Subscribe by RSS
South Beloit board hears from Visit Beloit
By Margaret Downing
Reporter
At the Dec. 3 city council meeting, commissioners heard from Visit Beloit Executive Director Celestino Ruffini who explained that a continued membership request would be upcoming in early 2019.
The city has close ties with the Beloit tourism organization, and in conjunction with the Rockford Visitors Bureau is instrumental in bringing tourism dollars to the whole area.
Commissioner Tom Fitzgerald, however, questioned Ruffini on what the citys membership dues, which totals two percent of the Beloit organizations budget, actually realizes for South Beloit. There has been a 31-year partnership between South Beloit and Beloits tourism bureau and Mayor Ted Rehl does sit on the board of directors.
In other business, a total of $234,708.67 in bills was approved for payment covering the period of time from November 17 to 30.
Fire Chief Mike Davenport gave the biweekly fire department report from November 19 through December 2. The department responded to three structure fires (two in Beloit and one in Roscoe), four automatic alarms, one carbon monoxide alarm, one natural gas leak, two odor investigation, 29 medical calls, four auto accidents, one public service call, and eight mutual aid requests (five to Beloit, one to Rockton, one to Roscoe and one to the North Park F.D.).
Additionally, there was a total of 90 responses made in November of 2017 with 89 for that month this year. Between January and November 2017 the department made 1,020 responses, and from January through November 2018 there were 1,141 total responses made. The departments motto is A System Dedicated to Saving Lives.
Police Chief Patrick Hoey gave his report and noted that officers drove over 10,000 miles during the month of November.
Seven arrests were made and prisoners then transported to jail.
A total of $2,300 in fines and fees were collected.
He also noted calls for service were up 17 percent so far this year with a total of 514 calls in November.
The crime index is holding down at 14 percent, as compared to last year with a total of 108 offenses this year.
Ordinance violation citations are up 33 percent from last year with a total of 111 violations issued.
Hoey has now completed one year with the department. He also noted that the Shop with a Cop event will be held Saturday morning, Dec. 15, at the Rockton Farm and Fleet.
