Peru anticipating a city tax levy increase

The Peru Public Library and the Police Pension are two funds driving up Peru’s tax levy request.  The library wants to receive nearly $11,000 more next year than they received this year.  The Police Pension Fund could also see a $36,000 increase over last year’s request.

The proposed levy request is just over $1 million, a nearly $47,000 increase over the 2009 request.

Gary Hylla, the city treasurer, says he’s kept the levy increase under a 5% increase so there will not need to be a truth in taxation hearing.  He’s not sure what will happen with the city’s EAV.

The city council will likely approve the levy at next Monday’s meeting.

New Fieldhouse For Seneca Has People Divided

Does Seneca High School need a 14 million dollar fieldhouse?  Opinions are mixed in the school district.

Back in 2007, the school board put in place a comprehensive facilities plan that included a new fieldhouse which would have four basketball courts, badminton courts, drop down batting cages, an indoor track and other practice space.  Board members say it would be open to the public and be able to host things like craft fairs and boating shows.

With money rolling in from Exelon’s tax payments, the board thinks it has the cash for the fieldhouse and other improvement projects.  However petitions are being circulated by some in the district who think the fieldhouse is excessive.  They’re trying to get a backdoor referendum put on the April ballot that would ask voters what they think of a new fieldhouse.

487 signatures are needed to get a referendum on the ballot.

Illinois Senate Passes Civil Union

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The Illinois Senate has approved civil unions, putting Illinois on the verge of granting official
recognition to gay and lesbian couples.

The measure passed 32-24.  It now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn, a strong supporter.

Civil unions would give gay couples many of the same rights as marriage – for instance, the power to make medical decisions for a seriously ill partner. Critics say this would amount to same-sex marriage under a
different name.

Mixed Support Of Civil Unions

While the Civil Union bill passed the House and Senate, it didn’t get much support from local legislators.

Democrat Frank Mautino went against many of his party members and voted against civil unions.  Fellow Democrat Careen Gordon voted for the bill.  Republican Bob Pritchard who represents parts of northern La Salle County like Earlville, Leland and Somonauk voted against the bill.

In the Senate, Gary Dahl voted against the measure but fellow Republican Dan Rutherford cast a yes vote.

Four IVCC board seats up for election

A few seats on the Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees will be up for grabs in the April 2011 election.

Three six-year terms and one-two year unexpired term will be on the ballot.  Those seats are currently held by Thomas Setchell, David Mallery, Larry Huffman, and Michael Driscoll.

If you would like to run for a board seat, petitions are available.  They can be filed December 13 through 17 and on December 20 in the IVCC President’s Office.

Hospital addition fundraiser reaches $1.6 million mark

A construction project that is changing Peru’s skyline continues and so does a campaign to raise money for it.

Illinois Valley Community Hospital is building new obstetrics and intensive care units at the cost of $15.5 million .

The expansion is being paid for with their reserves, through borrowing, and a fundraising effort they’re calling “IVCH- For a Lifetime of Care Campaign.”  $586,000 had been raised by June at the time of the Raise the Roof ceremony.

Another $16,000 was raised by the IVCH Foundation Community Variety Show in October.  The Miller Group Charitable Trust has contributed $250,000.  The campaign has brought in over $1.6 million to date.  They want to raise $2 million.

Miller Group Media Includes AM 1220 WLPO, 99.3 WAJK, 96.5 The Wolf, The Newstribune and Agrinews.

DePue using petition to further cleanup

Whether you live in DePue or not, you can support a petition to remove pollution from the village.

Village officials have put together a petition that tries to bring attention to a superfund fund site that’s awaiting cleanup.  By signing, a petitioner says that they support the immediate restoration of Lake DePue and removal of slag piles other hazardous substances from the plant operation’s site.  The petition also talks about strict enforcement of a 1995 attorney general’s mandate that ExxonMobil, HH Liquidating Corporation and CBS Operations plan, implement and pay for pollution removal.

You can find a link to the petition by going to the village’s website.

La Salle County holding steady on tax levy

Despite operating under a budget deficit, the La Salle County Board isn’t upping your county tax bill.

The county plans to levy $24.4 million worth of property taxes next year, very similar to the amount levied last year.  The board is going to dip into its reserves to pay a deficit instead of raising taxes.

Your property taxes could still go up if your property has been reassessed.  The La Salle Nuclear Station is an example of a reassessment meaning higher property taxes.  The plant’s taxes are nearly doubling, which company officials think is unlawful.  They’ve filed a tax objection.

Radio performance of “It’s a Wonderful Life” comes to Stage 212

You’re probably too young to remember gathering around a radio to hear a dramatic performance.  You can get a taste of that style of storytelling during a performance of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at Stage 212 this weekend.

The cast tells the story made popular in movie form and presents it as a 1940s radio program.  Director Rachael Mellen explains.

Stage 212 is on First Street in La Salle.  Performances are at 7:30pm Friday and Saturday and at 2pm Sunday.  Tickets are $10 each.