[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,75,87,98,110],{"_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",6062010,"mediaKeyId","3280842-ce71334ab97f5cf8858d700d558e933c","parentId",3280842,"title","Lee County committee weighs draft ordinance to restrict controlled burns after rise in 911 calls","audioSeconds",1017,"startMs",552000,"endMs",1569000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280842-ce71334ab97f5cf8858d700d558e933c&start=552&end=1569","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280842-ce71334ab97f5cf8858d700d558e933c/thumbnail_552000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6062010/Lee-County/Illinois/Lee-County-committee-weighs-draft-ordinance-to-restrict-controlled-burns-after-rise-in-911-calls","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062010-aa342b9ed28802220cfd98000ce4688b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775999993&Signature=l6vfMQ4sj7I9D6SVS9TH0QltonSP~lMieHLzAM9gF3MHXQMw4P1NCsmlIIRHEdv5ClTW33BeC407TkKG8XA84vYNEexhwB9XAruVHjrQmv88WfOi-NKC3Cz-zciATZm4pcXEUxm6SewLVAyUcjEo0FNLhfzAIZmue7zeWtyfBG1Em0uavQv57pih-ikgpMqN0BdaTqxMlOXzoMBh-OJFthZahQDCqdE~FixNNkcSpCEyLgnvpnE3LUdr0~NnMXSCdPuIzei~OqC28G71ficgIP7dIo0tD~5qUUrsD3uZy2Xdfxjh8orEecSOLk~RJ7jE3dh9ulysc51urqvPnr1uVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lee County, IL","date","2025-05-13T15:30:15Z","article","Members of the Lee County public safety committee discussed a draft county ordinance to regulate controlled burns, citing rising 9‑1‑1 call volume and repeated incidents in which burns spread beyond control.

Shelley, a telecommunicator with the county emergency communications center, told the committee, “Since 02/2023, we have had a 44.1% increase in calls to the 9 1 1 center for controlled burns.” She said dispatchers document each burn call, notify the sheriff’s office and fire departments, and ask callers to report when a burn is finished; callers rarely do so, driving extra follow‑up work for dispatch staff.

The nut graf: committee members said the increase in calls and several instances when burns rekindled or spread to structures justify pursuing an ordinance that could give the county clearer authority to restrict burning during hazardous conditions.

Shelley described how the emergency communications center implemented a policy to advise callers during burn watches and warnings and to notify local fire chiefs, but she cautioned that local chiefs “don’t really have any teeth. We don’t have any reinforcement to tell them they can’t.” Committee members said that lack of enforcement has led to repeated calls and, on at least one day in March, every Lee County fire department being called to burns that got out of control.

Committee member Jeremy summarized the effort: several drafts exist and staff have updated a draft based on input from fire districts and the emergency management agency. Jeremy said the goal is to give the county an enforceable option tied to state warnings or local emergency declarations: “We could do that ourselves or through the sheriff’s department or through the fire protection district… then we have the ability to enforce that on the back end.”

Members noted examples from outside the county of firefighter injuries and large grass fires and raised questions about penalties and how the county’s authority would interact with state regulations and Illinois EPA rules. No formal motion was offered; the item was categorized as discussion only. Jeremy told the committee he expects to have a draft ordinance to discuss next month and wants specific input from local fire chiefs and the EMA director before bringing it forward.

Ending: The committee took no formal action at the meeting; staff will continue drafting the ordinance and seek fire chief input before the committee reviews a proposed ordinance at a future meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lee County Public Safety and Court Services Committee Meeting 5/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Members of the Lee County public safety committee discussed a draft county ordinance to regulate controlled burns, citing rising 9‑1‑1 call volume and repeated incidents in which burns spread beyond control.","taxTitle","Lee County, Illinois","taxId",58219,"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},6061991,"Lee County telecommunicator credited for guiding at‑home childbirth in late‑April 911 call",303,1645000,1948000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280842-ce71334ab97f5cf8858d700d558e933c&start=1645&end=1948","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280842-ce71334ab97f5cf8858d700d558e933c/thumbnail_1645000.jpg","/articles/6061991/Lee-County/Illinois/Lee-County-telecommunicator-credited-for-guiding-athome-childbirth-in-lateApril-911-call","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061991-0ca9ee4e7db85d9576d5fe10cc20e9fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775999993&Signature=SVghhBios4UuIbWoz7VygNvif5bf284J3UmhNIOSmBJqAslgbn5qyT4uVktSZGd7JL39LonJiwDSQbJPFGz4P8jajpuDX-Mi~PH~FCaVG6hHrUDZPVzRF1cF2ie0~6nc92VAQ5Aj-hV5qhbig1l9eHPz1KhdRC2ovEA9x98nw1gjJTpNzNJN~tCDEPyu2BrofpzSjXJ~FIl705CLotjESOC5fY98wdO~vWNrum3~6jVO02zmDrcHuV5rem3JZrIWnAzyZf5TF3vtw-DHOoQoFR~GH4gQ~ZiDP6mEe-JdvFfpI-bvjuZ7YvoUQRHMacjq1nj4ofRZbuxOBOXWDDCI8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lee County sheriff’s office reported that a telecommunicator coached a father through the delivery of his child during a late‑April 911 call, and that dispatch protocols and teamwork helped achieve a successful outcome.

The sheriff described the April 28 call and credited telecommunicator Kelly for providing “step by step instructions, on how to deliver the baby, coach the father, and how to remove the umbilical cord that was wrapped around the child's neck.” The sheriff said Director Dallas forwarded the 911 call and that the telecommunicator’s partner handled emergency response coordination.

Shelley, with the emergency communications center, said Kelly used “total response emergency medical dispatch guidance” and that the call sequence included an initial 4 minute, 30 second call, a disconnect, and a subsequent 3 minute, 28 second call that concluded with the delivery. Sheriff and communications staff said mother and child were fine and praised the team for following protocols.

Nut graf: committee members highlighted the 911 team's training and the role of telecommunicator protocols in a high‑stakes emergency that had complications (umbilical cord around the newborn’s neck) and multiple household stressors.

Ending: The committee recorded the incident as a notable item in the sheriff’s monthly report and had no further questions.","The sheriff’s office told the committee that a telecommunicator used medical dispatch protocols to guide a father through a delivery outside Sublette; the mother and newborn were reported to be fine, and staff praised the telecommunicator’s response.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6061996,"Strong Communities projects move forward as SHPO clears three demolitions, county seeks developer for Lee Center School",0,1937000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280842-ce71334ab97f5cf8858d700d558e933c&start=1937&end=1937","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280842-ce71334ab97f5cf8858d700d558e933c/thumbnail_1937000.jpg","/articles/6061996/Lee-County/Illinois/Strong-Communities-projects-move-forward-as-SHPO-clears-three-demolitions-county-seeks-developer-for-Lee-Center-School","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061996-f91d5d8a0d53bc89bcd653362ade86b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775999993&Signature=eHYROiryIsexKJflP5uSM4ccuYvzu6Or7m-BqAgq-apJXWa9KbYhy8-opPYzseV7RVULjiZmpC0~NFB6Y3ygTWPrYAfZkpbXYxOyBuHUYNfuP5DhP~LgLMAXMmabl~0IFzWw97ap0xozGKKi03jhx4BHEydg~q5srTaf3ntKx7CV6Ki5Xt2iAfTk~x3XEApx0RySw85oRG1YODPy1hN6v3fX1PSLRYMc5UvXSoj5PwoajPmTBe8XuIsURbJqWhUdmb7fkxUw12JN6hyC0fyj~6PMfHs6JveK8rhg00wdmPmb6PnVdv0dErOWcetUgdSW3a1lgEIJAaZ4dokyNbmc5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jeremy updated the committee on the county’s Strong Communities abandoned‑properties work, saying the City of Dixon received State Historic Preservation Office approval to take down three residences that have been part of the program.

“We're gonna get that application package together for preapprovals to then the state housing authority process who has to approve this, and then we move it through,” Jeremy said. He described work with a developer interested in Lee Center School, which the county currently owns, and said staff are maintaining the property’s grounds while development negotiations continue.

Nut graf: SHPO clearance is a required step for demolition and subsequent use of state grant funds; staff said the approvals will allow the county to move preapproval packages to the state housing authority and begin using funds that have been held for the projects.

Jeremy also reported progress on Aldina School (under new ownership) and ongoing work regarding an Aldina nursing home property; staff plan incremental cleanup and to seek further steps if owners do not maintain the sites.

Ending: Jeremy said he will provide committee updates as state approvals and developer negotiations progress.","Lee County staff said the Strong Communities program advanced with State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) approval to take down three residences in Dixon and ongoing developer interest in Lee Center School; staff will assemble state approval and funding packets to proceed.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6062001,"County probation office says it already tracks service‑fee spending after Supreme Court guidance",213,1483000,1696000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280842-ce71334ab97f5cf8858d700d558e933c&start=1483&end=1696","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280842-ce71334ab97f5cf8858d700d558e933c/thumbnail_1483000.jpg","/articles/6062001/Lee-County/Illinois/County-probation-office-says-it-already-tracks-servicefee-spending-after-Supreme-Court-guidance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062001-42da65c62d311c24be9076b79ab2ecf0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775999994&Signature=Ss2T3jshGOiqVR0dt8Q~Me6Hxv~wdygqHhBIvK7dQ9o8J6IL8-5N1yZj-SJTZTtYtDKizba~dn1DL-zLrpZsEDXs4mU2komYtcG7BIf5Vjes1aDxLjQJgHUO9G45GVYc5UVzUw7mrMRNzsGqud~HBMgyLlFq0Kc2fSk~DyEpyg7ar5s7IS1jvjCI5CcBl2P4e~U3uqDHWX22yiHelImcqEfgRdJMTLua3e0Dszl~IgAkWPsrND6gJXI6MRMt-0WLsd8BTSVD1~l8RpVvH6kFopnCmAH9iLYLkoGTozpYiwcqmHUdDOcnW6UYKIFiO3Qt-Ip8QFIZiGIlSUnKDiJMRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Stacy, speaking for Lee County probation, told the public safety committee that recent guidance from the Supreme Court and the United Counties Council clarifies permissible uses of probation service fees and that the county already accounts for fee spending annually.

Stacy said that historically the office used probation fees to purchase two vehicles but that new guidance treats vehicles as capital assets, which could limit using fees for vehicle purchases: “What is being clarified now is those vehicles are being considered a capital asset, so we would not be able to use fees to purchase those vehicles.” She added that work is under way to seek exceptions that would allow fees to cover items such as computers or vehicles, and that the immediate impact on Lee County should be minimal because the office presently has two usable vehicles and does not need replacements now.

Nut graf: the clarification from higher authorities could require the county to cover capital purchases if exceptions are not granted, but Lee County probation said it already complies with annual accounting rules and expects no urgent fiscal shortfall.

Ending: Stacy said the office will monitor further guidance and noted the county’s current vehicles are serviceable for the near term.","Lee County probation staff told the public safety committee that the county already accounts for how probation service fees are spent and described possible future constraints on using fees for capital assets such as vehicles pending clarifications from higher authorities.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6062005,"Committee moves appointment of Kathleen Wayland as deputy animal control administrator to executive session",255,225000,480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280842-ce71334ab97f5cf8858d700d558e933c&start=225&end=480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280842-ce71334ab97f5cf8858d700d558e933c/thumbnail_225000.jpg","/articles/6062005/Lee-County/Illinois/Committee-moves-appointment-of-Kathleen-Wayland-as-deputy-animal-control-administrator-to-executive-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062005-6ca6a91804d429877e598a7d4b4f1758/orig.mp4?Expires=1775999994&Signature=Ui0gON9SD2PjPUh8Yn9gyFpwvrC0QcyBqShfvT4uqftvnfvf2mKXrQOMEjWTqd9vtlUjPEYzJsvuO1QnmfUIkrdNq7LWwzgw5trOBkOCXvb4mlYk50A1X-PmSub3CNKkV57os2M0JrzlHYw6tNiLKNMWtNCwZwZmkyCfEBx5gzGiAMUsdSqVDvoooRP7qKQanOjFgSDM69W4G~W~fkAzXLBD49Evzam4JJ2x0uPc42GqNHJUhklpRub23posPnNNNEgbaE13tAAPiednIvB~kTzOfC2Z8MoWgaNBo30ym3Te1zCsrLg5vXljrz2t0gfOGhO56jtGtR-JRCDJSc6mcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lee County public safety committee voted to forward a resolution appointing Kathleen Wayland as deputy animal control administrator to the executive session for formal consideration.

Terry, introduced as representing animal control, said the statute allows the administrator to be a non‑veterinarian if a veterinarian is designated to determine animal‑health decisions. Terry explained, “So what the deputy administrator in this case is doing is they appointed a veterinarian.”

Becky displayed the resolution on the meeting screen and the committee proceeded with a motion. Committee member Chris moved to forward the appointment and Mike seconded; the committee voice vote was recorded as “aye,” and the chair said, “So carried.” The action was moved to the executive session for formal adoption.

Nut graf: the item was procedural and tied to statutory language about who may serve as an animal control administrator and which decisions must be made by a veterinarian.

Ending: The committee did not adopt the appointment in open session; the resolution will be handled in executive session.","The committee voted to forward the appointment of Kathleen Wayland as Lee County animal control deputy administrator to the executive session for formal action; discussion cited statutory requirements about veterinarian oversight of animal‑health decisions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lee County committee weighs draft ordinance to restrict controlled burns after rise in 911 calls

Lee County telecommunicator credited for guiding at‑home childbirth in late‑April 911 call

Strong Communities projects move forward as SHPO clears three demolitions, county seeks developer for Lee Center School

County probation office says it already tracks service‑fee spending after Supreme Court guidance

Committee moves appointment of Kathleen Wayland as deputy animal control administrator to executive session