Tough Times Ahead For Boone County Government

BCJ articles are available on line at:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2015/Boone-County-News-09-25-15.pdf#page=1

By James Middleton

The “high water” mark in municipal revenue
collections for Boone County was reached in 2007 and
2008 before the bottom fell out in 2009. However, after
that point, revenue coming into the county needed for all
county funding requirements, saw that revenue decline
and revenue has not yet returned. Revenue collections
from all sources coming into Boone County has yet to
return to those levels and in the current budget preparations
for Fiscal Year 2016, the reductions in revenue are being
felt even more so than in previous years.
The years of 2009 through 2011 have been referred to
by county officials as the “Great Recession” when revenues
passed through a serious reduction that led county officials
to impose a variety of cost saving steps to control spending.
Many of those cost cutting steps had included voluntary
pay reductions and voluntary unpaid days off work. Others
had agreed to voluntary pay freezes and other forms of
employee salary controls and reductions.
Individuals have also left county employment and those
vacancies have not always been refilled with new hires.
Some of those vacancies remain even today including two
deputies and one secretary unfilled in the Boone County
Sheriff’s Department. An administrative clerk has retired
from the probation department, a county clerk has been
laid off and one deputy clerk in the treasurer’s office had
their hours reduced. One custodian has been laid off in
the administration building, one animal control worker has
retired and one dispatcher in the 911 center has left county
employ. In each of these instances, employees are no
longer working with the county and their vacancies have
not been refilled.
The need for this policy has hampered the overall
efficiency of county government with the loss of personnel
and the county deciding that those vacancies would not be
refilled. These facts and others were laid out in a special
meeting of the Boone County Board finance committee
meeting that occurred this week.
Boone County administrator Ken Terrinoni dedicated

part of the meeting to presenting to the committee members
the history that has led to this point, how this point was
reached and what the current situation holds for the new
Fiscal Year 2016 in Boone County government.
The chairman of the Boone County Board Bob
Walberg (District 1) was at the meeting and he described
the event as one in which preliminary information was
given regarding the potential new budget. It is likely
that far more information will follow in another special
finance committee meeting scheduled to occur on Monday
evening, September 30.

It should be noted that in the current budget for Fiscal
year 2015 that is just nearing its conclusion, members of
the County Board agreed to allow $150,000 to be available
for use to manage some of the expenses associated with
law enforcement activities in the county. That funding
came from the annual surplus of collected revenue that
comes to the county in the form of the public safety sales
tax that was approved a decade ago when county voters
agreed to erect the new Boone County Jail and to pay off
the bonds created to fund that construction through the use
of a half-cent public safety sales tax.
In the meeting this week, the finance committee
members heard from County representative Paul Larson
(District 2) who said that the county in Fiscal Year 2016
might need to access revenue from the same source to the
extent of from $300,000 to $400,000 to erase a potential
deficit. Mr. Larson is a past chairman of the County Board
finance committee. The possible use of that money was not
approved and really no aspects of what could become the
final budget was approved but these points and others were
brought for discussion purposes.
Mr. Terrinoni said after the meeting, “There are two
primary reasons for the possible deficit in the new budget
and that is first caused by the inability to provide jail space
to neighboring municipalities to house their detainees and
the second reason is the rapidly increasing self-insured,
healthcare costs for the county.” Last year the county ran
near a deficit due to a number of serious healthcare claims
from county employees that were not expected. This year,
because many of the available jail cells in the County Jail
are occupied by local detainees, that cell space cannot be
used by other municipalities to hold their detainees. When
the jail was being considered for construction, one of the
selling features was that the county could lease jail space
to neighboring municipalities and the federal government
to hold their detainees waiting for trial.
Mr. Terrinoni also said that at this point, the county
could be looking at a potential $1.1 million deficit for
Fiscal Year 2016. Part of the reason for that deficit is also
due to the state not paying some salaries that they share
with the county. The state’s attorney’s salary and that of
the probation workers and other salaries are not being paid
by the state. Mr. Terrinoni said, “If the state’s makes up
those salaries, and we expect that they will, the deficit
could drop to $800,000.”
Sources outside the
county have indicated
that the state is paying
some of their day-to-day
expenses by not making
payments to municipalities
that they are mandated to
make. Further, the state
is also using this money
earmarked for municipal
governments and avoiding
either approving a new
budget or enacting
appropriation measures.
It should also be noted
that a municipal budget is
a framework that identifies
paths by which revenue
can be spent to manage the

municipality. At this point, many ideas are being discussed
to manage what likely will be a budget deficit in one
amount or another. Though every department that makes
up Boone County will propose potential initiatives or new
ways to spend their funding, very few of those proposed
initiatives will likely be approved.
Mr. Walberg and Mr. Terrinoni both indicated after
the special meeting that there is very little likelihood that
any of those initiatives will be approved. A few might be
included in the budget but no one is, as yet, certain which
initiatives could be approved.
The special meeting of the Boone County Board finance
committee is scheduled to occur next Monday, September
30 at 6 p.m. It is possible that by that meeting, a clearer
picture of the new budget for Fiscal Year 2016 will be
better defined but leading to that meeting, negotiations and
discussions continue.

BCJ Editorial: Conflicted Perspectives

 

Differing perceptions can conflict when two do not see a reasonable answer to a question arising from the same
perspective. When these conflicts arise, that is where disagreement is found.
The work of the Belvidere/Boone County Planning Department is an interpretive function. Planners are vested with
the authority to determine in a quasi-legal context if an application for a special use zoning or a zoning variance should
be allowed. Yet, there are some here that would prefer the planning department interpret zoning code from a different
perspective and to be less reliant on a legal perception to base their decisions. Ergot, that point is the Genesis of the
conflict.
Some would claim that to evaluate a question within a purely legal context denies other elements of the question that
also have relevance. However, the planning department must review questions through a lens of a legal interpretation
while an emotional context to the question must take a backseat.
These points arise resulting from the Tuesday Boone County Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting that heard
a summary report presented by the planning department. That report repeated previous findings that did not approve
passage of an application for a text amendment to be added to the county zoning code. The application seeks to
establish new setback distances for wind turbines from adjoining property owners. The tone and the tenor of some
of the questions directed to the interim director of the planning department served to compromise the wisdom of the
arguments for passage offered for the text amendment. There is validity in the proposed text amendment but the tone
of some of the questions served to disable the value of these proposed amendments.
The wind turbine debate in Boone County has become more an emotional argument than one based on legal
considerations. That is unfortunate because decisions based on valid legal perceptions are sounder than to base a public
decision on emotional perspectives that are fluid. In the ZBA meeting this week some questioned the interim-director
using hypothetical propositions more as a weapon to trap the director in misstatements than to clarify points. The
questioners might have learned their approach from reporters following the presidential candidates who try more to trap
the candidates than to clarify points in their platform.
The technique is a shabby exercise that panders to the “got-yeah” style of questioning. The interim-director might
have better replied to those hypothetical assertions by responding, “Your question is irrelevant to the subject matter of
our review because your question is hypothetical and not based on fact.”
However, people often desire to answer questions that are placed before them. That can be the case regardless
of how arcane the question may be or even if the question is more based on myth than on any bearing of fact. Some
questions that came to the interim director were difficult even for a casual observer to decipher.
The work of the planning department emerges from their duty to evaluate zoning questions within the context
of current zoning code when balanced beside the parameters of the 1999 Boone County Comprehensive Plan. One
questioner was hampered by their opinion that did not allow them to ascertain how planning personnel would bridge the
gap that exists between current zoning law and the broader goal of a government to protect the public “health, safety
and welfare.” Planning staff are county employees and must consider the public health, safety and welfare but their
first duty is to investigate a zoning application to determine if the question offends or complies with current zoning code
and the Comprehensive Plan, period.
All forms of government in America have the duty to enact and to enforce law to protect the public “health, safety
and welfare.” However, at times, laws that are enacted conflict with that charge. For example, the oil depletion
allowance has been a part of the Internal Revenue Service Code since 1913. Arguably, that tax benefit allowed oil
producers to compromise the public health, safety and welfare when viewed under the lens of potential damage to
environment by burning fossil fuels. Leading to the current condition of that law it could be argued that the law denies
protection of the public health, safety and welfare by allowing for greater fossil fuel production and use because of the
tax advantage the law offers to oil producers.
The final word on if wind turbine technology comes to Boone County rests with the Boone County Board. The report
of the planning department, the evaluation of the regional planning commission and the ZBA and the investigation of
the County Board planning, zoning and building committee are preludes to the final act that will occur with a decision
by the full Boone County Board.
The next step is for the ZBA to allow anyone from the community to present their view on the question. This process
could extend for some time and the exact timeframe of that public hearing is unknown.
It remains unknown if a decision will arise in 2015, 2016 or later. Those that have watched this drama unfold must
remember the focus of the planning department. Posing “got-yeah” style questions is unethical and irrelevant to the
broader question. Those that pander to such base elements are producing “white noise” that allows them to trumpet
their views and to deny reasonable debate of this vital question. Those that descend to such a base level of discussion
assaults the wisdom of the position that they espouse.

Planning Staff Report Takes Center Stage

By James Middleton

The path tread from applying for governmental change
and possibly reaching enactment of that change can be
long. If anyone disbelieves this they should ask those that
have applied to add a text amendment to the Boone County
zoning code to establish a wider setback for wind turbines
from adjoining property lines. This process has moved on
more than a year and the end is still not in sight.
The end will be reached when the Boone County Board
convenes to vote to determine if that text amendment will
be added to county zoning code. One more step to that end
occurred this week in the September meeting of the Boone
County Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).
The focus of the ZBA meeting allowed the Belvidere/
Boone County planning department to deliver a final report
on their investigation if the text amendment should be
approved. The result of their initial investigation led the
planning staff to recommend denial of the text amendment.
The substance of their initial report had not changed after
hearing testimony in numerous meetings that was offered
by those favoring the text amendment.
The essence of the text amendment asks the county to
establish a new setback distance for wind turbines to be
erected from adjoining property owners and roadways.
The current code allows wind turbines to be erected no less

some of the specific elements of the report. She added
that staff believed that some elements of the proposed text
amendment should be revised for greater clarity. She also
said that the staff had not been persuaded by testimony that
one setback distance was really not defined as being any
better than any other setback distance.
She then entered into a brief discussion of the setback
distance of a half mile from adjoining property lines. Ms.
Miller cited a statement made by counsel representing the
proponents of the text amendment, Ms. Schilling. Ms.
Miller said, the setback distance proposed was stated by
Ms. Schilling to be, “A good starting point.” However,
Ms. Miller added, “Staff believes that this distance is in
conflict with the Comprehensive Plan and Boone County

zoning code. We need to set reasonable setbacks and the
larger setbacks would deny development of wind projects.”
With that Ms. Miller covered a couple of other points
and ended her review of the staff report. Mr. Savino then
opened the meeting for staff questions. ZBA member Joan
Krumm took the floor and endeavored to ask questions of
Ms. Miller but it was difficult for her to articulate a question
that Ms. Miller understood. Two efforts were made before
Ms. Miller could answer.
Ms. Krumm finally asked, “Why do you say it is not
necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare.”
Ms. Miller answered, “I’m not sure I understand your
question but we want to protect the public health.”
A debate arose between Ms. Krumm and Ms. Miller in
that Ms. Krumm seemed not to understand what a scale
was in reference to a site drawing. Ms. Miller agreed that
a scale was needed for any drawings and that definitions of
terms should also be added.
With that the floor was opened for statements from
the audience and Karen Kenney, one of the applicant’s
for the text amendment took the floor. She asked if staff
was recommending that a visual rendition of a future
wind turbine project be provided and Ms. Miller that the
rendition should be available. Ms. Kenney then asked if
Ms. Miller believed that the text amendment would deny a
project to arise with the expanded setback requirement and
Ms. Miller answered, “Yes.”
Ms. Kenney then asked, in that waivers were allowed
under the proposed text amendment, why a map of a
project had not been drawn. Ms. Miller answered, “How
can you create a map without knowing who would waive
their right.” A later addition to the text amendment request
would allow for any adjoining property owner to waive
their right to require a 2,640 foot setback. However, there
has, as yet, been no formal application from any group
requesting to site a wind turbine project in Boone County
and, as yet, it is unknown if any adjoining property owner
would waive their rights.
Others that spoke included Marion Thornberry and
Julie Van Laar and they were followed by Julie Newhouse
of rural Capron. She asked Ms. Miller, “In your opinion
does state wind energy law trump the public health?”
Ms. Miller answered, “No.”
Ms. Newhouse then asked, “Should zoning code make
rules to meet state standards?”
Ms. Miller answered, “If these setbacks were approved
that would be in conflict with zoning code.”
Ms. Newhouse asked if, in Ms. Miller’s opinion, “Is a
1,000 foot setback in place to protect the public health?”
Ms. Miller replied, “I think that does need to be looked
at.”
Tower heights in Boone County and in other counties
were discussed but with no conclusion was reached.
Ms. Krumm then asked Ms. Miller which counties
she had contacted in Illinois regarding their wind turbine
zoning code. Ms. Miller said that she had called many
counties and discussed their code over the telephone.
However, she was unable to remember specifically which
counties she had called.
No other members of the audience spoke however, the
only other matter to consider was to affirm that the October
ZBA meeting would allow members of the audience to
have up to two minutes to speak and to ask questions.
Before adjournment one point it was considered asking
if text amendment proponents would be allowed to rebut
evidence that had been presented by opposing parties
without allowing them a comparable opportunity to
rebut evidence presented
by the text amendment
proponents. That question
was, however, not resolved
and could come for further
discussion in the October
ZBA meeting.

than 1,000 feet from neighboring property owners. The
text amendment requests that the distance be extended to
½ mile or 2,640 feet.
The final report of the planning department was
delivered by the interim director, Kathy Miller. Before
she delivered the report, the ZBA chairman, Tony Savino,
asked Ms. Miller of her role as interim director of the
department.
Ms. Miller said, “Our role is to review applications for
zoning changes and to look at the evidence. We weigh the
‘pros and the cons,’ we do our research and we make visits
to sites.”
Mr. Savino asked if the opinion of the department could
change and Ms. Miller said, “If the evidence presented
changes we can change our opinion.”
Ms. Miller then entered into the staff report detailing

Is Peaker Plant finally happening?

 

See previous posting regarding this project:  http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2014/09/peaker-plant-asks-for-annual-extension.html

Illinois budget ills threaten state armored car, garbage pickups - Yahoo News

 

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The newest casualties of Illinois’ long-running budget impasse could be garbage pickup at the state Capitol, lights in state offices and armored truck service that moves large cash shipments out of drivers license facilities, Secretary of State Jesse White warned on Friday.

Feuding between Republican Governor Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the state Legislature has Illinois nearing its fourth month without a budget. That means an array of government vendors are not getting paid for services they have provided since fiscal 2016 began on July 1.

The impasse stems from the governor’s insistence on tying enactment of a new budget to passage of his framework for business-friendly changes to state workers' compensation, collective bargaining, tort and property tax laws.

Without spending authority, White said his office is facing the prospect of bills no longer being paid. That would affect motorists seeking drivers' services, his office’s computer operations and upkeep of the state’s Capitol complex in Springfield, he said.

“This situation has grown critical, and we are seeking a solution to this problem,” the five-term Democratic secretary of state wrote in a letter to Rauner that was released on Friday.

White said unpaid computer and software contractors have threatened to quit performing maintenance and data-breach protection services on the secretary of state’s sprawling computer network, and some landlords for facilities in which drivers' services offices are based are pursuing default actions against the state for nonpayment of rent.

On another front, the unpaid company that provides armored truck service has threatened to discontinue collecting as much as $100,000 in cash per day from secretary of state facilities, he said.

The secretary of state also cautioned that daily garbage pickup at the state Capitol could be imperiled because the vendor has threatened to discontinue waste collection until getting paid. White said he is concerned electricity, gas and coal supplies also are at risk because of nonpayment of bills.

A Rauner aide said on Friday that the governor’s office reached out to White about his letter and shares concerns about other cash-starved functions within state agencies under the governor’s control.

“We hope (White) will also join us in encouraging his friends in the legislature to fulfill their constitutional obligation to pass a truly balanced budget,” Rauner's spokeswoman, Lyndsey Walters, said.

(This story has been corrected to fix spelling of governor's spokeswoman's first name to Lyndsey from Lindsey in last paragraph)

(Editing by Matthew Lewis)

Illinois budget ills threaten state armored car, garbage pickups - Yahoo News

Koch Industries running commercials during Badgers games as part of rebranding effort | Local Education | host.madison.com

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  Koch Industries running commercials during Badgers games as part of rebranding effort | Local Education | host.madison.com

Rauner: Museum, shooting complex to close

Read the rest of the article by clicking on the following:  Rauner: Museum, shooting complex to close

Ex-State Fair manager Patrick Buchen blasts Rauner administration - News - The State Journal-Register - Springfield, IL

 

By Carla Jimenez and Doug Finke, Staff Writers

Posted Sep. 25, 2015 at 12:54 PM
Updated Sep 25, 2015 at 7:14 PM

Former Illinois State Fair manager Patrick Buchen blasted Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration on Friday, saying that he and former Department of Agriculture Director Philip Nelson were forced to resign because of cronyism and interference.

Buchen and Nelson announced their resignations late Thursday afternoon. Rauner's office issued a statement immediately following the announcement saying the governor appreciated Nelson's "commitment to agriculture and his service to the people of Illinois."

Buchen, however, insisted on Friday that he and Nelson did not resign willingly. He said that it was either they resign or wait until they were fired.

"The politicos downtown never wanted me here," he said. "Philip Nelson fought for me very forcefully for my employment."

Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said Buchen "is continuing to demonstrate the same type of erratic behavior he exhibited as a state employee."

"Mr. Buchen sometimes had a difficult time appropriately communicating with other state employees and often failed to treat fellow state workers with respect," Trover said in a written statement. "He damaged morale within the agency and was beginning to create a toxic atmosphere among those who had to work with him."

Buchen said he believes the biggest reason he was being pushed out was because he didn't want to go along with what he believed were unfair practices.

One dispute centered on naming the grand marshals of the fair's annual Twilight Parade. Buchen said he and Nelson wanted the Brandt family, owners of Brandt Agricultural Products in Springfield, to be the grand marshals as a way to bring agriculture back to the forefront of the state fair.

Instead, two U.S. Navy commanders, Jessie Porter and Darin Hess of the USS Illinois, were named the grand marshals. Buchen said Robert Alec Messina, Rauner's policy adviser for environment and energy, insisted on that choice.

Buchen said Messina acted as liaison between the administration and the Ag Department.

"Alec Messina doesn't know the difference between a boar and a barrow, and he's our ag liaison?" Buchen said.

Trover released an email exchange between Buchen and Messina from July 10 regarding the fair parade grand marshal. Messina said he learned from Nelson that Buchen was "rather upset" with the choice of the parade marshal. He said Buchen should feel free to call him directly if there is an issue to discuss.

Buchen replied that the "gentleman is not agriculture, the submarine has not been christened and I was most disappointed in the fact that our recommendation was denied."

"I am here to promote agriculture for the fair and the state of Illinois," he continued. "If that is not the intent of those who made this decision then I need to go elsewhere."

He then added: "You need to understand that when my nose gets bloodied I will break those that bloodied mine. A metaphor of course, but mad or upset is unproductive. I get even."

• Zoom

  Patrick Buchen

  »  RELATED CONTENT

• • • Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois State Fair directors step down...

• By Carla Jimenez and Doug Finke, Staff Writers

  Posted Sep. 25, 2015 at 12:54 PM
  Updated Sep 25, 2015 at 7:14 PM

  Former Illinois State Fair manager Patrick Buchen blasted Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration on Friday, saying that he and former Department of Agriculture Director Philip Nelson were forced to resign because of cronyism and interference.

  Buchen and Nelson announced their resignations late Thursday afternoon. Rauner's office issued a statement immediately following the announcement saying the governor appreciated Nelson's "commitment to agriculture and his service to the people of Illinois."

  Buchen, however, insisted on Friday that he and Nelson did not resign willingly. He said that it was either they resign or wait until they were fired.

  "The politicos downtown never wanted me here," he said. "Philip Nelson fought for me very forcefully for my employment."

  Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said Buchen "is continuing to demonstrate the same type of erratic behavior he exhibited as a state employee."

  "Mr. Buchen sometimes had a difficult time appropriately communicating with other state employees and often failed to treat fellow state workers with respect," Trover said in a written statement. "He damaged morale within the agency and was beginning to create a toxic atmosphere among those who had to work with him."

  Buchen said he believes the biggest reason he was being pushed out was because he didn't want to go along with what he believed were unfair practices.

  One dispute centered on naming the grand marshals of the fair's annual Twilight Parade. Buchen said he and Nelson wanted the Brandt family, owners of Brandt Agricultural Products in Springfield, to be the grand marshals as a way to bring agriculture back to the forefront of the state fair.

  Instead, two U.S. Navy commanders, Jessie Porter and Darin Hess of the USS Illinois, were named the grand marshals. Buchen said Robert Alec Messina, Rauner's policy adviser for environment and energy, insisted on that choice.

  Buchen said Messina acted as liaison between the administration and the Ag Department.

  "Alec Messina doesn't know the difference between a boar and a barrow, and he's our ag liaison?" Buchen said.

  Trover released an email exchange between Buchen and Messina from July 10 regarding the fair parade grand marshal. Messina said he learned from Nelson that Buchen was "rather upset" with the choice of the parade marshal. He said Buchen should feel free to call him directly if there is an issue to discuss.

  Buchen replied that the "gentleman is not agriculture, the submarine has not been christened and I was most disappointed in the fact that our recommendation was denied."

  "I am here to promote agriculture for the fair and the state of Illinois," he continued. "If that is not the intent of those who made this decision then I need to go elsewhere."

  He then added: "You need to understand that when my nose gets bloodied I will break those that bloodied mine. A metaphor of course, but mad or upset is unproductive. I get even."

  Page 2 of 3 - Fair conflict

  Buchen said Messina forced him to hire Janet Dobrinsky, who used to work at the comptroller's office under Judy Baar Topinka, as the assistant fair manager. He said it was the first time in years that an assistant fair manager had been appointed and that Dobrinsky — earning $90,000 annually — was "essentially useless" in the position.

  "She's never done a fair," Buchen said. "She's never done events. She had no value being there whatsoever."

  Trover said Dobrinsky was hired before Buchen was appointed fair manager, "so it is untrue to claim he was forced to hire her."

  Buchen also said Dobrinsky spent more money than was necessary, including on a ceremony to rename a street on the fairgrounds for Topinka. Buchen said the state could have saved money by having the ceremony at the ag tent, which was nearby. Dobrinsky instead had the stage and sound system set up at the corner of the new road, and it cost about $2,000, mostly for the labor to move an existing system there.

  Buchen added that whenever he confronted Dobrinsky about her job performance, Dobrinsky would tell Illinois chief operating officer Linda Lingle that he yelled at her in front of the entire staff or that he threatened and strong-armed older employees into retirement.

  He said he was also forced to issue all-access passes to government workers or to issue press passes to people who weren't members of the press.

  "Did I push back and fight them on it? You bet I did," he said.

  Trover denied that excessive numbers of passes were issued.

  "A small number of Department of Natural Resources employees were provided press passes, as they had been provided in past years," Trover said. "The press passes enabled these employees to fulfill important duties related to the state fair, including putting on Conservation World, which is run by DNR."

  Attendance controversy

  Buchen, who was only state fair manager for five months, received criticism for low attendance numbers at the fair. An estimated 850,000 people were recorded at the fair for 2014, but 411,547 attended in 2015.

  But he insisted that numbers from previous years had been inflated and had been for years if the numbers for revenue and parking were any indication. He said he and others in the Ag Department were berated for reporting what he called the correct numbers.

  Buchen believes the governor didn't know about the incidents since Rauner has only ever said he and Nelson were doing very well in their jobs.

  Instead, Buchen thinks it's the people surrounding Rauner who forced his and Nelson's resignations.

  "Boy, did we take heat for it because of the cronyism," Buchen said. "And we thought this administration wanted to clean all this up."

  Page 3 of 3 - Warren Goetsch will act as the director for the Ag Department until a permanent director is appointed. Previously, he served as the bureau chief of environmental programs within the department.

  A new state fair manager has not yet been named.

  Nelson could not be reached for comment Friday. The Illinois Farm Bureau, where Nelson served as president from 2003 to 2013, issued a statement praising Nelson's service as agriculture director.

  "He put his heart and soul into the position," farm bureau president Richard Guebert Jr. said. "He wasn't afraid to make tough decisions to put the Illinois Department of Agriculture in a position to be successful, even during these difficult times. I like the changes he and his staff made to put a renewed focus on youth and agriculture at the Illinois State Fair. I don't know anybody more dedicated to improving Illinois agriculture. I wish him the best in his next endeavor."

   

Ex-State Fair manager Patrick Buchen blasts Rauner administration - News - The State Journal-Register - Springfield, IL