There appears to be some criticism of the District 100 referendum proposal

Dean Marcellus says “NO” in Journal  See:  http://district100watchdog.blogspot.com/2014/11/bcj-letter-to-editor-opposes-district.html

 

Allison Reid- Niemiec  said:  VOTE NO

SEE:  http://district100watchdog.blogspot.com/2014/10/letter-vote-no-on-district-100-ballot.html

PASS  Parent Advocating Students and Staff appear to have many questions

SEE:  https://www.facebook.com/parentspass  see also:  http://district100watchdog.blogspot.com/2014/10/district-100-school-referendum.html

Mr. Ben Stanley of the Rockford Register Star had an article on the referendum

SEE:  http://www.rrstar.com/article/20141029/NEWS/141029272/10368/NEWS This article is also available at:  http://district100watchdog.blogspot.com/2014/10/belvidere-could-change-way-school-board.html

District #100 Proposition for Nov. 4th, 2014 ballot - YouTube

This presentation is from PASS  Parents Advocating for Students and Staff

Click on the following to view the “YOU Tube” clip:  District #100 Proposition for Nov. 4th, 2014 ballot - YouTube

It is that time again---

 

Re-Elect

BILL PYSSON

BOONE COUNTY BOARD

Bill’s initiatives over the last two years have improved your county government. These are a few of Bill’s accomplishments.

     · Suggested and succeeded in having all appointed posts and jobs openings posted on county website

     · Insured that the required disclosures of employee salaries are available to the public; by name not merely job description.

     · Demanded the County Board Chairman posts all proposed appointments in advance. Based upon the requirement of the board’s advice and consent, Bill votes on no appointment unless they are posted in advanced on the website and the application letters of all applicants are made public. Unfortunately the chairman only sometimes complies with this request.

     · Questioned why the county has not completed a physical inventory of property in over seven years. In 2014 such an inventory was finally completed and a perpetual inventory system is being devised.  County ordinances required such inventories yet the county failed to comply with the requirement for years.

     · Written evaluation of employees supervised by the County Administrator will now occur once per year. Previously formal evaluations were not required and did not occur.

It is the duty of the county board to provide general supervision of the animal services, planning enforcement and building department and the County Administrator’s office.  Bill criticized the county for not having written procedures for these activities.   Bill suggested written logs of zoning complaints, car usage, office calls and office contacts; unfortunately these suggestions have not been accepted.  Hopefully the accountability benefits of such rudimentary recordkeeping will eventually be accepted.

Bill’s two District One opponents are opposed to Wind Farms. Bill voted against the ordinance change because the proposed 2000 feet set back would effectively prohibited commercial wind turbines in the county. Wind turbines can be effectively regulated by the special use provision of the county zoning code. That position was recommended by the profession staff of the County Zoning Department.

THERE IS MUCH MORE TO DO—Re-Elect BILL PYSSON

Ads and Articles about Candidate Pysson

Letter to Editor

Belvidere Daily Republican: Candlewick Lake won’t allow door-to-door campaigning

Written by Bob Balgemann

 

CANDLEWICK LAKE – In the time approaching next Tuesday’s general election one of the 15 candidates for the 12 seats on the Boone County Board inquired about campaigning door-to-door in Candlewick Lake.

He was told no.

General Manager Tracy Carter told the association’s board of directors about the request at the Oct. 16 meeting. “I told him we have a strict political policy,” he said.

Director Jeff Lutzow made almost an immediate motion to deny the request and it was seconded by Director Don Parisi.

Before the vote board President Bonnie Marron wondered how turning down the request would reflect on the community?

“Let them use the mail,” Director Ken Dillenburg said of candidates for office. “This is just opening a can of worms.”

Lutzow’s motion passed, 5-2, with Marron and Director Steve Lambright dissenting.

The county board member who made the request was not identified.

Today’s election features competition in each of the three county board districts, with five candidates for four seats in each one.

News Briefs | Belvidere Daily Republican

Letter: Vote Bill Pysson for Boone County Board rep - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

I urge you to vote for William (Bill) Pysson as your Boone County Board Representative, District 1.

Over the past three years, Bill Pysson has proven himself to be a trusted Boone County Watchdog and activist on all matters of government including our school system. Time and time again through his blog, boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com, he has drawn our attention to critical issues that affect our community that we need as a public to stand up and address.

Bill portrays the conduct and tenacity that we need on our County Board to maintain fiscal responsibility. Bill is a well-educated, experienced problem solver. Auditing is his greatest strength. On Nov. 6, please vote for Bill Pysson.

— Diann Helnore, Belvidere

Letter: Vote Bill Pysson for Boone County Board rep - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

All 12 Boone County Board seats contested in election - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

By Jennifer Wheeler

RRSTAR.COM

BELVIDERE — The 12-member Boone County Board makeup could change if voters choose one of the six newcomers or three Democratic candidates in the Nov. 6 election.

All seats will be contested. There are five candidates — four Republicans and one Democrat — vying for four spots in each district…..Voters will cast ballots for Dennis Ellingson, Brad Fidder, Kenneth Grzybowski II, William Pysson and Bob Walberg for District 1;

Click on the following for more of the story:  All 12 Boone County Board seats contested in election - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Local politics has a presence at annual Boone County Fair | Belvidere Daily Republican

Pysson was asked what it would take for a Democrat to win in District 1? “Part of it is strategy,” he replied. “Part of it is very hard work and telling people what you stand for.”

He said he would be campaigning door to door, though that will be difficult because District 1 is very rural.

The current county board is made up of 11 Republicans and one Democrat.

He said people were questioning whether Republican leadership should continue and were asking about the board’s promise to end the half-cent public safety sales tax in 2018. Pysson said he thought voters should decide that issue.

Click on the following for the complete article:  Local politics has a presence at annual Boone County Fair | Belvidere Daily Republican

Local politics has a presence at annual Boone County Fair | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

Democrats Kevin “Wes” Swezey, candidate for coroner, and Bill Pysson, candidate for a District 1 seat on the county board, were there one afternoon talking with visitors.

Asked why he was running Swezey said he was concerned about more than $90,000 being spent on salaries to run an office that isn’t very busy. He thought the jobs of deputy coroner and secretary should be combined, which would save some $20,000.

He also thought the office should be more involved in the community, especially with young people.

Pysson was asked what it would take for a Democrat to win in District 1? “Part of it is strategy,” he replied. “Part of it is very hard work and telling people what you stand for.”

He said he would be campaigning

Click on the following for more details:  Local politics has a presence at annual Boone County Fair | Belvidere Daily Republican

Why Bill is running for Boone County Board

By no means the only reason but typical of why change needs to happen here in Boone County is the long story how Citizen Pysson had such a long struggle with the board for them to comply with the state mandate regarding posting of board minutes.

Here for all our benefits is that story again, posted in 2010 on this blog.(http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2010/12/boone-county-may-begin-posting-its.html)  That story is the second most popular on my blog, 688 views at last count.

 

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Boone County “may” begin posting its monthly board minutes

AG’s Access Officer requests written explanation concerning who maintains the county website.

As noted by this posting on another of my blogs [http://boonecountyminutes.blogspot.com/] I have requested since March that the Boone County Board Minutes be posted on the county’s website. Such posting is mandated by state law.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

March 8, 2010

Ken Terrinoni
County Administrator
Boone County Administration Campus
1212 Logan Avenue, Suite 102
Belvidere, IL 61008

Dear Mr. Terrinoni:

I understand that you are the freedom of information officer. I have been unable to determine who was appointed the open meetings officer and therefore have made the assumption that you have been appointed to that post as well.

Back in early February 2010, I emailed the County Board Chairman, Robert Walberg, requesting that county board minutes be publish on the county’s web site. To date I have heard nothing from him or the county board. Based upon these facts I am contacted you today. I respectfully request that you respond to this request within thirty days.

I request that the Boone County Board begin posting the minutes of its meetings on its website as prescribed by law. I believe the appropriate legal citation is 5 Illinois Consolidated Statutes 120/2.06 b. That citation is below, please note the underlining which I provided you.

(5ILCS120/2.06)
Sec.2.06.
Minutes.
(a) All public bodies shall keep written minutes of all their meetings, whether open or closed, and a verbatim record of all their closed meetings in the form of an audio or video recording. Minutes shall include, but need not be limited to:
(1) the date, time and place of the meeting;
(2) the members of the public body recorded as either present of absent and whether the members were physically present or present by means of video or audio conference; and
3) a summary of discussion on all matters proposed, deliberated, or decided, and a record of any votes taken.
(b) The minutes of meetings open to the public shall be available for public inspection within 7 days of the approval of such minutes by the public body. Beginning July 1, 2006, at the time it complies with the other requirements of this subsection, a public body that has a website that the full-time staff of the public body maintains shall post the minutes of a regular meeting of its governing body open to the public on the public body's website within 7 days of the approval of the minutes by the public body. Beginning July 1, 2006, any minutes of meetings open to the public posted on the public body's website shall remain posted on the website for at least 60 days after their initial posting.

I thank you in advance for your cooperation regarding this matter.

WILLIAM J. PYSSON
9592 Denver Drive
Belvidere, Il 61008
815 544 5115

CC: Robert Walberg
Marshall Newhouse
Kathy Hardwig
Daniel D. Anderson

This was Boone County’s answer. (Click on the photocopy to enlarge) A website upgrade is happening, however it is questionable if voters will be given any minutes. Neither the committee, the board nor its administrator indicate that they will comply with the law.

My answer was to take the law into my own hands—obtain the minutes and post them myself.

Since September the”new” Boone County website has been up and running but no board minutes. Minutes for the Health Board have been available for several years but nothing for the county board. In October and November I discussed with Chairman Bob Walberg the posting of the minutes. He stated that the county was not required to do so because it did not have a full time employee dedicated to maintaining the website. He stated that he received this opinion from the Boone County States Attorney, Michelle Courier. I personally talked to Ms. Courier after the November board meeting and she stated that she had called the Illinois Attorney General Office and based upon her research and the conversation with the AG’s Office gave the opinion that Boone County was not subject to the mandate. I stated to her I did not question her legal sources but believed the facts indicated Boone County had the necessary full time employees.

Back in April I also emailed the Public Access Officer at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office concerning this matter. That email as well as Boone County’s States Attorney response to my inquiry is shown below.

I received no reply from the state until this week when the Attorney General’s office telephoned me. Based upon our conversation and conversations the Access Officer had with the Boone County States Attorney, the following additional information is being requested. (See the Illinois Attorney General’s letter below and circled area) Basically a written explanation as to how the current website is maintained.

The Access Officer emailed this letter to the various board members. Knowing that many members do not regularly check their county email boxes I email the letter to their regular email addresses the AG letter along with this note:

In case you do not check your county email address on a regular basis, I am forwarding this letter from the Illinois Attorney General to Boone County States Attorney.

I still do not understand why Boone County Board refuses to post its minutes (which are usually less than 6 pages each month). I have requested posting of board minutes numerous times; to my county representatives, to the County Board President and to the Admin Committee. All to no avail.

As a final resort I filed this request to the Public Access Officer. Why must a citizen go to these extremes to be granted the access granted by law? The law granted the "full time employee exemption" so that townships and other political subdivision were not unduly financially burdened by a state mandate to post board minutes on the Internet when they did not have such facilities. Can Boone County really plead that posting monthly board minutes is a financial burden when the entire county budget (hundreds of pages) is posted? When monthly agenda for all county committees and the county board itself are posted each month on the county website?

The Illinois Attorney General apparently believes that my request deserves a review of the issues and facts. Are the taxpayers being well served when valuable time at the Boone County States Attorney and at the Attorney General Office are being wasted on whether Boone County must comply with the state mandate. Hundreds of dollars of taxpayers money are being wasted for the few pennies of costs entailed in posting six pages on the Internet. What is this proving?

I respectfully request that the new Boone County Board take action and order that Boone County Board Minutes be posted on the Boone County Website. BILL PYSSON

Page 31 on the Boone County Budget is shown below. $166,945 is budgeted for Information Technology. $44,ooo is paid for a computer coordinator and $19,387 for professional services for the website. Yet Boone County is claiming an exemption because it does not have a full time employee to imput the minutes onto the website.

Today I submitted the following Freedom Of Information Act request to gain a clear understanding if Boone County actually has a full time employee involved with the website.

UPDATE:

Just tonight the minutes for the Boone County Board were posted on the county’s website. All the approved minutes going back to January 2010 are listed.

The link is: http://www.boonecountyil.org/news/2010-county-board-minutes-available and http://www.boonecountyil.org/past-meetings?field_meetingtype_value_many_to_one=County%20Board

Bill Pysson to run for Boone County Board - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

Bill Pysson to run for Boone County Board

 

By Jennifer Wheeler

 

Bill Pysson announced his intentions to run for the Boone County Board last week with the hope of offering voters a Democratic choice and increasing transparency.

He is running for a District 1 seat.

Pysson said the board needs to take a more pro-active approach to holding elected officials accountable, especially when dealing with taxpayer’s dollars. Additionally, he said there needs to be a Democratic voice on the board.

“The unfortunate is with the majority currently held by (Board Chairman Bob) Walberg, it’s going to be very difficult. If we get a few more Democrats in there I think that would help,” he added.

He said he intends to provide more information to other local governments so everyone understands the issue. During meetings, he hopes to limit the amount of topics discussed in closed session.

Pysson attempted to run for the Belvidere School Board in 2009 but the district’s election official determined that his petition did not meet the requirements to be certified. The district’s election official, Pam Wallace, said he failed to properly indicate whether he was seeking a two- or four-year term.

Though Pysson believes Wallace erred in her decision, he said he is making sure all of his requirements have been met this year.

For more information on Pysson, visit his website at Boonecountywatch.blogspot.com.

 

The above is taken from the following:  Bill Pysson to run for Boone County Board - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

If you wish to read more about the ordeal in 2009 with the District 100 School Board click on the citation which follows. (At the bottom of that district100watchdog posting is a full listing 2009 posting regarding my school board candidacy) 

http://district100watchdog.blogspot.com/2012/07/bill-pysson-to-run-for-boone-county.html

Take a look at my candidate site

Click on the following:  http://boonecountywatch.blogspot.com

Bill's Campaign for a seat on the Boone County Board—District #1

It is time to be no longer a visitor at the County Administration Building but to have a seat at the table.  With your help, (prayers) and money perhaps that can happen.

The first order of business is for me to understand your needs and expectations.  Please feel free to write or call me:   bpysson@gmail.com or 544-5115.  I hope to speak to many of you in the near future.

BILL PYSSON

Democratic Candidate

District  #1

Boone County Board

See my new blog dedicated to the campaign:  http://boonecountywatch.blogspot.com/

City Barbs » Boone County Watchdog

The following was recently posted by the blog, City Barbs regarding my blogs: 

Boone County Watchdog

Citybarbs is fixing to say goodbye to the Wogen Watch blog and wouldn’t you know it, here’s another to take its place on the blogroll.

Check out the Boone County Watchdog run by Bill Pysson, who also has an interesting story to tell as a former District 100 School Board candidate. Pysson is prolific, mixing in-depth articles on Boone County government with summaries and links to stories of regional and statewide interest daily.

Boone County is where the idea for the water authority referendum came from, isn’t it? And I believe they have a stake in whether or not DeKalb County expands/builds a jail? We ought to be keeping an eye on them anyway, then. *wink*

City Barbs » Boone County Watchdog

Boone County Journal criticizes governmental entities for bad conduct

Now the community has the hiring of a non-qualified
person to lead the Boone County Health Department.

“…removing candidates from the ballot is a means to ensure
the result and to sustain the elitism of incumbency. That
appeared to have been the goal of the board of education
above any consideration of ethical behavior.”

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

Bill Pysson—Candidate for District 100 School Board

Here is some information about myself and why I am running.  For the first time in many years voters are being given some choices.  I thank all the challengers.  I ask that you considered myself and the other new faces for these important positions.  Do remember that there is no monetary payment for these positions so everyone who is running is offering to donate a whole bunch of time.

Here is a pamphlet regarding my candidacy.  You can enlarge it by clicking on it.  Click on the small envelope at the bottom of this posting to email this to your friends.  Check again in a few days and a color version of this ad and a small poster will be available.

 

To share information, email address us at BooneCountyWatchdog.

Bill Pysson—Candidate for District 100 School Board

Here is some information about myself and why I am running.  For the first time in many years voters are being given some choices.  I thank all the challengers.  And ask that you considered myself and the other new faces for this important position.  Do remember that there is no monetary payment for these position so everyone who is running is offering to donate a whole bunch of time.

Here is a pamphlet regarding my candidacy.  You can enlarge it by clicking on it.  Click on the small envelope at the bottom of this posting to email this to your friends.  Check again in a few days and a color version of this ad and a small poster will be available.