Boone County Board member [Johnson]questions temporary hire

I wish I could receive legal advise this cheap. 

Finance Committee Chairman Karl Johnson questioned if the expense was necessary Tuesday at the county’s finance committee meeting.

The full-time temporary hire would be paid no benefits and $18 an hour, or $675 per week.

County Board Chairman Bob Walberg said he believes the board will not reverse its February decision.

Click on the following for more details:  Boone County Board member questions temporary hire - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Madigan wants state to drop security firm :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: The Watchdogs

Lisa Madigan is calling on the state health department to cancel its contract with VIP Security & Detective Services, citing a Chicago Sun-Times report that raised questions about the firm's nursing home safety deal.

VIP was one of two firms awarded no-bid emergency contracts in August 2006 to help health officials screen nursing-home residents. ….firm had been in business for two years with $50,000 in annual sales. But state records show VIP had been incorporated only three months before Bryant signed its contract, and that VIP didn't get its security- and detective-agency licenses until Sept. 8, 2006 -- the same day the health department signed the deal

Click on the following for more details: Madigan wants state to drop security firm :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: The Watchdogs

Fate of local Extension office still up in the air -

County talks about paying Extension’s tax levy a year before they are collected.  Does this make sense?  Paying for a service a year ahead.  Paying for services which may never be performed?  Well, the county is doing this already in the case of the Sheriff’s services to Poplar Grove—granting extra patrols when it is unknown if Poplar Grove can ever pay for them.  I wish the county board would bring these decisions to a vote of the full county board so the voters know where their elected officials stand on these issues.  The pie is getting smaller we need to make certain that everyone gets their “fair” share.

“If the state doesn’t pay them[U of I Extension] at all throughout the year, the county can borrow against its tax money,”[County Administrator]--- Terrinoni said after the meeting. “It wouldn’t affect the County General Fund at all, it’s their dedicated tax money. We levied $193,000 (in fiscal year 2010) and could say, look we need the money today for the Extension.”
Finance Committee Chairman Karl Johnson asked how the county could help to soften the outcome of what will happen to the local office.  “Can you say, you know what, we want to keep our local office and we’re going to pay to keep our local office,”

Click on the following for more details:  Fate of local Extension office still up in the air - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star