Group to investigate possible voting errors in Boone County

 

 

By Adam Poulisse
Staff writer

Posted Mar. 18, 2016 at 12:01 AM

BELVIDERE — The organization Friends of North Boone Fire Protection District is looking into complaints by some residents who say they were given the wrong ballot in Tuesday's primary election, and were unable to vote on a proposed property tax increase that would improve ambulance service in the fire district.

"We're just looking into our options," said Becky Gratz, president of the group. "I just know there have been a lot of mistakes. We're trying to find out more from the people voicing these mistakes to us."

The measure failed Tuesday by a vote of 1,523-1,405. It would have created a 0.05 percent property tax to cover costs of dispatching the North Boone Fire District ambulance. The ambulance is not currently in the Boone County 9-1-1 system; Capron Rescue Squad answers the emergency calls made to that district.

The fire district owns an ambulance, but it is dispatched only when calls are made to the Sheriff Department's non-emergency line, according to Fire District 3 Secretary Heath Morrall.

The district has a population of about 13,500 people in Poplar Grove, Manchester and Caledonia townships.

"I wish we knew for certain people got the right votes," Gratz said. "If a mistake was made in three of seven precincts, that could be detrimental for us. That's why we need to follow up with the complaints."

Manchester Township encompasses District 3 and District 5. Morrall said he was told poll workers distributed ballots containing the referendum in District 5, which was not affected by the measure. Ballots with the referendum eventually ran out, he said.

"People who lived outside of District 3 were given the wrong ballots," Morrall said.

He said Boone County Clerk Mary Steuer told him the mistake was the result of "human error."

However, Steuer told the Register Star today she wasn't aware of any problems.

"We never heard they ran out," she said. "We never ordered a whole lot. Generally speaking, in a primary, people don't come out."

Gratz, Morrall and Steuer said some people who reported getting the wrong ballot were confused about the district in which they lived.

Gratz said she is disappointed the motion failed.

"I wish we would have won," she said. "We tried to educate the public and held two public meetings."

Adam Poulisse: 815-987-1344; apoulisse@rrstar.com; @adampoulisse

ABOVE IS FROM: http://www.rrstar.com/news/20160318/group-to-investigate-possible-voting-errors-in-boone-county

Tentative Date for local Environmental Hearing regarding Great Lakes Basis Rail

 

The construction and operation of the GLBT’s proposed rail line has the potential
to result in significant environmental impacts; therefore, the Board’s Office of
Environmental Analysis (OEA) has determined that the preparation of an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) is appropriate pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The purpose of this Notice of
Intent is to inform stakeholders—including members of the public; Tribes; federal, state,
and local agencies; environmental groups; potential shippers and other parties—
interested in or potentially affected by the proposed project. OEA will hold public
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scoping meetings as part of the NEPA process. Comments submitted during scoping will
assist OEA in defining the range of alternatives and potential impacts to be considered in
the EIS. OEA has developed a Draft Scope of Study for the EIS for stakeholder review
and comment. Public meeting dates and locations, along with the Draft Scope of Study,
are provided below. This Notice of Intent initiates the EIS process and scoping.
DATES: Dates and Locations: The public scoping meetings will be held at the
following locations on the dates listed:
 April 11, 2016; 5:30-8:00 PM; Manteno Sportsmen’s Club Banquet Hall, 851
North Main Street, Manteno, Illinois;
 April 12, 2016; 5:30-8:00 PM; Lowell Town Hall, 501 East Main Street, Lowell,
Indiana;
 April 13, 2016; 5:30-8:00 PM; American Legion Banquet Hall, 203 South
Washington Street, Wanatah, Indiana;
 April 14, 2016; 5:30-8:00 PM; Civic Auditorium Banquet Room, 1001 Ridge
Street, LaPorte, Indiana;
 April 18, 2016; 5:30-8:00 PM; Craig High School Cafeteria, 401 South Randall
Street, Janesville, Wisconsin;
 April 19, 2016; 5:30-8:00 PM; Cherry Valley Fire Station #2 Hall, 4919
Blackhawk Road, Rockford, Illinois;
 April 20, 2016; 5:30-8:00 PM; Rochelle Township High School Auditorium, 1401
Flagg Road, Rochelle, Illinois; and
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 April 21, 2016; 5:30-8:00 PM; Seneca High School Auditorium, 307 East Scott
Street, Seneca, Illinois.
The scoping meetings will be held in an open house format for the first hour
followed by a brief presentation by OEA. After the presentation, interested parties will
be provided an opportunity for public comment at an open microphone for the balance of
the scoping meeting. A court reporter will transcribe these oral public comments.
The meeting locations comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). Persons that need special accommodations should contact
OEA’s project manager listed below.
OEA invites written public comments on all aspects of the Draft Scope of Study
and is providing a 60-day public comment period which begins on March 18, 2016.
These written comments may be submitted (1) during the scoping meetings, or (2) by
mailing or electronic filing the comments using the filing instructions below. Comments
should be submitted by May 16, 2016 to assure full consideration during the scoping
process. OEA will issue a Final Scope of Study after the close of the scoping comment
period.
Summary of the Board’s Environmental Review Process: The NEPA process is
intended to assist the Board and the public in identifying and assessing the potential
environmental consequences of a proposed action before a decision on the proposed
action is made. OEA is responsible for ensuring that the Board complies with NEPA and
related environmental statutes. The first stage of the EIS process is scoping. Scoping is
an open process for determining the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the
EIS. As part of the scoping process, OEA has developed, and has made available for
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public comment in this notice, a Draft Scope of Study for the EIS. Scoping meetings will
be held in the project area to provide further opportunities for public involvement and
input during the scoping process. In addition to comments on the Draft Scope of Study,
interested parties are also encouraged to comment on potential alternative routes for the
proposed rail line. At the conclusion of the scoping period, OEA will issue a Final Scope

Please read the entire announcement and Draft Scope of Study click on the following:  https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-06151.pdf