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Thursday, June 18, 2015
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The park may skate away Park district considers closing skate park By Zita Henneberry zhenneberry@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — The Princeton Park District is looking into closure options for the Princeton Skate Park. “There are several reasons, safety being a very important one and money,” said Princeton Park District Executive Director Elaine Russell. “More than that, it’s just bad behavior in general, criminal activity,” said park board President Gene Englehart. “It was to the point where the police would have to set up police surveillance in the place. I mean that’s a nuisance, that’s not an asset for the park district. That’s a nuisance.” While the park district has not yet taken any action, board members were open to Russell investigating further the various options for the skate park’s closure. “I want it understood that we’re not pointing the finger at individuals that skate board,” Russell said. “That’s not our goal, to cut down our people that like to skate board. Unfortunately, that area has just gathered individuals that have created a lot of destruction over there for us.” Russell explained the board spent around $14,500 to repair damages at the skate park five or six years ago. At the time, board members agreed it would be the last time funds of such magnitude would be invested into the skate park property. “Money, safety and vandalism and the age of the equipment there now,” said Russell are all significant considerations for
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BCR photo/Mike Vaughn
A threatening Bureau County sky was captured Monday evening, as heavy rains moved into the area. Already, the area has seen considerable rainfall, and if it continues at the same pace, precipitation records could be broken.
A flood of problems
Heavy rains cause issues for many around the county By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
Throughout the last week, Bureau County has experienced heavy rains, and at times, torrential downpours that have caused road closures, sewer backups in basements and flooded fields throughout the county. On Monday, June 15, residents were alerted to flash flood warnings before the area was hit with a heavy rain storm. Areas by the Illinois River were
also on the lookout for river flooding. Bob Byrne of Princeton, who is a co-op observer for the National Weather Service, reported as of Wednesday, June 17, the area had received 5.55 inches so far in the month of June, with 1.71 inches of rain falling on Saturday, June 13, and .92 inches on Monday, June 15. Byrne said in the month of June, the area typically sees around 4 inches of rain; therefore this June has already received more than normal
rainfall in the span of just half of the month. Byrne guessed if the rainfall gets to around 8 to 10 inches for the month, it could break a record for the most rain in the month of June for the area.
What’s going on around the county? With all the rain in the forecast, Spring Valley Mayor Walt Marini said the city has been holding up pretty well so far. As of Wednesday, June 17, he said there hadn’t been any reports of sewer backups in basements, and the flooding hadn’t affected any roadways to the point of having to close
down the roads. He said the river was up over the boat ramp at the present time, and with more rain expected to fall this week, he said it could cause the river to crest, however, it wouldn’t greatly impact the area. He said since the flooding in April 2013, the city hasn’t used its’ old wastewater treatment plant, which sits on the river. The plant was destroyed back then when the heavy rains caused a levee on the river to break, which flooded the wastewater treatment plant to the point where it was completely underwater. Since then, the city has been relying on its lagoon
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No bricks paving the way on Euclid Princeton looks at street project By Zita Henneberry zhenneberry@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — A wide variety of business was conducted during the open session of the Monday, June 15 Princeton City Council meeting. Princeton City Manager Jeff Clawson reminded all present of Year 169 No. 73 Two Sections - 32 Pages
the Euclid Avenue public forum and plan review set for the following night, Tuesday, June 16. At this forum the public was welcome to review the plans and discuss concerns with the Euclid Avenue engineers. He said the project’s construction is projected to begin sometime in 2017. Clawson explained the project will consist of removing the brick from Central Avenue to Elm Place on Euclid Avenue. A brand new road with a new
base will be constructed along with other various and any necessary improvements. It’s a federal highway program, he said. The overall project will cost somewhere around $1.4 million with about $1.1 million being covered by the federal program. The rest of the funding the city has been working in recent years toward collecting through the motor fuel tax. In other business, Clawson has worked out the financing to purchase a new garbage truck
for the city of Princeton. “This is a garbage truck from visiting with the vendor that will serve our purposes for many years to come,” said Commissioner Ray Mabry. According to Mabry the new garbage truck will cost the city around $142,900. The truck will be financed through a lease agreement with Midland States Bank. “It’s good to keep it in town,” Clawson said. He explained financing will be set throughout
a three-year period at 2 percent, which he deemed is a competitive rate. Mabry said the truck will come with an option for a possible future cart attachment on the back which could tip into the truck. “So, it’s got some room to grow,” he added. Other action at the Monday night meeting involved a change regarding the Perry
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