Orth Road bridge project in danger of further delay | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

Members of the county’s roads and capital improvements committee learned May 7 that a contract for the work can’t be awarded until after the endangered spike mussels – should any be found in Beaver Creek – are relocated….

instead of awarding the contract in August it could be as late as November, meaning the work would not be done this year. The letter, he said, stated IDOT and the state Department of Natural Resources were just following policy.

Committee members agreed a letter should be sent to those agencies, asking to expedite the process

 

Click on the following for more details:  Orth Road bridge project in danger of further delay | Belvidere Daily Republican

New Boone County Veterans Commission plans to open June first | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

Greg Kelm, president of the commission’s 10-member board of directors, appeared before the finance committee with the request for $25,000.

He said he couldn’t give the committee a business plan or how much money the commission would need each month. “We don’t know how many veterans will come through the door,” he said.

Davis’ first paycheck will be cut June 15, with the other immediate need being office supplies. Office rent is $300 a month.

Kelm assured the county that the commission would “provide a (financial) report every month. We will show where every dime has gone. We will be very transparent.”

There is a 10-member board of directors and committee member Cathy Ward asked if board meetings were open to the public?

Kelm answered, “No.”

Click on the following for more details:  New Boone County Veterans Commission plans to open June first | Belvidere Daily Republican

Capron Elementary not available for soup kitchen – for now | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

Written by Bob Balgemann

school’s kitchen will be undergoing renovations this summer

Secondly, there appears to be a degree of opposition to having the kitchen at the school.

Capron Village President-elect Ken Grzybowski questioned the idea of people “who don’t belong in a school” being allowed to be there. “I think it’s a bad idea all-around,” he said, adding that the village initially was not aware of the proposal.

A point in time survey conducted Feb. 23 showed 177 homeless living in Boone County. Of that number, 60 were “literally homeless,” and found to be living in their cars and in abandoned buildings. Of the 60, a “disproportionate number” were found in Capron.

Click on the following to read the entire article: Capron Elementary not available for soup kitchen – for now | Belvidere Daily Republican

Update on upcoming County Appointment Opportunities | Boone County, Illinois

The most recently posted are in yellow. With few exceptions there is no remuneration for these positions.

Current Appointment Openings:

The following are volunteer Boards of the County that have vacancies:

Interested parties are asked to send a letter and resume expressing your interest and qualifications to Boone County Board Chairman Bob Walberg, 1212 Logan Ave., Suite 102, Belvidere, IL 61008.  Please respond by April 26, 2013 to assure being considered.

Boone County Board of Review

2 vacancies for a 2-year term that will expire June 1, 2015

(Note:- Per statute, one person must be of the Republican Party and one person must be of the Democratic Party.  If selected, Board members must attain the credentials established by the Illinois Property Tax Code within (1) year of taking office.)

Boone County Zoning Board of Appeals

1 vacancy for a 5-year term that will expire June 1, 2018

(Note:- Per statute, only one person from a township can serve on this Board; therefore, anyone interested in serving on this Board must be from Flora, Belvidere, LeRoy, Spring, or Poplar Grove Township.)

Boone County Agricultural Conservation Easement & Farmland Protection Commission

1 vacancy for a 3-year term that will expire June 1, 2016

Boone County Ethics Commission

3 vacancies for a 1-year term that will expire June 30, 2014

(Note:- Per statute, two persons must be of the Republican Party and one person must be of the Democratic Party.)

Boone County Historical Museum District Board of Trustees

1 vacancy for a 5-year term that will expire June 30, 2018

Boone County Conservation District

1 vacancy for a 5-year term that will expire June 30, 2018

Boone County Board of Health

4 vacancies for a 3-year term that will expire July 1, 2016

Community Building Complex Committee

2 vacancies for a 3-year term that will expire July 1, 2016

(Note: 1 person must be a representative of the Boone County Board and 1 person must be a representative of a community organization)

Interested parties are asked to send a letter and resume expressing your interest and qualifications to Boone County Board Chairman Bob Walberg, 1212 Logan Ave., Suite 102, Belvidere, IL 61008.  Please respond by May 24, 2013 to assure being considered.

The above is taken from:   Employment Opportunities | Boone County, Illinois

IRS apologizes for inappropriately targeting conservative political groups in 2012 election - The Washington Post

 

Lerner said the practice was initiated by low-level workers in Cincinnati and was not motivated by political bias. After her talk, she told The AP that no high level IRS officials knew about the practice. She did not say when they found out.

About 75 groups were inappropriately targeted. None had their tax-exempt status revoked, Lerner said.

Many conservative groups complained during the election that they were being harassed by the IRS. They accused the agency of frustrating their attempts to become tax exempt by sending them lengthy, intrusive questionnaires.

Click on the following for more details:  IRS apologizes for inappropriately targeting conservative political groups in 2012 election - The Washington Post

tweets: RRSTAR’s Jennifer Wheeler regarding presentations regarding closing Johnson Road Bridge

The following are taken form Ms. Wheeler’s blog (http://www.rrstar.com/blogs/jenniferwheeler) and are regarding Tuesday’s (May 7th) Boone County Roads & Capital Improvements subcommittee

 

Jennifer Wheeler

jenmwheeler Boone County committee approves resolution to support keeping all county bridges. Officials will also reach out to school leaders. @rrstaryesterday · reply · retweet · favorite

jenmwheeler The Winnebago Boone Farm Bureau has written officials about their concerns. @rrstaryesterday · reply · retweet · favorite

jenmwheeler Officials will reach out to the Boone County State's Attorney for advice. @rrstaryesterday · reply · retweet · favorite

jenmwheeler Residents concerned that farmers and equipment could be injured if forced to take a different route from bridge closure. @rrstaryesterday · reply · retweet · favorite

jenmwheeler Resident: "I don't know how it got this far without truly being informs as residents." yesterday · reply · retweet · favorite

jenmwheeler County officials discuss Johnson Road bridge. If it's knocked down and not rebuilt, emergency vehicle response time increases 4 min @rrstaryesterday · reply · retweet · favorite

A buckthorny issue | NIU Today

 

New studies reveal invasive European buckthorn shrub is contributing to amphibian decline, altering distribution of mammals in the Midwest

 

Researchers at Lincoln Park Zoo and Northern Illinois University have discovered a new culprit contributing to amphibian decline and altered mammal distribution throughout the Midwest region – the invasive plant European buckthorn.

This non-native shrub, which has invaded two-thirds of the United States, has long been known to negatively impact plant community composition and forest structure.

Click on the following to read all of the story:  A buckthorny issue | NIU Today