April 17th, 2008
Good news on the progress of the new, $100 million U.S. courthouse, to be built in downtown Rockford.
Rich Carter, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Egan, tells me that “the General Services Administration says everything is moving forward as scheduled. They are still amid the bidding process and plan to start awarding bids in early May. Groundbreaking is scheduled for late May and we are still finalizing the date for the ceremony.
“Also, GSA is getting a high rate of local participation in the bidding process. More than 70 percent of the bids are coming from within the 815 area code.”
That’s good news for local construction workers and local firms who will be getting a piece of the action on this $100 million project.
Thanks to Manzullo and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL, for working diligently for a decade on this project.
April 17th, 2008
The Rockford Fire Department isn’t in the news much. And as I remind firefighters and division chiefs who wonder why that is, I say, “be thankful. You’re not in the paper because you’re not news. That means you’re not doing anything wrong.”
Which brings me to today’s retirement announcement by Fire Chief Bill Robertson. He turned 62 today, and figured that was a good time to go out at the top of his game. He’ll still be on the job until June.
Robertson began his career in 1972, under chief Wayne Swanson, back when the RFD was strictly a fire-fighting outfit. In 1976, the department added ambulance service, and today, that’s most of what the firefighters do.
At one time Bill Robertson headed of the firefighters union, which showed his leadership ability, and he rose through the ranks to be named chief 17 years ago, when Bill Baylor retired.
Bill Robertson has been a tireless public servant who combined people skills with technical knowledge to build a first-rate fire and ambulance department that is a crown jewel among public services.
Bill, you kept Rockford safe and secure. Godspeed and I hope your brother Jim beats you at golf!
Chuck
