ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Meeting regarding Boone Co Rental Housing Association We have
selected a time and location to meet for a discussion on forming an
association for Rental Housing Providers in Boone County. This
Wednesday, August 27th at 6 pm. We will be meeting at Bush Gardens Bar and Grill, 622 S State St, Belvidere.
Please invite anyone you think would be interested in joining us.See you then.
Paul Arena
Here are the estimates that the Finance Committee will be discussing at 6:00PM on Tuesday, August 26.
The above figures are from: http://www.boarddocs.com/il/boone/Board.nsf/files/9N97RM76BD59/$file/Animal%20Services%20Referendum%20Impact%20To%20Taxpayers_201408221635.pdf
By Cathy Ward
Posted Aug. 24, 2014 @ 11:00 am
The Boone County Board likely made history on Aug. 18 at a special meeting, hastily called and not much liked by the packed house and five of 12 board members — and many seriously questioned the ethics of this meeting.
At issue was putting a referendum regarding building an animal shelter on the Nov. 2 ballot. As far as anyone connected with the Boone County Board could recall, no board has ever tried to call a meeting on such short notice on such a controversial topic which had never been debated in open session.
Board members learned of this special meeting on Aug. 15 at 4 p.m., when a notice came via email that four board members had signed to have a special meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 18. The meeting had to be Monday, you see, because the deadline for getting the referendum on the ballot was midnight Monday.
What bothered many of us was the fact that putting a referendum on the ballot has never been debated at any committee, had never been debated at any board meeting, and yet it was coming before us for a final vote just five hours before the deadline. Also, this notice came late Friday afternoon, giving very few taxpayers and those interested notice of the meeting. Not all of the dozens and dozens who packed our meetings have minute-by-minute easy access to email.
Board member Ron Wait took credit for calling the special meeting, saying he called nine board members, and all said they thought a referendum could be considered. He said that’s the way they did it Springfield.
Boone County State’s Attorney Michelle Courier said the meeting was legal and putting it on the ballot was legal, too. I believe her. Michelle does her homework thoroughly and completely.
However, I believe there is a considerable difference between legal and ethical. I don’t consider this an ethical way to do business by elected officials for our taxpayers. Luckily, word spread to dozens and they came to see what our board would do. The vast majority were not happy by the results when the proposed referendum passed 7-5.
While I totally believe in referendums and have supported many, I don’t believe last-minute, down-to-the wire, hastily called meetings on topics never debated should be decided at the last minute at meetings called just hours before. Our people, the people we represent, deserve better.
Board members voting for the referendum were Chairman Bob Walberg, Vice Chairman Paul Larson, finance chairman Karl Johnson, Denny Ellingson, Brad Fidder, Chris Berner and Wait.
Board members voting no were Bill Pysson, Marion Thornberry, Craig Schultz, Ken Freeman and me.
The whole scenario was very disappointing.
I would not advise other boards to follow this tactic.
UPDATED 8-25-2014
The following appeared on the 17th Circuit, Boone County website today. SEE: http://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_history.jsp?court=IL004015J&ocl=IL004015J,2014CH170,IL004015JL2014CH170D1
It was only last month that Plote was granted an extension of it special use permit by the Boone County Board. Bill Pysson voted against the extension because “the county did not have an adequate inspection procedure established’. The complaint alleges Plote was operating outside the approved hours.
BOONE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
One (1) vacancy for a term that will expire July 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 September 5, 2014 to assure being considered.
Note the $700,000 is for a new building on Route 76 and $500,000 is to repair and upgrade the old building.
08/18/2014 10:19 PM
The Boone County Board held a special meeting to decide whether or not to put the Boone County Animal Shelter on a referendum. A new shelter would cost more that 700,000 dollars to repair. County board members say they can’t afford that, so they the help of Stateliners.
Boone County Board Chairman Bob Walberg says “If we put the money into a building we will be taking away from other departments. It’s very important that we get the support of the community and ask them if they really want to make this kind of expenditure.”
County Board Member Marion Thornberry would rather see the county take out a loan to build a new shelter. He says new upgrades that the shelter would have, would make paying off the loan easier. He does not think putting it on a referendum would be a good idea.
Thornberry says "The only reason they want it on a referendum is because when people see the word taxes, they automatically say no.”
But Chairman Walberg is confident the voters will pass the referendum in November. Officials would like to see the shelter built on Route 76. They also say the tax increase would be minimal.
Well here is a memo to Mr. Terrinoni from June in which the deadline is discussed. Note today is the very last day.
