Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO
Tri-County Press January 18, 2018 Volume 159, Number 38 - $1.00
Marcos Defeated
Special Place
New Cigar Shop
The Marcos lose a tough game against rival Milledgeville Missiles. B1
A local musician and mother will perform at the Village Bakery. A4
A new cigar shop also offers a great view of the Rock River. A2
Council addresses delinquent water bills Appoints committee to change shutoff policy By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecountynews.com The Polo City Council is putting together a committee to figure out how to stop the flow of delinquent water bills, and the strain it puts on the staff and coffers of the city. During Monday evening’s meeting, the council appointed Alderman Randy Schoon to chair a committee, assisted by Alderman Troy Boothe, that will figure out what to do about the problem of people who are delinquent on their water bills waiting until shutoff to pay. Schoon said the ongoing issue is that
when a citizen gets their water shut off due to delinquency, he or she shows up the same day just before city hall closes to make their payment. This requires a city worker, who has finished their daily shift by then, to be called back to work to turn the water back on. Schoon said the charge is $10 to turn the water back on, but that does not even cover the cost to pay the worker to come back in. After a survey of surrounding communities, Schoon said Polo is alone in going to those lengths. “Nobody around us does this,” said Schoon. “They shut it off, and if the bill isn’t paid by 3 p.m., it doesn’t get turned on until the next day.” Schoon said the current system is a hassle
for the staff at the city clerk’s office, and companies in charge of other utilities are not as generous. “People will come in here and get just caught up enough that we have to turn their water back on,” he said. “Nicor doesn’t do that, ComEd doesn’t do that; you’re either caught up or you’re shut off.” Schoon advocated for changing the policy so that if someone’s water gets turned off, and isn’t paid by 3 p.m., their water does not get turned back on until the bill is paid in full, and until the next day. City Attorney Tom Suits asked about what that would mean for weekend shutoffs. “It’s my understanding they don’t shut the water off on Friday, but if it is shut off on Thursday, and is not paid by Friday, do they
wait until Monday to have water?” asked Suits. Schoon said he was open to suggestions and that he was simply looking to end the hassle it puts on the staff to process payments and return to turn water back on. “I came in here one day, and [Deputy Clerk Sue Waszak] had 11 of them,” said Schoon. “I think we need to adopt some of the same rules as the communities around us.” Schoon and Boothe suggested that Waszak be involved with the committee for changing the policy, but committee members were not appointed at the meeting. The city council meets again on Monday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Polo City Hall, 115 S. Franklin Ave. The meeting is open to the public.
Board greenlights Pines Road study By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The Ogle County Board approved a study Tuesday that could mean an easier walk for pedestrians along Pines Road in Oregon. The board hired Chastain & Associates, Rockford, to determine if curbs and gutters and sidewalks can be extended on Pines Road from Ill. 2 to the city limits without causing drainage problems. The cost was limited to just over $29,000. “We’re studying it to see it’s possible to make the improvements without making the drainage problems out there worse, or maybe if we can even improve the drainage,” county engineer Jeremy Ciesiel said. Currently curbs, gutters, and sidewalks run from Ill. 2 to South 10th Street. Because a significant number of people walk along Pines Road to reach businesses located there, Ciesiel said he hopes to extend the sidewalks on the north side of the road, as well as the curbs and gutters, from South 10th Street to the S curve at the city limits. The drainage is crucial, Brady Webb (4) charges through Milledgeville defenders and puts up a layup. The Marcos fell to the Missiles 4765 in a high-speed game that brought out a big effort from both sides, but Webb says they’re looking forward to a however, because significant flooding often occurs in the rematch. The story appears on B2. Photo by Zach Arbogast
Rival Showdown
area during heavy rain storms. Just last summer, heavy rain flooded the Village of Progress on Pines Road, and led to the evacuation of residents of the Oregon Living and Rehabilitation Center on South 10th Street. In another matter, board chairman Kim Gouker said that an open house will held at the newly renovated Emergency Operations Center at 510 Lincoln Highway in downtown Rochelle on Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Besides the EOC, the former Rochelle Clinic will house the office of the Ogle County Emergency Management Agency, the Rochelle offices of the Ogle County Health Department and Probation Department, and a University of Illinois medical clinic. The county board purchased the building and its two parking lots in 2015 for $180,000. In other business the board: • approved ordinances amending the Lee-Ogle Enterprise Zone boundaries to include portions of Mt. Morris and Amboy, • approved a resolution transferring jurisdiction over the 100 block of South Sixth Street in Oregon from the City of Oregon to the Oregon County highway system.
Oregon appears to be a good fit for city’s intern Hawkins to help with economic development By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com A Pennsylvania native chose Oregon as the place to do her internship just by looking at the city’s website. “I chose Oregon because it seemed like a good fit for me,” said Farrahn Hawkins, 26, of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. “There’s lots of energy here.” Hawkins is earning her masters degree in Economics through the Peace Corps Fellows program at Western Illinois University, Macomb. Part of the process is doing an 11-month internship at a city in Illinois, helping with various aspects
of economic development. The opportunity was made available through the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at WIU, which the city council has worked with in previous projects. While doing her research on possible locations, Hawkins said she took a look at Oregon on its website and liked what the city has to offer. Since arriving in Oregon, Hawkins is even more impressed, especially with the cooperation between various local entities. “I think it’s cool that everyone works together to get things done. It’s definitely a place I want work, live, or play — as it says on the website,” she said with a grin. Hawkins’ office is at the Oregon City Hall, and she and city officials are finalizing her work plan. “For the entire month of January I’m getting to know the community
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B8 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
and getting my feet wet,” she said. Her responsibilities will include research, marketing, business outreach, website management, and presentation of seminars designed to improve local business practices according to their interests. She will also facilitate between groups to coordinate the arts, festivals, and events in the community. One of her duties will be entering available buildings into a national data base for businesses interested in locating in Oregon. She will also work closely with the Chamber of Commerce. While serving with the Peace Corps, Hawkins taught English to students in Madagascar. Because of her passion for education, she hopes to involve Oregon students in community projects.
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Pine Creek News, A3 Polo Police, A2 Public Voice, A7
Farrahn Hawkins, the City of Oregon’s new Economic Development Intern, was the featured speaker at the Oregon Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Lunch ‘n Learn on Tuesday. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B4 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B 2 State’s Attorney, B4
Deaths, B5 Lois J. Horst, William L. Ehmen
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com