Sign the petition to bring Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to Rockford | The Rock River Times

 

Sign the petition to bring Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to Rockford

From press release

Rock the Air is a campaign for the Rockford region to show Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University that this is the perfect place for its new campus. Rock the Air brings together government, business, educational and civic leaders from around the Midwest, and is seeking community support as well.

The campaign’s mission: the Rockford region has a golden opportunity to land the world’s leading aerospace and aviation university.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is searching for the site of its third residential campus, and a prime spot at Chicago Rockford International Airport is the perfect place. A campus would help our regional aerospace industry soar, bringing more jobs, money and people to this area.

Make the case to Embry-Riddle! Help Rockford Rock The Air. Sign the petition at www.RocktheAir.com, or visit the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/rocktheair.

Paper copies of the petition are available at The Rock River Times, 128 N. Church St.

Sign the petition to bring Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to Rockford | The Rock River Times

State agency approves Navistar financing :: Naperville Sun :: Local News

Is this where Boone County’s allocation of Recovery Bonds go? 

The deal grants inexpensive financing through federal Recovery Zone Facility Bonds to the engine and large truck manufacturer for improvements to the site of its new world headquarters.

The inexpensive financing arrangement was credited with closing the deal for the major employer to park itself in the western suburbs.

Several Illinois municipalities and counties contributed their allocations of the bonds, including Rockford, Aurora, Elgin and others. The city of Naperville contributed $11.9 million.

Click on the following for more details:  State agency approves Navistar financing :: Naperville Sun :: Local News

DuPage County board moves to cut chairman's power

 

The amended rules governing board procedures remove from the chairman the ability to appoint board committees and their chairmanships, and give board members the last word on making appointments and hiring county employees.

The newly approved measures also establish a new redistricting committee, mandated by state statute.

Click on the following for more details:  DuPage board moves to cut chairman's power :: Naperville Sun :: Local News

Kane County Board hires firm in defense of circuit clerk's lawsuit

Circuit Clerk Seyller and the board have been at odds because she hired 11 new employees to help staff her office.

County board members on Tuesday denied Seyller's request for additional funding beyond the $4.5 million allocated to her for the budget year, which ends Nov. 30.

 

Seyller has argued the additional staff is needed to fulfill state mandated duties and the board is abusing its discretionary power. County board members say the caseload in Seyller's' office has decreased, that she has automated many of the clerk's office's functions and never asked permission to move forward with new hires.

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Kane County hires firm in defense of circuit clerk's lawsuit

Comptroller candidates seek more transparency for TIF districts

 

State Rep. David Miller, who is challenging Republican Judy Baar Topinka, said the public needs more information about tax increment financing or TIF districts to assess whether they are benefiting local communities.

Under his plan, the state comptroller would launch an online database to help the public understand how each of the 1,000 TIF districts are operating in the state.

Topinka also has proposed an online database aimed at giving Illinoisans more information about state government.

Click on the following for more details:  Comptroller candidates seek more transparency for TIF districts

City Room™ - Politics - Campaign Manager: Moseley Braun in the Race for Mayor

A veteran of Chicago politics who's been out of the game for a few years is now in the race for mayor. Former U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun is running.

 

Click on the following for more details:

City Room™ - Politics - Campaign Manager: Moseley Braun in the Race for Mayor

Analysis of 1999 Boone County Public Safety Tax

To the Boone County Board and Public

Did you know...?

The Public Safety Sales Tax of one-half percent, to be taxed on merchandise sales in Boone County FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING AN EXPANSION

OF THE EXISTING JAIL FACILITY--passed April 13, 1999 by a margin of 66%

Yes, and 34% No.  It was passed for building an expansion of the jail--not for jail operations and Boone County General Fund expenditures.

The following is the use of the Public Safety Sales Tax funds since 2004 suggested by and according to Ken Terrinoni, Boone County Administrator's accounting:

Revenues (actual 2004-2009, projected 2010)

$10,583,234

Expenditures (actual 2004-2009, projected 2010)

$ 5,320,245   Bond Payments

+

          $    285,000 Transfer out, Gen. Fund allowable expenses

          $    521,725 Transfer out, Job staffing

          $ 3,934,268 Transfer out, Jail staffing

          $    376,977 Transfer out, Sheriff's equipment

          $    125,000 Transfer out, Logan Building

          $      15,000 Transfer out, Architect

          $    400,000 Transfer out, Courtroom

$    250,000 Transfer out, Courtroom, Probation, & States Attorney

$ 5,907,970   Total Transfers out

$11,228,215 Total Expenditures (Bond payments & Transfers out)

Total Expenditures minus Total Revenue

$11,228,215 - $10,583,234 = (-$704,981)  More money expended then Sales Tax revenue

$5,320,245 has been expended for voter approved Jail Expansion

$5,907,970 (more than approved for the Jail Expansion) has been expended for General Fund operations, staffing, sheriff's equipment, Logan Avenue Building, Architect, Courtroom Probation, and the State's Attorney--none part of the voter approved Jail Expansion.

Question:  Will the voters of Boone County trust future Boone County tax referendums as being used as proposed?

-- compiled and organized by Patrick B. Mattison, Boone County Board District 3

Boone County, Illinois - Sunshine Review

The following is a a review of the Boone County’s old website completed by Sunshine Review, an advocacy group for open government. 

• This page was last modified on 14 September 2009, at 11:57.
• This page has been accessed 642 times.

Boone County, Illinois

From Sunshine Review

 

Contents

[hide]

• 1 Website evaluation
  • 1.1 The good
  • 1.2 The bad
• 2 External links
• 3 References

D

Budget

Meetings

Elected Officials

Administrative Officials

Permits, zoning

Audits

Contracts

Lobbying

Public records

Local taxes

Boone County is a county in the state of Illinois.

[edit] Website evaluation

Main Article: Evaluation of Illinois county websites

[edit] The good

• Budget is available.^[1]
• Building and zoning information is available.^[2]
• County board members and their contact information is available.^[3]
• Administrative officials and their contact info is available.^[4]

[edit] The bad

• Only the 2006 audit is available.^[5]
• Meeting minutes and agendas are not available.
• County contracts are not online.
• Local tax information is not provided.
• Information on how to make a public records request is not provided on the site.

[edit] External links

Boone County

• Boone County official website
• Boone County Clerk's Website
• Boone County Fair Website

[edit] References

1. ↑ 2008 Budget
2. ↑ Building and Zoning
3. ↑ County Board
4. ↑ Administration
5. ↑ Audit

Boone County, Illinois - Sunshine Review

Boone County, Illinois - Sunshine Review

The following is a a review of the Boone County’s old website completed by Sunshine Review, an advocacy group for open government. 

Boone County, Illinois

From Sunshine Review

 

Contents

[hide]

• 1 Website evaluation
  • 1.1 The good
  • 1.2 The bad
• 2 External links
• 3 References

D

Budget

Meetings

Elected Officials

Administrative Officials

Permits, zoning

Audits

Contracts

Lobbying

Public records

Local taxes

Boone County is a county in the state of Illinois.

[edit] Website evaluation

Main Article: Evaluation of Illinois county websites

[edit] The good

• Budget is available.^[1]
• Building and zoning information is available.^[2]
• County board members and their contact information is available.^[3]
• Administrative officials and their contact info is available.^[4]

[edit] The bad

• Only the 2006 audit is available.^[5]
• Meeting minutes and agendas are not available.
• County contracts are not online.
• Local tax information is not provided.
• Information on how to make a public records request is not provided on the site.

[edit] External links

Boone County

• Boone County official website
• Boone County Clerk's Website
• Boone County Fair Website

[edit] References

1. ↑ 2008 Budget
2. ↑ Building and Zoning
3. ↑ County Board
4. ↑ Administration
5. ↑ Audit

Boone County, Illinois - Sunshine Review

McHenry County Board: States Attorney Bianchi has right to remain in office

The McHenry County Board will not discuss the possibility of having to replace State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi unless he becomes unable to fulfill his duties

Under state law, Bianchi can continue to serve unless he is convicted of a crime or his law license is suspended or revoked by the Illinois Supreme Court. Voters elected Bianchi, a Republican, to a second four-year term in 2008

Bianchi faces 19 counts of official misconduct, one count of conspiracy and one count of unlawful communication with a grand jury witness

Click on the following for more details:  Northwest Herald | County officials: Bianchi has right to remain in office

McHenry County Board: States Attorney Bianchi has right to remain in office

Charges against McHenry County States Attorney Bianchi outlined

 

A statement by Special States Attorneys Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen outlines the 19 charges against McHenry County States Attorney Lou Bianchi

Click on the following:  Northwest Herald | Charges against Bianchi outlined

Full indictment of McHenry County States Attorney-- Louis A. Bianchi

 

In this document provided by the Special States Attorney, the 19 counts again McHenry County States Attorney Lou Bianchi are outlined.

Click on the following:  Northwest Herald | Full indictment of Bianchi

McHenry County Board member’s law license in question

Robert Bless, a Republican living in Fox River Grove, was elected in 2008 to represent District 1 of the County Board, which covers eastern and southern Algonquin Township. He received his Illinois law license in May 2004, according to state records.

complaint filed Aug. 30 by ARDC Administrator Jerome Larkin alleges that Bless inappropriately had a sexual relationship with a client, borrowed money from her, and entered business deals with her. It also alleges that Bless tried to influence her as a witness and tried to mislead ARDC investigators.

Click on the following for more of the story:  Northwest Herald | Board member’s license in question