Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal January 11, 2018 Volume 155, Number 38 - $1.00
Cards Win
For the Horses
Habitat Grant
The Cardinals trounce the Missiles 52-34 for conference win on Monday. B1
A fundraising campaign to build a new horse barn has started. A6
Habitat for Humanity gets a $12,000 grant for two home projects. A8
Joint Review Board gives thumbs up to TIF By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com A Joint Review Board has recommended approval of a proposed Tax Increment Finance district for the Village of Forreston. The JRB, consisting of representatives from affected taxing bodies, met Monday morning at the village hall and voted 6-1 in favor of recommending the village
board approve a proposed TIF district. Representatives include Jill Janssen, Highland Community College; Derald DeVries, Forreston Fire Department; Steven Greenfield, Forreston Township; Mark Metzger, Forreston Village Board; Sheri Smith, Forrestville Valley School District; and Ken Vinnedge, as a nominated member of the public.
The representative for Ogle County did not attend the meeting. The only no vote came from Smith. “Basically, the schools feel there are too many unknowns, and their funding comes from the property taxes, which is a concern we totally understand,” said Metzger, Forreston’s Village President. “That’s why we wanted to include them in the TIF area, so we could
help them out.” State law requires that the JRB include a representative from each of the taxing bodies that draw real estate revenues from the proposed TIF district. Metzger said Highland College was supportive. “They see it as we see it; a tool to help spur growth in the community,” he said. “If we can get more businesses and more families into Forreston, we’ll all benefit.”
A TIF district is a method of financing economic development projects by freezing the equalized assessed value (EAV) of the affected area for 23 years. Taxing bodies then draw taxes from that frozen EAV, not from any increase in the EAV over the time period of the TIF. Taxpayers in the TIF, however, pay taxes on the EAV with its increases. The amount of taxes from the
Lack of state funding still holding up statue repairs By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The state’s lack of a funding for capital projects means the a local landmark is still languishing under a wrapping of black plastic. The 107-year-old Black Hawk statue at Lowden State Park, near Oregon, is spending a fourth winter encased in plastic wrappings for protection from the elements, awaiting much-needed repairs to its deteriorating surface. “There’s no capital budget yet — that’s what we’re waiting on,” IDNR Director of Communications Ed Cross said on Friday. “That’s the hold-up.” A $350,000 grant earmarked for repairs to the statue may not be funded by the state legislature any time soon. Hopes were high last summer that the grant, from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to the Illinois Department of Natural
EAV increases (above the frozen level) go into a fund to be spent only on the TIF district. The TIF money can be used for building and renovation projects as well as infrastructure. The Forreston Village Board meets on Monday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at the village hall, and a public hearing about the TIF will be held on Friday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m., also at the village hall.
Boy, 16, charged in Jan. 8 Oregon shooting By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Resources, which has jurisdiction over the statue, would be part of the 2017-18 budget. The General Assembly ended up passing only an operational budget, leaving capital projects like the statue repairs out in the cold. State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) offered a ray of hope early this week. “I’m continuing to work with IDNR and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which is the agency who controls the grant that we’re waiting on,” he said on Monday afternoon. Demmer’s legislative aide was planning to attend a community group meeting on Tuesday “to gather specific questions and then we’ll get answers to those questions from whatever state agency is appropriate,” he said. “Then our plan is to do a public meeting and share those answers and an update on funding sources and opportunities.”
A 16-year-old Mt. Morris boy is facing three felony charges and a misdemeanor after he accidentally shot a Mt. Morris man in the abdomen with a stolen semiautomatic .45-caliber handgun early Monday morning in Oregon. The shooting victim, Allen Hayenga, 20, is in the intensive care unit at KSB Hospital, Dixon, Oregon Police Chief Darin DeHaan said Tuesday. Ogle County State’s Attorney Eric Morrow said the juvenile was charged Tuesday morning in Ogle County Juvenile Court with aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony; possession of a stolen firearm, a Class 2 felony; reckless discharge of a firearm, a Class 4 felony; and possession of a firearm without a FOID card, a Class A misdemeanor. He was detained at Morrow’s request and is Lorado Taft’s Black Hawk Statue remains covered with black plastic. Photo by Earleen being held at the Kane County Turn to A3 Hinton juvenile detention facility in St. Charles. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 18. DeHaan said the shooting took place at 2:20 a.m. on Jan. 8 in an apartment at 408 1/2 W. Washington St., above H&R Block, across the street from the Ogle County Courthouse. DeHaan said the teen was displaying the handgun when it fired. A resident of the apartment called 911, and Hayenga was transported to KSB by Oregon ambulance. According to a press release issued Monday by DeHaan, the gun may have been taken from a vehicle in Oregon within the last year. Its owner is being sought, and anyone with information is asked to call the Oregon Police Department at 815732-2803.
Winter Respite A bald eagle sits in a tree overlooking the Oregon dam Monday, no doubt enjoying the warmer temperatures that moved in after a lengthy spell of frigid weather. Photo by Earleen Hinton
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B8 Entertainment, A6 Marriage Licenses, A4
Oregon Police, B4 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B4
School Menus, A3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2, B3
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
Deaths, B5 Howard R. Heid Richard A. Zilly