www.arcolarecordherald.com Volume 153 — Number 22 THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 ONE SECTION — 10 PAGES ARCOLA CITY COUNCIL TIF Funds To Help Projects By Chris Slack Tax Increment Financing redevelopment agreements were adopted in ordinance form by the Arcola City Council, which will assist two local businesses with expansion and remodeling plans coming up in 2015. At the council’s first meeting of the year on Monday night — a brief gathering that was completed in less than 10 minutes — the redevelopment agreements with LT&E, Inc., and Prairie Wind Antiques received unanimous approval. The council gave preliminary approval at its December 22 meeting. In their application for TIF funds to the city, Michael and Marie Kauffman of LT&E, located on the south side of Arcola along U.S. 45, indicated plans to construct a new 28-foot by 36-foot office addition to the front of the existing office. The new addition is expected to feature three offices. Also planned is a half-story addition on the second floor for a conference room and extra file storage. The total estimated cost of the project is $125,000. LT&E will receive a TIF rebate from the city of up to $25,000. It will not receive the TIF funds until the project is completed. The TIF application from Eric and Cindy Rodmaker of Prairie Wind Antiques at 206 E. Main St. requested a TIF storefront grant of up to $10,000. They are proposing a nearly $20,000 renovation project on the building. The Rodmakers opened their business in downtown Arcola less than a year ago. The Rodmakers stated in their application that the building has water and termite damage. They also plan to replace the front of the building with a whitewash brick look. Also planned are new windows and a commercial door. The Rodmakers are in the process of purchasing the building. The estimated cost of the improvements being planned is $19,766.07 and the projected starting date is March 1. Under TIF storefront grant guidelines, the Rodmakers are required to match the total amount they will receive with their own funds, with the maximum amount being $10,000. The city’s TIF facade grant program encourages private investment in exterior improvements to structures located in the city’s TIF districts. Other Council News • Also at the meeting, the council unanimously approved amending the employee handbook to include language pertaining to holiday bonuses for the city’s part-time and full-time employees. Employees receive holiday bonuses each year, but City Administrator Bill Wagoner said there had been no reference to this annual practice by the city in the employee handbook. Wagoner said the three-paragraph amendment is now included in the wage and salary section of the handbook. • The council accepted the zoning officer’s report, which included the issuance of construction permits to the following: Jane Truskosky, 352 W. Jefferson, storage building with a valuation of $2,800 and a fee of $25; Pat Williams, 103 E. 3rd South St., storage building with a valuation of $4,800 and a fee of $25; and Ben Kuhns, 828 Prairie Meadow, storage building with a valuation of $4,000 and a fee of $25. • The next council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, January 19, at the Arcola Municipal Building, 114 N. Locust. Dieterich All-Tournament Selections Three Arcola High School basketball players earned all-tournament honors at the Dieterich Holiday Tournament, which was held December 26-29. Kollin Seaman (left) and Wyatt Fishel (center) were on the all-tournament boys’ team, while junior Rebekah Montgomery was selected to the all-tourney girls’ squad. The Purple Rider boys finished second to Dieterich in the tournament, while the girls split their four games and placed fourth. Court Rules In Favor Of Township A ruling was entered in favor of Arcola Township in Douglas County Circuit Court on December 16. Several petitions have been filed in the past year by Paris resident John Kraft alleging that the township has violated the Freedom of Information Act. Following is a statement from Arcola Township regarding the ruling: “On Tuesday, the 16th of December, the Circuit Court of Douglas County entered a judgment in favor of Arcola Township and against the plaintiff in a suit claiming the township had violated the Freedom of Information Act. The court found that the plaintiff had failed to provide any wrongdoing by the township and entered a judgment and required the plaintiff to pay the township’s court costs. The court in each of the four counts directed a verdict against the plaintiff at the close of his case finding that the township had done nothing wrong. The plaintiff in this case was John Kraft.” According to the petition, Kraft had served a FOIA request on the defendant’s office of Arcola Township seeking copies of public records. The plaintiff alleges that as of May 21, 2014, the defendant has never responded to the April 25 FOIA request. In the complaint filed by the plaintiff, Section 11(a) of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act states: “Any person denied access to inspect or copy any public record by a public body may file suit for injunctive or declaratory relief.” In the first count filed by the plaintiff, he alleged that he is being denied the legal right to inspect public records by the defendant. A second count alleged that the defendant has improperly denied the FOIA request by their failure to properly respond. The plaintiff was seeking a judgment that declared the defendant to be in violation of the Illinois FOIA and a judgment that enjoined the township from continuing to withhold access to any and all non-exempt public records responsive to the plaintiff’s FOIA request. He was also seeking a judgment instructing the township to prepare an affidavit declaring that they would provide complete access to the plaintiff and further declaring that any and all non-exempt public records responsive to the request would have been made available to the plaintiff. In addition, the plaintiff had asked the court to declare the defendant acted willfully, intentionally and in bad faith in the failure to respond to and to provide responsive documents to the plaintiff’s FOIA request, and that the defendant be ordered to pay a civil penalty of not less than $2,500 nor more than $5,000 for each occurrence. The plaintiff had also filed two previous FOIA-related complaints against Arcola Township. A FOIA request was served by the plaintiff on Arcola Township on April 12, 2014, seeking copies of public records. As of May 21, the plaintiff alleged that the defendant had never responded to the April 12 FOIA request. The plaintiff’s first complaint was filed November 15, 2013. On April 23, 2013, he served a FOIA request on Arcola Township seeking copies of public records. On or about April 30, 2013, the plaintiff alleged that he received, through postal mail, a partial denial to both requests that were filed on April 23, 2013. The plaintiff stated that he then emailed the defendant noting, among others, that the responsive documents were not complete or improperly redacted, that the fee imposed was improper, and the plaintiff again asked for the requested records. On May 4, 2013, the plaintiff alleged that he responded to the defendant and Arcola Township attorney Mark Petty with a clarification of what was missing and improperly redacted and asked for the records for a third time. The petition then states that on May 8, 2013, the defendant’s attorney allegedly responded to the plaintiff’s May 4, 2013, letter “effectively denying the plaintiff’s FOIA request and demanding payment of an improper invoice.” These previous complaints filed by the plaintiff were consolidated with the petition that was filed with the Douglas County Circuit Clerk’s Office on May 21. WHAT’S ON THE COMMUNITY AGENDA? Community Blood Drive In Arcola The annual American Red Cross Arcola Community Blood Drive will be held on Tuesday, January 13, from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Arcola Center. Walk-ins can donate blood, but setting an appointment will reduce the wait time. To make an appointment to donate blood, call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org. to noon and Saturday, February 7, from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, please visit the website at www.arcolarec.org/soccer or email: [email protected]. Chamber Community Dance Additional announcements are included below: The Arcola Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its annual community dance February 21 at the Best Western PLUS hotel, located on the Green Mill Village property in Arcola. The dance is open to the general public; it is not restricted to those who are Chamber members. The theme of this year’s community dance will revolve around the roaring 20s, the Great Gatsby. For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce at 268-4530. Arcola VFW Meeting Jaycees Regular Meetings Arcola VFW Post 7862 will host its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 8, at the Arcola Township office on East Main Street. All veterans are welcome to attend. Spring Soccer Registration Arcola Recreation spring 2015 soccer registration will be held at the Arcola Moore Park soccer concession stand for ages preschool (4 yrs old) through eighth grade on Saturday, January 31, from 9 a.m. The Arcola Jaycees have their meetings every first and third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at It’ll Do. All persons age 21 to 41 are invited to attend. Arcola Food Pantry Volunteers Volunteers are needed to help unload trucks at the Arcola Food Pantry from approximately 3 to 5 p.m. on the first Monday of each month and from 8 to 10 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month. Duties include moving boxes, stocking shelves, dividing large amounts of food into smaller packages, etc. Heavy lifting is not a necessity. Volunteers are also needed to fill in occasionally from noon to 2 p.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays. Please call the Food Pantry at 268-5122 during that time for further details. Arcola Rotary Club Meeting The next meeting of the Arcola Sunrise Rotary Club will be at 7:15 a.m. Thursday, January 8, at the Dutch Kitchen. The Rotary Club meets each Thursday. For membership information, contact club President Bill Wagoner at [email protected]. R-H Newsstand Locations The Arcola Record-Herald is available each week at these area locations: In Arcola: Casey’s General Store, Arcola IGA, Browne’s Pharmacy, Arcola Country Store & Gas, Vyverberg’s, Dutch Kitchen, Country Charm, Hen House and Jack Flash. Rural Arcola: Country Salvage. In Chesterville: Korner Cafe. In Hindsboro: Quick Gits (formerly Five N’s). In Tuscola: Tuscola IGA. IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE Classifieds ..........................................8 Courthouse News..............................4 Down Memory Lane ........................2 Obituaries ..........................................5 Sports ..................................................6 HOW TO REACH US • To fax news and advertising materials to the Record-Herald, please call 217-2684938. The deadline is 5 p.m. each Monday. Find the R-H on the web at www.arcolarecordherald.com • The newspaper’s mailing address is 118 E. Main St., Arcola, IL 61910. Phone 268-4950. • E-mail the newspaper at: [email protected]