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NIU GETS A KICK OUT OF DUCHESS
History and more coming in for a landing
SOCCER, B1
WHITESIDE COUNTY, A10
TELEGRAPH Tuesday, July 19, 2016 n SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
DIXON | CITY COUNCIL
Dock project dealt a delay Comment period, fees, agency approval take the wind out of city’s sails, likely push project back to spring BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – The city’s project to install a boat dock along the Rock River has sprung a leak. The City Council approved $39,891 in funds for Union-based Team Reil Inc. to build a 4-slip dock slightly east of the Peoria Avenue Bridge at its June 20 meeting, but the project encountered
another delay Monday. City Manager Cole O’Donnell said because the docks span more than 50 feet in length, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources requires a 21-day public comment period and about $3,600 in fees to get a special permit. The project also would need approval from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The 61-foot dock was designed as an
initial step in a possible larger expansion project, but the city would have to accommodate the comment period and fees with each addition. O’Donnell said the city could pursue the permit for an overarching dock project and still choose to complete one piece at a time. However, the city might not be granted a permit until October, depending on how long the inspection process takes.
“The plan is to move forward if we can,” he said. “If we can’t, then what we’ll probably do is set everything up to be solved during the spring.” The council began moving forward with discussions on the docks in March, and the concept has been on the city’s radar for the past 4 years as a way to help promote riverfront tourism and development. DOCKS continued on A54
LEE COUNTY
ROCK FALLS
County finally gets its first administrator Yearlong search ends with a ‘great’ choice, says board chair BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – After a year of searching, Lee County has found its first administrator. Theresa Wittenauer, executive director of the Blackhawk Hills Regional Council, will begin in the new position on Aug. 8. Her salary is $90,000 a year. “I think she will be a great administrator,” said Marilyn ShipTheresa pert, Lee County Board member Wittenauer and chairwoman of the administrator search committee. “Her educational background was just fabulous.” Wittenauer, a Lee County native, has a master’s in public administration specializing in city management and development as well as a master’s in geography focusing on land use planning and economics, both from Northern Illinois University.
Well, shucks!
ADMINISTRATOR continued on A44
STERLING
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Jayden Cheung, 3, all the way from Edmonton, the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta, helps shuck corn at Poci’s Market and Greenhouse on Monday in preparation for the Rock Falls Rotary corn boil. Cheung was among the volunteers and Rotary members helping clean the corn for the 77th Online Extra annual corn boil, Click on this story which will take at saukvalley.com place 11 a.m. to to see video of corn7 p.m. today at cleanin’ volunteers the Rock Falls Community Building, 610 W. 10th St. Along with all-you-can-eat sweet corn, pulled pork barbecue or a hot dog, chips, and a beverage are included. Tickets, available at the door, are $8 for adults and $4 for children younger than 12. RIGHT: Kalie Conklen, 20 (left) of Sterling and Joel Rozhon, 18, of Rock Falls help husk corn.
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INDEX
City partners up for loft project Council approves agreement for next step in Lawrence Lofts BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
STERLING – After setting up its new downtown TIF, the city took the next step in the Lawrence Lofts project during Monday’s Sterling City Council meeting. The council unanimously approved a redevelopment agreement between the city and Lawrence Lofts LP, a limited partnership set up by the developer, Rock Island Economic Growth Corp. The East Central Business District TIF was a key financing element for the 20-unit low-income housing project that will be in floors two through five, above the Whiteside County Courthouse in the Lawrence Building. LOFT continued on A54
ABBY.................... A7 BUSINESS.......... A11 COMICS................ A9
CROSSWORD.....B11 LIFESTYLE............ A7 LOTTERY.............. A2
OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6 POLICE................. A2
Today’s weather High 88. Low 70. More on A3.
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