Agenda: Belvidere Township 8/13/2013

AGENDA

BELVIDERE TOWNSHIP

REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD

8200 Fairgrounds Road

August 13, 2013 – 5:00 P.M.

I. Call to Order/Roll Call

II. Pledge of Allegiance

III. Public Input

IV. Discussion and potential action on approval of Prior Meeting’s Minutes

V. Discussion and potential action on Transfers

VI. Reports

a. Supervisor’s Report

b. Highway Commissioner’s Report

c. Assessor’s Report

d. Clerk’s Report

e. Trustee’s Report

VII. Unfinished Business – Discussion and Potential Action May Occur on the following items:

a. Revisit Board Bill Approval for July 23, 2013

b. Shaw Road Weight Enforcement

c. BCCA Parking

d. Beloit Road Bike Path

VIII. Legal

a.

b.

IX. New Business

1. Electronic Door Locks/Card Entry
2. Resolution #04-2013 Policy Regarding Tape Recording of Public Meetings**

X. Discussion and Potential Action on Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Bills

XI. Closed Session

XII. Adjournment

Next Meeting: August 27, 2013 @ 5:00 P.M.

 

Hearings for Boone County’s FY 2014 Proposed budget

All meetings scheduled for conference room at Administrative Center

Committee recommends new software for Boone County Jail | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

Terrinoni told the committee it could authorize placing the order but would be doing so on faith that the full county board would approve the expenditure later in August.

There are five county board members on the roads committee, one of seven standing committees of the county board. They voted 5-0 to forward the issue to the public safety committee with a positive recommendation.

Member Denny Ellingson suggested the motion include that this was an emergency situation “because we’re not following protocol.”

Click on the following to find out more about this and other agenda issues at Roads Subcommittee:  Committee recommends new software for Boone County Jail | Belvidere Daily Republican

Flora Neighborhood Plan to get more committee discussion | Belvidere Daily Republican

What was missed is that Kathy Miller, Interim Director of Planning, may be reporting on a compromise zoning plan, possibly at the City-County subcommittee.  The compromise would be less specific than the city’s Flora Neighborhood Plan but would allow Flora neighborhood development as well as other development.—Bill Pysson

Written by Bob Balgemann

“I would like to see this moved on but I want it to be done right,” committee member Brad Fidder said. “If it takes six months, that’s fine with me. I don’t want to throw it out there just because the city wants it.”

DelRose indicated there was no rush since there had been little interest in developing the acreage in that area.

Committee member Kenny Freeman earlier authored a motion to have the plan moved along to the full county board. He did so after planners could not tell him how many times the plan had going back and forth between committees.

“The city has a right to know what our objections are, if we have any,” Pysson said from the audience. “I don’t understand why we’re playing around. If you don’t want to adopt this we shouldn’t be spending any money on the Irene Road interchange, because one goes hand in hand with the other.”

He said he thought the matter should go to the full board to have all 12 members say how they feel about it.

“What’s before you is a technical step,” Terrinoni said, giving the issue some perspective. “The proposal is to have zoning agree with the comprehensive plan

Click on the following to read the entire story:  Flora Neighborhood Plan to get more committee discussion | Belvidere Daily Republican

Bringing a locavore movement to Belvidere | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Libby Parker

Locavore is a word that was coined in 2007 by Jessica Prentice, a chef, author and founding member of a community supported kitchen in Berkeley, CA.  It defines a person who eats fresh produce from local farms

Chamberlain has a dream – a future goal of starting a storefront market in downtown Belvidere.  But it doesn’t stop there.

“We would like to reinvigorate the downtown economy through a locavore movement,” he said.  “It can also help the food pantry.”  The plan would include attracting sellers of wool and other products from farms, as well.

“The idea is conversational at this point.”

Chamberlain and Boone County Associate Planner Gina DelRose will be putting their heads together to produce some printed materials that will outline their ideas for the project.

“By growing season next year, we are hoping to have a good idea of who would want to participate,” he said. “If we can start a vibrant enough locavore movement, it would be a great draw to have a locavore restaurant.”  He likes the idea of the storefront having a certified kitchen for all of those who join the locavore movement.  Cooks could preserve their fruits and vegetables here to offer to the public.

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  Bringing a locavore movement to Belvidere | Belvidere Daily Republican

ATTN Fair Goers: Stop by the Democratic Tent and fill out a survey on Boone County politics

 

The survey consists of ten questions regarding your school district and local political issues.

The  Boone County Journal has tentatively agreed to publish the results the week after the fair.  Only surveys completed at the tent will be counted.

 The ten questions are shown below.

Questionnaire for the 2013 Boone County Fair

1. How well does your school district prepare students for college and the work place? 

• A. Does both jobs very well
• B. Prepares students for college but not work place
• C. Prepares students well for the work place but not for college.
• D. Does not prepare students well for either college or work place
• E. Does an excellent job only in some area such as____________________

Please supply your public school district number.  ____________________   (District 100--Belvidere; District 200-- North Boone; District 205--Rockford;  Others-- please supply name or number) 

2.  If you were going to convince someone to move to Boone County, which of the following reasons would you use?

Please number the reasons in order of importance  1-9 using a “0” for reasons you would not use.

• A. ______________Good Quality School System
• B. ______________Rural Environment
• C. ______________Low Taxes
• D. ______________Proximity to Chicago and collar counties
• E. ______________Inexpensive Housing
• F. ______________Job prospects in Boone-Winnebago Counties
• G. ______________Recreational Opportunities
• H. ______________Friendly accepting neighborhoods
• I. _____________The County Fair and other local events

--CIRCLE YOUR ANSWER or Fill in Blank--

3. Do you think that the current county open burning ordinances are strict enough? Yes or No?  Don’t have an opinion.

4.  Does Boone County need a soup kitchen for the homeless?   Yes or No?  Don’t have an opinion.

If yes, in what community should it be located?   __________________

5. There currently is a county wide Public Safety Sales Tax of ½ cent. It is schedule to stop in 2018.  In the past several years this sales taxes paid not only for principle and interest on the Public Safety Building but for salaries and Jail expenses.

A. Do you favor a continuation of this tax after the building is paid off in 2018?  Yes or No? No Opinion

B. Would you support a referendum authorizing continuing this tax after 2018?  Yes or No? No Opinion

6. Under proper regulation would you be in favor of wind energy projects in Boone County? Yes or No? No Opinion.

7. The Federal and State government should subsidize low cost pre-school learning programs.  Agree or Disagree?  No opinion.

8.  Ida Public Library is the only public library in the county.  Most county residents outside of Belvidere must pay a fee to have a library card.  Would you support a tax referendum to extend “feeless” library service to the rest of the county?      Yes or No?  No opinion.  I am a City of Belvidere resident. Yes or No?

9.   Most Boone County Sheriff’s deputies are provided a squad car to take home during their off time shift.  Do you agree with this policy?  Yes or No?  If you believe the policy should be modified in some way, how?

10.  What do you believe is the most important issue facing Boone County? 

Survey helps develop plan for feeding the hungry | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

Surveys from two of those three locations have been tabulated, with responses from 233 of the families. Here’s some of what they were saying:

Most, 84 percent, were in long-term housing with 14 percent in short-term housing and 2 percent being homeless. Twenty-six percent had jobs.

“There’s a huge issue in employment,” said Danice Loveridge, president of the Homeless Project task force, who presented the results at the July 26 meeting.

In addition, 50 percent were on Food Stamps; 74 percent have primary health care physicians, about the same for their children; 58 percent visit the dentist regularly; 80 percent have their own transportation; and 19 percent use public transportation.

Read more by clicking on the following:  Survey helps develop plan for feeding the hungry | Belvidere Daily Republican