Lake County briefs

Wind turbine moratorium extended:Libertyville trustees on Tuesday agreed to renew and reauthorize a moratorium on wind turbines for another six months. Originally enacted in August 2009, the extension bans the construction, installation and operation of turbines. Village officials are awaiting approval by Lake County of a model ordinance that has been in the works for more than a year. Wind power became an issue in Libertyville after Aldridge Electric erected a 120-foot turbine on its property. Neighbors have objected to the noise and other aspects of the turbine and have taken legal action against the village.Labor agreement:Police sergeants in Libertyville have reached their first labor agreement with the village. The pact, approved Tuesday by the village board, covers four sergeants. It calls for a wage increase of 3.5 percent from May 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011 and can be revisited after that time. The sergeants' share of health insurance will increase to 12 percent from 10 percent, which is consistent with other employees, according to the village. Cost of the pact is about $20,000, which the village said will be offset by a reduction in overtime pay and the increase paid by sergeants to health insurance coverage. The starting annual salary for sergeants is about $87,000 increasing to nearly $100,000 after three years.Local golf pro honored:Dennis Johnsen, the PGA head professional and club manager at Pine Meadows Golf Club in Mundelein, has been named the recipient of the 2010 PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award for Public Facilities. Johnsen, 57, of Grayslake, is the sixth Illinois PGA pro to win the award. It was established in 1976 to recognize PGA pros who excelled as business persons/merchandisers in the promotion of golf. Johnsen will be recognized at The PGA America Awards, Jan. 27, 2011, during the 58th PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.Water/sewer hike:Libertyville residents will pay more for water and sewer service following action Tuesday by the village board. The board cited a drop in water use and increasing costs for electricity and supplies as reasons for the 4.5 percent hike. A household using 10,000 gallons every two months will pay $42 more per year, according to the village. The board noted the irony of less demand for water, prompted in part by calls to conserve, as contributing to a need for a rate increase. "We need to raise rates because people are doing exactly what we asked them to do," said Mayor Terry Weppler, who is the village representative on the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency.