The Village of Utica Board looks to save property taxpayers money and raise some revenue at the same time. The Village of Utica Board of Trustees met last night and discussed the 2023 tax levy. Though the Equalized Assessed Valuation for Utica or EAV would go from 33 million 633 thousand to 38 million 890 thousand, or increase about 5 million dollars, the tax rate could go down.
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Basing her figures off an average Utica home value at 230,00, Director of Village Affairs, Jamie Turczyn said property taxpayers would see the 2023 tax rate stay the same as last year’s 2022 rate of 0.24592%.
“Taxes for a $230,000 valued property would go down approximately $17 to $25 for the year,” Turczyn said.
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If the tax levy ever increases by over 5%, a special hearing of the Village Board. In the tax case proposed by Turczyn, homeowners would save a few dollars while still giving the village a little more money than last year.
Turczyn says the vote will take place at the December 14th Board meeting. The taxes have to be filed by the end of the year.
“The property tax rate in Utica continues to keep Utica’s rate as the lowest of any city and village in La Salle County,” said Village President David Stewart. Adoption is expected next month.
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Illinois Valley Community College’s Board adopted a tentative $15 million 2023 tax levy, a 4.99 percent increase from the 2022 actual tax extension of $14.3 million. The levy is based on an estimated 8.96 percent increase in the district’s eight-county combined equalized assessed valuation. The levy will result in a decrease of 0.0131 cents in the tax rate. The average $100,000 home that has no change in its assessed value will realize a decrease of about $4.32 in taxes. Adoption is expected next month. Since the increase is less than 5 percent, no truth-in-taxation hearing is required by statute.
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The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division arrested 39-year-old Andrew D. Haines of rural Marseilles on Thursday. A warrant had been issued for his arrest stemming from an investigation into Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child. Haines is charged with four counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault Of A Child (Class X Felonies) and one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse (Class 2 Felony).
Haines is currently being held at the LaSalle County Jail pending a detention hearing.
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44-year-old Allison Hayes of Ottawa was charged with DUI on Wednesday by Ottawa Police. She was also driving with a suspended license. The arrest took place a couple blocks north of Walsh Park. She was given a notice to appear.
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The E.22nd Road also known as County Highway 15 grade crossing of the BNSF Railroad at Kernan East of Grand Ridge will be closed beginning Sunday, November 12 for crossing repairs. The closure is expected to last for three days. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes around the construction site.
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WEATHER:
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 48. West northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
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OBITUARIES:
Darlene Kay Burke, age 72, of Marseilles, passed away Saturday, November 4th, at her home. Funeral services will be held at Noon on Friday, November 10th at Stavanger Lutheran Church. Interment will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to service time Friday at the church. Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home is assisting the family.
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Robert Charles Kember, 84, of Serena, passed away on Sunday, November 5th, at his home. Funeral services will be at noon on Friday, November 10th, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Burial will follow at West Serena Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.
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Walter Kevin Nelson, 66, of Ottawa, went to be with his Lord and Savior on November 4th. Visitation will take place on Friday, November 10th, from 4 until 7 PM at Mueller Funeral Home. Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 11 at 11 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottawa.
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Donald Walter Stuedemann, 90, known to most as “Grandpa Don” died peacefully at Morris Hospital on November 6th, surrounded by more loved ones than should be allowed in a hospital room. A visitation will be held on Saturday, November 11th, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will take place at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home, A graveside service with military honors will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL LOCAL SPORTS:
Shepherd Boys Basketball Results 11/9
7th grade lost to Peru Parkside 15-14. Leading the way for the Rams: Joseph Donahue and Bryce Ceja with 4 points, Tommy Fultz and Luca Fernandez with 3 points. 7th grade is now 1-4.
8th grade defeated Peru Parkside by a score of 41-18. Leading the way: Blake Schiltz with 18 points and 5 steals, Amari Molina with 7 points, Nevan Holloway with 6 points, and Quinn Windy with 3 points. 8th grade is now 4-1.
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HIGH SCHOOL LOCAL SPORTS:
Princeton vs. Montini: Since a 22-21 loss to Morrison in Week 2, Princeton has allowed 14 points to just one opponent and the Tigers have tossed seven shutouts along the way. Montini hadn’t played a single team from a classification smaller than 4A.
The Tiger take on The Broncos at 1 p.m. Saturday.
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PRO/COLLAGE SPORTS:
>>Ex-Colts Player From Chicago Area Dies At 41
The Indianapolis Colts are mourning the death of a former player from the Chicago area. Matt Ulrich has died at the age of 41. The Streamwood native attended Northwestern and signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2005. The former offensive lineman was on the team’s Super Bowl championship team during the 2006 season.
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>>Bears Outlast Panthers On Thursday Night Football
(Chicago, IL) — D’Onta Foreman scored the go-ahead touchdown midway through the third quarter to lift the Bears to a 16-13 win over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football at Soldier Field. Foreman carried the ball 21 times for 80 yards and the one score to help Chicago snap a two-game losing skid. Undrafted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent completed 20-of-33 passes for 162 yards. Cairo Santos converted on all of these three field goal attempts as the Bears improved to 3-and-7. The Bears visit Detroit on November 19th.
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>>Bedard Leads Blackhawks Past Lightning
(Tampa, FL) — Connor Bedard showed why he was the number-one pick in the NHL Draft by leading the Blackhawks to a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. Bedard had two goals and two assists in the win. Chicago scored four goals in the first period to take control of the game early. Kevin Korchinski, Tyler Johnson, and Corey Perry also lit the lamp in the victory. The Hawks are still tied for last place in the Central division with ten points and a 5-7-and-0 record. Chicago visits Florida on Sunday.
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>>Bulls Host Pistons
(Chicago, IL) — The Bulls will try to get back in the win column when they host the Detroit Pistons at United Center on Sunday. The Bulls are coming off a 116-115 overtime loss against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. Chicago is in 12th place in the Eastern Conference at 3-and-6. Sunday’s game tips off at 6:00 PM.
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>>Robert, Bellinger Earn Silver Slugger Awards
(Chicago, IL) — A pair of Chicago baseball players are being recognized for their hitting ability. White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and Cubs utility man Cody Bellinger both won a Silver Slugger Award in their respective leagues and positions. The award honors the best hitters at each position for both the American and National League. Robert won his first Silver Slugger after hitting .264 with 38 home runs and 80 RBI in 2023. Bellinger brought home his second award by hitting .307 with 26 homers and 97 runs batted in.
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>>White Sox Lose Play-By-Play Announcer
(Chicago, IL) — The White Sox are on the hunt for a new television announcer. The play-by-play man Jason Benetti is leaving the Southsiders after being hired away by the Tigers yesterday. The Chicago native is widely regarded as one of the best announcers in the sport, and he has been with the Sox since 2016.
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>>Illini Football Hosts Indiana
(Champaign, IL) — The Illinois Fighting Illini will try to get a winning streak going when they host Indiana at Memorial Stadium tomorrow. The Illini are coming off a last-minute 27-26 win over Minnesota last weekend. Illinois is tied for fifth place in the Big Ten West with a 2-and-4 conference record and a 4-and-5 mark overall. Indiana has won the last four games between the two teams. Tomorrow’s game kicks off at 11:00 AM.
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>>Northwestern Visits Wisconsin
(Madison, WI) — The Northwestern Wildcats look to bounce back from a tough loss last weekend when they visit the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium tomorrow. The Wildcats are coming off a 10-7 loss to number-22 Iowa at Wrigley Field last Saturday. Northwestern is tied for fifth place in the Big Ten West with a 2-and-4 conference record and a 4-and-5 mark overall. The Wildcats haven’t won in Madison since 2015. Tomorrow’s game starts at 2:30 PM.
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>>College Football Round-Up
In other college football action this weekend, Illinois State hosts Murray State, and Valparaiso welcomes Stetson.
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>>College Basketball Round Up
In college basketball action yesterday, Chicago State lost to Mercer 66-61. Today, Illinois hosts Oakland, Northwestern welcomes Dayton, UIC has a home game against Little Rock, and Valparaiso is at home against IUPUI. Tomorrow, Notre Dame hosts Western Carolina, DePaul welcomes Long Beach State, Bradley has a home game against Utah State, Illinois State visits Saint Louis, Loyola is at home against Eastern Illinois, and Northern Illinois welcomes Appalachian State. Chicago State is at Southern Indiana on Sunday.