Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 148 No. 5
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Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015
Cutting storm sewer $$$ Committee meets to figure out a way to lower the Sixth/Locust street storm sewer project By Goldie Rapp
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — The Hennepin Village Board’s streets committee met Wednesday, Sept. 23, to further discuss a storm sewer project near Sixth and Locust streets. The committee called the meeting to discuss ways to cut the storm sewer project cost. At the last regular board meeting, village engineer Bill Shafer announced the lowest bid on the project was $123,351. The board was anticipating to only spend around $85,000. Village board member Matt Dean expressed concern
with using a large portion of the village’s general fund to pay for the cost of the project. On Wednesday. Sept. 23, Quentin Buffington, Dean, village President Kevin Coleman and Shafer met with village resident Charlie Judd, who heard about the high cost of the project and had thought of an alternative solution to the problem with a less expensive price tag. Judd is a property owner in the area were the village is having issues with the storm sewer, and he has had water in his basement due to the limited water flow. Judd has a background in similar construction projects, and his sons own Judd Construction of Hennepin. His proposed solution involved placing more storm
Tech and track
drain inlets in the area to help direct the water flow to a nearby ditch, that would have to be dug deeper. He said some of the work involved could be completed by village employees, thus saving the village money on labor. Judd estimated the cost of his idea to be in the range of $25,000 to $30,000. Buffington had some hesitation on whether Judd’s idea would work and said he wasn’t comfortable with village employees taking on the work. Shafer also recommended certain parts of the project be contracted out, which Coleman agreed. Coleman said there are variables to consider for the project. The full board will meet in a special meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 30. They will review Judd’s purposed plan and decide whether they want to keep the current project bids or go for new bids on the project.
Putnam County unites to remember ...
Upgrades ahead for PC School District By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
GRANVILLE — During a special presentation of the Putnam County School District’s budget summary, held before the school board meeting on Monday, Sept. 21, in Granville, Superintendent Jay McCracken explained that, despite significant deficit spending, the district can anticipate finishing the year in excellent fiscal condition. “It’s crucial to understand the junior high roof project is a one-time large expenditure which has created a large part of the deficit spending for this fiscal year. Health care costs also account for a large portion of the deficit spending in the education fund. As you know, we added health care insurance benefits for our paraprofessionals last year. Twenty-nine additional staff members are now taking advantage of this health care benefit,” McCracken said. During the following board meeting, high school student Ryan Friel was introduced as the district’s new student liaison. “Ryan started expressing interest last year, so we’re excited about having him join us,” said McCracken, as Friel took his seat among the board members.
Putnam County Schools Page 2
Piling up the pills CPASA’s Prescription Take Back Day is another success By Goldie Rapp
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
The Community Partners Against Substance Abuse (CPASA) did their part in highlighting the importance of National Prescription Take Back Day on Saturday, Sept. 26. CPASA members and law enforcement officers hosted prescription take back stations in Princeton, Tiskilwa, Walnut, Buda and Granville for residents to get rid of unwanted or unused drugs in their medicine cabinets. CPASA Director Dawn Conerton said Saturday’s event collected just more than 100 pounds of pills. In the last year, since the last take back day event last September, CPASA collected 1,600 pounds of pills, Conerton said. “I’m thrilled to death,” Conerton said regarding the collection numbers. “It’s amazing to see the pills that are out there. What a positive thing. It’s staying out of the water supply. It’s staying out of the landfills. It’s staying out of the wrong hands. It’s not getting in the wrong hands of the wrong person.”
CPASA Page 3 Vol. 148 No. 5 Two Sections - 32 Pages
© The Putnam County Record
PCR photo/Ryan Friel
Gracie Ciucci spoke Saturday, Sept. 26, at an event in Hennepin honoring her father, the late Eric Ciucci, who was a coach in Putnam County and an employee at North Central Bank in Hennepin. See Page 6 to read about one student’s tribute to Ciucci.