Gunshots have some residents upset in South Beloit

By Margaret Downing

REPORTER

At the July 18 South Beloit City Council meeting, commissioners were addressed by resident John Fitzsimmons regarding “the unlawful discharge of firearms” in his neighborhood, which borders the South Bluff Mobile Home Park.

He said he had made a complaint in 2012 also, and believes owners of the parcel are absentee, as they are located in California. He requested that the police department “needs to be more thorough” in investigation of complaints from he and his neighbors in a single-family neighborhood on Walnut Lane about gunshots being fired in a vacant field nearby. Mayor Ted Rehl referred the issue to Commissioner Tom Fitzgerald to oversee the situation.

A resolution authorizing the mayor “to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Winnebago County Department of Information Technology for IT services for city hall and the police department” was approved under the condition that the county accept certain changes to the original agreement as presented.

This is an agreement that has to be renewed periodically, and as is the case with other area municipalities, the hourly rate for service comes in at around $66 an hour compared with $100 an hour on average from other IT companies.

The city, per the advice of City Attorney Roxanne Sosnowski, wants it clearly stated that the county would be responsible if there is a liability due to its negligence.

City commissioners agreed to another resolution whereby the city would provide assistance not to exceed $410 from “AMF” for cost sharing with the Wheel Inn for seal coating and re-striping the parking lot, which is located between the two buildings, and is utilized by both entities. Three bids were received running from around $800 to $1,400 to $3,319, the lowest bid also including caring for a manhole in the alley.

A total of $441,127.02 in bills from July 2-15 was approved by the council for payment.

Community Outdoor Movie Night to be held at Daystar Christian Fellowship Church on Aug. 12 was approved.

A request for a block party on Oakland Ave. on Aug. 13 from noon until dusk was also okayed.

A resolution authorizing “removal of non-metered sewer fees, penalties, and administrative fees for 315 Lincoln Ave. for the estate of Ola Mae Davis, deceased, in the amount of $2,062.60 for charges incurred from Sept. 2014 to now” was approved.

A representative of Sikich, LLP presented the annual audit for the time period ending Dec. 31, 2015 and some compliance issues were noted, such as the city has not always thoroughly funded its pension obligations in the past year.

Commissioner Tom Fitzgerald noted that the community is showing support for its police department during these days of attacks on law enforcement. He said that WZOK Radio brought donuts one day and Anna Maria’s Pizza brought pizza for officers on another day. Chief Dean Stiegemeier stressed the importance of residents being the “eyes and ears” on the street as officers can’t be everywhere.

It was decided that a steel fence to be removed on the corner of Blackhawk and Gardner be donated to the Fire Association to garner funds from its sale.

A lease agreement with Pitney Bowes for a postage machine and folding/inserting system at a cost of $497.47 a month for five years was approved.

The mayor was given authorization “to sign an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Office of the Comptroller regarding access to the Comptroller’s Local Debt Recovery Program.”