TRIDENT Expanding It’s Force

Bad news for drug pushers in the Illinois Valley….TRIDENT is getting stronger thanks to the government.

The multi-county drug enforcement group has been awarded a three-year, 287 thousand dollar grant thru the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority.  The money will allow TRIDENT to hire another full-time officer and part-time clerical worker.  It also allows Putnam County Sheriff Kevin Doyle to assign one his deputies to work solely with TRIDENT and hire a new deputy to work for the county.

Part of the grant will also be spent on a new initiative where TRIDENT will now be able to patrol highways, hotels and motels for drug dealing.

Employee Raises Divides Bureau County Board

Four elected officials in Bureau County are getting raises.  But the decision to approve the raises divided the county board.

Board members voted 14 to 10 Thursday night to give raises to the county clerk, treasurer, sheriff and circuit clerk.  The raise is one percent for the next two years and two percent for the following two years.  The county’s Fee and Salary Committee had proposed no raises for two years followed by a two percent raise in year’s three and four.

Board member Rick Wilkin said with new business coming into Princeton and Spring Valley, they could afford to give the raises despite declining revenues and economic uncertainty.  Fellow board member Gary Forristall said the board should hold spending now, “not after you’re broke”.

Water Rates Going Up In Streator

If you get your water from Illinois American Water Company, get ready to start having a bigger monthly bill.

The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved a rate hike for the water company that’s expected to bring them over 40 million dollars in new revenue.  Illinois American covers various parts of the state including Streator.

Monthly water bills in Streator are expected to rise on average 22 percent.  The rates will likely be reflected in bills mailed late this month or early May.