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Regulations are coming for Airbnb vacation rentals in Utica By Steve Stout SHAW MEDIA
With the growing popularity of Airbnb vacation rental properties across the nation, Utica Village Board and Plan Commission members are considering how to
regulate them in the village. During a meeting Wednesday, Village Attorney Herb Klein shared some research on how other municipalities regulate such rentals. “Currently, Utica does not address the (Airbnb) issue in any
ordinances,” Klein said. He suggested action should be taken in the near future to provide guidelines and restrictions to village property owners wishing to rent out houses to vacationers. Agreeing, village president David Stewart and others said
the rental issue requirements should be spelled out in an ordinance while still reviewing each property owner request individually. Plan Commission Chairman Tom Guttilla said restrictions such as limitations on the num-
ber of renters allowed along with many other minimum requirements must be decided. “We need to have meaningful and proper restrictions (on the books),” said Guttilla. Trustee John Schweickert said See UTICA Page A2
The faces of Mendota Elementary’s strike How far apart are the two sides? That depends on whom you ask. The school district offered a one-year agreement honoring most components of the teachers recent request; the Mendota Education Association wants a threeyear agreement. “The board is disappointed that the union was not open to the one year agreement, an effort to keep our students in school and our staff at work,” the district said in a statement. “We did absolutely everything we could to prevent this from happening,” MEA co-vice president Brandon Scheppers said. “We made several concessions at the table last night, and still the board refused to give an inch.” Here’s where things stand now:
Second grade teacher Kaitlynn Sondgeroth of Mendota (right in black coat) was one of the 76 union strikers to pick up a sign Wednesday. She is pregnant and has a two-yearold at home. “I do carry the family insurance because my husband is self employed,” Sondgeroth said. “The insurance is a huge deal to me and my family.” NEWSTRIBUNE PHOTO/ SCOTT ANDERSON
The next earliest negotiation session may be Saturday or Sunday By Ali Braboy
NEWSTRIBUNE REPORTER
MENDOTA — A pregnant mother who carries the family insurance. A recent graduate with student debt who lives at home with her parents. A father who just bought a house with his wife. These are the faces of Mendota Elementary’s strike. Wednesday morning, Mendota Elementary teachers arrived to Northbrook School to picket along the sidewalks. There are
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about 1,100 students in the three elementary schools and 76 union members. The union submitted an email to the NewsTribune from the board stating the board of education can’t meet Thursday or Friday “due to work schedules and prior commitments” but that the board can meet Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon. The union indicated they are free Thursday and Friday. A date hasn’t been announced as to when the parties will meet.
Second grade teacher Kaitlynn Sondgeroth of Mendota was one of the strikers to pick up a sign. Sondgeroth is pregnant and has a 2-year-old at home. “I do carry the family insurance because my husband is self employed,” Sondgeroth said. “The insurance is a huge deal to me and my family.” She’s in her ninth year of teaching and second year at Mendota’s district; she left a school where she got paid more and had better benefits to be in Mendota.
“I chose to come to Mendota because we are local,” she said. “I want to be in this district, and I don’t want to be anywhere else.” Kindergarten and English as a Second Language teacher Aubrey Smith of Princeton graduated from college in 2018 and owes roughly $35,000 in student debt. She lives at home with her parents in Princeton; she works a second job teaching dance, and she also works a full-time job all summer long. See MENDOTA Page A4
SALARY The district says it offered raises of 3% in year one and 4% raises year two and three, plus a raise in the district-paid portion of the teacher’s retirement contribution from 2% to 3% in year one, 4% in year two, and 5% in year three. The district also offered incremental raises in the step and lane movement (based on year of service, continuing education) of the salary schedule of 4.5% ($1,442) in year one, 4.356% ($1,452) in year two and 4.188% ($1,452) in year three. The union said the two sides are only about $16,000 See APART PageA 4
Leading the future of the Illinois Valley Young professional group enhances skills and builds connections By Ali Braboy
NEWSTRIBUNE REPORTER
These young professionals are the future of the Illinois Valley. “I think it’s important we form these relationships now,” said Spencer Luecke of Oglesby. Luecke is a member of Illinois Valley Leadership Education and Developmental Skills Group, which gives 22- to 40year-olds the opportunity to enhance leadership skills and
build connections. Speakers are invited on a quarterly basis to present to the group, focusing on motivation, sales, memorization skills, professional growth, networking tips and more. The group is in its third year and has 40 paying members. They hope to grow to 65-70 members next year. The group has helped IV Leads co founder Rachel Balestri in her adult, working life. “It’s helped me come out of
that shell,” said Balestri, explaining that being outgoing and standing up and speaking isn’t something that comes naturally. The speakers (local and outside speakers) have provided numerous tips to members: Things needed to make yourself better in your everyday life, ways to cope, ways to grow, how to deal with coworkers, how to make good teams, how to make the most of every opportunity, being able to speak intelligently, how
to handle yourself in public, how to grow your business, ways to make people remember you and want to come back, ways to think outside the box. Other IV Leads co founder TJ Templeton mentioned local speakers are “easier to relate to,” and members can see these people on a regular basis, which helps if someone needed guidance. “It helped create a network for See LEADS Page A7
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