ROCHELLE — At its monthly meeting Monday, the Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the $34,174 purchase of a forestry mower from Bobcat of Janesville. 

The mower will be used for the removal of small trees and thicker brush and the grinding and mulching of smaller stumps. Park District Executive Director Jackee Ohlinger said the machine will help to maintain and make walking paths at Skare Park and with clearing of banks at Lake Sule. 

The park district is currently accepting sealed bids on a boom mower, the piece of equipment the forestry mower will replace, and the proceeds from that sale will go towards offsetting the purchase of the new item.

RBC

The board unanimously approved an affiliate agreement with the Rochelle Basketball Club. 

The Rochelle Basketball Club hasn't had an official agreement with the park district or The REC Center in the past, RBC President Jeff Dickey said at the meeting. The club looks to meet the needs of basketball athletes of all skill levels in third through eighth grade. The club offers open gyms on Sunday evenings at Rochelle Township High School with those ages that focus on skills and unstructured play. 

"We know the only way to get better at basketball is by playing basketball," Dickey said. "We're looking to advance that in this area and set something in stone now so it can continue to be carried on like Rochelle Junior Tackle and Rochelle Little League. We want to provide for these kids and make sure they have space, time and equipment to play.” 

Dickey said RBC wants to add a girls travel basketball program in the future and RBC Secretary Justin Adolph said he'd like to bring more travel basketball tournaments to town. RBC caters to all students in the RTHS school district area. 

The REC Center will continue to host boys travel basketball in the winter as it has, the RBC will take on the responsibility of coaches and practices. The park district will handle the facilities and RBC would handle the program, similar to Rochelle Little League or RJT.

Vendors

The board unanimously approved an exception to its offering items for sale ordinance that will allow No Prep Taco to set up shop as a vendor on Wednesday nights during flag football games and will also allow Kona Ice of Sauk Valley to act as a vendor on Saturdays at Rochelle Junior Tackle football games.