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SVM ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
ROCK FALLS & STERLING, B3
ELECTION, PAGE A9
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Tuesday, November 8, 2016 n SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
DIXON | CITY COUNCIL
City’s to-do list is getting shorter Council members approve work on Galena Avenue Bridge, courthouse retaining wall BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – The city finalized its laundry list of repairs to be done along Galena Avenue, from fixing the full set of
bridge railings to attending to the collapsed wall at the Old Lee County Courthouse. Monday, the City Council approved $178,000 to repair all four bridge railings, with the Illinois Department of Transportation agreeing to
foot up to $150,000 of the bill. Water, road salt and other material got inside the two eastern railings and caused internal corrosion; the western railings weren’t as bad. The council voted Oct. 27 to fix only the two eastern rails,
and make minimal repairs to the other side, but IDOT wanted all of the rails fixed to prevent future problems, and said it would up its contribution from $100,000 to $150,000 to see all the work done. WORK continued on A34
Next meeting
The City Council next meets at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at City Hall, 121 W. Second St. Go to discoverdixon.org or call City Hall at 815-288-1485 for an agenda or more information.
STERLING
DIXON
Percents, pensions, problems
Is this weather for reel? You bet
City faces a state mandate, and residents could face higher taxes BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Fishing in November? Why not – especially when the weather’s been doing such a good job of cooperating. Laury Gauger and her husband, Don, of Dixon took to the banks of the Rock River at Page Park in Dixon on Monday to get in some fishing during a day that saw the mercury making its way into the upper 60s. Things will cool off a little starting today, but not enough to keep fair-weather fishers from casting their lines and reeling in some fish. Temperatures will be in the mid 50s to lower 60s the rest of the week, and into early next week. After that, they’ll start dipping into the upper 40s. RIGHT: Laury and Don enjoy some fishing along the Rock River.
BUSINESS
Sterling company gets room to grow Industrial Development Commission signs off on deal to sell land for Halo expansion BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
STERLING – The city’s Industrial Development Commission on Monday approved the sale of industrial park property for a planned expansion project. Halo Branded Solutions bought the
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land in Meadowlands Business Park to put up a new building that will consolidate its local operations. The company said the new building will accommodate up to 250 new jobs, which could be created within the next 5 years. The new site will be near the corner of Lynn Boulevard and West LeFevre Road, close to its current corporate headquar-
INDEX
ABBY.................... A7 BUSINESS.......... A10 COMICS................ A8
ters at 1980 Industrial Drive. The company worked with Greater Sterling Development Corp. to find a site. “Halo approached us about 12 months ago about ways to consolidate its operations and have more space to expand,” said Heather Sotelo, executive director at GSDC. EXPANSION continued on A44
CROSSWORD.......B7 LIFESTYLE............ A7 LOTTERY.............. A2
OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6 POLICE................. A2
STERLING – If the city doesn’t meet a stand mandate for pension funding, things will only get worse – not only for the city, but taxpayers. That’s why the city’s actuarial firm is recommending a nearly $2.2 million contribution be made to police and fire pensions in the next tax levy year. Todd Schroeder from Lauterbach & Amen presented police and fire pension reports at Monday’s City Council meeting. This is the first year the city has used the Warrenville-based actuarial firm. The recommended fire pension contribution for the city is $1,132,888, up from $974,055 last year. The funded percentage is down by 9.36 percent, and based on the actuarial numbers, the fire pension is 47.22 percent funded. The recommended police contribution is $1,058,614, a $79,784 increase from last year. The funded percentage dropped nearly 7 percent, and the police fund is 53.36 percent funded. At those funding rates, the city’s unfunded liability for both pensions is about $25 million. While the city has been funding the pensions at 100 percent for the past several years, the state’s new actuarial requirements have skewed the funding percentages. “The biggest driver is the mortality assumption that is pushing up payment recommendations,” Schroeder said. “We should see some more stability with that going forward.” The actuaries are basing the amount of benefits needed on mortality tables that assume a life span of 120 years. The allowable minimum contribution from the city would be $764,245 for fire, and $735,949 for police. The city is leaning toward making the maximum recommended contributions for both pensions. The rationale is based on projections that show the situation only will worsen. PROBLEMS continued on A44
Today’s weather High 60. Low 35. More on A3.
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