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ST. CHARLES
Council OKs church expansion
Aldermen express Students honored unease with D-303 for $800 donation
By BRENDA SCHORY bschory@shawmedia.com
ST. CHARLES – The St. Charles school board’s unwillingness to uphold an agreement to split the cost of traffic improvements near St. Charles North High School has damaged its relationship with the St. Charles City Council, based on comments Aldermen made Monday in committee. “It concerns me how we deal with them in the future,” 5th Ward Alderman Ed Bessner said. “Very much so,” 4th Ward alderman Jo Krieger added. The City Council on April 1 approved an intergovernmental agreement with St. Charles School District 303 that stated the parties would split about $500,000 in construction costs for intersection improvements – a traffic light and right-turn lane – at North High School and Red Gate Road. City administration believed District 303
would do the same, but the school board rejected the agreement in May. Some school board members said the improvements were the city’s responsibility and that St. Charles made the mistake of not installing a traffic light when it built Red Gate Bridge, which opened in December. The city awarded a construction contract based on prior discussions with the district, City Council’s approval and the desire to have a traffic signal running in time for the start of the next school year. Work on the project has already begun. Thursday, a school board committee recommended the district fund the right-turn lane at a cost of $125,000, leaving the rest of the $570,000 total bill – which includes professional fees – with the city. The Government Operations Committee on Monday approved the revised agreement. Only 2nd Ward Alderman Rita Payleitner voted no.
By ERIC SCHELKOPF eschelkopf@shawmedia.com BATAVIA – Batavia will have a Fourth of July fireworks show thanks in part to the efforts of two Alice Gustafson Elementary School students. The Batavia City Council on Monday honored Rachel and Matthew Rempert, who raised $800 in donations through their school. The city’s Fourth of July fireworks show, now in its 63rd year, is funded solely through private donations. “I want to thank you for stepping forward and really showing some quality citizenship,” Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke said to the two of them as he presented them with certificates of congratulations. In February, the Batavia Access Fireworks Committee announced it had to raise $50,000 by May 1 or the show would be canceled. Fourth Ward Alder-
man Susan Stark, who is on the committee, said Monday that close to $30,000 has been raised, but it has enough to pay for the fireworks. “We do need food vendors and volunteers,” Stark said. Donations may be made by going to the fireworks committee’s website, www. bataviafireworks.org. There will also will be a fireworks fundraiser event, “Keep It Sparkling,” from 6 to 8 p.m. June 13 at K. Hollis Jewelers, 147 S. Randall Road. The event will feature silent auctions, samplings from local restaurants and live music. Tickets are $20 in advance, available at www. bataviafireworks.org. “We’re hoping to sell 200 tickets and raise $4,000,” Stark said. Schielke said surrounding communities are envious the Batavia fireworks show continues to be funded through private donations.
Summer classes begin soon! On-Campus Registration Hours
Sugar Grove and Aurora Campuses 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mon.-Wed. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., hurs. & Fri. Copley Campus: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri. Plano Campus 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mon., Wed.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tues.
ENROLL TODAY: www.waubonsee.edu
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Sugar Grove Campus Rt. 47 at Waubonsee Dr. Sugar Grove, IL 60554 (630) 466-7900
Aurora Campus 18 S. River St. Aurora, IL 60506 (630) 801-7900
Copley Campus 2060 Ogden Ave. Aurora, IL 60504 (630) 585-7900
Plano Campus 100 Waubonsee Dr. Plano, IL 60545 (630) 552-7900
• Tuesday, June 4, 2013
GENEVA – The Geneva City Council unanimously approved a special-use permit for Fox Valley Presbyterian Church’s expansion plans Monday, after the church and a neighbor worked out their concerns. Aldermen acting as the Committee of the Whole last week approved the church’s expansion plans on the condition that it work out some issues with a residential neighbor regarding noise and privacy. An agreement was reached that the church would install an open-style wrought aluminum fence around the eastern boundary. The church, at 227 East Side Drive, proposes to demolish its existing 6,280-square-foot, one-story education area and build a 10,480-square-foot, one-story addition in its place, a net gain of 4,200 square feet. The church needed a special permit because it is considered a nonconforming use under the city’s zoning code. Andrew Mayer, of the 800 block of Longmeadow Drive, said he was concerned about more noise and the increased use of the church by a second congregation. “We were interested in being good neighbors, and I think we were able to come to a mutual agreement that addressed his concerns,” said the Rev. Bart Roush, pastor of adult ministries at the church. Fox Valley Presbyterian also hosts a Latino congregation, Fruto de Vida, translated as Fruit of Life, with about 200 members. “They worship in our sanctuary and use the building for music classes and Bible study,” Roush said. “That was one of the other concerns – I don’t always know who is supposed to be back there,” Mayer said. “The solution was to erect the fence to make sure the people who are there are supposed to be there.”
By ASHLEY RHODEBECK arhodebeck@shawmedia.com
BATAVIA
LOCAL NEWS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com
GENEVA