BCJ: Genoa Road Viaduct closes February 3

Assistant to the County Administrator

 

Ms. Becky Tobin has resigned and the county will be advertising for the position.  Below is the draft of the posting.

LIHEAP Energy Assistance

DO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAVE HEATING PROBLEMS?  If so, please read about the LIHEAP and emergency heating programs from the Community Action Agency of Boone & Winnebago Counties.

Community Action Agencies across the State are reporting that propane suppliers are either running short or have increased their prices dramatically.  Some agencies are reporting that their vouchers are no longer being accepted and suppliers are only delivering for cash up front.  We haven’t seen this issue yet locally that we are aware.  If you have constituents that are having this issue please let me know.

We still have LIHEAP funds available.  I’ve attached the outreach sites.  If people are disconnected, they do not need an appointment, they can walk into our office.  The list of what people need for an appointment is part of the attachment.

The Emergency Furnace program operates through March.  If you have home owner constituents with a non-working or non-heat producing furnace, they can come to our office as a walk-in or they can call 815-962-5019.

We are still accepting Weatherization applications.  Interested constituents should call 815-962-5019.

 Jennifer Jaeger, Community Services Director| Community Action Agency

A Division of the City of Rockford Human Services Department

| phone: 815.987.8047 | fax: 815-987-8046 | email: Jennifer.Jaeger@rockfordil.gov

Si usted tiene preguntas o necesita ayuda en espanol, por favor comunicase con Patricia Ortiz al 815-987-5711 ext. 2224

Here are more details concerning heating and weatherization programs. 

Application sites vary with the benefit sought.  A summary of the sites for applying for each benefit is shown below. 

CLICK ON THE PHOTOCOPY TO ENLARGE

Tie vote spells defeat for changes is Wind Turbine setbacks

Bill voted against the changes.

For local coverage of the the vote go to the following sources: 

For Channel 13 coverage:  http://www.wrex.com/story/24466779/2014/01/15/boone-county-board-members-reach-decision-on-wind-farm-law

Channel 17 & 39 coverage:  http://www.mystateline.com/fulltext-news/boone-county-board-votes-against-wind-energy-ordin/d/fulltext-news/mb8mFsq0S0yG16PBOtmqPA

Rockford Register Star coverage:  http://www.rrstar.com/article/20140116/NEWS/140119631#ixzz2qY3ZH86o

Boone County Journal Coverage:   http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2014/01/bcj-wind-turbine-setback-question.html

Where Mainstream & Boone County goes from here (according to Rockford Register Star):  http://www.rrstar.com/article/20140117/NEWS/140119475/0/SEARCH

Bill’s January 2014 Per Diem & mileage reimbursement

Rep. Sosnowski to use office as permit registration site - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

State Representative Joe Sosnowski, R-Belvidere, will use his district office, 305 Amphitheater Drive, as a point of registration to help residents who want to apply for a concealed carry permit in Illinois.

Currently, applications are only accepted through the Illinois State Police website; paper applications can be submitted starting July 1. Sosnowski's office staff will help residents apply online.

Appointments are required: 815-547-3436, repsosnowski@gmail.com. To submit an application: isp.state.il.us.

Rep. Sosnowski to use office as permit registration site - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Seven votes needed to pass the setback ordinance regarding Wind TURBINES

 

Unlike most motions which require a majority of the county board members present at the time of the vote, the General Assembly by enacting 55 ILCS 5/5-12014 (b) required that “text amendments may be passed at a county board meeting by a simple majority of the elected county board members.”   In this case, we have twelve county board members who are elected, a majority of which is seven. 

Upcoming January 15, 2014 Boone County Board meeting

 

Attention of much of the region will be on the board’s vote on changing the setbacks on the Wind Ordinance.

There are some other issues.  Some of them maybe even finally settled.

For example, payments to the Veterans Assistance Commission.  Last month’s $25,000 payment to the VAC was considered a grant (see#2: http://boonecountywatch.blogspot.com/2013/12/county-board-meetings.html).  Today the ADMIN subcommittee recommended that the two $25,000 payments in 2013  be changed from advances to grants.  No repayment will be requested. After lengthy discussion this motion passed unanimously and will be sent to the county board for its decision.   Informally it was determined that if additional payments are needed (before the tax distribution in June 2014), repayment also should not  be required.