[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6278005,"mediaKeyId","2643249-3d0c9cda790adef1d0868c8c1ecee941","parentId",2643249,"title","Winnebago County board approves host-fee support for BMO Center after amendment tying funds to Rockford contribution","audioSeconds",4055,"startMs",3150000,"endMs",7205000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2643249-3d0c9cda790adef1d0868c8c1ecee941&start=3150&end=7205","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2643249-3d0c9cda790adef1d0868c8c1ecee941/thumbnail_3150000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6278005/Winnebago-County/Illinois/Winnebago-County-board-approves-host-fee-support-for-BMO-Center-after-amendment-tying-funds-to-Rockford-contribution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278005-00bc9635b7180cfa5f1f8fce406f1e94/orig.mp4?Expires=1770879884&Signature=YdnvK06ubQwaNROoKy4R6hQxBStzEIMg4V58xJ9Hsy00Eticfcxp7UipGkcMr1uLuO2-25T~Zrsf8JfDAp6yjZVJI9upku3xXRmE1MVqbE73TNMUhi2~hoNGTqW2VMiBoIvLepMURB3OTdmv6JBcqYRSlDT5d449MByS4co7FJRH8FNWSIJeKiVeTFq-lg~PnUHICwtznbUbWE7xVmh8c-f5yO83yLlcbaiDwzNINjyoeazfv1q8A-qlToP-~XhSr~0zyK0i1ZQZtSpjYN930BtmnL0KSFNFBcriyo1AWTfIypiuoWc81-SZvOgT7MEjqkbZoHpda9bVM9vVk-4g0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Winnebago County, IL","date","2025-03-14T13:27:54Z","article","The Winnebago County Board voted to allocate host-fee funds to the Rockford Area Venues & Entertainment Authority (RAVE) for capital improvements at the BMO Center, approving the resolution as amended on March 13, 2025.

The amendment, offered by County Board member John Sweeney, added a condition that the county’s allocation apply “as long as the City of Rockford contributes a minimum of $800,000 a year for capital improvement projects and infrastructure” to the BMO Center for up to five years or until the earlier of those conditions. Sweeney read the amendment into the record as a tightening of the county’s commitment and said the change reflects \"the intent of that amendment is basically the city of Rockford is going to front load a vast portion of their $9,000,000 allocation.\" The amendment passed, and the amended resolution then passed in a subsequent roll call.

Why it matters

The BMO Center is the county’s largest indoor events venue and an anchor for regional sporting and entertainment events. The decision directs host-fee money—revenue collected from venue operations—toward capital work at a building county leaders and others said needs repairs and upgrades. Supporters argued the funds are an investment in economic activity that benefits the whole county; opponents raised legal and fiduciary questions about an older intergovernmental agreement and whether the county should alter long-standing host-fee policy.

Key details and debate

- City commitment: Gretchen Gilmore of the BMO told the board the city had committed to \"a minimum of $9,000,000 for the next 10 years,\" and that she believed the city would be in a good financial position after bonds are paid off in 2026. She also noted the city had not yet signed the final intergovernmental agreement but said she could \"confirm they are very committed.\"

- Contract clause and legal question: County Board member Michael Webster cited language in the 2007 intergovernmental agreement for the Metro Center that says \"the county shall not be solicited to provide any further funds toward the renovation or operating cost of the Metro Center.\" Webster argued that solicitation language meant the county should not act outside that contract. County legal counsel (Special Counsel/State’s Attorney staff) advised the board that it nonetheless had the discretion to approve additional funding. As legal counsel put it, the board can make a decision \"to allocate additional funding to RAVE notwithstanding the agreement from 02/2007. That's this board's discretion.\" (advice summarized from remarks by counsel on the record.)

- Oversight and reporting: Several members pushed for more explicit annual review and reporting language. An amendment from County Board member Paul Arena proposing language to make the county commitment renewable annually was debated and later rejected. Arena said he sought a mechanism for the county to reassess funding each year so the board would be notified if circumstances changed.

Votes and motions (at a glance)

- Amendment (John Sweeney) adding requirement that the City of Rockford contribute a minimum of $800,000 per year: passed (roll call recorded as 11 yes, 8 no, 1 absent on the amendment vote).

- Final adoption of the resolution as amended: passed (roll call recorded as 12 yes, 7 no, 1 absent).

- Multiple motions to send the item back to committee were made and debated; one such motion failed on a roll call (9 yes, 10 no, 1 absent) and others were considered during debate before the amendment and final adoption.

Quotations from the record

- \"The language that would be added is a minimum of $800,000 a year for capital improvement projects and infrastructure,\" said County Board member John Sweeney when introducing the amendment.

- Gretchen Gilmore, speaking for the BMO, said: \"The city has committed to a minimum of $9,000,000 for the next 10 years. I have seen projections of the redevelopment fund... I believe after the bonds are paid off in, 2026, I think the city's gonna be in a good financial position and I'm not worried at all that they're, that they're not gonna be able to, support us anymore.\" She also noted: \"Well, they technically have not signed their, IGA yet, but, I can confirm they are very committed.\"

- County Board member Michael Webster raised the contract clause, reading a passage from the existing agreement: \"During the term of this agreement, the county shall not be solicited to provide any further funds toward the renovation or operating cost of the Metro Center.\" He argued that the earlier agreement should be respected unless formally changed.

- County legal counsel advised the board that the board has discretion to allocate funding despite the 2007 language: \"...the board can make a decision to allocate additional funding to RAVE notwithstanding the agreement from 02/2007. That's this board's discretion.\" (remarks by legal counsel as recorded on the meeting transcript.)

What’s next

The resolution includes implementation language and conditions tied to the city’s contribution. Board members who urged further oversight asked staff and the board’s committees to monitor execution and the capital plan. Several members also asked for and received commitments that the county liaison and RAVE’s capital review processes would provide ongoing information to the county board.

Provenance

- topicintro evidence: transcript block beginning at 2025-03-13 21:17:29 — \"Our next item is a resolution allocating host fee funds to the Rockford Metropolitan Exposition Auditorium and Office Building Authority ...\" (transcript excerpt). (block id: block_3171, local excerpt length 389 characters)

- topfinish evidence: transcript block ending at 2025-03-13 21:24:25 — \"The resolution is approved. Mister Sweeney.\" (block id: block_7325, local excerpt length 150 characters)

Speakers (attribution whitelist)

- John Sweeney — County Board member; Economic Development Committee chair; affiliation: government; first referenced in transcript at 2025-03-13T21:16:13 (s:3113.03).
- Gretchen Gilmore — Representative of the BMO/venue staff (present at meeting); affiliation: business/venue; first referenced at 2025-03-13T21:29:31 (s:3176.8901).
- Michael Webster — County Board member who raised contract concerns; affiliation: government; first referenced at 2025-03-13T21:40:23 (s:3623.2698).
- Miss Vaughn — County legal counsel / State’s Attorney office (referred to as legal counsel in transcript); affiliation: government; first referenced at 2025-03-13T22:59:37 (s:5477.3853).
- Paul Arena — County Board member who proposed annual-review language; affiliation: government; first referenced at 2025-03-13T21:36:26 (s:3365.985).
- John Booker — County Board member who raised constituent-return concerns; affiliation: government; first referenced at 2025-03-13T21:58:07 (s:4587.625).
- Other board members who spoke during debate (listed in transcript): Miss Fellers, Miss Valdez, Mister Butida, Mister McCarthy, Mister Penny.

Authorities referenced

- contract: \"Metro Center intergovernmental agreement (2007), Section 9.9 'No solicitation'\" — referenced during debate on the floor (see transcript citations above).
- policy: Winnebago County host-fee policy/fund (referenced repeatedly in debate; no new ordinance changing the policy was adopted during this vote).
- other: City of Rockford contribution letters/commitments (the city commitment of $9,000,000 over 10 years was discussed; officials said the city's IGA had not yet been signed).

Actions

- kind: resolution; motion: allocate host-fee funds to RAVE for capital improvements at the BMO Center (mover: John Sweeney; second: Miss Valdez); amendments: added minimum $800,000/year City of Rockford contribution; final outcome: approved (12 yes, 7 no, 1 absent); notes: city IGA not yet signed; contingency language added. (Vote counts from roll calls recorded in the transcript.)

Clarifying details

- City pledge referenced: $9,000,000 over 10 years (Gretchen Gilmore).
- Current county annual support referenced in RAVE correspondence: $460,000 per year (transcript excerpt referenced by board members).
- IGA status: City IGA had not been signed at time of the meeting; county legal counsel advised board that board may allocate funds regardless.

Searchable tags:[\"BMO Center\",\"RAVE\",\"host_fee\",\"economic_development\",\"intergovernmental_agreement\",\"Winnebago County\"]

Salience:{\"overall\":0.85,\"overall_justification\":\"County-wide funding decision for a major venue with multi-million-dollar capital plan and sustained debate involving legal interpretations of an existing intergovernmental agreement.\",\"impact_scope\":\"regional\",\"impact_scope_justification\":\"The BMO Center draws countywide and regional visitors and revenues.\",\"attention_level\":\"high\",\"attention_level_justification\":\"Heated floor debate plus legal questions and amendments; vote divided.\"}","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Winnebago County IL Board 03/13/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Winnebago County Board voted to allocate host-fee funds to the Rockford Area Venues & Entertainment Authority for capital improvements at the BMO Center, passing an amendment that ties the county’s funding to a minimum City of Rockford contribution.","taxTitle","Winnebago County, Illinois","taxId",2548,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6277999,"Region 1 reports strong 2024 results for Winnebago County trustee program; inventory declines to 169 parcels",816,942000,1758000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2643249-3d0c9cda790adef1d0868c8c1ecee941&start=942&end=1758","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2643249-3d0c9cda790adef1d0868c8c1ecee941/thumbnail_942000.jpg","/articles/6277999/Winnebago-County/Illinois/Region-1-reports-strong-2024-results-for-Winnebago-County-trustee-program-inventory-declines-to-169-parcels","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277999-fa2c5c2ed4ab5d790296f8f8a53b7f46/orig.mp4?Expires=1770879884&Signature=d9urP1Vn460qNSSstA2jmcPZQTJwmM-0WQkrg1L2VCvCOpWVnWEd26WHj7FX3dr~5q8EataeJO9RgDaiZEdmhezXKeGT2cYRsF-1E5zp1EHTek8VEOYl0xkm1RGRB4UxgKK05tNFf3PvMtmi5qX~AvALYl3fKB0rKKta~L-o2JcI8qZEhOgLk465~aShECUgkn8atWePh0rWgvhezLmCxl4X5II6cBYBcVdOmXK9NhqwKp~t26GVXyOA5ua5Jvr7QJL9~7hbc-hkvoLCmzYBJwkWVXiINvftx0P5gipqBhgcXDdPH0J--7YCuVGvQVVB6VjuJZrZ0tj1Or4YyXjH5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Region 1 Planning Council officials reported record results for the Winnebago County Trustee program for fiscal year 2024 at the March 13 county-board meeting, saying the program produced significant sales and reduced the county's inventory of tax-delinquent properties.

Region 1 Executive Director Michael Dunn and Region 1 Trustee program manager Eric Setter summarized the agency's work as agent to the Winnebago County Trustee and said the county recorded its best year since Region 1 began serving as agent. \"We wanted to update you on basically, record success in fiscal year 24. Best year we've had as agent for Winnebago County,\" Dunn told the board.

Why it matters

The trustee program manages properties that go into trust after property owners fail to pay taxes for the statutorily required period. Funds generated by sales or redemptions from the trustee fund are redistributed to taxing districts or retained in the trustee fund for maintenance, so changes in sales and redemptions affect municipal budgets, local blight remediation, and the county's inventory of vacant properties.

What Region 1 reported (as presented)

- Inflows and sales: Dunn and Setter described roughly $1.4 million of inflow to the trustee fund in fiscal year 2024 from sales and late redemptions. The presenters summarized the fiscal-year totals as roughly $1.0 million in sales plus $262,798 of redemption interest. Dunn said the program \"just missed a million dollars of sales\" and also discussed the redemption interest number.

- Inventory and dispositions: Presenters said the trustee program sold 44 structures and a large number of vacant parcels; they reported holding 169 parcels at the time of the presentation. Dunn credited a neighboring-property outreach program and proactive marketing for the reduction from an initial inventory of more than 1,000 parcels when Region 1 began as agent.

- Maintenance and operations: Per the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the county, $150,000 a year is budgeted for maintenance of trustee properties. Region 1 reported spending about $41,000 of that maintenance allocation in fiscal year 2024, and it placed leftover funds into a reserve for the next year. Operation expenses for fiscal year 2024 included legal work, skip tracing and sheriff-service fees needed to notify property owners.

- Net results and distribution: Region 1 reported a net income line of $938,748 for fiscal year 2024 after expenses and reserves. Under the IGA, one-third of net proceeds are paid to Region 1 and the other two-thirds are distributed to the county's taxing districts.

Board questions and follow-up requests

Board members asked for more detail on how trustee funds were used for blight mitigation. Board member Arena asked for locations where blight mitigation occurred; Dunn and Setter cited work supported by trustee funds in Loves Park, Rockton, McChesney Park and South Beloit, and said money helped to secure a brownfields EPA grant to support Loves Park and other local projects. Arena requested a more detailed annual accounting showing how trustee-derived funds were spent on blight mitigation across the county; Dunn said he would take that request back to the Region 1 board and to the Region 1 financial oversight process.

Member Fellers asked the presenters to explain an anomaly in fiscal 2023 that produced atypical results; Dunn said a transition and timing issue during the agent handover caused a lapse in property intake in one year, which led to concentrated legal and service expenses in fiscal 2023 and larger sales in fiscal 2024 when those properties entered the program.

Presenters' key quotes from the record

- \"We wanted to update you on basically, record success in fiscal year 24. Best year we've had as agent for Winnebago County,\" said Michael Dunn.

- On the trustee accounting, Dunn said: \"We just missed a million dollars of sales with $262,798 of interest.\" He also summarized: \"So a net, revenue line or net income line of 938,748, per our IGA. One third of it goes to R1, and then the other two thirds go to the taxing districts to split the proceeds.\"

What the board asked Region 1 to provide

- A detailed accounting of trustee funds used for blight mitigation by community and fiscal year, per the contract requirement for annual accounting.
- A district-level breakdown of inventory and sales (Region 1 had already provided a district breakdown during the presentation but members requested more detail for prior years).

Provenance

- topicintro evidence: transcript block starting at 2025-03-13 15:42:10 — \"Presentation is about the trustee program update with Eric Setter and Michael Dunn Jr. From Region 1 Planning Council.\" (block id: block_942.985)

- topfinish evidence: transcript block ending at 2025-03-13 17:58:35 — \"Thank you for having us. Have a great night.\" (block id: block_1756.755)

Speakers (attribution whitelist)

- Michael Dunn — Executive Director, Region 1 Planning Council; affiliation_type: government (regional planning council acting as county's agent); first referenced at 2025-03-13T15:58:07 (s:1058.87).
- Eric Setter — Region 1 Planning Council (Trustee program / Land Bank); affiliation_type: government (Region 1 agent role); first referenced at 2025-03-13T15:58:27 (s:1081.4249).
- Paul Arena — County Board member who asked for blight mitigation locations and reporting; affiliation_type: government; first referenced at 2025-03-13T15:48:40 (s:1488.285).
- Miss Fellers — County Board member who asked about the 2023 anomaly; affiliation_type: government; first referenced at 2025-03-13T16:31:51 (s:1666.755).
- Mister Penny — County Board member who thanked presenters for work in his district; affiliation_type: government; first referenced at 2025-03-13T16:31:30 (s:1630.85).

Authorities referenced

- statute: \"Illinois state statute\" — presenters explained that Illinois statute requires the county trustee role and the three-year delinquency process (referenced by Region 1 during the explanation of trustee duties).
- contract: Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Winnebago County and Region 1 Planning Council — referenced repeatedly; the maintenance allocation ($150,000/year) and distribution of net proceeds (one-third to R1, two-thirds to taxing districts) were described as IGA terms.
- grant: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) brownfields grant used with trustee/blight funds (described by presenters as part of blight mitigation activity in Loves Park and other areas).

Actions (none formal)

- This item was a presentation and did not include a formal board vote. Board members requested follow-up reporting and accounting; Region 1 agreed to provide additional documentation to the county per the IGA and to the Region 1 board.

Clarifying details

- Fiscal-year inflow (presentation): roughly $1.4 million of total inflow into the trustee fund in FY2024 (presenters described about $1.0 million in sales and $262,798 in redemption interest).
- Maintenance budget and spending: $150,000 is the annual maintenance allocation under the IGA; Region 1 reported spending about $41,000 of that in FY2024.
- Net income: presenters reported a net income of $938,748 for FY2024 (after expenses and reserves) and said one-third of that is paid to Region 1 per the IGA.
- Inventory: presenters reported 44 structures sold and 169 parcels remaining in the trustee inventory at the time of the presentation.

Community relevance

- Geographies affected: countywide, with specific mitigation and work referenced in Loves Park, Rockton, McChesney Park, and South Beloit.
- Funding sources: trustee fund (sales, redemption interest), maintenance allocation from IGA, and EPA brownfields grant leveraged for blight remediation.
- Impact groups: taxing districts (which receive proceeds), neighboring property owners (who can purchase adjacent parcels), and communities facing blight.

Meeting context

- Engagement level: presentation followed by questions from multiple board members; moderate length and back-and-forth about accounting details and a 2023 anomaly.
- Implementation risk: low; Region 1 is an ongoing agent under an IGA and will continue operations; requested accounting is an administrative follow-up.
- Historical continuity: presenters explained a transition issue in fiscal 2023 that affected property intake; board members requested annual accounting in line with the IGA.

Searchable tags:[\"trustee_program\",\"Region1\",\"land_bank\",\"tax-delinquent_properties\",\"blight_mitigation\",\"Winnebago County\"]

Salience:{\"overall\":0.65,\"overall_justification\":\"Financial results affect multiple taxing districts and local blight remediation; however, the item was a presentation and no formal action was taken at the meeting.\",\"impact_scope\":\"local\",\"impact_scope_justification\":\"Funds flow back to county taxing districts and local projects.\",\"attention_level\":\"medium\",\"attention_level_justification\":\"Board members requested more accounting and questioned a 2023 anomaly, but discussion was procedural rather than contentious.\"} ,","Region 1 Planning Council, acting as agent for the Winnebago County Trustee, presented fiscal-year 2024 results to the county board and reported a strong year of sales, reduced inventory and net income to be split under the intergovernmental agreement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Winnebago County board approves host-fee support for BMO Center after amendment tying funds to Rockford contribution

Region 1 reports strong 2024 results for Winnebago County trustee program; inventory declines to 169 parcels