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Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 148 No. 27
“PRSRT STD.” US Postage Paid No. 486 SHAW MEDIA POSTAL PATRON LOCAL R.R. BOXHOLDER CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Looking for a home BPART hopes to be housed under one roof By Goldie Rapp
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
PRINCETON — As BPART’s (Bureau Putnam Area Rural Transit) operation and fleet continue to expand, the transit system is looking to build a facility to house its fleet, dispatch and vehicle maintenance centers in one location within Bureau County. Larry Kerrick, project developer, confirmed several locations are currently being considered
for BPART’s new location, however, a final decision is yet to be made on where the facility will be built. Having the entire operation housed in one location will improve operations and help preserve the life of the fleet. Currently, BPART is spread among three locations. The maintenance building is located in Wyanet, the dispatch office is located at Perry Plaza in Princeton and the BPART vehicle fleet is stored at Gateway Services in Princeton. BPART will outgrow the storage space at Gateway this summer when four new vehicles are added to the fleet. The proposed project is
expected to span over the next five years. BPART is working with the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Public and Intermodal Transportation to help secure grants to fund the project. BPART is looking to build a structure that will hold office space and a training room with a kitchenette, a wash bay and mechanics bay for the fleet, and an area that will be large enough to store 22 BPART vehicles at one time. The building itself is expected to cost $1,035,000, but with added expenses for the paved parking drive and gravel drive on the property, BPART is hoping to secure
grants totaling $1,163,360 to cover the entire cost. According to Kerrick, BPART has been able to secure a state grant in the amount of $440,000, which they plan to put toward the project. Kerrick said the proposed building will include an advanced security system that will help protect the equipment and fleet. BPART will also be applying for a 72.85kW Dc Photovoltage system through the Clean Energy Community Foundation and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) rebate program. The system will be mounted on the roof and will power the entire building.
Extra power could be sold to the city wherever BPART is located and the county, according to Kerrick. BPART is also proposing to build a wash bay for the vehicles within the structure at a cost of $157,300, and a fuel station at a cost of $189,483. Kerrick said the fuel station will hold 12,000 gallons of fuel. Currently, the BPART drivers are given a gas card and are responsible for refueling their gas tanks at any gas station. Having its own fuel station on the property will save BPART about 40 cents a gallon on fuel, according to Kerrick. He said right now, gas prices vary around the county and beyond. One driver may be
HENNEPIN — Three Democratic candidates are running for two seats on the Putnam County Board in the primary election on Tuesday, March 15. The candidates are Charles Oliveri and incumbents Sheila Haage and William “Willie” Holmes.
BCR photo/Mike Vaughn
This regal Snowy Owl is one of the few birds that can certainly attract attention by those who admire their feathered friends ... and even those who don’t. The largest (by weight) North American owl shows up irregularly in winter to hunt in windswept fields or dunes, and they spend their summers north of the Arctic Circle. Younger snowy owls start with darker plumage, which turns lighter as they get older. Males are almost all white, while females have more flecks of gray plumage. Generally, the snowy owl is 20 to 28 inches long with a wingspan of 49 to 59 inches. Weighing in from 3.5 to 6.5 pounds, its average lifespan is between nine and 10 years.
One on one with Jay McCracken Retiring superintendent discusses his career and future plans. By Ryan Friel
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
Superintendent Page 4 Vol. 148 No. 27 One Section - 16 Pages
© The Putnam County Record
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Three vie for two seats on PC Board
What a hoot!
GRANVILLE — Putnam County School District will be losing its superintendent on June 30 as current Superintendent Jay McCracken will be retiring and high school principal/athletic director Carl Carlson has been selected to replace him. Recently, the Putnam County Record sat down and had a conversation with McCracken about his time at Putnam County. PCR: At the February board of education meeting, the new superintendent was chosen. Do you have any big plans for July 1, your first day of retirement? McCracken: Well, I have asked my wife to start looking
getting gas at one station for $1.78 a gallon, and another driver may be pumping gas in another town for $1.89 a gallon. Fueling the vehicles in one location at the same price will be more efficient and a cost savings for BPART, Kerrick said. Having a wash bay that fits a BPART bus will also help preserve the fleet. Right now, it’s difficult to keep the vehicles cleaned of road salt during the winter because there are limited car wash businesses that fit a BPART bus. Kerrick said it’s important to remove the salt on the vehicles because it can eat at the metal and cause rust to develop quicker.
PCR photo/Ryan Friel
Putnam County Superintendent Jay McCracken will retire at the end of this school year. McCracken recently discussed his future plans and the state of the school district with the Putnam County Record.
Sheila Haage
Position for which you are running: Putnam County Board. Town of residence: Granville. Where you work now: Retired from Putnam County schools as secretary for 15 years and cook for two years. Age: 68. Education: High School. Experience: Nine years on the Putnam County Board. What are your Top 3 goals if you are elected: Our county has many assets to offer businesses and industries. The county has transportation with the river, railroad and access to an interstate highway. A goal of the county board is to promote these assets to businesses and industries,
which will create jobs. The board recently invested in a new economic development group, Economic Development Corporation of North Central Illinois. This group represents LaSalle, Bureau and Putnam counties. Other assets that we must present to investors are our conservation district, wetlands and historical sites, along with our ambulance service, libraries, emergency services and schools. Another goal is to continue to maintain good working relations with community leaders and officials in our county and other counties. My third goal is to continue to have the county board work as a team to set and accomplish goals that will work for the betterment of the citizens/ taxpayers of our county. In what ways will you be fiscally responsible to taxpayers: As a county board member it is our responsibility to maintain a stable balanced budget, monitor monthly spending to stay within the budget and to continue to pursue funding for projects to help maintain the services currently offered to the citizens of our county. Some of the agencies that the county currently works with are North Central Illinois Council of Governments, Marshall-Putnam County Extension, Tri-County Opportunities and BEST. What changes will you make if elected: I have
PC Board Page 2
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