John F. Booker

The Public Works Committee agenda for the meeting included routine business such as approving Budgetary Status Reports and Township Motor Fuel Tax Claims. Department updates covered the Building and Zoning report for December 2025 and January 2026, and a resolution requesting rezoning for property located at 5460 & 5630 Moline Road, Erie IL. The Airport Board section included a motion to approve the minutes from meetings in November and December 2025. The Highway Department agenda items included review of Closed Landfill Reports, the Solid Waste Management Plan Update, a motion to approve a Petition for County Aid for a culvert project in Genesee Township, review of the Asset Management Project RFP, and a resolution to award the bid for the Tank Replacement Project. A special committee meeting was scheduled for February 17, 2026, to address the 2026 County General Letting bid awarding.

The agenda for this session of the Board of Review Hearings included a call to order, a review of the Board of Review Hearing Docket featuring several entities such as ZEN-NOH Grain Corporation, Club Car Wash Sterling 35th LLC, and others. The session also covered acting on applications for property tax exemptions for various entities including New Sterling Facility Company LLC and IDOT. Additionally, the agenda provided time to discuss any old or new business, specifically mentioning the Douglas & Abrigail Temple Trusts, before adjournment.

Key discussions included the approval of the July 15, 2025, minutes. Administrator reports detailed project investment figures for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, totaling $1,482,412 in investment across 4 projects, and a quarterly review for July-September 2025. Financial reports detailed interest earned and expenditures, resulting in combined available funds of $122,849.09. Old business addressed the decision to maintain the current system regarding proxy representation for absent members and discussed potentially changing the annual meeting frequency or offering remote attendance options. New business involved researching options for utilizing surplus funds, such as a Certificate of Deposit (CD) or money market account. Updates were provided on potential projects, including one with Jungbunzlauer (JBL) in Thomson, IL, and recognition of two local entities advancing in the 2025 Chicago Innovation Awards. The report also noted the Whiteside County Unemployment Rate for August 2025 was 4.9%. Community updates covered progress on the Morrison Hospital expansion and local personnel changes.

The Board of Review addressed several hearing dockets concerning property assessments. For GKC Theatres Inc, a reduction in Actual Value (AV) was discussed. For Jackson-Lincoln Land Trust, the Board of Review decided on 'no change' for three dockets and determined valuation based on an auction sale for another. Other hearings were canceled due to the CSP going into effect. Additionally, the Board acted on property tax exemption applications for David & Lori Snow, April House (two applications), Sterling CUSD 5 (two applications), and Prophetstown Township, all of which were approved and forwarded to the Illinois Department of Revenue. In Old or New Business, the Board reviewed the property classification for Richard Maronde III, deciding against changing the building's use classification to farm use.

The Board of Review meeting involved processing numerous property tax exemption applications and reviewing various taxpayer complaints (dockets). Three property tax exemption applications were handled: two involving Timothy J Hnilica were denied and forwarded to the Illinois Department of Revenue, while an application from Albany Fire Protection District was approved pending final decision. The Board addressed multiple complaints, making decisions on assessed valuations or property class changes for numerous docket holders. One complaint from CPEPP Services LLC was withdrawn by the taxpayer. Additionally, the Board reviewed its own motions and set hearing dates for the week of January 26th, addressing Docket #40 MDC Coast 29 LLC.