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GRADUATION 2015
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HIAWATHA
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DeKalb considers project; includes replacing pipes By BRITTANY KEEPERMAN bkeeperman@shawmedia.com DeKALB – DeKalb residents should prepare to start paying more for the water they use – anywhere from 4 percent to 8.5 percent more. The lifespan of a water main can vary from 50 to 125 years and it’s about time for the city of DeKalb to start replacing the 177 miles of pipe below the city streets, according to a study by the Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co. Inc. Water main renewal and replacement are just one recommendation the engineering company made in its study. In addition to working on the water mains, the company recommended the city rehabilitate DeKalb’s nine water wells, repaint the water towers and make other water treatment improvements. But renewing and replacing the water mains alone will cost the city $10.2 million over the next 10 years, according to the study. The total capital cost if the city goes through with all of the study’s recommendations would be $13.1 million. The water mains need to be modeled with larger diameter mains to improve water pressure and deliver fire flows at the recommended 2,000 gallons-a-minute. The study also found that 27,054 feet of DeKalb water mains had broken at least three times between valves in the past 10 years. Those mains should be replaced. User revenue – that is, what everyone pays for their water use, including industrial and commercial companies – isn’t sufficient to pay for the project. “Comprehensive financial planning conducted for the Water Utility indicates that revenues under existing rates are not adequate to meet the project cash obligations of the utility of the 10-year study period,” the company wrote.
By the numbers n Range of proposed water rate increases: 4 percent to 8.5 percent n Lifespan of a water main: 50 to 125 years n Water supply well rehab: $480,000 n Water treatment improvements: $886,000 n Water tower repainting: $1,900,000 n Water main replacement: $9,868,000 n Total estimated capital cost: $13,134,000 Source: Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co. Inc
Why it matters DeKalb is considering a project that will renew and replace water mains, rehabilitate water wells and make water treatment improvements. The project would cost about $13 million. The city would have to take on new debt and raise water rates to fund the project. Currently, water rates are raised based on change in the Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation, which usually results in a 1.5 percent annual price increase. Those rate increases won’t cover the projected operating and capital costs for the project, however. The study proposed three different ways the city could plan to pay for the project. All suggestions involve raising user water rates and relying on debt to fund at least part of capital costs. The increase in water rates could range from 4 percent to 8.5 percent, depending on a variety of factors. An annual rate increase of 4.5 percent would go into effect 2016 and last through 2020. The rate increases would then revert back to being pegged to the rate of inflation.
See WATER RATES, page A6
Photos by Monica Synett – msynett@shawmedia.com
Jay Watson heads into the gymnasium with his classmates Friday for the 2015 Hiawatha High School commencement in Kirkland. The Class of 2015 graduated 36 students this year.
Hiawatha’s latest graduates have endured a lot By AIMEE BARROWS news@daily-chronicle.com KIRKLAND – Jay Watson couldn’t be happier or more proud to be walking with his classmates Friday night as they received their diplomas from Hiawatha High School. “Graduation shows unity with my classmates,” said the 18-year-old. “We came up together, and now we’re leaving together.” Watson, whose Fairdale home was destroyed in last month’s tornadoes, was one of 36 seniors to graduate. And for him, graduation was just a sign of good things to come. “We lost everything, but we’re looking into buying a house after graduation,” Watson said with a smile. “Things are looking up. We’ve had lots of love and hope from family, friends, school and even strangers.” Sarah Willey, superintendent of the Hiawatha School District 426, said graduation is “always a big deal here.” She said this year’s class is a unique cohort because “they witnessed tornadoes wiping out everything and remained thankful.” “These kids are doing really well, they’re in really positive spirits,” she said. “They’re appreciative that although they may have lost things, they didn’t lose people. This is a small town, and the kids are very well-supported, especially from the school. These kids are resilient.” Mark Zych, Hiawatha High School principal, said this year’s graduating
An emotional Danya Isham wipes away a tear during the singing of “Feels Like Home” by the Hiawatha Choir on Friday during the 2015 Hiawatha High School commencement.
“It’s been hard, but this is a small town with a big heart.” Casey Martinez Hiawatha graduate
class is “full of great kids who’ve overcome a lot.” “They’ve supported each other, and seem to know what’s important,” Zych said. “A lot of these kids have gone to
school together their whole lives and their futures couldn’t be brighter.” This year’s graduating class has some of the strongest kids he’s ever seen, both academically and characterwise, Zych said. “In some ways the tornado brought us closer together. We’re more compassionate, more supportive and appreciative,” Zych said. “What’s nice about a small community school is you are like family. When someone in our family is happy, we’re all happy. When someone
See GRADUATION, page A6
State report says Illinois college chiefs enjoy lavish perks The ASSOCIATED PRESS SPRINGFIELD – A report from Illinois lawmakers has found that state university and community college presidents have enjoyed lavish perks, some worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, that aren’t always disclosed to taxpayers. According to a copy of the report obtained by the Chicago Tribune, some of those perks include a $32,000 housing
allowance for the president of Harper College, a $450,000 retention bonus for a former University of Illinois at Chicago chancellor and $30,000 toward two retirement plans in addition to state pension contributions for the Elgin Community College president. The report also calls out public universities and community colleges statewide for providing “excessive fringe benefits” and lucrative exit deals for top administrators, including
a $480,418 severance package to the former Illinois State University president after less than a year on the job. “This has led to a culture of arrogance and a sense of entitlement reflected in many of these executive compensation plans, with an apparent disregard for middle-class families whose taxes and tuition dollars are funding these exorbitant salaries and excessive fringe benefits,” according to the report.
The newspaper reported colleges long have defended the benefits as a way to attract and retain talented administrators. They also maintain that certain perks, like club memberships, provide administrators opportunities to meet and entertain donors and other community members. A Senate panel investigated the benefits as the state deals with a budget crisis and outcry over tuition costs.
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Sycamore girls soccer wins tight regional championship / B1
Recently appointed DeKalb city clerk resigns; Rey works to fill spot / A5
Genoa to celebrate Memorial Day with new approach / A3
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The panel plans to push several reforms, including audits and severance pay restrictions. Democratic state Sen. Bill Cunningham, who is chairman of a higher education subcommittee on executive compensation, said he hopes to hold hearings on the report this summer and pass legislation in the fall. “In these tough financial times, there is no justification for some of these perks,” Cunningham said.
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