4 Local 4 • Saturday, February 21, 2015
Bureau County Republican • bcrnews.com
Princeton
Business conducted at the Princeton City Council:
From Page 1 the Environmental Protection Agency’s website found PVC piping to leach vinyl chloride into drinking water. The website also stated long-term exposure to the vinyl chloride is said to increase a person’s risk of cancer. Hanson added, “There has always been cheaper pipe material than iron … Through it all, iron pipe continues to serve Princeton’s water customers safely and reliably.” Despite Hanson’s brief presentation, the text amendment ordinance allowing the council to authorize the use of acceptable materials (PVC piping) in the construction of water mains was passed. This was the ordinance’s second and final reading before the council. Another ordinance to rezone a property on the 900 block of West Peru Street was accepted after its first reading. The property will be rezoned from a light manufacturing district (M-1) to a business or community retail and service district (B-2). Under Princeton City Code, rezoning of the property was necessary in order to award a special use permit for a crematorium. Randy and Patricia Grant, owners of Grant-Johnson Funeral Home, have been awarded the permit for their potential crematorium. In other business, Richard Eckberg, previous recipient of the farm bid lease, was unable to ful-
BCR photo/Zita Henneberry
At the podium, Bureau County Police Chief Tom Root watches as Princeton Police officer Sara Rokey (right) is sworn in by Princeton City Clerk Pete Nelson. Rokey has been taken on as a full-time Princeton Police officer. Root addressed the council and said Rokey’s extensive knowledge and experience will be a great asset to the Princeton Police Department. fill the terms of his lease. Princeton City Clerk Pete Nelson said for this reason, the lease was awarded to the second highest bidder, Kevin Newell of Mendota. Mabry introduced the motor fuel tax bond debt resolution paperwork for repayment of a 2009 loan. The city is playing a little catch up with Illinois Department of Transportation requirements, said Nelson. He added the resolution passed at the Tuesday night meeting was simply to formally show on paper that Princeton is dedicated to repaying the debt. Out of the $842,000 originally owed, the city has paid $505,255.88, Nelson said. In another formalization of a previous understanding, the city of Princeton
RICL
JFK From Page 1 bundle and a curriculum bundle, and they have to be used together. “I want to make sure we are doing it side-by-side,” he said. Discussion arose among board members how they had created a curriculum director position two years ago to help with the curriculum transition, and while it has been a process, most agreed the position is working. The board, however, would like to better monitor
close, it is now time for the city’s annual audits, said Nelson. The Princeton City Council has agreed to hire Striegel Knoblock & Company LLC of Bloomington for its auditing services. Striegel has entered into the contract, agreeing not to exceed $26,775 for both audits. They expect to begin June 14 and to issue the final reports no later than Sept. 30. In other business, Princeton Police Officer Sara Rokey took her oath of office before the council. The room was packed as Tom Root stood before the council introducing Rokey. Rokey has been taken on by the Princeton Police Department as a full-time officer. Root said, “She brings a wealth of knowledge com-
ing to the police department, especially to Princeton full-time, and we can’t say enough about how
excited we are ... and I’m sure that she is too.” Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com. says it will continue to work with affected landowners to notify them of their rights in light of the ICC’s failure to grant the power of eminent domain along with the CPCN. The Appellate Court’s process to review the case could likely take six months or more. RICL conceptually begins in North Central O’Brien County in Iowa and ends at a ComEd substation in Grundy County, Ill. In Illinois, the projected path of the line begins in Rock Island County at the Mississippi River south of Cordova and then runs through Whiteside, Henry, Bureau and LaSalle counties. Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com. Ted Urbanski said. The board agreed to table the technology plan and revisit it again at the March board meeting. Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.
owner rights, livelihoods and investments at risk,” said Curt Jacobs, an ILA Board member. “Whatever the outcome of RICL, it will set case law and precedent for future private companies hoping to grab rights
to our private property.” On Wednesday, Feb. 18, Commonweatlh Edison Co. also filed an appeal to the Appellate Court of the Third Judicial District, asking for the ICC to rehear the case. ComEd listed sev-
eral reasons for its request, including its belief there are “far too many uncertainties surrounding Rock Island Clean Line;” that the ICC’s order does not fully protect customers and other parties from signifi-
cant risks; RICL’s financing is uncertain; and more. Block RICL — a grassroots organization growing in numbers which also doesn’t want any part of RICL — also commented on the appeal. “The fact that RICL is an empty shell company with no employees or assets of its own, and separated from the parent company and investors by levels of limited liability corporations, puts our landowners at great risk,” said Block RICL spokesperson Mary Mauch. “RICL can’t prove they even have commitments for the necessary funds to construct the project, yet they refuse to give any financial assurances or a decommissioning plan.” Meanwhile, Block RICL
how effective technology is on student achievement. “I think we’re making strides and hired an individual to go that way; I think we are going that way, but I think we need to monitor the use and report the use to make sure it’s being used properly,” board President Ray Nolasco said. During this conversation, a parent from the audience spoke up and admitted how at first she was angry with having to pay the school a tech fee, only to find her student bringing home an iPad to play games on the device. However, as time went on, she noticed the transition of her student
utilizing the iPad more for homework lessons and assessments. The parent pointed out how her oldest daughter, who is a college student, does most of her school work on the computer. With that in mind, and seeing her eighth-grader doing online assignments, it puts her at ease because she knows her eighth-grader will already have had that technology in the classroom experience before she gets to college. “We are seeing a definite benefit from the technology,” she said. After hearing from the parent, Kusek said he
felt better hearing a parent’s perspective on the improvements made with technology. The same parent, however questioned the technology cohesion between JFK and Hall High School. “When we went to the board meeting at Hall, they said there is a conflict between the teaching and technology that JFK is doing, opposed to what the teaching and technology Hall is doing, and there’s not a cohesion,” she said. Superintendent Jim Hermes said the way Hall’s building is designed now prevents the capacity and capability to run technolo-
gy programs like JFK is currently using. “They’re progressing,” he said. “They know they have some catching up to do, but they are moving forward. And when they are in that new building, the sky will be the limit for them.” While the discussion wasn’t enough to push the board to approve the technology plan put in front of them Wednesday evening, they all agreed they would not deny the plan, as Hermes pointed out the alternative to the plan would be to go back to textbooks. “We can’t go back to textbooks. That’s not even a question,” board member
What does RICL say?
From Page 1 The release also stated, “While the Alliance agrees with the ICC findings that RICL failed to prove need and declined RICL’s petition for the certificate leading to eminent domain power, the lLA contends that RICL’s routing is based on a flawed study and that the ICC failed to consult with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.” The ILA also believes RICL failed to prove the project is necessary, and that the company is actually capable of financing the proposed construction. “Too many aspects of the ICC’s final order put land-
has entered into a mutual aid agreement. Geneseo, Ladd, Oglesby, Peru, Princeton and Rock Falls have entered into a mutual understanding to share resources, personnel, equipment, materials and other expenses in the event of an emergency. Nelson said these areas have been doing this for years, and this is simply a formalization of those efforts. In light of the recent fire last weekend in Princeton, Warren extended a thank you on behalf of the city to all who helped with the Marion Street blaze. Warren thanked the Red Cross and Kramer’s Kitchen for supplying food, beverages and support to the firefighters. With the previous fiscal year having come to a
• Princeton police officer Sara Rokey took her oath of office before the council. • The council approved Princeton Plan Commission’s recommendation for the preliminary plat and planned unit development of the Diamond Senior Apartments of Princeton for residents 55 and older. • Council members accepted the first reading of the Plan Commission’s recommended ordinance. The ordinance allows for the rezoning of property owned by Randy and Patricia Grant on the 900 block of West Peru Street from an M-1 to a B-2. • The council accepted the Plan Commission’s recommendation allotting the special use permit for a crematorium to Randy and Patricia Grant for the West Peru Street property. • Council approved a resolution retiring 2009 motor fuel tax bond debt and formally committing the city to full repayment of the original loan. • The council accepted the text amendment ordinance’s second and final reading authorizing the use of acceptable materials (PVC) in the construction of Water Mains. • A change was made in the Farm Lease Logistics Site. Due to Richard Eckberg’s inability to fulfill the terms of his lease, the Farm Lease was awarded to the second highest bidder, Kevin Newell. • Princeton has hired Striegel Knoblock& Co. to perform the city’s annual audit for the fiscal year ending April 30. • Princeton, Ladd, Geneseo, Oglesby, Peru and Rock Falls have entered into a mutual aid agreement. The formal agreement provides for the sharing of resources, personnel, equipment, materials and other expenses in the event of an emergency. • Through the majority vote, the Princeton City Council has agreed to move forward with the legal preparations for the Business District stretching from Interstate 80 to Backbone Road on the west side of Main Street.
CHICAGO — Rock Island Clean Line, LLC, is a subsidiary of Clean Line Energy Partners, LLC, based in Houston, Texas. On the morning of Friday, Feb. 20, Amy Kurt, manager/spokesperson for the Clean Line office in Chicago commented on the most recent developments. “We are very pleased we have unanimous approval from the ICC for the Rock Island Clean Line,” Kurt said. The commission granted us an order for the certificate of public convenience and necessity; we are pleased with that decision. “We don’t know the grounds of what these appeals are on,” Kurt continued. “They are very procedural. We don’t know what those parties are appealing in our case; what they are based on; and what information they will be bringing forth. We will be monitoring those appeals and watching it, but at this time, we are very pleased we have the approval of the ICC.”
KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE (R) Sat & Sun* . . . . . 1:30 Mon-Thur . . . . . .
4:15 4:15
7:00* 7:00
THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER (PG)
Sat & Sun* . . . . . 1:45 Mon-Thur . . . . . .
SELMA (PG-13)
4:30 4:30
Sat & Sun* . . . . . 7:15* Mon-Thur . . . . . . 7:15 Sunday’s last movies shown with open caption. * Showtimes good 02/20/15 thru 02/26/15 .
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