Politics and Government

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Reaction to celebration changes in Gifford mixed

GIFFORD – With the past weekend's celebration fresh in their minds, village trustees took the opportunity to discuss some new direction for next year's Independence Day celebration.

In an effort this year to curb past problems with underage drinking and to cut costs, members had eliminated downtown entertainment and accompanying outdoor liquor sales from this year's plans. They opted for a simpler celebration, with a parade and fireworks display only.

Rezoning of Urbana properties up for discussion

URBANA – The city council on Monday will consider developer Howard Wakeland's request to rezone nearly an entire block of properties along North Lincoln Avenue.

The council meets at 7 p.m. Monday at the Urbana City Building, 400 S. Vine St.

Council to decide fate of Main Street property

URBANA – Developer Howard Wakeland argues that the century-old rooming house he owns at 809 W. Main St. has outlived its usefulness and he should be allowed to tear it down and replace it.

The city's historic preservation commission doesn't agree.

Rule change allows for earlier Monticello garbage pickup

MONTICELLO – Monticello residents can expect garbage trucks to head through town earlier in the morning this summer.

Superintendent of City Services Floyd Allsop said that the city has changed its rules to allow waste haulers to run routes beginning at 5 a.m. instead of 6 a.m.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Township backing assessment challenge in mobile home case

DANVILLE – Homeowner Pat Kinney believes he should be paying about $1,500 less in property taxes, and he hopes a court filing by the Danville Township board will help his cause.

Danville Township board members believe more than 150 homeowners, including Kinney, are paying too much in property taxes, because their houses have been classified as real property rather than mobile homes.

Mobile home allowed on promise of owner

DANVILLE – Residents along Stable Lane north of Danville were hoping the Danville Area Planning and Zoning commission would not support a property owner's plan to move a mobile home into their area.

But the commission gave its approval, on a 5-0 vote, Thursday night for a special use permit that would allow Pete and Beth Lappin to put their 80-foot-long mobile home on their acre of property at 17147 Stable Lane, a private road off Shake Rag Road north of Danville but within the city's zoning area. The Lappins' plan, within four years, is to replace the mobile home with a modular home. A modular doesn't require a special use permit.

Ordinance proposed in Monticello to let golf carts hit the road

MONTICELLO – Residents could soon roll through town on golf carts under a proposal before the city council.

The Monticello City Council has proposed changes to city traffic ordinances that would allow people to ride golf carts on city streets.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Big part of Liberty on the Lake now part of Savoy

SAVOY – The village has grown by the better part of a subdivision after board members unanimously approved an annexation agreement Wednesday.

The subdivision, located along Church Street, is called Liberty on the Lake.

Flood victims learn about options for aid

ARCOLA – The worst of the flooding was about a month ago, but Douglas County residents are still struggling to deal with the aftermath of water sweeping through their yards, basements and living spaces.

At one point, it was 6 inches deep through Dara and Gary Kidwell's home on Tuscola's north side. It created a current through their home, which sits on a concrete slab.

Money will help pay back loan from TIF account

RANTOUL – Rantoul library officials were thrilled to learn this week that the state was giving $100,000 to help build the community's new library – a building that was finished in 2002.

Rantoul Village Comptroller Scot Brandon confirmed on Wednesday that he received a $100,000 check to help pay for the conversion of the former Chanute bowling alley into a new library.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Township budget OK'd, but only after $9,000 item removed

CHAMPAIGN – The City of Champaign Township Board approved a $679,000 budget for the fiscal year that began Tuesday, but only after it removed $9,000 that Township Supervisor Linda Abernathy wanted for outside legal help and professional fees.

The flap arose Tuesday night when Mayor Jerry Schweighart questioned the need to spend $9,000 for outside legal help, when the city attorney's office has been providing services for free to the township.

Vermilion County Board looking for new member

DANVILLE – Vermilion County Board Chairman Jim McMahon said he hopes to have a new county board member by August, giving that person some time to acclimate to county business before the board votes on a new budget.

Next week at the July meeting, the county board will declare a vacancy in District 8. Board member Karen Jones-McKissack tendered her letter of resignation to McMahon last week.

Danville aldermen postpone decision to option property

DANVILLE – Danville aldermen postponed a decision Tuesday night on whether to spend $10,000 for the option to buy an apartment building as part of an expansion agreement the city is negotiating with the Courtesy Ford Lincoln Mercury dealership.

Some aldermen, including Steve Foster, Ron Candido and Rick Strebing, want more details about the agreement that city officials are still trying to negotiate with the dealership at 231 W. Main St. in Danville.

Human resources director in Rantoul resigns

RANTOUL – Rantoul's human resources director has resigned.

Mayor Neal Williams confirmed on Tuesday that village Human Resources Director Larry Madalon stepped down last week. Williams said Madalon departed due to his inability to meet Rantoul's residency requirements.

Rantoul rejects towing vehicles on first noise offense

RANTOUL – The Rantoul Village Board has decided to tone down a proposed ordinance that would have authorized police to tow vehicles with loud stereo systems on the first offense.

After hearing concerns that towing every vehicle whose stereos make too much noise may be going too far, the board made changes to the ordinance delaying automatic towing until the third offense.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Voters say no to instant runoff again

URBANA – It doesn't appear that Urbana voters will get a chance to weigh in on whether they would like to see city adopt instant-runoff voting for city elections.

At a special Cunningham Town meeting Monday night, a decisive majority of those in attendance, 98 to 43, rejected a proposed advisory referendum about whether the city should adopt instant-runoff voting for municipal primary and general elections.

Durbin says farm-bill effort isn't enough

URBANA – A new farm bill will provide additional funding for the Eastern Illinois Food Bank and other facilities that feed the hungry, but it might not be enough, said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., at a news conference Monday morning.

Speaking at the Eastern Illinois Food Bank warehouse at 2405 N. Shore Drive in Urbana, Durbin said the $10 billion farm bill provides an additional $373 million in funding for Illinois nutrition programs, including an additional $21 million over the next five years for state food banks.

Black sounds warning about fraudulent FBI e-mail

DANVILLE – State Rep. Bill Black is cautioning people to be wary of an e-mail scam from someone posing as the director of the FBI.

Black said the e-mail, with the subject line "anti-terrorist and monetory (sic) crime division," appears to be from Robert S. Mueller III.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Two redevelopment issues up for vote

DANVILLE – The Danville City Council will vote on two resolutions Tuesday that officials say will help spark redevelopment in the downtown and the east side near Danville Area Community College.

Under one resolution, aldermen will vote on whether to approve an option to buy the Colonial Apartments building at 220-222 W. North St. and a vacant lot at 35 Pine St., part of the same property. Officials said acquiring the property will pave the way for an expansion of the nearby Courtesy Ford Lincoln Mercury dealership on Main Street.

Rantoul board to talk about stricter towing rules

RANTOUL – Rantoul police have proposed toughening ordinances that allow officers to seize vehicles used by people accused of crimes, but some residents say towing them because their stereos make too much noise is going too far.

Under the current ordinance, enacted in June 2005, police may seize vehicles when a person is arrested for driving under the influence or for not having a driver's license or when the driver has 30 or more grams of marijuana.

Deal on land for Curtis Road up for vote

CHAMPAIGN – The city council on Tuesday will consider a tentative deal to buy 22 acres of property that is critical to the next phase of the Curtis Road project.

Council members are being asked to approve spending part of up to $780,000 to buy the property from Adolf and Renee Lo. Two other local governments participating in the Curtis Road project – the village of Savoy and Champaign County – have accepted the deal.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Bill in state Senate would allow for harsher charges

If legislation pending in the Illinois Senate had been enacted by now, an Ogden man who fell asleep while driving and hit and killed two motorcyclists might be charged with a crime instead of a traffic offense.

Two years ago, after Matt Wilhelm died of injuries he got when he was knocked off his bicycle in Urbana by a distracted driver, Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz said there was no criminal charge that fit what the driver did.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Energy agrees to share FutureGen documents

The Energy Department has agreed to turn over documents concerning FutureGen to a House subcommittee, which is looking into why the clean-coal project was scrapped.

The investigations subcommittee of the House's Committee of Science and Technology met Thursday to discuss issuing a subpoena for the documents. The subcommittee decided three of the documents it wanted were important enough to issue a subpoena for, according to a science committee press release. Those included:

Group drops plan to use house as church

URBANA – A large house at the southeast corner of Michigan and Lincoln avenues won't be used as a church.

Todd Bennett, who lives at 811 W. Michigan Ave. with his wife and two young children, said campus ministry group Christians on Campus withdrew its special-use permit application to use the house both as a residence and as a church earlier this month.

Drainage district gets go-ahead to create subdistrict

PESOTUM – Many Pesotum residents could soon see their flooding problems go down the drain – the storm drain, that is – following a court decision on Thursday.

But they'll also see a drain on their wallets – $170 a year for the next 10 years to pay for storm water drainage improvements.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Rantoul board OKs TIF district

RANTOUL – Rantoul may have a new tax increment financing district, but a school official warned there could be political repercussions against the village board members who voted to create it.

The Rantoul Village Board voted 5-0 at a special meeting Thursday to approve the creation of the district, which will include most of the downtown area as well as land proposed for new residential and commercial subdivisions by developer Joe Warner.

Many stimulus checks yet unclaimed

CHAMPAIGN – More than 6,000 retirees and veterans in East Central Illinois still haven't claimed their economic stimulus payments.

In Champaign County alone, 1,978 retirees and veterans had yet to file a 2007 tax return and claim their stimulus payment, the Internal Revenue Service reported recently. Nearly as many in Vermilion County – 1,833 – had yet to do so. And another 2,290 in the counties of Coles, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Moultrie and Piatt hadn't claimed their payment.

School year's end blamed for local unemployment numbers

CHAMPAIGN – Champaign County saw a big jump in its unemployment rate – from 4.3 percent in April to 4.9 percent in May – and the end of the school year had something to do with that.

The jump was reflected in the rates for the county's two largest cities. Champaign's rate rose from 4 percent to 4.8 percent, and Urbana's jumped from 4.4 percent to 5.4 percent.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Rules may put kibosh on concerts in Champaign home

CHAMPAIGN – The party may be over at 505 W. Haines Blvd.

Residents in the house, called "Error House," had been charging money for people to come hear bands play at the single-story house, set on a tree-lined residential street just north of Hessel Park in central Champaign.

Ford County official weighs in on sale proceeds

PAXTON – The Ford County Public Building Commission has approved the upcoming sale of the former county nursing home, but its chairman is not happy with plans for the proceeds.

Asta Care Center, LLC, a company of Asta Health Care Co. of Elgin, has operated the county's nursing home since 2002. An agreement in January 2006 increased the lease payments to $360,000 annually and provided an option for Asta Care to purchase the facility and its 7.28-acre grounds for $1.25 million as early as July 1. Of the $1.25 million purchase price, just over $146,000 must be set aside to pay off nursing home bonds, and the rest will be controlled by county board members.

New fence line proposed in Ogden zoning dispute

OGDEN – In an attempt to resolve a dispute between property owners over where farm animals may graze in the village of Ogden, both sides got together with the village board to determine how best to create a buffer between residential properties and the core operations of an agricultural property that is located within the village.

Residents who own homes near the farm, at the dead end of Broadway Street, have complained for several years that the farm's owners have let livestock roam free in the yards of empty houses owned by the farm's owners and some outbuildings also in the residential neighborhood.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Champaign trash proposal sent back for reworking

CHAMPAIGN – Faced with skeptical council members and many questions about how it would work, city staff asked for – and received – city council approval Tuesday to define a proposal more clearly to require that garbage containers be screened.

City Manager Steve Carter suggested the move late into Tuesday night's study session, saying the proposal "probably deserves some additional thought by staff."

Republican candidate's path has new hurdle

URBANA – The Republican candidate for the 103rd District seat faces another challenge.

Chicago attorney Michael J. Kasper has filed a request for judicial review of the papers for University of Illinois student Frank Calabrese, who is running against incumbent state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-Urbana.

Final Rantoul TIF-district vote possible on Thursday

RANTOUL – Rantoul's economic development director says the community's proposed second tax-increment-financing district could be the catalyst for revitalizing business in downtown Rantoul.

The Rantoul Village Board is expected to take a final vote to create the district at a special meeting at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at the Rantoul Municipal Building, 333 S. Tanner St.

Company wins contract to resurface Westville streets

WESTVILLE – Village officials voted Tuesday to accept an $81,000 bid for the resurfacing of portions of several streets this summer.

Westville Village Board members awarded Daniel L. Ribbe Trucking of Bismarck the contract to resurface streets. The company was the sole bidder.

Grant approved for Gibson City building improvements

GIBSON CITY – Council members approved a fifth grant during the first year of a downtown revitalization program paid for by tax increment financing funds, but the vote was not unanimous.

The American Legion building at Sangamon and 10th Street was approved to receive up to $29,115 from TIF 1 as a 75 percent grant for building improvements not to exceed $38,821. Improvements will include repairs to exterior stucco, correct installation of a roofline cap and replacement of doors and windows. The council approved the grant by a 4-2 vote with two aldermen absent. Aldermen John Carlson and Carroll Lange voted against the grant.

Monticello considers new economic development director

MONTICELLO – The Monticello City Council has asked a city committee to study whether to hire a new economic development director.

Monticello hasn't had an economic development director since Mary Jo Hetrick left in June 2006 to move to Escalon, Calif. Mrs. Hetrick later died on Sept. 27, 2007, a week after suffering a brain aneurism.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Champaign officials propose putting a lid on garbage

CHAMPAIGN – Those Dumpsters that line the alleys of many parts of town could become a thing of the past under a proposal before the city council.

During their study session Tuesday night, council members will be asked if they want the city to draw up regulations requiring the screening of Dumpsters and other trash containers for every type of structure, commercial or residential, except for single-family homes and duplexes. The screened area, where the Dumpster would be located could be made of wood, brick or cinder blocks.

Late-summer, fall emergency response sessions set

CHAMPAIGN – Citizens who want to be prepared to help others during times of civic emergency are encouraged to sign up now for training being offered later this summer and in the fall.

The next five-session Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) courses will be offered Aug. 25, 26 and 28 and Sept. 3 and 4, and Oct. 27, 28 and 30 and Nov. 3 and 5.

Friday, June 20, 2008

County board vote OKs nursing home loan, consultant

URBANA – The Champaign County Board voted Thursday night to hire management consultants to run its troubled nursing home.

The $15,000-a-month contract goes to Management Performance Associates, a St. Louis-area firm. Only Democrats Carol Ammons, Lloyd Carter, Lorraine Cowart and Jennifer Putman voted against the measure.

Wind farm ordinance meeting draws crowd

PAXTON – Nearly 20 people filled a meeting room to voice their opinions about ordinances governing wind farms at a meeting of the Ford County Board's Environmental Committee on Thursday night.

"We're not here to stop wind farms by any means, but to protect homeowners from towers right next to their houses," said committee Chairman Gene May of Paxton.

Processions, speeches to mark Urbana's 175th year

URBANA – A sidewalk procession through downtown Urbana Saturday morning along with speeches from a number of local officials will mark the 175th birthday of the city of Urbana.

"It's going to be fun," said Alderman Dennis Roberts, D-Ward 5. "We'll have musical instruments and signs. We're just celebrating the fact that we're alive and well after 175 years."

Savoy looks to guide growth through plan

SAVOY – A city planner hired by the village of Savoy to help update a comprehensive plan told the board and public about Savoy's progress since 2002, urging the public to give its input to help guide the future growth of the community.

Planner David Johnston talked about the rapid growth at a joint meeting of the village board and Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday, called to get public opinions on Savoy's future plans. Johnston said since November 2006, Savoy has seen developers approach, submit and receive approval for 566 acres of preliminary platted land for development, mostly slated to be used for residential purposes.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Catlin takes steps to help clear water

CATLIN – Recent heavy rains caused water to pool in parts of Catlin, and village officials said Tuesday they wanted to take steps to help manage future rain events.

Catlin Village Board members voted to hire a part-time employee to help with drainage-related projects and said they would continue to clear the drainage creek that runs along Westwood Drive and target storm water on the south side of the village.

Philo officials working to correct sewer problems

PHILO – Philo officials are working on correcting storm sewer problems within the village.

Residents of Washington and Van Buren streets Wednesday told the village board about flooding on their properties during heavy rains earlier this month.

Tolono noise, drainage issues discussed

TOLONO – Tolono officials are debating how to prioritize some of the biggest issues facing the town.

The village board Tuesday heard from several residents who experienced flooding problems during the recent heavy rains.

Appointments to be made for cooling assistance

URBANA – Darlene Kloeppel hopes a new strategy will help avert a repetition of the long, daily lines of people who tried to sign up for cooling assistance last summer.

"We're using a different strategy this year," said Kloeppel, social service director for the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission.

Knox County administrator offers nursing home advice

URBANA – A county nursing home can be run without losses and without consultants.

That's part of the message of Marianne Wiesen, the administrator of the Knox County Nursing Home, which has been cited by some county board Democrats as a model for the Champaign County Nursing Home to follow.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Officials call for action on state's capital spending plan

URBANA – The state could gain 18,000 jobs a month if the legislature could pass a capital spending plan, bipartisan advocates said.

State legislators, University of Illinois officials and labor leaders were in front of Lincoln Hall on Tuesday to press for moving forward on the plan, which stalled last month when House Speaker and Democratic Party leader Michael Madigan refused to call the bill.

Danville's system of warning sirens to be evaluated

DANVILLE – The city's aging warning-siren system needs to be evaluated to determine if it's still the most effective way to warn residents in emergencies or if new technology, like phone-warning systems, might be a better choice, according to Mayor Scott Eisenhauer.

The issue surfaced at the end of the Danville City Council meeting Tuesday night when Alderman Rick Strebing, Ward 2, asked about putting an additional warning siren in his ward in the Danville Heights area.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Georgetown's warning siren has been repaired

GEORGETOWN – The warning siren that did not sound during a recent high-wind event in the city has been repaired, Mayor Darrell Acord told the Georgetown City Council on Monday.

Acord said that a windstorm that blew through the area more than two weeks ago caused the warning siren in Westville to sound, but not the one in Georgetown.

Subcommittee might subpoena Energy records

TUSCOLA – The U.S. Energy Department might be forced to turn over documents about its decision to drop FutureGen.

A subcommittee of the House Science Committee might meet Thursday to discuss issuing a subpoena for all documents relating to FutureGen, Science Committee spokeswoman Alex Dery Snider said.

Ballot questions still open in Urbana

URBANA – The Cunningham Town Board voted Monday night in special session to put one advisory question on the fall ballot but refrained from filling the ballot with two other questions.

The Urbana City Council, acting as the town board, was expected to put three questions on the Nov. 4 ballot to forestall an effort by local activists to force two advisory referendums in November, since three is the maximum number of referendum questions allowed.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Drainage upgrades will raise tax bills in Pesotum

PESOTUM – Many homeowners on the west side of Pesotum could see their property taxes increase by $170 a year for the next 10 years to pay for proposed storm water drainage improvements.

The Pesotum Consolidated Drainage District, which includes most, but not all, of the land in Pesotum west of the Canadian National Railroad, has petitioned the courts to create a subdistrict that would include the portion of the district within the village limits.

Damaged court annex could become an art project

DANVILLE – The massive white stucco facade that covers the Vermilion County Courthouse Annex resembles a painter's canvas.

Vermilion County Board Chairman Jim McMahon thinks it could become one. He wants to explore the idea of painting a mural on the downtown building if the current, cracked facade is replaced with a similar material.

Contract for firefighters on Champaign council's agenda

CHAMPAIGN – A three-year contract for city firefighters will be considered Tuesday night by the city council.

The agreement, retroactive to July 1, 2007, provides for across-the-board raises of 3.25 percent for the first year and 3.75 percent for the following two years for the city's 99 firefighters. The agreement runs through June 30, 2010.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

13% raises for Urbana mayor, city clerk top agenda

URBANA – The next mayor and city clerk in Urbana could see substantial salary increases.

The city council will consider Monday night a proposal from Mayor Laurel Prussing that would increase the mayor's salary by nearly 13 percent, to $56,412 from the current $50,000, effective May 1, 2009.

Department of Energy formally ends FutureGen participation

The U.S. Energy Department finally fulfilled its word on FutureGen – by formally stating Friday that it won't help build the clean coal-burning power plant in Mattoon.

The word came to FutureGen Alliance CEO Michael Mudd in a letter from Energy Department contracting officer Keith R. Miles. It was obtained by The News-Gazette.

Ballot moves could pre-empt town meeting

URBANA – The advisory referendum battles in Urbana continued Friday with a new twist.

Two Cunningham Town Board members have called a special town board meeting for 7 p.m. Monday, where the board (which also serves as the Urbana City Council) will consider placing three advisory questions on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Arts funding is back in Urbana spotlight

URBANA – Mayor Laurel Prussing and Alderwoman Danielle Chynoweth have a strong difference of opinion about appropriate funding levels for public arts in the proposed fiscal 2009 budget, and it's likely to flare up again at Monday night's council meeting.

The council meets at 7 p.m. at the Urbana City Building, 400 S. Vine St., after a special Cunningham Town Board meeting.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Fisher village meeting adjourned over lack of notice

FISHER – The Fisher Village Board adjourned to Monday after holding an abbreviated meeting Thursday night because public notice of the meeting's agenda had not been posted.

Village attorney Marc Miller advised the trustees Thursday that they could discuss anything they wanted to but could not legally vote because of the lack of notice.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Urbana must restart hunt for chief administrator

URBANA – The leading candidate to become the city's next administrative officer has taken another job.

Mayor Laurel Prussing said Wednesday the city will reopen the search and use a search firm this time around – meaning it's likely to be months before the position is filled.

Savoy officials discuss veterans' memorial design

SAVOY – Board members bounced ideas off of each other on Wednesday as they discussed possible inscriptions for the planned Savoy veterans' memorial.

The memorial is expected to be placed in the northeast corner of the municipal building lot.

Westville mayor praises flood response

WESTVILLE – Bad as it was in some places in Westville, the heavy rains of last week would have produced more damage five years ago, the mayor said.

Last week's heavy rainfall caused water to pool in some yards and to flow into some basements, but Mayor Jeff Slavik said this week that the flooding would have been worse if it had occurred five or more years ago.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Rantoul's TIF district critic to miss June 26 vote

RANTOUL – A village board member says he's disappointed he won't be able to vote on the creation of a controversial tax increment financing district.

Village board member Cliff White said he opposes a proposal to launch a district that would include the downtown area as well as a 350-lot residential subdivision and an adjacent commercial subdivision planned by developer Joe Warner.

Master-plan study of Champaign buildings OK'd

CHAMPAIGN – Despite some reservations about whether the city needs to hire another consultant, city council members voted 7-1 Tuesday night to order a study of city buildings.

Architectural Spectrum will be paid up to $40,000 to prepare a master plan over the next three or four months. The Champaign firm will inspect city facilities, identify maintenance and rehabilitation needs, prepare cost estimates and develop a prioritized schedule for completing the work.

Homer officials working to take down Main Street building

HOMER – Community members, the mayor and the village board are all in agreement that a dilapidated, 19th-century building on Main Street will have to be demolished.

Mayor David Lucas said there have been many efforts to rescue the Homer Beach building at 127 S. Main St., but now the best option is for the village to get possession of the property, demolish the structure and sell the lot for redevelopment.

Rantoul leaders go to D.C. to make case for cleanup funds

RANTOUL – A contingent of Rantoul leaders was to travel to Washington, D.C., today to meet with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin to see if they could secure federal funding for cleanup of the former Chanute Air Force Base.

Rantoul Economic Development Director Robert Bruce said the estimate to clean up the former base, which closed in 1993, has been placed at $160 million.

Fischer Theatre's fate might rest with report

DANVILLE – If a pending engineer's report deems the Fischer Theatre structurally sound, the city may consider a partnership with the Vermilion Heritage Foundation that could help in the quest to restore the local landmark.

Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer met recently with foundation board members to discuss the historic theater's future and what role the city could play in that future, if an engineering analysis comes back with positive news.

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Bids in for facade of Danville courthouse annex

DANVILLE – As a $248,000 roof project starts this week on the Vermilion County Courthouse Annex, county officials are gathering bids and expert information on the next major repair on the building, the facade.

Although Vermilion County Board Chairman Jim McMahon did not want to release the actual bids for the facade project yet, he said proposals from two bidders came in below what was projected by the engineering firm that did the design work.

Vote on TIF district set for opponent's absence

RANTOUL – A village board member says he's disappointed he won't be able to vote on the creation of a controversial tax-increment-financing district.

Village board member Cliff White said he opposes a proposal to launch a district that would include the downtown area as well as a 350-lot residential subdivision and an adjacent commercial subdivision planned by developer Joe Warner.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Ron Hunt to step down as Villa Grove mayor

VILLA GROVE – Mayor Ron Hunt announced Monday evening that he will not seek re-election to the office of mayor when his term expires next year. Hunt has served as mayor of Villa Grove for 16 years, following a two-year term as alderman.

"It's been a pleasure to work with all the aldermen and city employees over the years," Hunt said at the city council meeting.

Candidates hosting bike tour of county board district

Champaign County Board District 1 Democratic Party candidates Scott Hays and Eric Thorsland are hosting a 32-mile bike tour of the district.

They face incumbent Republicans John D. Jay and Lawrence D. Sapp on Nov. 4.

Urbana council tentatively approves cell phone restrictions

URBANA – Police Chief Mike Bily said he doesn't see major problems with enforcing a proposed new ordinance that would impose a $750 city fine on drivers who get into a traffic accident while talking on a cell phone or two-way radio.

The proposed ordinance, which won tentative city council approval Monday night, also would ban drivers from text messaging while driving.

ThyssenKrupp connection road project moves ahead

DANVILLE – State and local officials are forging ahead with plans to build a new public road that will give ThyssenKrupp better access to Lynch Road as part of the company's expansion project.

The $2.1 million state- funded project will create a new road that will begin at the current entrance to ThyssenKrupp's forge facility, 1000 N. Lynch Road, and head west, providing access to both the machining division, which is the facility that's expanding, and the forge facility, where corporate headquarters are located.

Paxton to buy equipment for sewage plant

PAXTON – The Paxton City Council agreed Monday night to spend up to $15,000 on a system that will deal with waste solids from the sewage treatment plant.

Water Department Superintendent Randy Haack told the council that the state environmental agency wants the city to have a secondary treatment plan in addition to the present method of emptying the sewer lagoons, hauling the wastewater and spreading it on farmland.

Tuscola looking into Timmons Drive flooding

TUSCOLA – Jackie Stenger cried so hard she could hardly speak when describing what the floods had done to her home.

Twice, the water invaded her house, and she stayed up all Sunday night, preparing herself for its return. She said she's worried about problems the mildew and mold will cause, and the mosquitoes that will breed near her home on Tuscola's Timmons Drive.

Ford County taking second look at wind-farm ordinances

PAXTON - With two firms expressing interest in establishing wind farms east of Paxton, the county board announced it will hold a public meeting to review wind farm ordinances.

The Environmental Committee meeting, scheduled for June 19, will review existing ordinances "to see if changes or updates need to be made," committee Chairman Gene May said at Monday night's meeting of the Ford County Board.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Nursing home board discusses consultant

URBANA – A board created to advise the Champaign County Board on its nursing home is looking into hiring a consultant.

The advisory committee met this morning, and voted to hold another meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the nursing home to discuss Management Performance Associates and a potential $150,000 consulting contract.

Vermilion officials want 2nd contract with firm to overhaul GIS

DANVILLE – Almost six years ago, Vermilion County started a geographic information system and raised document filing fees to help pay for it, then signed a multiyear contract for hundreds of thousands of dollars with an outside firm that would help start the system.

Now, the system is not functioning at the level it should be, according to county officials who want the Vermilion County board to approve another contract with Bruce Harris and Associates, allowing the firm to overhaul it.

Douglas County board chief wants funds for ambulance service

TUSCOLA – In Chuck Knox's opinion, citizens of Douglas County are far more likely to see the inside of an ambulance than the county jail.

That's why the county board president would like to use some of the money generated by a possible public safety tax to support the county's ambulance service.

Champaign official seeks funds for facilities master plan

CHAMPAIGN – The city of Champaign has tens of millions of dollars tied up in its facilities, including the city building, the police department, the main fire station and six other fire stations.

But, despite that investment, the city doesn't have a regular schedule for things such as replacing carpeting or painting, or replacing roofs and air conditioning and heating systems.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Careful demolition of clock tower should start Monday

URBANA – Demolition should begin Monday on the creaky remains of the Champaign County Courthouse's lightning-damaged clock tower.

That's the day the bell will come down, said Steve Beckett, the Urbana Democrat who heads the county board's facilities committee.

Friday, June 6, 2008

City reviewer finds no health threat at site

CHAMPAIGN – An independent report commissioned by the city of Champaign concludes there's no immediate health threat at the site of a former gas manufacturing plant.

Environmental consultant Nicholas Schneider based his findings on data collected so far from the 3.5-acre site at Fifth and Hill streets, AmerenIP's site investigation report and the utility's cleanup plan.

Panel OKs conditional $592,000 for nursing home

URBANA – Champaign County's finance committee voted Thursday night to lend the county nursing home almost $600,000 – but there's a catch.

Panel explores increasing Rantoul taxes

RANTOUL – Rantoul homeowners could soon see their storm-water drainage taxes increase by $5 a year.

The Rantoul Storm Water Committee on Thursday night asked the village staff to get estimates on how much additional money would be raised by a tax increase on residential properties after learning that five proposed storm water improvement projects could cost more than $6.8 million.

County board panel backs sales tax for schools' use

URBANA – As expected, a county board committee has voted to support a 1 percent sales taxes for school building, sending the measure on to the full county board.

Policy and personnel committee Chairman Tom Betz, an Urbana Democrat, said the measure passed by a voice vote Wednesday night.

Urbana plan commission agrees house can't also serve as church

URBANA – Sarah McEvoy said she has no personal complaints about the residents next door.

"They're lovely people," she said about the people living at 811 W. Michigan Ave, just west of her home. "It's nothing personal. I've told them that."