Belvidere Daily Republican’s Facebook: AMTRAK & Belvidere

Here is a preview of an article that will be in Tuesday's (4-15-2014) BDR. The news is too exciting to wait.

AMTRAK TO ADD RAIL STATION IN BELVIDERE
ROCKFORD – Governor Pat Quinn on April 10 announced a $223 million state capital investment that will create hundreds of jobs and restart Amtrak service between Rockford and Chicago beginning in 2015. The return of passenger rail to Rockford for the first time ...since 1981 will begin with one round trip daily between Chicago’s Union Station and a temporary station located in Rockford. Service will be expanded the following year and will eventually continue west to Dubuque, Iowa. The projects are part of Quinn’s agenda to create jobs and build a 21st century infrastructure that will drive Illinois’ economy forward.
“Next year, rail service between Rockford and Chicago will finally be a reality,” Quinn said. “This funding and a new route are the final pieces of the puzzle to restart this critical rail service, which has been dormant for more than three decades. This is just the beginning – reliable, intercity passenger rail will create jobs and drive economic development in these cities, the region and the state for years to come.”
The announcement is possible because following two years of negotiations, the state of Illinois has decided to switch to a new route, utilizing tracks owned by Metra and the Union Pacific Railroad. The new northern route was selected following lengthy negotiations with the Canadian National Railway, whose tracks were originally chosen for the service. Switching to the new tracks will ensure that service begins in 2015 and isn’t held up by continued delays.
“Today’s announcement is truly a team effort involving IDOT, Amtrak, the Union Pacific Railroad, the City of Rockford and many others,” Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Ann L. Schneider said. “I am especially proud that we are working together to build a multi-modal system of transportation that benefits residents and improves the quality of life throughout Illinois.”
“I want to thank Governor Quinn and his staff for their persistence and determination to restore Amtrak service to the city of Rockford,” Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey said. “I know it wasn’t easy, but nothing worthwhile and sustainable ever is. Working with the state of Illinois, the city of Rockford and its partners are transforming our city, and I am so happy to work with our state partners to make it happen, because it couldn’t happen without their support.”
“I am excited to be part of the final push to make Amtrak service a reality,” State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) said. “Our growing, vibrant city boasts tremendous transportation opportunities and the addition of passenger rail service to and from Chicago enhances the amenities our community needs.”
The new route will use Metra’s Milwaukee District-West Line and connect to the Union Pacific Railroad near Big Timber Road in Elgin. The Rockford station will be temporarily located at 703 Seventh Street on the east side of the Rock River, while IDOT and the city continue to develop a permanent Main Street station on the river’s west side. Quinn and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin dedicated $3 million in state and federal funding in 2012 in develop this new, multi-modal station. Stops also are being planned for Elgin, Huntley and Belvidere.
“We are excited regarding the economic potential created by routing the train through Belvidere and thank Governor Quinn for making this a priority,” Belvidere Mayor Mike Chamberlain said. “I would also like to again recognize former Mayor Brereton, Dave Taylor, Steve Ernst and the entire NICTI group for their tremendous efforts to create a transportation vision for Northern Illinois. This vision has become reality. Hurrah!”
“It is essential for the economic development and the ultimate financial well being of all communities to have quality transportation,” Elgin Mayor David Kaptain said. “I thank Governor Quinn and the state of Illinois for providing our region with improvements to I-90, high-speed rail and bus rapid transit between Elgin and Rockford that will bring us all unprecedented opportunities for growth."
The $223 million in track, signaling and safety improvements are funded primarily through Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! capital program. Preliminary improvements to the Union Pacific tracks will accommodate Amtrak trains at 59 mph by the end of next year. Final improvements are planned to be completed in 2016, at which point speeds will increase to 79 mph and a second Chicago-Rockford round trip will be added. The state will continue to work with the Canadian National Railroad to extend this corridor to its ultimate destination of Dubuque, Iowa, stopping in Freeport and Galena.
Included in the $223 million investment is $7.85 million to rehabilitate the temporary station on 7th Street in Rockford and $5.85 million to be split between Huntley and Belvidere to develop their own stations. The existing Metra station in Elgin will serve as its Amtrak stop.
At Quinn’s direction, Illinois has become a leader in the expansion of transit and passenger rail to create jobs, reduce congestion on state highways, improve air quality, expand travel options and promote economic development.

Belvidere Daily Republican: Health board ponders how many sick days are too many

By Bob Balgemann
Reporter
BELVIDERE - Members of the Boone County Board of Health were reviewing a proposed change in the sick and personal leave policy for employees of the health department should get each year.
The addition read: "When a physician releases an employee to return to work, the employee will be required to submit a written d...octor's statement to their director before they will be allowed to return to work. The director will review any restrictions set forth by the attending physician and apply those restrictions until a subsequent physician's statement releases an employee to full duty."
But before the board could dig into that proposal at its March 31 meeting, member Allen Sisson took issue with the number of sick days a full-time employee gets each year.
"I think nine days of sick time is excessive," he said. "I would recommend six. And if it's not used it should not roll over" into the next year. "I'd like this to go back to the drawing board."
Current policy allows employees to accumulate unused, paid sick leave to a maximum of 570 hours, or 71 1/4 days. Any amounts over 570 days are lost and not eligible to be carried over into the following year.
Sick leave currently is awarded in increments starting with three on Dec. 1, the start of the fiscal year. The employee receives two more each on March 1, June 1 and Sept. 1.
Part-time employees who work 20 or more hours a week now receive seven paid sick days a year.
According to the policy, the purpose of sick leave is to provide income protection for an employee who is unable to work because of "personal matters, illness or injury of the employee or an immediate family member."'
Immediate family members were identified as the employee's spouse, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, step-parents, step-children, mother, father, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
REFLECTS COUNTY POLICY
"What about the county?" board Vice President Jim Cox asked.
"This is the county policy," Frank responded.
To that Sisson said he agreed the health department should follow Boone County policy, whenever possible. "But I don't think we should follow this," he added.
The health department is independent of county government, though the county board approves its operating budget each year. One county board member, currently Ron Wait, serves as a voting member of the board of health.
Another county board member, Bill Pysson, who was in the audience for the March 31 meeting, said many counties "go with their union contracts" when it comes to personnel matters.
Sisson thought nine days of sick leave "is sending the wrong message."
"This is not common in the workplace," Cox said of such a practice.
But Bill Hatfield, director of environmental health, said the concept is for people to remain healthy. "It's an incentive not to take advantage of the system," he said.
Cox suggested the matter be brought before the finance committee at its next meeting. A motion to that effect passed, 9-0.
Meanwhile, Frank will find out how other health departments handle sick leave.

New Eastbound Irene Road Entrance to Tollway

 

The improved Genoa Road Interchange

 

Moody’s downgrades Rockford’s credit rating - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

The city’s bond rating was downgraded by one category from Aa3 to A1. It is the fifth highest rating available and is considered to be a low credit risk. Moody’s cited the city’s limited flexibility to raise revenue due to its lack of home rule powers and its high debt and pension burden as the reasons for the downgrade. Home rule gives local governments greater autonomy to create laws, tax and incur debt.

The effect of the Moody’s downgrade is a minimal increase in the cost of borrowing money, about 5- to 10-100ths of a percentage point on future bond issues, according to the city.

It will not affect the interest the city is paying on current debt.

The downgrade comes as the city is preparing to borrow for two major redevelopment initiatives. The city may issue a $10.7 million bond to pay for downtown parking improvements tied, in part, to a redevelopment deal to turn the former Amerock building, 416 S. Main St., into a downtown hotel and conference center. The city would pay about $16.6 million in principal and interest to repay the debt from that bond. The downgraded credit could cost the city approximately $7,200 more per year or $144,000 more over the 20-year life of the bond, according to estimates from Rockford Finance Director Chris Black.

The city also plans to borrow approximately $10.9 million to help pay for rebuilding the Ingersoll building into a downtown sports complex.

Moody’s downgrades Rockford’s credit rating - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Gov. Pat Quinn in Rockford Thursday to make major Amtrak announcement | The Rock River Times

 

According to sources, Quinn’s announcement will be about more than just rail subsidies. Officials have reportedly scrapped a plan to make Rockford a stop on a southern Canadian National route, as initially pushed by city leaders. Instead, Rockford and Belvidere will be stops along a northern route from Chicago to Dubuque, Iowa on tracks owned by Union Pacific.

The new Amtrak station will be built at 815 S. Main St., downtown.

The new route will send the train through centrally located McHenry County creating what officials hope to be steady influx of downtown activity. Amtrak is expected to be a key component in both the Amerock and Ingersoll redevelopment projects.

Monday, April 7, the City Council approved the plan to turn the Amerock building into a 150-room hotel and convention center. The proposal to transform the nearby Ingersoll building into a 104,000-square-foot sports complex is still pending. The matter will reportedly be up for a city council vote in coming weeks.

In 2012, Rockford received $5 million in state and federal funds toward the Amtrak project. The total cost was estimated at around $60 million.

The amount of additional subsidies has not been released. Funds are part of Quinn’s six-year, $8.6 billion construction plan aimed to improve roads and bridges and establish passenger rail service between Chicago and Moline, Ill.

The new Amtrak station will be at 815 S. Main St., where the old Black Hawk line provided passenger service from 1974-81. The depot then sat vacant until it was demolished in 2011.

Read the entire story by clicking on the following:  Gov. Pat Quinn in Rockford Thursday to make major Amtrak announcement | The Rock River Times

Who Pays America’s Highest (and Lowest) Property Taxes? - Yahoo Homes

 

Who Pays America’s Highest (and Lowest) Property Taxes?

By Camille Salama April 9, 2014 12:31 PM

The second biggest cost of home ownership — following the mortgage — is usually property taxes. In 2012, U.S. homeowners paid an average of about $2,800 in property taxes, according to a recent Zillow study. And if you live in New York, New Jersey, or Colorado your taxes were in some cases five times more than the national average. The numbers are based on an average of real estate taxes paid on single family housing in 2012.

The residents of Westchester County in New York pay more in property taxes than the typical resident of any other major American county. The average property tax bill for a single family home in Westchester County comes to $14,829 a year.

Want to know how your county stacks up against the rest of the country? Check out our rankings below.

Adjusting for the average cost of single-family homes in each county, homeowners in Allegany County, NY win the award for the highest property tax burden. The average tax obligation of $2,549 in Allegany County amounts to 3.8 percent of the average single family home value; in Westchester County, the average tax obligation is slightly lower, at 2.5 percent of the county’s average home value. Nationally, the typical homeowner is spending approximately 1.4 percent of their home’s value on annual property taxes. See the full rankings below.

Highest Property Taxes as a Percent of Home Value

1. Allegany County, NY (3.76%)
2. Milwaukee County, WI (3.68%)
3. Kendall County, IL (3.57%)
4. Sullivan County, NY (3.56%)
5. Orleans County, NY (3.49%)

Lowest Property Taxes as a Percent of Home Value

1. Caroline County, VA (0.17%)
2. Catahoula County, LA and Randolph AR (0.2%)
3. Iberville County, LA and Cumberland County, TN (0.21%)
4. Butler County, PA and Maui County, HI (0.22%)
5. Elmore County, AL and De Soto County, LA (0.23%)

Who Pays America’s Highest (and Lowest) Property Taxes? - Yahoo Homes