Exelon announces work to restore Byron units back to grid completed | Enformable

 

Exelon has announced that it has finished repairing and upgrading equipment at the Byron nuclear power plant which failed and interrupted power on January 30th, at the Unit 2 switchyard, tripping the reactor.  Unit 1 also experienced an incident involving equipment failures which caused a loss of power in Februrary, which was later blamed on a failed insulator.  In both cases, power was disrupted to the facility, causing operators to twice declare an “unusual event” at the plant.

Technical experts determined that the ceramic insulator failures were caused by tiny spaces created in the ceramic material during the manufacturing process, according to a news release.   An insulator is a piece of ceramic glass that prevents the wire carrying the electricity from shorting the electricity to the ground.The utility admitted that the company which manufactured the parts is no longer in business, which makes it difficult to diagnose exactly how the ceramic glass could break.

Communications Manager for the Byron Station Paul Dempsey said,  ”The insulator that failed last month in the kiln, the heating process once you are finished putting it together maybe wasn’t done to standards so we will see if this current one has similar issues.”  Exelon says Unit 1 was taken offline last week while upgrades were finished, and Unit 2 upgrades were finished over the weekend. Both units are back online at full power and generating electricity.

“It’s just important to give us a more robust system out in the switchyard,” said Paul Dempsey, communications manager for the Byron Generating Station. “It’ll ensure we’ll have continued good reliability for both of our units going into the summer months and beyond.”

The above is taken from the following:  Exelon announces work to restore Byron units back to grid completed | Enformable

Belvidere council learns Mural Mile group will dissolve

Local non-profit dissolving.  See its most recent financials above.

BELVIDERE – The Belvidere City Council learned last Monday of the dissolution of the Mural Mile group, a non-profit organization involved in reviving the downtown corridor, supporting the city’s mural project, and producing the community’s Heritage Day festival.

…“The small core of volunteers doesn’t feel they can do justice to the charges laid before them,” Heimbach added, saying the decision was reached with much “thought, trepidation, and anxiety.”

Alderman Clint Morris, who has previously raised the issue of the balance of funds for the organization, ….. Some recent statements discussed at council indicated a total balance of just under $20,000.

Heimbach reported that “some things got overlooked” regarding the financials for the group and they have retained an accountant to review, verify and complete the paperwork that is needed in order to dissolve the organization.

Morris said he was bothered by the apparent oversight of taxpayer money and asked if there will be resolution to the issue before the start of the new fiscal year, which begins May 1.

any balances left over need to be transferred to a “like organization,” and so can’t be used at the discretion of the council.

Heimbach said she expects it to take two months to get all the paperwork completed and filed, and possibly another two months to dissolve and transfer any fund balances.

Click on the following for more details;  Belvidere council learns Mural Mile group will dissolve

Supporters of Belvidere Firemen leaflet the city

The following leaflet has been found the last several days on the front doors of many homes in Belvidere.  The leaflet was apparently distributed by Belvidere Professional Firefighter Local 1569.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

 

Census shows Belvidere eligible to become home rule - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

The real change –there will be a higher cap on sales or no cap on real estate taxes.  Are the residents ready?

 

The change happens automatically and according to Belvidere Mayor Fred Brereton the milestone means the city has more freedom to do what it wants without having to get permission from the State of Illinois.  "It gives you a little bit more flexibility. Its part of the growing up process of a community"

Mayor Brereton says once the numbers are certified, Belvidere will first look into redistricting its five wards.

Census shows Belvidere eligible to become home rule - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

Belvidere council entertains possibilities for former Leath property

Building Size:156,219 SF

Property Type:Industrial

Property Sub-type:Warehouse

Additional Sub-types:Manufacturing

Property Use Type:Vacant/Owner-User

No. Stories:4

Year Built:1900

Clear Ceiling Height:12 ft.

Lot Size:3.34 A

Regional distribution center for a furniture retailer. Single story warehouse has 40,500 square feet with 26'-28' clear. Reminder of building is multi-story warehouse. Former sewing machine factory constructed of brick around 1900.

Brereton gave an overview of the types of plans Dean is considering, saying one plan is to locate a freezer section of the facility to the west and then using the large warehouse to the east of the Leath building for storage and space for research and development

Click on the following for more details:  Belvidere council entertains possibilities for former Leath property

Sweeny Report » Attention Amtrak passengers: Your train has been delayed, maybe forever

I confirmed Friday that IDOT is doing a new study as a follow-up to its 2007 study, which favored the Canadian National route through Genoa as quicker and cheaper than the Union Pacific line through Belvidere.

Brereton said…the new IDOT study “will either reaffirm the governor’s position about the northern route or contradict it and take it south. I’ve been led to believe the study won‘t be done until December, so we‘re losing valuable time.”

“Everybody’s fear is that IDOT could use our lack of consensus as an excuse not to fund the service,” Pritchard said.

Click on the following for more details:  Sweeny Report » Attention Amtrak passengers: Your train has been delayed, maybe forever

Belvidere seeks new ways to lure downtown business

$20,000 for the liquor license, which admittedly if not the highest in the state is one of the highest in the state,” Brereton

The downtown grant program was repealed last month, which was supported by the city’s initial $20,000 liquor license fee. Aldermen pulled the program’s ordinance because of outdated language and confusing terms for applicants. ….The council’s initial talk of axing the program in May was enough for Ken Kolanowski to throw in the towel on opening Kennitt’s Ale House in Belvidere.
He backed out of the 3,500-square-foot space he had been renovating since last fall. He has moved his business into a Marengo property

Click on the following for more details:  Belvidere seeks new ways to lure downtown business - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Chrysler plant expansion confirmed to Belvidere City Council - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

BIG NEWS FOR BELVIDERE 

A senior Chrysler Group official confirmed to aldermen tonight that the automaker intends to add 500,000 square feet to the northwest corner of its Belvidere assembly plant to accommodate a larger body shop.

the project could generate 200,000-plus hours of construction.

Mayor Fred Brereton said he wouldn’t be surprised if the company pulls a building permit before week’s end.
“It’s great news, not just for Belvidere but the entire region,” the mayor said. “What this does for certain is put this plant in even more of a competitive mode to attract expanded usage.”

 

Click on the following for more details:  Chrysler plant expansion confirmed to Belvidere City Council - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Mayor, company executive invite Obama to Belvidere

 

Eight months ago a local company Infrastructure Defense Technologies (IDT) was forced to file a protest with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) who made the original request for quote on the Protective Barriers central to this ongoing situation. Ultimately the contract award was rescinded and bidding was repeated.

Recently the contract for these protective barriers was awarded again to the foreign company that has provided over $1 billion worth of the current protective barrier product. …

When asked if there was a real chance that they would prevail in a second appeal process, Tom Carlton said, "I believe we have a 50 percent chance of winning this appeal and I will take this opportunity to invite President Obama to come to Belvidere and IDT to see the area and the product and talk to us about how important this contract is to this area."

Click on the following for more details:  The Belvidere Daily Republican. - Mayor, company executive invite Obama to Belvidere

“Tax meant for streets "– Chuck Popp’s Letter to Editor

As the former city attorney for Belvidere when the utility tax was adopted, I must dispute the contention of my good friend Mayor Brereton that the money collected was a “rainy day fund.”

Click on the following for the rest of the letter:   Tax meant for streets - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Back door offered to balance Belvidere budget

Brereton wants to amend the city’s municipal code to make a common practice of moving all utility tax money directly into the city’s general fund.

Revenue from the utility tax generally is reserved for road and infrastructure projects. Last week, the council failed to get the required supermajority needed to use the tax to balance the budget. A vote on an ordinance requires a simple majority for passage.

Click on the following for more details:  Back door offered to balance Belvidere budget - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Budget passes, but major funding source rejected

 

A couple years after it was first assessed, the ordinance outlining it was amended to add wording that the fund be used only for city-wide street reconstruction projects. Along with this amendment was a provision that the funds could be used for other purposes, but only with a super-majority (3/4) vote of the corporate authorities. The corporate authorities include all ten aldermen, plus one mayor, or 11 votes. A super-majority of the corporate authorities, then, would be nine votes.

the city’s current reserve balance is about $3.1 million, a figure the recent audit pointed to as below the recommended level for the city Belvidere’s size. If the city continued to draw on reserves to operate, [Alderman]Chamberlin predicted the balance could fall to $465,000, barely enough for a month or two of operating expenses.

Click on the following for more details:  The Belvidere Daily Republican. - Budget passes, but major funding source rejected

Belvidere aldermen expect to borrow to cover payroll

City officials say they’ll probably have to borrow money to pay their police, fire, and building and street department employees in the next fiscal year.
A vote Monday to pay them from the utility tax failed to garner a nine-vote supermajority.

 

Click on the following for more details: 

Belvidere aldermen expect to borrow to cover payroll - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Belvidere wrong in use of utility tax money

This guest opinion piece by  Clint Morris is from the April 16, 2010 Rockford Register Star.

As an alderman in Belvidere, I feel that taxpayers have not been fairly informed when it comes to understanding and determining whether local government is being responsible with their tax dollars.
A recent Register Star article led readers to believe that I had proposed job cuts in order to add a surplus to an existing budget surplus — not true. What the article failed to mention is that Mayor Fred Brereton is touting a balanced budget that grabs nearly $2 million collected from taxing Belvidere residents and businesses monthly on their essentials: gas, electricity and phone bills.

Click on the following for the rest of this opinion piece:  Guest Column: Belvidere wrong in use of utility tax money - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

IDOT confirms that Amtrak route will go through Belvidere | Daily Chronicle

Although Genoa officials have not been officially notified, a passenger rail line will run through Belvidere instead of Genoa, a state spokeswoman said Friday.

Amtrak feasibility report determined the Union Pacific line (Belvidere) would cost $43.8 million and the Canadian National line (Genoa) would cost $32.3 million in capital expenditures. The latter option also would have more riders and more revenue, yet also more annual operating expenses, according to the report.

Click on the following for more details:  IDOT confirms that Amtrak route will go through Belvidere | Daily Chronicle

Mayor: Belvidere has spent $95K fighting gangs

 

Brereton said the city has spent $95,000 since 2004 fighting gangs through the Gang Intervention Unit, which was formed as a response

Dammon testified about more than 100 graffiti photos from the Belvidere Police Department, known to be by the Latin Kings based on reports and stylings. The markings included five-point crowns, pitchforks facing down and references to themselves through abbreviations.

Click on the following for more details:  Mayor: Belvidere has spent $95K fighting gangs - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Debris from Belvidere plant blast kills man over a mile away

 

mayor said it was "pretty amazing" there were no other reported injuries at the plant, which he said was "very automated. There probably would not be a lot of employees on the premises."

The investigation into the cause of the blast is ongoing, the mayor said, and is being looked into by the Illinois State Fire Marshal, and the Belvidere Police and Fire departments.

Click on the following for the rest of the story:  Debris from Belvidere plant blast kills man over a mile away :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State

This is DeKalb but could it be Belvidere after Home Rule?

If Belvidere’s 2010 census shows a population over 25,000, it can become a home rule community.

INCREASE FOR THE CITY OF DEKALB, ILLINOIS

I. A public hearing to approve a proposed property tax levy increase for the City of DeKalb, Illinois for 2009 will be held on Monday, December 14, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois.

Any person desiring to appear at the public hearing and present testimony to the taxing district may contact Steve Kapitan, City Clerk, Municipal Building, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois at 815/748-2096.

II. The corporate and special purpose property taxes extended or abated for 2008 were $5,508,722.

The proposed corporate and special purpose property taxes to be levied for 2009 are $8,067,697. This represents a 46.45% increase over the previous year.

III. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission leases for 2008 were $0.

The estimated property taxes to be levied for debt service and public building commission leases for 2009 are $0. This represents a 0.00 percentage increase over the previous year.

IV. The total property taxes extended or abated for 2008 were $5,508,772.

The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2009 are $8,067,697. This repsresents a 46.45% increase over the previous year.

Toledo Area: Solid Future? - Dodge Nitro Forum

This Toledo area blog discusses the competition between the Belvidere plant and Toledo for survival. 

Tracy Handler, who studies Chrysler for IHS Global Insight in suburban Detroit, said Toledo Jeep's Liberty and Nitro factory "is directly competing" with Chrysler's small-vehicle factory in Belvidere, Ill., for future work. Belvidere is where the fuel-efficient Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot, and Jeep Compass are manufactured.
Mrs. Handler said that while the Wrangler facility's future is solid, the Liberty and Nitro factory's future is less certain.
"Even if you add some Alfa-Romeo and other Chrysler-based product, if you only have the Liberty built at that plant, that's probably not enough," she said.

Click on the following for the complete story:  Toledo Area: Solid Future? - Dodge Nitro Forum

City of Belvidere’s budget retreat presents limited revenue, difficult choices

 

Without doing anything, the city would face just over $1 million in deficit this year and just over $2 million the following year

[Suggestions form the retreat]:

eliminating janitorial service for city hall. Each department head would be responsible for their area and working collectively on common areas.

lay off three police department personnel and transfer $620,000 from the utility fund to pay for other police salaries.

layoffs would be two fire department personnel, and a transfer of $380,000 from the utility fund to pay for other fire salaries.

converting two building department personnel from full-time to part-time.

[Furloughs for fire and police departments]--the IAFF and the IUOE have contracts expiring in the spring 2010, the FOP’s contract doesn’t expire until 2011 and includes a wage increase of more than 3 percent for 2010. The furlough needs to be negotiated; it cannot be forced on the personnel.

Click on the following for more of the details:  The Belvidere Daily Republican. - City budget retreat presents limited revenue, difficult choices