Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS February 13, 2014 Volume 46, Number 46 - $1.00
Sectional Bound
What’s Cookin’
Lady Hawks Win
Six Hawk wrestlers qualified for the Feb. 14-15 Byron Sectional. B1
Teams of four and encouraged to sign up for a cooking fundraiser. A8
Oregon handles Fulton 60-31 to advance to the regional championship Thursday. B1
Cold weather takes toll on water mains and pipes By Vinde Wells Editor The continuing frigid winter weather has taken its toll on village utilities in Mt. Morris. Trustee Don Sorenson, who heads up the Water & Sewer Committee, told the village board Tuesday that three water mains have broken in the last week due to the subzero temperatures. Besides that, three homes in the village are without water due to frozen pipes. Sorenson said that because the cold is driving the frost
deeper into the ground, little can be done about the frozen pipes until the temperatures moderate. Water Department supervisor Gene Ashton agreed. “It could be a month until they have water,� he said. In another matter, Planning Commission member Jerry Stauffer gave the board a report from the commission about proposed property annexations into the village. He asked board members to read through the proposal for possible discussion at the Feb. 25 meeting.
“We aren’t going to force any annexation,� he said. “We want to be proactive to help the village grow. We’re thinking about the next 75 to 100 years.� Stauffer declined to say which properties have been targeted for annexation until the affected property owners have been notified. In other business, Mike Mudge from Rock River Energy told the board that the village’s contract for municipal electrical aggregation will expire in May.
He presented proposals from several electricity suppliers for the board to choose from for its next contract. The board will likely make a decision at its Feb. 25 meeting. Municipal aggregation allows a government body to purchase electricity as a whole, or aggregate, for residents, and thereby secure lower rates. The measure must be approved by voters in a referendum to give the government body the authority to contract with an
electricity supplier. Mt. Morris voters approved municipal aggregation in 2011. Once approved, the government body then seeks bids and chooses the supplier. Even if voters approve the group purchase, individual residents can make the choice to participate or they can “opt out� and stay with their current supplier. In any case, ComEd will still be the delivery company. For its initial contract, the village board chose First Energy Solutions Corporation (FES), based in Akron, Ohio,
as its supplier. Part of the contract with FES was that the firm agreed to match ComEd’s rate if it dropped below theirs. However, last summer when that happened, FES advised the village that it was unable to fulfill that promise. Mudge said Tuesday that price guarantees are no longer offered by suppliers participating in aggregation. However, he said, the suppliers are allowing customers to opt out at any time without paying a penalty.
Mishandling of funds led to resignation of supt. By Vinde Wells Editor Unauthorized withdrawals and redirection of payments are apparently at least part of the reasons why the Forrestville Valley School Board first suspended superintendent Lowell Taylor and later accepted his resignation. Although board members remain tight-lipped about Taylor’s departure, a resignation agreement between Taylor, 45, and the school board sheds some light on why the longtime administrator stepped down Feb. 4 after months of special board meetings and closed sessions. Apparently, Taylor diverted funds intended for a tax-sheltered annuity and an IRA for his children’s education, both provided to him by the district, for his immediate use without the board’s knowledge or permission. The board approved Taylor’s resignation and the agreement at a special meeting Feb. 4. Ogle County Newspapers Although the temperatures in the deep freeze for the last several weeks have given this filed a Freedom of snowman on Brayton Road a longer than usual life-span, its days may be numbered. Information Act (FOIA) Weather forecasters are predicting a significant warm-up beginning Feb. 13 which request for the resignation may last into next week. Photo by Vinde Wells agreement and received it
Still Frosty
Forrestville Valley Supt. Lowell Taylor during May 2013 graduation.
Feb. 5. The agreement, which makes Taylor’s resignation effective June 15, states the terms of the agreement do not release Taylor from “any liability he may have for federal or state taxes, Medicare taxes, penalties, and interest.� “It is expressly understood,� the agreement reads, “that the employee’s (Taylor’s) withdrawals of deferred compensation, and redirection of payments intended for the employee’s tax sheltered annuity and educational IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts), all without the actioned approval
Oregon man arrested after search of home An Oregon man has been arrested and charged with possessing cannabis and intending to deliver it after police searched his home last Friday. Kyle L. Lewis, 23, Oregon, was arrested and charged with possession with the intent to deliver, a Class 3 felony; possession of more than 30 grams of cannabis, a Class 4 felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. According to a Feb. 10 press release, Oregon police executed a search warrant at Lewis’ residence at 1100 Illinois St., Lot #16, on Feb. 6 at approximately 7:29 p.m. During the search of the residence, officers located
a total of 443 grams of cannabis in several different containers, the release said. Officers seized $1,527 in United States currency. Police also located several pieces of drug paraphernalia. “This search warrant is a direct result of members of the Oregon Police Department actively pursuing criminal drug complaints. We continue to proactively work to eliminate the availability of illicit drugs in our community,� said Oregon Police Chief Darin DeHaan. Lewis was transported to the Ogle County jail where he was left in the custody of the Ogle County correctional These items were confiscated by Oregon Police following a search of residence on Illinois Street. Photo supplied officers.
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B12 College News, B5 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B2 Pine Creek News, A3 Public Voice, A10 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, A12, B1-B2 State’s Attorney, B4
of the board, may have resulted in the underreporting of the employee’s income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Illinois Department of Revenue.� “It is agreed that the issues presented by deferred compensation and payments intended for the employee’s tax sheltered annuities and educational IRAs will be deemed resolved as a result and on the date of this agreement, and such withdrawals and payments will be deemed as income to the employee as of the date of this agreement and reported by the board to the Internal Revenue Service and the Illinois Department of Revenue,� the agreement goes on to say. “The employee agrees to indemnify and hold the board harmless for any federal or state income tax, Medicare tax, penalties, and interest which may be due from the employee thereon.� Board president Robert Ebbesmeyer declined to comment Feb. 6 on whether or not the IRS is investigating the matter. He also declined to say how much money was involved, how long the unauthorized withdrawals and redirection Turn to A2
Snowmobiler critical after crash Sunday By Vinde Wells Editor A Forreston man was critically injured Sunday afternoon when his snowmobile collided with a pick-up truck approximately three miles north of Forreston. Adam C. Brown, 22, was airlifted to Rockford Memorial Hospital where he was listed in critical condition Monday. Robert Frazier, Acting Regional Commander for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police, said Brown was Turn to A2
Deaths, B3 Raymond H. Doyle, Michael P. Dvorak, Margaret E. Gearhart, Virginia P.Heberg, Francis E. Vock
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