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Firefighters shed a light on holiday safety
SVM ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
FAITH CHRISTIAN & AMBOY, B3
DIXON, A2
TELEGRAPH
Tuesday, December 6, 2016 n SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
LEE COUNTY BOARD | NEW CHAIRMAN
Chairman ready for challenges One longtime board member makes way for another, who says he’ll take ‘common-sense’ approach to leading BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – After a decade on the Lee County Board, Jim Wentling found himself sitting at the head of the pack Monday. Wentling, a 68-year-old Dixon native, was elected as the new board chairman after garnering 10 votes. Marilyn Shippert and John Nicholson received seven and
six votes, respectively. “I’m honored this board thought enough of me to put me here,” he said. “We’re going to have challenges in the future – there will always be challenges – but we’re going to take them head-on.” He replaces Rick Ketchum, who was chairman for the past 4 years and stepped down after a 17-year tenure on the board. “Jim will do a good job; he’s a good, level-headed person who thinks things
through,” Ketchum said. Wentling was a carpenter for the Illinois Department of Corrections for about 20 years before retiring, and he said he aims to take a “common-sense” approach in leading the board. “My goal is to work closely with the county administrator and the board to make the right decisions with our revenue, which is the big issue,” he said. CHAIRMAN continued on A54
Marilyn Shippert
New chairman
New vice chairwoman
STERLING
SAUK VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Residents reaching their limit
Janet Matheny (left), dean of student services at Sauk Vally Community College, talks with Lori Cortez, the former Trio director who started her new job Monday as dean of foundation, grants, and governmental relations for the college. Matheny will fill in as interim director until a permanent replacement is found, and Cortez’s chief responsibility will be helping the foundation create new revenue streams.
People ask: Can’t city just tell tax hikes to take a hike? But city says its hands are tied BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Sharing her experience A new dean who’s lived the community college story will help build a stronger foundation for learning
BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 CHeimerman_SVM
DIXON – For her next trick, Lori Cortez will help Sauk Valley Community College continue to provide the sort of student experience that’s left an indelible mark on her heart. Monday was Cortez’s first day on the job as dean of foundation, grants, and governmental relations. Essentially, her job is to work with the college’s foundation to make the most out of existing revenue streams and generate new ones. For the past 2 years, she’s helped innumerable students attend Sauk through her work as director of Trio, a program for low-income families, first-generation college students and those with disabilities. Growing up in Saginaw, Michigan, she fit those first two criteria to a tee. DEAN continued on A54
DIXON CITY COUNCIL
City makes adjustments to its cash f low Officials hope new ‘super tier’ water rate will spur development at Bay City Foods BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – The city is hoping a discounted water rate for its highest-paying customer will lead to more business development down the line.
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Jim Wentling
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The City Council created a new tier Monday for water consumers that use more than 1 million cubic feet of water per month, priced at a rate of $1.15 per 100 cubic feet. The rate will be fixed for 2 years and increase by 2.5 percent in the following years. Bay Valley Foods is the only customer that currently falls under that level of usage, and
INDEX
ABBY.................... A7 BUSINESS.......... A10 COMICS................ A9
the company began negotiating with the city several months ago in response to water rate hikes approved in April that would have seen increases of 6 percent each year for 3 years, followed by an annual 2.5-percent increase to make up for inflation.
CROSSWORD.......B8 LIFESTYLE............ A7 LOTTERY.............. A2
STERLING – The city’s proposed tax levy hike is only about one-third of last year’s increase, but several residents at Monday’s public hearing weren’t feeling thankful. The hearing for this year’s proposed 6.06 percent increase comes on the heels of the 18.76 percent surge dealt to taxpayers last year. The common denominator in both? Escalating police and fire pension costs, and the state’s new rules for determining how the cities fund them. City Manager Scott Shumard opened the hearing with a presentation on the pensions situation. Fire pensions are up 16.29 percent, while police pensions saw an 8.15 percent spike. “A higher number of retirees, and lower investment returns have played a role in the decline of funding ratios,” Shumard said. “The city has been keeping up with actuarial standards.” Shumard said the city even changed actuaries this year, but still came up with the same numbers. “Almost half of the general fund is going to pensions, and with the state’s new rules, they can take back some of the money we receive if we don’t fund to minimum levels,” Shumard said. Some residents asked whether the city had explored alternatives to the property tax increase that will amount to an estimated $46.67 a year for the owner of a $100,000 house. “Have you looked at alternatives to funding the pensions?” Marsha Stern asked. Shumard said the city’s largest expense is personnel, and cutting staff is an option. He said a different type of tax increase, on food and beverages for example, would be about the only other choice.
WATER RATES continued on A54
OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6 POLICE................. A2
TAX HIKES continued on A44
Today’s weather High 36. Low 21. More on A3.
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