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POLO
Tri-County Press January 23, 2014 Volume 156, Number 18 - $1.00
Polo vs. Forreston
Staying Healthy
Antique Market
The Polo Marcos hosted the Forreston Cardinals Jan. 17 in conference action. B1
Finding time to exercise can be hard but rewards are worth it. A11
An antique and collectable market will be held at the Mt. Morris Moose Lodge Feb. 1. A8
Ordinance changed to allow building on lots By Vinde Wells Editor An ordinance change will allow Polo homeowners to rebuild under certain circumstances even when their lots are smaller than required. The city council approved an amendment to its building ordinances Monday that allows the owners of homes severely damaged by fire or other causes to be rebuilt on lots smaller than 10,000 square feet.
Finalists Selected Three finalists were selected Jan. 17. Muriel Messer, Kim Messer, and Kim McClure each received a $100 gas card and now have a 1 in 30 chance to win a new car from Pete Harkness Auto Group, Sterling. Above, Pete Harkness holds the entries in a raffle while Terry Jenkins pulls the finalists names. Below, Harkness, Ed Messer (accepting the gift card for his wife), Jim Eggleston from Pete Harkness Auto Group, and raffle coordinator Jennifer Grobe pose for a photo with the banner. Photos by Chris Johnson
County board member asks for forensic audit By Vinde Wells Editor
A county board member’s motion to have a forensic audit of the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department’s expenditures was quickly quashed Tuesday because it wasn’t on the meeting agenda. Board member Richard Petrizzo, Davis Junction, made the motion under the “new business� section of the meeting. However, board chairman Kim Gouker, Byron, told him the measure couldn’t be voted on because it wasn’t listed as an item on the agenda. Petrizzo asked it that rule could be waived in order for the board to act immediately. “Yes, but we aren’t going to when it involves spending
taxpayers’ money,� Gouker replied, referring to the cost of the proposed forensic audit. Petrizzo said he was proposing the measure in light of recent publicity over some expenditures made by Sheriff Michael Harn, who was present at the meeting. A forensic audit is more extensive than the audit done every year on the county’s financial records. Petrizzo’s motion asked that the forensic audit examine sheriff’s department expenditures from December of 2010 when Harn took office to the present, with special scrutiny given to the Tow Fund, credit card expenditures, and the use of county travel and per diem allowances. The motion came after Tom Smith, Rochelle, asked
the county board for answers during the “public comment� section of the board meeting. He also asked for a forensic audit of the sheriff’s department. Smith said he represented 12 people in the audience who shared his views. He also presented a letter to the county board from Fred Cederholm, Rochelle, a retired forensic accountant. Cederholm’s letter explained what records are examined during a forensic audit. “We’re looking for answers,� Smith said. “I don’t see this going away unless you people [the board] do something. We elected you to lead.� No other board members commented on either Petrizzo’s motion or Smith’s request.
The building ordinances previously required that lots for homes must be at least 10,000 square feet and specifies setbacks and areas that must be maintained as green space. A problem arose when homes were destroyed on lots created when the ordinances were not so strict. Those homeowners could not rebuild even on the same footprint. The amendment allows homes on lots created on or
before Jan. 1, 2014 to utilize the setback and lot size requirements in effect when the lot was created. “This means property owners can rebuild on the same footprint even if the setbacks and green space don’t comply,� said city clerk Susie Corbitt. She said the change will make it easier for property owners to obtain loans to rebuild. “This was holding up real estate loans,� she said.
Salt supplies have been used during this long winter season By Chris Johnson Reporter Winter is officially half over, but for snow plow drivers there has been no end in sight. At the Ogle County Highway Department, which maintains 270 miles of county roads, the employees have only had one day off since Dec. 8. “Our guys have been out daily dealing with the snow and ice,� said Ogle County Engineer Curtis Cook. “While we may not be getting much snow with each storm, the wind has been blowing and drifting. Our guys have been doing a fantastic job in these conditions.� This constant winter weather has led to a higher demand for salt and chips to help keep area roads clear. The roads in Ogle County are either maintained by the county, the townships, the state, or individual municipalities. Townships in Ogle County maintain 918 miles of roads. The Illinois Department of Transportation maintains Ill. 2, 26, 64, 72, 251, I-39, and US 52. Some of the main county roads include German Church Road, River Road, White Pines Road, Lowell Park Road, Baileyville Road, and Mt. Morris Road. Montague Road is co-maintained between Winnebago, Stephenson, and
Ogle Counties. So far salt supplies have been holding out for the county. “We are okay with our chip supply but our salt supplier is having a hard time getting all the salt to us,� said Cook. “We are expecting a delivery of salt this week from an order placed Dec. 20.� The highway department has salt orders throughout the winter because the salt needs to be stored inside a building. “We place numerous orders and we have 1,500 tons ordered that have not been delivered,� said Cook. Fortunately for the county, their storage capacity was increased after a winter 2009 shortage. “The county board allowed us to build a second storage building for salt,� said Cook. “Without is we would have been out of salt two weeks ago. Fortunately we have had enough salt so far.� With two ice storms this season, Cook said another ice storm would drastically impact the remaining salt supplies in the county. Already some municipalities including Oregon have reduced the amount of salt being spread on their streets. Oregon street superintendent Michael Bowers informed residents last week that street salting was being limited to intersections, curves, and hills. At that time Oregon
had used 75 percent of its salt supply for the winter. Polo has ordered their 150 tons budgeted and has a 25 ton load that officials expect to have delivered this week. City Clerk Susie Corbitt said last year 165 tons of salt was used. She said there is no shortage of salt but any extra salt would be at a higher price than the original contract. As of Monday morning Cook said the county has ordered about 60 percent of its annual salt supply. “Despite it seeming like a lot of snow this season, overall it has been a normal winter,� said Cook. “The last two years we were fortunate to not have much snow.� One thing Cook would like to remind motorists is to keep their distance from plows. He said plows may have been down a road but with high winds, the drifting and blowing snow may cause patches of the road to become snow-covered. The continuous winter has affected the highway department budget. At the end of the season, Cook said he will reexamine his budget to determine if any scheduled projects would need to be deferred due to winter expenses. “Right now we are burning $20,000 per week in fuel to keep the roads clear,� said Cook. “Those costs add up quick.�
Blood drive at the fire station The Polo Police and Fire Departments will sponsor a Battle of the Badges blood drive on Thursday, Jan. 23 at the fire station. Staff from the Rock
River Valley Blood Center will be on hand from 12 to 6 p.m. Donors should specify which department they are giving blood for when they
In This Week’s Edition...
register. For more information or to make an appointment to donate call Ken Yingling at The Polo student section cheers for the Marcos Jan. 17 when they hosted the Forreston 815-973-0301. Cardinals. Photo by Chris Johnson
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B8-B12 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Marriage Licenses, A4
Go Marcos
Oregon Police, B3 Pine Creek News, A3 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B7 Sheriff’s Arrests, B6
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B7 Weather Forecast, A3
Deaths, B6 John C. Anderson, Rita J. Blumeyer, Robert Dawson, Clifford W. Meyer, W. Walter Spangler
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