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Record The Putnam County
Volume 146 No. 2
Putnam County’s Only Newspaper
Single Copy Cost 50¢
“PRSRT STD.” US Postage Paid No. 486 SHAW MEDIA POSTAL PATRON LOCAL R.R. BOXHOLDER CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Granville posts profit for 2012 ‘Your finances are in good shape’ By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
GRANVILLE — The Granville Village Board heard nothing but good news during the audit for the 2012 Fiscal Year during their meeting on Sept. 3. Arch Hopkins of Hopkins and Associates delivered the good news.
“Overall, your finances are in good shape, and your accounting system is very neat, very wellmaintained,” said Hopkins. The village’s total assets amount to about $5,500,000, with liabilities amounting to $1,984,000; leaving the village well in the black
at $3,400,000 for the fiscal year. The village actually made a profit for the year, as the total is $181,000 more than last year’s closing balance. It was a good year for local businesses as well, with the audit showing a $25,000 increase over last year in sales tax income. “The biggest concern that I would have is your
debt; it’s pretty big due to improvements in the sewer that you had to make,” said Hopkins. “What that’s going to translate into over the next few years is you’re going to have increases in debt service, debt fees in the sewer department.” In other action, the board: • Heard a request from a new business – Promeir
Technologies – to allow some equipment to be installed on the village tower for the purpose of enabling the business to set up a wireless Internet service. Dale Story, Promeir representative, told the board Granville would be its first client and would be the core network in their business. However, board members Lou Verda and Jim Pet-
tit expressed some concern over having more Internet equipment on the tower. The discussion was tabled pending more information from Story. • Received the latest report from Public Works Superintendent Sheli Starkey concerning problems at the water treatment plant. The waste
See Granville Page 2
Mark receives favorable audit results Hartney Oil still disputed By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
MARK — It was a definite case of good news, bad news at the Mark Village Board meeting on Sept. 3. Mark ended the 2012-13 fiscal year in the black, according to the annual audit by Hopkins and Associates. Kim Baum of Hopkins reported the village had a $262,000 increase over last year in general funds. Much of the increase was the result of the settlement with the railway. “If you were to take that out, otherwise your revenues are fairly consistent,” Baum said. “Income tax has gone up slightly, but otherwise you’re fairly consistent.” The audit also showed a $30,000 decrease in expenditures. The dispute over the taxes from Hartney Oil continues. An appeal on the current tax situation will be heard on Sept. 11 in the Illinois Supreme Court in Chicago. Currently, Mark receives the tax income from Hartney Oil. However, the Regional Transit Authority claims
See Mark Page 3
Putnam County Record photo/Dixie Schroeder
All aboard! Students from Putnam County Elementary School in Granville are escorted to their appropriate bus by staff members on Sept. 5 at the end of another busy school day.
Tick alert! By Donna Barker Shaw Media Service
PRINCETON — With the continuing warm weather, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Bureau/Putnam County Health Department are urging residents to be aware of the dangers of tick bites.
IDPH Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck said infected ticks can be the carriers of several diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and ehrlichiosis. Tickborne diseases can cause mild symptoms, but severe infections may require hospitalization and may even cause
death, Hasbrouck said. “Diagnosing tickborne illness is based largely on the patient’s knowledge that they’ve been bitten by a tick and the signs and symptoms of illness,” Hasbrouck. “While antibiotics can treat illnesses due to tick bites, it’s best to avoid tick bites altogether by taking some simple precautions.”
Some of those precautions include walking in the center of trails to avoid weeds; using repellent that contains 20 to 30 percent DEET; tucking long pants into socks and boots; and wearing light-colored pants which makes ticks easier to see. In areas where ticks are found, people should
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Vol. 146 No. 2 One Section - 12 Pages The Putnam County
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check themselves and family members for ticks every two to three hours, especially their ears, hair, neck, legs and between the toes. On Tuesday, Kurt Kuchle, director of health protection for the Bureau/Putnam County Health Department, said
See Ticks Page 3