Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal June 22, 2017 Volume 155, Number 9 - $1.00
KB Tough Run
LFR Festival
Last Wish
A memorial trail hike will be part of the annual KB Tough Run on Saturday. A6
Make plans now to participate in the Let Freedom Ring Festival. A6, A8
A man’s dying wish was granted through the help of a local hospice. A9
Board gets first look at TIF and BDD Maps By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecountynews.com The Forreston Village Board reviewed the schedules and first drafts of the proposed Tax Increment Finance District and Business Development District maps, and passed an ordinance establishing a TIF “interested parties” registration. Sharon Pepin, Community Funding & Services Planner, brought maps outlining the proposed BDD and TIF districts, covering the Vieitmeiers’ 17-acres annexed into the village, the corporate boundaries east of Ill. 26 (Walnut Avenue) as well as vacant lots on the southeast part of the village.
The BDD focuses on businesses, and included around 25 parcels, while the TIF included 75 homes and businesses. “These maps are just early drafts, and we can talk about what you may want to add or remove,” said Pepin. Pepin included a residential parcel near the downtown area to possibly be excepted out. The parcel belongs to trustee Gary Buss. “It is a conflict of interest for a board member to own property within a TIF district,” said Pepin. “The property in question would either need to be excluded, or the board member would not be able to give input or vote on TIF-related matters.” Buss said he would need to think about what he wants to do with the
property before making a decision. “As a member of the board, I want to be able to vote and give my input, but I don’t want to someone who buys this property from me in the future to not be able to benefit at all from the TIF,” said Buss. Buss declined to give the exact address of the parcel. The same property falls within the BDD as well, but Pepin said it does not present a conflict of interest. After reviewing the map drafts, the board voted to establish a TIF Interested Parties Registry, which provides an opportunity for residents to register at the village hall so that they can be informed about any updates regarding the TIF and its review process.
The board also approved a consideration of a change order for Fischer Excavating for the work done on the sewer extension, running a village sewer main from the Chestnut Street lift station to Dr. Keith Ruter’s Smokin’ Gun Worx gun range, as well as an additional extension to the Dollar General at the corner of Ill. 26 and Baileyville Road. Fischer ran into rock beds underneath the topsoil, and Fehr Graham’s Seth Gronewald said boring through them would be an extremely expensive procedure. In the change order, Fischer open-cut through the top of Baileyville Road, rather than boring underground, to put in the sewer connection.
The change order added $53,460 to the initial cost of the project, but the village received a credit of $29,870, bringing the additional cost down to $23,590. The credits were due to the initial order including the cost of boring through the ground, which was no longer being done. “Even with the change order cost added on, I still believe they’re the lowest bid we received,” said village president Mark Metzger. In other action, the board approved the Hometown Days Committee to use the Hometown Days tent to hold bingo and beer garden events on July 21. The board also approved an ordinance establishing a prevailing wage.
County board denies permit for dog kennel By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Father’s Day Car Show David Meile, Baileyville, stand by his 1958 Edsel Pacer Hot Rod. At right is the interior of the vehicle. Photos by Earleen Hinton
Town & Country Days brings Polo Pride By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com After four days of unwinding with fireworks, carnival rides, spaghetti contests, pig chasing, and parades, another Town & Country Days is in the record books. Polo Town & Country Days wrapped up Sunday afternoon, and
the community is already looking forward to next year. For today’s generation, it’s hard to believe that Town & Country Days began in 1966, spearheaded by the Polo Jaycees to raise money for a community pool. Today, the city gathers
Austin Graden overtakes D.J. McCoy around the turn during the seven and eight-year-old’s championship round of the Pedal Tractor Races. Photo by Zach Arbogast.
In This Week’s Edition...
for four days of celebration. This year, the theme was “Polo Pride.” By far, the biggest exhibition of community pride came Friday in the form of Kidz Day. Inside the giant festival tent between North Green and Jefferson Avenues was a five-hour extravaganza of games, face painting, and contests, complete with a table of prizes for the taking and contests interspersed throughout the day. This was in addition to the Great American Shows carnival rides available throughout the event period. Children received a card displaying their names, which would have holes punched in it as they played games; better results rewarded more punches, which served as currency at the prize table. “My favorite moment is
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B3
Reactions were mixed Tuesday evening to the Ogle County Board’s unanimous denial of a special use permit for a dog kennel northeast of Kings. Several members of the audience of more than 50 people applauded the 21-0 decision to turn down a special use request from Christie Hardt, owner of B&C Kennel, Clare, and her husband Robert DeCosta. However, Hardt’s attorney Diane Elliott, DeKalb, expressed her client’s disappointment and said the board’s decision may result in legal action. Hardt and DeCosta had requested the special use permit to operate a commercial dog kennel on property they own at 14189 E. Dutch Rd. in White Rock
Township. The site is zoned for agricultural use, and the request asked for a special use permit to allow dog breeding, import and sale of puppies, dog grooming, and dog obedience training at the kennel. After the vote, Elliott said the request should have been granted because it met the county’s criteria for a special use. “B&C Kennel is very disappointed in the county board’s decision,” Elliott said. “This is a land use issue, not a moral issue or even a political issue. B&C Kennel’s application met all of the stated criteria. The county board has disregarded that this is a land use issue and allowed a vocal minority to sway their personal opinions.” She said she would meet with Hardt and DeCosta to Turn to A7
always when the real little kids are able to play a game and win for the first time,” said Stephanie Kuzlik, who volunteered throughout the event. “The look of excitement and pride in their abilities is awesome and make all the hard work to goes into kids day and T&C days worth it.” The entire gamut of games included a Ping Pong Bounce, Boozo Bag Toss, Duck Pond, Ring Toss, Penny Drop, Nerf Gun Shooting Range, Toilet Paper Toss, and Hoop-In Wins, where children tried to throw rings around an elephant’s trunk. “The games were kidfriendly and easy to manage,” said Sadie Baumann, who helped operate the Ping Pong Uncle Tim Marsh and “Uncle Herman” get ready for Bible Bounce. “The parents could drill competition June 16 on the closing day of Forreston relax for a while because Community Vacation Bible School at the Forreston
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B5 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B3
VBS Fun
Turn to A2 Reformed Church. This year’s theme was Christmas. Photo by Vinde Wells
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B2 State’s Attorney, B5
Deaths, B4 Lance E. Barnes, Justin E. Clubb, Carroll E. Haijenga, William & Kathrine Incontro, Mark E. Knie, William C. Woodke
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com