Local meetings this week in Rockton, South Beloit, and Roscoe

The trustees of Rockton and Roscoe hold their twice-monthly meetings on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The City of South Beloit met on Monday.

The villages of Roscoe and Rockton are setting the estimated tax levy for the year. By law, the Village must hold a public hearing if they increase the levy more than 5%, and most local governments don't. But this year, because of inflation, government costs have increased more than 5%. If taxes go up, the main reason would be an increase in property values. But they may not: as municipalities grow, the tax burden is shared among more homeowners and businesses, so historically taxes often go down. School taxes are the largest portion of a property tax bill for most Stateline residents.

Tuesday's meeting of the Village of Rockton trustees at 7 p.m. begins with comments from the 50 North seniors group.  Justin Jobst will be sworn in as Deputy Chief of the Rockton Police. He was promoted to Sergeant in September 2017. Trustees will give updates from committees. Also speaking: Mayor John Peterson, the village attorney, and Fire Chief Kirk Wilson. 

The Rockton board will consider ordinances allowing them to sell a surplus police officer service weapon. They also want to trade in a Kubota mower/deck and snow blower to get a John Deere commercial mower/deck and snow blower. After trade-in, the cost would be $39,438. The board will also present the estimated tax levy for the year.

At Tuesday's meeting, the Village of Roscoe will officially grant a Special Event permit for the annual Hometown event on December 9, 2023 including a partial closure of Main Street from Presley to Harrison streets.  Roscoe will also set its 2024 holiday schedule and meeting schedules for the Village Board and Committee of the Whole. 

The Roscoe board is expected to take a final vote to eliminate contractor registration within the Village of Roscoe. The Village doesn't evaluate contractors as part of that process  and most contractors haven't been registering anyway. 

Roscoe trustees will likely authorize a routine five-year agreement with Johnson Controls for inspection of backflow prevention devices and fire detection and suppression equipment at Village-owned properties. The company patented the first electric thermostat in 1883. The public works department has asked the board to adopt revised job descriptions, classification schedules, and updated wage scales for their full-time employees, to better fit their actual skills and duties of their experienced staff.

The Village of Roscoe is expected to purchase the former location of A Little Bird Told Me at 5466 Bridge Street.  The owner has been holding close-out sales of vintage and farmhouse decor and architectural salvage. As Main Street Roscoe becomes revitalized, the Village plans to use the property for parking, behind the future home of Velvet Robot Coffee Lab, which expects to open in January at 10514 Main Street. 

Roscoe trustees will be developing their 2024 budget at both December meetings, with a public budget hearing in January 2024.

The City of South Beloit, which met Monday, considered 2024 meeting and holiday schedules, an ordinance regarding the Illinois Paid Leave for all Workers Act, and a development agreement with Rock River Development.

More News from Roscoe

• Death notices for the Stateline: 4/29/2024 We remember those who are no longer with us in Roscoe, Rockton, and South Beloit.
• Strong spirits: life After the sleep of winter, life jumps out at us everywhere.