Thursday, September 29, 2011

Foresters hope tiny wasp can fight big problem: The emerald ash borer beetle

Experts released nearly 1,000 Chinese wasps into a Lake County Forest preserve on Thursday that they hope will show how to stop or at least slow the spread of the invasive emerald ash borer beetle.

The tiny wasps don’t look like the more familiar yellow jacket. The biggest is less half a centimeter long, and has no stinger. It seems more ant than wasp.

Employing the old proverb that the “enemy of my enemy is my friend,” county officials hope that these non-native bio-warriors will eat ash borer larva like they do in their native China, where the pest is kept in check.

“They die a horrible little death,” said John Lelito, who heads the Michigan lab that raises the wasps.

Above is taken from:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-foresters-hope-tiny-wasp-can-fight-big-problem-the-emerald-ash-borer-beetle-20110929,0,5518097.story

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Schrader’s Auction of Funderburg Farm Properties

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Owner: K-B Farms, Inc. & Funderburg Farms, Inc.

• 2,900 Acres Tillable • Productive Soils • Minutes from Rockford, IL & I-90 • Large Contiguous Tracts • Excellent Hunting • Investment Potential • Possession for the 2012 Crop Year

OPEN HOUSE/INSPECTION DATES
Monday, October 17, 5-7pm
Tuesday, October 18, 10am - Noon
Thursday, November 3, 5-7pm
Friday, November 4, 10am - Noon
Friday, November 18, 3-5pm
at the Community Building Complex of Boone County. Meet a Schrader Representative for Additional
Information and with any Questions You May Have.
PROPERTY LOCATION
See Area Map for Property Locations.
AUCTION LOCATION
Community Building Complex of Boone County. Address: 111 W. 1st Street, Belvidere, Illinois 61008 Phone: 815-547-3928 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 815-547-3928 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
You may bid online during this auction at www.schraderauction.com. You must register by November 11th to bid online. For information on registering for online bidding, call Schrader Auction Company at 800-451-2709 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800-451-2709 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
TRACT DESCRIPTIONS
Tract 1: 82± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Huber Rd.
Tract 2: 58± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Huber Rd.
Tract 3: 68± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 4: 43± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Huber Rd.
Tract 5: 41± ac Mostly Tillable with Woods in Northeast Corner and Frontage on Huber Rd.
Tract 6: 142± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 7: 33± ac Mostly Wooded Acreage with Excellent Hunting and Frontage on Huber Rd.
Tract 8: 75± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 9: 4± ac Country Home with 3BR, 1-1/2 bath home with 1,480 finished sq. ft. and attached 2-car garage built in 1975.
Tract 10: 2.5± ac Potential Building Site with Frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 11: 210± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 12: 171± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 13: 59± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 14: 27± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Genoa Rd.
Tract 15: 135± ac All Tillable Productive Farm Land with Frontage on Grange Hall Rd.
Tract 16: 86± ac Mostly Tillable with Meandering Piscasaw Creek running through northwest corner and Frontage on Grange Hall Rd.
Tract 17: 21± ac Potential Building Site with Frontage on Grange Hall Road. Tillable Land
Tract 18: 2± ac Country Home - 2 story, 3BR home with 1,870 finished sq. ft. and 2 car detached garage.
Tract 19: 19± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Grange Hall Rd.
Tract 20: 93± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Russellville Rd. and Woodstock Rd.
Tract 21: 80± ac All Tillable with Frontage on Woodstock Rd.
Tract 22: 4± ac Country Home - 2 story, 5BR home with 2,010 finished sq. ft. and 2 car detached garage.
Tract 23: 156± ac All Tillable with Frontage on Woodstock Rd.
Tract 24: 40± ac All Tillable with Frontage on Russellville Rd.
Tract 25: 77± ac All Tillable with Frontage on Russellville Rd.
Tract 26: 2.5± ac Country Home - 1-1/2 story, 4BR home with 1,264 finished sq. ft. and 2 car detached garage.
Tract 27: 77± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Poplar Grove Rd.
Tract 28: 73± ac Mostly Tillable with Woods in Back. Excellent Hunting and Frontage on Poplar Grove Rd.
Tract 29: 99± ac Mostly Tillable with Some Pasture and Piscasaw Creek on west end. Frontage on Grange Hall Rd.
Tract 30: 111± ac All Tillable with Frontage on Kelley Rd.
Tract 31: 39± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Kelley Rd. and Caledonia Rd.
Tract 32: 95± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Beloit Rd. and Dawson Lake Rd.
Tract 33: 117± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Russellville Rd.
Tract 34: 20± ac Potential Building Site with 10+/- Acres Woods for Hunting/Recreation
Tract 35: 49± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Russellville Rd.
Tract 36: 40± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Russellville Rd.
Tract 37: 26± ac Country Home and Woods with Frontage on Russellville Rd. - 2 story, 3BR home with 1,344 finished sq. ft.
Tract 38: 92± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Russellville Rd.
Tract 39: 81± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Edson Rd.
Tract 40: 64± ac Mixture of Tillable Land and Woods with Frontage on Burr Oak Rd.
Tract 41: 95± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Hwy. 173
Tract 42: 70± ac Mixture of Tillable Land and Woods with Frontage on Cemetery Rd.
Tract 43: 80± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Cemetery Rd.
Tract 44: 107± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Wang Rd. and Mill Rd.
Tract 45: 43± ac Mixture of Tillable Land and Woods with Frontage on Wange Rd.
Tract 46: 75± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Cemetery Rd.
Tract 47: 79± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Wange Rd.
Tract 48: 40± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Wange Rd.

The following is taken from:  http://www.schraderauction.com/auctions/5361

There are signs and Tract #’s across the county.

Illinois farm land pricey, and available

BLOOMINGTON (AP) – Farm land is starting to come up for sale in some parts of Illinois, and it's happening at a time of sky-high prices.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Illinois farm land is selling for $5,800 an acre. Prices have doubled since 2004. High corn and soybean prices and low investor confidence in other assets have pushed up demand for farm land.

Land brokers in central Illinois say they're starting to see more tracts on the market.

Dave Klein is a broker with Soy Capital Ag Services in Bloomington. He tells The (Bloomington) Pantagraph that his firm has 12,000 acres for sale. That's 20 percent more than last fall.

Klein believes land could continue to be a good investment if demand for corn and soy keep crop prices high

Click on the following for comments and more:  http://www.nwherald.com/2011/09/28/illinois-farm-land-pricey-and-available/a33oln8/#readcomments

Sunshine Review: Amendments to Illinois FOIA

The following bill is awaiting signature from the governor.

Sunshine Review:WikiProject Proposed state sunshine legislation/Stub pages and implementation#Transparency ratingc
House Bill 1716
LegislationbarH7.pngi

Status:
Final Status:Waiting.pngx (Awaiting transfer to the Governor)

Sponsor:
Representative Jim Durkin

Introduction date:
02/16/11

State law:
Illinois Freedom of Information Act

Bill text:
As Introduced
As amended by the House
As amended by the Senate

[edit] HB 1716

HB 1716 introduced to the House by Representative Jim Durkin which would make significant alterations to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. It would add special rules for "Recurrent requesters" in regards to fees, deadlines and exemptions. It would also for additional fees for commercial records requests. Finally it would redact sections relating to the duties of Access Councilors.[1]

[edit] Details

Below are the amendments that effect Open Meetings or Public Records law:

Section 2:

  • subsection g - A person who makes more than 50 records requests in one year, more than 15 requests in a month, or more than 7 requests in a week who is not a member of a media organization, scientific or academic organization or other non-profit would be considered a "Recurrent requester." These groups would not be considered "Recurrent requesters" provided that the requests were made for articles of opinion or features of public interest, or educational, scientific, and public research.

Section 3.2:

  • subsection a - would allow agencies 21 days to respond to record requests. The response would be required to include an estimate of fees that would be assessed, a denial based on an exemption, or notification that the request is unduly burdensome.
  • subsection b - would allow agencies 5 days after receiving a request from a "Recurrent requester" to give response which must include reasons why the agency is classifying the requester as such. The public body would then have 21 days after response to notify the requester of proposed responses.
  • subsection c - unless the request is exempt from disclosure the public body is required to respond within a "reasonable period" given the size and complexity of the request.

Section 6:

  • subsection a - if requests are made for commercial purposes an agency may alter charges for researching or reproducing records.
  • subsection b - if requests are made for commercial purposes an agency may add charges for search and review of records and any personnel costs associated with it.
  • subsection f - allows the public body to charge $10 for each hour spent by personnel retrieving records for commercial purposes as laid out by subsection a and b. If the agency does assess additional fees it must provide an accounting of all fees, costs and hours involved in the request.

Section 9:

  • subsection b - a person who makes a request for commercial purposes may file for a request of review with a Public Access Councilor. It would redact the previous section b that allowed for Access Councilors to clarify the basis for request denials, grant councilors the ability to review with further inquiry, and mediate between a requester and an agency. [1]

Belvidere Township and the purchase of the Eagle’s Building

R100_0734esult of the 9-27-2011 Township Meeting:   The Township's General meeting of the electors is scheduled for Tuesday, October 18, 6:00 PM at the Community Building. To take action on the Eagle’s Building.  According to Pat Murphy, a lot of people were surveyed  and and based upon that evidence this is an appropriate date. Judy Schaabacher had already reserved the community building for it. I think they expect a big crowd. Lets make it so. :) John Mayville was in attendance representing the township on the transaction.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

NIMEC presents to Belvidere City Council

NOTE THE NEW MATERIAL WHICH NIMEC SUPPLIED TO BOONE COUNTY BOARD

Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative (NIMEC) currently provides electricity to Belvidere’s municipal buildings.  It along with a related entity Rock River Energy Services (RRES)  is asking to be the agent for Belvidere and unincorporated Boone County should these government units seek a referendum so citizens can be given a collective option to purchasing electricity.

Citizens should be aware that both NIMEC and RRES are “seller’s agents” that is their commission is paid by seller of the electricity which the governmental unit(s) choose.  Thus their allegiance is to themselves and the seller.  On the more  positive side NIMEC has a  track record with the City of Belvidere and with several cities in McHenry County which now use a NIMEC contract for community electricity.

As a refresher of the “new electrical system” in Northern Illinois: EXELON (Com Ed’s parent company) produces the electricity, it is “sold” to various middlemen who in turn sell it to the individual consumers, and finally Com Ed provides the wire and transmission service for a delivery fee.  A consumer pays a unified bill to Com Ed which allots part of the bill to Com Ed for transmission/delivery and part to the middleman-electricity seller you have chosen.  Most private consumers are still buying their electricity from Com Ed acting as a middleman-seller however a few private consumers have opted out to a different middleman-seller.  And in the case of large/middle sized industrial accounts, 75-80% of them are now using non-Com Ed middlemen.

Under state legislation from 2010, municipalities and counties (for the unincorporated residents) can seek cooperative types rates for their communities.  First the government unit must place the request for this authority on a referendum ballot for citizenry to decide.  If it passes, then the government unit  can determine (usually by bid) which middleman-seller will provide electricity to the community.* All residents then would be given notice that their electricity would be provided by the selected middleman-seller and that would be their choice unless the individual consumer opted out.  A consumer could opt out to either Com-Ed or to several other middlemen-sellers who deal directly with the consumer. 

*  Currently Com-Ed cannot be the middleman-seller which a community chooses.

 

Below is some  literature available on the NIMEC website providing further explanations: [http://nimec.net/]

Municipal aggregation is an opportunity for a municipality to reduce its residents’ Commonwealth Edison bills. Municipal aggregation allows local governments to bundle – or aggregate – residential and small commercial retail electric accounts and seek bids for a lower cost source of power, similar to how municipalities negotiate contracts for waste disposal or cable television.

All eligible residents and small businesses are automatically enrolled. Those who don’t want to participate can “opt-out” of the program. This aggregation program can only be implemented when the voters approve the ballot issue in a primary or general election. The next available election will be held in March of 2012.

After a ballot issue is approved, NIMEC will solicit bids for the Village’s aggregated load. Up to 20 municipalities in Illinois have started to purchase power at rates significantly lower than ComEd’s. Whether the municipality moves the residents’ load or not, residents would continue to call ComEd in the event of a service disruption. And ComEd would continue to send the residents their monthly bills.

Mission Statement

NIMEC was founded in 2006, to address the deregulation of electricity in Illinois. Deregulation allowed commercial users to purchase power from sources other than Commonwealth Edison. NIMEC is committed to helping its members purchase power from suppliers at rates lower than ComEd’s.

NIMEC has a membership of 100+ municipalities in northern Illinois. NIMEC aggregates its memberships’ electric usage and bids it out collectively. NIMEC’s strategy is to band together to drive down pricing. When the memberships’ load is aggregated, usage approaches $20 million annually. NIMEC's suppliers bid more aggressively for the collective load than if the municipalities approached the suppliers individually for pricing.

NIMEC provides this service at no charge to its membership. NIMEC receives an origination fee from its suppliers for aggregating the load and presenting it to the suppliers for bid

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

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Here is something about the process.

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About Us

David Hoover is NIMEC’s Executive Director. David has an undergraduate degree in Business from University of Colorado (cum laude graduation). He also has attained an MBA from Arizona State University. Beginning in 1980, David was employed with large, multinational banks in Chicago (now JP Morgan Chase and Standard Chartered Bank) in the area of Corporate Lending. As Senior Vice President and Branch Manager from 1990-1992, David oversaw a staff of 30.
In 1992, David Hoover started the Glenview Consulting Group. From 1992 to 2007, Glenview provided utility consulting services to corporate and municipal clients. Glenview Consulting assisted over 200 clients, achieving recurring savings of $1,000,000 per year for its clients.
In 2006, NIMEC was created to help its membership buy power more effectively in the Illinois marketplace.

Here is the available information regarding Rock River Energy Services [http://rockriverenergyservices.com/]

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RRES

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THE FOLLOWING WAS SUPPLIED TO BOONE COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS BY NIMEC

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

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Monday, September 26, 2011

Kane County fears cost of new sex offender rules

By Matt Brennan For The Beacon-News

A state attempt to comply with federal sex offender law could end up a costly measure for Kane County.

Currently sex offender law has two tiers of registration, 10 years and lifetime. Registrations are annual. Under the proposed state Senate legislation to reach national compliance, there would be a three-tier system — lifetime, 25 years and 15 years. Some tiers would require more frequent registrations, requiring more man-hours.

The bill would also require juvenile offenders who were granted court supervision or deferred adjudication to register as sex offenders, which will also increase man-hours for court services and the Sheriff’s Department.

Illinois will face a 10 percent reduction in grant funding each year that it is in non-compliance with the federal sex offender guidelines, beginning in the 2012 fiscal year. Senate Bill 1040 would put Illinois in compliance.

Click on the following for the rest of the story:  http://couriernews.suntimes.com/7886549-417/kane-fears-cost-of-new-sex-offender-rules.html

Restoration of historic Stone School expected to finish in 2012

altStone School will be 150 years old in 2012 and while the restoration won’t be finished, the committee is hoping to an ice cream social next summer to show how much progress has been made.

Cost of total restoration still is estimated to be $30,000 and Sturges said money is being raised slowly but surely. The committee recently received $1,000 from the Lions Club and another $1,000 from the Boone County Historical Society. The dumpster in front of the school, filled to the brim with debris taken out of the building, was donated by Marengo Disposal.

Click on the following for more details:  Restoration of historic Stone School expected to finish in 2012

A Chain Letter which is so sad.

Charlie Sheen is 45 and his story is still all over the news because he is a substance abuser, an adulterer, and sexually promiscuous.
Lindsay Lohan is 24 and her story is all over the news because she's a celebrity drug addict and thief. While..............
 
 
Justin Allen 23,

Brett Linley 29,

Matthew Weikert 29,

Justus Bartett 27,

Dave Santos 21,

Jesse Reed 26,

Matthew Johnson 21,

Zachary Fisher 24,

BrandonKing 23,

Christopher Goeke 26

and Sheldon Tate 27......
are all Marines that gave their lives this week for you. There is no media for them; not even a mention of their names.
Honor THEM by sending this on! I DID. WILL YOU? ~~~~~~~~~~

If you are unhappy with Register Star coverage, Thursday is your chance to speak up.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

RR Star management

Slump Alters Jobless Map in U.S., With South Hit Hard

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Several Southern states — including South Carolina, whose 11.1 percent unemployment rate is the fourth highest in the nation — have higher unemployment rates than they did a year ago. Unemployment in the South is now higher than it is in the Northeast and the Midwest, which include Rust Belt states that were struggling even before the recession.

Unemployment remains high across much of the country — the national rate is 9.1 percent — but the regions have recovered at different speeds.

Now, with the concentration of the highest unemployment rates in the South and the West, some economists and researchers wonder if it is an anomaly of the uneven recovery or a harbinger of things to come. ….

West has the highest unemployment in the nation. The collapse of the housing bubble left Nevada with the highest jobless rate, 13.4 percent, followed by California with 12.1 percent. Michigan has the third-highest rate, 11.2 percent, as a result of the longstanding woes of the American auto industry. …

Brookings analysis, which found that many auto-producing metropolitan areas in the Great Lakes states are seeing modest gains in manufacturing that are helping them recover from their deep slump, while Sun Belt and Western states with sharp drops in home values are still suffering. The areas that have been hurt the least since the recession, the study said, rely on government, education or energy production. Places that were less buoyed by the housing bubble were less harmed when it burst.

Click on the following for all of the story:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/us/unrelenting-downturn-is-redrawing-americas-economic-map.html?_r=1&hp

NEA President earns large TRS pension

For the Good of Illinois

“We’ll shine the light. You’ll bring the heat.”

Thank you for registering and searching at www.openthebooks.com.
You’re ready for reform. Over 25,000 people have rendered over 300,000 pageviews since our spectacular online launch.
As the Chicago Tribune exposé of sweetheart union access to City pensions became a national story, we have the only publicly accessible City of Chicago retirement database. Choose RETIREMENT and CITY OF CHICAGO from the two dropdown search boxes on the homepage, then click twice on MONTHLY ANNUITY AMOUNT (orders from most to least).
Union Chief, Dennis Gannon has the top city pension of the last ten years. Retiring in 2004, Gannon worked one day for the city and has a monthly pension of $13,583. He has already collected over $1 million.
If our portal was up five years ago, three years ago, or last year, the sunlight would have made insider union pensions impossible! In Illinois, transparency is the foundation for good government.
On September 6th, we exposed that the unions also have insider access at the state level. Read the post, here. Listen to my interview with Big John & Amy on WIND 560AM Chicago, here.
The second highest teacher pension in teacher retirement history ($20,200/month) went to the President of the National Education Association (NEA), Washington DC. His Illinois government pension was predicated on his out-of-state union pay and not his earnings as an elementary school teacher from Harvey. For his earnings, contributions and monthly annuity, click here.
What are you finding? On a confidential basis, please let us know.
Thank you for being a part of our website launch and a watershed moment in Illinois politics.

Sincerely,

Adam Andrzejewski
Founder | CEO
For the Good of Illinois

October 15 Electronics Recycling Day

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Township Reform Pops Up on Illinois Lawmakers’ Radar

March 2, 2011 · 12:12 am

…., townships are permitted, but not required under law, to provide a hodge-podge of various services to residents.

The services a township may provide range from senior and public health services, to prohibiting animals from running at large, to providing fire protection. They can also purchase land and maintain roads in unincorporated areas.

As a result, townships levy taxes on their residents to pay for such services—services that critics say could often be efficiently absorbed into the county operations, which would likely make delivery more practical and less costly to taxpayers.

Yet, even if outraged voters wanted to rid themselves of an unwanted township, the task would prove to be almost impossible.

Moreover, townships are permitted, but not required under law, to provide a hodge-podge of various services to residents.

The services a township may provide range from senior and public health services, to prohibiting animals from running at large, to providing fire protection. They can also purchase land and maintain roads in unincorporated areas.

As a result, townships levy taxes on their residents to pay for such services—services that critics say could often be efficiently absorbed into the county operations, which would likely make delivery more practical and less costly to taxpayers.

Under state law, voters cannot vote to dissolve their own township. In order for a township to end, or “discontinue,” every other township in that county must also vote via referendum to discontinue it. ….

That means even in townships where residents want to eliminate the organization, they must act collectively by getting 10 percent of voters in every township in the county to sign a petition to get the issue on the ballot as a referendum in the next general election.

This is an unreasonable standard.

Click on the following for more details:  http://bgathinktank.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/township-reform-pops-up-on-illinois-lawmakers%E2%80%99-radar/

$100,000+ pensions for 27 retired state pols

BYTHE BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION April 29, 2011

At the end of fiscal 2010, the General Assembly Retirement System was only 26 percent funded with $66.2 million in assets and $251.8 million in liabilities.

Zettler obtained the pension data under the Freedom of Information Act, and provided it to the BGA, which confirmed the data.

GARS plan participants contribute up to 11.5% of their pay annually and their retirement payouts depend on the total number of years served. For example, those with 20 years of service can collect up to 85% of their final salary for their remaining lifetime. Moreover, if a participant retires at age 60 or older, that person gets a 3 percent pension increase every year.

Leading the GARS list of annual pensions is former state Sen. Arthur Berman, who collects $203,428 annually, according to the data, which is as of March 7.

The Chicago Democrat retired from the General Assembly in 2000 with a salary of $59,657. But he later took a higher-paid position with Chicago Public Schools and his pension was determined based on the higher salary under a reciprocal state-pension system agreement that ended in 1994.

Click on the following for more details:  http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/5076845-418/100000-pensions-for-27-retired-state-pols.html

U.S. To Hand Over Iraq Bases, Equipment Worth Billions

Flag: 2008 to present  On 22 January 2008, a new design for the flag was confirmed by Law 9 of 2008. In this current version, the three stars were removed, while the Takbir was retained in its 2004 form. The parliament intended that the new design last for one year, after which a final decision on the flag would be made. However, the flag law was reviewed in parliament on 30 April 2009.  The script  represent the Kurdish people in northern Iraq.

With just over three months until the last U.S. troops are currently due to leave Iraq, the Department of Defense is engaged in a mad dash to give away things that cost U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars to buy and build.

The giveaways include enormous, elaborate military bases and vast amounts of military equipment that will be turned over to the Iraqis, mostly just to save the expense of bringing it home.

"It's all sunk costs," said retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, who oversaw the training of Iraqi soldiers from 2003 to 2004. "It's money that we spent and we're not going to recoup."……….

There were 505 U.S. military bases and outposts in Iraq at the height of operations, said Col. Barry Johnson, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Iraq. Only 39 are still in U.S. hands -- but that includes each of the largest bases, meaning the most significant handovers are yet to come.

Construction costs exceeded $2.4 billion, according to an analysis of Pentagon annual reports by the Congressional Research Service….over 2.4 million pieces of equipment worth a total of at least $250 million -- everything from tanks and trucks to office furniture and latrines -- have been given away to the Iraqi government in the past year

Most of the $2.4 billion was spent building about a dozen huge outposts that, in addition to containing air strips and massive fortifications also have all the comforts of home

One U.S. officer whose unit turned over a military outpost in a Baghdad neighborhood to the Iraqi Army in 2009 told the Washington Post that Iraqi soldiers looted it within hours of the U.S. departure….

Much of the U.S.'s most lethal and valuable military equipment is being shipped out of Iraq, in one of the military's biggest logistical efforts in history. Johnson, the spokesman for U.S. forces in Iraq, said that 1.5 million items have been removed in the past 12 months, with about 800,000 to go.

Read the rest of the article by going to:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/26/iraq-withdrawal-us-bases-equipment_n_975463.html

iFiber is coming

Kirkland about to get wired with fiber-optic plan

By NICOLE WESKERNA

nonprofit Illinois Fiber Resources Group, known as iFiber, is leading the effort to install a network hundreds of miles long throughout northwest Illinois to provide better access to broadband. Northern Illinois University is acting as the fiscal agent for the $68.5 million project.

Herb Kuryliw, network and technology architect for NIU, said the iFiber program stemmed from an NIU pilot program that ended in 2006. He said the 711 miles of fiber-optic network being installed throughout the area is meant to be an economic driver for community anchor institutions, such as schools, hospitals and government agencies.

“We’ll be able to reach out to communities with small populations – 150-home communities – and bring a superhighway of broadband activity,” Kuryliw said.

Construction of the network started about two months ago, said John Lewis, chairman of the iFiber organization. In that time, about 50 miles of fiber-optic cables have been installed among Rockford, Belvidere and Cherry Valley along Business Route 20 and Route 72, he said.

Click on the following for the rest of the story:  http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2011/09/24/kirkland-about-to-get-wired-with-fiber-optic-plan/argddrf/

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Juror lunches take bite out of court budget in Kane County

By Matt Brennan

The budget increase asked for an additional $33,000 for juror expenses, which included meals, return postage for the questionnaire, and additional costs for jury management software.

The extra funding is needed because the courts are having more jury trials, Brown said.

Members of the committee initially targeted the juror meals as a way to cut back on the budget. But they agreed that the amount spent per meal is not excessive.

“I was going to ask about how to save some money there, but $6 already seems pretty cheap,” said county board member T.R Smith, R-Hampshire.

The total resolution asked for $192,000 in supplementary funding from the county’s general fund. In addition to juror expenses, the additional funding is for services such as interpreters for Spanish and exotic languages, medical testing, and providing court-appointed counsel for criminal defendants when there is a conflict with the public defender’s office.

The court system will see additional funding through an increase in court fees for criminal and civil cases that recently was approved. Part of the increase goes into effect in October, and part goes into effect in December 2012

Click on the following for more details:  http://couriernews.suntimes.com/7832799-417/juror-lunches-take-bite-out-of-court-budget.html

Atheist in court again over Zion's seal

ZION, Ill. (AP) — An atheist is going to court again over Zion's old seal, claiming officials are in contempt of court for using it after it was banned 20 years ago.

Zion's was forced to redesign its seal after a federal court determined the phrase "God Reigns" represented an unconstitutional endorsement of a specific religion.

The city changed it to "In God We Trust," and used stickers to conceal old city seals on street signs.

Rob Sherman, who sued over the seal in 1987, says it was used in a newspaper ad inviting Zion residents to the city's Community Network Forum.

Sherman says he wants Zion Commissioner Shantal Taylor, whose picture appeared in the ad, and others held in contempt of court.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel is to hear Sherman's petition Wednesday.

Belvidere Chrysler Dealer Interested in Fiat Franchise

"Any time we have an opportunity for additional business we're always happy about that." Jack Wolf Chrysler in Belvidere is one of thousands of dealers across the country vying for the franchise. Chrysler announced last month it wanted to bring Fiat back to the U.S. The automaker only plans to award the franchise to 165 dealers nationwide.

Clark says, "We have the Chrysler plant here and everyone supports the plant and being associated with that, I think it will be a good addition."

The opportunity to sell more cars also comes at a cost. Dealers will have to build separate showrooms and have separate sales and service staffs for the cars. A price tag that could reach several million dollars for dealerships like Wolf's. He says, "It's definitely a concern especially since our business still isn't what it was. It's a lot of out-of-pocket expense with little return initially."

Chrysler is expected to notify the winning dealers in the next few months.

Click on the following for more details: http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/103756209.html

Friday, September 23, 2011

Boone County real estate transactions recorded Sept. 12-15

BOONE COUNTY - Following is a list of the Boone County real estate transactions recorded Sept. 12-15.

Recorded Sept. 12

1220 Farmers National Dr., Belvidere, $140,500, Paul Batson to Alexander O. Kunets and Michelle L. Kunets.

300 Royal Ave., Belvidere, $124,000, Joan Connell to Victor R. and Arlene E. Trimble.

11124 Cemetery Road, Capron, $170,000, Joan J. Messenger, Trustee, to Stephen E. Nelson.

301 E. Grove St., Poplar Grove, $113,000, Charles A. and Carol A. Anderson, to Brian K. and Dawn L. Kreutzer.

Recorded Sept. 13

710 E. 2nd St., Belvidere, $35,199, Wells Fargo to Jarrid Clark.

2334 Squaw Prairie Road, Belvidere, $140,000, John W. and Linda L. Ackerson to Marty Liston.

Recorded Sept. 14

1534 9th Ave., Belvidere, $69,000, Antonio Cabral to Celina Cabral.

933 Bradley Lane, Belvidere, $121,000, Federal National Mortgage Association to Jeffrey and Megan Hursh.

2912 County Meadow Lane, Belvidere, $304,000, Daron A. Domino and Lisa R. Domino to John A. and Wendy J. Hart.

414 Wren Lane, Caledonia, $360,000, Jack E. Teela and Mary K. Teela to Kimberly A. Mackenroth.

1523 9th Ave., Belvidere, $46,199, US Bank to Jose Mancillas.

Recorded Sept. 15

1404 Walts Way, Belvidere, $249,900, Kim L. and Amy C. Larson to Deanna Rasmussen-Walkey and Jeremy Walkey.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 27 Belvidere Township meets 5 p.m

Purchase of the Eagle’s Club building is on the agenda again, but no date for a new town hall meeting.  Rumor has it,  that it must be soon in order to “get” the Eagle’s Club.

 

TUESDAY, SEPT. 27

Belvidere Township meets 5 p.m. at the township office, 8200 Fairgrounds Road.

AGENDA

BELVIDERE TOWNSHIP

MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD

8200 Fairgrounds Road

September 27, 2011 – 5:00 P.M.

I. Call to Order / Roll Call

II. Pledge of Allegiance

III. Approval of Prior Meeting’s Minutes

IV. Transfers

V. Reports

a. Supervisor’s Report

b. Highway Commissioner’s Report

c. Assessor’s Report

d. Clerk’s Report

e. Trustee’s Report

VI. Unfinished Business

a. Acquisition of the Eagles Club

b. Shaw Rd.

c.

d.

VII. Legal

a.

b.

VIII.New Business

a. Belvidere/Boone Co.Food Pantry

b.

c.

d.

IX. Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Bills

X. Public Input

XI. Closed Session

a..Review Closed Session Minutes

XII. Adjournment

* Please note in order to take final action on an item it must be specified on the posted agenda 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

All buttered up: Restaurants weigh in on old law

Did you know about his Wisconsin law?

Should Wisconsin keep pressing businesses to avoid margarine, or is it time to finally say goodbye to its buttery agenda?

A quirky Wisconsin law intended to protect the state's dairy industry by making it illegal for restaurants to serve margarine as a replacement for butter is being targeted for repeal. The 44-year-old law is celebrated by some as a colorful part of the Dairy State's past. But the law has a loophole: Restaurants can abide by it simply by serving both butter and margarine.

The battle over margarine's place in the country was seriously debated after its invention in 1870. The agricultural community, led by Wisconsin's strong dairy interests, saw the artificially produced margarine as a threat.

Read more by clicking on the following:  http://www.beloitdailynews.com/news/all-buttered-up-restaurants-weigh-in-on-old-law/article_6b5a2d54-e488-11e0-87c7-001cc4c03286.html

Chicago's jobless rate rises to 10.4% in August

September 22, 2011

(AP) — The Illinois Department of Employment Security says unemployment rates have fallen in 11 of the state's 12 metro areas.

But the department says the Chicago area saw a slight bump in its jobless rate. It rose to 10.4 percent in August compared to 9.7 percent in August 2010.

The largest declines occurred in the northern Illinois city of Rockford and in Danville in east-central Illinois.

Rockford saw its jobless figure drop by 1.6 percentage points to 13.1 percent. That remains the highest metro-area rate in Illinois.

Danville's rate fell by 1.5 percentage points to 10.5 percent.

IDES Director Jay Rowell says the figures released Thursday show that "local communities continue to fight against the lingering headwinds of the national recession

Read more: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20110922/NEWS02/110929938/chicagos-jobless-rate-rises-to-10-4-in-august#ixzz1YmdA5oyB
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DeKalb Businesses assemble to explore county’s draw

By NICOLE WESKERNA

Scott Gilmore looked at locating his company in several surrounding communities – including Huntley, Rochelle and Dixon – before settling in Sycamore last year.

Gilmore, founder and CEO of Smart Motion Robotics, said while DeKalb and Sycamore have higher taxes than other communities, the close proximity to major highways, the potential labor pool and the goods and services offered by the two communities ultimately drew the company to the area.

During a DeKalb County Economic Development Corp. business roundtable Wednesday at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau building, representatives from three area companies shared why they decided to locate in the DeKalb and Sycamore area. The roundtable, “Resources that Attracted Business to DeKalb County,” also gave representatives a chance to talk about any hurdles they encountered when moving to the area.

Click on the following for the rest of the story:  http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2011/09/21/businesses-assemble-to-explore-countys-draw/at9d3rf/

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Kane County taxpayers say assessments too low

bSeal of Kane County, Illinoisoard members told Armstrong many of the complaints are coming from people looking to sell their homes at a price point that now is not supported by the new property assessments they’re seeing.

“Well, if they don’t believe they are paying their fair share of taxes and want to pay more, then they certainly have the right to file an appeal,” a dumbfounded Armstrong said.

Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110922/news/709229734/#ixzz1Yk6SOIrc

Tollway panel OKs $69 million Route 47 interchange

By HILARY GOWINS

Illinois Tollway Logo

On Wednesday, the Planning Committee of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Board signed off on a $69 million agreement to build that full interchange. This project is part of the $12 billion highway expansion plan, which recently caused the Illinois Tollway Board to raise tolls 87 percent, nearly doubling most fares.

Travelers on Route 47 wanting to access I-90 westbound currently have to get on either at Randall Road or U.S. Route 20.

The Route 47 interchange project will pay for six ramps, electronic toll collection, bridge reconstruction on Route 47 over Interstate 90, local traffic signals, and improved lighting.

Johnson said the target date to begin construction is April 2012.

IDOT said the project was expected to be finished in 2013.

Click on the following for more details:  http://www.nwherald.com/2011/09/21/tollway-panel-oks-69-million-route-47-interchange/apmcekg/

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Beloit to make deep cuts to police, fire departments

Specifically, there will be about six fewer police officers and six fewer firefighters next year, he said. In all, the equivalent of 20.5 public safety jobs, a mix of full- and part-time workers, will be dropped.

The city's expenditures on police and fire are sizable. In fact, the dollars allocated toward public safety services comprised 62 percent of the general fund in 2011's citywide budget. Police received $11.3 million, while the Fire Department got $7.3 million.

Because of mandates enacted by Gov. Scott Walker, Beloit cannot raise its tax levies. This restraint, coupled with the area's slump in property values, limits the city's ability to create revenues, Arft and various members of the Beloit City Council have said.

The city's total adopted operating budget was $93.3 million in 2011, a 1.3 percent increase over the previous year. Moving into 2012, this figure will undoubtedly decrease, Arft has said.

As a result, departments across the municipal government will need to c

Click on the following for more details:  http://www.beloitdailynews.com/news/beloit-to-make-deep-cuts-to-police-fire-departments/article_0054b0d8-e488-11e0-b9e5-001cc4c03286.html

House unexpectedly defeats spending bill

A new economic crisis?

The U.S. House of Representatives unexpectedly defeated a bill that would fund the federal government past September 30 on Wednesday as dozens of Republicans broke with their party to push for deeper spending cuts

Republican leaders said they would figure out a way to pass the spending bill and avoid disrupting everything from national parks to scientific research.

"There is not going to be a shutdown. Everybody needs to relax," said Representative Eric Cantor, the No. 2 House Republican, as he emerged from a meeting with other top Republicans after the vote.

Later in the evening, a panel approved a measure that would allow the House to quickly reschedule another vote. But it was not clear how the substance of the bill might be changed.

The bill would have funded the government at an annual rate of $1.043 trillion, in line with a bipartisan agreement reached in August. Many conservatives want to stick with the lower figure of $1.019 trillion that the House approved in April.

Click on the following for the rest of this Reuters story:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/22/us-usa-congress-spending-idUSTRE78K78Z20110922