Yikes, this month went fast. It seems like all we hear is bad news on the national front and it filters down to the daily operations of the City eventually. You may have seen the article in the Gazette that discussed some of the challenges that lie ahead for the City, similar to those that lie ahead for a lot of people in the community.
The City has pension obligations to pay for. The State mandates the benefits and mandates minimum contributions to the fund, the City is then left to figure out how to pay for it. As you might suspect, the pension funds have lost significant value this year, but we still have to meet our obligations. This means the contribution the City must make to the pension funds goes up significantly, nearly an 18% increase to the fire pension fund and a 34% increase to the police pension fund. In order to make those funding commitments, the City has to cut elsewhere. The City of Sterling has typically chosen to fund the pension funds slightly higher than the State mandated minimum, which is a good thing, otherwise we'd have lost more and we'd have to come up with even more this year.
Of course on the revenue side, we anticipate a decrease as well. The only consolation is nearly every city in Illinois is in the same boat. This is not a Sterling issue or Sauk Valley issue. For instance, the State collects all the income tax receipts, then sets aside 11% for distribution to cities based on census counts. If the State collects fewer income tax receipts because fewer people are working and businesses are making less, every city in Illinois is going to get a decrease in the amount distributed. The same principle applies to Motor Fuel Tax. The State collects the tax and then distributes a portion of that tax to local governments based on population counts. So far, Motor Fuel Tax is down this year, which means less money to the City for roads, salt, patching, potholes, street lights, traffic lights, etc.
Without dragging this out too much farther, the City is going to have some very weighty decisions before it to determine what is of the highest priority and what's closest to to the cutting table. The unfortunate part is City government delivers those services that are such an important part of our daily lives, and worse, the General Fund is what suffers most. The majority of the expenditures in the City's General Fund are for police, fire and public works. No one is usually too eager to start cutting at those services, but unfortunately, that appears the direction we're heading. Hopefully we can get through this down cycle by delaying capital and equipment purchases, but no matter what we delay now, it will catch up with us later, whether we delay new squad cars or delay sewer projects or delay fire equipment replacements, it will catch back up to us. Whew, that's some grim reading....
The good news is we're still doing what we can to maximize what we're getting for the dollar and trying to find creative ways to both enhance the community and find efficiencies in our operations. And the good news is that believe it or not, we're not taking the lumps as badly as a lot of communities out there. As I always say, if you want to make a difference in the economy locally, make that extra effort to shop local. Keeping dollars in our area keeps your neigbors employed, keeps stores in business (and can attract new stores!), keeps money coming to the City for police, fire and roads, and allows local employees and local businesses to give back. We have a lot of local businesses that do a lot in the community to support a wide range of projects ranging from United Way to fund raising support. A lot of them do it fairly quietly, but it makes a big difference. Please keep those little intangibles in mind when you're out shopping and give the local stores a shot, and if you find a better deal elsewhere, see if they can at least match it for you. The little things go a long way and yes, you can make a difference.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Veterans Day
Thank you to all the veterans out there in our community. You'll never get enough recognition for what you've contributed to society.
Learn about Veterans Day at the Dept of Veterans Affairs website.
World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those
who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"
Learn about Veterans Day at the Dept of Veterans Affairs website.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Falling behind!
I let a week slip by without updating. It's certainly been an interesting week at that. One of the most fascinating moments of the week was sitting down with foreign visitors that came through the Rock River International Fellowship program. Heather Sotelo, Betty Steinart and I had the privilege of sitting down with people from across the Middle East to discuss economic development. The visitors ranged from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Tunisia, Bahrain, Jordan and points beyond. They were all great people to meet with and share information with.
And as we head to November, I encourage everyone to get out and vote... once. I don't think I have to clarify that this far out from Chicago, but you never know. At least I didn't ask that you leave your dead relatives at home. I don't believe in the argument that your one vote doesn't matter. Just knowing that people care enough to vote sends a message to elected officials that they're accountable and people care enough to monitor what is happening.
Enjoy this fantastic fall weather!!!
And as we head to November, I encourage everyone to get out and vote... once. I don't think I have to clarify that this far out from Chicago, but you never know. At least I didn't ask that you leave your dead relatives at home. I don't believe in the argument that your one vote doesn't matter. Just knowing that people care enough to vote sends a message to elected officials that they're accountable and people care enough to monitor what is happening.
Enjoy this fantastic fall weather!!!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Take Action Now or Want a Better Community? Get Involved!
This morning I had the great pleasure of walking around the Propheter Park neighborhood with members of their Neighborhood Watch program, helping to clean up the area. Sterling Police Officer, Frank Hopes who coordinates the Watch program in that area, borrowed a truck from the Public Works Department and lent some muscle to further assist the neighbors. It was great to see neighbors not only showing concern for their neighborhood, but actually doing something about it. In the process, I met some nice people and I learned more about the history of the neighborhood. Pretty neat!
The disappointing part was the amount of litter and junk we picked up. Fortunately, it was limited to small areas, but it's certainly disheartening to see a few people unwilling to clean up after themselves or properly dispose of trash. But when the neighborhood comes together, it really makes a difference. Hopefully it rubs off and people can get more people involved and those people can get even more people involved and so forth until most neighbors know and are familiar with each other.
Take pride in your City and in your neighborhood. The little things truly add up! If you're interested in forming a Neighborhood Watch group in your area, call the Sterling Police Department at 632-6600. Neighborhood Watch groups are assigned a police officer to help them put the group together. The Groups then learn more about what the police department is doing, what neighbors can do, hold block parties, neighborhood meetings and cleanup events.
The disappointing part was the amount of litter and junk we picked up. Fortunately, it was limited to small areas, but it's certainly disheartening to see a few people unwilling to clean up after themselves or properly dispose of trash. But when the neighborhood comes together, it really makes a difference. Hopefully it rubs off and people can get more people involved and those people can get even more people involved and so forth until most neighbors know and are familiar with each other.
Take pride in your City and in your neighborhood. The little things truly add up! If you're interested in forming a Neighborhood Watch group in your area, call the Sterling Police Department at 632-6600. Neighborhood Watch groups are assigned a police officer to help them put the group together. The Groups then learn more about what the police department is doing, what neighbors can do, hold block parties, neighborhood meetings and cleanup events.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
I know it's late in the year, but the Twin City Farmers Market is open year-round! While some items are summer dependent, there are a lot more goodies that aren't. I was especially inspired to mention the Farmers Market after having some amazing brats this weekend. Holy cow were those great. It's not just corn and beans, you can find a variety there, especially through out the summer, but even now as autumn sets in, you can still buy a variety of meats, sweets and other treats. Some vendors also start focusing on seasonal gifts and crafts that are locally created.
We have one of the very few indoor Farmer Markets in Illinois. What a gem to have here! So whether you want to be a customer or a vendor, be sure and check them out in person at the old Twin City Market building at 106 Avenue A (just southwest of the Chamber) or stop first on the web at www.tcmarket.org"Year round offerings include locally grown beef, pork, bison, free range chicken and eggs. Locally grown organic herbs (fresh in the summer, dried in the winter) and Illinois made jams, jellies, and sauces are available year round.
Rural entrepreneurs also offer toffee, baked goods (pies, breads, cookies, cakes), soaps, spun wool, forged metalwork, soy candles, rag rugs, black walnuts, homemade noodles, baskets, sunflower seeds and corn for wildlife feeding, home decor and crafts."
Friday, October 17, 2008
Trick or Treat!
Okay, I'm a sucker for a Midnight Milky Way, I confess. However, I won't be at your door asking for one, but there might be a few dozen ghosts, witches and vampires knocking on your door in about 2 weeks looking for mini Milky Ways, Snickers, licorice and the like.
The official Trick or Treat hours for Sterling and Rock Falls will be 4:30-7:00p, on Friday October 31st.
The official Trick or Treat hours for Sterling and Rock Falls will be 4:30-7:00p, on Friday October 31st.
Safety Tips
• Wear light colored clothing & reflective material
• Make sure face masks do not impair vision
• Accompany your children
• Go out in the daylight
• Carry a flashlight
• Watch for traffic
• Stay in your neighborhood and only visit homes you know
• Only give or accept wrapped or packaged candy
• Examine your child’s candy before they eat it
• Drivers slow to 5mph under the speed limit!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Fall is in the forecast and leaves are hitting the ground!
Leaves will be collected through the first full week of December on the same day as your garbage and recycling pick up. From December 15th through March 15th, you may drop off your yard waste at the Public Works Department at 1605 Avenue L. Please call Public Works at 625-6040 before you drop off yard waste for more information.
Leaves should be placed in paper yard waste bags and set out to the alley or curb (same place as your garbage or recycling). There is a 50lb weight limit on each bag. You may also use a 30 gallon can with handles for grass clippings, leaves, and small limbs. A 50lb weight limit also applies to the cans. You may also use 60 gallon or 90 gallon totes for yard waste disposal. All containers must be marked with a large "X."
For hard yard waste, such as large limbs, tree stumps, and bushes, you must put them in bundles of lengths of 4 feet or less, and 4 inches or less in diameter. Tie each bundle with twine and set out with your garbage and recycling. The 50 lb weight limit applies to this also. Bushes and shrubs must be bundled, if possible, and sat out with garbage and recycling.
Please remember that you cannot burn yard waste within city limits! You can also try composting if you have a little bit of space!
Friday, October 10, 2008
100 Years of City Management
Not to bore you, but 2008 is a significant milestone in the governance of cities. We've come a long way from Tammany Hall and patronage, well most cities have. Much of that had to do with the introduction of professional management into our cities. That started 100 years ago in Virginia....
Excerpts from: Taking Stock of the Council-Manager Form at 100
by James H. Svara and Kimberly L. Nelson
In 1908, a single city adopted what would eventually become the council- manager form of government. In 2008, more than 3,500 cities with populations exceeding 2,500 persons and more than 370 counties use the form. Beyond the direct effect of introducing a new structural option for the organization of local government, this new form also elevated the option of appointing a centrally located generalist administrator in other forms of government. Almost half of mayor-council governments and more than half of the commission and town meeting governments have a chief administrative officer (CAO) or city administrator, and such a position is often found in elected county executive governments as well.
Figure 1. Use of Major Forms of Government and Change, 1990–2007.
Figure 2. Percentage of Cities Using the Council-Manager Form by Population Category, 1990 and 2007.
Studies show that when council-manager cities are compared with mayor-council cities the council-manager cities are more likely to have greater efficiency, sounder finances, and stronger management performance. They have greater representation of minority groups in staff positions. Council-manager cities are more likely to pursue long-term goals, use strategic planning, base service delivery on need and other professional standards, have ethics codes and boards, integrate management functions, and adopt innovative management practices.
Excerpts from: Taking Stock of the Council-Manager Form at 100
by James H. Svara and Kimberly L. Nelson
In 1908, a single city adopted what would eventually become the council- manager form of government. In 2008, more than 3,500 cities with populations exceeding 2,500 persons and more than 370 counties use the form. Beyond the direct effect of introducing a new structural option for the organization of local government, this new form also elevated the option of appointing a centrally located generalist administrator in other forms of government. Almost half of mayor-council governments and more than half of the commission and town meeting governments have a chief administrative officer (CAO) or city administrator, and such a position is often found in elected county executive governments as well.
Figure 1. Use of Major Forms of Government and Change, 1990–2007.
| All U.S. cities over 2,500 in population | 1990 | 2007 | Change | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % (number) | % (number) | % (number) | Cities smaller than 10,000 | Cities larger than 10,000 | |
| Mayor-council | 54.5% (3,645) | 43.5% (3,131) | -14.1% (-514) | -515 | 1 |
| Council-manager | 36.2% (2,420) | 48.9% (3,520) | 45.5% (1,100) | 574 | 526 |
| Other | 9.2% (617) | 7.5% (543) | -12.0% (-74) | -47 | -27 |
| Total | 100.0% (6,682) | 100.0% (7,194) | 7.7% (512) | ||
Differences in Local Government Forms
There are three major features that differentiate the mayor-council and council-manager forms of government, and all three can be traced back to the origins of the form. Analogous to the distinction between presidential and parliamentary systems, the first feature is the allocation of authority.
The council-manager form places all governmental authority in the hands of the council, with certain functions assigned by law, charter, or convention to the manager appointed by the council. Authority is unified in the collective leadership body of the council. To the early reformers citing the practice of English local government, eliminating separation of powers and strengthening the council was as important to the council-manager form as the creation of the manager’s position.3
The relationship between the council and the manager is based on this allocation of authority. Despite all the words that have been written and spoken about the separation of politics and policy from the administration, the unique feature of the council-manager form is the interaction of councilmembers and administrators in both policy and administration. As intended by drafters of the model city charter in 1915, the form ensures that a professional perspective will be presented to the council by the manager on all policy decisions and that council oversight can be directed to any administrative action.
With separation of powers, the mayor can limit the policy advice given to the council and can shield staff from council oversight.4 In the mayor-council form, mayors can also have a substantial impact on the amount and quality of professional advice they receive and share with the council and on the level of professionalism that is present in the administrative organization. In contrast with the council-manager form in which the council has authority over the manager, the mayor in the mayor-council form is a separate and independent executive.
The second feature that differentiates forms is how executive responsibilities are assigned to an elected or appointed administrator. In the council-manager form, executive functions are the responsibility of the city or county manager even if some functions on occasion are shared with other officials. In parliamentary-style local governments in northern Europe, the mayor or other top political figure commonly shares executive authority with the top administrator, but this administrator is still the chief executive officer.
In the mayor-council form, executive responsibilities are exercised under the authority of the mayor. A central coordinating administrative position can be created—a CAO—but in contrast with the clear delegation of executive authority to the city manager, the assignments to the CAO may be determined by the will of the executive mayor.5 In contrast, the council-manager form ensures the linkage of executive responsibilities with a professional top administrator.
When a top administrator is present in the local government form, the third distinguishing feature is whether the administrator is responsible to the entire council or to the mayor. Responsibility to the entire council is an essential characteristic of the council-manager form and helps to ensure both transparency and a focus on the public interest rather than the political interests of a single elected official.
Figure 2. Percentage of Cities Using the Council-Manager Form by Population Category, 1990 and 2007.
Studies show that when council-manager cities are compared with mayor-council cities the council-manager cities are more likely to have greater efficiency, sounder finances, and stronger management performance. They have greater representation of minority groups in staff positions. Council-manager cities are more likely to pursue long-term goals, use strategic planning, base service delivery on need and other professional standards, have ethics codes and boards, integrate management functions, and adopt innovative management practices.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The Big Read
The Sterling Public Library is again sponsoring "The Big Read." This year, the book at center stage is The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. Check out the National Endowment for the Arts info on The Maltese Falcon, including an introduction, historical context, and discussion items.
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.
The Sterling Public Library will hold events in conjunction with the reading including discussion groups. Library Director Jennifer Slaney has done a terrific job in bringing the program to the community and expanding it from Sterling to include Rock Falls and Dixon. Extra copies of the book are available at the library, so stop in and take part in The Big Read!
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment. The Sterling Public Library will hold events in conjunction with the reading including discussion groups. Library Director Jennifer Slaney has done a terrific job in bringing the program to the community and expanding it from Sterling to include Rock Falls and Dixon. Extra copies of the book are available at the library, so stop in and take part in The Big Read!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Rivera to Fritsch
Holy cow! What a great homecoming game for Sterling High! We were sitting around the 30 yard line when Niko Rivera let loose that 51 yard bomb to Dustin Fritsch from mid-field. All of us were sure Fritsch wouldn't get there as he ran past us, but sure enough, he caught the ball, an arcing tight spiral, in stride for the completion. That play was an exclamation point on one heck of a game for SHS. And congrats to Raciel Ocampo on the new school record!!! (who then turned around and scored 6 goals Saturday for the 17-2 SHS soccer team!) http://www.sterlingpride.com/
Take pride in your schools and in your city!
Take pride in your schools and in your city!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Credit crunch hits cities too.
From the New York Times:
Under Strain, Cities are Cutting Back Projects
How does that effect us locally? It's not a terrible burden for the immediate future, but it's something that may eventually cost the City. Since interest rates have been quite low for some time, most of the City's financed debt is at a low interest rate. However, if we were to need to go our for financing to redevelop the riverfront or we wanted to do bonds for road work to take advantage of today's prices over tomorrow's escalating prices, it's going to be much more difficult. As you can see in the article I linked, we would end up paying more in interest if we could even get anyone interested in lending.
Under Strain, Cities are Cutting Back Projects
Cities, states and other local governments have been effectively shut out of the bond markets for the last two weeks, raising the cost of day-to-day operations, threatening longer-term projects and dampening a broad source of jobs and stability at a time when other parts of the economy are weakening.
How does that effect us locally? It's not a terrible burden for the immediate future, but it's something that may eventually cost the City. Since interest rates have been quite low for some time, most of the City's financed debt is at a low interest rate. However, if we were to need to go our for financing to redevelop the riverfront or we wanted to do bonds for road work to take advantage of today's prices over tomorrow's escalating prices, it's going to be much more difficult. As you can see in the article I linked, we would end up paying more in interest if we could even get anyone interested in lending.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Dedicated Employees
A couple weeks back, we had our Service Awards recognition for employees. We had a twenty year employee this year and two 25 year employees! I kidded them they'll probably be here another 20-25 years at the rate the stock market is going. Little did I know things on Wall Street were going to go from bad to worse from the 15th to the end of the month.
Anyhow, we're fortunate to have a lot of dedicated employees who do great work. Our 25 year employees were Scot Beyer, a crew leader at Public Works and Captain Gary Dettman of the Fire Department. Thanks for the years of service and all those extra efforts I know the two of you have contributed over time!
(L-R Scott Beyer (25); Todd Messer (10); Jeff Mohr (10); Julia Jones (5); Matt laughlin (5); Gary Dettman (25)) Not pictured: Ben Babin (5); Brad Schrader (10); Ken Wright (20)
Anyhow, we're fortunate to have a lot of dedicated employees who do great work. Our 25 year employees were Scot Beyer, a crew leader at Public Works and Captain Gary Dettman of the Fire Department. Thanks for the years of service and all those extra efforts I know the two of you have contributed over time!
(L-R Scott Beyer (25); Todd Messer (10); Jeff Mohr (10); Julia Jones (5); Matt laughlin (5); Gary Dettman (25)) Not pictured: Ben Babin (5); Brad Schrader (10); Ken Wright (20)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The old NWSW Mill and the Riverfront
What on earth is going on down there?
Fair question. To say it's a delicate situation is an understatement. The area of the old NWSW mill along Wallace Street that contains deteriorating and half fallen down buildings is not owned by the City, and in fact, has an owner of record. Not being the owner presents its own challenges in cleaning up the property as you might imagine. We're doing what we can within our powers to hold the owners responsible. Keep reading to see how this becomes complex.
Two very large and credible demolition firms have evaluated the roughly 23 acres of property and determined that it will cost about $2million just to complete demolition of the area. The City does not have $2million at its disposal to finish the demolition even if it were to acquire the property.
Even after the $2million in demolition costs, we have a very rough estimate of $1million to $3million in environmental remediation. That's an estimated $3million to $5million to get the property restored to a developable or reusable area!
Why not write a grant or ask the state or the feds for money?
Believe me, we have. The IEPA and USEPA have been very good to work with and there is some money out there for environmental cleanup, though usually the money requires a match from the City. However, there is no money out there for demolition. We've asked every official we can and no one grants money for demolition. Trust me, if we could get the cash to demolish the structure, we'd likely be in the process, or at least in court getting the ball rolling for next spring. Once the demolition takes place, the time to start environmental cleanup work should be a much quicker process with the help of IEPA and USEPA.
Can't the City condemn the property or use eminent domain to take it over?
We could, but that leaves us with a court fight to gain control, which then makes us solely responsible for the demolition. Since the state and federal governments have indicated there is no money for demo work, that means local tax payers would shoulder the burden of the demo costs, which we see as highly unfair. Instead of burdening taxpayers with that costs, the City has been working to hold the owners responsible for the cleanup. That takes time, as unfortunate as that is.
If demolition is so expensive, couldn't we at least start doing it in small bits?
One would hope, but unfortunately, 1) it's not our property, it's still private property and 2) there are environmental concerns in the area that wouldn't allow a corps of volunteers to simply start hauling out debris from the site. Much of the rubble on site cannot be taken to a regular landfill.
So what can the City do?
The City has a few options, though some aren't as effective as we might like, but that's what our powers are limited to. For starters, the City has issued a number of nuisance violations in the area. On something of this scale, a nuisance violation isn't a huge incentive to get something done. We also have the ability to ask the courts to issue a demolition order. A demolition order from the court can require the owner to demolish their property, and if they choose not to, the City can demolish the property and put a lien on it. We've initiated this process and it is in the court system at this time. However, if they don't do the demolition, it's up to the City to do it, and again, the City does not have the $2million to front on the project. The City could put a lien on the property for the cost, but realistically, it would be years before the City could recover anything, and it would be a fraction of the cost we put into the property. Last, and our only reasonable option is to hold the owners' feet to the fire for the environmental concerns on the property, both those liabilities inherited through the purchase and the ones created since. It probably doesn't surprise you to hear that using the legal system and negotiation between attorneys to get somewhere takes time and needs to be deliberate, but we've indicated very recently that the clock is ticking and action needs to be taken asap.
In short, it's taken time to minimize the cost that will fall onto local taxpayers. It's not inaction on our part that's caused the property to sit untouched. Council members and staff members alike are terribly frustrated with the condition of the property. We'll keep the pedal to the metal down the legal avenue!
It's a short answer that tries to condense a couple years and a lot of complexity into a few paragraphs, but hopefully this provides a little insight into what the City is trying to accomplish and why we are or aren't doing some things with the property and why we can't turn it into an overnight success. We'll keep diligently plugging away at it until the property is cleaned up.
Fair question. To say it's a delicate situation is an understatement. The area of the old NWSW mill along Wallace Street that contains deteriorating and half fallen down buildings is not owned by the City, and in fact, has an owner of record. Not being the owner presents its own challenges in cleaning up the property as you might imagine. We're doing what we can within our powers to hold the owners responsible. Keep reading to see how this becomes complex.
Two very large and credible demolition firms have evaluated the roughly 23 acres of property and determined that it will cost about $2million just to complete demolition of the area. The City does not have $2million at its disposal to finish the demolition even if it were to acquire the property.
Even after the $2million in demolition costs, we have a very rough estimate of $1million to $3million in environmental remediation. That's an estimated $3million to $5million to get the property restored to a developable or reusable area!
Why not write a grant or ask the state or the feds for money?
Believe me, we have. The IEPA and USEPA have been very good to work with and there is some money out there for environmental cleanup, though usually the money requires a match from the City. However, there is no money out there for demolition. We've asked every official we can and no one grants money for demolition. Trust me, if we could get the cash to demolish the structure, we'd likely be in the process, or at least in court getting the ball rolling for next spring. Once the demolition takes place, the time to start environmental cleanup work should be a much quicker process with the help of IEPA and USEPA.
Can't the City condemn the property or use eminent domain to take it over?
We could, but that leaves us with a court fight to gain control, which then makes us solely responsible for the demolition. Since the state and federal governments have indicated there is no money for demo work, that means local tax payers would shoulder the burden of the demo costs, which we see as highly unfair. Instead of burdening taxpayers with that costs, the City has been working to hold the owners responsible for the cleanup. That takes time, as unfortunate as that is.
If demolition is so expensive, couldn't we at least start doing it in small bits?
One would hope, but unfortunately, 1) it's not our property, it's still private property and 2) there are environmental concerns in the area that wouldn't allow a corps of volunteers to simply start hauling out debris from the site. Much of the rubble on site cannot be taken to a regular landfill.
So what can the City do?
The City has a few options, though some aren't as effective as we might like, but that's what our powers are limited to. For starters, the City has issued a number of nuisance violations in the area. On something of this scale, a nuisance violation isn't a huge incentive to get something done. We also have the ability to ask the courts to issue a demolition order. A demolition order from the court can require the owner to demolish their property, and if they choose not to, the City can demolish the property and put a lien on it. We've initiated this process and it is in the court system at this time. However, if they don't do the demolition, it's up to the City to do it, and again, the City does not have the $2million to front on the project. The City could put a lien on the property for the cost, but realistically, it would be years before the City could recover anything, and it would be a fraction of the cost we put into the property. Last, and our only reasonable option is to hold the owners' feet to the fire for the environmental concerns on the property, both those liabilities inherited through the purchase and the ones created since. It probably doesn't surprise you to hear that using the legal system and negotiation between attorneys to get somewhere takes time and needs to be deliberate, but we've indicated very recently that the clock is ticking and action needs to be taken asap.
In short, it's taken time to minimize the cost that will fall onto local taxpayers. It's not inaction on our part that's caused the property to sit untouched. Council members and staff members alike are terribly frustrated with the condition of the property. We'll keep the pedal to the metal down the legal avenue!
It's a short answer that tries to condense a couple years and a lot of complexity into a few paragraphs, but hopefully this provides a little insight into what the City is trying to accomplish and why we are or aren't doing some things with the property and why we can't turn it into an overnight success. We'll keep diligently plugging away at it until the property is cleaned up.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Not a bad weekend for area sports!
Cubs win the NL Central, the Sox are playing for a spot, the Bears held off an impressive Philly squad, the Warriors took down Geneseo, and Newman won big. NIU came up big too. Unfortunately the Illini weren't quite so fortunate.
On a more serious note, Friday I was in a community meeting discussing the ongoing needs toward building a better community for students, schools and families alike. A series of speakers and conversations will be taking place, the first of which involves Guest Speaker, Tony West. Everyone is invited to attend Centennial Auditorium at 6:30p on Wednesday, October 8th.
On a more serious note, Friday I was in a community meeting discussing the ongoing needs toward building a better community for students, schools and families alike. A series of speakers and conversations will be taking place, the first of which involves Guest Speaker, Tony West. Everyone is invited to attend Centennial Auditorium at 6:30p on Wednesday, October 8th.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Rental Inspection Program
As you may have heard during the City's time on WSDR this morning or in the Daily Gazette a few weeks back, the City of Sterling is considering a rental inspection program. The goal of the program is to:
Nationwide, cities have implemented similar plans. Illinois has rental inspections from Galena to Carbondale and Chicago's suburbs to the Quad Cities.
What will the City look for?
How will this effect the landlords?
How can this benefit landlords?
How can landlords be proactive?
Bottom line, how much will this cost?
- Improve neighborhoods
- Reverse the trend in some declining neighborhoods
- Improve the overall housing stock
- Raise the minimum standard of living
- Ensure safe, healthy housing of all
- Answer to complaints from citizens
- Reduce the number of landlord tenant disputes over property conditions
- Make the community an attractive place for people to live and move to and create jobs in
Nationwide, cities have implemented similar plans. Illinois has rental inspections from Galena to Carbondale and Chicago's suburbs to the Quad Cities.
So what exactly is a rental inspection program?
- Some cities license landlords to root out the bad ones. As a non-home rule city, that's not a power our city has. We can however require a landlord to have an occupancy permit to rent out a unit. The occupancy permit is issued if the property is completely up to code. Some cities require a new permit annually, some require it every time tenants change, and some vary the time frame according to the condition of the property. Sterling is considering the option to grade properties so that a property that meets all standards gets a permit that lasts for a few years. Properties that have only minor deficiencies that don't risk the tenants health may get a 1 year permit. If the property has a major deficiency or is an immediate hazard to the tenant, the property may only get a permit good for a month or less, if one at all depending on the severity.
What will the City look for?
- Due to the number of properties to inspect, the first round of inspections will likely be exterior only, unless there is a reason to suspect the interior is in an unsafe condition. When it's time to renew, the inspections should be staggered enough to allow the inspector time to inspect the interior as well as the exterior.
- Exterior
- Roof in good condition
- Gutters in tact
- Chimney stable
- Windows and screens unbroken
- Foundations in good condition
- Paint not chipping away
- Steps and railings secure
- Yard mowed and free of junk
- Accessory structures in good condition
- Interior
- Plumbing works (supply and drain)
- Electric: Access to panels, no bare wiring, fixtures secure, plates around switches and outlets
- Working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
- Walls in good condition
- Occupancy load
- Ingress/egress (doors secure, entrances unobstructed, etc)
- Rodent or insect infestation
- Evident mold or mildew problems
- Evidence of roof leaks
How will this effect the landlords?
- Once registered as a rental property with the code enforcement office, if the property is up to code as it should already be, the landlord will only need to pay a small fee for the occupancy permit which is good for multiple years.
- Better maintained properties=better rents=better tenants=better neighborhoods. Everyone benefits from better neighborhoods!
How can this benefit landlords?
- This establishes a level playing field for lower rent properties. Good landlords that reinvest in their properties shouldn't have to compete against landlords that let their properties deteriorate so that they can make an extra few dollars
- The program will protect your property's value. Your neighbors dilapidated properties may be dragging down the amount you can sell or rent out your property for or worse, make it more difficult to get your property rented
- Optimistically, the bad landlords with no desire to fix or maintain properties will sell out to the good landlords that will maintain the property
- Attract a better pool of renters
How can landlords be proactive?
- Improve screening of rental applicants (requiring an application fee or paying $50 up front to do a background check can save a lot more in damage and eviction fees down the road)
- Many landlords fail to secure a lease with their tenants
- Create a conditions checklist signed by the tenant and landlord agreeing to the condition of the property
- Learn how to evict without the cost of an attorney
- Don't accept work for rent... it often leads to quarrels. Make sure you get a lease signed by your tenant. Don't move in new tenants before the property is cleaned and fixed for the next tenant
- Adjust security deposits as necessary
- Work with the Sterling Police Department and the "Crime Free Housing Program." Use the Crime Free/Drug Free lease addendum that part of the program
Bottom line, how much will this cost?
- We anticipate that more than half of the City's cost will come from the rental occupancy permit fees. Subject to change, I would venture to say this would equal $30-$40 per permit. If your property was up to code, that's about $1 a month. If your property is not up to minimum standards, your permit won’t go as far, but your property should be up to code regardless of the rental inspection program
- The remainder of the cost would come from the City's general fund. The Council and staff are so concerned with the state of our neighborhoods, that we believe $1 a month on rental units is worth it to ensure we make progress on our neighborhood improvement. We’re not going to cut any other service to make this happen. If the budget dictates, down the road it may mean the permits average out to $2 or $3 a month, but again, for our long-term outlook, we believe this is a necessary program
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Motor Fuel Taxes and Road Project Funding
How does the City fund road projects? Does the City gain from higher gas prices?
The City funds road projects primarily through 4 sources.
1) Local Option Sales Tax. The citizens of Sterling would likely have no idea how much this revenue stream has meant toward road construction. All of the money Sterling receives form the local option sales tax goes toward street projects. A portion goes to pay for the bond used to construct the last section of Lynn Boulevard, but the majority goes to pay for ongoing road projects. 2) Motor Fuel Tax. This is a tax that comes back to us from the State of Illinois. It has little to do with how much gas you buy in Sterling. The State collects the motor fuel tax on your gas purchases and then redistributes the tax to cities (and other local governments) based on population. In very round numbers, Sterling makes up 0.1% of the population in Illinois, so the City of Sterling gets back roughly 0.1% of gas taxes distributed to local governments. A small portion of Motor Fuel Tax funds are also used to pay for street lighting and traffic lighting, which would otherwise come from property taxes.
3) Federal Highway Funds. These are limited and aren't available every year. They are limited to FHWA eligible roads. For Sterling, Lynn Boulevard is eligible for FHWA funds and some older sections will be repaired in the future using FHWA funds.
4) Sales tax/property tax. Not a large part, but a significant part of the road spending. We use sales and property taxes to do a lot of the curb and gutter work on our own and to do some of the coring out of streets on our own which saves dollars for the City.
Does the City benefit from higher gas prices?
On the balance, no. The Motor Fuel Tax receipts are actually down right down. People are in fact driving less and as the Chicago area grows, the rest of Illinois becomes a smaller piece of the pie and therefore gets a smaller amount from the state in motor fuel tax since it's distributed based on your proportion of the population.
Yes, sales taxes are up slightly, but if people drive less and have less to spend elsewhere because they are buying fuel, it's not helping the City.
Worse yet, the City isn't immune. Fire trucks, police cars, street sweepers, backhoes, plow trucks, etc all run on gas and diesel that we have to pay for. Factor that in and the City really suffers from a budget standpoint. We'd much prefer and love to see $2 gas and people having more money to shop locally!
The City funds road projects primarily through 4 sources.
1) Local Option Sales Tax. The citizens of Sterling would likely have no idea how much this revenue stream has meant toward road construction. All of the money Sterling receives form the local option sales tax goes toward street projects. A portion goes to pay for the bond used to construct the last section of Lynn Boulevard, but the majority goes to pay for ongoing road projects. 2) Motor Fuel Tax. This is a tax that comes back to us from the State of Illinois. It has little to do with how much gas you buy in Sterling. The State collects the motor fuel tax on your gas purchases and then redistributes the tax to cities (and other local governments) based on population. In very round numbers, Sterling makes up 0.1% of the population in Illinois, so the City of Sterling gets back roughly 0.1% of gas taxes distributed to local governments. A small portion of Motor Fuel Tax funds are also used to pay for street lighting and traffic lighting, which would otherwise come from property taxes.
3) Federal Highway Funds. These are limited and aren't available every year. They are limited to FHWA eligible roads. For Sterling, Lynn Boulevard is eligible for FHWA funds and some older sections will be repaired in the future using FHWA funds.
4) Sales tax/property tax. Not a large part, but a significant part of the road spending. We use sales and property taxes to do a lot of the curb and gutter work on our own and to do some of the coring out of streets on our own which saves dollars for the City.
Does the City benefit from higher gas prices?
On the balance, no. The Motor Fuel Tax receipts are actually down right down. People are in fact driving less and as the Chicago area grows, the rest of Illinois becomes a smaller piece of the pie and therefore gets a smaller amount from the state in motor fuel tax since it's distributed based on your proportion of the population.
Yes, sales taxes are up slightly, but if people drive less and have less to spend elsewhere because they are buying fuel, it's not helping the City.
Worse yet, the City isn't immune. Fire trucks, police cars, street sweepers, backhoes, plow trucks, etc all run on gas and diesel that we have to pay for. Factor that in and the City really suffers from a budget standpoint. We'd much prefer and love to see $2 gas and people having more money to shop locally!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Street Reconstruction - Who gets what when and how much does it cost?
Something that comes up frequently is road project selection and funding of road projects.
Selecting road projects is always a tough task. Many years ago, the City purchased a software program that helps us pick which roads to repair. So how does software rate our roads? It's actually based on a number of inputs, not just the condition of the street surface. Traffic counts do affect the rating. If two roads are in equally bad condition, with no doubt the road that has more traffic gets the nod. If a road has no curb and gutter and suffers from drainage issues, that road gets a higher rating than a similar road that has good drainage. "Ride-ability." How is the road to drive down? If it has lots of surface cracks but rides okay, the rating may go down. On the other hand, if the road has few cracks but several heaves or depressions where the base under the road has gone away, the rating will go up.
So when is my road getting redone? If you've ever called the City of Sterling, you've likely not gotten the answer you hoped for. Each spring, the public works department and our consulting engineer go out and update the ratings for as many streets as they can. Winter and the freeze thaw cycle are never kind to the roads and some suffer worse than others which requires the annual updates. While your road may be 20th on the list, this year, it may move up or down a bit by next year depending on how bad the winter was on all of our streets.
The other problem with predicting when your road will be done is the cost of doing it. While the local options sales tax is a very valuable tool for the community to make sure roads get done, the cost of reconstructing roads is something we have little control over. 4 years ago, a typical residential block cost about $25,000 to reconstruct. That's tearing out the old, repairing the base and putting the new road down and reseting the manholes, curb cuts etc. This year, we're at roughly $45,000 per block. How does that happen? The major issue we face is the cost of oil has skyrocketed in 4 years. Asphalt is essentially a rock and an oil derivative mixed together. So asphalt has nearly doubled, the cost to deliver the road rock for the base and the asphalt for the surface has doubled and it's not hard to see why the cost to the City has doubled.
Believe me, it's very frustrating to see our community's dollars going half as far as they did just a few years back for street projects, but as a City, we have no control over the cost of oil and asphalt. We're at the mercy of the markets. In hindsight,we'd have been geniuses if we'd sold $10 million in bonds in 2003 to do road projects at those 2003 costs. Of course had we done that in 2003, people would have probably thought we were off our rockers. Hindsight is always 20/20.
I'll post more about Motor Fuel Taxes in the future.
Selecting road projects is always a tough task. Many years ago, the City purchased a software program that helps us pick which roads to repair. So how does software rate our roads? It's actually based on a number of inputs, not just the condition of the street surface. Traffic counts do affect the rating. If two roads are in equally bad condition, with no doubt the road that has more traffic gets the nod. If a road has no curb and gutter and suffers from drainage issues, that road gets a higher rating than a similar road that has good drainage. "Ride-ability." How is the road to drive down? If it has lots of surface cracks but rides okay, the rating may go down. On the other hand, if the road has few cracks but several heaves or depressions where the base under the road has gone away, the rating will go up.
So when is my road getting redone? If you've ever called the City of Sterling, you've likely not gotten the answer you hoped for. Each spring, the public works department and our consulting engineer go out and update the ratings for as many streets as they can. Winter and the freeze thaw cycle are never kind to the roads and some suffer worse than others which requires the annual updates. While your road may be 20th on the list, this year, it may move up or down a bit by next year depending on how bad the winter was on all of our streets.
The other problem with predicting when your road will be done is the cost of doing it. While the local options sales tax is a very valuable tool for the community to make sure roads get done, the cost of reconstructing roads is something we have little control over. 4 years ago, a typical residential block cost about $25,000 to reconstruct. That's tearing out the old, repairing the base and putting the new road down and reseting the manholes, curb cuts etc. This year, we're at roughly $45,000 per block. How does that happen? The major issue we face is the cost of oil has skyrocketed in 4 years. Asphalt is essentially a rock and an oil derivative mixed together. So asphalt has nearly doubled, the cost to deliver the road rock for the base and the asphalt for the surface has doubled and it's not hard to see why the cost to the City has doubled.
Believe me, it's very frustrating to see our community's dollars going half as far as they did just a few years back for street projects, but as a City, we have no control over the cost of oil and asphalt. We're at the mercy of the markets. In hindsight,we'd have been geniuses if we'd sold $10 million in bonds in 2003 to do road projects at those 2003 costs. Of course had we done that in 2003, people would have probably thought we were off our rockers. Hindsight is always 20/20.
I'll post more about Motor Fuel Taxes in the future.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Congratulations Sterling Girls Softball!!!
What a fantastic accomplishment in making it to the Little League World Series! Such a great reward for the work and dedication by the team and coaches. Even more impressive is the dominant way in which the girls won against some of the best teams in the country!
Thanks also to WSDR and Jim Spencer for covering the games live. It was very exciting listening to the final game Saturday afternoon.
Best of luck in Portland and we'll be looking for you on ESPN!
http://www.softballworldseries.com/
http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2008/08/04/news/local/2a771d4d7c6af1d5e8509061c80c5f81.txt
Thanks also to WSDR and Jim Spencer for covering the games live. It was very exciting listening to the final game Saturday afternoon.
Best of luck in Portland and we'll be looking for you on ESPN!
http://www.softballworldseries.com/
http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2008/08/04/news/local/2a771d4d7c6af1d5e8509061c80c5f81.txt
Monday, June 23, 2008
Summer's Here!
Great news for enjoying the weather, but it also means road work and traffic interruptions. There's a good chance you've already encountered the work going occurring on Polo Road. Workers are improving the stormwater drainage in the area and adding a turn lane to Polo road in addition to resurfacing the area. Most of the work will be done this year and the road completely opened later this summer, but the final layer of asphalt is actually going to be laid next summer to allow the base to settle and to allow for other potential construction work in the area.
Other street projects include:
Other street projects include:
Broadway – 4th to 5th
Avenue F – 5th to 7th
E. 23rd St – Locust – 3rd
8th Avenue – 4th - 5th
8th Avenue – 6th – 10th
Johnson Ave – 9th – 10th
Woodlawn Rd – Route 2 – City Limits
6th Avenue – 3rd to 4th
While the work can tie up traffic and cause temporary parking concerns, the end result more than makes up for it! Please give the workers a break and have a little patience while they're at work. Thanks for the cooperation!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Rock Falls Rockets Baseball
I just had to say congrats to the Rock Falls Rockets baseball team. Hopefully I don't jinx our neighbors, but after seeing their pitching stat line for the season, you can only we awed. Those are amazing stats. Best of luck to RF in their championship run. It's nice to see so many of our area teams succeeding in so many different prep sports!
Clean & Green
The City is putting on its first Clean & Green week. We're pretty excited about the event. For the first time in years, the City is offering Sterling residents the chance to dispose of large, non-hazardous junk items. This project is funded largely through the City's Solid Waste fund which is why we're limited to servicing Sterling residents.
Additionally, we're putting together a volunteer effort to do some cleanup projects around the City. We have several volunteers lined up to cleanup the downtown and parks in the City. We've also received some generous donations to help provide lunches and drinks to volunteers. We also received some assistance in sprucing up the entry signs on IL 40 and Freeport Road.
It's the first year, so we're managing expectations and hoping to learn a few things for future events. Hopefully everyone can be patient and help us make this a smooth running event that we can continue. Thanks for everyone's cooperation, particularly the Public Works employees who are going above and beyond with this project!
Additionally, we're putting together a volunteer effort to do some cleanup projects around the City. We have several volunteers lined up to cleanup the downtown and parks in the City. We've also received some generous donations to help provide lunches and drinks to volunteers. We also received some assistance in sprucing up the entry signs on IL 40 and Freeport Road.
It's the first year, so we're managing expectations and hoping to learn a few things for future events. Hopefully everyone can be patient and help us make this a smooth running event that we can continue. Thanks for everyone's cooperation, particularly the Public Works employees who are going above and beyond with this project!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Bike to Work Week
In the face of constantly rising fuel prices, what better way to save some dollars and do something good for yourself than to ride your bicycle to work? You can save hundreds, if not a thousand dollars in fuel and maintenance costs depending on how often and how far you normally drive and what you drive. You'll also burn hundreds of calories each day, which means you can lose those extra pounds or you can afford to have that extra scoop of ice cream! All that is without even considering the other benefits such as fewer cars on the road and less pollution.
It's not easy for everyone, but for most, it's probably easier than first imagined. You don't have to be Lance Armstrong to ride 5 miles to work. If you can walk a mile, you can easily handle 5 miles. In fact, you can probably get that far in 20-30 minutes without breaking a sweat!
But what about clothes? Depending on what your job requires, you can wear your work wear or you can simply roll (not fold) your clothes into a backpack or even a trunk pack that attaches to your bike. You can always pack a few handi-wipes just in case you do break a sweat.
But my bike, will my bike be a good commuter? Any bicycle can be used. That old Schwinn road bike, that new Trek comfort bike, or that mountain bike collecting dust in the garage. Make sure the tires are inflated, and consider having a bike mechanic give it a once over to make sure it's shifting well and the brakes are in good shape.
Take a Saturday and give it a try. If nothing else, think about riding once a week, or just getting out and riding after work! You'll feel a lot better at the end of the day!
Check out the League of Bicyclists Brochure designed for new cyclists thinking about biking to work to read many more tips!
It's not easy for everyone, but for most, it's probably easier than first imagined. You don't have to be Lance Armstrong to ride 5 miles to work. If you can walk a mile, you can easily handle 5 miles. In fact, you can probably get that far in 20-30 minutes without breaking a sweat!
But what about clothes? Depending on what your job requires, you can wear your work wear or you can simply roll (not fold) your clothes into a backpack or even a trunk pack that attaches to your bike. You can always pack a few handi-wipes just in case you do break a sweat.
But my bike, will my bike be a good commuter? Any bicycle can be used. That old Schwinn road bike, that new Trek comfort bike, or that mountain bike collecting dust in the garage. Make sure the tires are inflated, and consider having a bike mechanic give it a once over to make sure it's shifting well and the brakes are in good shape.
Take a Saturday and give it a try. If nothing else, think about riding once a week, or just getting out and riding after work! You'll feel a lot better at the end of the day!
Check out the League of Bicyclists Brochure designed for new cyclists thinking about biking to work to read many more tips!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Welcome!
Hello readers!
I hope to update this with some frequency, though I know upfront that updates will be sporadic, depending on time availability and the timeliness of topics.
It's my intention to use this space to help citizens get a better feel for how your City works for you and more insight on what we are doing to make the City of Sterling a better place to live. Having a blog makes getting the message out a little easier and a little more personal for everyone.
I hope to update this with some frequency, though I know upfront that updates will be sporadic, depending on time availability and the timeliness of topics.
It's my intention to use this space to help citizens get a better feel for how your City works for you and more insight on what we are doing to make the City of Sterling a better place to live. Having a blog makes getting the message out a little easier and a little more personal for everyone.
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