THURSDAY
Nov em b er 6 , 2014 • $1 .0 0
UP NEXT: TOLEDO NIU holds off pesky Ball State for key victory / B1 HIGH
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43 27 Complete forecast on page A8
Da’Ron Brown
daily-chronicle.com
SERVING DEKALB COUNTY SINCE 1879
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New task for firefighters? Latest DeKalb inspection proposal relies on their expertise By KATIE DAHLSTROM kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com DeKALB – The newest iteration of the city of DeKalb’s commercial and industrial building inspection overhaul proposes having on-duty firefighters conduct the inspections. The idea came after a survey of about 50 other communities showed that most used on-duty firefighters to inspect commercial and industrial buildings. What it will mean for staffing and costs has yet to be determined, but City Manager Anne Marie Gaura
said those costs would not be shouldered by business owners. “We’ve heard the concerns, so we wanted to do something that would address safety, but be respectful to business owners,” Gaura said. Specialized inspections such as those of electrical or plumbing systems would still have to be handled by another agency or contractor, and those costs also are unclear. City staff also is considering exempting buildings that are annually inspected for other reasons, such as insurance purposes. Gaura said officials have aban-
doned an earlier proposal that the council discussed Aug. 11 and Sept. 8, which would have required business owners to cover the costs of an expanded inspection program conducted by an outside inspection company. When they discussed the earlier proposal, city staff cited numerous building issues such as the collapse of the Wurlitzer building and a burst water pipe that left the building that housed Otto’s and Ducky’s uninhabitable.
Possible timeline n Nov. 10: City Council sets the schedule for vetting the new inspection program n Nov. 21: Joint meeting between city staff and stakeholder groups n Dec. 8: Staff presentation of proposed program n Jan. 12: Public hearing on the program n Jan. 26: Public hearing on the ordinance and first reading n Feb. 9: Second reading of the ordinance
See INSPECTIONS, page A5
ELECTION 2014 RESULTS
Park projects on the way
Photos by Danielle Guerra – dguerra@shawmedia.com
Cathy Pivonka, a Zumba instructor with the Sycamore Park District, teaches a Zumba fitness class Wednesday in the South Prairie Elementary School gym. Pivonka said her classes, with at least 20 people, are too big for the community center. She hopes the passing of the Sycamore Park District referendum on Tuesday will allow for a permanent space for her classes so she won’t have to cancel classes during school holidays.
Sycamore Park District gets voters’ OK to fund big plans By ANDREA AZZO aazzo@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – Pam and Bob Edwards have lived in Sycamore for 30 years, and they both hope the park district will bring all the changes promised in its six-year improvement plan. The couple both voted in favor of the Sycamore Park District’s tax-increase referendum Tuesday. While Bob Edwards was disappointed the district’s Vision 20/20 plan does not include addressing the 31-year-old public pool, he was optimistic about the promises of sled hills and bike paths.
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“I voted for the improvements,” Bob Edwards said. “It’s for everybody’s future.” The referendum passed Tuesday will increase the property tax rate by 18 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value. The increase will cost the owner of a $154,000 home who claims the
See PARK DISTRICT, page A5
DeKalb resident Bonita Gordon does a weighted squat in a Zumba toning class with Pivonka. Gordon pays extra because she is not a resident of the Sycamore Park District to take Pivonka’s classes.
INSIDE: A roundup of unofficial election results from DeKalb County and around the state. PAGE A4 LOCAL NEWS
A&E
LOCAL NEWS
Growing appeal
Cosmic knockout Charge filed
Genoa library building expansion attracting local interest / A3
Christopher Nolan’s latest film ‘Interstellar’ weaves sublime tapestry / C1
Police: DeKalb man lied about attack near high school / A3
Rauner starts building his team The ASSOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO – Governor-elect Bruce Rauner began appointing a team Wednesday to build his administration and pledged to make good on a promise to turn Springfield on its head, even though Democrats appeared to keep their solid hold on the Legislature. After more than year of bashing the Democratic “machine” that controls the Illinois Capitol, the Republican businessman could be in for a tumultuous journey when he takes office in January and tries to find solutions for the state’s many persistent problems. Among the biggest challenges will be how to balance a state budget withBruce out revenue from Rauner a tax increase that Rauner opposed. GovernorA top Democrat- elect ic leader signaled Wednesday that his chamber will let the increase roll back on Jan. 1, leaving the governor-elect with a spending plan Gov. Pat that’s billions of Quinn dollars short of the amount needed to maintain current staffing and services. And that’s just for starters. Rauner has pushed a new tax on services that Democrats have opposed in the past. He also differs with some party leaders on how and when to raise Illinois’ minimum wage, as well as other major issues. Rauner defeated Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn on Tuesday, carrying every corner of the state except heavily Democratic Cook County. The wealthy venture capitalist and first-time candidate from Winnetka appointed several people Wednesday to lead his transition team. He said his running mate, Wheaton City Council member Evelyn Sanguinetti, will lead the group. Quinn conceded the race during a brief news conference, less than a day after insisting he would not give up until all ballots were counted. “It’s clear we don’t have enough votes to win,” he said, adding that it was important to respect the voters who waited in line – sometimes for hours – to cast their ballots. He did not take questions. Rauner spokesman Mike Schrimpf said the governor-elect spent Wednesday in meetings. Rauner did not plan a public schedule because he’s taking “a methodical, thoughtful approach” to the transition, Schrimpf said. Speaking to supporters after his victory late Tuesday, Rauner said voters had asked for a divided government for the first time in many years, and that called for bipartisan solutions. Rauner said two of his first phone calls after winning were to House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton – two longtime Democratic leaders Rauner slammed during the campaign, and whose support is needed before anything gets done in Springfield.
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