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Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Thursday, May 12, 2016
NEWSSTAND PRICE 75¢
Looking at the future in Dalzell Board must deal with finances, old building By Lyle Ganther lganther@bcrnews.com
DALZELL — The key to keeping the doors open for Dalzell Grade School is maintaining operating funds while providing the services for a quality education for the students of this elementary school district in eastern Bureau County. This was the message Superintendent Bruce Bauer told board members and interested members of the public at a school board meeting Monday, May 9 at the Dalzell Fire Station. He has been educating the district residents for the last four years on the future of Dalzell Grade School
and the challenges facing the district in order to help keep the doors open. “We have a lot of difficulties facing us, but nothing that is insurmountable except the age of the building,” he said. “I ask the board every year if they want to keep the school open. They want to keep the school running as long as we can.” Bauer said the district’s equalized assessed valuation has decreased over the last five years from $6.9 million to $6.08 million, causing the property tax rate to increase, but not the amount of property taxes paid. “This is due to the reduction in the value of your homes,” said Bauer. “I am keeping
my fingers crossed that next year we may see an increase in our assessed valuation since it dropped last year less than a 1/2 percent. We can’t generate more local dollars. We are actually getting a little less in property taxes than six years ago.” Another area Bauer emphasizes is the school’s enrollment. “Nine years ago, we were at 73 students. Last year, we closed the doors at 47. That is probably about $85,000 in general state aid even with the ridiculous amount they give us in state aid nowadays.” Fortunately, Dalzell Grade School saw a boom in students this year with 63 enrolled.
“I will be thrilled to death if we get 60 students when we open our doors next fall,” said Bauer, referring to the fluidity of students that may go district to district with their problems. Bauer said the district tries to attract students by giving tuition waivers to those who live in Timber Creek Subdivision just outside the school district. “They come to the district tuition free just like if they lived inside the district’s boundaries,” added Bauer. “We take any employees’ children or grandchildren tuition free. If a student starts in preschool
Dalzell Page 2
Wasting no time or money Spring Valley progresses through wastewater treatment plant project By Eric Engel eengel@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY — The Spring Valley aldermen explained the details of recent discussions about the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) during its city council meeting on Monday, May 9. Alderman Ken Bogacz said a water and sewer meeting on May 3 helped clarify the warranty on aerators in the main lagoon of the WWTP. He said the system has a three-year warranty, if at which time failure cannot be resolved within 30 days, the system will be removed by the manufacturer at
an original price refund. An additional seven-year warranty on parts and labor will be in play after that, providing a full 10-year warranty in regard to the aerators. The start of the three-year warranty will be Aug 1. Bogacz also noted the sampling of the lagoon indicated the aerators are definitely moving sludge in the lagoon. Modifications to the machine were discussed which would prevent freezing in the winter months, but the aldermen decided to forego the modifications, as freezing temperatures will only
WWTP Page 3
Delivering more than just the mail Letter Carriers Food Drive is May 14 By Terri Simon tsimon@bcrnews.com
It’s no secret there are people in Bureau County who are hungry — children who go to bed hungry and adults who give the food they have to those same children. Letter carriers around the county as well as the rest of the nation are aiming to help “Stamp Out Hunger” again this year with their annual food drive, set for Saturday, May 14. Most post offices around the county are participating, asking area postal customers to leave a bag of non-perishable food items in a bag by their mailboxes. Letter carriers will accept all non-perishable food items, paper products, personal hygiene products and dry goods. No perishable items like milk or other refrigerated/frozen
Food drive Page 4 Year 170 No. 57 One Section - 20 Pages
BCR photo/Trudy Heinz
The one that got away ... hopefully Thursday, May 12, is the final day for turkey season in the northern part of Illinois. While this Tom opted to stay out of sight — at least until Thanksgiving — the numbers of turkeys harvested is not complete for this year. However the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reported 171 turkeys were harvested in 2015 in Bureau County; 46 in Putnam County; and 114 in LaSalle County.
Stay Cool This Summer in the comfort of your home! Get your air conditioner checked & cleaned or replace that old unit with a new high efficiency Carrier unit.
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