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DUCHESSES WIN Bone up (and out) BATTLE OF THE BALL on chicken recipes SOCCER, B1
FOOD, A9-11
TELEGRAPH
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
LEE COUNTY | WIND FARM
Project catches its second wind Board members approve giving company a 3-year extension to build turbines BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – After several months on the back burner, the Lee County Board Monday approved an extension for the Green River wind energy project, which
involves building dozens of turbines across about 13,500 acres in Lee and Whiteside counties. Mainstream Renewable Energy began developing the wind farm in 2009. Geronimo Energy, which acquired the project in December 2013, was given a 3-year extension for the special-use
permits required to build the turbines, which were set to expire this month. The vote was 14-9. With the county projecting a possible deficit next year, board member Arlan McClain said they need to be mindful of generating more revenue sources, and the wind farm could help provide addi-
GONE FISHIN’ IN DIXON
tional income for the county. “We don’t have an expense problem, we have a revenue problem,” McClain said. Geronimo attorney Doug Lee said the development would bring an equalized assessed valuation north of $20 million. TURBINES CONTINUED ON A5
ROCK FALLS
Trail project gets support, but not enough Council votes in favor of bond process, but still falls short of majority needed BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
A pelican hangs out near the hydro-electric plant in Dixon on Tuesday, hoping to measure up to the task of grabbing some dinner. The pelican wasn’t the only one fishing; several fishermen also were on the river trying their luck. If the anglers – or the pelican – didn’t catch anything Tuesday, they’ll have plenty of time to try again. The forecast is calling for pleasant weather for the next several days, mostly sunny with temperatures ranging from the mid 60s today to the mid 70s by Sunday.
ROCK FALLS – Riverfront development plans hit a speed bump Tuesday when the City Council turned down a request to begin the bond process for a key project. A representative from Robert W. Baird & Co. was brought in for a special finance committee session before the council meeting. The committee gave its recommendation for the underwriters to work on a $2 million bond proposal to pay for the first phase of the RB&W District recreational trail project. The council’s approval also would have been needed later to accept the quotes for the bond. An unexpectedly short-handed council fell one vote short of approving the bond request. Aldermen George Logan and Brian Snow were absent, and Daehle Reitzel recused himself because of his downtown business interests. The vote was 3-2 in favor of the committee’s recommendation, but a fourth yes vote was needed for a majority on the normally eight-member council. The bond payments would have come from revenue generated by the riverfront tax increment financing district, and hotel-motel tax money from the new Holiday Inn Express & Suites. Payments on this bond would have been for interest only in the first year. Aldermen Rod Kleckler and Troy Ebenezer cast the votes against pursuing the bond services at this time. Kleckler said it seemed like the wrong time to start the trail project. “I think we should delay the first phase for a year to see where economic development is going, and to gauge the TIF money from the new hotel,” he said. Ebenezer was appointed April 19 to fill the 4th Ward seat left vacant with the resignation of John Watts. Ebenezer not only questioned the timing, but also the project itself. “Looking at a map, I don’t know if this trail leads anywhere,” Ebenezer said. “Couldn’t this be used on something else in the TIF district?” TRAILS CONTINUED ON A4
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
EDUCATION
‘It made all the difference in the world’ Alumni share their top muse stories with fellow Sauk graduates BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
DIXON – Inspiration has many faces. For Deisy Diaz, the inspiration to excel in school came from her parents, Claudia and Antonio, who overcame poverty and never let their children feel need. For Michael Barth, it was not only his bloodline, but also his college family – the faculty and administrators
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INDEX
at Sauk Valley Community College, many of whom he became close friends with over the past 3 years. Diaz and Barth shared their journeys to graduation during Friday night’s commencement ceremony. Just to make sure there were no dry eyes in the house, when Kim Gaffey, owner of Gaffey Home Nursing & Hospice, received the Outstanding Alumna Award, she shared her muse: a paralyzed patient she met during her clinical training, who asked her if the sun was still warm on her skin. SAUK CONTINUED ON A5
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ........... A7 COMICS ...............B6
CROSSWORD....B12 FOOD ..............A9-11 LIFESTYLE ........... A8
Submitted
Michael Barth receives congratulations Friday from Sauk Valley Community College President David Hellmich during the commencement ceremony.
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
Today’s weather High 66. Low 43. More on A3.
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