Rock County Board opposes current railroad plan

JANESVILLE — The Rock County Board of Supervisors formally opposed a proposed railroad project, which is proposed to pass through the eastern portion of the county.

The supervisors voted unanimously for resolution to oppose the plan at its meeting Thursday. Supervisors Wayne Gustine and Jason Heidenreich were absent.

According to the resolution, the Great Lakes Basin Railroad project would remove an estimated 570 acres of prime farmland from production, which would represent an annual economic loss to agriculture and agricultural services of $608,615. The resolution also recognized that several townships the rail line would pass through have also registered their opposition, including Milton, Johnstown, Bradford and Clinton.

Supporters of the 280-mile rail project have said that it will be an economic boon because it will enable freight to pass around Chicago, which is a point of congestion for trains.

The project would cost an estimated $8 billion, but it would be privately funded and privately owned.

Above is from:  http://www.beloitdailynews.com/news/illinois/regional-roundup/article_bf0c09ee-190e-11e6-a999-43aef6ccbece.html

Koch group launches ad campaign against NC GOP lawmaker

 

By Harper Neidig

59 Comments

A conservative group backed by Charles and David Koch is launching an advertising campaign aimed at defeating Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) in her district’s Republican primary.

This will be the first time that Americans for Prosperity has taken on a Republican lawmaker.

“Renee Ellmers ran on a conservative, limited-government platform, but went to Washington and quickly became part of the problem,” Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips said in a statement.

 

"Rep. Ellmers has had every chance to match her votes to her prior conservative rhetoric, but instead ignores the voices and concerns of voters who have been let down. North Carolinians deserve a representative in Washington who will fight for them, not vote for corporate welfare and wasteful spending."

In the statement, the group criticized Ellmers over her support for the 2013 Murray-Ryan budget deal, the Export-Import Bank reauthorization and the 2014 farm bill.

The group’s first ad, which was released on Thursday, attacks Ellmers for those positions and praises her opponent, Rep. George Holding (R-N.C.). Holding currently represents another North Carolina district but decided to challenge Ellmers after a court-ordered redistricting in the state.

Above is from:  http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/279728-koch-group-launches-ad-campaign-against-ellmers

Grundy County Board Passes Resolution Opposing Great Lakes Basin Rail Project

• Justin Ritz WCSJ News
• Updated May 13, 2016

 

A resolution opposing the Great Lakes Basin Rail project was approved by the Grundy County Board Tuesday night.

Board Chairman David Welter said the resolution, along with others from a variety of counties including LaSalle County, will hopefully influence the federal government’s decision-making process on the project.

County Administrator Doug Pryor answered a number of questions from board members, including the question of how eminent domain will be used by the feds.

Your browser does not support the audio element.

Pryor was also asked about the timeline for the project.

Your browser does not support the audio element.

Pryor said that the resolution opposes the current proposed path and that the path could change if and when the transportation Board approves the project.

If approved, he $8 billion rail project would run from Wisconsin across Illinois and would pass through LaSalle and Grundy counties to northwest Indiana.

Supporters of the Great Basin Railroad say the new line would expedite train movement throughout the Chicago area and make populated areas served by the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad safer..

Above is from:  http://www.wspynews.com/news/local/grundy-county-board-passes-resolution-opposing-great-lakes-basin-rail/article_24320e52-1853-11e6-ab14-dfdc950239a0.html

Obituary: Craig A. Schultz

Craig A. Schultz 1957—2016
Craig A. Schultz, 58, of Belvidere, passed away suddenly, Thursday morning, May 12, 2016. Craig was born July 22, 1957 in Abington, PA, son of James and Margaret (LeClere) Schultz. He graduated from Belvidere High School in 1975, and went on to Westminster College in Fulton, MO, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in accounting. Craig was employed as a finance officer for many years, and most recently worked as the former assistant manager at Pacemaker Foods. He enjoyed watching the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs. Craig was a member of the Boone County Board representing District 3; he was a former Belvidere City Alderman and belonged to the Belvidere Democratic Party. Craig is loved and will be missed by his mother, Margaret (John Larson) Schultz; children, Amber Schultz and Nicholas Schultz; grandson, David Schultz; siblings, John (Debbie Farel-Stumpf), Annette (Chuck) Byers, and Margaret (David Hyser) Bailey; 9 nieces and nephews, and 3 great-nieces. He is preceded in death by his father, James.
Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services, 218 W. Hurlbut Ave, Belvidere, IL 61008 with Rev. Allan Buss officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at the funeral home. Burial in Shattuck Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family. To light a candle or share a condolence, please visit www.AndersonFCS.com.

Published in Rockford Register Star on May 14, 2016 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/rrstar/obituary.aspx?n=craig-a-schultz&pid=179982825&fhid=14625&f=portal#sthash.n49jsH9z.dpuf

Boone County Board announces opposition to Great Lakes Basin Railroad

Adam Poulisse
Staff writer

Posted May. 13, 2016 at 12:01 AM

BELVIDERE — The Boone County Board tonight expressed opposition to the Great Lakes Basin Railroad proposal, siding with a large number of county residents who fear the project's impact on farmland and property values.

“I’d say it’s perfectly clear that the Boone County community, which is really our environment, opposes the proposed route,” County Board Chairman Bob Walberg said before announcing the board’s position.

The announcement was made during a public County Board retreat.

The board will vote Wednesday on a document outlining the county's position and offering alternative routes for the railroad.

The statement will be sent to the federal Surface Transportation Board, which has the authority to approve or reject the project, or approve it with conditions. Other affected areas, such as LaSalle County, Illinois, and Lake County, Indiana, have drafted resolutions in opposition to the project. Boone County’s statement will not be an official resolution.

The 275-mile rail line, in its current form, would cut directly through Boone County and several other communities in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana in order to provide quicker freight rail service that bypasses Chicago.

Boone board member Karl Johnson said it’s important for the county to offer clear alternatives that won’t impact the county as negatively as the current proposal.

“If we don’t offer an alternative route, and they think (Boone County) just doesn’t want it, they can just say, ‘OK, permit it the way it is,’” Johnson said.

For the past two weeks, county committees have met to discuss the potential impact of the railroad. Derailment, impact on property values, traffic issues, emergency-response delays and loss of farmland were some of the major factors cited by opponents.

“We’ve heard many of those same comments before, but this was an accumulation of all that in one session,” Walberg said after the meeting.

Sheriff Dave Ernest told the board he is opposed to the rail line.

“There really is nothing positive about the train coming (through) Boone County,” he said. “It’s not beneficial to any type of public safety. Clearly, our No. 1 concern would be our response time.”

Residents have banded together, even forming anti-railroad groups, to make sure their voices are heard. About 30 people attended Thursday’s meeting.

Scott Fowler, a resident and regular at meetings regarding the railroad, said the county’s future is at stake.

“We have to worry about future generations that grow up here and have families,” he said. “It’s not about us anymore.”

Above is from:  http://www.rrstar.com/news/20160513/boone-county-board-announces-opposition-to-great-lakes-basin-railroad

Boone County Board member Craig Schultz dies Thursday

By Adam Poulisse
Staff writer

Posted May 13, 2016 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 13, 2016 at 1:50 AM

BELVIDERE — Craig Schultz, District 3 Boone County Board member and its lone Democrat, died unexpectedly Thursday. He was 58 years old.

Schultz's death was announced by County Board Chairman Bob Walberg at the beginning of a County Board retreat focused on the Great Lakes Basin Railroad. Two moments of silence were observed.

"I think it's very sad," Walberg said after the meeting. "He was a good board member and a good person. He very much tried to do what was best for the community."

Schultz received 1,210 votes in the March primary as an uncontested Democrat for the District 3 seat. He served with three other District 3 board members, all Republicans: Sherry Branson, Kenny Freeman and Brad Stark.

Stark said Schultz's death is "a big loss."

"He didn't let party lines get in the way of things," Stark said. "He was always on the (correct) side of the issue — whatever was good for the people. On a board that was predominately Republican, he wasn't always staunchly opposed to things."

Schultz was chairman of the county's Finance Committee. While seeking re-election for a second term in the primary, he said bringing wind mills to Boone County is a major issue.

"I can't understand why we can't get it pushed through," he told the Register Star. "I'm on the Finance Committee and we struggled so hard to get our budget in line that we ignored the chance that we could add additional revenue to the county and make it more valuable."

It's up to the Boone County Democratic Central Committee to lead a search for Schultz's replacement. That will be done "as soon as possible," Committee Chairman John Gedney said.

"I'm so shocked for the family and my heart aches for them," he said. "I'm keeping all of them in my thoughts."

Adam Poulisse: 815-987-1344; apoulisse@rrstar.com; @adampoulisse

Above is from:  http://www.rrstar.com/article/20160513/NEWS/160519752/0/SEARCH

Illinois man alleges governor violated his civil rights in job application

Illinois man alleges governor violated his civil rights in job application

Louie Torres May. 11, 2016, 2:47pm

---

CHICAGO — An Illinois man is suing Gov. Bruce Rauner, alleging civil rights violations in failing to publish a report regarding all applications and appointees to state boards.

Jesus Garcia filed a lawsuit April 1 in Cook County Circuit Court against Gov. Bruce Rauner alleging writ of mandaums. 

According to the complaint, on Oct. 1, 2015, Garcia suffered injuries when Rauner failed to publish the report detailing all details and the ethnic, gender and disabiility status of all applicants and appointees to state boards and commissions.

Garcia seeks an order for Rauner to comply with his duties and require that all applicants to Illinois state boards and commissions provide all personal details at the time of application. He is represented by attorneys Jorge Sanchez and Veronica Cortez of MALDEF in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court Case number 2016CH04650