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Thursday, October 13, 2016
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County OKs permits for Walnut Ridge Bureau County Board members vote unanimously on all issues By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Bureau County Board again showed support for the Walnut Ridge wind energy project at its Tuesday meeting. The board unanimously approved conditional use permits for transmission
lines, support structures, electrical transmission lines and communication facilities for the project. BHE Renewables, owners of the wind project, were the applicants for the permits. Before the approval of the permits, Bureau County Zoning Officer Kris Donarski read off 18 properties
throughout the northern areas of the county where the transmission lines and communication facilities will be placed. She said Bureau County Regional Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and Bureau County Zoning Committee all recommended the conditional use permits. Howev-
er, Bureau County Soil and Water (BCSW) had submitted a recommendation the wetland areas near the project should be avoided, as well as the conservation practices by landowners because they are important to land erosion and water quality. Also before the board vote, Bureau County State’s
Attorney Geno Caffarini said the village of Walnut had originally contested conditional use permits located on properties within 1.5 miles of the village. He said the village originally thought they had jurisdiction over the land, however looking into the matter further, it was discovered the village does not have
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BCR photo/Becky Kramer
A festival of fun ... The village of Walnut held its inaugural Fun Fest on Saturday. The event, hosted by the Walnut Chamber of Commerce, featured a plethora of funfilled fall activities for children and adults alike, including entertainment, food, a fire department open house, children’s games, pumpkin painting, hayrack and train rides, and more. Here, Josie (left) and Carly Wiggim try their hand at pumpkin decorating. See more photos on Page 2.
WYANET — Wyanet officials will see a pay increase in the near future. At Tuesday, Oct. 11, meeting of the Wyanet Village Board, pay increases were approved for the trustees and mayor. Wyanet Village Clerk Shelley Teske explained pay increases need to be approved 180 days before new trustees are sworn in. The pay increases will be only for newly-elected officials. Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, the trustees received $40 per meeting, and the mayor received $200 a month. New trustees will now receive $50 per meeting, and the mayor will receive $250 a month. The increases were approved in a 5-2 vote, with trustees Joe Law and Cory Peterson voting no. The seats held by trustees Marilyn Johnson, Dave Bickett and Joe Law, along with Mayor Bruce Hand, will be up for re-election.
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Keeping rental properties from becoming a nuisance Spring Valley City Council passes ordinance By Becky Kramer news@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY — The Spring Valley City Council approved an ordinance at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Oct. 10, that will help to ensure rental properties in the community don’t become a nuisance. Year 170 No. 123 One Section - 24 Pages
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The legislative, public health and safety, and finance committees all reported on their committee meetings from the prior week. The legislative committee had met on Oct. 4. This committee, along with the public health and safety committee, discussed a residential property nuisance ordinance. Country’s 1st Stop For Plumbing & Heatng
This ordinance was created because it has been determined rental properties within the city of Spring Valley account for a disproportionate share of the violations of the building codes, and many of these structures have deteriorated to the point where they constitute either a public nuisance or other problems
affecting public health, safety and welfare. This ordinance allows officials to inspect properties, so that repairs of any building code violations can be made before the property deteriorates to the point where the property becomes a public nuisance. Stipulations in the ordinance say landlords of
rental properties will have to apply for a license before allowing anyone to rent their properties. Also, all rental residential properties will be subject to an inspection as a condition of the issuance of the license prior to the occupancy by a tenant and after any change in tenancy. In other business:
• The council also discussed the Prisoner Medical Service Reimbursement. This passed ordinance insures the city will be reimbursed at the current Medicaid rate. • Alderman Mike Herrmann reported the finance committee and discussed
Properties Page 3
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Permits Page 3
Wyanet approves pay increases
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jurisdiction on that property. Caffarini said the village withdrew its objection after the matter was investigated. Along with the conditional use permits, the county board also approved the decommissioning and site restoration plan agreement