12-04-02: Rockford businessman must do paperwork

12-04-02: Rockford businessman must do paperwork

Councilors ask for information before deciding on giving help

By NANCY ALLEN
The Daily Standard

    ROCKFORD - Rockford Village council members Tuesday said a local businessman must submit a business plan and certified appraisal of the building his business is housed in before the village would consider purchasing the storefront and leasing it to him.
    Businessman Kevin Ross of Ross Automotive attended Tuesdayšs village council meeting with his consultant Mark Miller.
    Council members Greg Pontsler, Nick Sell, Amy Joseph and Randy Gutierrez voted in favor of having Ross submit the business plan and appraisal, while council member Keith Rutledge voted no. Council member Gene Steiner was absent.
    Rockford Village Administrator Jeff Long this morning said Ross was asked to get the business plan and appraisal to councilors so they can review the documents prior to the next regular council meeting on Dec. 17.
    Ross first approached council last month asking the village to help him in completing financing to buy the former Riley Chevrolet storefront at 141 N. Main St. Ross wanted the village to co-sign an $80,000 bank loan. He also said he was pursuing a $50,000 revolving loan from the county.
    At a later meeting, Rockford Village Solicitor Judy Koesters advised against the village co-signing the loan with Ross. Councilors vowed to investigate other ways to assist Ross.
    With little discussion, councilors Tuesday night approved a request from village police Chief Paul May to spend $6,500 to buy a used 2000 Ford police cruiser from the Decatur Police Department in Indiana. May said having a third cruiser would allow officers to spread out mileage more. The village already has a 2000 Crown Victoria and a 2002 Chevy Impala, Long said.
    In other business, councilors:
    - Held the second reading of Ordinance 11-22-02 setting up a registration process for contractors working within the village. Contractors would register with a $10 annual fee to do any work in town. By registering, contractors agree to abide by zoning regulations and to properly withhold village income tax from their workers.
    - Read for the second time Ordinance 11-21-02 that would put the responsibility of paying utility bills with property owners, not tenants. The change would alleviate disputes among tenants and ensure the village gets paid, Long has said.
    - Read for the second time Ordinance 11-20-02, which sets an estimated total $1,227,231 village operating budget for 2003. The budget shows a $537,034 general fund, $201,335 water fund, $293,537 sewer fund, $183,925 street maintenance and repair fund and $11,400 state highway fund.
    - Read for the second time Ordinance 11-19-02, an annual pay ordinance that would grant 2 percent raises to all village employees, except utility technician Tom Beahrs, who will get a 5 percent raise. Beahrs received a higher raise because he did not get a raise last year due to not having a water and wastewater license. The ordinance also reduces the hours village police officers work from 45 to 40 per week.
    - Read for the second time Resolution 11-19-02, that would hire Koesters as village solicitor at a salary of $400 per month.

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