaSalle.

Stephenson County Board Chairman Bill Hadley said business leaders recommended that the area join forces with Winnebago and Boone counties, where the resources and job training opportunities better align with Stephenson County trends.

Click on the following for more details:  Stephenson County joins Workforce Investment Board alliance - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

County approves extending special use permit for quarry | Belvidere Daily Republican

Did the Chairman or other board members attempt to negotiate “fees” from Quality Aggregate behind closed doors?

Quality Aggregates of Illinois has received an extension of a special use permit to operate a quarry and related activities on 226 acres at 2758 Wheeler Road in Flora Township.

The action taken April 17 by the Boone County Board, in an 11-0 vote with one abstention, included extended hours of operation within the A-1, agricultural preserving zoning district.

Part of Courier’s memo mentioned tipping fees, which usually are assessed garbage collection companies for the refuse they bring into a governmental landfill. That caused District 1 board member Bill Pysson to ask where the tipping fee matter came from, since it had never been discussed at any of the ZBA or PZB meetings.

Outside the process?

“I think someone is going outside the process,” he said, at least partially answering his own question. He said he attended all of the meetings and “didn’t hear any discussion about it.”

Terrinoni said he had no proposal to present concerning tipping fees.

“This happens all the time,” board Chairman Bob Walberg said.

But Pysson countered, “I don’t think it’s appropriate for county board members to bring up something that’s new.”

Click on the following for more details:  County approves extending special use permit for quarry | Belvidere Daily Republican

Tax Levies for Boone County’s various township have been announced

The following is just a sample of the differences in levies to show the reader the vast difference between school district levies and city versus unincorporated areas.

Bonus Township outside of the City of Belvidere is one of the lowest levies:

Here is Bonus township with School District 200 as your school rather than District 100. That is 13.8% higher as far as the entire levy rate.

If you live in the City of Belvidere and in Bonus Township the rate jumps to 10.344420. That is 22.6% higher levy.

The highest levy rate in the county is the Village of Capron:

Job Opening at Boone County Soil and Water

The above is taken from the April 26, 2013, Boone County Journal, page 9. it is available on line at:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2013/Boone-County-News-04-26-13.pdf#page=1

How highly rated are Boone County High Schools?

Well here are high ranking schools in McHenry County.

Three McHenry County high schools made the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings as top high schools in the state.

Cary-Grove (50), Richmond-Burton (53) and Marengo (61) all made the Illinois rankings, which listed the top 69 high schools in the state.

All three schools scored above or near the Illinois average in student-to-teacher ratio, college readiness, math proficiency and reading proficiency....

Click on the following for more details:  Northwest Herald | Three area high schools make U.S. News and World Report list

Hononegah is the only Winnebago-Boone County listed in the top 62. 

The actual listing are available at:  http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/illinois/rankings?int=c0b4c1

High school juniors in Illinois take the Prairie State Achievement Examination, which assesses reading, math and science skills. Learn more from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Illinois has many schools ranked in 2013 among the U.S. News Best High Schools, including 19 gold medal schools, 50 silver medal schools and 69 bronze medal schools. Although the capital of Illinois is Springfield, the state's biggest city is Chicago, home to the Chicago Public Schools.

Top Ranked IL Schools

To be eligible for a state ranking, a school must be awarded a national gold or silver medal.

SEE Hononegah #44.  All of Boone County’s high schools are much lower as far as college readiness scores. All are in single digits. Hononegah is at 31.2.

 

 

Boone County real estate transactions recorded April 8-12 | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

BOONE COUNTY – Following is a list of the Boone County real estate transactions recorded during April 8-12.

Recorded April 8

502 East Ave., Belvidere, $74,000, Betty L. Smith heirs to Jason E. Tornero and Elizabeth A. Woznicki.

2579 Anderson Dr., Belvidere, $182,500, Peggy R. Matz Karlson, trustee to David R. Langan and Barbara A. Langan.

1015 Johnson Ct., Belvidere, $154,900, Steven J. and Christine M. Devlieger to Ryan P. and Kimberly A. Minnihan.

2629 6^th St., Belvidere, $156,000, Louis J. Caputo and Susan D. Caputo to Leslie Marie Anderson Trust.

1020 Caswell St., Belvidere, $86,000, Signature Preferred Properties, LLC to James Lembke.

Recorded April 9

200 Brandywine Dr. SE, Poplar Grove, $60,000, Judicial Sales Corp. to Secretary of HUD.

119 Staffordshire Dr., Poplar Grove, $42,000, US Dept. of HUD to Norman and Christina Hamilton.

432 Sherman Lane, Poplar Grove, $129,790, US Dept. of HUD to Daniel Shank and Melissa Shank.

229 Briar Cliff St. SW, Poplar Grove, $55,000, US Dept. of HUD to Anthony R. Tripoli.

1904 Paddock Ct. Unit 12, Belvidere, $72,000, Derby Run LLC to Mark Wagner.

1401 Douglas Ct., Belvidere, $90,000, Roberta Callahan, Trustee, to Marcten, LLC.

448 Stone Hollow, Poplar Grove, $120,000, Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to Elizabeth A. Long.

Recorded April 10

412 Talladega Dr., Poplar Grove, $90,000, Ohio Investments LLC to Jennifer M. Creviston.

Recorded April 11

961 S. Main St., Belvidere, $42,000, US Dept. of HUD to Norma Cortes.

10803 Shaw Road, Belvidere, $80,000, Bankord Family Trust to Grant and Michelle Hulstedt.

115 E. Jackson St., Belvidere, $43,000, Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to Lucia Magana.

Russellville Road -39 acres, Capron, $354,087, Donald Busch, Michael Busch to Raymond K. Love and Phyllis M. Love.

Russellville Road –40 acres, Capron, $360,000, Donald Busch, Michael Busch to Joshua Waddell.

THE FOLLOWING IS TAKEN FROM:  Boone County real estate transactions recorded April 8-12 | Belvidere Daily Republican

Belvidere Chrysler plant leadership to change - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

By Alex Gary

Kurt Kavajecz, the longest-tenured plant manager in the history of Chrysler Group LLC's Belvidere assembly plant, is moving to Auburn Hills, Mich., to head the company's manufacturing engineering for general assembly.

He will be replaced by Eric Schimmel on May 1. Schimmel most recently was the head of material logistics management for Chrysler in Auburn Hills.

Kavajecz was named plant manager in late 2000 and has been in charge during some very turbulent times. During his tenure:

Click on the following for more details:  Belvidere Chrysler plant leadership to change - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Governor Quinn Signs Property Tax Relief Law

SB 1894 increases the Senior Homestead Exemption – property tax breaks for Illinois residents age 65 and older – from $4,000 to $5,000. Seniors in the city of Chicago will have the increase applied to their taxable year 2012 taxes, due in 2013. All other counties will benefit from the increase beginning next year.

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  Illinois.gov - Illinois Government News Network (IGNN) - Search the News Results

Health Department offers free water testing for residents affected by flood waters | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

BOONE COUNTY – The Boone County Health Department is offering free water testing to residents whose wells may have been affected by flood waters. Residents may pick up sterile bottles to be filled and returned for analysis, and obtain information about disinfecting wells at the Health Department, 1204 Logan Ave., Belvidere. The department is urging residents on private wells to have their water tested after the flood waters have receded.

Click on the following for more details:  Health Department offers free water testing for residents affected by flood waters | Belvidere Daily Republican

April 17th board meeting did have a lively discussion regarding the Flora Neighborhood Plan and other Planning Department issues

Click on the following for more details:  County’s Flora Neighborhood Plan dead issue – for now | Belvidere Daily Republican

AND here was another concern Bill had.

Did the Chairman or other board members attempt to negotiate “fees” from Quality Aggregate behind closed doors?

“Quality Aggregates of Illinois has received an extension of a special use permit to operate a quarry and related activities on 226 acres at 2758 Wheeler Road in Flora Township.

The action taken April 17 by the Boone County Board, in an 11-0 vote with one abstention, included extended hours of operation within the A-1, agricultural preserving zoning district.

Part of Courier’s memo mentioned tipping fees, which usually are assessed garbage collection companies for the refuse they bring into a governmental landfill. That caused District 1 board member Bill Pysson to ask where the tipping fee matter came from, since it had never been discussed at any of the ZBA or PZB meetings.”

"Outside the process?

“I think someone is going outside the process,” he said, at least partially answering his own question. He said he attended all of the meetings and “didn’t hear any discussion about it.”

Terrinoni said he had no proposal to present concerning tipping fees.

“This happens all the time,” board Chairman Bob Walberg said.

But Pysson countered, “I don’t think it’s appropriate for county board members to bring up something that’s new.”

Click on the following for more details of this BDR story: County approves extending special use permit for quarry | Belvidere Daily Republican

One million for Town Hall Road bridge draws resident’s question | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

Most recently resident Bill Wolf asked about the $1 million the township has in its new budget for the Town Hall Road bridge. He wondered why it continued to be in the budget year after year, with no construction occurring.

“I think you’re kidding yourselves,” he told the board at its April 9 meeting. “I think you should spend that money on something else.”

Township Supervisor Pat Murphy said that money only can be used for the Town Hall Road project. “The city (of Belvidere), Growth Dimensions and the

Click on the following to read all of the story:  One million for Town Hall Road bridge draws resident’s question | Belvidere Daily Republican

County’s Flora Neighborhood Plan dead issue – for now | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

That prompted District 3 county board member Kenny Freeman. at the end of the county board’s April 17 meeting, to ask what happened to the matter.

That set off debate among the other county board members, with District 1 member Bill Pysson saying the process and agenda issue follows should be determined by the will of the board, not the will of the chairman.

He was referring to board Chairman Bob Walberg, who associate planner Gina DelRose said had told ZBA Chairman Norm Stimes to pull the item.

Walberg said the matter should not have been on the agenda because the ZBA tabled it at the Nov. 27, 2012 meeting. Tabling the matter made it “a dead issue,” he said.

Click on the following to read all of the story:  County’s Flora Neighborhood Plan dead issue – for now | Belvidere Daily Republican

3 meetings of Belvidere Township–today—April 23, 2013

Canadian police: 2 arrested in al Qaeda-supported terror plot - CNN.com

 

Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, of Montreal, and Raed Jaser, 35, of Toronto, are accused of conspiring to murder people on a VIA Canadian railway train, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said. While the suspects had the capacity to carry out an attack, the public was never in imminent danger, police told reporters.

Police said the suspects "were receiving support from al Qaeda elements in Iran."

no link between the Canadian investigation and the Boston bomb attack, and added there was no known link with the Canadians involved in the terror attack on the Algerian gas plant in January.

Click on the following for more details: Canadian police: 2 arrested in al Qaeda-supported terror plot - CNN.com

Auxiliary police provide backup for cops across Illinois, but critics question level of training - chicagotribune.com

By Matthew Walberg, Chicago Tribune reporter

April 22, 2013

About one-third of the officers, more than 300, serve as auxiliary deputies with sheriff's departments, but they are prohibited by state law from making arrests……

Unlike auxiliary officers, state law prohibits auxiliary sheriff's deputies from being conservators of the peace, meaning they do not have the authority to arrest someone on their own. But Byland said that in an emergency, they could physically detain a person but must then call for backup and allow a sworn officer to complete the arrest, he said.

Will County's auxiliary deputies typically perform crowd and traffic control duties for the county as well as Joliet and other municipalities, providing manpower at fairs and concerts and sporting events, he said.

 

Click on the following for more details:  Auxiliary police provide backup for cops across Illinois, but critics question level of training - chicagotribune.com

Cash needed to complete Irene Road ramp construction - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

Belvidere and Boone County paid $247,000 to buy more than 13 acres of farmland, which the tollway needed to store and park equipment while it rebuilds I-90 over the next few years. The local governments will also pay $203,000 to complete engineering work for the ramp.

Project costs were estimated at $3 million to $4 million. The municipalities would have paid half — or about $1.5 million to $2 million — and the Illinois Tollway Authority would have matched the cost up to 50 percent.

Cash needed to complete Irene Road ramp construction - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Is there a Community Action Agency for Boone County?

YES—Community Action Agency for Boone  and Winnebago Counties.  Its office is located at

The following is take from:  http://www.rockfordil.gov/human-services/community-neighborhood-programs/community-action-programs.aspx Go to this website for more information. 

Boone to host rabies vaccine, micro-chipping clinics - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

The Boone County Animal Services and Adoption Center will be hosting low-cost rabies vaccine and micro-chipping clinics Saturday.
Boone County residents can have their pets vaccinated for $15 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the center, located at 1230 S. Appleton Road in Belvidere. Everyone can ask for officials to micro-chip their pets for $15 from 1 to 4 p.m.
The pet pantry will also be open, which offers low-income families pet food

Click on the following for more details:  Boone to host rabies vaccine, micro-chipping clinics - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

Animal Services Spring Fling!

Boone County Animal Services and Adoption Center will be hosting a Spring Fling on Saturday April 20, 2013. There will be a low-cost Rabies Vaccine Clinic from 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. for $15. Boone County residents must meet the low-income guidelines for this service. They will also be offering a low-cost Micro-Chipping Clinic from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. for $15. This service is availalbe to all residents regardless of income. For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact BCAS at 815-547-7774

Scheduled meeting of Belvidere Township

Study reveals GMO corn to be highly toxic — RT USA

 

The study, the 2012 Corn Comparison Report by Profit Pro, was published recently on the website for Moms Across America March to Label GMOs, a group that says they wish to “raise awareness and support Moms with solutions to eat GMO Free as we demand GMO labeling locally and nationally simultaneously.” They are plotting nationwide protests scheduled for later this year.

The report, writes the website’s Zen Honeycutt, was provided by a representative for De Dell Seed Company, an Ontario-based farm that’s touted as being Canadian only non-GMO corn seed company.

Click on the following for more details:  Study reveals GMO corn to be highly toxic — RT USA

Boone County Needs You

The following volunteer positions to be filled in the next month or two.  Please consider volunteering.

Current Appointment Openings:

The following are volunteer Boards of the County that have vacancies:

Interested parties are asked to send a letter and resume expressing your interest and qualifications to Boone County Board Chairman Bob Walberg, 1212 Logan Ave., Suite 102, Belvidere, IL 61008. Please respond by April 26, 2013 to assure being considered.

Boone County Board of Review

2 vacancies for a 2-year term that will expire June 1, 2015

(Note:- Per statute, one person must be of the Republican Party and one person must be of the Democratic Party. If selected, Board members must attain the credentials established by the Illinois Property Tax Code within (1) year of taking office.)need to

Boone County Zoning Board of Appeals

1 vacancy for a 5-year term that will expire June 1, 2018

(Note:- Per statute, only one person from a township can serve on this Board; therefore, anyone interested in serving on this Board must be from Flora, Belvidere, LeRoy, Spring, or Poplar Grove Township.)

Boone County Agricultural Conservation Easement & Farmland Protection Commission

1 vacancy for a 3-year term that will expire June 1, 2016

To check on updates to these vacancies go to:  http://www.boonecountyil.org/page/employment-opportunities

Tuesday April 16, 2013 TOWN HALL MEETING

All across the State of Illinois this is the annual town hall meeting night at all 106 townships.

Belvidere Township meeting is 6:00PM at township hall.

Gardening Sale

Current Job postings for Boone County Government

Only the Health Department has a posting: 

Above is taken from:  http://www.boonecountyil.org/page/employment-opportunities

Rockford Mass Transit Buses: Will ridership on the Boone County Route justify local costs?

Currently there is 10 hour per day, weekday service across the City of Belvidere and to the transfer station on Lyford Road in Rockford.  That connection provides (with a transfer) free service across Rockford.

This service is currently subsidized by federal and state grants which will lapse in 2014/2015.  Should the service continue?  Could City of Belvidere or other Boone County governments fund this enterprise when the grants end.

A presentation of the facts and a question and answer session was held last Wednesday’s City-County Subcommittee meeting.  The slides presented are available at:   http://www.boarddocs.com/il/boone/Board.nsf/files/96NMP758D922/$file/Belvidere%20fixed%20route%20bus%20service.pdf

Here is a chart of ridership since the service began.  The red bars are the current year; blue bars the previous year.

Using the current monthly ridership {approximately 1200} dividing that by number of week days in average month {21.4} 56 people ride the bus on an average day and only 6 people on average ride any portion of the 10 scheduled daily trips.

 

Here is the fixed route about which the numbers concern. For a better route map go to:  http://www.belvideretownship.org/RMTD%20Belvidere%20Bus%20Route.pdf