Sunday, February 9, 2014

Meet Belvidere's top leaders-- Thursday February 27, 2014

 

Belvidere officials are welcoming residents to stop by City Hall Feb. 27 to share concerns and ideas with top leaders.
Residents living in Ward 1 can chat with Mayor Mike Chamberlain, Ald. Clint Morris, Ald. Clayton Stevens, Police Chief Jan Noble, Fire Chief Dave Worrell and Public Works Director Brent Anderson, a release said. The event will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at 401 Whitney Blvd. in the city council chambers.

Meet Belvidere's top leaders - Blogs - Rockford Register Star

North Suburban Library District referendum to ask voters for upkeep funding -

By Jennifer Wheeler
Rockford Register Star
Posted Feb. 6, 2014 @ 9:00 am

    Referendum wording

    "Shall the extension limitation under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the North Suburban Public Library District, Winnebago and Boone Counties, Illinois, be increased from the lesser of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index over the prior levy year to 20.5% for the 2014 levy year?"

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  • LOVES PARK - Now that they have almost finished paying for the construction of their libraries, North Suburban Library District leaders are hoping the community will pay for upkeep at the facilities.
    Winnebago and Boone county voters are being asked in the March 18 primary to extend a tax payment originally approved to build and expand the libraries in 1996.
    That debt will be paid off in 2015, so the money would be redirected for an indefinite amount of time to pay for future improvements.
    The revenue generated from the referendum would pay for ongoing plumbing and electrical upgrades, roof replacements, additional materials and eMaterials and a parking lot expansion. It will foot the bill for shelving, furniture and additional bandwidth for Wi-Fi. …

    Residents who own homes valued at $100,000 would continue to pay about $74.20 in taxes to the library district. If the referendum was voted down it would only decrease on part of the library tax bill - for a homeowner with the $100,000 house it would mean a drop of $14.64, down to $59.56.

  • Read more: http://www.rrstar.com/article/20140206/News/140209644#ixzz2sqv4jG2U

  • NDK Crystal Inc. Explosion with Offsite Fatality - Investigations | the U.S. Chemical Safety Board

    Everyone should view this video to answer your questions about NDK in Belvidere.

    NDK Crystal Inc. Explosion with Offsite Fatality - Investigations | the U.S. Chemical Safety Board

    NDK Investigations by U.S. Chemical Safety Board

    The original site of this video is:  http://www.csb.gov/ndk-crystal-inc-explosion-with-offsite-fatality-/

    NDK Crystal Inc. Explosion with Offsite Fatality (8 Recommendations)

    American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) (1 Recommendations)

     

    Final Report Released On: November 14, 2013

    2010-04-I-IL-1

    Revise the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code to include specific material thickness limitations for the design of pressure-containing components to ensure proper heat treatment and avoid environmentally induced damage mechanisms. Clarify required vessel wall thickness limitations for SA-723 steel in the following code sections:
    a) ASME BPVC Section II, Part A, Material Requirements
    b) ASME BPVC Section VIII, Division III, Article KM-400, Material Design Data

    Status: O-ARE/AR

    Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response (O - ARE/AR) - The recipient has not submitted a substantive response, or the evaluation by CSB staff of a response is pending, or the Board has not yet acted on staff recommendation of status.

    Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal, Boiler & Pressure Vessel Safety Division (2 Recommendations)

    Final Report Released On: November 14, 2013

    2010-4-I-IL-3

    Prohibit the use of the existing pressure vessels at the NDK facility for crystal growing operations.

    Status: O-ARE/AR

    Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response (O - ARE/AR) - The recipient has not submitted a substantive response, or the evaluation by CSB staff of a response is pending, or the Board has not yet acted on staff recommendation of status.

    2010-4-I-IL-4

    Develop and implement state requirements and procedures to ensure the pressure vessel approval process accurately identifies vessels that may be subject to corrosion or similar deterioration mechanisms, and ensure regular inspections in accordance with these state requirements.

    Status: O-ARE/AR

    Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response (O - ARE/AR) - The recipient has not submitted a substantive response, or the evaluation by CSB staff of a response is pending, or the Board has not yet acted on staff recommendation of status.

    National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (1 Recommendations)

     

    Final Report Released On: November 14, 2013

    2010-4-I-IL-2

    Communicate the findings of this Case Study to pressure vessel inspectors in all 50 states. At a minimum:

    a. Send the information (such as an article summarizing the investigation) to each member who is a pressure vessel inspector; and,

    b. Post a direct link to the NDK Case Study on the National Board’s webpage.

    Status: O-ARE/AR

    Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response (O - ARE/AR) - The recipient has not submitted a substantive response, or the evaluation by CSB staff of a response is pending, or the Board has not yet acted on staff recommendation of status.

    NDK Crystal, Inc. (4 Recommendations)

    View Investigation

    Final Report Released On: November 14, 2013

    2010-4-I-IL-5

    For the design and operation of any new NDK Crystal facility using a hydrothermal or equivalent crystal growing process, ensure that the facility uses a process that is rigorously demonstrated to be inherently safer than the existing process (for example through using lower temperatures and pressures, and/or less corrosive conditions).

    Status: O-ARE/AR

    Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response (O - ARE/AR) - The recipient has not submitted a substantive response, or the evaluation by CSB staff of a response is pending, or the Board has not yet acted on staff recommendation of status.

    2010-4-I-IL-6

    Implement a program to ensure the ongoing integrity of any coating used on the new process vessels. Employ an expert (e.g., a coatings expert certified by NACE International (National Association of Corrosion Engineers)) to design the program.

    Status: O-ARE/AR

    Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response (O - ARE/AR) - The recipient has not submitted a substantive response, or the evaluation by CSB staff of a response is pending, or the Board has not yet acted on staff recommendation of status.

    2010-4-I-IL-7

    Implement an annual inspection and corrective action program to ensure vessels remain resistant to environmentally induced damage mechanisms based on the inspection guidelines set forth in the American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard 510, Pressure Vessel Inspection Code.

    Status: O-ARE/AR

    Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response (O - ARE/AR) - The recipient has not submitted a substantive response, or the evaluation by CSB staff of a response is pending, or the Board has not yet acted on staff recommendation of status.

    2010-4-I-IL-8

    Commission a facility siting study of the NDK Crystal facility by an independent consultant. Identify all vessel failure scenarios prior to restarting the crystal growing process. The siting study should include the consequences, necessary preventive measures, and emergency planning and response programs relevant to each failure scenario for all surrounding points of concern. Provide a copy of this study to the City of Belvidere Building and Zoning Department and the Illinois Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Division.

    To further view these recommendations go to:  http://www.csb.gov/recommendations/?pg=2