Fate of local Extension office still up in the air -

County talks about paying Extension’s tax levy a year before they are collected.  Does this make sense?  Paying for a service a year ahead.  Paying for services which may never be performed?  Well, the county is doing this already in the case of the Sheriff’s services to Poplar Grove—granting extra patrols when it is unknown if Poplar Grove can ever pay for them.  I wish the county board would bring these decisions to a vote of the full county board so the voters know where their elected officials stand on these issues.  The pie is getting smaller we need to make certain that everyone gets their “fair” share.

“If the state doesn’t pay them[U of I Extension] at all throughout the year, the county can borrow against its tax money,”[County Administrator]--- Terrinoni said after the meeting. “It wouldn’t affect the County General Fund at all, it’s their dedicated tax money. We levied $193,000 (in fiscal year 2010) and could say, look we need the money today for the Extension.”
Finance Committee Chairman Karl Johnson asked how the county could help to soften the outcome of what will happen to the local office.  “Can you say, you know what, we want to keep our local office and we’re going to pay to keep our local office,”

Click on the following for more details:  Fate of local Extension office still up in the air - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

When will Boone County Government enter the web age?

The school districts have it, Rock Valley College has it, as does the City of Belvidere.  But Boone County Board  does not.  I am speaking of posting minutes of board meetings on the internet.  They may have not done this on their own.  Since 2006 it is mandated by state law for most governmental units.

So where are we in this whole thing at Boone County Government.  Take a look at my letter and if you agree with me that the county minutes should be posted on the internet, please contact your local representative on the Boone County Board.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge: 

YOUR COUNTY BOARD REPRESENTATIVES:

District #1 - Consisting of Townships of Flora 1 & 2, East of Stone Quarry Rd., Caledonia 1, 2, & 3, Man chester, Spring, Bonus Precinct 1 & 2, Boone, LeRoy, and Poplar Grove Precincts 1 & 2. (Terms expire first working day in December)

Name
Address
Home Phone

Kathy Hartwig
404 Calgary Way
Belvidere, IL 61008
815-544-1608

Bob Walberg
Board Chairman
12000 Russellville Road
Belvidere, IL 61008
815-544-2100

Marshall Newhouse
13407 Capron Rd.
Capron, IL 61012
815-569-2248

Daniel D. Anderson
3021 Shattuck Road
Belvidere, IL 61008
815-509-7568

District #2 - Consisting of Belvidere Township Precincts 9 - 16, 18 - 20. (Terms expire first working day in December)

Karl Johnson
10500 Saddle Path Rd.
Belvidere, IL 61008
815-885-4613

Anthony Dini
212 Bear Dusk Way
Belvidere, IL 61008 61008
815-666-4736

Catherine Ward
2917 Caymen Lane
Belvidere, IL 61008
815-978-8029

Paul A. Larson
9066 Town Hall Road
Belvidere, Il 61008
815-547-4530

District #3 - Consisting of Belvidere Township Precincts 1 - 8 and 17, Flora Township 1 & 2 West of Stone Quarry Rd.
(Terms expire first working day in December)

Theresa "Terri" Glass
Vice Chair
c/o Boone County Courthouse
601 N. Main Street,
Belvidere, IL 61008
815-547-4770
tglassboonecounty@hotmail.com

Patrick B. Mattison
7982 Distillery Rd.
Belvidere, IL 61008
815-547-7506

Kenneth E. Freeman
929 Irene Road
Cherry Valley, IL 61016
815-547-9132

Peggy Malone
4206 Hubbard Trail
Belvidere, IL 61008
815

Low-cost pet vaccines in Lake Co.

Here is something the low-income residents of Boone County may need.  Has the Boone County Health Department or Boone County Animal Control ever thought about coordinating such a program as a public service? 

open only to low-income residents of Lake County who are receiving government assistance such as food stamps or disability payments.

A one-year rabies shot, tag and distemper is $25 for spayed or neutered pets

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Your Health: Low-cost pet vaccines in Lake Co.

Ribbon-cutting for Boone County Housing Authority - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

An open house will immediately follow, until 9 a.m., with complimentary food and beverages.  The Boone County Housing Authority’s new location is 2036 N. State St

Click on the following for more details:  Ribbon-cutting for Boone County Housing Authority - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Notice regarding old newspaper articles

Shaw Suburban Media, the publishers of the Northwest Herald (McHenry County) and Daily Chronicle(DeKalb) now have only a short period in which old newspaper articles can be view for free.  For the Chronicle it is seven days.  I will attempt to minimize the posting from these sources but be aware of the short life of some of the posted links.

How long does it take Boone County to Act? An update on Boone County’s actions to their CPA’s suggestions of July 2009.

Back on October 30 I posted the CPA management letter of July 14, 2009 to Boone County.  [http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/10/management-letter-to-boone-county.html] or click on the first two  photocopies. 

There were five suggestions which the CPA firm gave. The following is my assessment of the county actions to respond to these suggestions:

 

Items 3 and 1.  It was not until December 2, 2009 that the County Administrator began supplying the county board monthly financial reports from the Sheriff and County Clerk. Then only after the written request of one of the board members. Today, only grants from these two departments have been accounted and submitted to the full board.

Items 1 & 2.  Both concern the need for the county to provide the auditor financial statements that reflect the actual records of the county. The auditor’s adjustments to the county’s statements should be minimal, if at all.  After the 2009 audit is completed (hopefully June 1, 2010)  the auditors’ footnotes and comments should determine if the county is doing anything to  supply more complete statements.

Item 4.  I talked to the County Administrator and beginning with the new fiscal year, December 1, 2009, all tort liability expenses will be paid from the tort account directly.

Item 5.  The $1,000,000 Collector’s Account in Savings in January 2009, which the County Treasurer/Collector did not know to whom it belonged?  After talking with the Treasurer/Collector and hearing that it is very difficult to determine whose money this is, I thought it was best to request a formal written reply.  I waited until now, for two reasons:   the new Freedom of Information Act and having the opportunity to ask about the January 2010 Collector’s Accounts.  See my posting which follows .

Mr. Treasurer, whose $1,000,000 is it? The following FOIA request was made to Boone County today.

Click on the photo copy to enlarge:

Below is the Management letter from the CPA firm which initiated my inquiry into the $1,000,000.   Item # 5 is on the second page.  As before click to enlarge.

To be fair—the Treasurer/Collector did answer orally some of these questions some weeks ago.   He indicated that the amount is  possibly in the $100,000’s but not a $1,000,000 and that the amount maybe related to disputed taxes in previous years.  I made this FOIA request  based upon the size of this account and the question as to if the County, other taxing bodies, or the State actually deserves the money.  I think we all ought to wonder where our elected officials and appointed county managers are.  Why have they not asked questions?