Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Boone County Health Department requests significant changes to Boone County Code

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Boone County Health Department requests significant changes to Boone County Code

By Lisa Rodgers

Reporter

BOONE COUNTY – On Nov. 2, the Boone County Board of Health held its monthly board meeting.  Under 8. NEW BUSINESS: (For Action and/or Discussion) item B. Amendments to County Food Code- pages 37 through 45 was presented to the health board by Bill Hatfield, Director of Environmental Health.

Referring to pages 37 through 45 of the agenda (see below) Hatfield gave a brief explanation of the request.

“Periodically we do a review.  We are just doing some house cleaning.  Boone County Health Department (BCHD) never officially adopted these laws and we need to adopt them.  We are going to drop the Potentially Hazardous portion as it’s not needed,” Hatfield said.

The Potentially Hazardous portion may be found on page 38 of the agenda. This was the end of his report.  Hatfield requested board approval for it to be sent on to Health and Human Services Committee.  No discussion occurred and no questions were posed to Hatfield by the health board in regards to his request to amend the Boone County Code.  Health Board approved the request.

Here is the Boone County Board of Health Agenda from Nov. 2: http://www.boarddocs.com/il/boone/Board.nsf/files/A3RMNQ58FF81/$file/Health%20Department%20Written%20Report%20October%2C%202015.pdf. See pages 35 through 47.

On Nov. 5, the Health and Human Services Committee meeting met.  During the Health Department report Hatfield acknowledged adding two documents to the agenda late and only just prior to the meeting.

Discussion occurred and Hatfield explained the request to amend the county code was “just some house cleaning.  The State of Illinois has made so many changes we have not been able to keep up.”

Due to the late entry of Resolution 15 to18 to amend the County Code Section 30 as well as a summary, Chairman Paul Larson continued discussion to the Dec. 3 committee meeting.

Below is a portion of the current Boone County Code and the request to amend the same section by the Boone County Health Department.  This is only one section where many amendments are being requested.

Currently under Chapter 30-Food and Food Establishments

“Section 30-27 State rules adopted.

The inspection of food service establishments; the issuance, suspension, and revocation of permits to operate food service establishments; the prohibiting of the sale of unsound or mislabeled food or drink; and the enforcement of this article shall be carried out in accordance with the latest editions of the state department of public health “Rules and Regulations for Food Service Sanitation” and “Rules and Regulations for Food Store Sanitation,” three certified copies of each of which shall be on file in the office of the county clerk. (Ord. of 3-8-1978, § 1; Code 1981, § 8-17; Ord. No. 95-35, § 1, 11-8-1995; Ord. No. 99-38, 10-13-1999)”

The link to see the full amendment is: https://www.municode.com/library/il/boone_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SUHITA

On page 38 of the agenda, the BCHD is requesting to amend 30-27 of the Boone County Code by adding11Illinois Statutes.

“Sec. 30-27. State rules adopted.

The inspection of food service establishments; the issuance, suspension, and revocation of permits to operate food service establishments; the prohibiting of the sale of unsound or mislabeled food or drink; and the enforcement of this article shall be carried out in accordance with the latest editions of the state department of public health “Rules and Regulations for Food Service Sanitation” and “Rules and Regulations for Food Store Sanitation,

The following State statutes are also referenced in this Part:

  • Alternative Health Care Delivery Act [21 0 ILCS 3]
  • Nursing Home Care Act [21 0 ILCS 45]
  • Good Samaritan Food Donor Act [745 ILCS 50]
  • Hospital Licensing Act [21 0 ILCS 851]
  • Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 USC 301)
  • Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act [410 ILCS 6201]
  • Grade A Pasteurized Milk and Milk Products Act [41 0 ILCS 6351]
  • Meat and Poultry Inspection Act [225 ILCS 6501]
  • Sanitary Food Preparation Act [410 ILCS 6501]
  • Freedom of Information Act [5 ILCS 1401]
  • Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act [41 0 ILCS 6251]

three certified copies of each of which shall be on file in the office of the county clerk.

(Ord. of 3-8-1978, § 1; Code 1981, § 8-17; Ord. No. 95-35, § 1, 11-8-1995; Ord. No. 99-38, 1013-1999)”

Health and Human Services Committee meeting is on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. at 1204 Logan Ave. in Belvidere in the Administrative Building.

Boone County Board meeting is on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at 1204 Logan Ave. in Belvidere in the Administrative Building.

Boone County Board of Health meeting is on Jan. 4 at noon at 1204 Logan Ave. in Belvidere in the BCHD conference room.

Boone County Health Department requests significant changes to Boone County Code

Election 2016: Nominations are in for Winnebago, Boone races - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

By Ben Stanley
Staff writer

Posted Nov. 30, 2015 at 6:50 pm Updated at 8:45 AM

ROCKFORD — Winnebago County voters who head to the polls March 15 will have a choice in at least nine of the 25 local, state and federal contests on county ballots

 

 

…Today’s filings do not set the primary ballot in stone. Anyone who wants to remove an individual from the ballot has until 5 p.m. Dec. 7 to challenge a candidate's petition paperwork.

Independent candidates can file for office from June 20 to 27, 2016.
Here’s a look at who filed:
Boone County
Coroner: Rebecca Wigget, R
Circuit clerk: Linda Anderson, R; Todd Shattuck, R
State’s attorney: Michelle Courier, R; Tricia Smith, R

County Board
Six seats open (two for each of the county's 3 districts)
District 1: W. Fred Genrich, R; Marshall Newhouse, R; Dennis Ellingson, R
District 2: Cathy Ward, R; Bernard O’Malley, R; Cory Lind, R
District 3: Carl Larson, R; Matthew Ragano, R; Martin Vanderweit, R; Marion Thornberry, R; Craig Schultz, D

Illinois House
67th District: Litesa Wallace, D; Wladimiro Aguirre, D; Lisa Jackson, D
68th District: John Cabello, R; Tricia Sweeney, D
69th District: Joe Sosnowski, R; Angelique Bodine, D
89th District: Brian Stewart, R
Illinois Senate
34th District: Steve Stadelman, D
35th District: Dave Syverson, R
Ben Stanley: 815-987-1369; bstanley@rrstar.com; @ben_j_stanley

See Rockford slate and full article go to:  Election 2016: Nominations are in for Winnebago, Boone races - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Update on Plote Contempt Case

 

2014CH170 PLOTE CONSTRUCTION, INCLast Search  | Information  | Dispositions  | History  | Payments  | Fines & Fees

Date
Entry
Judge

Entered Under: PLOTE CONSTRUCTION, INC

11/23/2015 
SA Courier pres for Pl. Atty Fuller pres for Defs. Case comes on for decision on Pl's petition for RTSC and Def's motion for leave to file affirmative defenses. Argument heard. Def granted leave to file affirmative defenses. Pl to file a written response within 10 days or by 12-4-15. Case cont to 1-25-16 at 1:30 p.m. for hearing. ORDER
PJN

11/02/2015 
Notice of Motion Motion for Leave to File an Affirmative Defense
UNASSIGNED

10/26/2015 
Decision set for 11/23/2015 at 1:30 in courtroom 2.
UNASSIGNED

10/26/2015 
SA Courier pres for Pl. Atty Fuller pres for Defs. Case comes on Pl's Motion for RTSC and Def's Motion to Strike. Argument heard. Pl calls Drew Bliss from the Boone County Building Dept. Sworn testimony taken. Def calls David Zumbrunn from Beverly Materials/ Plote Construction (Belvidere Quarry). Sworn testimony taken. Based on testimony, Def's motion is heard and denied. Court's decision on Pl's petition for RTSC is continued to 11-23-15 at 1:30 p.m. ORDER
PJN

10/15/2015 
Notice of Service
UNASSIGNED

08/21/2015 
Motion hearing set for 10/26/2015 at 1:30 in courtroom 2.
UNASSIGNED

08/21/2015 
SA Courier pres for Pl. Atty Fuller pres for Defs. Case comes on for status. Case cont to 10-26-15 at 1:30 p.m. for hearing on Def's Motion to Strike and Pl's Petition for Rule to Show Cause. ORDER
PJN

08/17/2015 
Status hearing set for 08/21/2015 at 3:00 in courtroom 2.
UNASSIGNED

08/17/2015 
SA Courier pres for Pl. Atty Fuller pres for Defs. Case comes on for hearing. Pl and Def both request that the Judge recuse himself from this case. Judge Tobin recuses himself and reassigns this case to Judge Nicolosi. Case cont to 8-21-15 at 3:00 p.m. for status. ORDER REASSIGNMENT ORDER
CRT

07/28/2015 
SA Courier pres for Pl. Atty Fuller pres for def/Plote Contr. Judge Tobin discloses to the Parties that he had contact with the County Chairman about this case, and told him he could not talk about a pending case. Parties are given time to consider if they would like Judge Tobin to withdraw from the case. No further ruling will be made until parties decide on this matter. Case is continued to 08-17-15 at 8:45 a.m. ORDER Status hearing set for 8/17/2015 at 08:45 in courtroom 1.
CRT

07/22/2015 
Notice of Filing Boone County's Response To Defendant's Motion To Strike
UNASSIGNED

07/17/2015 
Notice of Filing Motion to Strike Petition for Rule to Show Cause - Indirect Civil Contempt

Boone County, IL | Case History

Chuck Sweeny: Shrinking number of governments is good, but will Illinois do it? - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

Posted Nov. 30, 2015 at 5:38 PM
Updated at 10:07 PM

I took vacation last week, but I kept up with the news because I've been a news junkie since the Italian liner Andrea Doria sank after colliding with the Swedish liner Stockholm off the coast of Nantucket.
So here's my take on stories I've been reading in local and Chicagoland media about Gov. Bruce Rauner's task force on government consolidation. It's a great idea; we have 7,000 units of local government in Illinois, more than any other state by far. In second place, with 1,800 fewer, is Texas, which has 27 million people spread over 268,820 square miles. Illinois has 13 million people spread over 57,915 square miles.
The task force, chaired by Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, is a great idea. She said taxpayers can save billions of dollars by government consolidation. Members have been working for a year and are about to present a final report.
I don't hold my hopes too high on it getting results. Nobody on a government payroll or government board wants to give up a government paycheck or position of prestige. This is a bipartisan condition. Democrats say they love government and Republicans say they don't, but they all love power when they get it.
I've been advocating for abolition of townships for 30 years. Illinois has 1,431 townships in 84 of our 102 counties. It's a bipartisan love affair with township government we have here. However, there is no governmental unit as obsolete as the Illinois township, which performs no duty that cannot easily be absorbed into counties and cities.
Elected township assessors determine how much your property is worth. The property assessment process would be more accurate and streamlined if it were handled by each county supervisor of assessments, an appointed professional who would employ a team of trained assessors to determine property values countywide.
Elected township road commissioners plow snow and patch potholes on roads in their townships. In Rockford on North Springfield Avenue we feature the absurdity of the Rockford Township highway office and its red trucks next door to the Winnebago County Highway Department and its white trucks. Does this make sense? We are paying a township road commissioner, who doesn't have to have any qualifications except the ability to get elected, and a full-time county highway engineer, who has to be an engineer. Don't you think, as I do, that the county highway expert could run all of this?

The only other township function is supervisor, an elected position for which the office holder is responsible for disbursing meager general assistance payments to the indigent. In Rockford, the assistance office is hidden inside a downtown building at State and Church streets with no parking. Surely general assistance could be more efficiently handled by the local community action program or by contract with social service nonprofits.

But the chances of townships being eliminated are slim to none. That's because of an outfit known as Township Officials of Illinois, a lobby that advocates for township government. Because of the large number of townships, this group is big.
On the other side, advocating for abolition, are, hold on, I'm looking. Maybe over here ... if I find them I'll let you know.
Please believe me that this is not personal. Most township officials I've known over the years are fine people, and some are friends. The township lobby folks are fine folks, too. I spoke at one of their regional meetings about legislative issues.
I just think that this particular form of government, designed in an age when most people lived on farms and small villages, is no longer needed. Illinois has 102 counties and that should be enough to deliver services in a state without great physical impediments, such as mountains.
One reason Illinois has so many governments is — reform. Yes, creating single-purpose districts like forest preserve districts and mosquito abatement districts, park districts and library districts, sanitary districts and street lighting districts, was a 19th-century plan to smash boss rule, as they called it. The good-government folks thought that if you created many single-purpose governments you could break up the power of big-city political bosses. However, the bosses were smarter. They just put their patronage people in all the single-purpose governments. We were left with thousands of governments and boss rule, too.
One thing we should be able to accomplish is ending unfunded mandates. Except for certain engineering and health standards, the state should not able to make local school districts, cities and counties do things without paying them for it. The new motto should be "You mandate, you pay."
Chuck Sweeny: 815-987-1366; csweeny@rrstar.com; @chucksweeny

Chuck Sweeny: Shrinking number of governments is good, but will Illinois do it? - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL