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SENIORS WORK WAY INTO KEY ROLES STERLING FOOTBALL, B1

LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, A9-12

dailyGAZETTE

Thursday, August 21, 2014 ■ SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854

ROCK FALLS | TOURISM AGREEMENT

City decides to end pact Officials cite lack of transparency BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570

ROCK FALLS – The city has decided to terminate its agreement with Rock Falls Tourism, and is considering taking legal action to gain control of tourism money that predates the pact. The possibility of litigation put the council in closed

session before the vote late Tuesday. The city said it had reason to consider pursuing legal channels. “They made it clear to us they were not turning over funds,” City Administrator Robbin Blackert said. Prior to May 1, 2008, the city had handled tourism duties and had about $661,000 in reserves for that purpose.

When the agreement was signed, Tourism received the reserves, in addition to the monthly hotel tax revenue. In 2012-13, the local hotel tax generated $160,148.41. The city receives 5 percent to cover administrative costs, leaving Tourism with about $152,141. PACT CONTINUED ON A4

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We were told it was finished, locked in a drawer, and they would be happy to give it and other records to us after there is a new agreement.

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Rock Falls Mayor Bill Wescott, on results of Rock Falls Tourism’s audit

The numbers have always been available, but to my knowledge, no one has asked us about the records. Former Rock Falls Mayor and current Tourism Board member David Blanton

DIXON | FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

DIXON | FINANCIAL CONTROLS

‘Room to grow’ at Reagan Rethink

votes, mayor requests 3 commissioners voted down firm contract Monday BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529

Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Mariam Sohail, 10, excitedly arrived for the first day of school Wednesday at Madison Elementary School in Dixon. “I want to meet new people, and I want to see my friends again,” the fifth-grader said.

Realignment starts off without a hitch BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525

DIXON – While some students might have dreaded the first day of school, Mariam Sohail, a fifth-grader at Madison Elementary School, enjoyed it. “I’m happy to be back in school,” 7-yearold Mariam said. “I want to meet new people, and I want to see my friends again.” Wednesday was the first day of school for students and staff in the Dixon School District. With the closure of Lincoln Elementary School, second- and third-grade students were moved to Jefferson Elementary School. Fourth- and fifth-grade students were moved to Madison Elementary School – which is under the same roof as Reagan Middle School. GROW CONTINUED ON A3

The Dixon police and fire departments reminded drivers to slow down Wednesday, the first day of classes for the school district. Members of the Dixon Rural Fire Department stood in front of Jefferson Elementary School with a sign to remind drivers to be careful in school zones.

Visualize it online Click this story at saukvalley.com to see a diagram of the new traffic flow

DIXON – Mayor Jim Burke isn’t giving up his efforts for a review of the city’s financial controls. A contract for the review was voted down 3-2 during a City Council meeting Monday night. Wednesday, Burke issued a public statement and emailed the council to ask the three commissioners who voted no – Colleen Brechon, Dennis Considine and Jeff Kuhn – to reconsider their vote. Considine on Wednesday said he had no plan to reconsider. “Absolutely not,” he said. “I would not reconsider my vote. I gave valid reasons on Jim Monday, and they Burke haven’t changed,” As of midday Wednesday, Kuhn said he hadn’t read the mayor’s email but would listen to what he had to say. “It would have to be a very, very good reason,” he said. “I think we have it set up very nicely, and I can’t see wasting taxpayer dollars.” Brechon said residents she spoke with since the meeting supported her and the council’s decision against the review, but that the system was set up to allow for commissioners to change their minds and she would at least listen to the opposing side. VOTES CONTINUED ON A4

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TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 181

INDEX

ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ...............B5

CROSSWORD....B10 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2

NATION/WORLD .. A7 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6

Today’s weather High 84. Low 69. More on A3.

Impersonator

Police: Man posed as city worker, A2.

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