75 cents
Breaking news at Daily-Chronicle.com
Serving DeKalb County since 1879
Thursday, May 1, 2014
NIU CHILDREN’S CHOIR
PREP BASEBALL • SPORTS, B1
Bringing people together through music A&E, C1
Sycamore pitchers benefit from DH Cam Godinski
Jail plan hits sticker shock County Board balks at expense of expansion project options The jail now has enough space for 89 inmates. County Board members DeKalb County’s finance commitsaid they want to spend only tee will next meet to discuss the jail $23 million on the expansion expansion project at 7 p.m. May 7 project, most of which is exat the DeKalb County Government pected to come from increased Administrative Office, 200 N. Main revenue from dumping fees St., Sycamore. when the county landfill is expanded. “We could think about what lion expansion that would add we want and what we need, but 219 beds along with amenities we’ve got to think about what such as a partial basement and we can afford,” said Anthony geothermal energy system. Cvek, a Sycamore Republican
By ANDREA AZZO
What’s next
aazzo@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Three options for expanding the DeKalb County Jail were unveiled during a Wednesday workshop, all of them costing millions more than County Board members wanted to spend. The cheapest was a $29 million proposal to add 163 beds. Another option was a $34.5 million plan to add 219 beds, and the third was a $38 mil-
from District 4. Board members took no action at the meeting, but did offer their own ideas about the project in addition to those presented by County Administrator Gary Hanson. Members discussed the possibility of creating more space in the jail by moving administrative offices out. One suggested destination was the Elburn Co-Op at 108 N. Main St., which is next door to the Public Safety Building in Sycamore.
Hanson discussed the possibility of raising sales or property taxes to fund a jail expansion, which would require a referendum. One possibility could be a quarter-cent public safety sales tax and a half-cent sales tax. Hanson realized the unpopularity of raising taxes – county voters twice have rejected a tax increase for expanding the jail, most recently in 2006 – but his presentation pointed out a half-cent sales tax would
Lack of laws means safety up to riders
generate $3.2 million. DeKalb County Sheriff’s Lt. Joyce Klein said the jail needs to be expanded now because the current facility is not up to code. There are currently no isolation cells for inmates who are mentally ill or experiencing drug withdrawals. Jail overcrowding has also led to inmates having to be transported to other county jails, which costs about $1 million
See JAIL PLAN, page A3
Ballot measures moving forward 2 petitions to amend Illinois charter being filed By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com
Photos by Danielle Guerra – dguerra@shawmedia.com
Todd Roskens, a mechanic at DeKalb Harley-Davidson, tries on his specially made motorcycle helmet Tuesday. The mechanics at DeKalb Harley-Davidson test drive the bikes after repair and as a shop policy, all wear helmets during those rides. Roskens has been a Harley-Davidson mechanic for 15 years.
State has seen motorcycle fatalities increase in past few years By KATIE DAHLSTROM
Voice your opinion
kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com
and JEFF ENGELHARDT
Should motorcycle riders be required to wear helmets? Vote DeKALB – Colin Mat- online at Daily-Chronicle.com.
jengelhardt@shawmedia.com
thews has four motorcycle helmets, but he won’t be wearing one unless it’s cold, raining, or his mother is visiting. After riding a motorcycle for 45 years, the DeKalb resident said although he might hop on his bike without a helmet, he’d be quick to tell a young rider to wear one. “I spend money on boots, I wear a jacket, I protect everything from the
neck down, but I don’t wear a helmet,” Matthews said. “Does that make me a fool? Yeah, it does.” As one of the growing number of states that do not have helmet laws, Illinois has seen motorcycle fatalities increase in the past few years along with states that have repealed helmet laws, according to the Illinois Department of
Transportation. Motorcycle crash deaths statewide increased to 155 in 2013 from 148 in 2012. In 2012, motorcycles were about 4 percent of the registered vehicles in Illinois but were involved in more than 15 percent of the motor vehicle fatalities, according to IDOT. Out of 148 motorcycle fatalities in 2012, 78 percent of the riders who died were not wearing a helmet. The absence of helmets has been linked to fatal motorcycle crashes in trends seen around the country,
See SAFETY, page A4
Colin Matthews of Sycamore speaks about motorcycle safety measures and mentoring beginning riders Tuesday at DeKalb Harley-Davidson on Peace Road. Matthews is a road captain with the DeKalb Harley Owners Group chapter and has been riding for 45 years.
Two public petitions to amend the Illinois Constitution to limit the power and incumbency of the General Assembly are being filed to appear on the Nov. 4 ballot. A political action committee chaired by Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner filed a petition Wednesday for an amendment to impose term limits on General Assembly members and make other changes to the body. Another group will deliver its signatures this afternoon for an amendment to take the power to redraw legislative district maps after each U.S. Census away from state lawmakers. Both groups said they have more than enough signatures to ensure their proposed amendments get on the ballot and survive challenges by legislative foot soldiers. Rauner’s group, Term Limits and Reform, filed more than 590,000 signatures with the Illinois State Board of Elections, almost twice the number needed. Yes For Independent Maps, which will file the redistricting amendment, said it has more than 500,000 signatures. But they also have to survive a court challenge. The general counsel for the Democratic Party of Illinois, which is chaired by powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan, has already filed a lawsuit in Cook
See PETITIONS, page A4
Weather
Inside today’s Daily Chronicle Lottery Local news Obituaries
A2 A3-4 A4
National and world news Opinions Sports
A2, A4 A5 B1-4
Advice Comics Classified
C4 C5 C6-8
High:
50
Low:
42
Beautiful from Head to Toe Yorkville • Sandwich • Plainield
www.FoxValleyVeinCenters.com
Get Ready For Spring Make Your Legs Look & Feel Great With State-Of-The-Art Vein Treatment Dr. James Hawkins & Dr. Brett Cassidy
815.786.3222
• 30-60 Minute Non-Surgical Laser Procedure • • Walk Out Right After • • Covered by Most Insurance Plans • • No Stripping • • Board Certiied Physicians • • CareCredit Payment Options - 12 Months Interest Free!• adno=0268367