SVM-SS4_03252014

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Directions 2014 A Marketing Supplement of Sauk Valley Media

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www.saukvalley.com

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Vision 2030

A look at the Sauk Valley of the future The Future of Health Care

Changing Face of the Church

Preparing students for a rapidly changing workforce is just one of the challenges facing schools in the Sauk Valley.

Technology will allow health care providers to be much more plugged in with patients in 2030.

How will religion in this area be different in 2030 in a growing multicultural nation? How will that change Sauk Valley churches?

Outlook for Cities and Towns

Consolidating Resources

Riverfronts and Recreation

How will communities pay for the services and amenities that will make residents want to stay or move into their cities?

The Twin City Fire Command is an example of how Sauk Valley cities might try to coordinate their efforts in the future.

Riverfront development will have a major part in the efforts of Sterling, Rock Falls and Dixon to become “destinations.”

Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders

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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

www.saukvalley.com

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VISION 2030 | EDUCATION

Schools’ goal: ‘Training to obtain jobs’ certified in PC repair, networking, network security, and Linux. “I fear that WACC will have to cut programs and teachers as schools cut the amount of students who are allowed to attend, which really hurts the students,� Fellows said in an email. In an interview, Fellows said vocational education is getting more attention. “There is a lot of push for college and career readiness. That’s the catch-phrase,� he said. “Most jobs don’t require a 4-year degree.�

Don’t need 4-year degree to get good job, officials say BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525

Asked what they will do after graduation from high school, most students say they’ll go to college, a local educational leader says. “They’ve been trained to say that,� said Kim Purvis, director of Whiteside Area Career Center in Sterling, which serves several area school districts. “We Kim have to help Purvis kids get to where they need to be. We see students go to college, graduate, and they are underemployed or unemployed and living with their parents.� Society, she said, needs to focus on helping students figure out what career paths to take. As it is, schools spend too much time with standardized tests, which don’t help students in choosing their careers. “If anything, standardized testing kills their confidence,� Purvis said. One of the most popular programs at the career center is health occupations, in which students can get training to become certified nursing assistants. They can go on to Sauk Valley Community College, among other places, to get their nursing degrees. It’s a profession that’s long been in demand.

Sterling High School junior Austen Sage, 17, removes the memory from a computer during his class at Whiteside Area Career Center. There, they can be trained to become registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.

‘An excellent first step’ LPNs are no longer being hired in hospitals, which now prefer RNs, said Janet Lynch, dean of health professions at Sauk. But home health agencies and nursing homes still want LPNs. “I have been a nurse for 38 years,� she said. “There has been talk since I’ve been in nursing that LPN will go away. We’re not seeing that trend. Our LPNs get hired immediately. They are well-respected.� The average income for an RN in the Midwest is $45,000 to $48,000, Lynch said. That’s considered a good return on the investment in the 2-year nursing program at Sauk, which costs $14,000. Slots in nursing schools such as Sauk’s are limited. The local college gets two to three times more applicants than it has openings available,

Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Dixon High School students Halie Harkins (left), 18, and Aspen Gunnon, 17, watch as Tim Stewart, 17, from Ashton-Franklin Center High School, checks a battery during their class at Whiteside Area Career Center in Sterling. Lynch said. To determine who to accept, the program looks at a student’s grades, particularly in math and science, she said. Last year, Sauk had 41 graduates in the RN program. Ninety percent passed the testing to become RNs, more than the national average of 83 percent, Lynch said. For the LPN program, 20 students are accepted every year. In 2013, the program had a 100 percent pass rate. These days, employers want their RNs to eventually get bachelor of science degrees in nursing, Lynch said. They can be obtained through online courses. “Everyone who gets their associate’s degree in nursing should be planning to get their BSN,� she said. “We’re a first step – an excellent first step.� Demand for nursing

will continue to rise, she said. Part of that has to do with the aging of the baby boomers. “It’s not just baby boomers, though that’s a significant factor,� Lynch said. “We’re no longer so hospital-based. We’re getting into homes. That requires care. People are also living longer, living with chronic diseases.�

‘Pretty good demand’ for welders Another Sauk program that puts students into jobs is welding. “I’ve been here going on 8 years, and we continue to grow,� said Scott Gillihan, a welding instructor. “There seems to be pretty good demand. If the economy truly picks up, there would be even greater demand.� Before the recession, he said, there was a huge demand for welders,

though most students still are able to find jobs – the majority of them within a 50-mile radius, he said. At Whiteside Area Career Center, computer technology is among the offerings. Instructor Dana Fellows’ classes in that subject are down in enrollment because school districts are sending fewer students to the center. But he said his students have found good jobs. Among the places where they’ve gone to work are IBM in Dubuque, Caterpillar in Peoria, Rock Island Arsenal, John Deere in Moline, Borg Warner in Dixon, and local hospitals. Students in the center’s computer technology program earn 16 college credits and a personal computer technician certificate from Sauk, Fellows said. They can take industry certification exams and can become

‘A closely guarded secret’ Sauk President George Mihel said his institution is always gauging the community’s labor force needs. “We already offer a pretty wide range of programs here,� he said. “We’re conGeorge Mihel stantly looking at that list, adding and deleting programs as need be. What’s becoming our top priority is training to obtain jobs. We’re putting a focus on training that is shorter in duration.� The college offers the multi-craft program, Mihel said, which prepares people for manufacturing jobs. The college recently added a 1-year certificate to the multi-craft program, in addition to the 2-year associate’s degree. “It was developed a few years ago as a result of what manufacturing companies were looking for,� Mihel said. TRAINING CONTINUED ON D4

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VISION 2030 | EDUCATION

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Jim Dunn, opinion page editor: h9OU COME IN HERE WITH A SKULL FULL OF MUSH AND x YOU LEAVE THINKING LIKE A LAWYER v n h4HE 0APER #HASEv )N TEACHERS WILL STILL BE TRAINING hSKULLS FULL OF MUSHv FOR FUTURE CAREERS BUT THE CHALLENGE WILL BE MORE ACUTE 3IXTEEN YEARS FROM NOW PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY WON T JUST TUG AT STUDENTS ATTENTION IT WILL YANK 4HEN UTILIZE IT THROUGH MORE ONLINE INTERACTIVE CLASSES THROUGH NEW APPS AND SOFTWARE AND WEARABLE COMPUT ERS TO IMMERSE STUDENTS IN WHERE OUR NATION HAS BEEN WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO AND THEIR OPTIONS TO BE A PART OF IT BY PURSUING CAREERS THAT FULFILL THEM "Y ALL OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS WILL CERTAINLY BE AIR CONDITIONED RIGHT 4HEN MORE SCHOOLS CAN INCORPORATE THE OPTION OF SUMMER ATTENDANCE AND ELIMINATE EARLY HOT WEATHER DISMISSALS IN THE SPRING AND FALL 4HE FIRST CHARTER SCHOOL OF THE 3AUK 6ALLEY WITH A SPECIALIZED CURRICULUM MIGHT BE OPERATIONAL

Christopher Heimerman, news editor: ) M GUESSING ENOUGH OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO WEIGH IN ON COMBINING SCHOOLS AND DOING MORE WITH LESS /BVIOUSLY THAT S A HOT BUTTON ISSUE EVERYWHERE .OT JUST $IXON WHERE How do members of the ,INCOLN %LEMENTARY WILL SOON BE CLOSED Sauk Valley Media LEADING TO FEWER TEACHERS NEEDING TO newsroom think education MAINTAIN IF NOT INCREASE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS FOR MORE STUDENTS will need to change "UT ) D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY between now and 2030? TO CHALLENGE SCHOOLS TO FIND A WAY TO RETAIN SOMETHING NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART THE ARTS David Giuliani, news editor: 7E CAN WAX OPTIMISTICALLY ABOUT ELEC !T ONE TIME JUST ABOUT EVERY SCHOOL TRIC CARS INNOVATIVE POINT OF SALE SOFT BANNED THE USE OF DEVICES SUCH AS WARE AND HOVERBOARDS 7HAT ) COULD CELLPHONES AND COMPUTERS "UT THAT S HAVE SWORN SOMEONE BROUGHT UP CHANGING IN MANY SCHOOLS WHICH ARE HOVERBOARDS BUT THE ARTS ARE TIMELESS ENACTING BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE OR !ND MORE IMPORTANT THEY ARE INTEGRAL "9/$ POLICIES TO THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF A LARGE .O WE DON T WANT STUDENTS DISTRACT ED BY SOCIAL MEDIA AND GAMES "UT THE CONTINGENT OF OUR YOUTHS 4CHAIKOVSKY 3HAKESPEARE 2ODG OLD THINKING THAT DEVICES INTERFERE WITH ERS AND (AMMERSTEIN 4HEIR WORKS PULL EDUCATION NEEDS BE THROWN OUT THE ON HEARTSTRINGS AS HARD AS THEY DID WINDOW n AS WERE FILMSTRIPS AND DITTO

With the certificate, he said, “you get the acknowledgement that you completed the program and are marketable out there.� He said he would like to change the multicraft program’s title to include “manufacturing.� “There’s a huge focus on training people for the manufacturing environment,� Mihel said. “The manufacturing environment has become so sophisticated, they need the training. Community colleges have always been a good resource, he said, but “we’re finally coming into our own.� “People are really recognizing that community colleges offer high-quality training at a lower cost,� Mihel said. “They are flexible and respond to what’s going on in the workforce. They have always done that, but it’s been a closely guarded secret. It really shouldn’t be. “We are here to serve the public,� he said. “We’re trying to create conditions for people to stay here.�

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VISION 2030 | EDUCATION

Consolidations go smoothly, officials say But no other local mergers expected anytime soon BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com EXT

ROCK FALLS – In the past couple of years, Rock Falls has seen two school consolidations. In 2012, the Riverdale Elementary district annexed into Rock Falls Elementary. A year later, the Nelson Elementary district, the smallest in the state with about 40 students, consolidated with East Coloma. So far, officials say, the mergers have gone well. But no more local consolidations are expected anytime soon. The Rock Falls area still has three elementary districts – Rock Falls, East Coloma-Nelson, and Montmorency – and a high school district. Separate elementary and high school districts in the same town have more combined taxing authority, so residents in towns with separate districts may have to pay more in school property taxes, as is the case in Rock Falls and Rochelle. For instance, a couple of years ago, the school property tax bill for a $100,000 house was about $1,250 in Sterling and Dixon, far less than Rock Falls’ $1,716. In 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn pushed to consolidate Illinois’ 868 districts to no more than 300. He even considered mandatory mergers, rather than voluntary ones. He argued the consolidations would save taxpayers $100 million a year. His office said 247 Illinois school superintendents were paid more than the governor’s $177,400 salary. Since 1983, Illinois has eliminated 140 districts through consolidation, according to The Associated Press.

Quinn’s consolidation plan went nowhere. State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, whose district includes Rock Falls, said he expected the consolidation issue will continue to surface. “There are cases where consolidation makes sense. In most of the school districts in my [legislative] district, I don’t know how much sense it makes,� he said. “It’s something we always have to look at.� Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, said he opposed involuntary consolidations. “There are unique aspects of individual school districts,� he said. “I would rather have local school boards negotiate consolidations, rather than the state making the decision.� In Rock Falls, the annexation of Riverdale into Rock Falls Elementary has “gone very well,� Superintendent Dan Arickx said. “I have talked with parents; there have been no problems,� he said. “Students have made an excellent transition. No news is good news.� It’s not surprising that the transition went smoothly, Arickx said. “It’s not that big of a community,� he said. “It only takes a couple of blocks to be in one district instead of the other. I knew quite a few kids from Riverdale because of YWCA and park district sports. The kids know each other, and the parents definitely know each other because they work and do other things together.� The annexation resulted in lower taxes for Riverdale taxpayers, Arickx said. To encourage mergers, the state offers incentive money to districts that consolidate. “Last year, we received what

Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

ABOVE: Ellie Wasson, 9, ruffles the hair of Brody Adams, 7, after they had their picture taken at the start of the first day of school at the new East Coloma-Nelson school on Aug. 20. TOP: Randy Betz of Turnroth Sign Co. in Rock Falls installs a sign that designates the new East Coloma-Nelson District 20 building in Rock Falls on Aug. 8. Voters in the spring chose to consolidate the two districts, moving the Nelson students to the East Coloma building. we were supposed to receive,� Arickx said. “This year, the money was 85 percent of what we were supposed to receive.� The district is budgeting next fiscal year on the assumption it will continue to get only 85 percent or possibly less than what it was promised, he said. “Because the state was pushing consolidation so hard, it’s ironic that it doesn’t provide the incentive money that it promised,� Arickx said. Bob Sondgeroth, Whiteside County’s regional superintendent, said Riverdale’s annexation into Rock Falls Elementary went smoothly “from what I understand.� “The teachers blended into [the Rock Falls district],� he said.

“There were the initial problems with different curriculums. In the second year, those have all been worked out.� East Coloma and Nelson had different challenges because they formed a new district, rather than having one annex into another, Sondgeroth said. “There were bumps in the road in forming a new district,� he said. “Now, I think everything is going well.� Are these recent consolidations likely to inspire others – say, all of the elementary districts becoming one, and then eventually combining with the high school district? Arickx said the districts are not in talks for further consolidations. He said he didn’t see

the recent mergers as models because they involved relatively small districts. Sondgeroth doesn’t expect other consolidations soon, either. “Back in the 1970s, when Sterling went unit, everyone thought Rock Falls would follow, and it didn’t,� Sondgeroth said. “What usually pushes consolidation is finances. East Coloma’s finances are fine with consolidation. [RockFalls Elementary] is working well with finances. So is Montmorency. “I don’t see any movement toward consolidation. The finances are being handled as well as can be expected. It’s not that they don’t need the money, but there’s not a dire need.�

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VISION 2030 | EDUCATION

Textbooks on the way out? More and more local schools relying on computers BY DAVID GIULIANI DGIULIANI SAUKVALLEY COM EXT

Remember lugging around your textbooks in school? That might soon be a thing of the past. Tad Everett, superintendent of the Sterling schools, expects textbooks will be phased out in the next 5 to 10 years. “Electronic textbooks are cheaper; they are more up to date,� he said. “We have classes that are using entirely [digital] textbooks now, even though we don’t have devices in students’ hands now. They can access the textbooks through their home or school computers. Electronic textbooks are so much more interactive.� The district, he said, hasn’t bought textbooks the past couple of years. As with many schools, the Sterling district has adopted a bring-yourown-technology policy – better known as BYOT. “We do allow students, if they so desire, to bring

a technology device to school,� Everett said. “Some bring iPads or laptops, as long as they are accessible by our network. We have student logins that they can utilize.� Last fall, the Sterling district announced that the Dillon Foundation was donating $1.2 million for a 4-year lease on about 1,100 11-inch MacBook Air computers – enough for every student in the high school. That will take effect next school year. After 4 years, the district hopes to raise enough money to continue or even expand the program. In the Rock Falls Elementary district, schools have about enough computers – whether in computer or mobile labs – for every student, Superintendent Dan Arickx said. The district has talked about getting a computer for every student, Arickx said, but “we’re not ready to make that leap.� One issue is bandwidth.

WHAT DO WE THINK? How do members of the Sauk Valley Media newsroom think education will need to change between now and 2030?

“Will we have enough bandwidth for all the students to be using online textbooks?� he said. “That’s a major concern for us.� The Morrison school district is among those on the forefront of technology. A couple of years ago, it joined a growing number of schools to adopt BYOT policies. Device-toting students are required to sign agreements that regulate their use of technology. The students must use the school’s wireless network, which filters out inappropriate sites. Dixon and Rock Falls high schools also let students have their laptops in class, as long as they are used for educational purposes. The Morrison district has been working to get iPads for all of its high school students. The district’s technology director, Ben Sondgeroth, has pushed for expanding technology at Morrison High School. “The kids have treated

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nology.� At Dixon, the district hopes to start equipping students with computers on a smaller scale.

“Even in tough times, there are some things you want to do,� Superintendent Michael Juenger said.

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Violet Stoudt (right) and Hannah Rillie, then juniors at Morrison High School, sit with open laptops while in class in August 2012. Teachers in the Morrison school district were starting to incorporate Moodle, a learning management software, into their lesson plans and encouraging students to use their own smartphones, iPads and laptops in the classroom. The school is working to have its own iPads for all of its students.

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VISION 2030 | EDUCATION

End of the line for buses?

WHAT DO WE THINK? How do members of the Sauk Valley Media newsroom think education will need to change between now and 2030? Larry Lough, executive editor: Schools must make sure they’re preparing students who will be staying in the community, not just those who will leave the Sauk Valley in search of bigger opportunities. The book “Hollowing Out the Middle� explores schools’ focus on the top academic students to the detriment of the future local workforce. College isn’t the answer for everyone. Kathleen Schultz, reporter: It’s true – college isn’t for everyone. To meet the needs of those students, schools must think outside the classroom. They must reach out to and form partnerships with local retailers, health care providers, agribusinesses, manufacturers, repair services. ... They must help facilitate the re-establishment of apprenticeships and internships, and encourage longterm mentoring relationships between students and employers at all levels (think Big Brothers/Big Sisters.) More also can be done to complement and supplement the curriculum offered by local community colleges and trade schools. Such efforts will help spur a cultural change that reinstills confidence and pride in craftsmanship, pride in a job well done. Jeff Rogers, managing editor: I hope the schools of 2030 do not have any books or paper in them. That’s hard for me to say. But I believe schools must invest in 10-ounce gadgets, rather than 10-pound books, from which students will learn. That said, I would like to see schools use those gadgets – whatever they are by then – to teach students about history, grammar, and science in 2030 in a more effective way than they are in 2014.

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

School buses for Amboy Community Unit School District 272 line up in front of the junior high school on Aug. 22, 2012.

In face of state cuts, districts struggle with transporation BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com EXT

Busing students is a responsibility of school districts – one that is becoming tougher to do. Over the years, legislators have cut state transportation funding, so districts are finding new ways to reduce costs. Districts get reimbursed for busing students who live more than 1.5 miles from school. The Sterling schools cut a number of bus routes 2 years ago. But that meant some students had to get on the bus as early as 6 a.m., Superintendent Tad Everett said. The district found instances in which students were on buses up to 85 minutes each way, so the district worked to change that, he said. It added a route to alleviate the time crunch by about a half-hour in the morning and at night. It costs $70,000 to operate each bus route, according to the school district. “We consider 1 hour and 25 minutes a long time, especially for young kids,� Everett said. “We bit the bullet and are deficit spending in the transportation fund.� He doesn’t expect much help from the state.

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“I stay in tune with things going on in Springfield,� Everett said. “Unfortunately, we are over the barrel when it comes to transportation. What are we going to Tad do? Say we aren’t going Everett to transport kids? We have to find ways to get it done.� Morrison and Amboy have cut or combined routes over the past few years because of funding reductions. Dixon, which also suffered from a deficit in its transportation fund, has consolidated some daytime routes, including for special needs students. The district has seen its state transportation funding fall by 42 percent, Superintendent Michael Juenger said. “We didn’t want kids riding the bus for more than an hour,� he said. “The decision was to go into our fund balance a bit for transportation.� Dan Arickx, superintendent of the Rock Falls Elementary district, said the decline in state transportation funding hasn’t been a significant issue for his district. His district, he said, covers only about 8 square miles. “You only get reimbursed for one and a half miles,� he said. “We only

have a few students beyond the one and a half miles. It affected us percentagewise, but not dollarwise.� Many districts in the area receive a significant Dan amount of state transArickx portation aid. They are geographically bigger and qualify for more aid because they have more students living beyond 1.5 miles from their schools. Last year, Gov. Pat Quinn proposed slashing school bus funding so the state could provide more for classroom spending. It didn’t happen, but the proposal worried local school administrators. “For us, that’s a killer,� Everett said at the time. State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, said school transportation funding is a constant battle between Chicago and downstate. “Downstate has miles and miles of roads. In a lot of rural communities, the only way to get to school is by bus,� he said. “This will be an ongoing concern. If’s something we downstaters will really have to watch. It’s an issue that’s not going away. We’ve been able to stave off most of it.�

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VISION 2030 | HEALTH CARE

In the future, you’ll be calling Dr. Jetson BY DAVE SCHREINER 0RESIDENT #%/ +3" (OSPITAL

T

he future is bright for health care in our community. Throughout history, health care has been a leading indicator of innovation and progress. Civilizations are measured by their health, lifespan, medical advances, and quality of life. Past decades have brought groundbreaking innovations in diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases; and the next few decades look even more promising. What might health care in the Sauk Valley look

like in 2030? First, we’re confident that local residents will have access to quality, comprehensive health care right here at home – literally. We see incredible breakthroughs happening in home health care. Every aspect of your health will be tracked with sensors for pulse, blood pressure, breathing, and weight. Comprehensive blood tests will be run at home with just the prick of a finger. Sensors will also track your diet and give you realtime alerts when you haven’t gotten enough of a certain vitamin, or when you’ve gone over

your calorie allowance. Your data will be compared to millions of other AmeriDave cans, and Schreiner automated algorithms will diagnose your conditions with near-perfect accuracy. The system will create medications that are engineered specifically for you, based on your DNA. These drugs will have no side effects and work with laser precision to fix whatever is ailing you. You won’t have to worry about counting pills or

remembering when to take what medications. Instead, you’ll have an automated dispenser at home that will generate a patch that you’ll stick on before you go to sleep. The dispenser will ensure you take your medications every day, and it will reprogram the dosage every day based on how well the treatment is working. You’ll no longer need to see a doctor for checkups or complaints. Only when computer systems are unable to diagnose you will you see a doctor in person. You will choose your doctor based on performance

ratings, and your doctor will have to agree to see you based on data that shows your willingness to eat healthy, exercise, and follow treatment plans. With customized, DNAbased medications, few conditions will ever require surgery. Broken bones will be regrown, and failing organs will be rejuvenated with stem cell therapies. Only accidents and injuries will require a trip to the ER. Doctors, nurses, technicians, and other health care professionals will be experts on computer systems to track vital signs, spot irregularities, and research best practices

for treatment. With innovations in medications, home care, and prevention, our industry will change. Large urban medical centers will decentralize, and look more like a network of smaller hospitals and clinics. More health care will be provided remotely, and more will be done in your own home. The future is bright for health care in our community. Since 1897, KSB Hospital has grown and adapted to offer the best possible health care to our community – and we’ll keep making progress forward for years to come.

New facilities, faces in CGH future I

DR. PAUL STEINKE #%/ 0RESIDENT #'( -EDICAL #ENTER

n looking at the future, despite some of the challenges facing us, I’m excited about a lot of things. Since 1909, CGH Medical Center has been a mainstay in providing compassionate health care to the Sauk Valley. We are constantly responding to the needs of the communities we serve. As such, it is extremely important that we continue to change and evolve so that we can deliver the high-quality health care to which our patients are accustomed.

Construction, renovations We are in the midst of an $8.6 million expansion and renovation of our Emergency Department (ED) to accommodate the growing number of patients

seeking emergency care. The newly designed ED, which will be completed by summer 2015, will feature 26 treatment rooms and six patient recliner areas, as well as a streamlined patient registration and triage process. Additionally, as part of our continuing effort to make our patients’ stay as comfortable as possible, we will soon transition to 100 percent private rooms on our Medical and Surgical floors. Private rooms not only reduce the spread of infection and lessen noise and sleep disruption, but also provide each patient with a comfortable place to heal and recover.

New physicians, procedures We continue to welcome new physicians and procedures to meet the growing needs of our community. Our medical

staff consists of 140 physicians specializing in 35 areas of medicine. Our newest Dr. Paul physicians Steinke include: Dr. Rahsaan Friend, DO, MBS (gastroenterology and hepatology); Dr. Jason Friedrichs, MD, MS (ophthalmology); Dr. Young Song, DO (urology); and Dr. Heather Wakefield, MD (general surgery). Three additional physicians in the fields of interventional cardiology, family medicine and vascular surgery are scheduled to begin over the next several months, and we also have plans to provide spinal surgery for our patients who seek relief of spinal disorders or back and neck pain in the coming months. In addition, care in our Critical Care Unit will be

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

The design of the new $2.5 million Digestive Health Center at CGH Medical Center in Sterling puts a premium on comfort and privacy. It was unveiled in October. taken to the next level with the addition of our advanced eICU patientsafety system – technology that allows intensive care physicians and nurses to keep an even

closer eye on our sickest patients and respond right away to the slightest changes in their condition. Although much has changed in health care

throughout the years, we remain focused on growing and delivering exceptional patient-centered care close to home, with kindness and compassion.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

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3AUK 6ALLEY -EDIA s $

VISION 2030 | HEALTH CARE Illustration by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com EXT

The Midwest is infamously unhealthy. People here eat too much, smoke too much, and exercise too little. So, how to fix it by 2030? Prevention. That’s what Beth Fiorini and Cathy Ferguson say. And, as adminstrators of the Whiteside County Health Department and Lee County Health Department, respectively, they ought to know. Both communities are required to do “community health needs assessments� every 5 years, which are supposed to identify problem areas for the health departments to work on. In Lee County, the 40th healthiest among the state’s 102 counties, the health issues identified were obesity, smoking, access to mental health services, not taking advantage of preventive health care tools, and drug and alcohol abuse. In Whiteside County, which is the 18th healthiest county in the state, problem areas were much the same: obesity, cardiovascular health, and adolescent health. Both counties have taken measures to improve the population’s health. In Lee County, that includes educating the community about low-cost screenings available through the health department, as well as creating an obesity coalition called the Partnership for a Healthy Lee County (PHLC). Screenings are offered by the health department for problems like diabetes and colorectal cancer. “We’re trying to do some education and promote that people take advantage of these screenings, that could make a huge impact,� Ferguson said. “If people are found to be pre-diabetic, and implement changes, they can prevent it.� But obesity and smoking still top her list of the biggest problems the county faces.

By the numbers 7HERE 3AUK 6ALLEY COUNTIES RANK IN HEALTH INDICATORS AMONG THE )LLINOIS COUNTIES 7HITESIDE /GLE Bureau 35 Lee 40 Carroll 53 $ATA COMPILED FROM DIFFERENT FACTORS INCLUDING HEALTH BEHAVIORS SUCH AS SMOKING DIET AND EXERCISE ALCOHOL USE CLINICAL CARE AND ACCESS TO IT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS INCLUDING EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT SAFETY AND FAMILY AND SOCIAL SUPPORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Prevention seen as key to healthier future “They lead to so much illness and increased health costs,� Ferguson said. “We’re never going to eliminate them, but if we could reduce them, we’d have a huge impact.� That’s where PHLC comes in. The organization works with a wide range of groups all over Lee County to try to implement health-positive changes for the community, like creating a community garden at Camp Reynoldswood. The garden has grown, so to speak, since being started two summers ago. Anyone can rent a plot of land for a nominal cost and work the earth to their heart’s content. “We’ve seen a slight decline in childhood obesity very, very recently nationwide,� Ferguson said.

Public health advocates in Sauk Valley target obesity, smoking

She hopes that trend will continue. “If we had targeted funding and could really put resources into that issue, we could make a difference, but it’s going to take some output of funding,� Ferguson said. “It would pay off in the long run because of reduced health care costs.� Like Lee County, Whiteside has been working to promote preventive measures. “Public health, well, for care of patients, is heading toward a very comprehensive, holistic way of doing medicine,� Fiorini said. “We just got certified as a patient-centered medical home. That means that when a person comes in now, even if you come in for the dentist or for behavioral health, no matter what you come in for, we’re going to do

integrated help.� That means people are asked whether they smoke, they are weighed, and they are offered suggestions to help them get back on the right health track – smoking cessation tips, exercise moves, or other advice. “We’re working with the American Cancer Society to get smoking out of our parks,� Fiorini said. “We’re working with hospitals to encourage breast feeding, and we’re working with schools to get safe routes so kids can walk and ride their bikes and get exercise that way. “They’re all preventative measures, because that’s what will help you become healthier and then, therefore, help our community be healthier.�

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VISION 2030 | HEALTH CARE

Better living through technology? Health providers, patients will be more plugged in by 2030 BY CHRISTI WARREN CWARREN SAUKVALLEY COM EXT

At KSB Hospital, the future is now. Or very close. After nearly 18 months of planning and construction, the public got its first look at the Dixon hospital’s new intensive care unit on Feb. 26. Dave Schreiner, president and CEO of KSB Hospital, said that one of the most exciting things is it’s wired to be an “eICU� – an electronic ICU (technically, an “advanced ICU partnership�). These eICU’s are popping up all over the country to utilize the latest developments in a field called “telemedicine,� which provides care for patients who might otherwise have to switch hospitals for treatment. “We wired it so that in the future we could make the decision to have physicians that are at some other site work with us to manage the care of our patients,� Schreiner said. The idea is that through video conferencing, hospital staff would be able to work with a physician at another facility thousands of miles away to provide care for patients right at home in DIxon, without them having to be transferred, or having to wait until the appropriate physician returns to work. “Let’s say from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m., you have a bank of physicians in North Dakota somewhere. ... They’re

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Val Pfoutz, Intensive Care Unit director at KSB Hospital in Dixon, introduces a new nurse call system in a patient’s room at the hospital. The state-of-the-art unit, which was unveiled during an open house in February, approaches many aspects of patient care beyond just medicine. monitoring the care of patients and they can communicate back to KSB and talk about medication changes they want to make, or if they want to make a change in status,� Schreiner said. While KSB’s ICU is wired to be able to provide that kind of care, Schreiner sees it as something that won’t be implemented here just yet because the hospital has personnel and resources to handle all of its services. “The idea is we can keep some patients here,� he said. “where we might have to transfer them if we didn’t have that type of technology.� KSB is, in fact, already using a type of tele-

medicine in its radiology department. Ten years ago, a patient who broke an ankle at 2 a.m. would come into the hospital, have X-rays taken, be splinted, and sent home to await results; in 2014, thanks to teleradiology, that same patient is told about the results before leaving the hospital. After hours, KSB ships all studies to a radiologist elsewhere, and once that radiologist makes an assessment, that doctor’s feedback is sent directly to a doctor in KSB’s emergency department. One of the most important technological advancements, though, in Schreiner’s opinion, is coming to KSB this sum-

mer. Patients will be able to access their personal medical records, such as blood tests, through an online portal. Instead of having to contact the hospital to have them release records, patients will have control of their own information. “The idea is that if you have something done, you own that; it’s not the hospital’s to keep,� Schreiner said. “We want the patient to be involved in their care, and technology helps us to do that. “ And, as part of the passage of the 2009 U.S. stimulus bill, another advancement in medical recordkeeping is just on the horizon – a nationalized health records database.

“If you live in California and get in an accident on I-88 by Dixon, our providers here would be able to pull up your medical history,� Schreiner said. “It’s kind of like your Social Security number or your fingerprint. You have a unique identifier. And then, instead of KSB holding just KSB records, it’s more of a nationwide database, so that wherever you are, if you had an MRI last week and you end up in another state somewhere in the emergency department, they don’t have to repeat that test. They have access to prior medical information. “This is one of the really great parts of Obamacare – they’re making it easier

for hospitals to interact with each other.� Advancements in DNA mapping, too, are opening doors for a more personalized approach to medicine. Schreiner envisions a day when knowledge of a person’s body on a cellular level can provide answers for exactly how that person’s body will react to a certain antibiotic, or a chemotherapy regimen, for example. This is called personalized medicine. “It’s not a shotgun approach; it’s a rifle,� he said. “So instead of some of the side effects that will come along with the chemotherapy, they can narrow it down to exactly what that person needs.� Sterling’s CGH Medical Center is looking toward the future, too. And not in just a generalized way: The revamping of the emergency department anticipates an influx of new patients, explained Paul Steinke, CGH’s president and CEO. Before the Affordable Care Act, there was the 2006 Massachusetts health care insurance reform law. The two laws are similar in their expansion of health care insurance to everyone. But just because everyone in Massachusetts all of a sudden had insurance, that didn’t necessarily mean they had doctors. Because of that, Massachusetts’ emergency rooms saw a huge increase in patients. The passage of Obamacare comes with the expectation of a similar impact, which is part of the reason for CGH’s emergency room revamp. BETTER CONTINUED ON D11

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VISION 2030 | HEALTH CARE

Standardized treatments could lead to better outcomes for patients BETTER

CONTINUED FROM D10

Our present day emergency department was completed in 1992, but it was built for 14,000 visits,� Steinke said. “Last year, we had just shy of 30,000 visits. “We’re trying to anticipate the future of what our needs are going to be.� At the same time, recovery times are decreasing, along with in-patient care. In the 1950s, a galbladder surgery would net about 4 to 6 weeks of recovery in the hospital; that same surgery today means at the most a couple of days of recovery time. That’s something Steinke credits to less invasive surgeries. “I think probably in 20 years that will just be an in-and-out surgery,� he said. Steinke, too, is excited about the prospect of DNA mapping providing for more personalized treatment, as well as the standardization of medical protocols.

For so many years, he explained, people’s medical care was determined by whether they found a good doctor, and whether they read, whether they kept up-to-date on the latest treatments and studies and findings, and how plugged in they were. What’s happening now, and what has been the trend, is making that kind of medical care available to everyone through the standardization of treatments. Based on what experts believe is the best approach to a particular medical condition, a standardized protocol used by each provider should provide similar – and excellent – outcomes almost every time. So, someone in a rural West Texas town receives the same treatment for a given condition as would a person in New York City. “Ultimately that will produce a higher quality of care,� Steinke said. The standardization of protocols, along with personalization, can be seen as a bit of a dichotomy, Steinke admits.

“You talk about standardizing the care, but at the same time we’re customizing the treatment,� he said. “So the care is standardized in an excellent fashion, based on evidence, based on medicine, but because we understand the DNA, and we do the genetic profiling, we’re going to be able to customize even more. So, we’re standardizing, but we’re customizing at the same time.� No national standard now exists for all medical conditions. Various hospitals use protocols from the Mayo Clinic, or the Cleveland Clinic, for example, but Steinke said in the next 20 years he see the nation’s health care system moving toward a national standard. “In the next – whatever – 20, 30 years, if we fully embrace and optimize evidence-based medicine, it carries the potential for overall raising the quality of care everywhere, through a standardization of care,� Steinke said. “I think that’s where we’re headed.�

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Nurses work in the CGH Medical Center Emergency Department’s critical care unit, commonly known as the ER. The number of patients treated in the ER has nearly doubled since it was built in 1983, so CGH is remodeling the department, adding 12 rooms. The expansion will more than double the size of the department, from 10,000 to nearly 22,000 square feet. More space also is needed at the nurses’ station – with increased technology has come bigger monitors and the need for a bigger area for the staff to work, officials have said.

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Dixon‌A City on the Move!

The City of Dixon recently completed two full days of leadership training for Department Heads, Commissioners and the Mayor. Next up a strategic plan for Dixon’s future will be completed and adopted with input from the citizens, City employees, City Council and the Mayors Office. Quality is the goal! Highest quality city government and highest quality of life in Dixon.

51 Quality Characteristics about Dixon, IL Est.1832 *A beautiful Community known as the Jewel of the Sauk Valley. *Heritage Crossing Downtown Riverfront Plaza anchored by Ronald Reagan statue. *Petunia Capital of Illinois. 200 volunteers plant 30,000 petunias along mainstreets. *Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home and Visitors Center with a gift shop. *Central Business District declared a National Historic Site by the U.S. Park Service. *85% occupancy in Central Business District including several upscale restaurants. *A designated Tree City, USA Community with a City appointed Tree Board. *A master planned 1-88 Interchange Business District anchored by a SuperWalMart. *One of the best-organized, effective Main Street Organizations in Illinois. *More parks per capita than any other Midwest City including the picturesque and charming 200-acre Lowell Park along the Rock River, which is listed on the National Register of Historic places. *The Dixon Historic Center, an architectural jewel, preserving local history (formerly grade school attended by Reagan) *Historic Lincoln Highway and Reagan Trail running north south through City. *Quality affordable housing from grand Victorians to modern mansions. *Dixon Victory Arch over Downtown Street. First one erected in 1919 after WWI *The beautiful Rock River, which early settlers called the Hudson of the West, flowing through the middle of the City. *The state designated Catfish Capital of Illinois. *A Downtown Welcome Center providing information on historic sites and attractions to visitors. *A growing tourism industry spearheaded by the City appointed Dixon Tourism board. *A large growing art community anchored by the Next Picture Show Fine Arts Center, the Crystal Cork, Second Saturdays Art Happenings and Gardenstock. *A comprehensive health care system with two multi specialist clinics and 100 bed KSB Hospital. *6 public golf courses in Dixon and surrounding area. *An $18 million dollar state of the art waste water treatment plant designed to expand and process double the current population. *At a cost of $14 million, deep-water well systems are providing safe, highest quality potable water to citizens and food manufacturing companies. *Environmental accomplishments by City published and distributed world wide in Global Mayors Forum Magazine. *One of the best-maintained modern small airports in the state (3800’runways with plans to extend to 5000’) *A solid public and parochial school system anchored with a community college. *A broad based diversified industrial community and 3 business parks with the infrastructure in place to develop an additional 1000 acres. *The community is served by a daily newspaper and 5 am-fm radio stations. *The City is the location of the Illinois Department of Transportation District Office, an Illinois Correctional Institution and the Mabley Developmental Center collectively employing close to 1,000. *A strong core of business and civic leadership supported by 175-citizen volunteers serving on 23 City appointed boards and commissions. *The Loveland Community Building and Museum. *A successful City partnership with Lee County Industrial Development Corp. recruiting new industries. *A $7 million high tech public safety building housing the Dixon Police and Fire departments. *Two modern bridges with wide walking/biking pathways connecting Heritage Crossing to the Park District trail system. *Residents that are proud of their City and confident about its future. *A City appointed Historic Preservation Commission committed to preserving and restoring historic downtown buildings. *Religious diversity with 30 houses of worship including a Mosque, 2 Catholic and 27 Protestant Churches. *John Deere Home and Historic Site (Grand Detour) *A 75-member municipal band since 1920 that developed nationally known musicians. *Abe Lincoln statue at site of Fort Dixon where Lincoln served as a Captain in U.S.Army during the Blackhawk Indian War. *Lincoln marker and bronze narrative plaque on Old Courthouse lawn where Lincoln spoke to thousands of Dixon and Lee County residents on behalf of 1856 Presidential Candidate John Fremont. *60-acre Plum Creek Arboretum and Botanical Center. *Veterans Memorial Park with many exhibits and military displays. *Reagan Peace Park with Wings of Peace sculpture, murals and full size replica of Berlin Wall, which Reagan was instrumental in having torn down. *Nachusa apartments, formerly Nachusa Hotel opened in 1853. Guests included Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Jefferson Davis, Stephen Douglas and Ronald Reagan. *Home to the Lee County Genealogical Society and Lee County Historical Society research centers providing family heritage and historic information. *Historic Dixon Theatre Center for the performing arts opened in 1922. *Numerous annual festivals and events including the week long Petunia Festival over July 4th one of the state’s largest, IrishFest, Cabela King Kat Catfish tournament, Reagan Trail Days, Carp Fishing Tournament, Oktoberfest, Reagan 5K Run and ChristmasWalk. *Reagan Way - a 9 block historic street featuring the 4 institutions that developed and shaped Reagan’s character including the boyhood home, grade school, public library and First Christian Church. *Dixon Telegraph Museum features the newspaper and its role in the history of Dixon with many photographs. *Dixon Sister Cities Association coordinating activities and visits with 4 chartered sister cities in Herzberg, Germany; Dickson, Russia; Castlebar County Mayo, Ireland and Thika, Kenya.

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VISION 2030 | CULTURE

Sauk Valley schools adapt to Hispanic growth Sterling High School grad returns as bilingual teacher BY CHRISTI WARREN CWARREN SAUKVALLEY COM EXT

Census data indicate that from 2000 to 2010, Whiteside County’s hispanic population grew by more than 1,000 people. Census estimates from 2012 indicate the trend continuing, while the area’s white population decreased. That’s reflected, too, in the population of local schools. Sterling High School Principal Jason Austin said that, according to the most recent numbers, Sterling High was about 62.2 percent white, 30.8 percent Hispanic, and 3.2 percent black. 2008 numbers showed the high school was about 19 percent Hispanic. And the growth is expected to continue. Austin said that it’s reasonable to assume that by the year 2030, about 35 percent of Sterling High students will be Hispanic. That growth is having an interesting impact on the school’s structure. In the past 5 years, the school has hired a fulltime bilingual teacher to aid students for whom English isn’t their first language. Her name is Karina Valdez – a Sterling High School graduate herself. Hired for the 20082009 school year, Valdez teaches a history class primarily in Spanish for students who are new to the United States. The class size is usually just five to seven students, she said, and is taught about 90 percent of the

time in Spanish, and about 10 percent of the time in English. She also is available as a resource for other Spanish-speaking students who aren’t necessarily enrolled in her history class. For them, she’ll help provide answers to questions from students’ other classes, which are taught in English. “It’s just the students who are recent to the country and who haven’t acquired the language yet, or they’re in that inbetween area,� Valdez said. She credits bilingual teachers in the younger grade levels for her class sizes being so small. “They do a really good job,� she said. Valdez’s history classes are taught in a cycle, so they change every year. This year it’s U.S. history; next year it will be American government. They afford recent immigrants the opportunity to pick up basics that students who have lived in the U.S. longer would have learned earlier in their schooling, Principal Austin explained. All students who speak a language other than English in their home are required to take a test called the Illinois Access Test, Austin said. That test gauges how much language support a student needs in an academic environment. Depending on how a student tests, he might or might not be required to enroll as a full-time bilingual student, which is how students get into Valdez’s bilingual history class.

Another reflection of Sterling High’s growing hispanic population is a new club on campus, started by Juan Rodriguez, a 2010 Sterling High graduate and current engineering major at Northern Illinois University. After graduating from Sterling, Rodriguez became involved in a number of Latino organizations at NIU. “I noticed their potential and the benefits you can get from them, and then I thought, ‘What’s there in Sterling? Nothing,’� he said. “If there was something there, there would be a better opportunity to help students prepare for their future.� So he got in touch with Principal Jason Austin and Alexis River, a Sterling High calculus teacher. Together, they launched the school’s Spanish Leadership Club. Rodriguez, who is now 22, has a younger brother who still attends Sterling. Edgar Rodriguez, 16, is a member of the Spanish Leadership Club, and Juan hopes it’s something he’ll continue to enjoy, and maybe one day take an executive role in. At NIU, Juan was president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. “One of our main things was – we called it, ‘completing the circle,’� he said. “We have professionals that mentor us in our career, and so what we do to complete the circle is, if somebody’s helping us, then we should help somebody younger than us. And that’s where the idea came from.� The club aims to create leadership and bringing

‘‘

I noticed their potential and the benefits you can get from them, and then I thought, ‘What’s there in Sterling? Nothing.’ Juan Rodriguez, who helped launch the Spanish Leadership Club at Sterling High School

’’

the hispanic community together to empower students through academics, social service, and leadership. Last year was the club’s first year, when the club had maybe 12 very active students among about 25 to 28 total members, said its adviser, Alexis Rivera. This year that number has practically doubled.

Rivera said that about 20 students are highly active within the club, while he counts 40 students as members. Rivera, Austin, and Rodriguez all hope that as the school’s Hispanic population increases, so too will the club’s impact. “There are several projects that we’re really interested in,� Rivera said. “The first one is having a contact with different types of companies, like health, and engineering, and architecture, and law, so [the students] can visit all these companies once a year and see in real life. “I want the community to open the doors to this group and embrace them in a professional manner.� Students have already seen some of those doors

opening. Rivera is in close contact with people at different area colleges and with various businesses in the area, Sauk Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Latin Social Club. Rivera hopes those connections will afford his students the type of mentoring they need to take their education to the next level. Rodriguez, who will graduate this year, plans to move back to the Sauk Valley for a job. He hopes to continue working with the club, and promote more participation within the community. He said he looks forward to “the group being known more and providing different leadership positions for students and help educate parents about higher education.�

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VISION 2030 | CULTURE

Changing population will require adjustments BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com EXT

Census figures show the overall population of the Sauk Valley is on the decline. Estimates from 2012 continued the trend shown from 2000 to the 2010 census: Throughout the area, and especially in Whiteside County, the largest decrease is among the white population. In 2000, there were 56,294 whites in Whiteside County; in 2010, there were 53,923, a decrease of more than 4 percent. Meanwhile, the hispanic population is on the rise. During those same years, the hispanic population jumped from 5,347 to 6,455, an increase of more than 2 percent. SimĂłn Weffer, a professor of sociology at the Center of Latino and Latin American Studies at Northern Illinois University, attributes some of that change to an aging population, as well as a loss of jobs. “You might be seeing the white decline simply from age,â€? Weffer said. “One of the things that we see often in these factory towns that were predominantly white in previous decades is that they gray, and they’re graying faster than the rate of new people coming in because there may or may not be that draw [of jobs] anymore. “The people that can move to follow the jobs do, and then who gets left behind makes up the population. So the younger, more able-bodied white population is probably, if possible, moving out of town, following the jobs.â€? The increase in the Latino population, Weffer said, could be due to any number of things, including Sterling’s relatively low cost of liv-

ing compared to surrounding areas and its proximity to Interstate 88. According to Greater Sterling Development Corp., the median cost of a house in Sterling is $92,160. In Chicago, that number is $222,960. “If they’re working in these sort of low-income jobs and occupations, then they might be looking for a place that will provide them the sort of maximum quality of life,� Weffer said. “... What they give up in commute, they make up in cost of living.� Weffer compared Sauk Valley’s future to that of small towns in the southeast that have seen similar growth in the Latino population – and were unprepared for it. “They’re not prepared, or they’re ill-equipped to deal with things,� he said. “It’s like, ‘Oh, now we need bilingual translators in the court systems, in the hospitals. We need to find people who can teach English as a second language in our schools.’� When told that Sterling High School recently hired a full-time bilingual teacher, he thought that was a good sign and showed a forward-thinking mentality. “These are the demographic shifts that then cause policy and implementation shifts as the population grows and as their needs grow,� he said. “People tend to think about immigration in only certain categories, but really it affects the entire community from birth to death, and really anywhere people would interact with the government or social institutions.� As the Sauk Valley’s Hispanic population continues to grow, businesses will have to factor bilingual skills into hiring, Weffer said, especially in places such as the court system and health care facilities.

Population changes by county

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VISION 2030 | RELIGION

Barriers coming down within local churches BY CHRISTI WARREN CWARREN SAUKVALLEY COM EXT

Christianity is by far the most popular religion in the Sauk Valley. In fact, practicing Muslims in the area have to go practically as far as Rockford to find the nearest mosque. The story is much the same for Jews in search of synagogues. How will religion in this area be different in 2030 in a growing multicultural nation? That largely falls to what challenges local Christian churches will be faced with. In a time when an aging conservative religious base is confronted with how to respond to an ever more socially liberal public – especially when it comes to ideas long opposed by the church, like homosexuality – the answer isn’t easy. Much like the polarization of political parties, different branches of the church, too, face divisions within their congregations. The Rev. Dr. John Rickard, a general presbyter for the Blackhawk-area Presbyterian churches and a member of the Illinois Conference of Churches, sees the church in transition now, but that’s not necessarily anything new. It’s been going on for the past 30 years, he said. The world isn’t what it used to be, and with the changing needs of congregations, the church is having to change, too. “The overall general trend is that fewer folks are going to church,� Rickard said. And those who do attend are more likely to cross between denominations freely than they were 50 years ago. “The denominational, you know, ‘We’re Lutheran, Meth-

odists, United Church, Presbyterian ...’ – that whole line is kind of falling apart in some ways,� Rickard said. “The reasons to be Methodist or Presbyterian or Lutheran are not as strong as they used to be. Folks cross between denominations freely, and so they cross-fertilize who we all are. So that’s changing the identification of all our denominations. And it will continue to do that. So where that will take us? I’m not sure. “It’s going to change how we function. I’m kind of thinking that maybe this is a God thing. And we ought to be – it ought not to be rejected out of hand. Maybe God is doing something to pull us back together.� Rickard said that whenever he goes into a church to work on something, one of the first things he’ll ask is how many of the people are lifetime members. Thirty years ago, he said, up to 90 percent would have been. But now, he’s more likely to hear that about 50 percent are lifelong members. “It makes it difficult for denominations to function as we’ve always functioned,� Rickard said. “But, you know, let’s see what’s happening. We may just have to ride with it.� So does that mean the different denominations, and their identities, are being diluted? To some extent it does, he said. At First Congregational Church in Sterling, colloquially known as the Big Red Church, Pastor Jeff Coester said one of the things he’s excited to see is churches losing their racial barriers. “I think that’s just wonderful,� Coester said. “The feeling that that separation needs to exist, I believe, is going away,

and I believe that some of the traditional antagonistic approaches toward finding equality are being replaced by people who are seeking relationships and finding that people are people, regardless of their physical differences. “For us, our youth coordinator is African-American, and this is a mostly white church, and she’s wonderful, our people love her, she’s amazing. We’re seeing the church become more colorful, and so I think that’s one of the best changes.� Coester said that his downtown church used to be known as a sort of “country club church,� and that’s just not the case anymore. “You’re also seeing a broader acceptance of unique individuals in the churches,� he said. “Like in our church, not this Christmas, but the Christmas before, our Mary and Joseph [in the Christmas pageant] were tattooed and pierced. “Now people are just welcome here,� he said. “You don’t have to be somebody; you don’t have to be dressed up.� Coester said that the push toward breaking down racial barriers and having a greater acceptance of unique individuals, like his church’s tattooed and pierced Mary and Joseph, is quickly becoming the norm among congregations. “You know, you probably still have some fringe groups,� he acknowledged. “But the truth is that most of us are closer to the middle than any of us want to admit.� Coester said that his church freely welcomes gays and lesbians into its worship and congregation, as well. “We believe that there’s a difference between having an

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orientation and giving into a behavior,� he said. “Even Jesus said some people are born without the natural interest for women, and they’re born like that for the glory of God. We believe they can exist like that together where everyone is loved and everyone is appreciated it.� The movement toward breaking down barriers is being taken up statewide. The Illinois Conference of Churches has a group of people dedicated to fighting segregation in churches. Called the Illinois Christians Encountering Racism Team, or ICER, it is composed of a group dedicated to “dismantling systematic racism and building bridges to racial wholeness within churches, institutions and communties,� according to its website. “Whereas racism exists as a social, political, and psychological element in our society, it is also a spiritual evil that needs to be intentionally addressed from the perspective of faith traditions,� the website says. “Racism is sin separating the children of God.� The ICER team provides educational opportunities, including speakers, seminars, retreats, and other resources for various ministries. Laure Vial, executive director of the Illinois Conference of Churches, said the team is made up of about two-thirds white people, one-third black. “There are a lot of white people who are very concerned about racism and trying to end it through all levels,� she said about the group. “Most of our denominations go through formal antiracism training each year, just like they go through anti-sexual misconduct training.�

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VISION 2030 | CITIES & TOWNS

Cities challenged to do more with less Providing services in future will become an exercise in creativity BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com EXT

City leaders in the Sauk Valley know what the keys to future growth are: Economic development, infrastructure, education, health care, public safety, parks and recreation, transportation, housing, and shopping – all of the things that greatly enhance the quality of life in a city or town. They talked about quality-of-life issues during political campaigns, have assessed where they are today, and have been in countless meetings to determine how to maximize a city’s assets. Then comes the hard part – figuring out how to pay for the services and amenities that will make residents want to stay or move into their cities. “Infrastructure, education, amenities – they all cost money,� Sterling Mayor Skip Lee said. “But if you don’t do it, you’ll fall further behind and die as a community.� Budgets are getting tighter at the national, state and local levels. When doing strategic planning and budgeting, it is prudent for officials to plan for the worst. The financial instability of the state and federal governments are helping to redefine long-term planning, officials say. “There is so much financial uncertainty, that 2- to 3-year windows can even be difficult,� Rock Falls Mayor Bill Wescott said. “If more cuts are made, the only option is to go to property taxes. Citizens won’t want to pay more, so they’ll ask for us to cut

employees and services.� As an example, Rock Falls is in year 3 of a 5-year comprehensive plan, and officials have found that many components have not been achievable because of the overall state of the economy. On the revenue side, the state and many cities, especially smaller rural towns, are forced to deal with an eroding tax base. Decreasing populations, the loss of businesses – especially large manufacturers – and lower property valuations have been revenue drains. In Dixon, sales taxes are helping to offset some other revenue uncertainties, Mayor Jim Burke said. “We are fortunately in a very solid position with our tax base,� Burke said. “When I came in as mayor in 1999, the sales tax was $1.5 million a year. Now it’s approaching $4 million a year, and we’re expecting more retail growth.� An increase in the state’s income tax also has helped. “Most of the tax base is coming in the form of state incomes taxes,� Sterling City Manager Scott Shumard said. “A larger percentage of our tax money is going to pensions funding.� In 2008, Sterling saw 23 percent of its property tax levy go to pensions. This year that number has grown to 40 percent of the levy. The cost of providing services is always difficult to keep up with, but unusual cirumstances such as the severe winter can really throw a wrench into the budget-

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Cory Schryver (left) and Paul Lawyer of the Rock Falls Street Department repaint lane lines on 12th Avenue near the intersection with U.S. Route 30 last July. As Rock Falls and other cities continue to have an eroding tax base and increased costs, finding ways to pay for projects on streets and other infrastructure becomes more of a challenge. ing process. “We could drop some serious money on fixing the roads,� Lee said. “The funds available to do the work don’t even make a dent.� Dixon has put a lot of money into basic services in the past few years, but some big projects remain. “Dixon has spent $18 million on a state-of-theart wastewater plant that can be increased in size,� Burke said. “We invested $14 million in water to get rid of radium and arsenic. We have a new public safety building. Our basic services are in good shape.� In addition to road problems that every city faces, Dixon needs costly sewer and water infrastructure work done that will have to be done in phases. The downtown streetscape project that is still being planned is expected to cost about about $5 million.

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Flanked by Rock Falls Mayor Bill Wescott (left) and Sterling Mayor Skip Lee (right) and other local representatives, Gov. Pat Quinn announced a fund matching project Sept. 21, 2013, to help turn the former Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. property in Sterling into a green space. For smaller cities like Sterling, Rock Falls and Dixon, the prospects of continuing to do more with less will force leaders to think outside the box. Norman Walzer, senior research scholar at the Northern Illinois University Center for Governmental Studies, says

the answers are likely to include the broader concepts of cooperation and collaboration. “The long-term forecasts are for smaller populations that in turn affect workforces,� Walzer said. Smaller communities will find it more difficult to supply ser-

vices themselves, and it will be harder to support the current government structure. We are going to see more intergovernmental agreements and more regionalism.� The consolidation of administrative services for the Sterling and Rock Falls fire departments illustrates the type of collaboration that is likely to become commonplace in small cities. The creation of the Twin City Joint Fire Command is the type of centralization that not only can save money on salaries, but over time, on purchases of equipment and supplies. “The fire department consolidation was a nobrainer,� Wescott said. “It should have been done years ago. We had been working jointly for 8 years or more – responding to the same calls, training, and doing inspections together.� That will continue, Sterling’s city manager said. “We’ll be doing more cooperatively,� Shumard said. “We don’t have a choice; it’s the only way we can keep services functioning.� Joint dispatching, bidding services, and administrative hearings are a few of the possibilities city officials cited as areas ripe for intergovernmental agreements. In Dixon, geography might not be as conducive to consolidation, but Burke says there are opportunities to centralize services. “At some point, I think it’s inevitable that city and rural fire consolidate services,� Burke said. “I also could see possibilities for an intergovernmental agreement with the police and sheriff’s departments.� MORE CONTINUED ON D18

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VISION 2030 | CITIES & TOWNS

Rock Falls well positioned for growth Utilities, highways, airport, riverfront city’s key assets BY PAM EGGEMEIER PEGGEMEIER SAUKVALLEY COM EXT

ROCK FALLS – In the analysis of growth prospects of the Sauk Valley’s three largest cities, a cursory glance might indicate that Rock Falls is playing catch-up to neighboring Sterling and Dixon. A closer look, however, could also support the argument that, of the three cities, Rock Falls could be best positioned for future growth. Norman Walzer, coauthor of the five-county study “Prosperity in Northwest Illinois,� undertaken by the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University in concert with a local advisory committee, says that history and geography have been particularly kind to Rock Falls. “They have a long, proud manufacturing history,� Walzer said. “That may have dissipated with factory closings, but the younger genera-

tion there has been influenced by that mindset and it can be useful in building entrepreneurship and a new brand of workforce.� The city also owns its own electric, water and sewer utilities, which can be advantageous in running the city and attracting businesses. “Having your own utilities is a big plus,� Mayor Bill Wescott said. “Having our own enterprise funds gives us a hand up, and it might also allow us to offer some additional incentives to businesses.� Geographically, the city is ideally situated from a transportation standpoint. Interstate 88, state Routes 30 and 40 offer easy accessibility, particularly for its eastand west-end industrial parks. Route 40 has three exits into Rock Falls, and Route 30 has two. The time frame for the Route 30 improvement project has been bumped up, which will be another

Photo submitted

According to an Illinois Department of Transportation study, the Whiteside County Airport south of Rock Falls brings about $5.5 million a year to the local economy, and provides about 57 jobs. Business jets are the majority of the airport’s commercial operations, and having such a facility has influenced many companies that located in the area, including the Walmart Distribution Center, airport manager Mike Dowell says. selling point for economic developers. The Whiteside County Airport is just south of the city limits, so it falls within the jurisdiction of the County Board. Wescott believes the airport should become a bigger priority for the future. “The airport is largely an untapped resource,� Wescott said. “There are

runways for freight, and I’d like to see more interest in exploring its use as an economic center.� While city officials say they can never close the door on manufacturing, the highways and rail access, along with the potential of the airport, open the door to more warehousing and distribution business. Everything is in place at

the west-side industrial park properties – utilities, roads and curbs. Progress has been made in the cleanup of the city’s riverfront and in ordinance changes to expand mixed use zoning in the area. “The riverfront is a huge asset, and mix-use zoning gives you a big head start in developing it,� Walzer said.

“The next area of growth will be 17.2 acres of land at the old Reliant site and the Parrish-Alford area on West Second and Fifth,� Wescott said. “They are prime areas deemed no further remediation by the EPA, and they can now be sold.� Once the city gets an anchor business along the riverfront, officials say, other development dominoes will fall quickly. “We are very confident that when we get that first cornerstone business, complementary businesses will quickly follow,� Wescott said. Several new businesses have recently come into the downtown. They may not be big manufacturers or big-box retailers, but they are creating additional tax revenue and jobs. Wescott says he suspects that Sterling gets a large chunk of sales taxes from Rock Falls residents because of a broader retail base on the north side of the Rock River. Filling in the retail blanks and offering more of a one-stop shopping experience for residents would bring some of that tax money back home.

City boundaries could look much different in 30 years MORE

CONTINUED FROM D17

It’s important that citizens remember that collaboration doesn’t mean merger, Lee says. “When the fire department agreement was first discussed, people thought we were going to have fewer firefighters and public safety would be compromised,� Lee said. “The changes came in administrative func-

tions, not out in the field.� When it comes to providing services, Rock Falls would seem to have an advantage through owning its electric, water and sewer utilities. But adjustments in fees are sometimes needed to do business, and it’s harder to do that as a municipality. “There are more restrictions than a business – referendums, tax rates, EAVs – but we are a business,� Wescott said. City boundaries could

look much different in the next 30 years. In Dixon, the biggest growth area is likely to be northeast of the city. After the sanitary sewer work is done under Galena Avenue near the shopping centers, 3,500 acres will become available for residential development. An expansion plan is in the works for an additional 100 single-family homes at Overlook Gardens on Overlook Drive near Bloody Gulch Road.

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All you have to do is go less than one-quarter mile outside Rock Falls in several directions to find an additional 2,000 people. Some have city water already, but water and sewer would have to be run in those areas. About 600 people alone live in 150 homes in Allen’s Addition near U.S. Route 30 west of the city. “Our population would grow by about onequarter with those 2,000 people,� Wescott said.

“That’s about $50,000 more from the state, but it would take some time to run the water and sewer out there.� Despite the fiscal challenges, city officials know they must always aim to provide a better quality of life for their residents. “People talk about keeping your young people here, but realistically, you have to always ask, ‘What are we bringing them back to?’� Shumard said. “There are tens of thou-

sands of small towns like us. You have to find ways to improve amenities and set yourself apart.� The entire community must be invested in a city’s growth, Lee said. “We’re lucky that in Sterling, many organizations are active participants in the mission,� he said. “ Sterling Schools have a great alumni program. Word of mouth is important – you have to spread the gospel of what we have to offer.�

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VISION 2030 | CONSOLIDATING GOVERNMENT SERVICES

Forging spirit of cooperation in Twin Cities Sterling, Rock Falls mayors say more mutual efforts like Fire Command needed in future BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com EXT

Rock Falls Mayor Bill Wescott and Sterling Mayor Skip Lee appear to be on the same page. Both say the Twin City Fire Command is going smoothly. Both say this means the cities should look at other ways to cooperate. Both say such joint efforts benefit taxpayers. Last fall, Sterling and Rock Falls consolidated the administrative functions of their fire departments. The intergovernmental agreement that created the combined entity had been in the works since 2010. On Sept. 9, both city councils approved the pact in the first joint meeting since the cities approved an automatic aid agreement 15 years earlier. Although the command structure merged, the departments remained independent. Gary Cook, who started as a Rock Falls firefighter 34 years ago, became chief of the joint command. For 3 years before that, Cook had been the deputy chief for the Rock Falls department and the interim chief for Sterling’s. He splits his time between the cities. Mayor Lee praised Cook’s work. “I want to give a lot of credit to Chief Cook,� Lee said. “Gary brought to this job a unique blend of sound knowledge of firefighting and leadership skills. He also brought a personality that leads to consensus building. We couldn’t have had a more perfect person for the transition. We have had no glitches [with the fire command] that I’m

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Twin City Fire Chief Gary Cook usually spends his mornings in Sterling and his afternoons in Rock Falls. Each department has deputy chiefs who are keys to making sure everyone is on the same page in an emergency, Cook said. aware of.� Mayor Wescott agreed. “It’s been running smoothly,� he said. “Both fire departments had been working together for 9 or 10 years, working on the response protocols. We had this big cake and wanted to put the frosting on it.� For instance, Wescott said, the Twin City command worked well recently in response to Rock Falls’ cutting off of its water supply because of a sewer blockage. The command could really help when the departments need to buy a specialized vehicle, perhaps getting one rather than two, saving taxpayers’ money, Wescott said.

‘Deleting’ a town’s identity? A couple of years ago, a consultant told officials from throughout Whiteside County that they could save $14 million if they consolidated their dispatch services. Rather than Sterling, Rock Falls and Whiteside County each having their own 911 centers, they would have just one. Sterling was for it. Whiteside County leaned in favor. But Rock Falls seemed uninterested. In fact, one Rock Falls alderman, Glen Kuhlemier, opposed the idea. “This is another attempt to delete the identify of

this community,� he said in 2011. Rock Falls didn’t contribute to the study that led to the consultant’s conclusions, nor did it chip in for a study on consolidating the Sterling and Rock Falls fire departments. “We don’t throw money at studies,� Rock Falls Alderman Daehle Reitzel explained at the time. Kuhlemier agreed. “Time and again, we’re approached with surveys and studies. These show what the instigator wants them to show. The surveys and studies aren’t impartial,� he said. “If it saves money, that’s on paper. There has to be

more research. I have to have it proved to me.� Sterling is larger than Rock Falls, and median household income and other economic data show that Sterling is better off financially. Tensions have long existed between the towns, as is often the case with close neighbors. In 2012, Sterling City Administrator Scott Shumard said in an interview that combining services would benefit both towns. “The community is not which dispatch service you have or which fire truck comes to your house,� he said. “A community is how citizens give back and participate.�

“We have to be one community. In this day and age, if we’re not going to think about competing in a globalized world, we’ll be lost,� Shumard said. “We have to do things cooperatively.� Down the road in Dixon, Mayor Jim Burke has long been a proponent of more consolidation of area services, particularly in economic development. In 2011, he even suggested that Sterling and Rock Falls combine as one city. After all, he said, only the Rock River divides them. In 2011, when the U.S. Census released numbers showing population declines around northwestern Illinois, Burke called for area mayors to hold a summit. The dropping numbers, Burke said, were further proof of a bad regional economy. Parochial thinking, he said, when it comes to economic development was “over the hill.�

Cities looking for other areas of cooperation No major official in Sterling or Rock Falls has suggested joining the two towns, but over the years, officials have sought greater cooperation. In his failed re-election campaign last year, thenRock Falls Mayor David Blanton made much of his efforts to cooperate with Sterling, noting that he had regular lunches with Lee. Wescott, Lee said, has been “very proactive� in building relationships. SPIRIT

CONTINUED ON

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VISION 2030 | CONSOLIDATING GOVERNMENT SERVICES LOSE IN DOING AWAY WITH TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT 9OU KNOW THE DEFINITION OF MADNESS YES $OING THINGS THE SAME WAY AND EXPECTING A DIFFERENT RESULT 7ELL WHAT IF WE DON T EVEN EXPECT A DIFFERENT RESULT )SN T THAT SOMETHING FAR WORSE 4HE WORD APATHY COMES TO MIND AND APATHY COULD BE THE BIGGEST DETERRENT IN ACHIEVING OUR VISION !RE THERE REALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE SATISFIED WITH THE UTTER LACK OF IMPACT BEING MADE BY TOWNSHIPS GOVERNING BODIES #ONSOLIDATING TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT INTO COUNTY GOVERNMENT MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD TO ME FROM OVERHEAD COST TO EFFICIENCY TO ACCOUNTABILIY 4HAT LAST ONE MIGHT BE THE MOST IMPORTANT 7HEN ) READ THAT ONE OF THE MOST OFTEN DISCUSSED TOPICS AT A COUNTY BOARD MEETING IS WHETHER THEY RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK FOR DOUGHNUTS ) M PRETTY CONVINCED THAT WE COULD ASK COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TOWNSHIP BODIES

FROM SCRATCH TODAY THEY WOULD NOT CREATE UNITS OF GOVERNMENT 4HE REDUNDANCY MAKES NO SENSE "Y THAT NUMBER SHOULD DIMINISH

n IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY BY MAKING GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION CHANNELS CLEAR AND SAVE US MONEY 7E D ALL LIKE THAT

Matt Mencarini, reporter: )N YEARS GOVERNMENTS ESPECIALLY THOSE AT THE LOCAL LEVELS SHOULD BE MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT "Y THE TECHNOLOGY WILL BE AVAILABLE TO EASILY POST RECORDS BILLS BANK STATEMENTS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS ONLINE !S A JOURNALIST ) SPEND A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO GET MY HANDS ON DOCUMENTS OR FIND OUT WHAT AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION REFERS Where do members of the TO 4HERE S NO REASON ALL THIS INFORMATION Sauk Valley Media newsCAN T BE POSTED ON A WEBSITE OR INCLUDED IN AN APP room think local governments 4AXPAYERS SHOULD HAVE EASY ACCESS TO should consolidate between GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS ESPECIALLY THOSE now and 2030? THAT CAN EXPLAIN WHAT PUBLIC BODIES ARE Angel Sierra, online editor: /NCE DOING AND WHERE TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING UPON A TIME IN .EW 9ORK THERE WAS A TINY )N YEARS THERE WILL BE NO EXCUSE FOR David Giuliani, news editor: 7E IN TOWN CALLED !LTMAR POPULATION !LTDOCUMENTS NOT TO BE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE THE MEDIA MYSELF INCLUDED NEED TO DO MAR IS AN INTERESTING EXAMPLE OF GOVERNTO DOWNLOAD A BETTER JOB OF EXPLAINING TO READERS THE Jim Dunn, opinion page editor: )F MENT CONSOLIDATION BECAUSE ON -AY COSTS OF NOT CONSOLIDATING GOVERNMENT CONSOLIDATION HASN T TAKEN A hIT WAS THE FIRST TOWN IN .EW 9ORK Larry Lough, executive editor: )N )LLINOIS WE HAVE MORE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES THAN ANY OTHER STATE 7HEN SOME LEAP FORWARD BY ) LL BE DISAPPOINTED TO APPROVE DISSOLUTION v ACCORDING TO THAT 4HE FORMULA FOR THE FUTURE SEEMS PRETTY )T IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT AS MORE VOTSTATE GOVERNMENT S WEBSITE 4HE TOWN WILL SIMPLE FEWER UNITS OF GOVERNMENT GREATER PUSH FOR CONSOLIDATION THE FORCES OF THE RECEIVE A TAX CREDIT AND RESIDENTS WILL SEE EFFICIENCY IN BOTH COST AND DELIVERY OF STATUS QUO FIGHT BACK "UT IN MANY CASES ERS REALIZE THE INEFFICIENCIES OF A SYSTEM THAT DATES FROM THE TH CENTURY THEY LL A DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN PROPERTY TAXES SERVICES MORE TRANSPARENCY TO ENSURE THE TAXPAYERS PAY MORE FOR HAVING MORE ABOUT A PERCENT CUT THE PUBLIC S RIGHT TO KNOW n WHICH CRETAXING ENTITIES &OR INSTANCE IT COSTS MUCH EMBRACE AN OVERHAUL n AND THEY LL ELECT 3IMPLY PUT THIS TYPE OF CONSOLIDATION ATES GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY 5NFORTUNATELY MORE TO HAVE SEPARATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR LIKE MINDED OFFICIALS TO CARRY IT OUT 4HE TREND TOWARD REDUCING THE NUMBER INVOLVES THE ELIMINATION OF REDUNDANT OR EASIER SAID THAN DONE ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS SUCH AS 2IVERDALE AND OVERLAPPING GOVERNMENT BODIES 4O PUT IT IN IS THE CASE IN 2OCK &ALLS Jeff Rogers, managing editor: 4HE )N BUSINESS WE HAVE SEEN MANY CONSOL- .ELSON WILL CONTINUE DRIVEN BY LESS FINAN- A WAY THAT FUTURE LEADERS MIGHT UNDERSTAND CIAL SUPPORT FROM THE STATE AND TAXPAYERS IT S LIKE HAVING APPS ON YOUR CELLPHONE S BIGGEST ROADBLOCK TO GOVERNMENT CONSOLIIDATIONS 7HAT DRIVES THAT 0ROFITS 'OVFED UP WITH BUREAUCRACY HOME SCREENS 7HAT A MESS RIGHT DATION IS THE PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT )F BY ERNMENT IS NOT IN SEARCH OF PROFITS BUT IT #ONSOLIDATION WOULD LET YOU ORGANIZE THE CITIZENRY DOESN T DEMAND AND SHOULD LOOK TO CUT UNNECESSARY SPENDING $ITTO THAT FOR TOWNSHIPS 4HEIR FUNCTIONS DICTATE MERGERS FINANCES WILL !LL UNITS OF 3O WE NEED TO GET BEYOND THE OLD EXCUSE ARE IMPORTANT (OWEVER AS COUNTIES IN THEM BETTER IN GROUPS OR FOLDERS THAT )LLINOIS PROVE THOSE FUNCTIONS CAN BE CAR- MAKE SENSE 7HEN YOU RE READY TO USE GOVERNMENT EXCEPT PERHAPS FOR TOWNOF THAT S THE WAY IT S ALWAYS BEEN RIED OUT BY LOCAL ROAD DISTRICTS AND COUNTY THEM EVERYTHING IS CLEAR SHIPS ARE FEELING THE PINCH OF RISING COSTS EMPLOYEES WHO ASSESS PROPERTY AND DIS) D LIKE TO SEE 3TERLING AND 2OCK &ALLS AND STAGNANT REVENUE !T SOME POINT Christopher Heimerman, news SOON THERE WILL BE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONeditor: ) M GOING TO TAKE A HARD LINE HERE PENSE RELIEF TO THE POOR 7HY NOT SIMPLIFY BECOME ONE CITY )F )LLINOISANS BUILT A GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM #ONSOLIDATION n EVEN ON A SMALL SCALE SOLIDATE SERVICES TO CUT COSTS 4HERE IS FAR MORE TO GAIN THAN THERE IS TO

WHAT DO WE THINK?

Pam Eggemeier, reporter: 'OVERNMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO CONSOLIDATE BECAUSE MANY OF THEM DON T HAVE A CHOICE -UNICIPAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE FORCED TO GET CREATIVE ABOUT OFFERING SERVICES 4HE RESULT WILL BE MANY MORE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS SUCH AS THE 4WIN #ITY *OINT &IRE #OMMAND -ANY OF THESE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE 3TERLING AND 2OCK &ALLS FIRE DEPARTMENT PLAN IN THAT THEY ARE ADMINISTRATIVE MERGERS ONLY 3ERVICES REMAIN VIRTUALLY THE SAME BUT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO CUT LEADERSHIP SALARIES AND SAVE MONEY IN PROCURING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

Lee, Wescott say they meet regularly SPIRIT

CONTINUED FROM D19

“When Rock Falls had their issue with water, I was on the phone with the mayor when I heard about it. I asked whether he needed any assistance. If we had a similar situation, he would be on the phone with me right away,� Lee said. “Mayor Wescott and I are meeting very regu-

larly,� Lee said. “That is by no means a dig at Mayor Blanton. Blanton was very, very accessible. If I needed help, Dave Blanton was on the telephone.� Both mayors say they are looking for other ways to consolidate. “When something comes up [for cooperation] and it makes sense, we’ll jump on it,� Lee said. “We are [already] working on a renters’ inspection program,

which will be coming down the pike. There are lots of things. We’re still looking at a joint dispatch service.� Wescott said Rock Falls and Sterling must look at areas of possible cooperation. “We owe it to both of our communities to talk about that. I’m not ready in this conversation to make any big statement about what we’re looking at,� Wescott said. “We would be remiss if

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we didn’t look at everything where we could cost-share. Anything we can do to save taxpayers’ money in the two communities is a good thing.� With the smooth transition for the fire command, Wescott said, “why couldn’t it work in other areas? Maybe in public works, police. That’s where we have to sit down and weigh the options and look at the costs.�

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Dixon Mayor Jim Burke (left) and Dixon Park Board President Ron Pritchard listen during an unveiling Feb. 6 of plans for a statue of former President Ronald Reagan at Lowell Park. Burke has long been a proponent of more consolidation of area services, particularly in economic development.

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VISION 2030 | RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT & RECREATION

Riverfront ‘destinations’ Photo submitted

Dixon’s riverfront shows the result of 15 years of development. A pedestrian bridge, boat docks, and bike and walking paths could be among the next projects for the Dixon riverfront.

Dixon, Sterling, Rock Falls in different phases of development BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com EXT

Sterling, Dixon and Rock Falls all sit along the banks of the Rock River. The river, and each city’s respective riverfront area, is likely to be a focus for recreational development in the coming years. In fact, it already is. For Dixon, the focus will be to provide additional amenities and recreational aspects to an already developed downtown riverfront, Heartland Crossing. For Sterling and Rock Falls, the work will be on environmental cleanup, building green spaces, and developing the riverfront as an a economic asset, in a new way, in addition to a recreational asset. The recreational and economic aspects are closely tied, Sterling Mayor Skip Lee said, adding that as the city adds amenities, it becomes more attractive to developers. The first step for Sterling, which is

expected to begin in April, is to add 3 feet of mud to its riverfront, which will act as an environmental barrier to soil contaminants. The 60,000 cubic yards of mud will be transported from Fox Lake in Lake County. The $900,000 cost will be paid by Gov. Pat Quinn’s Mud to Parks program. Conceptual plans for Sterling have already developed, Lee said, and could be realized by 2030. Work will begin on the western end of Sterling’s riverfront and start with green space. “It’s important for us that people have access to the river,� Lee said. “It’s important that we have a way to handle some of the storm water runoff from the city. It’s important that we have a place where people can go and enjoy nature.� The riverfront development in Sterling can be finished in 16 years, Lee said, if the economy improves and the city is able to market its location as an asset.

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VISION 2030 | RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT & RECREATION

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Once a world leader in hardware manufacturing, Sterling is poised to lose some In a flurry of activity, excavators and bulldozers moved dirt and debris last winter from the RB&W riverfront site in Rock Falls. of its iconic relics as part of a plan to redevelop the city’s riverfront.

Walking, bicycling paths part of Dixon riverfront plans RIVERFRONT

CONTINUED FROM D21

“We’re in between four major metropolitan areas,� Lee said. “The good news to that is that I can have everything I want in Peoria, Rockford, the Quad Cities and Chicago, but have the quality of life of rural midwestern America.� About 14 miles east on the Rock River, Dixon’s riverfront shows the result of 15 years of development. For the next 15 years, the recreational focus for Dixon’s riverfront will be expansion. A pedestrian bridge, boat docks, and bike and walking paths could be among the next projects for the Dixon riverfront, said Larry Reed, chairman of the Dixon Riverfront Commission. The riverfront commission was formed in 1999, he said, with the goal of

making the Rock River an asset for the community. “We have done that, Josh pretty much, Albrecht as far as attractions along the river,� Reed said. “But we have not actually addressed, if I were a river user, what is that asset.� That’s where the boat docks come in. The riverfront commission is studying boat docks and working to obtain funding. The project could cost about $125,000, Reed said. Josh Albrecht, executive director of Dixon Main Street, said boat docks could open up the riverfront to a lot of recreational opportunities that can, in turn, feed into the downtown economy. “Obviously, the Rock River plays a huge part in fishing and canoeing and boating activities,�

he said. “Our riverfront development is crucial in that as well. If we can get these boat docks in, like we’ve been talking about, having a sort of pseudo Dixon Marina would be a big draw as well.� Main Street is merging with the Riverfront Commission and taking over the day-to-day operations. The merger could be official in April. The master plan for the Dixon riverfront includes walking or bicycling paths to the east and west of the riverfront. Those paths could make their way across the Rock River with the bridges at Galena Avenue or Peoria Avenue, or – eventually – a new pedestrian bridge. Remnants of an old railroad bridge could accommodate a pedestrian bridge west of the Peoria Avenue bridge at a cost of nearly $4.5 million for environmental and engineering study and construction,

Reed said. Other projects in the master plan include parking lots, an overlook at the dam, and additional land acquisition. The entire master plan could cost about $12.8 million, Reed said. The work that Sterling wants to plan – with green space, a microbrewery, and other possible small businesses – could cost about $60 million, Lee said, so it will have to be done in stages. In Rock Falls, the riverfront recreational development will happen at the former Reliant site, east of First Avenue and north of Second Street. Environmental remediation, which Sterling is dealing with now, has already been handled in Rock Falls. The area is in a Tax Increment Financing district, Rock Falls Mayor Bill Wescott said, and the city’s goal is to do all the work at once, not piece-

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Wescott said. “It’s the ‘destination’ that you’re looking for. For us, it will be the destination.� But the recreational aspects of each city’s riverfront that make it a “destination� won’t impact only the surrounding business or bring in new business to the immediate area. The riverfronts and recreation facilities will increase quality of life and tourism. “A lot of people will say to me, ‘Too bad Dixon isn’t more like Galena,’ or insert any town you want,� Albrecht said. “And I always say to them, and my wife gets tired of hearing it sometimes, I think, I always say, ‘No. I don’t want to be like Galena. We are Dixon.’ “And we are in a great position right now to shape Dixon how we want to shape it and make it what we want to make it. And that is a pretty exciting adventure to be on.�

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meal over several years. The plan calls for an amphitheatre, green space, benches, a bathroom, a kiosk with information about the city, and boardwalk. That work could be finished by 2020, Wescott said, if businesses develop in the area as the city has planned. Any development along the river between Sterling and Rock Falls benefits the two cities, Wescott said, adding that it will make sense to have all bicycle and walking paths to connect. The businesses that develop around the former Reliant site, Wescott said, will drive the development of its riverfront, from the tax revenue generated from the TIF district. “Regardless of the developments that we get down here on the 17 acres that we own, what we turn this into will be the focal point, not only for those businesses,�

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VISION 2030 | RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT & RECREATION criticism; it’s just the nature of economic development everywhere. Improving the amenities, including recreation opportunities, will always pay off in keeping residents here and bringing in more visitors.

WHAT DO WE THINK? What would members of the Sauk Valley Media newsroom like to see developed along the Sterling/Rock Falls riverfront or added to the Dixon riverfront between now and 2030? Pam Eggemeier, reporter: Recreation is obviously a huge part of the riverfront development plans of Sterling, 2OCK &ALLS AND $IXON #ITY OFFICIALS PARticularly economic development leaders, constantly talk about the importance of quality-of-life components. Bringing businesses to small towns is a crap shoot at best – it takes time and money, and oftentimes towns are left with nothing to show for it in the end. That’s not a

Larry Lough, executive editor: The Rock River continues to be a largely under-appreciated, under-promoted, under-utilized recreational asset. The potential to develop it (responsibly) represents perhaps the best opportunity for communities throughout the Sauk Valley to awake from their provincialism and create a well-integrated river park system that serves both local residents and tourism. Jim Dunn, opinion page editor: I would love to take a boat ride on the Rock River, but I don’t own a boat. A lot of people are in the same, er, boat, I EXPECT "Y ) HOPE THE REGION HAS a seasonal service that offers such rides. 2IVERFRONT DEVELOPMENTS IN $IXON 2OCK Falls and Sterling could provide landings. The watercraft could be simple pontoon BOATS 7ISCONSIN $ELLS STYLE DUCKS WATER TAXIS OR EVEN HOVERCRAFTS ,OCALS AND tourists who travel here would certainly enjoy such rides. Boat races that were once a summer staple along the Rock Falls shoreline ought to be resumed. However the riverfront developments turn

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

The Rock River flows over the lower dam between Sterling and Rock Falls on a summer afternoon. out, a river kept clean of litter and debris is ever more important. The Rock River Sweep, originated by Frank Masterman of /REGON IN WILL GROW IN POPULARITY SO THAT BY THE RIVERBANKS WILL BE KEPT much cleaner by many more people.

Angel Sierra, online editor: Sometimes I think we forget that we live in a place that people who live in big cities will travel hours to see. Investment in our community – whether it be money, time, blood or sweat – is part of the social pact we have with the area’s youth. We can make our neighborhoods a more enriching setting to inspire and cultivate growth. Improvements to the Sterling/Rock Falls RIVERFRONT AND THE $IXON RIVERFRONT ARE

part of this endeavour. They’re potential moneymakers through tourism revenue as well. I’d like to see even more green space ALONG BOTH RIVERFRONTS 7HILE $IXON HAS some work already completed, Sterling and Rock Falls have some serious work to get done. A boardwalk-type ecosystem with local shops, restaurants and a brewery would be an amazing thing to see along the Sterling/Rock Falls riverfront. Is that asking too much? Both riverfronts are ripe for development and enhancements. Jeff Rogers, managing editor: I think the Sterling and Rock Falls riverfronts first must have distinctly different offerings that are coordinated efforts working in concert. The cities must continue to work together to make it so that their riverfront developments complement each other instead of being in competition. One side could emphasize offerings for kids and families: More greenspace, recreational paths, playgrounds, heck, perhaps EVEN A #HUCK % #HEESE S TYPE OF RESTAUrant that caters to kids and families. The other side of the river could feature commerce and recreation that caters more to adults – a bar and grill, a microbrewery, restaurants, interesting retail. I’d like to see both cities dream big, and work together.

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