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Tuesday, February 10, 2015
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
DIXON | CHANGE IN FORM OF GOVERNMENT
Department shuffle in works? City could create public works department; ordinance could be OK’d in April BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @MattMencarini
DIXON – The city is working on an ordinance restructuring its departments, the biggest step in the transition to the managerial form of government. Much of the work is being done by City Attorney Rob LeSage and involves changing the city code to remove conflicting language and making sure it lines up with the state statute, said City Administrator David
Nord, adding that it could be ready for council approval in April. The entire code won’t be redone now, just the more pressing sections, and others will be changed as needed. More substantive changes will be made as well. The city will end up with a new organizational chart laying out who reports to whom and might include combined or reorganized departments. For example, the city is considering combining the street, water, public property and
sewer departments into a public works department, Nord said. The departments are currently independent, and while Nord said they work well together, the new department could create more continuity. The combination was worked into the 2015-16 fiscal year budget that Finance Director Paula Meyer put together. The city would hire a public works director, who would report to the city manager, and the four superintendent
positions would be phased out after the current ones retire, Nord said during the first budget meeting Monday night. The city could see cost savings the second year after the implementation, he said. The ordinance, which is the third step of four to transition from the commission form of government to the managerial form of government, must be approved before Dixon hires a city manager and completes the transition. SHUFFLE CONTINUED ON A3
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: DRESS SALE COMING UP IN DIXON
David Paula Nord Meyer City administrator Finance director’s says revisal of city 2015-16 budget code could be includes comready for approval bination of four in April departments
DIXON | BUDGET CUTS
Requests met by $670K shortfall Department heads asked for $2.25M BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @MattMencarini
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Barb Keith (left) and Barb Hermes prepare a dress for the annual Second Look Dress sale, which will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 28 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1013 Franklin Grove Road, Dixon. That gives young ladies a little more than 2 weeks to save up allowances, paychecks, and anything to pad their dance budget. And proceeds from each sale will go back to the buyer’s school. Prom- and homecoming-appropriate dresses are still needed, so if you’d like to donate, call Keith at 815-440-3270.
ILLINOIS | ‘FAIR SHARE’ DUES
First blow dealt to public sector unions Democrats question legality of governor’s action BY KERRY LESTER The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner struck a first official blow on Monday against the public sector labor unions he has frequently criticized by ordering an end to a requirement that workers pay dues even if they decide not to join a union. His executive order sets up a fight with the state’s powerful labor unions, a key ally of members of the Democratic-led Legislature, just as Illinois has begun divided government for the first time in more than a decade. Unions immediately lashed back, while top Democrats
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questioned the legality of Rauner’s action and said their legal teams would review it. Rauner, a wealthy businessman and self-described admirer of governors in Wisconsin and Indiana who’ve championed anti-union policies, said 6,500 state employees are paying so-called “fair share” dues, or an average of $577 a year per worker. Rauner frequently criticized organized labor during his campaign for governor, saying they hinder economic growth by stifling competition and have far too much political influence UNIONS CONTINUED ON A5
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ...............B5
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These forced union dues are a critical cog in the corrupt bargaining that is crushing taxpayers.
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DIXON – The city is working to cut $671,931, from about $2.25 million that was requested by department heads, in order balance its budget for the next fiscal year. After operating expenses, the city has about a $1.5 million surplus in its general fund, which will be used to pay for capital projects, one-time expenses or new personnel. Department heads submitted about $2.25 million in requests, and the first of two likely budget workshops to make those cuts was held Monday night. The city will hold a second workshop at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Public Safety Building, when specific cuts to the requested money will be discussed in more depth. The City Council could place the budget on file in March and approve it in April. Also at the second workshop, representatives from the airport, Dixon Main Street, The Next Picture Show and the Dixon Public Library will make presentations to the council.
Bruce Rauner, Illinois governor
More on A5 • Rauner one of many self-funded candidates nationwide, although many others didn’t win. • $3 million in repairs made at governor’s mansion last summer, documents show.
CROSSWORD....B11 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
NATION/WORLD A11 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
SHORTFALL CONTINUED ON A4
Next meeting The Dixon City Council next meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the Public Safety Building, 220 S. Hennepin Ave., in the community room. Visit DiscoverDixon.org or call City Hall at 815-288-1485 for an agenda or more information.
Today’s weather High 30. Low 24. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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