(Jeff Fiegenschuh)
The new fiscal year budget along with a special use permit for a downtown building were approved last night by city officials in Rochelle.
The general fund revenues in the new budget total 9.5 million dollars. That number is down by around 9 percent from a year ago.
City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said that Rochelle is receiving less money from the state than a year ago which is the reason city revenue is down.
He said the budget is not as tight as last year due to changes in insurance coverage which prevented services being cut.
Fiegenschuh said they will check on the budget each month to see if revenue remains the same
The special use permit is for Kenney Farms Distillery LLC for the installation of a balcony on the front facade where the Hub Theater had been located. The marquee on the building has been removed.
The balcony will be 37 feet wide over the sidewalk and have a glass railing. The Kenney family hopes to have the building open by late summer or early fall.
The new price schedule for the Lawnridge Cemetery was approved last night along with the purchase of a new 4X4 full size sports utility vehicle for the fire department. The SUV will cost just under $36,175 from Sawicki Motors in Rochelle.
The vehicle replaces a 1993 Dodge pickup truck.
(Kenney Farms Distillary)