AND HERE IS ILLINOIS’
By Zagat StaffSeptember 24, 2013
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
Veterans Rewards for Boone County Veterans
Boone County Clerk & Recorder Announces Rewards Service for Veterans
A free service that entitles our veterans for discounts and incentives at local businesses
June 19, 2014 - Belvidere, IL - The Boone County Clerk & Recorder's Office, in partnership with Fidlar Technologies, is excited to announce a new service for our Veterans, known as, Honor Rewards. With Honor Rewards, Veterans can sign-up at our office or online to receive an Honor Rewards card, which qualifies them for discounts and incentives at participating businesses in our community. This service is being made available at no cost to the County and its taxpayers.
To sign up, all a veteran needs to do is visit www.honorrewards.com, click on Boone County, IL and fill out the form. If an individual prefers to fill out the form with us instead of online, they can visit our office at 1212 Logan Ave, Suite 103 and we will help them get signed up. We are open Monday - Friday from 8:30am - 5:00pm. The service is completely free and after signing up the veteran can expect to receive their Honor Rewards ID card in the mail in 2-4 weeks.
Local businesses and retailers can participate in the service by contacting our office or using the Business Sign-up link on www.honorrewards.com. By participating, their business name will be listed on the Honor Rewards website for Boone County, provided to Veterans who receive an Honor Rewards card, and also be regularly mentioned in email blasts to current Honor Rewards members. In addition, we will provide participating businesses with promotional materials like door stickers and flyers to promote their involvement.
For more information, contact us at 815-544-3103 or visit www.honorrewards.com.
Participating Businesses
ACE Hardware of Belvidere (10% Off Purchase)
Ashley’s Salon and Day Spa (20% Off Any Service, Any Day with ID)
Barry T’s Modernistic Engravers (20% Off Engraving On Our Product)
Belvidere Pacemaker Countryside Markets (5% Discount)
Boone County Historical Museum (Free Membership and Free Lecture Series)
C & H Design Center (5% Off Total Job Up to $350)
Culver’s of Belvidere (10% Your Entire Order)
The Flower Bin Etc (20% Off Purchase/Order)
Jerseys Bar and Grill (15% Off Any Food Purchase)
Luecke Jewelers (Free Watch Battery Change/Visit, 25% Off Any Regular Priced Merchandise)
Neighborhood Cleaners (15% Off Any Order)
Northern Lights Unlimited, Inc (40% Off List Price – Anything, Anytime)
Poplar Grove Pacemaker Countryside Markets (5% Discount)
Poplar Grove Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum ($1 Off Admission; 10% Discount in Gift Shop)
Snyder Pharmacy (15% Discount Every Wednesday. Excludes Prescriptions, Alcohol and Sale Items)
Animal Service: Information Question of the Month
Q) How long are animals held after they are impounded?
A) Any animal with identification such as a rabies license or identification tag or a microchip must be held seven (7) days for an owner to reclaim the animal. It is required that a notice of impound letter be sent when an animal is received that has identification.
Dogs that do not have any identification are held for five days. On the fifth day, the animal can be placed for adoption or transferred to a licensed rescue. Dogs without identification that are not deemed adoptable due to health or temperament issues are still held for seven (7) days to give an owner opportunity to reclaim the animal. The exception to this would be a health issue that the Veterinary Administrator would decide that the animal should be euthanized for humane purposes.
There is no holding period for cats as they are generally not accepted at this time unless they are sick, injured, or have bitten someone. Occasionally Animal Services receives owner surrender cats that are healthy. These cats are transferred to a licensed rescue.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Job Openings in Boone County Government
CURRENT OPENINGS:
Adult Probation Officer
The Boone County ProbationDepartment is currently hiring a full-time Adult Probation Officer. This position supervises adults placed on a Court Order for Probation, Court Supervision and/or Conditional Discharge. Duties include writing Bond Reports and Presentence Investigations; other duties may be assigned. Bachelor's degree required in social science, behaviorial science or criminal justice. Experience in counseling, probation or corrections a plus. Starting salary of $36,283 DOQ. Boone County is a EOE.
Send Resumes to:
Deb Jarvis
601 North Main St.
Belvidere, IL 61008
or electronically to: DJarvis@BooneCountyil.org
Deadine: October 3, 2014
Boone County Housing Authority announces vacancy
APPOINTMENT VACANCIES:
The following are volunteer Boards of the County of Boone that have vacancies:
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BOONE
One (1) vacancy for a term that will expire January 1, 2016
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 October 10, 2014 to assure being considered.
Posted Sep. 27, 2014 @ 4:00 pm
BELVIDERE — The Housing Authority of Boone County has announced a vacancy for a term that will expire on Jan. 1, 2016.
Interested parties should send a letter and resume to Boone County Board Chairman Bob Walberg at 1212 Logan Ave., Suite 102, Belvidere, IL 61008. Respond by Oct. 10 to assure consideration.
For information: 815-547-4770.
Read more: http://www.rrstar.com/article/20140927/News/140929527#ixzz3EaPBD1AO
Saturday, September 27, 2014
The US Economy in one graph
The Great Recession (2007-10)caused big decreases in income for all income groups the greatest being the top 10%. The recovery has increased primarily the income of the top 10%; the bottom 50% actual continued to decrease. The next 40% has a very small increase.
Chart from Federal Reserve System and is quoted in: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/macys-ceo-offers-ominous-insight-172459132.html
Friday, September 26, 2014
Growth Dimensions Economic Development for Belvidere-Boone County Names Jarid Funderburg as New Executive Director
Growth Dimensions Board Chairman Dick Van Evera announced the hiring of Jarid Funderburg of Belvidere, Illinois as the new Executive Director of Growth Dimensions, the Belvidere-Boone County economic development organization charged with helping employers retain and create quality jobs. He will begin at Growth Dimensions on October 1st. Most recently Funderburg was the field representative for Congressman Adam Kinzinger.
Funderburg is a Boone County native who was born and raised in Belvidere. He brings with him an extensive network and familiarity with Belvidere-Boone County along with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Organizational Communications. As a field representative for Congressman Adam Kinzinger, Funderburg has built and fosters a network of strong relationships with regional leaders in economic development, manufacturing, healthcare, education, agriculture and the service industry. He has participated in high level meetings with elected officials and executives giving him a thorough knowledge of the current economic challenges communities and businesses face. He also has experience with the state and federal grant search and application process. Funderburg has extensive management experience with construction and manufacturing as well. His career and education background give him a very well rounded understanding and approach to excel in the position as Executive Director.
“Jarid Funderburg is a great fit for our county and its economic development efforts. We have seen him in action representing the constituents of the 16th District of Illinois. He brings with him a well-developed network and a fresh vision for economic development in Belvidere-Boone County,” said Van Evera. “Beyond his network, he has the skills to do the job. He is strategic and will efficiently guide our economic development efforts; he is naturally collaborative and will work well with our many public and private sector partners; he has the energy to handle the demand of the assignment; and finally he has a passion for the city, county, and region that will drive performance,” Van Evera added.
For more information:
Jarid Funderburg
Executive Director
jfunderburg@growthdimensions.org
815.547.4252
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
SEPTEMBER 17, 2014: Highlights of the September Boone County Board Meeting
Below in black is the agenda taken from: http://www.boonecountyil.org/sites/default/files/CBAgenda%2009-17-2014.pdf
Important Highlights as seen by Bill Pysson
5.1. Marshall Newhouse is appointed to Health Board by a 7-5 vote. Mrs. Ward spoke at length how the Health Board needed another women or a Latin, to reflect the county’s and clinic’s demographics. Prior to the vote a motion to repost the appointment for 60 days was proposed by Bill Pysson. The motion was defeated 5 to 7.
9.1. The Garden Prairie Peaker Plant special use permit was unanimously. Neighbors of the proposed facility addressed the board requesting denial. Board discussion reviewed original decision and clarification what were proper basis for approval and denial.
9.2 Voice vote unanimously approved clarification of the right to build a residence on a “lot of record”.
9.3 In keeping with the state legislation on medical cannabis only Industrial Zoned property (I-1) is allowed for either growing or dispensing cannabis. Vote was unanimous.
10.2 Based upon a recommendation of the States Attorney, the county board did not add to the Animal Service referendum the projected cost of borrowing $800,000 for the new building. Bill Pysson asked if a “resolution” could be passed to answer the question of costs. The answer was “Yes” however because this resolution was not on the agenda it could not be voted at this meeting. Sadly the advocates of the referendum will not have a cost for this proposed building for another month.
11.1 For the first time—the county’s farmland was leased based upon the highest bid (rather than private negotiation). Despite a fall in commodity prices in 2014, the lease price increase $30 per acre to $280. After some discussion regarding the lease terms the vote was unanimous.
21.1 Collective Bargaining Agreement with Correction Departments is approved.
21.2 A proximately $13K compensation settlement was approved.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Boone County Board Meeting
COUNTY BOARD ROOM, 1212 Logan Ave., Belvidere, 6:30 P.M.
1. Call to Order
1.1 Opening of Meeting
2. Roll Call
2.1 Roll Call
3. Approval of Agenda
3.1 Approval of Agenda
4. Minutes
4.1 Approval of County Board Minutes
5. Appointments and Recognition
5.1 Appointments and Recognition
6. Public Comment
6.1 Public Comment
7. Reports from Community Agencies
7.1 Growth Dimensions
7.2 Council on Aging
7.3 Court Appointed Special Advocate
7.4 Board of Health
7.5 Other (RREDD)
BoardDocs® LT https://www.boarddocs.com/il/boone/Board.nsf/Private?open&login
1 of 3 9/12/2014 2:03 PM
8. General Consent Items
8.1 Fund Transfers
8.2 Road Projects
8.3 Raffle Permits
9. Standing Committee: Planning, Zoning, and Building
9.1 Motion to Approve Ordinance 14-42 Extending the Special Use Permit for the Garden Prairie Peaker Power
Plant for Powers Venture Group. PZB (4-0); CB()
9.2 Motion to Approve Ordinance 14-43 Amending the Boone County Zoning Ordinance regarding Section
3.2.3.B.3 Lot of Record Language. PZB (4-0); CB()
9.3 Motion to Approve Ordinance 14-44 Amending the Boone County Zoning Ordinance Establishing Medicinal
Cannabis Dispensaries and Cultivation Centers. PZB (5-0); CB ()
9.4 Motion to Approve Ordinance 14-45 Granting a Zoning District Change from B-1 General Business to
Traditional Neighborhood Residential at 1082 Irene Road. PZB (4-0); CB ()
10. Standing Committee: Finance, Taxation and Salaries
10.1 Motion to Approve Claims with the Understanding that Kenny Freeman Abstains from Voting on all Claims
Presented by William Charles and Associates and Karl Johnson Abstains from Voting on all Claims Presented by
HD Supply. (Approved 5-0)
10.2 Motion to Approve the Following Language be added to Describe Animal Services Building Ballot "The Owner
of a $100,000 home would pay about $8.50 each year for three years". (Approved 5-0)
11. Standing Committee: Roads and Capital Improvements
11.1 Motion to Approve High Bid from Ed Kasper for the Farm Rental Agreement in the amount of $280.00/acre,
Contingent on the current tenant, Gerald Hulstedt, having until September 30th to match the offer and remain
the tenant. (Approved 5-0)
11.2 Motion to Approve Resolution 14-46 Allowing Membership of the Rockford Mass Transit District to the
Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning Policy Committee. (Approved 5-0)
12. Standing Committee: Health and Human Services
12.1 Motion to Approve Intergovernmental Mutual Aid Agreement for the Establishment of the Illinois Public
Health Mutual Aid System. (Approved 4-0)
13. Standing Committee: Administrative and Legislative
13.1 Motion to Approve Creation of the "Foreclosure Mediation Fund" for the Foreclosure Mediation Program to be
implemented by the by the 17th Judicial Circuit. (Approved 5-0)
13.2 Motion to Approve Boone County Holiday Schedule 2015. (Approved 5-0)
14. Standing Committee: City-County Coordinating
14.1 Motion to Approve Scope of Work from TRC for Landfill Gas Collection System repairs at Landfill #2 in the
amount of $12,750. (Budgeted)
14.2 Motion to Approve Proposal from CERONI Piping for Landfill Gas Collection System repairs amount to be
determined. (Budgeted)
14.3 Motion to Approve Ordinance 14-47 extending the Boone County Enterprise Zone until July 1, 2016.
15. Standing Committee: Public Safety
BoardDocs® LT https://www.boarddocs.com/il/boone/Board.nsf/Private?open&login
2 of 3 9/12/2014 2:03 PM
15.1 No Motions
16. Special Committee Reports
16.1 Workforce Investment Board
16.2 Community Building
16.3 UCCI (United Counties Council of Illinois)
16.4 Farmland Protection Committee
16.5 911 Board
16.6 Other Committees
16.7 Scheduled Committee Meetings
17. Unfinished Business
17.1 Unfinished Business
18. New Business
18.1 Drug Court Grant for 2015
19. Informational Items
19.1 Informational Items
20. Executive Session
20.1 Litigation
20.2 Collective Bargaining
20.3 Land Acquisition
21. Anticipated Motions From Executive Session
21.1 Motion to Approve Collective Bargaining with the Fraternal Order of Police for the Correction's Department.
21.2 Motion to Approve Workman's Compensation Settlement with Sandra Rogers.
22. Adjournment
22.1 Adjourn the meeting
L.A. City Council votes minimum wage hike to $15.37 for biggest hotels
Los Angeles Times | September 24, 2014 | 12:31 PM
The Los Angeles City Council voted 12-3 today to require the city's biggest hotels to boost pay for their workers to at least $15.37 an hour – one of the highest minimum wage requirements in the U.S.
Mayor Eric Garcetti has said he would sign the plan, which would hand a major victory to organized labor and a defeat to hotel and business leaders who contend it would cut profits and trigger layoffs.
Because the vote was not unanimous, the ordinance will require a second vote next week.
Above is from: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/148a927ebf3905d3
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Home › Employment & Appointments
Boone County government offers a wide and diverse number of direct services to its residents, including law enforcement, correction and detention of law violators, support for the criminal justice system, direct health care, maintenance of essential records, highway maintenance, property assessments, courtroom operations, building and planning services, tax collection for other local governments, and election administration among others. From these many services come many opportunities for employment.
Boone County Government job application can be found here: Job Application
CURRENT OPENINGS:
Public Health Nurse (Coordinator)
The Boone County Health Department is currently hiring a full-time Public Health Nurse to serve as our Maternal/Child Health Programs Coordinator. Must possess a strong desire to work with children and families. Bilingual in English/Spanish encouraged to apply. Must be a registered nurse licensed to practice in Illinois. Excellent working environment and great benefit package. No weekends or evenings. Send resume to Amanda Mehl, Boone County Department of Public Health, 1204 Logan Ave., Belvidere, IL 61008 or submit electronically to info@boonehealth.org. EOE
Click here to view the full job description.
APPOINTMENT VACANCIES:
The following are volunteer Boards of the County of Boone that have vacancies:
THERE ARE NO VACANCIES AT THIS TIME ~ PLEASE CHECK BACK
Monday, September 22, 2014
9-18-2014 UPDATE on Plote CASE
No action until November 13, 2014.
The above is taken from: http://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_history.jsp?court=IL004015J&ocl=IL004015J,2014CH170,IL004015JL2014CH170D1 This reference should also update the reader concerning current status.
If you want a history of the case and its background see the August 29, 2014 Boone County Journal; portions of which are shown below.
Study: Recovery eludes long-term unemployed
Paul Davidson, USA TODAY 5:31 a.m. EDT September 22, 2014
More than 20% of Americans laid off the past five years are still unemployed and one in four who found work is in a temporary job, according to a survey out Monday.
The report underscores that despite a sharp drop in long-term unemployment recently, many people out of work at least six months are still struggling to recoup their former wages and lifestyles. Those idled for years face an even tougher road back to employment.
"While the worst effects of the Great Recession are over for most Americans, the brutal realities of diminished living standards endure for the 3 million American workers who remain jobless years after they were laid off," says Carl Van Horn, director of the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.
The center conducted the survey of 1,153 Americans, about 300 of them long-term unemployed, from July 24 to Aug. 3.
The ranks of the long-term unemployed have fallen by 31% the past year to 3 million. But many of those hired are in temporary or part-time slots, or full-time positions that pay less than their previous salaries.
For more of the story: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/22/rutgers-survey-long-term-unemployed/15901129/
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Belvidere-Rockford bus service could end next summer
BELVIDERE — Residents who are accustomed to travelling between Rockford and Belvidere by bus may have to find a different set of wheels next summer.
Rockford Mass Transit District’s bus service to Belvidere could end in 2015.
The route was launched in 2011 and about half of its funding comes from a nearly $175,000 federal Job Access Reverse Commute grant that will expire early next summer.
The remainder of the route’s costs are paid for with state and local funds.
Lisa Brown, a Rockford Mass Transit District representative, said the Belvidere route costs approximately $372,000 a year to operate.
Once the grant money is depleted in 2015, Brown said that 65 percent of the route’s operation costs will be covered with state funds. The remaining 45 percent, roughly $170,000, would need to be picked up by Belvidere or other local funding sources.
RMTD, Belvidere and Boone County representatives will not decide officially whether to continue funding until after Jan. 1.
Belvidere Mayor Mike Chamberlain said that even though the bus service’s ridership has been slowly increasing, it is still not high enough to justify keeping the route without federal funding.
According to Brown, 15,168 people rode on the Belvidere route between June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2014. The year before, 14,455 people rode the Belvidere bus.
The Job Access Reverse Commute grant program was established to mitigate transportation issues for welfare recipients and people with low income seeking to obtain and maintain employment.
In lieu of a fixed-route bus service, Chamberlain has informally floated the idea to eventually seek federal grant funding to link Rockford and Belvidere through a shuttle bus service that would depart from a park-and-ride lot at the east-side Rockford bus transfer station.
The shuttle bus would bring Rockford riders to the proposed Belvidere Amtrak station. Chamberlain said there has not been any formal discussion on that proposal, and it would be unlikely for a shuttle service to be begin operating before frequent commuter rails between Rockford and Chicago are established.
“It would be very advantageous to have a shuttle bus that runs from Rockford to Belvidere,” Chamberlain said. “When you’re looking at multimodal transportation that serves a significant portion of the population, that’s looked upon favorably by the federal government when it comes to funding.”
Ben Stanley: 815-987-1369; bstanley@rrstar.com; @Ben_J_Stanley
Friday, September 19, 2014
9-18-2014 UPDATE on Plote CASE
The above is taken from: http://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_history.jsp?court=IL004015J&ocl=IL004015J,2014CH170,IL004015JL2014CH170D1 This reference should also update the reader concerning current status.
If you want a history of the case and its background see the August 29, 2014 Boone County Journal; portions of which are shown below.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Trend Alert: Industries in Desperate Need of Skilled Employees
Worldwide, it is estimated that 69 percent of employers reported having difficulty recruiting the qualified workers they are looking for. At the same time, many countries still face high unemployment.
Besides the economic recessions in different regions, the situation was made worse by the fact that many corporations simply stopped training their people. In misguided attempts to reduce expenses, countless organizations literally eliminated their training functions. However, as we have highlighted in this publication so often, the real problem is that most countries are just failing to produce workers with the right skills.
In the United States alone, more than 30 million people are unemployed, under-employed, or have given up on looking for a job. As we forecast in our book titled "Impending Crisis: Too Many Jobs, Too Few People", there is already a workforce crisis in the US. This crisis is most acute in four industries: Healthcare,
Information Technology (IT), Aerospace, and Manufacturing.
Highlighted by Dr. Edward Gordon in his new book "Future Jobs: Solving the Employment and Skills Crisis",these four industries are feeling/will feel the most pain now and moving into the near-term future.
Healthcare. We currently have urgent needs for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, therapists, dentists, "and just about anyone who is trained in a broad array of healthcare occupations to cope with a rapidly aging population". "The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2020, jobs in this field will grow
by over 20 percent."
IT: The War for Talent is alive and well across the IT sector. Between 2010 and 2011, the sector created over 80,000 new IT jobs. In 2011, CareerBuilder.com posted 30,000 open tech jobs. The problem: many of these positions, required specialized skills of five or more years of IT experience. Gartner, a technology research company, expects 1.9 million IT jobs to be created in the US alone between 2012 and 2015.
Aerospace. According to Boeing's top executive, "Many seasoned and skilled workers are close to retiring, and insufficient numbers of capable workers are being prepared to replace them." In fact, by 2015, 60,000 employees, or 40 percent of its workforce, may be gone. Already, Boeing is suffering from a record order backlog.
Manufacturing. A Boston Consulting Group study warns that by the end of the decade, this shortage in 2011 of 600,000 could rise to over 875,000 highly skilled US workers.
What is needed is major investment in the training and development of our global workforce. Corporations and governments alike need to take notice, but more important, take major action and take it quickly. If corporations and countries are to flourish in the future, this investment is not optional. Those that ignore
this important obligation will ultimately find themselves out of business or bankrupt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information on the Herman Trend Alerts, click www.hermangroup.com
© Copyright 1998-2014 by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman
Trend Alert," by Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurist. (336) 210-3548 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a registered
trademark of The Herman Group, Inc.
July Unemployment at 9.4%
According to the latest report from the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the unemployment rate for the Rockford metro area in July stood at 9.4%. That is up a half-point from June, following summer job trends seen in previous years, but down from July of last year, when unemployment stood at 11.6%. It’s the lowest July unemployment rate for Winnebago and Boone Counties since 2008, according to IDES.
Unemployment in Stephenson County stands at 8.1% for July, down from 10.2% a year ago.
The state report indicates growth in the professional-business services sector along with to-beexpected
gains in the hospitality and construction industries.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
9-6-2014 UPDATE on Plote CASE
The above is taken from: http://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_history.jsp?court=IL004015J&ocl=IL004015J,2014CH170,IL004015JL2014CH170D1 This reference should also update the reader concerning current status.
If you want a history of the case and its background see the August 29, 2014 Boone County Journal; portions of which are shown below.
Oakwood Hills president resigns amid power plant controversy
Stacey Wescott, Chicago Tribune
Many residents of Oakwood Hills oppose a plan for a power plant in the area, saying the proposal caught them off guard.
Many residents of Oakwood Hills oppose a plan for a power plant in the area, saying the proposal caught them off guard. (Stacey Wescott, Chicago Tribune)
By Robert McCoppin, Tribune reporter
The village president of Oakwood Hills has resigned in response to outrage over a proposal she helped negotiate for a power plant.
President Melanie Funk resigned Wednesday in a letter, writing, "I no longer feel that I can continue to take the abuse that I have been subject to over these last few months."
The $450 million power plant proposed by Enventure Partners sparked protests by hundreds of people at meetings on the subject in July. Residents are concerned about the plant's potential effects on pollution, noise, water use and property values. The proposed plant would be built about a half-mile from homes and across the street from a grade school.
Village officials shut down village hall for the month of August after they said someone made a threat against public officials over the plant, though they said they had no documentation of a threat.
Village Trustee Beth Gorr and Village Attorney John Cowlin also resigned, Village Clerk Melissa Goldman confirmed.
Trustee Paul Smith, who was president pro tempore, becomes acting president, Goldman said. That opens up two trustee positions for election next April
Read more of the article by clicking on the following: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-oakwood-hills-president-resigns-amid-power-plant-controversy-20140911-story.html
Here is the Village’s view of the zoning issue:
Energy Center Information
Upcoming The next Zoning Board Hearing will take place on October 9, 2014 at the Holiday Inn; the time will be posted soon.
Done The Open House will be on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the HOLIDAY INN Conference Room in Crystal Lake.
DoneThe Zoning Board Hearing will be on Thursday, July 24, 2014 beginning at 6:30 PM at the HOLIDAY INN Conference Room in Crystal Lake.
DoneThe additional Zoning Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2014 beginning at 6:30 PM at the HOLIDAY INN Conference Room in Crystal Lake.
It is apparent from the responses of the public at the zoning hearings on July 24th and 31st regarding the zoning petition that there was a lack of understanding of the process before the Zoning Board and a need for clarification of the process that the Zoning Board is required to follow in considering the Petitioners’ request.
The Zoning Ordinance of Oakwood Hills provides that anyone who is seeking approval for variations, amendments or other zoning requests from the provisions stated in the Oakwood Hills Zoning Ordinance must follow the procedures outlined in the Ordinance.
Once a Petitioner submits a Petition the Zoning Ordinance requires that a hearing be set up not less than 15 nor more than 30 days from the time the notice of hearing is published in the Northwest Herald and is given to the taxpayers of record that abut the property for which the request is made. The initial date and time for the hearing is strictly controlled by when the Petitioner files the notice of hearing set forth in the ordinance.
The hearing held on the Petition filed is a public hearing. It is a process to allow the Petitioner to present its case for what is being requested. As a public hearing, it is also to in favor of Petitioner’s proposal. At the conclusion of the public presentation, the public presentation is closed then the Petitioner has the obligation to respond to the questions and comments raised by the public.
Once the Petitioner has concluded its responses to the questions and/or comments from the public, it is then the Zoning Board members time to raise any questions or concerns that they may have regarding the Petition to the Petitioner. The hearing is over when the Zoning Board members have concluded their questions of the Petitioner. After the conclusion of the meeting, the Zoning board may postpone its vote only once to a future meeting unless a further delay is obtained with the approval of the Petitioner.
The original schedule of meetings listed a meeting on July 24th from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with an additional meeting, if needed, for July 31st at the same times to allow everyone interested in the proposal to be present and speak. On July 24th, the Zoning Board continued the meeting to July 31st as there were members of the public that had not had the opportunity to speak or make a presentation to the Board. The public was informed that they would also be given an opportunity on the 31st to sign in if they did not do so on the 24th.
The Zoning Board received a Motion for a Continuance of the Hearing to October 9th to allow the Petitioner to obtain new counsel and consider the statements made by the public at the meeting on July 24th. The Petitioners were within their rights in making the request and the decision of the Zoning Board approved their request which effectively brought the meeting to an end on July 31st. At the meeting on the 31st, someone shouted, “Why don’t you just vote no now.” As I have outlined, the Zoning Board is required to follow the rules established by the Zoning Ordinance of the Village, which are not unique to the Village.
The Zoning Board is committed to follow the procedures established in order that both the Petitioners and public are provided due process as required in the hearing process. When the hearing reconvenes on October 9th the meeting is at the public presentation stage of the proceedings. Those members of the public who have not had an opportunity to speak will be given that opportunity. With the large number of public that has shown an interest in speaking, everyone will be given that opportunity and, if necessary, additional meetings will be held until the hearings are brought to a conclusion.
See earlier post: http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2014/09/oakwood-hills-residents-voice-concern.html
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Government Debt Isn't the Problem—Private Debt Is
Richard Vague
Sep 9 2014, 12:10 PM ET
What’s astonishing is how little attention the global debt problem—the extremely high ratio of private debt to GDP—has gotten. Not only does it leave the U.S. and other countries vulnerable to crisis should brisk growth in that ratio resume, but, quite apart from any crisis, the accumulation of higher levels of private debt over decades impedes economic growth. Money that would otherwise be spent on things such as business investment, cars, homes, and vacations is increasingly diverted to making payments on the growing debt— especially among middle- and lower-income groups that compose most of our population and whose spending is necessary to drive economic growth. Debt, once accumulated, constrains demand.
Read the entire article by clicking on the following: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/09/government-debt-isnt-the-problemprivate-debt-is/379865/2/
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
BOONE COUNTY PSB Sales tax
The Sheriff is requesting Boone County Board to purchase eight new squad cars for approximately $18,500 each. The funds are to be obtained from the PSB Bond fund. This would be over and above the $200,000 limit imposed by Ordinance 10-35 for FY 2015. See Ordinance below.
Here are some of the facts regarding the issue whether this sales tax should be used for anything other than interest and principle on the PSB Building.
This was previously posted in 2012.
Boone County’s half cent sales tax for the Jail
Boone County Government’s website has a summary of the history of this sales tax. The following are excerpts from that site which is at: http://www.boonecountyil.org/sites/default/files/pubsafety%20sales%20tax.pdf
First, the actual ballot resolution
Click on the photocopy to enlarge:
The Boone County Board’s 1999 published statement regarding the referendum issue.
Beginning in FY 2004 (12-1-2003 to 11-30-2004) the county began using the sales tax for items related to jail operations but not related to bond repayment. Note the FY 2001 numbers were only for part of the year. See below:
For FY 2011, a very large use of Jail sales tax was actually authorized. See Ordinance 10-35 below. The county proposed very large operational expenses for the sales tax, gradually reducing it until it was projected to stop in 2018 with the final payment on the jail bonds.
The half cent PSB sales tax was budgeted to be $1,358,000 for the FY 2012. The highest PSB tax receipts was in 2008 when $1,653,891 was received. See below:
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Illinois Gaming Machine Operators Association’s View: Video gaming in Illinois success story
See Boone County Government’s last reported 12 months income from video gaming, after the opinion piece.
Posted Sep. 5, 2014 @ 1:52 pm
Video gaming is an unquestioned success in Illinois. Nearly two years after the first video gaming terminals became available to the public in September 2012, the numbers and the stories from so many people and places around Illinois prove that state lawmakers were correct in legalizing video gaming five years ago.
Just ask the Illinois Gaming Board. In its 2013 Annual Report, the board wrote, “Video gaming in Illinois has proved to be both a regulatory and technical success as well as an important adjunct to State revenues.”
As president of the Illinois Gaming Machine Operators Association (igmoa.org), which includes many video gaming terminal operators whose machines are producing these great benefits around our state, I hear of video gaming success stories every day. Our partnering bars, restaurants and veterans or fraternal clubs are using the new revenue to start to recover from years of financial hardship. There is a renewed hope on Main Street Illinois that people are “coming home” to spend money on local entertainment. That means more people are going to work in higher-paying jobs and spending money in neighborhood stores. As a bonus, governments are able to fix roads and bridges and support local budgets.
Too often, the stories of the winning hand that video gaming provides all across our state go untold as our critics blame us for the demise of casinos or focus on negative behavior associated with gambling. It is time we spoke up as an industry so Illinois citizens see for themselves the impressive results:
Video gaming started in September 2012 with 61 machines producing about $27,000 in tax revenue. The growth since then has been strong. By the end of 2013, more than 13,300 machines statewide had produced nearly $90.2 million in state and local tax revenue.
This year has been even more successful. Through July 2014, the latest numbers reported by the Illinois Gaming Board, there are now nearly 18,000 machines around Illinois that have generated about $104 million, surpassing last year’s total in just over a half of a year — a pace that would exceed $180 million in state and local tax revenue by the end of this year.
Decisions by Chicago, unincorporated Cook County and other communities to opt out of video gaming have definitely hurt the industry’s chances of meeting revenue expectations set when lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn approved VGTs as a key funding source for the 2009 capital construction bill. Yet, local economic benefits from revenues on the machines that are operating in participating communities have exceeded expectations.
There has been no increase in crime tied to video gaming, as some critics had predicted. Towns realize they have ultimate control over which businesses qualify for video gaming and its future growth. This makes us hopeful we will continue to see growth and that we will be able to educate communities who have turned down video gaming to revisit earlier decisions that were made before they understood the video gaming laws and the positive impact our industry is having on Illinois.
Read more: http://www.rrstar.com/article/20140905/Opinion/140909621#ixzz3CahfwLfL
Total Boone County government income for last 12 months: $61,132.89.
City of Belvidere’s 12 month income is $53,065.04.
Poplar Grove’s 12 month income is $10,441.10.
Capron’s 12 month income is $5,718.79.
Above video gaming income available at: http://www.igb.illinois.gov/VideoReports.aspx
Friday, September 5, 2014
Oakwood Hills residents voice concern over proposed power plant
Bill is a former resident of the Oakwood Hills area. And he thought this story would interest some blog followers. To some degree it is a “not in my backyard” story but openness and transparency is what is being demanded by these citizens. That is a demand of local politics across the nation and the reason for the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
More than 120 citizens showed up at a village meeting, concerned that a $450 million power plant will be built in Oakwood Hills.
SEE the film clip by clicking on the following: http://abc7chicago.com/news/oakwood-hills-residents-voice-concern-over-proposed-power-plant-/295615/
By Stacey Baca
Thursday, September 04, 2014
OAKWOOD HILLS, Ill. (WLS) --
A controversial plan over a proposed power plant closed down Oakwood Hills' village government last month. On Thursday night, a village meeting had to be moved to Crystal Lake to a location big enough to handle the crowd.
Oakwood Hills is a village in McHenry County with just 2,000 people. More than 120 citizens showed up at the meeting, concerned that a $450 million power plant will be built in their community.
"We are not a bunch of thugs, bullies, liars and gossips - as we have been referred to - but are concerned residents of Oakwood Hills," said Rosie Riley, resident.
Although it's not on Thursday night's agenda, residents are concerned that the village will approve plans to build a massive power plant in this field. Transparency is an issue.
"Have you folks met? Have you met in secret? What have you done - created a police state for us?" said Regina Narusis, resident.
The issue has been so contentious that the village hall was shut down for nearly a month after board members reportedly received threats - an issue the police chief declined to talk about Thursday.
But the police presence was obvious as officers used hand-held detectors and checked bags - and residents are not finished fighting.
"It's been a black hole, we have no idea what is going on with the board, and that's probably what is driving most of the concern," said Ryan Noonan, who opposes the power plant.
The village president declined to talk to Eyewitness News Thursday night, and during the meeting, she did not address specific concerns about the power plant.
The village board is expected to take up the power plant issue next month.
Earlier Channel 7 coverage: http://abc7chicago.com/news/oakwood-hills-village-hall-shut-down-by-personal-threats/245415/
http://abc7chicago.com/news/oakwood-hills-village-hall-re-opens-after-threats/283731/
Peaker Plant asks for another extension of their special use permit
This month the Boone County Board will consider another extension of the special use permit. Here is some background on the plant and the 2009 decision to approve the plant.
There are some additional posts from this blog concerning peaker plants and the 2009 board approval. SEE:
http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/01/peaker-plant-clears-boone-zoning-board.html
http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/02/boone-board-delays-peaker-plant-verdict.html
http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/02/boone-county-again-debates-peaker-plant.html
http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/03/boone-county-government-for-march.html
PHOTO PROVIDED Boone County Board Chairman Bob Walberg stands in front of one of the engines at a peaker plant in Hays, Kansas, on Friday, March 6, 2009. Three board members visited the plant in preparation for their own vote on whether a similar plant should come to rural Boone County.
Peaker plant tour hasn't swayed Boone County Board member's votes
By Kevin Haas
Posted Mar. 10, 2009 @ 12:01 am
Updated Mar 10, 2009 at 9:01 AM
BELVIDERE
Boone County Board members who visited a peaker plant in Hays, Kan., Friday said the trip hasn’t swayed their votes on a proposed project in rural Boone County.
Boone County Board Chairman Bob Walberg and board members Marshall Newhouse and Kathy Donhowe-Hartwig toured the 75-megawatt Goodman Energy Facility to get a first hand view of a peaker plant similar to the one proposed for Boone County. Board members are scheduled to vote on the project March 18.
Newhouse, who had voted in favor of the project at the committee level, said his feelings haven’t changed since the tour. Donhowe-Hartwig, who had voted against the project in committee, said she also hasn’t changed her mind.
“The (Kansas) facility is in the middle of nowhere. There really aren’t any neighbors close by,” said Donhowe-Hartwig, who has expressed concern for residents on Garden Prairie Road who would live near the proposed 100-megawatt, natural-gas-fired peaking power plant.
“My next step is going out to the (Boone County) site, because now I can visualize how large it is,” Donhowe-Hartwig said. “At this point, I haven’t changed my mind.”
If it's approved, developers still need a number of state and federal permits, and someone to purchase and operate the site, before they break ground. The earliest construction could start would be fall 2010, with plans to bring it on line by May 2012.
Would-be neighbors of the plant have contested that the sight and noise of 12 engines, with accompanying exhaust stacks, would lower property values.
“I just think it’s the wrong location,” said Gary Gibson, who lives on Garden Prairie Road north of the would-be facility.
Taxpayer money was not used to pay for the trip, which was financed by Burns & McDonnell, the architectural and engineering firm behind the project. It was offered to neighbors south of the would-be plant, but scheduling conflicts prevented any from accepting, developers said.
Gibson said he felt the board members’ trip to Kansas was an effort to buy their vote.
“That’s easy criticism. The truth is I saw them going the extra mile, trying to do everything they could to present their project and let people know what it is going to be like,” Walberg said. “There was no sales pitch, just trying to get an honest opinion of what they had to offer.”
Walberg, who has not cast a vote on the proposal, said he was impressed by the facility.
The Goodman Energy Facility has nine engines. One of the nine engines was turned on Friday to allow for board members to gauge the sound.
“I did not consider (noise) an issue at all,” Newhouse said. “They started with me standing right next to it and it was incredibly loud. When they shut the door the insulation in the facility did its work. ... At 200 to 240 yards motorcycles running down the highway a half-mile away were completely eclipsing anything the engines at the peaker power plant were producing.”
Read more: http://www.rrstar.com/article/20090310/News/303109868#ixzz3CNlsfn9V
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Perdue Farms eliminates antibiotic use in chicken hatcheries
By David Pierson
Perdue Foods, the nation’s third-largest poultry producer, said it has removed all antibiotics from its chicken hatcheries to address growing concerns about bacterial resistance to the widely used drugs.
The Salisbury, Md.-based company said it invested in cleaner hatcheries that eliminate the need for antibiotics on eggs. The poultry industry often injects eggs with antibiotics after vaccinating them because small holes in the shell can expose the eggs to disease.
Perdue is the first major poultry producer to phase out antibiotics in hatcheries, according to the National Chicken Council.
Perdue said antibiotic use is now restricted to treating sick flocks and to control a common intestinal parasite. The company eliminated antibiotic use to promote growth in its birds in 2007. Perdue said 95% of its chickens are now free of so-called medically important antibiotics – antibiotics that have an equivalent in human medicine and therefore raise the risk of creating human resistance.
Read more by clicking on the following: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-perdue-antibiotics-20140903-story.html?track=rss
Little Evidence That The ACA Affected Part-Time Employment
Bowen Garrett and Robert Kaestner
new evidence on the question using the latest available data
from the Current Population Survey (CPS).
We find no evidence that the ACA had already started increasing part-time work before 2014. We find a small
increase in part-time work in 2014 beyond what would be expected at this point in the economic recovery based
on prior experience since 2000. This increase in part-time work is fully attributable to an increase in involuntary
part-time work. The increase in involuntary part-time work, however, is not specific to the category of part-time work
defined by the ACA (i.e., less than 30 hours per week), but applies to part-time work more broadly (also between 30 and
34 hours per week). Moreover, transitions between full-time and part-time work in 2014 are in line with historic patterns.
These findings suggest that the increase in part-time work in 2014 is not ACA related, but more likely due to a slower than
normal recovery of full-time jobs following the Great Recession.
Read the entire 17 page report by clicking on the following: http://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/reports/2014/rwjf415284
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Eric Cantor Cashes In with New Wall Street Job - Yahoo Finance
Boutique investment bank Moelis & Co. announced Tuesday that Cantor, 51, will be joining as vice chairman and managing director, and would also be elected to the company’s board.
“Eric’s judgment and tremendous experience will expand the capabilities our team brings to clients around the world as he has unique expertise in assessing complex situations and crafting innovative solutions,” Ken Moelis, the chairman and CEO of the eponymous investment bank, said in a statement.
Related: Cantor’s Fall — District 7 Was Just 90 Miles Away
Democrats might take issue with that characterization — they saw Cantor as Congressman “No,” a leader of the GOP’s obstructionist strategy. Tea Party members have already criticized Cantor’s move as validation that he cared more about Big Money than about the people of Virginia’s 7th District, where he served from 2001 to 2014.
Either way, Cantor’s D.C. experience and connections, along with his cultivated ties to the business world, are bound to be valuable to the bank founded in 2007 by Ken Moelis, a Wall Street superstar (and, per The Wall Street Journal, a Republican). The boutique bank went public in April and its stock has surged since then. You can read more about Cantor’s new boss here.
“Eric has proven himself to be a pro-business advocate and one who will enhance our boardroom discussions with C.E.O.s and senior management as we help them navigate their most important strategic decisions,” Moelis added in the statement…
The bank disclosed in an SEC filing that it will pay Cantor a base salary of $400,000 as well as a signing bonus of $400,000 in cash and $1 million in restricted stock units that vest over five years. For 2015, Cantor will get at least $1.2 million in cash and $400,000 more in restricted stock.
In all, Cantor is in line to get at least $3.4 million. He’ll also get reimbursed for the “reasonable cost” of a New York City apartment for his first 12 months “and a hotel equivalent rate thereafter.”
Cantor’s annual salary as House Majority Leader was $193,400.
Read more by clicking on the following: Eric Cantor Cashes In with New Wall Street Job - Yahoo Finance
Monday, September 1, 2014
Changes in County Monthly Animal Services Report
Boone County Animal Services
Staff Report
September
2014
Staff – The department has one vacancy.
Roger Tresemer – Operations Supervisor
Juanita Acevedo – Office Manager
Justin Unger – Animal Services Officer
*pending* - Animal Services Officer
Daily Kennel Census
Beginning in October, 2014, a Daily Kennel Census will be included in the staff report. The Census will show how many animals were in the shelter at the beginning of the day and at the close of business.
Change in Impound Records Report
Starting this month, the Impound Records will no longer indicate the owner’s name but will reflect the animal owner’s general residency (IE: County, Belvidere, Capron, etc.) This protects the individual’s privacy and allows for more information to be shared regarding where animals are being brought in from and returned to.
Local Adoption Events
Periodically, BCAS will be presenting adoptable dogs at the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays in downtown Belvidere until season’s end.
Information Question of the Month
Q) What do BCAS officers check for when an animal is received in the field or is brought the shelter?
A) BCAS staff will make a photographic record as well as document the breed, color, gender, approximate age, any collar, any tags and scan the animal for any microchip. The animal is also evaluated if there are any medical needs in which case the animal is transferred to the department’s licensed veterinarian. If there are injuries that appear life threatening after hours, the animal is transported to the Animal Emergency Clinic of Rockford. The ultimate goal is to locate the owner so that the pet can be returned to them.
SLICE: Gina DelRose invested in Belvidere-Boone County
Gina DelRose invested in Belvidere-Boone County
She brought a downtown farmer's market to life, and that's just the start of Gina DelRose's list of accomplishments.
When she's not keeping a close eye on development as associate planner for the Belvidere-Boone County Planning Department - making sure that, long term, change will only improve the quality of the community - she's heavily invested in the region.
"It's my home," DelRose said, explaining that a community is only as good as the human investment put into it.
DelRose helps lead the Farmland Protection Project and volunteers with hospice. She also helping out at various events and fosters dogs for Boone County Animal Services.
She graduated from Joliet Catholic Academy, the institution that also schooled Daniel Ruettiger, the inspiration for the film "Rudy" and from Southern Illinois University.
She was interning in the Tinley Park planning department when she thought about sticking with planning as a career. She enjoyed the analytical aspects of the work, along with conversing and dealing with developers.
"Every day it was different. Every day it was a different project."
She turned to conceptualizing a downtown farmer's market because another was in the Dodge Lanes parking lot, heading out of town.
It's centrally located, in the Hub Plaza, and is in its third year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)