Voters this week in Whiteside, Lee, Ogle and Carroll counties determined who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries. See the results here.

New Sterling alderman Allen Przysucha on consolidated election win: ‘It still hasn’t fully sunk in yet.’

Marshall Doane was elected Tuesday to the 2nd Ward seat that has been held by Brian Snow for the past 20 years, according to unofficial election results.

Steve Dowd has retained his Rock Falls City Council 3rd Ward seat, winning reelection over challengers Austin Zink and Mary McNeill.

Contested races are taking place for two Rock Falls City Council seats, two Sterling City Council seats and Dixon Township highway commissioner. Whiteside County voters also are deciding the fate of a proposed public safety sales tax.

Whiteside, Lee, Ogle and Carroll county voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

Rock Falls City Council incumbent Steve Dowd talked with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about the future of Rock Falls. Read the transcript from our podcast here.

Read the transcript: Austin Zink, a candidate for Rock Falls City Council Ward 3, talked with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about his vision for Rock Falls ahead of the April election.

Austin Zink, a candidate for Rock Falls City Council Ward 3 in the April 1 election, talks with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about the issues facing Rock Falls.

Steve Dowd, the incumbent for Rock Falls City Council Ward 3, spoke about the issues facing Rock Falls with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark leading up to the April 1 election.

Marshall Doane talked with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about what Doane would like to see improved in Rock Falls on our podcast. Read the transcript here.

Marshall Doane, a candidate for Rock Falls City Council, spoke with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about the issues in Rock Falls ahead of the April 1 election.

In the 2nd Ward, running for a four-year term, Brian Snow – who has held on to his seat for more than two decades – will go up against former 4th Ward Alderman Marshall Doane.

What are the top issues facing Rock Falls? Violet Sobottka: The Loves subdivision being developed, getting people involved in their city and community, better communication between the mayor and council.

Brian Snow: We need to enact and provide incentives on a sliding scale to bring economic development to our community for corporations, also to be able to provide a quality workforce.

What do you believe are the top three issues that the city is facing right now? Marshall Doane: depreciation, apathy and access to jobs. There are no big-paying jobs in our area to serve the majority of our workforce.

The Rock Falls City Council on a split vote Tuesday night failed to approve an ordinance that would allow residents to keep chickens in the city.

Nine incumbents and three newcomers are in the running in Rock Falls' 2025 election.

The Rock Falls City Council heard a report Tuesday night about the consequences of a failed referendum that would have instated a 0.5% sales tax throughout Whiteside County to help fund emergency dispatch services.

The center will bring 55 full-time jobs and amenities that include gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, a restaurant, convenience store and over 80 short-term overnight parking spaces for long-haul truckers.

The Rock Falls City Council could have an almost entirely new group of leaders after the April 1, 2025, election.

Items such as trash cans, swing sets and large trees end up in the sewer area, potentially causing problems with the turbines.

City Administrator Robbin Blackert thanks residents for their patience during downtown demolition project.

Sterling alderman: Rockford, Sycamore, Mt. Morris, Dixon, Rock Falls, and now Sterling are discussing creating the right incentives to stimulate a stagnant housing development market.

John Watts honored for his dedicated service to the recent Touch a Truck event held in June for the first time since 2018.

Electronic recycling center is located at 1003 W. Route 30.

Rock Falls City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to accept a $799,700 bid from McDonagh Demolition of Chicago to demolish the former Micro Industries buildings.

Rock Falls city officials are seeking help from residents in identifying sites to test for hazardous substance contamination as part of an $800,000 Brownfields Multipurpose Grant the city received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Rock Falls residents soon will have a new place to recycle their electronics. On June 18, Rock Falls City Council members voted 6-1 to purchase 1003 W. Route 30 for $80,000.

On June 4, Rock Falls City Council members unanimously voted to contract with Daupler Inc., of Overland Park, Kansas, for $15,000 to answer utility non-emergency calls outside of regular business hours. The contract is for a one-year term starting June 7.

If passed during a second reading of the ordinance, the increases would go into effect April 1, 2025, for all officials whose terms expire prior to that date. For officials whose terms expire after April 1, 2025, the effective date of the salary increases will be April 6, 2027.

City of Rock Falls Electrical Director Dick Simon was presented a Distinguished Service Award at the 2024 annual conference of the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency, Illinois Municipal Utilities Association and Illinois Public Energy Agency.

Rock Falls City Council members on Tuesday unanimously approved the city’s fiscal 2025 budget.

Rock Falls City Council members unanimously voted to allow Mayor Rod Kleckler — one of the city’s representatives on the Rock Falls Area Dog Control Board — to vote in favor of disbanding the board in question. The city plans to contract with Whiteside County for the services.

On Tuesday, Rock Falls City Council members voted unanimously to accept a $188,000 bid from Husar Abatement Ltd., of Franklin Park, for asbestos abatement at the former Micro Industries buildings. The work is expected to take 25 working days to complete, according to Husar’s bid.

Kyle Sommers was sworn in as Rock Falls Fire Department deputy fire chief and Derick Newton as captain during the March 5 Rock Falls City Council meeting. Both were internal promotions, to the new ranks from captain and senior firefighter, respectively.

A repurposed Pignatelli building also on Amber Hoffman’s to-do list.

A historic resources survey’s completion is a stipulation agreed upon by city officials, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the State Historic Preservation Office in exchange for the state OK’ing demolition of the former Micro Industries buildings.

A former Rock Falls alderman, who is a vocal opponent to demolishing the former Micro Industries building, and other community members are forming an organization aiming to better express citizens’ desires to city government.

Former Rock Falls City Alderman Marshall Doane is researching alternatives to the city's plan to demolish and redevelop the Micro Industries building complex.

Council members unanimously voted Tuesday to approve Mayor Rod Kleckler’s appointment of Vickey Byrd to fill the City Council's vacant Ward 2 seat.

The council’s Tuesday agenda lists action items that include appointment of Ken Wolf as fire chief effective Feb. 1.

With the year 2023 just one day from its end, join us as we take a look back at some of the memorable events that happened in the Sauk Valley month by month.

On Dec. 19, Rock Falls City Council members unanimously voted to contract with Terracon Consultants, of Glendale Heights, for asbestos consulting services for a not-to-exceed cost of $98,640.

Rock Falls taxpayers could see a decrease on their property tax bills next year if the city’s proposed tax levy is passed on Dec. 19. The Rock Falls City Council is considering a property tax rate of $21.72 per $1,000 of actual value for fiscal year 2024.

City Council members unanimously voted to purchase a 0.23-acre vacant lot along West First Street, between Second and Fourth avenues, for $30,000. There are plans to redevelop the property.

Rock Falls City Council members unanimously approved several road closures for Hometown Holidays during their Nov. 7 meeting.

Rock Falls and Sterling fire departments asking the cities to form an intergovernmental agreement as one of several next steps to build a shared firefighting training facility.

Rock Falls Police Chief Dave Pilgrim was recognized during the Oct. 3 City Council meeting for becoming a “certified police chief" through the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police's voluntary certification process. Getting certified requires passing written and oral exams.

On Tuesday, Oct. 3, Rock Falls City Council members voted unanimously to accept a $103,000 Strong Communities Program grant to help rehabilitate or demolish abandoned residential properties. The Illinois Housing Development Authority created the program.