Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
Wiggly Wag
Gambling Costs
Get your dog and plan on coming to the Wiggly Wag & Walk on July 13. A9
Why the insatiable desire to win big? A8
July 7, 2016 Volume 166, Number 30 - $1.00
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Practicing to Play Two out-of-state drums corps will be practicing at OHS in the next 10 days. A2
Building offers ample space for county offices
Council tables ramp
Purchase in Rochelle pays off for county
Cost of project is $141,000 for the Coliseum
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,”
By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com
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
Gouker said. The building already 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 located and to create zoned heating and cooling. “There’s no point in heating and cooling the entire space all of the time when we’re not using all of it,” Gouker said. Unless an emergency occurs, the EOC, which occupies most of the basement, is used only for annual drills. The building has ample space to meet any future needs. In fact, Gouker said, because not all of it is
needed currently, the county has offered office space to Rochelle Community Foundation rent-free. “This will allow them to have visibility in the community and a place to operate from,” Gouker said. Director Kim Montgomery was running the foundation from her home, but currently has a desk at Fehr-Graham across the street from the county building. Meeting and office space will be made available to other not-for-profit agencies to reserve as needed. Gouker said he hopes the building will be ready for its new occupants by early next year, when the board will host an open house to give a public a look at it.
AMC cars will tour Oregon area July 28 Classic AMC cars are coming By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com A trip through Oregon on July 28 might bring memories of a classic 1958 song. The song “Beep, Beep” is about a Nash Rambler, which is one model that might be spotted during the American Motors Tour Day. The American Motors Owners Association is holding an international convention in Rockford on July 27-30. A day trip on Thursday, July 28 will bring classic AMC cars from the 1950s through 1980s down Ill. 2 through Byron, Oregon, and Grand Detour. More than 50 cars and their owners are expected take part in the tour. Spectators are welcome to stop and take photos of the cars and talk with the owners during the tour. The plan is to leave Rockford at 9 a.m. with arrival at Butitta Brothers Automotive in Oregon by 10 a.m. At this point the AMC car
owners are free to explore the sights in Oregon or head to Grand Detour to visit the John Deere Historic Site. Lunch for the group will be served by the Oregon Lions Club at Butitta Brothers between noon and 1:30 p.m. Anyone with an AMC car is encouraged to bring out their vehicles to drive along with the group. Membership in AMO is not required to join and drive the route. The AMO convention will feature a full car show with swap meet from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tebala Shrine, 7910 Newburg Rd., Cherry Valley, on Saturday, July 30. Spectators are free to stop by view the cars, however to display a AMC car during the Saturday show, membership in AMO is required. A daily membership is available or car owners can purchase a yearly membership. Visit www.amonational. com/2016-convention for the most up-to-date information about the show, including additional events the club has scheduled. The show also has a public Facebook group that can be found by searching for 2016 AMO Convention AMC cars have a unique connection to the area.
In This Week’s Edition...
The Plews-Edelmann factory in Dixon made the gas caps for the AMC Gremlin. Wes Sherman, who works at Plews said his dad was a plant manager when the gas caps were made. “My dad said they were a huge locking gas cap that had a Gremlin die cast badge that would swivel to unlock the cap,” said Sherman. “He said the joke was the gas cap cost more that the car itself.” The Gremlin badge was a popular decoration and a 1972 AMC Gremlin is confirmed to be part of the July 28 tour. Matt Woodstrup, who is one of the organizers for the convention, will be driving his green Gremlin and would enjoy talking to any AMC enthusiasts during the tour.
This Gremlin badge was made at Plews-Edelmann in Dixon.
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Matt Woodstrup, Sycamore, talks about classic cars during his visit to the Oregon Lions Club Car Show June 19. Woodstrup owns this 1972 AMC Gremlin. Photo by Chris Johnson
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Library, A8 Public Voice, A9 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
The brakes were applied on a proposal to build an ADA ramp at the Oregon Coliseum. The Oregon City Council voted 4-1 on June 28 to table the $141,400 project. Commissioner Jim Barnes was the lone no vote, stating that the ramp was needed. “The ramp goes into the east door and the back ramp would be removed,” said Barnes. Terry Schuster, the city finance commissioner, was concerned with the cost of the proposed project. “The current balance is $117,000 in the coliseum fund,” said Schuster. If the project were approved the entire fund would be drained and no money would be left for emergencies, Schuster said. “A loan?” asked mayor Ken Williams. Schuster said he had not given a loan much thought. “It we do this we use up 100 percent of our Coliseum fund,” said Williams. “We do have an elevator that is ADA compliant. Do we need both the elevator and a ramp?” “The elevator is good for one or two people,” said Barnes. The current ramp on the north side of the building is too steep to be used as an ADA ramp. “I am reluctant to spend reserve money,” said Williams. Another concern raised was the ease of use of the elevator. “There may not be enough signage,” said Williams. “I am trying to not spend $140,000 if we are ADA compliant. It seems like a lot of money.” “The elevator does not work well,” said Schuster. “Is there a way to make it work better?” The council discussed the possibility of upgrading the elevator to have automatic doors. Currently the user needs to manually open, close, and latch the doors. “We need to have strong ADA accessibility,” said Williams. “Maybe something can be done for less - another alternative.” Williams asked the board to table the decision on the ADA ramp so other options can be explored. The council also discussed the possibility of removing the steep ramp on the north side of the building and turning it into a loading dock to get equipment into the building.
Deaths, B4 Violet L. Borneman, Raymond R. Peugh, Ina E. Shank, Norma R. Stukenberg
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