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Wednesday, July 29, 2015

SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851

ILLINOIS | BUDGET BATTLE

Their stalemate; our problem It’s snake-eyes for cities as Gov. Rauner puts a hold on gambling revenue BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier

Local government officials have reached a point where nothing in Springfield surprises them, but some are tired of feeling like pawns in the state’s political dysfunction. The latest salvo in the budget battle came Monday when Gov. Bruce Rauner’s

office announced that Illinois municipalities won’t get their cut from video gambling until the state budget is in place. The state doesn’t have the authority to distribute video gambling profits to municipalities across Illinois without a balanced budget, Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said in a statement. “The story just goes on and on,” Sterling Mayor Skip Lee said, “and at this point, the Legislature is nonfunctional.”

Cities receive monthly disbursements from video gambling terminals within city limits. From June 2014 to June 2015, Sterling received slightly more than $98,000, and revenue has steadily increased. Last month’s payment to the city was $15,561.77. It’s unclear how the delayed payments for video gambling will affect municipalities, but the financial hardships could vary widely.

Sterling took a conservative approach by putting its gambling income into the general fund, while some cities dedicated the money to public safety expenses or to back-up bond commitments. The mayor said it’s time for state government to stop making cities and their residents pay for the Legislature’s inability to take meaningful action in crafting a budget. STALEMATE CONTINUED ON A5

DIXON

MOUNT CARROLL

City Council welcomes a new member KSB exec will replace Arjes BY BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM

Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Will Piper talks Tuesday during the memorial for two teens who died in a grain bin accident in Mount Carroll in 2010. Piper was 20 when his best friend, Alex, died in the accident, and Piper was stuck – with his head barely above the corn – for 6 hours before rescuers pulled him from the bin.

Helpless no more Somber celebration observes the accomplishments of a group that decided it was time to stop deadly grain bin accidents BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521 @SeaWarren

MOUNT CARROLL – It’s been 5 years since two teenagers died in a Mount Carroll grain bin accident. Five long years of hope, healing, and building for a community and an industry vastly unequipped to deal with accidents like the

one that took the lives of Wyatt Whitebread, 14, and Alex Pacas, 19. On Tuesday night, at the Carroll County Farm Bureau, friends, family, and industry insiders came together to remember and to celebrate the progress they’ve made in improving safety standards throughout the industry.

DIXON – Two weeks ago, Jesse Arjes’ resignation from the Dixon Council left remaining members unsure what to do next. A week later, council members were still unsure who to appoint in Arjes’ stead. But on Tuesday, all four members agreed: Kevin Marx is the person best suited to help steer the city going forward. The council voted 4-0 to appoint Marx and the newest council member. Echoing his counterparts, Mayor Li Arellano Jr. said Marx brings a different level of professionalism and leadership to the city. “One of the things he adds that I don’t think is on the council is someone who comes from a professional, Kevin Marx large entity, which is somewhere I think we’re trying to get Dixon to,” Arellano said. “We’re trying to proInside fessionalize [the city] and he’s been The Whitethere. He’s certainly a talented man side County who’s been very involved in the city Board welfor a very long time. He kept popcomes a new ping up in conversations.” member. Marx, 60, is the Vice President and Business Development Officer Page A3 at Dixon’s KSB Hospital. He also serves on three local boards: Dixon Main Street, the City Plan Commission and the Next Picture Show. Dixon’s newest councilman did not attend Tuesday’s special meeting, but in a phone call with Sauk Valley Media Marx said Tuesday’s decision was “good news.”

GRAIN BIN CONTINUED ON A5

CITY COUNCIL CONTINUED ON A5

EDUCATION

Community college’s east mall will be dedicated to Dillon Board gives unanimous approval to motion; mall could eventually be renamed in honor of college co-founder BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84

DIXON – Sauk Valley Community College will dedicate its east campus mall to Peter W. Dillon, one of the college’s founders and a member of its first board of trustees. It’s a fitting honor, said the college’s president.

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“Pete ... was involved with getting site approval for the campus and getting the college started. If it wasn’t for Pete and the other founders, the college would not exist at all,” said David Hellmich, president of the college. The college board unanimously approved the dedica-

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tion at Monday’s meeting. “The commitment is bar none by Pete,” said Andrew Bollman, chairman of the board of trustees. “I think this is a great recommendation by the board.” Dillon was instrumental in obtaining initial approval of the community college, and

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he led construction of campus buildings. Hellmich will soon invite Dillon to the college campus to discuss the dedication in greater detail. “He and I will talk about how the east mall will be dedicated to him,” Hellmich said. “I will be meeting with him to make sure it’s done exactly the way he wants. We want to make

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sure the dedication is consistent with what the board wants to do, and we want Pete to be comfortable with it.” Hellmich said the east mall could be renamed for Dillon altogether. “We’d like to have a ceremony to unveil when all this will take place,” Hellmich said. Dillon could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Today’s weather High 83. Low 58. More on A3.

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