Anti-Corruption referendum on Boone County Agenda

 

 

Scott Gessert

By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver @shawmedia.com

WOODSTOCK – An advisory referendum aimed at marshaling support for anti-corruption laws to remove money from politics has a second lease on life for the Nov. 8 ballot.

The cancellation of the McHenry County Board committee that was next set to debate the referendum at first prevented it from appearing on the full board agenda Tuesday, which is the last County Board meeting before the Aug. 22 deadline to put referendums on the ballot. But a behind-the-scenes push got it added for a Tuesday vote.

Woodstock resident Scott Gessert, who has asked the board during its past several meetings to advance the question, said he was happy that the question will have a chance, but was upset that it almost didn’t. He is the McHenry County leader of the national grass-roots group Represent.Us, which is pushing nationwide for anti-corruption legislation.

“I am concerned that it took such an effort to get a simple advisory referendum through committee. I’m looking forward to the community coming forward to show their support for this initiative,” Gessert said.

If put on the ballot by the County Board, voters in one yes-or-no question will be asked whether they support prohibiting politicians from taking campaign money from special interests they regulate; increasing campaign funding transparency; allowing voters to contribute to candidates through a tax-rebate voucher; placing limits on how much super-PACs can raise and spend; and prohibiting elected officials and their senior staff from participating in lobbying activity for five years after leaving office.

The question mirrors one that appeared on ballots last year in Winnebago and DeKalb counties – voters approved them both. A similar effort is underway to get the question put before Boone County voters

Above is from:  http://www.nwherald.com/2016/08/12/anti-corruption-referendum-added-to-mchenry-county-board-agenda/aqqkr7m/

 

 

August 17 Boone County Board Board Agenda:  13.2 Motion to Approve Resolution 16-18 Which Places an Advisory Referendum on the November 8, 2016 Ballot Related to Anti-Corruption Reform. (Approved 5-0)

Below is the information submitted by Scott Gesssert  of Represent Us

How much do Boone County Employees earn?

 

Last year’s wages and benefits are all on the county website, arranged by department.

GO TO:  http://www.boonecountyil.org/sites/default/files/employee%20compensation%20FY%202016.pdf

 

Below is the first page of the nine page report.

County Board Member reports on proposed increase in salaries for two elected officials

Posted this am by Boone County Board member Cathy Ward.

"BOONE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDING 5% raises for Coroner and Circuit Clerk -

That's just for next year. Both will receive at least another 2% for each of the following years of their four year terms. The full board wil vote on those proposed raises next week. The committee discussed even higher raises, but citing serious financial crisis, decided on the 5% plus. Circuit Clerk Linda Anderson, whose current salary is ...$67,845, has argued she is making much less than County Clerk Mary Steuer. Coroner Becky Wigget, whose salary is $55,316, also argued for a higher salary, saying she works 24-7. Both also get an extra bonus of $6,500 from the state plus health benefits. I argued against these raises for several reasons. Many of us paying the bill got NO increase in social security benefits, no increase in interest rates, are paying higher taxes than ever, and have heard repeatedly from the county board leaders that we have a financial crisis. Winnebago county leaders last week voted no salary hike for their elected officials, also noting financial problems. What's more, we have six unions who will be negotiating for higher wages this fall. I expect each will want at least 5% a year. Next I expect board leaders will try again to raid the public safety sales tax revenues to help balance the budget. Last year they took $800,000 from this fund that was promised to just pay off the jail. Last year, only 2% raises were given to the majority of Boone County employees. Both Anderson and Wigget just won Republican spots in the March primary. The election for both is in November. They are currently unopposed."

Irene Road I-90 Interchange now open to and from West

I-90 Irene Rod Interchange Complete FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RAMP OPENINGS SCHEDULED AT NEW FULL-ACCESS IRENE ROAD INTERCHANGE  ON THE JANE ADDAMS MEMORIAL TOLLWAY (I-90) $13 million interchange improvements complete, new ramps open  DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The Illinois Tollway is completing the $13 million Irene Road Interchange Project on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in Belvidere today with the opening of two new ramps carrying traffic to and from the west. The new ramps at the all-electronic interchange are scheduled to open by 5 p.m. on Friday, December 18, and toll collection will begin on January 1, 2016.  The Irene Road Interchange Project included the construction of new ramps to carry traffic to and from the west, coupled with the Tollway’s reconstruction of the Irene Road Bridge completed in 2013 and construction of a new eastbound entrance ramp completed in 2014. The interchange also provides an existing exit ramp for traffic traveling from westbound I-90 to Irene Road.  “The Illinois Tollway is pleased to open the new ramps at the all-electronic Irene Road Interchange on schedule and provide new access to the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway to our customers,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Greg Bedalov. “Built in partnership with Boone County and the city of Belvidere, the full-access interchange is anticipated to provide opportunity for new economic development and employment to the area.”  The Irene Road Interchange is the fifth, all-electronic interchange on the Tollway's system. The Illinois Tollway’s tolling system supports the highest volume of toll payments in the nation, with more than 87 percent of all toll transactions paid electronically through I-PASS or E-ZPass.  I-PASS customers experience faster, safer and more convenient commutes and save time and money. I-PASS customers experience safer commutes because drivers are not required to switch lanes to pay cash. They also help reduce pollution by allowing drivers to maintain highway speeds without having to stop at tollbooths. Toll collection is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2016, on the ramps carrying traffic to and from the west. Tolls for cars with I-PASS will be 55 cents and tolls for trucks will range from $1.70 to $4.50 during daytime hours, with overnight discounts offered. Customers without I-PASS who use the Irene Road Interchange will have seven days to pay their unpaid tolls. The toll rate for cars will be $1.10 for customers who pay their unpaid tolls online at www.illinoistollway.com/tolls-and-i-pass/unpaid-tolls. Tollway customers who would like to pay cash can still do so at the Genoa Road Interchange to the east. The Irene Road Interchange Project is part of the 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.  Getting Tollway Construction Information I-90 Irene Road Interchange Complete – page 2     The Illinois Tollway has a variety of ways customers can get the latest travel information, including:  www.ilinoistollway.com -  Construction/Planning section, Tollway Trip Calculator, live roadway images and real-time roadway incident/information 1-800-TOLL-FYI-Daily lane closure information www.travelmidwest.com - Real time travel times www.twitter.com - Real time roadway incident information at Tollway Trip 90, Tollway Trip 88, Tollway Trip 355 and Tollway Trip 94/294 About Move Illinois : The Illinois Tollway's 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, will improve mobility, relieve congestion, reduce pollution, create as many as 120,000 jobs and link economies across the Midwest region. Move Illinois will address the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system; rebuild and widen the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as a state-of-theart 21st century corridor; construct a new interchange to connect the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57; build the new, all-electronic Elgin O'Hare Western Access Project and fund planning studies for emerging projects.   About the Illinois Tollway The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80).

Belvidere skates into holiday season with new ice arena

By Shelby R. Farrell
Reporter
BELVIDERE – People from Belvidere and surrounding areas glided into the new Riverside Ice Arena at the grand opening the first weekend of December.
Hundreds of skaters went to the three-day event that included bucket races, slapshot competitions, giveaways and an appearance by Hammy from the Rockford Ice Hogs among other activities.
The new skating rink is a part of a $3 million overhaul of Doty Park on Locust Street. Belvidere Park District Marketing Manager Gabe Castillo said the park district and the city have been planning the new additions for over three years.
“This place is underutilized and had a lot of riff raff,” Castillo said. “In the past, we’ve had a lot of vandalism in this park, and we hope with the renovations and the time and effort that we put into that, that it keeps those who want to bring down Belvidere away and keep those who bring it back up.”
Security cameras were also added throughout the park to deter vandals and promote safety, but the main reason the ice arena was added was to give families more winter recreation opportunities.
Castillo said the arena’s original plans only included the splash pad and a “flood rink,” which freezes naturally as weather permits, but the Riverside Ice Arena has hundreds of pipes running beneath the ice to keep it frozen, even in 50-degree weather.
“Basically what a lot of people do, they put water on it and let the ice freeze, but to be able to run a consistent programming, ice lessons, which we have, and youth hockey,” he said. “To be able to do that, you need to be able to have some kind of consistency. I can’t have ice on one day and the next two weeks I don’t.”
Jet Etnyre is a 9-year-old hockey player from Poplar Grove, and he said the Riverside Ice Arena is now the closest to home, making a 20-minute drive into a 10-minute drive. He was at all three days of the grand opening, and he said he would probably continue going to the rink at least once a week.
“More people can get introduced to hockey and they’re starting leagues and that’ll just be phenomenal for people that like don’t have that much to do in the off-season in the winter when they usually do like football or basketball or something,” Etnyre said. “It’s just great.”
Although the new arena is starting new hockey leagues, Etnyre wouldn’t be able to play with the team because of his experience, which includes five years of playing hockey. Castillo said the new league, the River Otters, was designed for beginners because most people with experience, such as Etnyre, are already participating in leagues in nearby areas including the Rockford Junior Ice Hogs.
“Hockey is getting to be a big thing in towns, so opening a site is actually huge for people that like hockey and other people that want to get into hockey,” Etnyre said.
To make the sport more accessible for those interested, Castillo said the Belvidere Park District is providing full hockey gear for up to 30 kids who join the River Otters. An adult league is also in the works at the Riverside Ice Arena, as well as plans for a permanent locker rooms for hockey players or frequent users at the arena.
“I think the recreation is a key part to anyone’s life and there’s a lot of people out there that want to have some kind of winter recreation opportunity,” he said. “We’re trying to keep activities for the families year-round. There’s a lot of people out there that would love to skate and to give the opportunity to those kids who don’t know how to skate is the opportunity to learn how to and more closer to home.”
The new arena is offering free admittance during public skate times until Jan. 3, and skate rentals are $1.
To learn about what else the Riverside Ice Arena offers, visit belviderepark.org or call the Belvidere Park District at (815) 547-5711.

Above is from:  http://rvpnews.com/?p=4833

Public safety committee approves increase in court fees

By Shelby R. Farrell
Reporter
BOONE COUNTY – For the first time in over a decade, Boone County residents might have a higher price to pay when facing time in court.
The county’s Public Safety Committee approved increases to court fees for civil cases, as wells as “criminal, local ordinance, county ordinance, traffic and conservation cases,” at the Dec. 7 meeting. The increase is supposed to help supplement the costs of Court Security Systems, according to Resolution 15-24.
Committee member Sherry Branson said the fees for civil, felony, misdemeanor and DUI cases raised from $15 to $25, which is a 66 percent increase. For cases that are drawn out and require multiple court appearances, the fee will only need to be paid one time.
However, Branson said the last time Boone County changed the cost of appearing in court was in the mid-90s, and the new price should mirror court costs from surrounding areas.
Residents who attend court over traffic, ordinance and conservation cases could have to pay an additional $8 after other fees and fines as well.
“There’s so many fees on a traffic ticket as it is that it’s something that we’re really going to monitor and see if we can increase it,” Sheriff Dave Ernest said at the meeting. “As of this time, we are just going to go with the obvious offenses and civil cases and see where they take us, but we’ll re-evaluate it in a year.”
The Boone County Board of Trustees will vote on the fee increases at the Dec. 16 board meeting.

Above is from:  http://rvpnews.com/?p=4829

Winnebago, Boone counties feeling pinch from increased juror payments

ROCKFORD — It's been six months since a state law took effect that required county governments to better compensate jurors. Already, budget makers are feeling a pinch.

Effective June 1, Illinois law required jurors be paid $25 for their first day of duty and $50 for each additional day. The previous per-day compensation was $13. As a result, the cost of holding jury trials has risen sharply in Winnebago and Boone counties.

From June 1 to Dec. 31 last year, Winnebago County paid jurors about $27,500. From June 1 to Dec. 9 this year, the county has already paid out $44,100 to jurors. Winnebago County increased its annual trial court budget by $250,000 on Oct. 1 in anticipation of increased juror payments, according to County Administrator Steve Chapman.

"That was the estimate," Chapman said. "It obviously increased our expenses significantly."

In Boone County, Treasurer Curt Newport estimated the state law has raised annual juror expenses from about $55,000 per year to about $115,000.

"We have a much smaller general fund than Winnebago, so that’s a much more serious impact," said Boone County Administrator Ken Terrinoni. "With the budget that the board adopted this year, it keeps our programs in tact and actually adds two sheriff’s deputies. In the immediate future it won’t have a big impact, but long term is different."

Newport said jurors should be paid more than the paltry $13 a day they were paid before June 1, however, the added expense gets tricky at the county level.

"On the one hand if you’re a juror, $25 bucks still isn’t much for a day," Newport said. "And on other hand, if you’re a county scratching and clawing for money, every little bit hurts. I agree we need to pay our jurors better. (But) it’s expensive to administer justice."

Ben Stanley: 815-987-1369; bstanley@rrstar.com; @ben_j_Stanley

Above is from:   http://www.rrstar.com/article/20151211/NEWS/151219882/0/SEARCH

Letter to Editor on PSB sales tax

My View: Boone County Board does not trust the voting public - Opinion - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

In response to Don Ellingson’s letter (Nov. 19) regarding the Boone County public safety sales tax. He asked us to use common sense; with that, I totally agree. But let us base that common sense on fact, not on rhetoric.

Fact: To insinuate that the sunset clause was simply not included is a misrepresentation of fact. When the original public safety sales tax referendum was presented to the county, the state did not permit the inclusion of a sunset clause — an omission that has now been corrected — partially because of this issue. Therefore, if the county had passed the referendum with a sunset clause, it would have been illegal. Given the statements made by the proponents of the tax and discussion that ensued at the time, had the sunset clause been legal, it would have most assuredly been added.

Fact: A previous board cannot bind a future board to certain actions. Previous boards bind future boards all the time with budgets and capital projects and other legislative measures, such as animal-control facilities and interstate interchanges. Some binding measures are permitted by state law.

Fact: Board members should be educated in the issues they are debating. Fully educated. To compare a sales tax to the building of schools is comparing apples to oranges. In addition, to insinuate that schools were built solely for future growth is a vast generalization. Many of us on the County Board knew that the growth was unsustainable and dangerous, and we voted against residential housing developments.

Fact: For the past 10 years, the county has had to transfer large sums of money from the public safety sales tax to the general fund. This transfer is needed to meet shortfalls in the budget. I beg you to use common sense. How does a County Board pass an annual budget that has consistently come in short on revenue? Were the budgets presented a false front with the intention to later claim a shortage and raid the public safety sales tax? Either the budgeting process is broken or this is being done intentionally. You or I could not survive on a budget that overprojects our income, especially if we overprojected our income for a decade.

Let me ask a question to the voting public: Why has this become such a debated issue? Why is it not feasible to present the continuation of the public safety sales tax to the voting public and let us decide whether to continue its implementation or discontinue its use?

The answer to that is quite simple: A general fear and lack of trust in the public. Your county government has come to rely on the tax as a revenue stream to fund other departments. Your county government does not trust the voting public to make the decision they want.

Fear that you will vote to discontinue the tax. The county government fears that a vote to eliminate the tax will force tough economic decisions for departments run by political comrades, or board members will have ignore the voting public and force the continuation of the tax. It is far easier to deny us the right to choose the future of the tax than to risk political suicide.

I would support the continuation of the tax. It is not causing me a financial hardship, and the benefits far outweigh the consequences of its removal. The right thing to do would be to present the case to the citizens and let them decide.

Taking away the right of the voting public to make this decision is abhorrent. Fellow residents, do not ask whether a past board should bind a future board in this taxation; ask your County Board members what they are afraid of by asking you to vote on the future of this taxation. After all, a vote by the residents would lay the issue to rest.

Terri Glass is a former member of the Boone County Board.

My View: Boone County Board does not trust the voting public - Opinion - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Boone County Health Department requests significant changes to Boone County Code

 

Boone County Health Department requests significant changes to Boone County Code

By Lisa Rodgers

Reporter

BOONE COUNTY – On Nov. 2, the Boone County Board of Health held its monthly board meeting.  Under 8. NEW BUSINESS: (For Action and/or Discussion) item B. Amendments to County Food Code- pages 37 through 45 was presented to the health board by Bill Hatfield, Director of Environmental Health.

Referring to pages 37 through 45 of the agenda (see below) Hatfield gave a brief explanation of the request.

“Periodically we do a review.  We are just doing some house cleaning.  Boone County Health Department (BCHD) never officially adopted these laws and we need to adopt them.  We are going to drop the Potentially Hazardous portion as it’s not needed,” Hatfield said.

The Potentially Hazardous portion may be found on page 38 of the agenda. This was the end of his report.  Hatfield requested board approval for it to be sent on to Health and Human Services Committee.  No discussion occurred and no questions were posed to Hatfield by the health board in regards to his request to amend the Boone County Code.  Health Board approved the request.

Here is the Boone County Board of Health Agenda from Nov. 2: http://www.boarddocs.com/il/boone/Board.nsf/files/A3RMNQ58FF81/$file/Health%20Department%20Written%20Report%20October%2C%202015.pdf. See pages 35 through 47.

On Nov. 5, the Health and Human Services Committee meeting met.  During the Health Department report Hatfield acknowledged adding two documents to the agenda late and only just prior to the meeting.

Discussion occurred and Hatfield explained the request to amend the county code was “just some house cleaning.  The State of Illinois has made so many changes we have not been able to keep up.”

Due to the late entry of Resolution 15 to18 to amend the County Code Section 30 as well as a summary, Chairman Paul Larson continued discussion to the Dec. 3 committee meeting.

Below is a portion of the current Boone County Code and the request to amend the same section by the Boone County Health Department.  This is only one section where many amendments are being requested.

Currently under Chapter 30-Food and Food Establishments

“Section 30-27 State rules adopted.

The inspection of food service establishments; the issuance, suspension, and revocation of permits to operate food service establishments; the prohibiting of the sale of unsound or mislabeled food or drink; and the enforcement of this article shall be carried out in accordance with the latest editions of the state department of public health “Rules and Regulations for Food Service Sanitation” and “Rules and Regulations for Food Store Sanitation,” three certified copies of each of which shall be on file in the office of the county clerk. (Ord. of 3-8-1978, § 1; Code 1981, § 8-17; Ord. No. 95-35, § 1, 11-8-1995; Ord. No. 99-38, 10-13-1999)”

The link to see the full amendment is: https://www.municode.com/library/il/boone_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SUHITA

On page 38 of the agenda, the BCHD is requesting to amend 30-27 of the Boone County Code by adding11Illinois Statutes.

“Sec. 30-27. State rules adopted.

The inspection of food service establishments; the issuance, suspension, and revocation of permits to operate food service establishments; the prohibiting of the sale of unsound or mislabeled food or drink; and the enforcement of this article shall be carried out in accordance with the latest editions of the state department of public health “Rules and Regulations for Food Service Sanitation” and “Rules and Regulations for Food Store Sanitation,

The following State statutes are also referenced in this Part:

• Alternative Health Care Delivery Act [21 0 ILCS 3]
• Nursing Home Care Act [21 0 ILCS 45]
• Good Samaritan Food Donor Act [745 ILCS 50]
• Hospital Licensing Act [21 0 ILCS 851]
• Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 USC 301)
• Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act [410 ILCS 6201]
• Grade A Pasteurized Milk and Milk Products Act [41 0 ILCS 6351]
• Meat and Poultry Inspection Act [225 ILCS 6501]
• Sanitary Food Preparation Act [410 ILCS 6501]
• Freedom of Information Act [5 ILCS 1401]
• Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act [41 0 ILCS 6251]

three certified copies of each of which shall be on file in the office of the county clerk.

(Ord. of 3-8-1978, § 1; Code 1981, § 8-17; Ord. No. 95-35, § 1, 11-8-1995; Ord. No. 99-38, 1013-1999)”

Health and Human Services Committee meeting is on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. at 1204 Logan Ave. in Belvidere in the Administrative Building.

Boone County Board meeting is on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at 1204 Logan Ave. in Belvidere in the Administrative Building.

Boone County Board of Health meeting is on Jan. 4 at noon at 1204 Logan Ave. in Belvidere in the BCHD conference room.

Boone County Health Department requests significant changes to Boone County Code

Election 2016: Nominations are in for Winnebago, Boone races - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

By Ben Stanley
Staff writer

Posted Nov. 30, 2015 at 6:50 pm Updated at 8:45 AM

ROCKFORD — Winnebago County voters who head to the polls March 15 will have a choice in at least nine of the 25 local, state and federal contests on county ballots

 

 

…Today’s filings do not set the primary ballot in stone. Anyone who wants to remove an individual from the ballot has until 5 p.m. Dec. 7 to challenge a candidate's petition paperwork.

Independent candidates can file for office from June 20 to 27, 2016.

Here’s a look at who filed:

Boone County

Coroner: Rebecca Wigget, R
Circuit clerk: Linda Anderson, R; Todd Shattuck, R
State’s attorney: Michelle Courier, R; Tricia Smith, R

County Board
Six seats open (two for each of the county's 3 districts)
District 1: W. Fred Genrich, R; Marshall Newhouse, R; Dennis Ellingson, R
District 2: Cathy Ward, R; Bernard O’Malley, R; Cory Lind, R
District 3: Carl Larson, R; Matthew Ragano, R; Martin Vanderweit, R; Marion Thornberry, R; Craig Schultz, D

Illinois House

67th District: Litesa Wallace, D; Wladimiro Aguirre, D; Lisa Jackson, D
68th District: John Cabello, R; Tricia Sweeney, D
69th District: Joe Sosnowski, R; Angelique Bodine, D
89th District: Brian Stewart, R

Illinois Senate

34th District: Steve Stadelman, D
35th District: Dave Syverson, R

Ben Stanley: 815-987-1369; bstanley@rrstar.com; @ben_j_stanley

See Rockford slate and full article go to:  Election 2016: Nominations are in for Winnebago, Boone races - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Campaign 2015: Boone County Board Chairman Bob Walberg calling it quits - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Surprise?  Rumor is that Marshall Newhouse will be filling his candidate papers to continue “their” control of the board.

By Adam Poulisse
Staff writer

Posted Nov. 27, 2015 at 6:30 PM
Updated Nov 27, 2015 at 7:08 PM

BELVIDERE — Boone County Board Chairman Bob Walberg will not run for re-election next year.

The farmer and retired airline pilot with experience in a few governing bodies across the county hopes the vacancy will bring forward a new generation of county leaders and, with them, new approaches to leadership.

"The past few years, I've really encouraged young people to get involved," Walberg, 71, said. "I think there are a lot of good people who should be on the board. The process is better when people get involved. More ideas, and it's a broader view if we get more people involved in serving the community."

In a follow-up email to the Register Star, Walberg quoted Ecclesiastes from the Old Testament to explain his decision: "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens."

Candidates for Boone County Board must file election paperwork by 5 p.m. Monday.

Walberg's exit after the November 2016 election will complete two four-year terms on the board. Board members select the chairman for a two-year term at the first meeting after an election. Walberg was initially appointed as chairman in 2008 after a contentious stalemate when board members were split between two other candidates. Board members reappointed him to the role in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

In addition to County Board, Walberg has served in the Boone County Soil and Water Conservation District, the county 4-H and the Belvidere School District.

"I'm not really walking away from" the county, he said. "I've tried to be supportive of the community."

Farmer Marshall Newhouse served on the County Board from 2001 to 2012. He said Walberg has "had a huge impact on the county," including leading a board that has overseen the Irene Road interchange and kept the budget balanced in tough economic times.

"I enjoyed working with him on the board," Newhouse said. "He's a fellow farmer in the county and I looked up to him and work he's done in the business of farming. That carried through in the Boone County Board setting."

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

Campaign 2015: Boone County Board Chairman Bob Walberg calling it quits - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Restrictive Wind Ordinance finally passed

The following article and editorial are from The Boone County Journal which is available free of cost at merchants across the county.  See on line at:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2015/Boone-County-News-11-27-15.pdf#page=1

 

 

Local ballots start to take shape as election petition filings begin in Illinois - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Remember this is only the first day to submit petitions.

By Kevin Haas
Staff writer

Posted Nov. 23, 2015 at 6:14 pm Updated at 8:47 PM

ROCKFORD — Local ballots for the upcoming March primary began to fill up today, the first day for candidates to file their petitions.

Prospective candidates have until 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, to file paperwork for the March 15 primary contest. Key races in Winnebago County include state's attorney, County Board chairman, coroner and several County Board seats. There are also several state House and Senate contests.

Winnebago County Clerk Margie Mullins will hold a lottery at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, to determine which candidates get the coveted first position on the ballot. First position on the ballot is typically first-come, first-served, except when candidates running against each other arrive at the county clerk's office at the same time. First position on the ballot is preferred because of the so-called primacy effect, the tendency for voters to choose the first name on a list.

Here's a look at who has filed so far:

U.S. Senator: Andrea Zopp, D; Tammy Duckworth, D; Mark Kirk, R; James T. Marter, R

State reprsentative

67th District: Litesa Wallace, D; Wladimiro Aguirre, D
68th District: John Cabello, R; Tricia Sweeney, D
69th District: Joe Sosnowski, R
89th District: Brian Stewart, R

State senator

34th District: Steve Stadelman, D
35th District: Dave Syverson, R

Boone County

Coroner: Rebecca Wigget, R

Circuit Clerk: Linda Anderson, R; Todd Shattuck, R

State’s Attorney: Michelle Courier, R; Tricia Smith, R

County Board
Six total seats open (two for each of the county's 3 districts).

District 1: W. Fred Genrich, R
District 2: Cathy Ward, R; Bernard O’Malley, R
District 3: Carl Larson, R

— Ben Stanley contributed to this report

 

 

 

Local ballots start to take shape as election petition filings begin in Illinois - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Boone County sets $25.7M budget; slight property tax increase expected - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

By Adam Poulisse
Staff writer

Posted Nov. 20, 2015 at 2:02 PM
Updated at 8:48 PM

BELVIDERE — Property tax bills are expected to increase slightly in the Boone County budget that goes into effect Dec. 1.

The county anticipates a 1.26 percent tax rate, although the actual rate won't be set until spring. That would increase the property tax bill of the owner of a $100,000 house by about $4 next year for the county's portion of the bill. The county's share would be $345 for a $100,000 home, depending on the exemptions. The county's tax rate makes up 11 percent of a total residential bill.

Board members approved the $25.7 million budget Wednesday, 10-2, making several cuts and tapping into cash reserves to balance it. On Oct. 21, the board voted 9-3 to use $800,000 of public safety sales tax revenue to balance the budget, a controversial move that resulted in debate between board members and residents.

"Our revenue and expenses are going opposite directions," Chairman Bob Walberg said. "We have real concern (with) payments from the state. We put them in the budget anticipating we will get them. With this five-month process of trying to get a state budget, we're not assured we'll get those revenues."

General fund revenues are projected at $16.2 million, and spending to be about the same, Boone County Administrator Ken Terrinoni said. The general fund was $14.9 million this year and $15.3 million in 2014. General funds pay for daily operations, including salaries. The increase can be attributed to increase costs in health insurances, wages, juror pay and new positions with the county, and to afford two sheriff's deputies and two corrections officers to help staffing and reduce overtime.

Major funds in the budget include $4.8 million for bridge work. A significant repair to the bridge on Pleasant Street near the Green Giant plant will cost about $3 million.

The budget includes $740,000 for the new Animal Services building, plus $266,000 for one year of bond payments. Bids for construction will go out Dec. 1, Walberg said. "I'm hopeful they'll (be) in line with what we anticipate the building will cost."

the county also used to earn daily payments to house inmates from DeKalb County. But a 50 percent increase in inmates at the Boone County Jail has left no more room to house outsiders, costing about $400,000 in lost revenue, Walberg said.

Budgeting has been difficult for some time, Terrinoni said.

"We never got over the recession of '09," he said. "Our revenues never got better, then add into that the state (budget) problem, then the local prisoner population took off ... ."

In other business, the board approved changes to the wind turbine ordinance, 9-3 vote, following approval Nov. 4 by the Planning, Zoning and Building Committee. The revised ordinance says wind energy conversion systems must be at least 2,640 feet, or 5½ times the height of the turbine tower, away from a property line; the previous distance was 1,000 feet. It also would allow property owners to waive setback conditions if an agreement is made with neighboring property owners.

Boone County sets $25.7M budget; slight property tax increase expected - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Ceroni Piping Co. construction postponed to summer - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Posted Nov. 6, 2015 at 6:00 PM
Updated Nov 18, 2015 at 8:44 PM

 

By Adam Poulisse
Staff writer

Posted Nov. 6, 2015 at 6:00 PM
Updated Nov 18, 2015 at 8:44 PM

CHERRY VALLEY — Construction of a metal fabrication shop that would bring about 25 jobs to the area has been postponed until summer.

Ceroni Piping Co. is planning a $5.5 million, 25,000-square-foot warehouse at the intersection of U.S. 20 and Interstate 90 in Cherry Valley. It was originally scheduled to break ground this month. However, approval for a final plat that would allow President/CEO Steve Ceroni to subdivide and sell two lots — one 4 acres and the other 13 acres — on the property has taken longer than expected.

"It's somewhat disappointing," Ceroni said. "We were hoping to do something this fall. We understand it's all part of the approval process."

The plat received the last of eight required approvals by the Cherry Valley Village Board on Tuesday.

The delay was a result of presenting the final plat at meetings that were already scheduled, according to Natalie Hyser Barber, an attorney with Tobin & Ramon in Belvidere representing Ceroni.

Construction was also postponed to avoid doing work in inclement weather, Ceroni said.

The final plat requires eight signatures. Typically, a plat must be approved by the county engineer, county recorder, adjoining municipalities and a representative from the planning department, said Kathy Miller, interim planning director for Boone County.

"Every plat requires certain signatures," she said.

In June 2014, Ceroni Real Estate, a division of Ceroni Piping, closed a deal on almost 23 acres of farmland at 974 U.S. 20. The County Board in February approved a special use permit to allow outdoor storage.

On Oct. 21, the Boone County Board approved the final plat despite some concern from two board members.

District 3 board member Sherry Branson lives near the property. During the meeting, she referenced documents from Boone County Soil and Water Conservation District that stated the Illinois Geological Survey found the future business site is a high potential for aquifer contamination, and that it would be in the best interest of Boone County to require a groundwater protection plan.

"It concerns me because, I think, as a board we owe it to the neighbors to protect their wells," Branson said. "I would feel better about this if we had a ground water protection plan implemented and it was on file."

Barber told the board at the meeting that Ceroni has worked with the health department to ensure his proposed well and septic system is feasible.

Sheriff Dave Ernest said he didn't believe traffic was a concern for that expanding business district.

"We have accidents all over the county," he said. "I don't think this is any greater of an area than ... the areas that are connected to Bypass 20 as it drives through our county."

Ceroni Piping is the second-largest contractor in northwest Illinois between Belvidere and the Mississippi River, according to Register Star archives. It hires about 45 union members to do field work each year.

District 3 board member Ken Freeman said he had concerns about the traffic that area will generate.

"I'm all for business in Boone County," he told the board, "but that area ... is an accident waiting to happen, and I will not be supporting it."

Freeman and Branson voted against the plat.

Above is from:  Ceroni Piping Co. construction postponed to summer - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

An earlier RRStar piece on the Ceroni project is available at:  http://www.rrstar.com/article/20150403/NEWS/150409767/0/SEARCH

Rockford Human Services Department announces warming centers - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

Posted Nov. 16, 2015 at 6:00 PM

ROCKFORD — The city of Rockford’s Human Services Department recently announced warming center hours for locations in Boone and Winnebago counties.

Locations in Winnebago County include the Winnebago County Justice Center, 650 W. State St., which will have its lobby open 24/7; and the Pecatonica Village Hall, 405 Main St., which is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Locations in Boone County include the Salvation Army, 422 S. Main St., Belvidere, open from 9 to 11:45 a.m. and from 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; and the Belvidere Public Safety Building, 615 N. Main St., which is open 24/7.

For complete list of locations and hours: 779-348-7170.

Rockford Human Services Department announces warming centers - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

No injuries in plane vs. van crash near Poplar Grove Airport - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

POPLAR GROVE — No one was injured, but a van was damaged Saturday afternoon when a plane was landing at the Poplar Grove Airport, 11619 Illinois Route 76.

The crash occurred at 12:37 p.m. on Orth Road just east of Illinois Route 76. A woman was driving a van westbound on Orth Road when a small Cessna-type airplane hit the roof of the van with one of its tires.

The plane was coming in for a landing, said Boone County Sheriff Sgt. Dan Reid. The tire damaged the top of the van and the windshield, Reid said. The plane carried the pilot and one passenger. The woman had child passengers in her van, Reid said.

The plane landed safely. The Boone County Sheriff's Department completed an accident report, Reid said, and turned it over to the Federal Aviation Administration.

No injuries in plane vs. van crash near Poplar Grove Airport - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Our View: Boone County Board jail tax transfer to General Fund is questionable - Opinion - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

By The Editorial Board
Rockford Register Star

Posted Nov. 14, 2015 at 9:00 AM

We were taught by our parents that "a promise made is a promise kept." For some of us, it's a lesson we need to relearn from time to time.

Evidently that message didn't get through to nine members of the Boone County Board, judging by what they did on Oct. 21 and what they plan on doing Wednesday.

In 1999, Boone voters passed a measure to enact a 1 percentage point sales tax, with the revenue going to expand the jail. This public safety tax, voters were told, would be used only to pay off the bonds, and it would end in 2018.

The voters said yes because they knew the old jail was obsolete and needed replacement. They also voted yes because the tax would be used only to pay off bonds. Then it would end. Seemed reasonable.

Ah, but times and members of the County Board changed. And that promise to use the tax only to pay off bonds? Well, that was then. Whatever those folks said in 1999 applied only to them, the new thinking goes. This is now, and we have other needs.

So on Oct. 21, the board voted to transfer $900,000 from the public safety tax's reserve fund to the general fund to balance a 2016 budget that otherwise faced a deficit. Chairman Bob Walberg defended the transfer. He was quoted in the Oct. 22 Register Star as saying, "I believe this is a very necessary action the board took. It's been a very confusing issue ... (and) people have tried to portray it other than what it really was intended to be, as far as the use of the money."

The board is voting on the 2016 budget, which includes the transfer, on Wednesday.

Walberg, in a conversation with the Register Star on Friday, again defended the board's action and said the County Board in 1999 made no specific promises about the future of the tax. He said that the bulk of the money to be transferred to the General Fund still will be used for public safety purposes, "chiefly for corrections." Although the transfer from the public safety tax fund to the General Fund is authorized at $900,000, Walberg said that only $800,000 will be needed to balance the budget. He called the fund transfer "a technical issue," not a breach of trust.

We understand what Walberg is saying. But we have a different view.

Ted Biondo, the region's leading taxpayer advocate for more than 20 years, said the Boone County Board action is "a betrayal of the taxpayers who approved that referendum. They changed the intended purpose of the tax, and I think it's going to hinder any other government that wants to put up a referendum for a property tax or sales tax."

Biondo is a Republican member of the Winnebago County Board, a former member of the Rock Valley College board of trustees, a former Rockford School board member and an op-ed contributor to this newspaper on tax-related matters.

Stephenson County Board Chairman Bill Hadley had a similar view.

"They shouldn't be going against what they told the people they were going to do. If you weren't on the board when that referendum went through, you still need to protect the integrity of that referendum. This is an example of why the people don't trust government at all levels," Hadley said.

We understand that Boone County is in a financial bind. All local governments in Illinois are in the same boat, thanks in part to the inability of our state lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner to pass a budget. Funds that supply money to counties, cities, community colleges and other governments have been frozen; these governments may never receive all the money the state owes them.

However, voters who passed the 1999 referendum say that the public safety tax was passed specifically to pay off bonds for the jail expansion. When that happens in 2018, they believed, the tax would disappear.

The current board should honor the voters' beliefs. If that means there's not enough money to fund the current budget, the right thing to do would be to go back to the voters and ask for a tax increase. And if voters turn that down, make the cuts required. It's their government, after all.

Our View: Boone County Board jail tax transfer to General Fund is questionable - Opinion - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

My View: Boone board betraying public trust - Opinion - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

By Cathy Ward

Posted Nov. 14, 2015 at 4:36 PM

Banning wind farms in Boone County and raiding the county's public safety sales tax funds will highlight the County Board meeting this week.

The board will vote on both issues at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Both decisions will have a huge impact on the county's financial future for years to come and will especially affect children, as wind farms could provide millions for schools as they do in numerous counties throughout the state.

Board watchers on both topics predict lopsided votes in favor of both the ban on wind farms and the raid of the public sales tax fund as committees have been stacked on both issues by Chairman Bob Walberg.

On the wind farm topic, Boone County's current ordinance has a 1,000-foot setback from any structure. The proposal seeks a 2,640-foot setback (eight football fields) from a property line — a huge difference. That would eliminate any wind tower to be built in the county, unless a waiver is given by a private property owner. None has been offered.

Those who support wind farms believe in green energy. They believe that property owners have the right to harvest the wind and that all people and taxing bodies in the county will benefit from the millions of dollars this new business will bring.

The anti-wind farm group contend wind farms are a safety and health hazard. They brought in so-called experts for 10 months to testify of the dangers, but ironically, despite the fact that we have three outstanding health facilities in our midst, OSF Saint Anthony, SwedishAmerican and MercyRockford, and dozens of excellent doctors with medical degrees, not one person was invited to testify or come and share proof of these supposed dangers.

Also, our Boone County Health Board found “no evidence of public health impact” from wind farms.

On the subject of raiding public safety sales tax to balance the budget, I believe this is a violation of public trust. In 1999, board members and other supporters of a new jail promised the tax would “finance bond payments only. The statue allowed the county to sunset (end) the tax when the bonds are paid (2018). ”

Five years ago, the County Board feared this current raid. We passed an ordinance that decreased the use each year of funds from the tax and stated in 2016 (the new budget year) that only $125,000 would be transferred. We also stated that the tax would end in 2018 as promised.

However, this current board deleted the ending date of 2018, meaning this tax could go on forever. They also decided to increase the transfer this year from $125,000 to $875,000.

So far, taxpayers had paid $19 million for a jail that cost $9 million, and we still owe $1.5 million.

It's interesting that board members will be voting on both of these critical financial issues on one night. On the one hand, a group wants to help bring business and millions of dollars of tax money to our county to help all of our people and help balance our budget. On the other, a group wants to ban this business and create an anti-business climate. It's created the certainty of a costly lawsuit and animosities that will last for generations.

Cathy Ward is a member of the Boone County Board.

My View: Boone board betraying public trust - Opinion - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL