The White House - Blog Post - Recovery in Action: Minnesota and Oregon

Well at least two states will have some recovery money on Wednesday.   Take a look what do you think? 

The White House - Blog Post - Recovery in Action: Minnesota and Oregon

Monday, February 23rd, 2009 at 8:06 pm

Recovery in Action: Minnesota and Oregon

The first dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are going out in just two days -- Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 -- in the form of federal support for state medicaid payments.
But the impact is already being felt well beyond that. Just today, Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak announced that he was prepared to swallow hard and make significant cuts to public works and public safety. Thanks to the ARRA, he won't have to:

"Now let’s turn to Police. If the Governor’s cuts were passed on directly to the Police Department, it would have led to the elimination of 57 sworn police officer positions and 19 non sworn employees. We will not have to do that because of two factors. First, working with Chief Dolan, we are proposing elimination of $1.5 million in non personnel costs, including overtime.
"Second the federal Recovery Act’s one time public safety grants arrived just in time. President Obama said he would help cities keep police officers on the job and he has delivered. Because of this funding I will be proposing no personnel cuts in the Police Department. Next time someone asks you what the Recovery Act will do, start by telling them it will keep 57 police officers working on the streets of Minneapolis."

And in Oregon, the funds dedicated to overhauling our energy grid are already spurring investment in green jobs:

"The Bonneville Power Administration will start building a 79-mile, $246 million electrical transmission line this spring along the Columbia River that the agency says will create 700 construction jobs.
"The regional power agency said it is going forward with the project, which has been on hold since 2002, because the stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama raises the BPA's borrowing authority by $3.25 billion. Its current borrowing authority is $4.4 billion.
" 'The recovery package allows expansion plans of this magnitude,' said Steve Wright, the BPA administrator."

Belvidere's budget could include architect - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Well this is the City of Belvidere’s answer to the PSB issue.  The county should be addressing this issue as well.  The county also would have to pay half of the $13,500 to $23,000  costs.  The city’s fiscal year is May 1 to April 30.The county’s fiscal year  is December 1 to November 30.  Click below to see the on-line version of Rockford Register Star.

Belvidere's budget could include architect - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Here is a photocopy of the article in case it no longer is on line.

The Belvidere Daily Republican. - Village of Poplar Grove prepared for expansive growth

I found this very interesting, particularly the balloon note which the residents will have to pay in 5 years.  Click and see what you think.

The Belvidere Daily Republican. - Village of Poplar Grove prepared for expansive growth

CNN explains the auto sales tax feature of the Stimulus Plan

Well it will not be very much money to most of us.  It is equivalent to deducting the sales tax  from your taxable income.  You will get back the sales tax times your marginal tax rate.  If you are in the 15% marginal tax rate, that is 15 cents on each dollar of sales tax.

Click below for CNN’s article.

Auto sales stimulus cut back - Feb. 12, 2009

What Federal Stimulus will Boone County receive?

On February 13, 2009 Illinois Department of Transportation announced the $693 million projects that were “shovel ready” and “can be on the special letting in early April”.  There is only one project in Boone County --$3,150,000 for resurfacing Route 20 from Farmington Way to McHenry County Border.  Click on the photocopy to enlarge.

What will Republican governors do with the Stimulus Bill?

The Guardian Newspaper from England writes of Republican governors considering to refuse  federal stimulus funds on ideological grounds.  Click to view the Guardian article.

World news Feed Article | World news | guardian.co.uk

In case the link no longer is showing this story, click on the small icons which follow.

Has anyone heard of Midwest Ice Cream?

I have lived in Belvidere for twenty years and never heard of Midwest Ice Cream, Belvidere, Il.  I call the toll free number on the FDA announcement several  times which was busy each time.  Then I call Dean Foods, located at 630 Meadow, Belvidere.  I found out that Midwest Ice Cream LLC was Dean Foods.  My thoughts are:  it is sad what a reputable company has to do to protect its name, reputation and business;  all over a problem which apparently was caused by  some one else.

Looking at the situation from another view, Midwest Ice Cream has always technically been the name of the Belvidere Plant.  Research indicates that Dean allows a great deal of independence to its individual plants and plant managers. Dean markets and operates under many names.  However it is interesting that the name listed  in local phone directories and other  references for the Belvidere facility is Dean Foods.

 

Click on the photocopy to enlarge.