By Margaret Downing

Reporter

SOUTH BELOIT – An amended ordinance concerning the parking of recreational vehicles and trailers in the city was approved at the June 6 South Beloit City Council meeting.

A 35-foot vehicle is standard and the ordinance would not include a 5th wheel vehicle. Previously up to a 40-foot vehicle was permitted.

Additionally, such a vehicle should be parked on a lot where a residence is located (not on vacant lots adjacent to property, unless the homeowner owns it and has the lot line removed, putting the vehicle then on one lot).

Currently, some recreational or trailer vehicles are being parked on gravel, and with the ordinance updated, it would have be paved the length of the vehicle.

There was once again discussion that seasonal parking be allowed, however, commissioners did not add a seasonal requirement.

In cases where there is a three-car garage in newer areas, for instance, allowing the vehicle be parked there in the summer or on a paved surface alongside the garage but not extending out into the right-of-way or over a front sidewalk will be allowed.

Standard lengths, depending, can range from 35 to 50 feet (if it is a 5th wheel).

In other business, at the meeting, a resident of the Robert Johnson Apartments addressed council members on the subject of a recent fire department audit.

The lady named “Shirley,” was present to speak for the residents of the complex as they were under the impression that the fire department might be disbanded and services supplied through a nearby community.

As Mayor Ted Rehl explained, the audit is not calling for the department’s closure but is simply a review of departmental operations.

The document is titled “Alternatives for Future Fire and Emergency Services” in the city and was submitted by Firescope Mid-America located in Fairfield Bay, Ark.

An explanation in the document says, “The City of South Beloit engaged” the company “to examine the services provided by its fire department in relationship to the cost effectiveness of those services and the ability of the city to maintain quality services in the future. “Specifically, the objectives of the study are:

* To examine the level of services provided in relation to those required for the community.

* To ascertain the cost effectives of the services currently provided.

* To suggest alternatives to the provision of services while reducing the cost and/or escalation of costs for those services.”

The report also noted that certain “alternatives were considered but not recommended for serious consideration.”

A copy of the report can be seen at city hall.

The mayor advised Shirley that he “plans to come and talk to residents of the apartments” and assured her that “your words are not being ignored.”

Commissioner Tom Fitzgerald gave the fire department activity report for May 6-June 3. A total of 86 emergency responses (37 engine, and 49 ambulance responses) were reported.

This included 43 residential medical, two motor vehicle accidents, six illegal burns, one downed wires, four automatic alarm calls, one water rescue, four public service, one oven fire call, one investigation, 13 mutual aid to Beloit, seven mutual aid to Rockton, one mutual aid each to Loves Park, Byron, and Belvidere.

Training topics for the month covered EMS protocols, rope operations, EMS equipment, swift water rescue, boat operations, and ladders. Participation in Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful, the Vets Roll event, the Memorial Day parade, blood pressure clinics at the Robert Johnson Apartments, and instruction of Illinois Boat operations and auto extrication classes.

Per the police department activity report for the month of May, 27 criminal arrests were made, eight ordinance violations responded to, 573 calls for service, 14 “crashes,” and issuance of 80 traffic citations made.

It was noted that an armed robbery at the Road Ranger on Manchester Road on May 30 at 3:44 a.m. involved a 43-year old female who robbed a worker at knifepoint but was apprehended in Beloit due to the fact that a customer pumping gas was able to describe the person’s truck and handicapped Wisconsin license plate.

A May 18 armed robbery at Stateline Liquors resulted in the arrest of another person.

On May 30 at 1:20 a.m. a traffic stop was made on Blackhawk Blvd. and the martial arts person driving was wanted on an outstanding warrant. Back up was called and a scuffle ensued in which the person had to be tasered.

Approval was given for payment of $299,303.55 in bills for the period of time from May 14-June 3. Attorney Roxanne Sosnowski explained that approximately $196,000 of that was in vendor bills, the remainder for payroll and pension.

Approval was given for the South Beloit American Legion to relocate its personnel carrier to the a cement pad at City Park by the Veterans Memorial.

A tentative plat for “Exit One Plat No. 4” at 15766 Manchester Road was approved for referral to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Attorney Sosnowski noted that “This is simply a re-plat, there are currently no development plans in the works.”

A resolution was passed authorizing “Terracon to award the bid for Environmental Remediation of the former Primecast Foundry parcel” at Gardner and Blackhawk “to Stiles, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $170,000.”

The funding is not coming from the City of South Beloit but is through an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency “Brown Fields Grant.”

The Brown Fields Assistant Program, per the I-EPA website is defined as: “Brown fields are abandoned or under-used industrial and commercial properties with actual or perceived contamination and an active potential or redevelopment.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency of Brownfields Assistance (OBA) manages the brown fields grant and loan programs and offers technical support to communities through the services of its Brown Fields Representatives.”

A resolution “requesting assistance and participation of the Illinois EPA for environmental investigation of certain property” was approved. The mayor explained that this location is at the confluence at the Dallman Muffler property and “there are very old gas tanks under the property.

The State of Illinois will do testing, it’s not on the city’s dime. Beloit 2020 wants to hand over this property to South Beloit and the city has to request the State of Illinois to do this.”

The moratorium on signs in the city in effect for the past few months was lifted by the council.

 
 
 
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