• News and notes from the April 22 Winnebago County Board meeting

By Stuart R. Wahlin
Staff Writer

Winnebago County Board members ratified a one-year contract with the City of Rockford April 22 for animal control services. The Rockford City Council approved its end of the $447,000 agreement April 5 after months of approving 30-day extensions of an expired contract while the two governments negotiated a long-term deal. Negotiations for that deal will continue through 2010.

According to County Administrator Steve Chapman, the city paid $569,000 to the county in 2009 for animal control services. Despite the $122,000 difference in 2010, Chapman said the county will still receive enough from the city to cover its costs.

“We’ve increased our revenues through the increase in fees that we did and, this year, rather than allocating that money aside for future improvements at the shelter, we felt, with the dire straits all the municipalities were in, we would pass those savings on back to the municipalities,” Chapman explained.

The city will be invoiced quarterly in the amount of $111,750.

In other news, board members approved the issuance of $6,262,000 in tax anticipation warrants to make ends meet in the county’s general, detention home, tort judgment and children’s advocacy funds. This marks the first time in nearly 30 years the county has had to do so.

Board members unanimously, albeit grudgingly, approved the measure.

John F. Sweeney (R-14) explained his “yes” vote was cast “with much reluctance, knowing full-well that if the state lived up to its obligations to us, we wouldn’t have to do this.”

JPMorgan Chase will finance the warrant program at a cost of $25,000 to the county.

Ordinance

• Authorizing the issuance of caterer licenses to provide for the sale or dispensing of alcohol in relation to food service for catered events.

Resolutions

• Executing an agreement with Pierce Biotechnology, Inc., 3747 N. Meridian Road, for the installation of a left-turn lane at Meridian and Dickenson roads for the company’s facility. Pierce will reimburse the county for the estimated $50,000 cost of the project.

• Authorizing a $13,200 professional services agreement with Artisan Consulting Engineers, LLC, to design the widening of Hononegah Road. The project, funded partially by federal stimulus dollars, is expected to go out for bids July 30.

Reappointments

Richard Crosby was reappointed to a two-year term, expiring June 2012, on the Board of Review.

David Bliss was reappointed to a three-year term, expiring May 2013, with the Durand Sanitary District.

Irene Horvath was reappointed to a six-year term, expiring May 2016, to the Hulse Cemetery of Pecatonica.

Barton Munger was reappointed to a three-year term, expiring May 2013, to the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District.

Carl Burkel was reappointed to a three-year term, expiring May 2013, to the New Milford Fire Protection District.

Tom Baylor was reappointed to a three-year term, expiring May 2013, to the North Park Fire Protection District.

James Hall was reappointed to a five-year term, expiring May 2015, to the North Park Public Water District.

Paul Hasselquist Jr. was reappointed to a five-year term, expiring May 2015, to the Otter Creek Lake Utility District.

Elmer Jones and Donald Kerestes were reappointed to a three-year terms, expiring May 2013, to the Rock River Water Reclamation District.

Public comments

Roland Poska invited the community to take part in a July 4 unity event at noon atop the parking garage at Main and West State streets. Noting an aerial photograph will be taken of attendees, Poska encouraged citizens to pledge to end prejudice and violence.

Proclamations

April was proclaimed Great American Cleanup Month. April 24 was proclaimed Comcast Cares Day. April 28 was proclaimed Workers’ Memorial Day. May 2 was proclaimed Holocaust Remembrance Day. May 3-7 was proclaimed Juror’s Appreciation Week.

Absence

Steve Schultz (R-2) was absent.