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Teachers aware of possible closure?
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DIXON SCHOOLS, A3
SPORTS, B3
dailyGAZETTE Tuesday, November 5, 2013
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
STERLING COUNCIL
City closer to riverfront control Council gives OK to sign Stanley donation agreement BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 570
STERLING – The city moved closer Monday to its goal of controlling all 35 acres of land along its riverfront.
The City Council voted 5-1 to approve a donation agreement with Stanley Black & Decker in which the manufacturer of tools and hardware would relinquish ownership of the National Manufacturing site on the north and south sides of the railroad tracks along the river. Council members had received a draft of the proposal during a closed session in August. The biggest concern for the
city throughout the negotiating process had been limiting its liability for environmental costs, City Manager Scott Shumard said last week. “The top priorities in this process have been to acquire ownership of all the riverfront property, while not being saddled with a huge amount of the environmental costs,” Shumard said. The agreement calls for Stanley to assume responsibility for
cleaning up any underground contaminants associated with the planned demolition of buildings. The city would be liable for above-ground contaminants such as asbestos and lead paint that would likely have to be dealt with during the renovation process. The city has said it plans to take down 6 of the 10 buildings included in the agreement. Shumard said the estimated demolition cost would be $1.5
million to $1.7 million. Second Ward Alderman Barry Cox cast the lone dissenting vote. He said his decision was based on the potential cost of the redevelopment project. “The cost of this could affect not just me, but my kids and grandkids,” Cox said. “I would rather see a private developer come to the area and throw some money at it.” RIVERFRONT CONTINUED ON A2
DIXON
TAKING THE DOGS FOR A STROLL
Nord contract revealed Deal with administrator would run through May 2015; public meeting set BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Pam Jones walks her dogs, Moose and Yukon, along the Hennepin Canal on Monday afternoon in Rock Falls.
WHITESIDE COUNTY | POLITICS
Arduini ending 60-year career after term Veteran official announces he won’t run again BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
STERLING – Tony Arduini, whose Whiteside County political career started even before Elvis Presley became a household name, said he will leave public office next year. On Monday, Arduini, 92, revealed he would not run for County Board in 2014. “It’ll be the first time in 60 years that I haven’t been on the ballot,” he said. Arduini, a Democrat who joined the board in 1965, was its chairman for two decades until he stepped down last year. Before he was a board member, he spent a dozen years as a justice of the peace, a now-eliminated position in which he heard traffic cases
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Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Whiteside County Board member Tony Arduini, then the chairman, is handed a plaque by fellow member Bill McGinn as Arduini’s long tenure on the board was celebrated during a ceremony Sept. 18, 2012. Arduini on Monday said he wouldn’t seek another term on the board in the 2014 election. and minor civil matters. “I think it’s time that I quit,” Arduini said in a telephone interview. “The people have been really good to me. Last year, I was 91 and was sur-
INDEX
prised that I still got a lot of votes.”
Left chairmanship A few weeks after the November election, he announced he
BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ............... A9 CROSSWORD....B11
DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
wouldn’t seek the chairmanship for another term. The previous year, he suffered health problems, having spent 10 days in the hospital. In Arduini’s place, the board elected retired teacher Jim Duffy, D-Sterling, though it designated Arduini as vice chairman. Since then, Arduini has continued to have health issues. He hasn’t attended a board meeting since February, though he has shown up for some committee meetings. “It’ll be sad to see him leave,” said Sue Britt, D-Morrison, a longtime board member. “He’s had a good run and earned the respect of a lot of people. I just hate to see him go, but I know his health has not been the best.” At a board meeting last September, Arduini was honored for his service. Officials said he was the longest-tenured current county board member in Illinois. ARDUINI CONTINUED ON A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
DIXON – The public will have about 7 days to review David Nord’s contract before the Dixon City Council votes on whether to hire him as city administrator. The contract was placed on file during the City Council meeting Monday night. Nord, the former Cherry Valley village administrator, is the finalist for Dixon’s city administrator position. There will be a special council meeting at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 12 to vote on his hiring. Police Chief Danny Langloss led a 10-person hiring committee that included Commissioners Dennis Considine and Jeff Kuhn. They reviewed the résumés of 40 applicants before reaching a consensus on Nord. A verbal agreement was reached Oct. 25, Langloss said. Nord would be the city’s first administrator. CONTRACT CONTINUED ON A4
To attend The public meet-and-greet for David Nord, the finalist to be Dixon’s city administrator, will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Next Picture Show, 113 W. First St. The Dixon City Council next meets in regular session at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at City Hall, 121 W. Second St., on the second floor in the council chambers. Go to www.DiscoverDixon. org or call City Hall at 815288-1485 for an agenda or more information.
Online extra Go to saukvalley.com to view the proposed contract with City Administrator candidate David Nord.
Today’s weather High 58. Low 48. More on A3.
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