Saturday, June 15

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The fate of three Bradford pear trees

[JUNE 15, 2002]  A new downtown business owner has requested that the city do something to modify a tree situation. Greg Brinner from RE/MAX Realty recently bought the former U.S. Office Products building at 500 Broadway St. Brinner says a tree is brushing up against his building, roots are threatening to disrupt the sidewalk, and the birds attracted to it leave a mess on the sidewalk. He would like something done with it — either trimmed or removed.

Street Department Superintendent Donnie Osborne has been out to assess the site and supports Brinner in his request. Osborne said that the tree in question is a Bradford pear and is overgrown. He also said that there are two more trees just like it in a row, but those trees sit on property adjacent to the State Bank of Lincoln. Workers did trim the other two trees last week.

Alderman Benny Huskins said he thought that years ago when those trees were put in the property owners agreed to maintain them — that the Downtown Merchants Association had committed to maintenance.

"You are so right," Osborne replied.

"I think it ought to come out," Osborne said. He then recommended that the city consider replacing the tree with more appropriate landscape material. He also pointed out that he spoke to the State Bank, and they would prefer to keep their trees. While the trees are a great habitat for birds that cause a mess, Mr. Aughenbaugh from the State Bank has agreed to keep that cleaned up.

The Downtown Merchants Association has been replaced by the Main Street Lincoln organization. Osborne reported that he has been in contact with them, and they are making some downtown landscaping plans that include that area. He will keep in contact with them and work with them.

 

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In other business, Alderman George Mitchell said that there is $15,000 appropriated for lights on Wyatt Avenue. The 17-year-old aluminum wiring that is in them has corroded to the point that most of the lights don’t work. It is estimated that it will cost in excess of $10,000 to have the job done.

Alderman Huskins asked, "Can you go out and get bids?

"It doesn’t cost you anything to get bids," answered Bill Bates, the city attorney.

Mitchell agreed to get bids and bring them before the council.

Having just completed a 10-week Citizens Police Academy course offered through the Lincoln Police Department, Alderman Glenn Shelton thanked Police Chief Richard Montcalm.

Shelton said to the council, "I would encourage each of you to take it. It will make you more sensitive and aware of what our police deal with." It gave him a much greater appreciation of our police department.

[Jan Youngquist]


City looking at intergovernmental agreement on tactical team

[JUNE 15, 2002]  The Lincoln Police Department shares its facility headquarters with the Logan County Sheriff’s Department. City police officers currently provide backup for the sheriff’s deputies and vice versa as needed. They share the jail, with the county being in charge of the facility. The city has a tactical SWAT team outfitted and trained for certain types of situations. Wouldn’t it be great if that team could assist the county when needed?

Using some forethought, Chief Richard Montcalm recently asked the city attorney, Bill Bates, "Can we have an intergovernmental agreement?"

At a police committee meeting Tuesday night Bates said his response was, "Well, we’ve got to start somewhere!"

To start the ball rolling, the officer who raised the prospect has drawn up a model agreement using a like agreement that has been used between the city of Springfield and Sangamon County.

 

Now it is time to look a little closer at the practical responsibilities that go along with the reality. Assistant Police Chief Harvey Mullins was spokesman for the police department before the committee. He pointed out examples of when and how the team might be used and the factors that need to be considered in conjunction with their participation in an incident.

Chief Mulllins began by pointing out that tactical situations can take six to seven hours, as seen recently (in an incident in April), and could be dragged out to 24 to 36 hours.

Once you take over a scene, you can’t walk away; you’re in there!" Chief Mullins explained. "You’ve got to relieve people (who are involved). They can’t stand stations that long."

Also officers have to come in and cover the streets for those who go to a scene. That’s a lot of overtime to be paid out for tactical team officers at the scene and street officers covering for them.

Alderman Glenn Shelton asked, "Don’t we already have some kind of agreement with the county?"

Chief Mullins explained, "Yes, this is to send a tactical team, not just an officer. If the team goes, we become in charge. If we do assist, we assist in standby situation until the state police take over (or someone else). It is not just like a single officer providing backup. It is a whole team.

 

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Another difference between officer assists and tactical team backup is the amount of time committed. "We always do assists on short-term, limited time basis," Chief Mullins pointed out.

There is also the question of insurance coverage. Is it a problem when it is in a different jurisdiction?

Major factors to be considered are overtime costs and insurance liability. Also it is still unknown at this time whether the sheriff is actually interested in this possible offering to the county.

Alderman Pat Madigan summed up the discussion, suggesting, "I think we can agree that there is not enough information at this time."

Assistant Chief Mullins and Chief Montcalm will be looking into the insurance issues, and it is thought that there should be some amount of compensation to the city for wage expenses incurred whenever the tactical team is called out to assist the county. It will also be determined whether the county is definitely interested in pursuing an agreement to use the team.

 

In another issue, the committee OK’d the pursuit of a request for $4,000 to purchase a new video camera to be installed in a squad car. The camera will replace one that has worn out and will be used for DUI documentation. The money is available from a fund that was created by alcohol and drug fines and is believed to have $13,000 in it. Monies in this fund can only be used for training, teaching aids or equipment related to alcohol control.

[Jan Youngquist]


Gov. Ryan signs House Bill 4159

[JUNE 15, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan signed House Bill 4159 on Thursday, amending the Deposit of State Moneys Act and allowing the state treasurer — with the approval of the governor — to invest non-obligated state treasury funds in foreign government bonds and notes.

HB4159 also provides that the principal and interest must be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the government and can only occur with foreign states that have not defaulted on any similar financial obligations and that have previously met their payment obligations in a timely manner on all similar obligations for a period of at least 25 years. HB4159 is an initiative of State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka.

Under current law, the treasurer — with the approval of the governor — can invest in various bonds, notes, debentures or other obligations or the U.S. government, U.S. banks, U.S. savings and loans, Illinois credit unions, U.S. corporations, Illinois local governments, and any agencies created by Congress. The treasurer, however, may not currently invest state money in overseas accounts or in foreign governments.

 

"Expanding our investment opportunities to foreign countries not only will allow the state to diversify its portfolio, but also will open our doors to other countries as we try to expand trade and increase our presence in the global marketplace," Gov. Ryan said.

HB4159 gives the state treasurer increased flexibility in the investment of money that is in the state treasury and is not needed for current expenditures. HB4159 provides more stringent requirements for foreign investments than domestic government investments, providing additional guides to the state treasurer while increasing the opportunity for the development of international economic partnerships.

 

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While the language of HB4159 allows investments in all foreign governments who meet the specified criteria, HB4159 was designed to provide the constitutional authority for the treasurer to invest in Israeli bonds. Currently, 15 states invest in Israeli bonds: California, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Wisconsin.

According to the Development Corporation for Israel, proceeds from Israel bond sales go directly to the treasurer of Israel for general use, but are often earmarked for infrastructure projects such as highways, bridges, water projects, communication links, and port and airport expansion.

HB4159 was sponsored by Reps. Jeffery Schoenberg, D-Evanston; Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest; Karen May, D-Highland Park; Sidney Mathias, R-Buffalo Grove; and Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago; and Sens. Dave Sullivan, R-Mount Prospect; Kathleen Parker, R-Northbrook; Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago; and Terry Link, D-Vernon Hills.

[Illinois Government News Network
press release]

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Articles from the past week

Friday:

  • Jim Ryan pledges to reopen LDC

  • Explore Logan County this weekend! (Tourism)

  • County board addresses zoning and insurance issues

 

Thursday:

  • Bomke: LDC, education topped priorities

  • State representative candidate Rich Brauer disappointed with closure of LDC

  • Middle-of-the-night severe weather strikes Logan County

Wednesday:

  • DHS needs looking into, says Mitchell

  • Sept. 1 target date for final LDC closing

  • Senate upholds governor’s cuts; AFSCME charges ‘reckless indifference’ to human needs

Tuesday:

  • Ryan to close LDC; union says set up to fail

  • Mitchell upset by LDC funding veto

  • LDC residents get loving care

  • Safety concerns force closure of Lincoln Developmental Center

 

Monday:

  • LDC citations are ‘suspect,’ AFSCME spokesman says

  • Circuit clerk improves service with technology

 

Saturday:

  • Crime Stoppers donates funds for new ERT vests

  • Teachers retiring in Lincoln area (Teaching & Learning)

  • Department of Public Health cites LDC

  • Mount Pulaski death under investigation

  • Illinois Senate week in review

  • Senate prescription drug plan awaits action by the governor


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