Thursday March 16, 2017 Vol. 5, No. 3
The Weekly Post
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Bond sought for B.Y.E. building By JEFF LAMPE
ELMWOOD – The general public has a chance to learn more about a proposed new building for B.Y.E. Ambulance service at informational meetings to be held the next two Sundays. Meetings will be from 1-3 p.m. on March 19 and 26 at the current B.Y.E. building at 108 E. Hawthorne St. in Elmwood. B.Y.E. has been working in conjunction with the Elmwood Rural Fire Protection District (ERFPD) on plans for a proposed building For The Weekly Post
that would be built between Elmwood and Yates City on farm land north of Illinois Route 8. The latest version of the building, which has been altered since the Elmwood Fire department withdrew from the project, is for a 6,640-square foot structure with three 45-foot ambulance bays, living quarters for B.Y.E. staff, a meeting/training room, storage room, offices and bathrooms. According to Dave Wagner of the ERFPD, the guaranteed maximum cost is $1.8 million. To finance that, the ERFPD is
asking voters to support a bond issue in the upcoming April 4 election. The meetings are a chance for voters to ask questions and to become familiar with the plans. Based on calculations by ERFPD attorney Stephanie Schmieg, the estimated annual tax increase would be $1.44 per acre for landowners, $87.38 per year for the owner of a $100,000 home and $193.94 per year for the owner of a $200,000 home. “So far what I’ve heard has been positive,” Wagner said. “People Continued on Page 8
Here is the architect’s rendering of a proposed new B.Y.E. Ambulance building to be built between Elmwood and Yates City.
Elmwood, Millbrook candidate bios
MARCH IN THE MIDWEST Yes, some were wearing shorts and t-shirts in mid-February. But that didn’t stop Mother Nature from dropping one last snowstorm on the area Monday, when about 3 inches of wet snow accumulated. With any luck, that snow will be the last of the season – and will not have much impact on plants like this forsythia, which was tricked into thinking spring had arrived. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
By BILL KNIGHT For The Weekly Post
Budget woes force change in polling places By JEFF LAMPE
Voters in parts of Brimfield, Kickapoo and Hanna City planning to head to the polls for the April 4 election should double check they are still voting in the same polling place. Budget constraints in For The Weekly Post
The Weekly Post’s ongoing publication of area candidates’ profiles for April 4’s election continues with contested races from Millbrook Township (where five candidates are running for four Trustee positions, and two candidates are vying for the Road Commissioner post) and Elmwood Township (where six candidates are competing for the four Trustee slots). ELMWOOD Township Board William L. Atwood: I have been community oriented most of my life since moving here in 1970. The first thing I did was to join Elmwood Fire Department and served for 23 years and held an office most of that time. Then I was Township Road Commissioner for 28 years after working 10 years part-time for the previous road commissioner. There is an opening here and I feel I have 28 years of working with trustees and feel like I pretty much know what their job is. I feel like I’ve got a little time left in me that I can give back and support the community more. Ronald “Gene” Gibson, 70: I am now serving the unexpired term of the late Dale Slagel. I
Peoria County caused the county elections board to make changes in nine polling places. Area voters impacted include: Precinct Jubilee 1 – Moving from Jubilee Township Hall to Brimfield Public Library, 111 S. Galena St. in Brimfield.
Precinct Jubilee 2 – Moving from Jubilee Township Hall to Kickapoo Township Hall, 10025 W. Route 150, Edwards. Precinct Logan 1 – Moving from Logan Township Building to Hanna City United Methodist Church, 12208 W. Farmington Road, Hanna City.
The Board of Election Commissioners said it has mailed new Voter Registration Cards to all registered voters affected by these changes. The card is not required to be shown prior to voting. To learn more, call the election commissioners board at (309) 494-8963.
Continued on Page 2