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Tuesday, August 13, 2013
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TIF DISTRICT SOUND-OFF
Ill. man accused of soliciting child porn County sheriff’s office investigates photographer By JILLIAN DUCHNOWSK jduchnowski@shawmedia.com
Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
Mike Ritz, owner of Ritz’s Southtown Auto, tests a solenoid on a vehicle in his shop on South Fourth Street in DeKalb. The city of DeKalb is considering establishing a tax increment financing district along South Fourth Street to spur economic development in the area. Ritz may seek TIF money to improve the cosmetics of his building and a new sign.
DeKalb residents give opinions on 2 potential areas By CHRIS BURROWS cburrows@shawmedia.com DeKALB – DeKalb City Council members have until Nov. 8 to introduce an ordinance establishing two new tax increment financing districts after community members expressed concerns at a public hearing Monday. Council members held no discussion of the proposed districts Mon-
day, and two residents suggested waiting until a permanent city manager is seated before considering the TIF districts. The proposed new district on South Fourth Street would encompass property on either side of the street from Taylor Avenue to Fairlane Avenue, while the other would include the former Nelson Veterinarian property at 2131 Sycamore Road and the Northern Illinois Uni-
versity Art Annex at 2211 Sycamore Road. DeKalb already has two TIF districts. These special taxing mechanisms spur development in blighted areas. The property taxes that local taxing bodies – such as schools, park districts and city government – receive from properties in these districts are frozen for 23 years. As property values increase in the area, the increased property taxes
are diverted to a special account and used for improvements. Lynn Fazekas, who lives near the proposed southside district, said she supports the needs of the school district and thinks the proposed districts would be a distraction for the city’s finances as indicated in a reported filed by Executive Partners Inc.
See TIF, page A5
SYCAMORE – The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate a 37-year-old West Chicago photographer accused of asking a 17-yearold to send him a nude photograph. Todd Kornoski, of the 1100 block of Lillian Lane, asked the girl – who is a former client – to send him a nude photograph via text message, which she did July 30, said Chief Deputy Gary Dumdie of the sheriff’s office. The girl’s parents reported the incident to Todd Kornoski police, who searched Kornoski’s home and arrested him Friday afternoon. Kornoski was charged with solicitation of child pornography, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison; other charges are pending, Dumdie said. “When we executed the search warrant, we seized computers, digital media, electronic stuff associated with his business,” Dumdie said. “A lot of that stuff still has to be reviewed. We have to do a forensic analysis. There may or may not be other victims.” Kornoski, whose middle name is Ashley, operated Ashley’s Realm out of his home, Dumdie said. According to the business’s website, Kornoski offered wedding, family and boudoir photography. Kornoski remained in the DeKalb County Jail on Monday, unable to post 10 percent of his $200,000 bond.
Kirk makes his first trip to central Illinois since suffering stroke The ASSOCIATED PRESS SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk formally steps back into the political arena this week with a trip to the Illinois State Fair, his first visit to central Illinois and first appearance as a re-election candidate since his stroke late last year. As the guest of honor during Republican Day on Thursday at the fair, Kirk is campaigning not just for himself, but also rallying the cause for other state GOP candidates next year. “We’re excited about his re-election efforts. His mind and his intellect are there and his ability to do the right thing has never been in question,” said Jack Dorgan, chairman of the Illinois Republican Party. “He’s been a strong standard bearer for the party.” Kirk, the Illinois GOP’s top officeholder, was first elected to President
Barack Obama’s former Senate seat in 2010. Before being sidelined for nearly a year by an ischemic stroke, he played an instrumental role in recrafting the party’s political strategy, both in revamping fundraising efforts and in working with the Illinois delegation to avoid costly primary matchups, which he refers to as “red on red” warfare. Kirk’s renewed efforts, many of which will likely be behind the scenes, come at a pivotal time as Republicans work to reclaim the governor’s mansion and win several top-tier congressional races in 2014. “I think it’s incredibly important to our viability,” Dorgan said. “Any time a U.S. senator gets involved in something people stand up and take note.” Kirk’s spokesman, Lance Trover, said the senator – a fiscal conservative and social moderate who has bro-
ken with his party by supporting gay marriage and gun control – would not be making an endorsement in the 2014 Republican primary for governor. Trover declined to say whether Kirk would be encouraging Republicans to coalesce behind one candidate early in the primary race to avoid repeating mistakes of 2010, when a similarly wide primary field fractured resources and support. Four candidates have announced primary bids: Winnetka venture capitalist Bruce Rauner, state Treasurer Dan Rutherford of Chenoa, state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington, and state Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale. The 53-year-old Kirk was left partially paralyzed on his left side by the stroke, causing him to use a four-pronged cane and occasionally a wheelchair for mobility.
See KIRK, page A5
AP photo
Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., speaks during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing June 6 in Washington. Kirk is making his first trip to central Illinois this week since his January 2012 stroke.
Inside today’s Daily Chronicle Lottery Local news Obituaries
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National and world news Opinions Sports
Weather A2, A5 A4 B1-4
Advice Comics Classified
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High:
73
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53
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