BCR-08-08-2013

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Serving Bureau County Since 1847

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Electric down, wastewater up

A ‘fowl” situation Backyard chickens getting attention in Manlius By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com

MANLIUS – The village of Manlius briefly discussed on Tuesday the possibility of implementing an ordinance to prevent residents from keeping chickens in their backyard. Village President Rob Hewitt shared a letter with board members he had received from Bureau County Zoning Director Kris Donarski about inquires from residents wanting chickens on their property. Village board members seemed to oppose the idea, saying they had heard of other communities in the county that had issues with chickens in the village limits. Hewitt said he believed the village already had an ordinance preventing poultry in the village limits, but he would have to check back and read exactly what was stated. Village attorney Mick Henneberry said the problem with keeping an ordinance against things like chickens is coming up with an efficient way to file a complaint against offenders. Henneberry mention the village could call the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department when they had a problem, however, they might not consider it a priority. Hewitt said the village will have to sit down and discuss protocol on how a matter would be handled if the village faced an issue. The board agreed to table action on the matter until its next meeting. In other news, the board briefly discussed looking into the village’s current ordinance on wood stove burners. Earlier this year, the village was approached by a resident who complained about his neighbor’s homemade wood stove burner, which was apparently producing a large quantity of thick smoke.

See Manlius Page 3 Year 167 No. 95 Two Sections - 32 Pages

98213 00012 1 7 © Bureau County Republican

Council talks increases and decreases in rates By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com

PRINCETON — The Princeton City Council has had a first reading on ordinances which would adjust the city’s electric rates downward and adjust the city’s wastewater and garbage rates upward.

At this week’s council meeting, Commissioner Ray Mabry presented an ordinance which amends the city code to establish the basic user sewer rate for city customers of the wastewater treatment facilities at $5 per 100 cubic feet of water usage. Currently, city customers pay $4.05 per 100 cubic feet.

The same rate increase would apply to customers both inside and outside the city limits. Users of the city’s wastewater treatment facilities who are not water users of the city shall be charged $28 per month for billings on and after Sept. 1. As reported earlier in the Bureau County Republican, the average city customer

See Rates Page 4

Windt: A gentleman Former PHS Principal Walt Windt dies at 75 By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com

BCR photo/Becky Kramer

Firefighters in the making Spring Valley firefighter Jay Ullrich stands aside while Dylan Eller (center) and Cameron Eller (left) take over the wheel of a Spring Valley fire truck during Tuesday evening’s National Night Out event at Kirby Park in Spring Valley. The Spring Valley Police Department has organized the local National Night Out event for the past 20 years for community members to learn more about crime awareness and prevention. The evening included children’s games and activities, free food and demonstrations and exhibits by several area emergency service and safety departments.

PRINCETON – Longtime Princeton educator and caregiver Walter Windt is remembered as being a true gentleman and a dedicated friend. Windt died on Sunday at the age of 75. In 1970, Windt moved to Princeton and was hired as principal at Princeton High School, where he remained for more than 40 years. After retirement, he attended Illinois Valley Community College and became a certified nurse’s aide. He helped many older residents in Bureau County with personal care and rehabilitation. John Young, who is a retired PHS teacher who taught under Windt, thought highly of him and was impressed that after Windt retired he took on a second career as a nurse’s aide. “He was more care giving than anyone I knew. He took care of a lot of elderly folks and did so for about 10 years,” he said. Young admired Windt for having the determination to change gears after retirement, go back to school and become certified in a whole new career. When Windt was still at the school, however, Young can remember when faculty members, including Windt, would get together on Sundays in the gym to play basketball. “I found at his age he was a ton on the basketball floor,” he said. “He was very athletic, and so much better than the rest of us.” Reflecting back on Windt as a principal, Young said he was “old school.” “You knew where he stood, and he stood for what was right,” he said. “He did a good job during a time of transition when he came to PHS.” Fellow PHS retired math teacher, Mickey Towns, remembers Windt as being an efficient principal, who was always on top of his work. “He always knew what he was doing,” he said. “I think he was kind and respectful to the teachers and was a kind human being who kept in mind the feelings of others when he was working with them.”

See Windt Page 3

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