Rezoning request for septic tabled until September

• News and notes from the June 10 Winnebago County Board meeting

By Stuart R. Wahlin
Staff Writer

After the Village of Winnebago joined the City of Rockford in objecting to Palatine-based Rt. 20 Rockford, LLC’s request to rezone 10.26 acres of land from agricultural to light industrial, the developer has asked the Winnebago County Board to postpone its vote until after a meeting can be held to discuss the proposed development at 7725 and 7779 W. State St. in Winnebago Township. (See “Editorial: 2030 plan faces second test, but does it matter now?” in the June 9-15 issue).

The city was first to object, because the site is within a mile-and-a-half of its borders and is eyed for future annexation. As such, the city’s long-range plan requires that new development be connected to sewer and water, but the developers say that would be “cost-prohibitive.” They argue the development, likely a storage facility, would use very little water.

Because the county’s land-use plan does not require—only encourages—connection to public infrastructure, petitioner Kerry Lavelle, of Palatine, is trying his hand with the county as a means to bypass the city’s wishes. The objections from Rockford and Winnebago, however, will require that the request be met by supermajority approval by at least 21 of 28 board members for passage.

According to Zoning Committee Chairman John F. Sweeney (R-14), who moved for the layover, the developer is setting a meeting with the village, but because of scheduling conflicts, the meeting won’t be happening right away.

The county board will take up the issue again at its Sept. 9 meeting.

Nicolosi, Camiros receive extra pay for land-use plan

Board members approved a resolution to pay for additional consulting services that were “outside the original scope of work,” because of extra workshops and public meetings related to development of the 2030 Land Resource Management Plan.

The initial $355,000 contract was shared by Nicolosi & Associates, LLC and Chicago-based Camiros, Ltd., but the additional meetings earned the firms $17,130.14 more, board members decided.

Majority leader Frank Gambino (R-14) abstained from the vote because of a “family relationship.” Gambino’s brother-in-law is Paul Nicolosi, a partner with Nicolosi & Associates, principal for the Buckley Companies, and brother of former State’s Attorney Phil Nicolosi (R).

The resolution was originally placed on the consent agenda, which board members typically approve by a voice vote without individual items being read into the record out loud. Although abstaining from the vote, Gambino asked that the measure be separated from the low-profile consent agenda to be voted on individually.

The motion prevailed in a voice vote, despite some audible dissent from several board members.

Land acquisition to expand Stone Bridge Forest Preserve, protect south branch of Kinnickinnick Creek

Convened as the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners, board members approved the purchase of 10.5 acres on Burr Oak Road, between I-90 and the Stone Bridge bike path.

The property is being purchased from William and Imogene Butterworth for its appraised value of $218,000. An Illinois Clean Energy grant will account for $93,000 of the purchase, while the Natural Land Institute is donating $80,000. The remaining $45,000 will come from Forest Preserve District funds.

Resolutions

• Authorizing a $69,000 agreement with Baxter & Woodman, based in Crystal Lake, for the design of traffic signals at the intersections of Perryville Road with Broadcast Parkway, and at Nimtz and Windsor roads. Under an agreement with the City of Loves Park and commercial property owners within a Loves Park special service area (SSA), the county is responsible for one-third of traffic signal costs.

• Clarifying a three-year property tax abatement awarded last year to Trident Manufacturing, Inc. According to Economic Development Committee Chairman John Ekberg (R-10), the abatement only applies to the value of the building at 5235 26th Ave. in Rockford, not to the parcel’s assessed value.

• Awarding a $109,996 bid by Bonnell Industries, Inc., of Dixon, for the installation of two equipment packages on the county’s 2007 Sterling tandem trucks.

• Setting the prevailing hourly wages for employees of public works projects as established by the state.

• Authorizing execution of an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the county to secure $1,914,903 in federal stimulus dollars toward the Hononegah Road rehabilitation project. The total project cost is estimated to be $2.7 million.

• Allocating $136,054 from landfill host fee funds to Freedom Field for use in renewable energy projects.

Appointments, reappointment

Joseph Chiarelli was appointed to a five-year term, expiring June 2015, as the Rockford Township representative on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Chiarelli is the owner of Vista Land Investments, resulting in at least one “no” to be heard during a voice vote for his appointment.

Ronald Ballard was appointed to a five-year term with the Winnebago County Housing Authority, expiring September 2014.

Melissa Alton was reappointed to a three-year term with the Seward Sanitary District, expiring May 2013.