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Friday, March 21, 2014
MARCHING FOR POVERTY • FAITH, C1
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The Rev. Lou Ness takes 800-mile journey to D.C.
Indian Creek’s Schilling balances school, training
Mobile home park plan in jeopardy State, property owner $1.1M apart on Evergreen Village price; relocation threatened By DEBBIE BEHRENDS dbehrends@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – DeKalb County could lose a $7.1 million grant to purchase Evergreen Village Mobile Home Park and relocate its residents if it cannot reach an agreement to purchase the 20-acre property from the park owner in the coming weeks, officials said. Grant funds from the fed-
RTA files lawsuit in sales tax scheme
eral and Illinois emergency management agencies (FEMA and IEMA) were tied to the 2008 flooding at the mobile home park and will not be available after June 30, 2015, said DeKalb County Planning Director Paul Miller. Miller and County Administrator Gary Hanson submitted a letter to the DeKalb County Board on Wednesday stating they have been unable to reach a purchase agree-
ment with Frank Santoro, who owns the property off Route 64 just east of Sycamore. DeKalb County Board Chairman Jeffery Metzger read the letter at Wednesday’s board meeting. The letter detailed the steps county staff has taken, starting with the receipt of the three-year grant in June 2012 to purchase the property and relocate the residents out of the floodplain. Since then, the county has followed the many
federal and state requirements for the project, culminating with an offer of $1.47 million for the property in October. Santoro rejected the offer in November, seeking his own appraisal from CohnReznick LLP, an accounting, tax and advisory firm in Chicago. Made available in February, the appraisal valued the park at $2.6 million. On March 5, county staff met with Santoro and his at-
torney to reiterate the original purchase offer of $1.47 million and requested a response from Santoro by March 18. The letter said state officials had rejected Santoro’s appraisal. Reached on Thursday, Santoro, owner of the park since 1978, said he was unaware the state had rejected his appraisal. “At this point, we’re just waiting,” Santoro said. “I’m just trying to get whatever is
fair for my property and my business.” Santoro’s attorney, Colleen Cebula of DeKalb, said negotiations are ongoing and she was not ready to make a statement. “We don’t have any options left,” Hanson said. “This is a huge blow for the residents who need to be relocated.” Hanson said residents
See PARK PLAN, page A6
Black offers apology Fatal DUI sentencing hearing continued to Wednesday
Fuel distributor, Genoa targeted By KATIE DAHLSTROM kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com GENOA – The Chicagobased Regional Transportation Authority is suing the city of Genoa and fuel and oil distribution company PetroLiance, claiming the company set up a sham office in Genoa to avoid paying sales tax to the Regional Transit Authority. In the lawsuit, the RTA alleges PetroLiance actually conducts its sales in Elgin, which is in the RTA’s taxing area, but has set up an office in Genoa as part of a “tax kickback scheme.” Under an agreement between Genoa and PetroLiance that was signed in 2005, the company, which was then known as Boncosky Oil Co., agreed to open a sales office at 114 N. Washington St., No. 4, in Genoa. In exchange, the city agreed to rebate 50 percent of sales tax revenues from the company’s sales. The agreement between Genoa and PetroLiance has cost the RTA, Kane County and Elgin – where the RTA says PetroLiance’s work is actually done – a “significant” amount of tax revenue, the RTA said. Jordan Matyas, chief of staff for the RTA, which oversees the Chicago Transit Authority, the region’s Metra commuter line and the Pace suburban bus service, could not pin a dollar-amount on the lost taxes. When it was signed,
See RTA, page A6
Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Tonda Ranken, mother of Matthew Ranken, and her mother, Arlene Scott (left), cry Thursday during a sentencing hearing for Benjamin Black at the Kane County Courthouse. Kane County Circuit Judge James Hallock continued Black’s sentencing hearing on aggravated driving under the influence charges to next Wednesday.
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ing arguments in the hearing, which was continued until Wednesday. He could face a sentence of three to 14 years in prison. To see video of Thursday’s court proceedings, visit Prosecutors say Black was driving a 1999 Ford ST. CHARLES – Benjamin Black told the fam- Daily-Chronicle.com. Expedition about 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27, 2013, near the ily of 11-year-old Matthew Ranken that he didn’t intersection of Route 64 and Peplow Road in Kane expect their forgiveness, but asked that they acCounty when he crashed into the back of a Chevcept his apology for causing the crash that killed rolet Cavalier. The crash killed Matthew and their son. consequences, because I owe it to Matthew.” “Not a day goes by where I don’t think about Black, of Sycamore, pleaded guilty in Novem- severely injured 19-year-old Teale Noble, both of Matthew,” Black said at a sentencing hearing ber to two counts of aggravated driving under the Thursday in Kane County Court. “I accept the influence. He read his statement just before closSee DUI, page A6
By ANDREA AZZO
aazzo@shawmedia.com
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