Carroll County Board Opens With Request to Change Minutes

By Tom Kocal

MT. CARROLL ­ Gerald Bork (D-2) did not like the fact that he was not allowed to participate in the discussion regarding the CC Board's consideration of Senate Bill 1783 at the April board meeting.

The Board voted in April to support a resolution to approve SB 1783, to expand the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority to the 4 counties north of Rock Island County, including Carroll.

Bork alleged that Fritz had financial interests at Savanna Depot Park that should have prohibited him from voting on the issue, that Fritz did not allow Bork to speak, and that the "call for the question" in April requires a 2/3 vote.

It was determined that the financial interest issue and the call for the question issue were not discussed in April. A motion was made to table the motion until State's Attorney Scott Brinkmeier could be present. All voted aye, except for Bork.

States Attorney/Finance

Committee Chair Judy Gray (D-2) reported that a Business Incentives package was being discussed by the committee. "It needs a little bit more work," Gray said. "We want to add a start date, so we will bring it back next month."

The Board would like to express its support and appreciation of the Jo-Carroll Solid Waste Agency program, and on a motion by Gray, voted unanimously to approve the letter.

Gray asked James Hazelbower (D-3) to explain the resolution introduced to the Board by him regarding County support of House resolution 1207.

"It's a federal resolution to audit the Federal Reserve," Hazelbower stated. "Many feel that the Federal Reserve is an unconstitutional entity, and they can do as they please without any oversight. We would like to see what they are doing. There are currently 165 co-sponsors to this bill on the House of Representatives side."

Gray motioned to approve the resolution, and after no discussion, all voted in favor of the resolution, with Chuck Wemstrom (D-2) opposed.

A resolution to approve the Hwy. 20 4-lane expansion was presented. Ron Preston (D-2) was concerned that Carroll County was giving financial support in the resolution. It was confirmed that the resolution did not include any language stating financial support.

Wemstrom addressed the Board, stating that "The project for a 4-lane highway was a good idea 50 years ago, but the time for an expanded Highway 20 has come and gone. We don't have the money for this project, and to bring rail service to the region. We don't have the money to build a new bridge that would be necessary for the 4-lane expansion.

"Stockton, Lena, Elizabeth - it would be their death sentence. By-passing those towns will not add new businesses or tourism to these towns. It would subtract.

"We can't afford to have more CO² emissions that you would get by having an expanded highway with more traffic going across the top of the state. We think of it as something that is going to help our communities economically. I just returned from a 1500-mile trip to Texas. Highways just by-pass towns, they don't necessarily help towns at all. I spend a lot of time in Wisconsin, with 2 and 4-lane highways by-passing small communities. None of these highways actually help the small towns. I would vote against this resolution."

Joyce Schubert (D-3) feels that the 4-lane expansion would help save lives. "It's a death trap now. And the people that travel through these towns now stop if they want to, and don't if they don't want to. It will be the same with a by-pass. It won't make a lot of difference."

Wemstrom feels that there will be less traffic in the future, so the need for an expanded, wider highway is currently a moot point.

The Board voted 11-3 to approve the resolution, with Wemstrom, Hazelbower, and Juanita Randklev (D-1) voting no.

Sheriff & Property Committee

Committee chairman Preston said "We have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the inspection of the exterior of the courthouse revealed that there is a minimal amount of wood that needs to be replaced. That's a good thing."

Preston stated that about 80-90% of the refurbishing will be painting only, and that the committee had received some "good bids" on the painting job.

Bids are currently being sought for the painting and replacement of pumps on the fountain, located on the west side of the Courthouse.

The jailhouse plumbing project is also completed, the roof repairs are done, and the parking lot will be done.

"The bad news is that a large tree will probably have to be removed. If the tree is completely dead, which is the way it looks, it will be removed, but only after an inspection by experts."

Zoning/County Services Committee

Schubert stated that the Carroll Co. Senior Services Organization "couldn't be more pleased" with their new service van, recently acquired from the Illinois Dept. of Transportation.

Chairman Edie Block (D-3) discussed the $7.2 billion Stimulus Bill that includes $20 million available to the Blackhawk Hills RC&D region for broadband expansion. She said it may involve a 20% match, but that requirement may be suspended. BHRC&D has made this a priority item for the six-county region, and has received support from several area businesses.

Block also proudly stated that the county web site, www.carroll-county.net, has moved from page 4 on the Google search engine to page one.

Health Dept. Fee Structure

A new increased fee structure was presented to the Board. Sharon Hook (D-1) said, "Even though we don't get to act on it, I want to discuss it. I think it's outrageous. Most of these restaurants get inspected frequently. Increasing the county fee from $75 to $100 is a little steep for our area."

Kevin Reibel (D-1) felt that after reviewing his inspection ordinance from several years ago, the Board does set the fees, and must be approved first. "When we set up the inspections, we wanted that language to reflect Board approval. The fees at that time weren't necessarily set to break even. It is a service that the public takes advantage of, having good quality food. I agree that raising the fees is ridiculous at this time. These restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and others already contribute to our tax base with the 25% public safety tax, and some pay for liquor licenses."

County Administrator Michael Doty reminded the Board that since the item was not on the agenda, the Board would not be able to take action. It was recommended to add the item to the State's Attorney committee meeting next month.

Highway/Animal Control Committee

Sitting in for committee chair Shawn Picolotti who was absent from the committee meeting, Sharon Hook reported that the Village of Chadwick requested an intergovernmental agreement with the county's Animal Control Officer for his services when the Village Police were not on duty. The item is still being discussed in committee.

County assistance with the Mt. Carroll Galena St. Bridge was discussed. Highway Commissioner Kevin Vandendooren said "As soon as they got their second levy, so they would be taxing at the maximum rate which would make them eligible to petition us for aid, then we will start that ball rolling, probably some time in January. It will be a two-year project."

Currently, the county is not required to conduct any inspections of the bridge. "We have been asked to inspect it in the past, but because of liability issues, we declined. It is a fracture-critical bridge, which makes it very difficult to inspect. Currently, it's under city jurisdiction. There is a lot of discussion on what to do with the bridge. It will be a year in itself working with the Historic Preservation Agency."

The Board approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Savanna to chip & seal the road at Marquette Park.

Two resolutions were approved regarding Federal Stimulus Bill participation. $309,000 from the feds will be matched with $90,000 from the county for projects on the Benson and Milledgeville Routes according to the first resolution. The second resolution states that the county will appropriate the matching funds if the funds from the feds was received.

911 Board

Chairman Bork stated that the fund balance of the 911 Board dropped from $173,057.80 last month to $154,192.81. "The reason is because of the drop in the number of land lines in Carroll County - down 784 land lines, which pay $1.75 each, where cell phones pay only 75¢ each."

Yuswak said she is not sure if the county gets the whole 75¢, or if the state has tapped into those funds as well.

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