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Friday, April 9, 2010
Officials confirm Emerald Ash Borer found in Belvidere - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
the entire ash population in Belvidere is at risk or may be already infested.”
Click on the following for more details: Officials confirm Emerald Ash Borer found in Belvidere - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
Illinois' unpaid bills could top $5.5 billion
comptroller’s office has $2 billion worth of critical bills each month that must be paid off first, which include payments towards debt service, Medicaid, schools and payroll. That doesn’t leave much money left over to pay down the state’s unpaid bills.
Two weeks ago, a state ammunition vendor refused to ship bullets to the Illinois Department of Corrections unless the company was paid up front. The vendor, Shore Galleries Inc., was owed $6,000 by the state.
The department was forced to make an emergency purchase of bullets from an out-of-state vendor.
Click on the following for more details: Illinois' unpaid bills could top $5.5 billion
Whitney leads atheist's lawsuit against state construction grants for religious facilities
Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney, an attorney from Carbondale, is representing one of the state's most outspoken atheists, Rob Sherman, in the case, which seeks to stop about $2.3 billion worth of funding for construction projects. The money is part of the Illinois' $31 billion capital construction plan that was approved by the General Assembly last year…..Sherman is challenging 176 grants, most of them going to religious organizations, to help build houses of worship, parochial schools and religious ministries. The case notes that the Illinois Constitution prohibits the state from granting money to local churches for any purpose.
lawsuit names Gov. Pat Quinn as a defendant, saying the governor was allowed unconstitutional authority to spend a grant worth $2.23 billion as he sees fit. The grant is the largest one listed in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit states the move is in violation of the constitution because all appropriations must be approved by the General Assembly.
Click on the following for more details: Whitney leads atheist's lawsuit against state construction grants for religious facilities
Change Orders and Errors Continue at Boone County Courthouse Remodel
The following is taken form the Boone County Journal: http://boonecountyjournal.com/news/2010/Boone-County-News-04-09-10.pdf#page=3
Change Orders and Errors Continue
By Rebecca Osterberg
The Boone County Board Roads and Capital
Improvements Committee members received information
that some important items had been overlooked or simply
done wrong. The net effect occurred with the addition
of more expense to the Boone County 2010 Space Needs
Plan.
Throughout the process of instituting the plan some
changes were expected and even planned for. The county
included a contingency fund for most of those needs. Other
unexpected issues such as additional materials that may be
required for design adjustments are also paid for with the
fund. Some, however, exceed the approval authority that
county Administrator Ken Terrinoni is comfortable with
approving. Those orders are better presented to the Boone
County Board for their approval.
At the April 6 meeting of Roads and Capital Improvements
Committee, several changes were presented and at least
one of those requested changes was beyond the scope of
Terrinoni’s independent approval.
The 17th Judicial Circuit District Court, the Honorable
Eugene G. Doherty, noted a concern he had with the
carpet. His concern arose over the potential abutting of
new carpeting that had been proposed with the 23-year-old
carpet, in conspicuous areas.
“I’d hate to have this go without mention,” said Judge
Doherty. “It would butt up to the new carpet...of a different
color.” Judge Doherty brought the piece of carpet from the
building that showed both the condition and color change
due to age, after a file cabinet had been moved with dramatic
Continued on page 2
from Front Page ... Roads and Capital Improvements
Todd Schroeder, court manager in the 17th Circuit and
Judge Doherty told committee members that the court had
worked to obtain specified quotes for the replacement of old
carpet and the placement of new in some judges’ chambers.
The cost of new and replacement carpet not already in the
budget would be $6,110.50.
Committee members had concerns that included carpet
cost and labor, but also the possibility that only doing part
of the needed areas could make it difficult to find carpet that
would match at a later date.
Lengthy conversation concerning ways to save money
and find a way to get the carpet installed ensued.
“If we do these rooms, the entire building will be done,”
said county Representative Danny Anderson (District 1).
County Representative Kenny Freeman (District 3) was
concerned with the price tag on the quote provided.
“How many yards and what is the price for yard?” asked
Freeman.
“I guess having thought this through a little bit, I’m
not really comfortable with a $30,000 change order
without going to bid,” said county Representative Marshall
Newhouse (District 1). “I’m not really comfortable with a
$30,000 change order.”
Schroeder suggested doing part of the needed carpeting
and then bidding out the remainder of the project later.
Committee members voted affirmatively to do so.
Bullet-proof glass that was installed for the new state’s
attorney’s offices was also discussed.
“They got their bullet-proof glass and the little window [at
the bottom], but they didn’t get the holes [for conversation]
in it,” said Terrinoni. “So the solution is to put the holes
in. They will be sized to work with screens if you decide
to add it.”
“So we have bullet-proof glass with holes in it?” asked
county Representative Paul Larson (District 2). Anderson,
added, “Why in God’s name did we put bullet-proof glass in
with an Uzi hole in it?”
Other members of the committee and Judge Doherty
noted they had the same question.
“Did the circuit clerk design the hole in the glass, or did
the design architect do that?” asked county Representative
Anthony Dini (District 2).
Project Architect Richard L. Johnson was present and
noted that he was not sure but said, “But I know they had
input.”
“I just want to know why we have bullet-proof glass
with Uzi holes in it,” Dini said. “If this is the case, we just
wasted a whole lot of taxpayer money. I’d like to know who
made the decision.”
An area high school student studying government
introduced himself and asked to be recognized.
“So you’re going to cut a hole in the glass where
somebody’s face is going to be?” he asked., to which
committee members replied affirmatively. These and other
change-order items will be considered at the upcoming
meeting of the full Boone County Board April 15.
Poplar Grove to Use More Borrowed Money
The following is taken form the Boone County Journal: http://boonecountyjournal.com/news/2010/Boone-County-News-04-09-10.pdf#page=3
Poplar Grove to Use More Borrowed Money
By Bob Balgemann
Poplar Grove officials thought the soon-to-be-imposed
telecommunications and utility taxes would generate enough
additional money to produce a $100,000 budget surplus by
April 30, 2011, which is the end of the 2010-11 Fiscal Year.
But that won’t happen.
The village was forced to borrow more than $200,000 to
make ends meet during the final weeks of the current fiscal
year, which ends April 30. Officials wanted to increase the
$500,000 line of credit they had with Poplar Grove State
Bank to $650,000.
That won’t happen, either.
So the village now faces getting a tax anticipation loan
of $150,000 that, joined with the $150,000 left in the line
of credit, should tide them over for the next three weeks.
Village Treasurer Maria Forrest said the loan must be paid
off by October 2011, which will consume the $100,000
budget surplus officials hoped to have at the end of 2010-11,
plus a little more.
All of that forced members of the Finance Committee
to make more cuts in expenses Monday night, paramount
among them scrapping plans to paint the water tower, to save
$37,000, and only buying one back-up generator, heading
for the Oak Lawn lift station, a savings of $32,500.
While Public Works Director Jeff Strate would like to
have two new generators, he said one at the Prairie Green lift
station is needed more than at Oak Lawn. Poplar Grove has
no alternate sources of electricity at most of its lift stations,
raising concern about sewage backups into residents’
basements during power failures.
“We have returned to a balanced budget,’’ committee
Chairman Bob Fry announced after the cuts were
recommended for approval. They will be considered by the
full village board at Monday night’s meeting.
No Break for Low-Income Families
The committee also learned the village cannot provide
low-income families that qualify with a break on the
telecommunications and utility taxes, which will be imposed
this summer.
Poplar Grove is using the Machesney Park ordinance
as a model, which does have a rebate but it’s for those 65
years of age and older who qualify, not younger families.
“We misinterpreted the Machesney Park ordinance,’’ Fry
explained.
Community Unit School District #200 also qualifies
for a rebate, but the committee recommended against that
for the time being. Though no one had a figure, village
President Bradley Rightnowar and others were concerned
that loss of income might throw the 2010-11 Budget into
another deficit.
“Right now the new budget will have a surplus of about
$1,000 following the cuts we made tonight,’’ he said,
referring to April 30, 2011. Of the rebate for the school
district, he said, “We can always change that later.’’
While they’re having financial difficulties, committee
members still agreed to recommend paying $3,000 to
be members of Growth Dimensions for another year.
Rightnowar is hoping to work with that organization, the
economic development arm of Boone County, in bringing
commercial growth to the village.
“It’s time for their annual pitch (for money) to Poplar
Grove,’’ committee member Cliff Stetter said.
But the committee agreed they want one of the
organization’s board members, such as the president,
Richard Van Evera, to provide the annual update, not
someone on staff.
The remodeled Community Building is open—when will the “sunset occur”?
It took a special act of the state legislature in 1994 for the Community Building tax to begin. The real question is when will it ever end. Both the county and city codes have sunset provisions and annual reviews in them. But are any of the governmental units complying with these written requirements? Because of the county’s growth, the tax revenues have been high however it seems that the “needs” of the community building are constantly growing larger and the envisioned 10 year payoff will never occur.
Here is what is stated in the county code:
Here are the nearly identical city code version:
Sec. 106-152. Review of provisions.
The city council shall review this article at least once each year. The review will include a study to determine whether there have been any recent changes in legislation or court decisions on sales taxes. The review will also include some information about public acceptance or lack of acceptance of the community building sales tax, and the question of whether the collector has observed any problems in collecting the tax. The results of this review will be summarized in writing and placed on file at the county clerk's office and the city clerk's office as a matter of public record.
(Ord. No. 934F, § 1(96.62), 2-6-95)
Sec. 106-153. Sunset provision.
The community building sales tax shall terminate ten years after the effective date of this article unless: (i) a continuation of the tax is approved by the voters of the county by referendum conducted in accordance with the general election law or (ii) there are outstanding bonds of the committee.
(Ord. No. 934F, § 1(96.63), 2-6-95)
When it comes to the annual review of the public acceptance and problems with collection, I question if this has occurred in a long time.
I use a Freedom of Information Act, requesting when the last time the county filed its required review with the county clerk. This is what I received back—the county treasurer’s tax report for the community building for the year ending 6-30-2009. Not what I expected or asked. Perhaps the FOIA really only requires that you send “something”. Perhaps the county and city has never completed the annual review.
Take a look and see if I could have asked the question any better? Will the county (or the city) ever abide by the review procedures? Will this tax ever sunset? Does the community building really need a full cent on all restaurant bills? There is a county election coming up—perhaps our county politicians should be asked a few questions about the community building.
Click on the photocopy to enlarge:
Belvidere community center's rehab a real crowd-pleaser
The $815,000 face-lift was covered by bond money. Also, the Community Building is funded by a food and beverage tax.
The unveiling, which drew more than 200 people, featured a 30-minute presentation about the building’s history from Rep. Ron Wait and included Bennett’s acknowledgment of the building committee.
Click on the following for more details: Belvidere community center's rehab a real crowd-pleaser - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
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