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Tri-County Press March 15, 2018 Volume 159, Number 46 - $1.00
‘Bago Takes Second
Coloring Contest
Farm Focus
Winnebago’s boys basketball team takes second at the 2A state tournament. B1
Attention kids!! Color our Easter Bunny and enter it in our contest! B6
Agriculture-related articles and photos make up these special pages. A7-10
Cold-Blooded Creatures Come to Centennial! The Centennial Parents Organization’s Enrichment Program celebrated with Jim Nesci’s Cold-Blooded Creatures show as a grand finale. Nesci, a New Lenoxbased reptile expert who has worked with Steve Irwin, brought a collection of exotic reptiles to both educate and wow the crowd at Centennial Elementary School on March 6. Above, left: Alanna Witkowski rides on Bubba, the North American Alligator, with a little help from Nesci. All of Nesci’s reptiles are impressive, but Bubba is the star attraction wherever he goes. Above, right: Taryn Heather, 9, looks slightly unnerved as he poses with Godzilla, Nesci’s Black Throat Monitor. Right: Ben Faivre assists Jim Nesci in handing off Charlie, the 10-feetlong, 45 pound Burmese Python to Centennial students Cole Chesnut, Lydia Anderson, Ellie Merrell, and Blake Johnson. Photos by Zach Arbogast.
Village president wants more study on solar project By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A solar project may be in the offing for Mt. Morris, but a village official says more study is needed. Village president Dan Elsasser said Tuesday morning that he would recommend delaying a decision for further study when the village board met that evening. “My recommendation is going to be to table it for now,” he said. “I don’t think we can meet the deadlines for the first round of funding.” He said he wants plenty of time for the board to consider all aspects of the project before making a decision. The village board heard a proposal Feb. 27 for a small solar farm on 23 acres now being planted to farm crops on the north side of the village, behind the Mobil Gas Station on Ill. 64. Patrick Dalseth, of SunVest Solar, Inc., Geneva, said the project means lower electricity
costs for customers and higher real estate tax revenues for government bodies. The parcel is owned by David Luepkes and is within the boundaries of the Mt. Morris Industrial Park. Dalseth said the site has been identified a suitable for a community solar project of up to two megawatts. He asked the board to consider amending its current zoning code to allow the project to go forward. The area is zoned light industrial, which does not currently allow solar projects. Dalseth told the board that several solar companies are actively seeking sites for projects since the Illinois Future Energy Jobs Act was passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner just over a year ago. FEJA is aimed at increasing renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, as well as increasing energy efficiency, providing job training in the energy field, and cutting costs to consumers.
In This Week’s Edition...
The 12-foot panels will Dalseth said the board would Dalseth said in that case, he The project would consist of solar panels running from be screened from view by need to approve the project would like to continue to pursue east to west in the field, Dalseth landscaping, Dalseth said, and and amend the zoning by June the project for future rounds of said, and tilted to the south to native plants will be used to to allow his company to take funding. “If the board is willing, I’ll collect the maximum amount of prevent soil erosion. He said the advantage of the first round of panels do not emit light, sound, funding from FEJA. keep this project alive for two to sunlight. Village attorney Rob LeSage three years,” he said. The electricity generated will or heat. No buildings will be said the timeline may be too tight The solar project, if approved, be put into the ComEd power grid at the substation next to the constructed on the site, he said, to get the zoning changed, even will cost $4 to 4.5 million to field, and will most likely be used because it will be monitored if the board approves the project. build and take a few months to remotely. “I appreciate the time frame complete. Construction could by local customers, he said. “There’s minimal impact as far you have, but it may not be begin as early as this fall, Dalseth Local businesses and residents possible,” he said. said. can sign up to use power from as traffic is concerned,” he said. the solar farm, and those who do could see a five to 10 percent reduction in their bills. A total increase of $8,000 to $10,000 in real estate tax revenue is estimated, and would be shared by all the affected taxing bodies, which includes the Village of Mt. Morris, Ogle County, Oregon School District, Mt. Morris Township & Road District, Mt. Morris Fire Protection District, Mt. Morris Public Library District, and Highland Community College District. The panels are anchored to the ground with pilings, Dalseth This aerial view shows the location of a proposed community solar project at the Mt. Morris said, to avoid using concrete and Industrial Park. The project is outlined in yellow, and the ComEd substation is outlined in red. Photo supplied by SunVest Solar Inc. disturbing the ground.
Chamber Chatter, A2 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Marriage Licenses, A4 Library News, A3 Polo Police, A2 Property Transfers, B4 Senior Center News, A2
Sheriff’s Arrests, B4 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B5 Zoning. B5
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
Deaths, B4 Pauline J. Buttel Daniel M. Dunlap Shirley Stevens