Great Home Giveaway house to be built in South Beloit

By Betsy Lopez Fritscher

RRSTAR.COM

Breaking away from a 16-year tradition of building its Great Home Giveaway house in Rockford or Belvidere, The Arc of Winnebago, Boone & Ogle Counties will build its 2009 giveaway home in South Beloit’s Twin Oaks subdivision.

The nonprofit service and advocacy organization for people with disabilities has built 13 homes in Rockford and three in Belvidere, but Jacki Neil Boss, executive director of The Arc, said the organization tries to find ways to build homes in different areas.

 “It has to do with where we can get a suitable lot, where can our house fit in and we know the quality of Howlett’s homes,” said Neil Boss, noting Howlett has built the organization’s last 11 homes for the raffle.

Neil Boss and Lisa Bartholme, Great Home Giveaway’s coordinator, presented the news to the South Beloit City Council Monday. They also asked the council to waive sewer-connection fees and inspection fees for the home.

City Commissioner Pam Clifton said the council will discuss the sewer connection fee. She said it is likely the inspection fee would be waived by McMahon & Associates, which generally performs city inspections. Clifton said McMahon would not charge the city as it would be a charitable contribution.

The 2,000-square-foot ranch-style home will be worth $184,000, with a large kitchen to include an island sink and dishwasher and granite countertops. The home’s foundation is expected to be laid in early March. The giveaway raffle will be Oct. 9 and tickets will be sold beginning June 3, said Neil Boss. The organization sells an average of 22,000 tickets annually.

In other news:
The City Council authorized the repair of a water line to the South Beloit Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is estimated to cost around $1,300, Clifton said. Kirichkow said the line had frozen several weeks back and the city anticipated with the weather warm-up it would thaw. 

The council voted to purchase a fuel tank for a street truck at a cost of $920.

The city authorized the village attorney to verify the status of possible city-owned land.

The council referred a request from the Ramada Inn for a $250,000 loan to the Revolving Loan Fund Committee.

Staff writer Betsy López Fritscher can be reached at bfritsch@rrstar.com or 815-987-1377.