Sterling City Council

This spring, 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.

Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark spoke with Jim Wise about his vision for Sterling leading up to the Sterling City Council election on April 1.

Ryan Nares, a candidate for Sterling City Council in the April 1 election, sat down with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark to discuss the biggest issues in Sterling.

Allen Przysucha, a candidate for Sterling City Council, answered questions from Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark on the key issues facing Sterling ahead of the April 1 election.

Jon Mandrell, Sauk Valley Community College vice president of Academics and Student Services, moderated the 2025 candidate forum at Sterling City Hall, where candidates Jim Wise, Ryan Nares and Allen Przysucha answered questions.

The TALK-LINE interview for March 19 featured Shaw Local News representatives Charlene Bielema and Brandon Clark covering stories in our area featuring the rental housing situation that the city of Sterling is facing and how the city council is dealing with it.

According to the new ordinance, inspections will begin after June 1, 2025, and registration forms and a complete inspection checklist will be developed and provided to all landlords in advance of the implementation of the program.

The decision to waive the bid process and accept a proposal from Jefferson Fire and Safety for the purchase of a customized Rosenbauer King Cobra firetruck with a 101-foot articulating aerial ladder came after a series of reports on the state of the department’s apparatus.

Allen Przysucha: Even though I don't necessarily want to pay more taxes, I do support the public safety tax. It is unfair that Sterling and Rock Falls are funding the 911 Center for the entire county.

In 2023, the City Council approved donating an out-of-service firetruck.

The TALK-LINE for March 5 featured Shaw Local News Network reporter Brandon Clark covering a story out of Sterling concerning rental homes and how the city council is trying to work with those in need of help with their units.

Sterling Deputy Fire Chief David Northcutt said the new truck is needed to replace Truck/Tower 4, the department’s only truck with an aerial ladder.

City officials have said the code and inspection program are necessary to bring neglectful landlords and tenants to heel. However, rental property owners have voiced concerns that the ordinance and its vague language would unfairly burden good landlords and tenants.

Two state bills have been filed to secure a designation that, if approved, could provide millions of dollars in additional funding for city development in Sterling.

Shaw Local's Brandon Clark asked the community which Sterling roads they thought needed repair. Three streets were mentioned more than others: Second Street, Fourth Avenue and 16th Avenue near Lynn Boulevard. Read his column to see if they made the city's 2025 repair list.

As Sterling’s city manager, Schumard is responsible for many of the day-to-day operations of the city, including managing labor contracts and city budgets, recruiting city employees, applying for grants and acting as a liaison for city groups.

TIF is a tool used by local governments to encourage economic development in underperforming areas.

Council hopes to land Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant for work at Griswold and Woodburn avenues.

Foundation to hold Jan. 29 public investment meeting for planned riverfront park.

The Sterling Police Department honored two of its own Monday with its Cadet T. Thorp Officer of the Year and Non-Sworn Employee of the Year awards.

The Sterling City Council swore in two new police officers and two new firefighters during a City Council meeting on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.

The Sterling City Council on Monday, Jan. 6, will add to the ranks of the city’s police and fire departments.

The Sterling City Council has hired Stichter Construction Co. of Erie to demolish several properties across the city.

The Sterling City Council has hired Matt Hughes from the lobbying firm MRH Solutions to assist in securing a designation that, if approved, could provide millions of dollars in additional funding for city development.

2024 has been a big year for Sterling, with several projects and plans that will shape the city’s future underway.

Rodriguez is a former Sterling volleyball player who has dominated the volleyball courts during her time at the libero position for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The Twin Cities Homeless Shelter, known as PADS, in Sterling is asking the community for help following passage of a city ordinance banning public camping.

Public camping is now banned in Sterling as city officials try to address issues that have arose with Sterling’s growing homeless population.

With the state of Illinois set to phase out the local grocery sales tax, the Sterling City Council voted Monday to implement its own 1% grocery sales tax.

Sterling Industrial Development Commission approves motion to recommend sale of vacant properties in the 200 block of West Seventh Street to T&P for $1.

On the ballot for the April 1, 2025, election will be two incumbents running for two open seats on the Dixon City Council along with two incumbents and two newcomers running for two open seats on the Sterling City Council.

Sterling’s Riverfront Commission met Wednesday to discuss updates for Sterling’s $300 million multi-phase Riverfront Reimagined project.

Dixon’s City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to ban sleeping and camping in public spaces on Monday in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that now allows cities to do so.

Sterling has been awarded over $300,000 in federal grant funding to improve road safety, U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Rockford, announced Monday.

The actual property tax rate in Sterling could decrease by nearly 6% next year, city officials say.

Sterling City Manager Scott Schumard said owner M5 Property Holdings hopes to finish the project within a year of starting.

The Sterling City Council designated the last of the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds Monday, choosing to put the remaining funds toward building demolition costs and a new fire department training center.

Owners claim ordinance would unfairly impact ‘good’ landlords and tenants.

Sterling Building and Zoning Superintendent Amanda Schmidt said she has been working on the project with Mavco Real Estate Development of Chicago since May and expects ground to be broken this year.

Sterling’s City Council is discussing the possibility of adopting a residential rental housing code that, if approved, would hold owners and tenants accountable for substandard living conditions in rental properties throughout the city.

Mayor Diana Merdian and Riverfront Reimagined commissioners met Wednesday, Oct. 16, to discuss the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act, which is legislation encouraging economic growth through redevelopment and revitalization projects found typically in areas along waterfronts.

After a sobering report on the condition of Sterling Fire Department’s apparatus, many have asked: “How did we get here?” To answer those questions, we need to go back a few years, writes Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark.

The council at its meeting Monday night approved appropriating $655,203, or as much as is needed, to match the required funding to complete the proposed bike path.

Problems range from property deterioration and abandonment to free-flowing sewage and infestation.

Sterling resident Aida Baker was sworn onto the council Monday to represent the 4th Ward, a seat Joe Martin had filled for 29 years.

Sterling held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for its yet-to-be-named riverfront park at 201 Wallace St., the city’s first step toward a $300 million project known as Riverfront Reimagined.

Local discussion about housing people without shelter is surfacing In the wake of U.S. Supreme Court action that now allows cities to establish an ordinance to ban sleeping and camping in public spaces.

The new park along the Rock River at the former Northwestern Steel and Wire Mill site is Phase One of Sterling’s $300 million Riverfront Reimagined Project.

City Council starting discussions about if it should pursue creating an ordinance, and where to direct the homeless population.

Sterling residents will be voting in the upcoming 2025 consolidated election to fill two seats on the Sterling City Council.