Email questions propriety of Boone County appointments

The following email from Pat Mattison questions actions of Mr. Anderson and Mr. Walberg.  It is reproduced below with the permission of Mr. Mattison.

 

1/13/11

To:  Robert Walberg, Boone County Board Chairman

Re:  Resignation & Appointment Process for County Board, District 1

From:  Pat Mattison, Boone County Board Member, District 3

Bob, I am disappointed in the actions and process surrounding the County Board District 1 events from before the December 6, Organizational meeting to the present.  Transparency and openness are lacking.

Apparently County Board Member Danny Anderson knew he had a "conflict of interest" (having been hired by the City of Belvidere and informed by the Mayor of such) before the organizational meeting December 6, and never informed many of the board. members. Still, he took part in electing the County Board Chairman, and then resigned from the Board citing the "conflict of interest."  According to you, Anderson told you he would like to choose his replacement, Brad Fidder.  At the regular Board meeting several citizens told me that you had already made your decision.  Then it was announced the position was open and notice to potential applicants would be published.  Terri Glass then queried whether the applicants would be made known to the County Board members to gain information from any or all applicants to better provide "advice and consent" to your choice.

The interview process was set up for interviews of 5 applicants.  For whatever reasons he may have, Administrative Chairman Anthony Dini invited County Board members to the brief interview session and set the ground rules that only he would ask generalized questions of all candidates...and, that there would be no questions from other Board members or the audience during the meeting, that they could talk to the applicants,  but not at the meeting in the presence of other Board members.

This begs many questions.

*  Were you told by Danny Anderson before the December 6, that he was resigning because of "conflicts of interest?"

*  Do you feel Danny Anderson's request to name his replacement (after no longer serving on the Board) should take precedence over the "advice and consent" of the County Board?

*  Why put interested applicants through a interview process if your decision to name Brad Fidder has already been made?

*  And why have an interview process where all applicants are present and no questions from other County Board members would be accepted--how does that facilitate openness, the gathering of useful information and insight on potential Board Members, and trust amongst the County Board and public?

Most of us know that Brad Fidder is the appointment.  This whole process is an obfuscation. 

Patrick B. Mattison

BOONE COUNTY BOARD DISTRICT

CPI out today

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) increased 0.5
percent in December after increasing 0.1 percent in
November. The index for all items less food and energy rose
0.1 percent in December, the same increase as in November.

The latest Consumer Price Index news release
(http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf)
was issued today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Highlights are below

More details are available at the above address: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf

Illinois tax increase: why lawmakers passed 66 percent income-tax hike

A few comments from a Christian Science Monitor article.

Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and budget Accountability, a bipartisan think tank in Chicago. He describes the scope of the tax increases as “transformational.”

But the financial crisis in Illinois is unusual. The state had no choice but to raise taxes, Mr. Martire says: Cutting spending was not a viable option because already, major cutbacks had been made and spending is at a historic low. Then there is the debt: The state already owes $8 billion to vendors, including social service agencies.

A more reasonable measure moving forward, Martire says, would be to overhaul the state’s tax system. He calls it “underperforming and antiquated” for not addressing modern tax growth, leaving out the service sector in its sales tax, and not taxing according to income, which he says hurts lower- to middle-income families.

Click on the following for the complete article:  Illinois tax increase: why lawmakers passed 66 percent income-tax hike - CSMonitor.com

Lower Taxes in Wisconsin?

If you are considering moving a few miles north to badgerland to save on taxes, these are the tax rates you face.  Looks like 6.15% to 7.75% compared to Illinois 5%.  Things are greener on which side of the fence?

 

‘W’ to be keynoter in Elgin

President George W. Bush Confirmed Keynote

2011 World Leaders Forum

Judson University is proud to present the inaugural World Leaders Forum, featuring President George W. Bush and a panel of accomplished entrepreneurs with global impact. This annual event will bring recognized world leaders to the Judson University campus each year with the intent to inspire and ignite a flame of leadership for all who attend. All proceeds this year will be donated to the Entrepreneurship Studies Endowment Fund. Please join the Judson Community as we endeavor to educate tomorrow’s business leaders and build greatness in the lives of Judson students. JOIN US!

REGISTER NOW, for the best pricing and best seats! Early Bird Pricing ends January 31, 2011. All Tickets are Tax Deductible (see ticket pricing for details).

County Administrative Committee questions special funds: A new discovery? Or something everyone should have known?

The following three special purpose funds, not part of the general county funds, were questioned at last night’s committee meeting. 

 

This fund receives revenue from Circuit Court fees however there are no expenses since December 2008.  These funds may have special use restrictions and spending may be the prerogative of officials other than the county board.

 

This apparently is federally funded from drug seizures.  A sheriff patrol vehicle and equipment were purchased with the funds and the current balance is $69k.

This account is receiving funds from fees from the Circuit Court but no expenses have been charged for the past two years. These funds may have special use restrictions and spending may be the prerogative of officials other than the county board.

2011 Forecast from Fed Symposium

 

Click on the following to read the entire article:  http://us.mc535.mail.yahoo.com/mc/welcome?.gx=1&.tm=1294867097&.rand=6th3dievb0kh1#_pg=showMessage&sMid=1&&filterBy=&.rand=560156513&midIndex=1&mid=1_61796938_AEAlvs4AALe4TS4XVQYixBvTFxw&fromId=ChicagoFed@chi.frb.org&m=1_61797723_AD8lvs4AAAzJTS4aGg8nA3ysS9Y,1_61796938_AEAlvs4AALe4TS4XVQYixBvTFxw,1_61796231_AD8lvs4AAAzETS4MmwaU3mxWtJQ,1_61795697_AEElvs4AAUAgTS4J8Qg7ejTVc50,1_61795069_AEMlvs4AADe2TS4JoAHTYQSJJDc,1_61794210_AEIlvs4AAUvBTS4IYghoQCaSbMQ,1_61792893_AEMlvs4AADrBTS4CsQsvSVORJog,&sort=date&order=down&startMid=0&.jsrand=3780361