Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal July 7, 2016 Volume 154, Number 11 - $1.00
Classic Cruise
Gambling Costs
AMC motorists will cruise with their classics through Ogle County July 80. A10
Why the insatiable desire to win big? A8
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New President Forreston Trustee Mark Metzger has been appointed as village president. A2
Board approves Michael Harn’s resignation By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com The Forreston Village Board accepted Village President Michael Harn’s resignation for the second time Tuesday night. “We received a letter from Mike,” said trustee Ken Toms, who was running the
meeting. “I going to read Harn’s resignation.” “Please accept my resignation as village president effective June 22, 2016,” wrote Harn. “I have sold my residence and am moving to be with my family. I want to thank the community for the support the last 11 years.” Toms said the letter was
signed and certified on July 1. The board unanimously approved the resignation. Originally, the board accepted Harn’s resignation and appointed trustee Mark Metzger to fill out the rest of his term after a closed session on June 20. However, the matter was placed back on Tuesday’s
agenda because the June 20 agenda listed the wrong exemption of the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA) for the discussion in closed session. The June 20 agenda also did not list taking action on either item. The agenda listed a closed session under Section 2c1 of OMA, which allows a
governing body to discuss matters pertaining to employees. Illinois Press Association Attorney Don Craven said the correct section to discuss the selection of a person to fill a public office, including a vacancy, is Section 2c3. “In any event, they did not list the appointment as an action item on the agenda, so
they should not have voted on that,” Craven said July 1. “They should back up, put it on the agenda, and appoint someone to fill the vacancy.” Craven also said Harn did not need to resign because by moving out of the village, he forfeited his office. Harn had served as Forreston Village President Turn to A2
Residents raise garbage concerns Forreston board had discussed a 10-year contract By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com
Truck Show Greg Regole, Leaf River, brought his 1970 Kaiser cargo truck to the Let Freedom Ring Truck Show Saturday. Photo by Chris Johnson
Residents raised questions about a proposed Moring Disposal garbage contract the Forreston Village Board has been discussing. Resident Matthew Paul asked the board to clarify the proposal. “I wanted to know about garbage pick-up and get some answers,” he said. “I do not need garbage pickup.” Village President Mark Metzger said the board has been in talks about a garbage contract. “We had some concerns,” said Metzger. “We are still looking at options at this point.”
Paul said forcing residents into a garbage contract would be unfair. “It would be unfair to those residents that do not need the pick-up,” said Paul. “We should have an option.” Another property owner asked how the contract would affect rentals. “The one thing we want to do is be transparent,” said Metzger. “Thank you for voicing concerns. We are going to take a look at it.” The board has discussed a 10-year contract with residential collection in the village. The proposal would include a fee for collection that could have been added to the water and sewer bill. During the June 20 meeting, the board had concerns over the contract that they wanted to address with the village’s attorney before moving forward with the contract negotiations and board discussions.
Rochelle building offers ample space for county offices By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com An Ogle County official says the county board’s decision last fall to buy a building in Rochelle is turning out to be a good one. “It’s a win-win for everyone involved,” said county board chairman Kim Gouker, Byron. The former bank building turned Rochelle Clinic, at 510 Lincoln Highway in downtown Rochelle, already serves as the county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the office of Ogle County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Tom Richter. With a little remodeling, it will also house offices for the Ogle County Health Department and Ogle County Probation Department. Gouker said the new location will be more convenient for the clients served by both departments. “It will be within walking distance for some of them,” he said. “They won’t have to try to find a ride.” In addition to the main offices it Oregon, currently the health department rents space on the south side of
Rochelle, and probation rents offices north of the downtown. Rent for both amounts to almost $50,000 per year, Gouker said, a cost that will disappear. The county had been renting the spacious basement for its EOC when Rochelle Community Hospital put the building on the market late last summer. Because the hospital almost doubled in size by building a new wing, the downtown clinic space was no longer needed. After discussion and negotiations, the county board bought the building and its two large parking lots for $180,000 in October. Owning the building ensures that the county won’t need to relocate the EOC. The main floor of the building will undergo remodeling later this year, Gouker said, to create offices for the Probation Department. Because it housed a medical clinic, getting it ready for the health department won’t be as extensive. “It’s almost turn-key,” Gouker said. The building already
In This Week’s Edition...
has eight examination rooms, complete with sinks, cupboards, and some equipment. The clinic left its eight examination tables behind as part of the deal. The University of Illinois
clinic will share the space, as they do currently at the smaller facility where there are only three exam rooms. The remodeling will include changing the main floor entryway, revamping restrooms, and putting in an
elevator, as well as creating office space. A stairway that doesn’t meet fire codes will be removed. Remodeling downstairs will include moving Richter’s office to give him
not only office space but also a conference room. The county board agreed June 21 to spend $3,500 for a mechanical engineer to sort out where furnace and air-conditioning ducts are Turn to A2
Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Gouker details the improvements that will be made to the Emergency Operations Center in he basement of the former Rochelle Clinic in downtown Rochelle. Photo by Vinde Wells
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4 Sports, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
Deaths, B4 Violet L. Borneman, Raymond R. Peugh, Ina E. Shank, Norma R. Stukenberg
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com