Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 147 No. 13
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Wednesday, November 26, 2014
School board talks proposed tax levy By Dixie Schroeder
dschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
GRANVILLE — The topic of funding was discussed at the monthly meeting of the Putnam County School Board. Putnam County School Superintendent Jay McCracken presented the district’s proposed annual
tax levy to school board members. “It’s always been very difficult to discern what we actually receive because of the way the process is handled. The assessor’s office gives us the overall EAV, which is the equalized assessed valuation. Then when it’s given to us and figured into the tax levy, we have to be very care-
ful when it is turned into the county clerk. They do not take out the Enterprise Zone until after those fees are given, even though the assessor’s office does it prior to. It is a confusing aspect of the levy. I’m not sure if it is done that way in every county, but that is how it is done here,” McCracken said. The projected total EAV
Granville looks at insurance, development
for 2014 is $150,148,878, according to the Putnam County Assessor’s spreadsheet McCracken was given to work with. The projected difference is $37,672,200. This difference includes deductions such as TIF districts and Enterprise Zones in Putnam County. This would leave the district with a projected EAV total of
$112,476,678. Projected tax dollars is figured by taking the EAV, dividing it by 100 times the current tax rate of 3.95. This dollar amount would end up at $4,442,828.78. McCracken emphasized all figures are simply projections at the moment. Additional wrinkles in trying to figure out the EAV include the fact that part
of the Putnam County School District includes small portions of property in both LaSalle and Marshall counties as well. The district has no outstanding bonds or other debts, which puts it ahead of a lot of other area school districts. However, with Senate Bill 16 still in
School Page 3
Happy Thanksgiving
Board looks to participate in new organization By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
GRANVILLE — The Granville Board covered a wide variety of topics in a short time during its agenda at its biweekly meeting Nov. 18. Board member Roy Leckonby reported on a visit to a meeting of the new Economic Development Corporation of North Central Illinois. He said he was impressed by the presentation and membership of the organization. The development group is still in its infancy and is approaching businesses and community organizations with its proposals. Leckonby encouraged participation in the organization. Members of the committee attended an earlier board meeting to present its case. The board will consider the proposal
at a future meeting. The board approved the new insurance policy from Mike Gonet of Gonet-Opper Insurance. Gonet outlined the details of the policy which gives the same coverage as the previous year for smaller premiums. He estimated the village would save between $5,000 to $6,000 with the new policy. Village engineer Mike Richetta reported on the grant and estimated cost for replacement of media at the village’s wastewater treatment plant. Due to the nature of used media and regulations on how it must be handled, Richetta said very few companies will perform the work. The board will let out bids for the work at its next meeting. Public works supervisor Sheli Starkey told the board the trucks and equipment are ready for winter.
PCR photo/Ken Schroeder
Shhh ... Don’t tell him he’s dinner ... Tom the Turkey struts around one of the animal barns at Adam and Edith Passini’s farm south of Granville. Weighing in at 45 pounds, Tom is large enough to feed 30 people for Thanksgiving. Turkeys reach maturity at 4 to 5 months, but due to genetics rarely live a year, since they’re bred to carry more meat than their bodies can carry for very long. Tom is one of an estimated 46 million turkeys that will be served to American families on Thanksgiving.
Hennepin hears from economic development groups By Dixie Schroeder
dschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — Economic development was the theme at the monthly Hennepin Village Board meeting. Julie Johnson, chairperson of the Heritage Corridor and Visitors Bureau, presented information to the board on her organization. While it is based in
Ottawa, the group’s coverage area includes Hennepin. They have a budget of $1.9 million to promote events and activities which fall in the Heritage Corridor area. “I am not here to sell you anything. I’m here to say that we will take your events; we will put them on social network. We want to bring you into the fold. It’s 100 percent free to you,” Johnson said.
Johnson explained the events they promote must be tourism related. Heritage Corridor will help with promotion, branding, advertising and anything the events need. She asked for a member of the village board to send her information on area events. Board member Matt Dean agreed to do this. Hennepin Mayor Kevin Coleman informed the board a new Regional
Economic Development group is being created to promote the area to potential businesses that would locate their companies here. It is estimated the startup for the new group will be about $400,000. This amount will include the hiring of a manager and two individuals to work in an office environment. Coleman stated the group would like to access 50
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cessful.” The investment for membership into the group would be $919 for the village. Hennepin had previously been paying about $2,500 for membership into Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development. The membership will be for a threeyear commitment with
Hennepin Page 2
515 Bureau Valley Parkway, Princeton, Illinois
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percent of the start-up money from the public sector and the remaining 50 percent of the start-up money from the private sector. Coleman said, “We are putting this economic development group together because there just isn’t one in our area. There are similar organizations in Rockford and Bloomington areas, and they are really quite suc-
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