[APRIL 12, 2002]  Adding a new twist to the ongoing industrial park discussion, Logan County Board members on Thursday night entertained the possibility of broadening the north-side package to include improving Fifth Street Road to aid development on the west side.

On Friday morning the finance committee passed Dale Voyles’ motion to ask the board to form a committee for immediate discussions to see if there is any feasible way to combine the Fifth Street Road and north-side industrial park projects. The committee would include the supervisors of East and West Lincoln townships, Lincoln Mayor Beth Davis, Economic Development Council Director Mark Smith, county engineer Tom Hickman, county board chair Dick Logan, and the chairs of the city and county finance committees. The full board will vote on the motion at its adjourned session Tuesday night.

One reason the broader package is appealing, according to Voyles, who raised the issue at the board of the whole meeting, is that funds for Fifth Street Road improvement are already in the works. In fact, the project first appeared on the County Highway Department priority list in 1989, according to Hickman.

The county engineer said the current plan is to let bids for the first five miles of the project in spring 2003, with work to begin that summer. The hitch is that work is to start at the west end of the project, on the five miles from County Road 15 between New Holland and Middletown to the Burton View road. Original plans to begin at Lincoln and work west were scrapped when the city declined to participate, according to Lloyd Hellman, vice chairman of the county board.

Voyles said widening Fifth Street Road would enhance existing property, including the already developed Lincoln Industrial Park on Fifth Street Road and the Burwell property on Route 10.

EDC director Smith said, "I’m obviously not opposed to" widening Fifth Street Road, "but not as a replacement for the north side." He said the Illinois Development Finance Authority and Rural Bond Bank prefer packaged projects to effect economy of scale. Smith then emphasized that all but one of industrial prospects showing most interest have favored north-side locations.

Finance committee member Roger Bock called funding for Fifth Street Road a "revenue stream that is in place," but stressed that the money cannot be diverted to another project. Consideration of the industrial park issue was turned over to the finance committee in a unanimous vote.

Smith is looking for a commitment by June that the board will provide approximately $1 million to purchase a 63-acre tract of land near Kruger elevator for an industrial park. He said private sources have given initial indication they would provide one-third of the $2.2 million to purchase the land and get all utilities to the site with access for two to four lots, but the sources will not officially sign on until the city council and county board commit to support. The $2.2 million is the cost of the project presented to the council and board; total development of the site is estimated at $3.3 million, Smith said.

Acting to close another ongoing issue, board members indicated in a straw vote that at Tuesday’s voting session they will approve a one-year renewal of the county health insurance policy with Health Alliance of Champaign, represented by R.W. Garrett Insurance Agency of Lincoln. The renewal raises premiums 23 percent, for an additional cost of $71,000. Board members Jim Griffin, Dave Hepler and Cliff Sullivan said they would oppose the measure.

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Insurance chair Dale Voyles said the county has had three insurance carriers in four years, one of which went bankrupt. This year, the first after accepting the low bid from Health Alliance, claims have been unusually high, exceeding premiums by $158,000, according to Sara Heidbreder of R.W. Garrett. Three large claims accounted for the overage, which is responsible for 8 percent of the rate hike, Voyles said. He expects to bid out the insurance package next year, when the county will have a longer and perhaps better claims history. The Health Alliance policy can be canceled on 30 days notice.

Health committee chair Dave Hepler, who advocates a change in health plan design, reminded the board that Health Alliance has a D-plus Weiss rating within the industry. The company is wholly owned by Carle Clinic Association, but Hepler quoted a statement that Health Alliance, not Carle Clinic, is "ultimately responsible" for its debts. The Garrett agency has provided evidence that Health Alliance is in $5 million better financial shape than a year ago when the county took the policy.

According to insurance committee minutes, about 40 percent of the 140 county employees are union members, whose insurance packages cannot change until contracts are renegotiated.

In other business the board learned that

•  The Health Department has received two grants from the Illinois Department on Aging through Project Life, Area Agency on Aging. According to Health Department administrator Lloyd Evans, one grant will finance sending health aides to homes of elderly low-income people for temporary relief of full-time caregivers. The other will provide registered nurses to train caregivers at home in such areas as skin care techniques and moving the patient safely.

•  About one-third of the county’s firefighters, 126 to be exact, attended propane awareness training at the Recreation Center on April 10. Emergency Services and Disaster Agency coordinator Dan Fulscher said the training was proved free by the Illinois Fire Service Institute at University of Illinois, and other costs were shared by ESDA, the Lincoln City Fire Department and the Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District. Hicksgas provided the LP gas.

•  The airport golf course has been put on hold since Aviation Golf Services of Wisconsin declined to help finance the project. Airport chair Roger Bock continues to look for private investors. Committee member Doug Dutz emphasized that county funds are not used to run the airport and that there is no plan to use county taxes to build a golf course there. The airport is financed from hangar rental, farm income, fuel sales and special events.

•  The law enforcement committee is checking with the Illinois Department of Corrections on the possibility of using phone money from jail inmates to air-condition the cellblocks. Committee chair Doug Dutz said the cells get up to 90 degrees, and air conditioning might improve behavior.

•  The animal control committee will seek bids for painting the interior of the animal control building. In March, 37 animals were adopted and 35 were destroyed. Committee chair Cliff Sullivan gave part of the credit for the increased percentage of adoptions to the animal control website, which pictures available animals.

•  Carpeting for the state’s attorney’s office will be rebid after the one bid of $6,473.89 from Carpet House was rejected.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

[APRIL 12, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Senate Republicans led the way Thursday in sponsoring and then voting to pass legislation rejecting cost-of-living adjustments for legislators, judges, constitutional officers and other high-ranking state officials, according to Sen. Claude "Bud" Stone.

The increases were due to take effect in July.

"State revenues are down, we’re asking agencies to do with less, state employees are taking furlough days, and we’re contemplating budget cuts. This is the right thing to do," said Stone, R-Morton.

The action would save the state about $11 million to $12 million in the coming fiscal year.

Senate Bill 2313 rejects the automatic 3.8 percent adjustment due to state government officials on July 1. This includes members of the General Assembly, judges, elected constitutional officers and high-ranking state officials. Their salaries are determined by the Compensation Review Board.

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Senate Joint Resolution 63 rejects the 2002 Compensation Review Board report, which came to the General Assembly on March 27. While the report contained no salary increase for legislators or constitutional officers, it did recommend a salary increase for associate judges and pension enhancements for all judges.

Both measures now await action by the House of Representatives.

[News release]

[APRIL 12, 2002]  The Lincoln Fire Department and Logan County ESDA will be conducting a periodic maintenance and testing of Lincoln’s warning siren system on Monday, April 15, at 1 p.m. The sirens will be sounding to allow technicians to evaluate the audio output.

Should the weather be threatening, this testing will be canceled until the next "fair weather" day at 1 p.m.

This testing does not replace the regularly scheduled test at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month.

[APRIL 11, 2002]  Athough the amendment filed in the Illinois House of Representatives to provide funding to keep the Lincoln Developmental Center at 240 residents has failed to get out of the rules committee, other House action on the downsizing of LDC was taken yesterday.

Rep. Louis Lang, D-Skokie, and Rep. James Brosnahan, D-Oak Lawn, filed a resolution Wednesday requesting that the Department of Human Services provide documents and testimony in connection with Gov. George Ryan’s plan to downsize LDC.

Lang and Brosnahan filed the resolution on behalf of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Patient Abuse and the Disabled Community Committee, which held a series of four hearings ending in February of this year on the LDC downsizing. Testimony was given both by advocates of the downsizing and those seeking to keep the Lincoln facility open and operating.

During the hearings, Lang requested that Linda Renee Baker, secretary of the Department of Human Services, the agency that oversees LDC and other centers for the developmentally disabled, submit answers to a detailed list of questions. Baker did not testify in person at any of the hearings.

Lang told the Lincoln Daily News that he submitted the list of 20 questions, some with sub-parts, asking for specific details on how the decision to downsize LDC was made. Lang said he sent the letter to Baker in February but has as yet received no answer or had any contact at all with Baker.

"We asked these questions and we didn’t get answers," he said.

Although the resolution, HR791, does not specify that a public hearing will be held, Lang said it will be assigned to the Mental Health and Patient Abuse Committee, which he heads, and he will then call a hearing, which will be held before this year’s budget negotiations are completed.

According to the resolution, the goal of the committee hearings is "to protect the best interests of LDC clients and the community." Lang said issues concerning mental health and the developmentally disabled are important and do not get enough attention from the General Assembly.

He also said he recognizes the importance of the Lincoln Developmental Center to the Logan County community.

Other news from the House of Representatives this week was not so favorable for LDC. In what Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsythe, called an "orgy of spending pushed through by House Democrats," the Illinois House of Representatives passed bills that added funds to budgets of other state health centers but did not approve an amendment introduced by Mitchell and Rep. Jonathan Wright, R-Hartsburg, to increase funding for the Lincoln Developmental Center.

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The LDC bill did not get reported out of the rules committee, Mitchell said, and is dead in the House.

The Mitchell-Wright bill would have increased the funding for LDC to $27,816,000, which would have kept the facility at 240 residents and about 480 employees. Ryan is planning to cut the facility down to 100 residents and about 210 employees.

Instead of increasing funding for LDC, the House basically adopted Gov. George Ryan’s plan for funding health and human services, although some extra funds were added, Wright said. Extra funding included $4.9 million for the Elgin Mental Health Center in Elgin, $8.6 million for Zeller Mental Health Center in Peoria and $1.8 million for Singer Mental Health Center, Wright said.

The governor has budgeted only $11 million for LDC for the 2003 fiscal year, compared to a $35.3 million budget for fiscal year 2002. These figures include matching federal funds, according to Wright.

However, both Wright and Mitchell agreed that many changes may be made before the budget is completed.

"Simply because this passes out of the House with increases for Elgin, Singer and Zeller doesn’t mean they will get those increases," Wright said. "It’s giving a false sense of hope to the people of Elgin, Singer and Zeller. It’s one thing to pass an appropriation and another thing to get the funding."

"The spending plans the House put out aren’t realistic," Mitchell agreed.

Mitchell said he went to House Democratic leaders three times but none of them were willing to entertain the funding increase for Lincoln Developmental Center.

"This does not mean there is no hope," he said, "but I must say it is absolutely an uphill battle. I just think it is going to take all my efforts in the next month and a half to see that we get justice done here and get the additional funding for LDC."

"I don’t know what will happen now, but when budget negotiations begin, everything’s fair game," Wright said.

[Joan Crabb]

[APRIL 11, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — In announcing that it plans to accelerate its proposed closing dates for two correctional facilities, the Illinois Department of Corrections is seriously threatening the security of the prison system, according to AFSCME. AFSCME also charges that the DOC is circumventing the state legislature’s authority and thereby illegally retaliating against AFSCME.

Having originally proposed closing the Vienna Correctional Center and the Illinois Youth Center-Valley View facilities in July and September, respectively, the DOC today warned AFSCME and the 500 employees it represents at the two facilities that it now plans to move up the effective date of the layoff of virtually all employees to May 15 and to shutter both facilities at that time.

"By closing these facilities, the state isn’t just flirting with disaster, it’s ensuring disaster," said Henry Bayer, executive director of AFSCME Council 31. "The DOC also circumvented the authority of the Illinois General Assembly, which provided funding for the two facilities through June 30."

The General Assembly also will not make a decision about whether or not to close the two facilities until after the May 15 date announced by the DOC, and the House of Representatives just last week passed a budget that restores full funding for both.

"This move by the Department of Corrections is both illegal and irresponsible," said Bayer. "Not only does it usurp the legislature’s authority and violate our collective bargaining rights, but it will place the security and stability of the entire Illinois prison system at greater risk."

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The Illinois prison system is currently running at 141 percent over capacity, with minimum-security facilities such as Vienna at 151 percent and juvenile facilities at 127 percent. DOC employees have been working substantial overtime hours, with 334,925 hours logged just between July 1 and Dec. 15 of last year, costing the state close to $9.5 million.

As a result, any attempt by the DOC to move hundreds of inmates from these already overcrowded facilities to other facilities in such a short time threatens to seriously undermine public safety and the security of the entire prison system.

"This is just the latest in a series of illegal acts that reflect the ‘my way or the highway’ approach of the Ryan administration," Bayer added.

[News release]

[APRIL 10, 2002]  Still trying to decide whether it can support the new Commercial-Industrial Park, the Lincoln City Council asked sewer plant manager Grant Eaton to survey two possible routes a sewer extension might take to reach the proposed development.

At Tuesday’s work session, Alderman Bill Melton wanted to know why the proposed sewer line is slated to go along Airport Road to get to the 63-acre industrial park site at Interstate 55 and Kruger Road. He pointed out that a line along Lincoln Parkway (old Route 66) would be shorter.

Mark Smith, economic developer director, answered that running the line to the airport would open the most areas for development. A 13-acre site at the airport could be developed for light industry or distribution, he said, though it is not appropriate for heavy manufacturing.

Eaton reminded the council that for any sewer work, the city needs a permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the procedure is time-consuming and requires specific information about the work to be done.

The council asked Eaton and City Engineer Mark Mathon to check the feasibility of both routes to see which is the most cost-effective.

The council has shown interest but has not yet given unqualified support to the project, in part because of the budget crunch the city is looking at for the next fiscal year. As Alderman Verl Prather said, "I think we need it. It’s a good idea, but I’m worried about the money."

"It’s the worst time in the world to look at something like this," Alderman Steve Fuhrer said, but added, "I think we need to give the city a chance to grow."

"A $1.3 million sewer line is awfully big bait to put out there and not catch anything," Alderman Pat Madigan said.

The city’s share of the proposed development would be more than $1 million, the cost of running the sewer line to the project. Logan County would put up $816,950, including $678,000 for the acquisition of the land.

Smith conceded that he could make no promises about development if the city runs the sewer line. "I’m not going to tell you it’s going to happen," he said. "It will enhance the probability, but I can’t promise anything." Smith has emphasized at previous meetings that unless a site is ready, with sewer, water and roads, prospective developers will seek other locations.

Questions were raised about the feasibility of developing a tract of land on the west side, where costs to run a sewer line would be much less, about $150,000. Fuhrer pointed out that west-side property has been for sale for 10 years. He said industrial developers do not want to build in an area with homes, schools and churches, which the west side has.

City Treasurer Les Plotner said developers coming in would ask for tax abatements, which would cut back the revenue the city could expect.

Smith said the figures in the model drawn up by the Economic Development Committee assumed the property would be put in the enterprise zone.

While no specific plan has been suggested to finance the project, Fuhrer pointed out that two local firms, Edward D. Jones and A.G. Edwards, have said they would like to present plans to finance the project.

Fuhrer, who is finance chairman, told the council the finance committee may be able to meet the 2002-2003 fiscal year budget by moving money from several other funds into the general fund, including $100,000 from the west-side fire station fund, $45,000 from the working cash fund and $117,000 from the funeral benefit funds.

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He asked that the full council attend a finance committee meeting at 6:30 Monday, before the regular council session.

Alderman Pat Madigan, chairman of the buildings and grounds committee, said the committee did not want to consider accepting the old polling place at the corner of Fifth and Adams streets until the budget is completed. West Lincoln Township wants to give the building away, and Mayor Beth Davis would like to accept it and move it to the Postville Courthouse site.

Grant Eaton reported that the IEPA has bypassed Lincoln on the funds for the sewer plant upgrade until May, because red tape has stalled paperwork. He said Lincoln is first on the list for the funding, but the workload at IEPA is heavy and paperwork might not be completed. If the city does not receive the funds in May, it will be bypassed until October.

He said City Attorney Bill Bates had drafted the ordinance for the loan exactly the way the IEPA reviewer wanted it, but the reviewer still has it on her desk.

In other business, 12 residents from Centennial Courts attended the meeting to show their support of the new Police Department substation that will open in the low-income housing complex tomorrow.

Police Chief Rich Montcalm gave a brief report to the council on the substation, the first in the city. It is possible because the Logan County Housing Authority has donated the space, he said. Other agencies have donated desks and other furniture.

The substation will be manned part time by Community Policing Officer Tim Butterfield, who will be highly visible in the community and will follow a "proactive instead of a reactive policy," Montcalm said.

Steve Allen, director of the Housing Authority, thanked the Police Department and the city for establishing the substation.

"This is a win-win situation. Residents and employees think the Police Department’s presence is a huge asset. The goals of the program are not just having police out there, but getting rid of the stereotype that Centennial Courts residents are bad people."

Also one the agenda was a petition to vacate a public street on North Kickapoo, near the Eagles Lodge. The street has never been developed. Petitioner Richard Moody wants to build self-storage units on the property.

Jonathan Wright, attorney for Moody, said that when Moody bought the property, neither Moody nor Les Last, zoning officer, realized that Moody would have to have a 35-foot setback. That would allow him to build only one storage unit. If the street is vacated, he will have only a 10-foot setback and can build two units.

As required by law, the council will schedule a public hearing on vacating the street. Several council members spoke in favor of granting the setback and putting the property back on the tax rolls.

[Joan Crabb]

[APRIL 9, 2002]  The Lincoln City Council’s budget committee continued its efforts to chip away at the remaining $253,000 of the city’s budget deficit Monday night, this time with some help from the city treasurer, Les Plotner.

At the end of the two-hour session the committee had found about $274,000 that could be moved from other funds into the general fund, from which most day-to-day expenses are paid. Although shifting bank balances from one fund to the other does not mean there is an increase in revenue, it could mean the city does not have to lay off workers in the coming fiscal year.

Steve Fuhrer, finance chairman, has said repeatedly that he wants to avoid laying off any city workers during the next fiscal year, which runs from May 1, 2002, to April 30, 2003.

Transfers might include moving $129,000 out of the budget for a west-side fire station: $100,000 out of the set-aside that pays death benefits for city Fire or Police Department employees, and $45,000 out of the working cash fund.

The finance committee has already made a number of painful cuts to slash about $1 million out of a proposed $4 million budget. That includes a wage freeze for all department heads, a hiring freeze for all departments, no new vehicles for the police or the building code department this year, and no expense money for aldermen to attend seminars and conferences.

Alderman Benny Huskins objected to taking money out of the west-side fire station fund. He said the response time for the city Fire Department to get to the far west side is now six minutes and should be shorter. Alderman Bill Melton suggested an arrangement with Lincoln Rural Fire Department to respond to fires on the west side.

Plotner said he thought the city had more than enough funds in the set-aside for death benefits. The city pays $8,500 in the event of a death and has $188,000 in the fund. "Why do we carry such a big balance?" he asked. "You’d have to wipe out the entire Fire and Police Department to use it up."

The working cash fund has not been used for many years, and it is not a legal requirement for the city to have such a fund, he said.

The committee also discussed offering early retirement to employees at the top of the salary schedule. Although the city must pay some costs in the first two years, it will save money over the long term, City Clerk Juanita Josserand said.

Not only is the city faced with a budget squeeze, it is almost certainly looking at more cost increases when all expenses for the fiscal year 2002-2003 are in, Josserand pointed out. City employees who are union members, such as members of the police, fire and street departments, along with clerical workers, are or will be negotiating new contracts this year and will probably ask for wage hikes. Also, premiums for liability insurance are likely to go up, she said.

Outlining his budget proposals, Plotner told the committee there were four reasons for the present financial crunch. First, the city has overspent its revenue for the past three years. Second, the city recently spent $1 million for the west-side sewer project, thus depleting the general fund budget surplus.

Third, Plotner said, the city took over paying fees for hydrant maintenance, instead of passing those fees on to water users. In a recent budget session, the city agreed to stop paying the hydrant fees and pass them back to water users, which will raise rates about $5 on each bimonthly bill.

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Fourth, Plotner said, the city has reduced its levy in the general revenue fund in recent years. He suggested the city levy less in other funds and bring the levy in the general revenue fund closer to its maximum. This step will help increase revenue in the 2003-2004 fiscal year but won’t add revenue in the coming fiscal year, he pointed out.

Funds that do not need as large a levy as they now have include the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund and the liability insurance fund, he said.

Tax caps also hurt the city because they limit the amount the city can levy to the rate of inflation, Josserand pointed out. Logan County voters approved the tax cap resolution several years ago.

The underlying problem, Plotner told the committee, is that revenues have gone down, not just for the city but for other governing bodies as well.

"You’ve been taking a heck of a beating on interest rates [on city investments]," he pointed out, adding that he did not foresee any appreciable rise in interest rates for at least two years.

Plotner also noted that sales tax receipts are down, $98,000 less this year than last, and that income from the state income tax and other taxes has also dropped. In addition, he said, if tax bills are not out by June 1, the city will be late getting revenue.

Josserand pointed out that if the state delays paying tax receipts to municipalities, that also will hurt the city.

She also said that if the state is forced to lay off employees, the trickle-down effect will be felt in lower sales tax and other revenues, and the city will face several years of a very slim budget.

Mayor Beth Davis said the city will also need money to begin working on the sesquicentennial celebration, and suggested $50,000 for this year and another $50,000 for next year.

Fuhrer suggested that the budget include a line item for the sesquicentennial with a budget of $1,000. The sesquicentennial committee is hoping to get donations to help fund the celebration, Davis said.

In spite of the current budget squeeze, Fuhrer told finance committee members that he hoped they would give some consideration to ways to fund the proposed north-side Commercial-Industrial Park. The Economic Development Committee has suggested the city’s share of developing the site would be about $1.1 million, for running sewer lines out to the property at Interstate 55 and Kruger Road.

"For the future of Lincoln, I think we’ve got to do something," Fuhrer said. "At least get the ball starting. Get off home base and see what we can do, not this year but next. Without more revenue coming in, the city will have this financial problem every year."

Davis also spoke in favor of the new north-side industrial development. ‘The city council should start thinking out of the box," she said. "I know it’s going out on a big limb, but look what running the sewer out to the west side did for the area."

[Joan Crabb]

[APRIL 9, 2002]  The first police substation in Lincoln will open an office in Centennial Courts on Thursday, April 11, according to Officer Tim Butterfield, who is in charge of the new facility. The public is invited to the grand opening at 10 a.m.

The substation will be a link with the residents of the 130-unit low-income housing complex and others in the community. "It will provide a non-traditional law enforcement setting, more of a friendly environment and not as structured as the Safety Complex on Pekin Street," Butterfield said. "It will be a place where people who would feel intimidated by the Pekin Street office can come to make a report or just to talk to a police officer."

Anyone, not just the residents of Centennial Courts, is welcome at the substation, he emphasized. "If someone in that area has a problem and doesn’t want to come to the Safety Complex and the substation isn’t staffed right then, they can call us and an officer will come out and meet with them there," he said.

The city’s first police substation isn’t a new idea, said Police Chief Richard Montcalm, but was "on our agenda when I became chief." He was appointed by Mayor Beth Davis in May of 2001.

"We saw a need for the Lincoln Police Department to be more in touch with the community as a whole," Butterfield explained. "This area has a large number of children and is a perfect place for us to interact with the children, get them started going the right way.

"What we hope to do is provide building blocks with people there and get them to help support the Police Department in various activities," he added.

Although he concedes that with any housing complex there are always problems, Butterfield is excited about putting positive programs in place at Centennial Courts. He is planning a "Picnic with the Police" for the children, and if he can find the resources, a summer fair with games and activities. He wants to start a neighborhood watch, appointing block captains to help keep youngsters safe. A job support for young people is also on his list of ideas.

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One problem that will not be tolerated, however, is any kind of drug activity in the housing complex.

Chief Montcalm said the new substation will be staffed Mondays through Fridays, at least 15 hours a week right now, and officers will be there "off and on any time of the day."

Officers won’t just be sitting in the station waiting for someone to drop in, Butterfield said.

"We’ll be out walking the courts, going door to door, talking to people, finding out what their concerns and problems are and trying to handle them the best way we can. In summer the bicycle unit will be riding around here."

The two-room office is being donated by the Logan County Housing Authority, which manages Centennial Courts, because manager Steve Allen wants to make sure that everyone who lives there is safe, according to Butterfield.

Like other city departments, the Police Department is on a tight budget this year, and most of the equipment at the new substation has been donated. More donations would be appreciated, Butterfield added.

Desks have come from the Logan County Board, and a computer came from the Logan County Housing Authority. Butterfield would like to find someone to provide funds for local telephone service and someone to donate plants to landscape the front of the building.

[Joan Crabb]

[APRIL 8, 2002]  Even though the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board has said Gov. George Ryan does not need a permit to move residents from Lincoln Developmental Center, the injunction handed down by Logan County Circuit Court Judge Don Behle still prevents the governor and DHS from moving any more residents out of the facility.

Spokesmen for both the Department of Human Services, which oversees facilities for the developmentally disabled, and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, the union which represents employees at LDC, agreed today that the injunction is still in force and no residents can be moved until some further action is taken.

Tom Green, DHS spokesman, said the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board ruled late last week that the governor did not need a permit to move residents and also did not need to hold a public hearing before moving them. He said the attorney general’s office is "looking at the situation to advise us on how to proceed."

Dan Senters, spokesman for AFSCME Local 425, said AFSCME attorney Steve Yokich also agreed that the planning board’s decision had no effect on the court ruling.

"If they (DHS) move one individual out of that facility without getting a permit, they are in violation of the injunction," Senters quoted Yokich as saying.

The injunction is one of several avenues AFSCME, the LDC parents organization and area legislators are pursuing in order to keep the 125-year-old Lincoln Developmental Center form being downsized to 100 residents and about 210 employees. Gov. Ryan announced that plan in February of 2002, after charges of safety violations against LDC. Last October, LDC had more than 375 residents and about 700 employees. Currently, there are 259 residents and about 600 employees, Centers said.

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Eighteen legislators have signed a letter to Gov. Ryan asking that further moves be delayed until the General Assembly has had time to investigate the situation. State Reps. Jonathan Wright, R-Hartsburg, and Bill Mitchell, R-Forsythe, have sponsored a bill in the House to restore funding to keep LDC at 240 residents, but so far the bill has not been passed.

Senters said AFSCME is concerned about keeping adequate staff at LDC to care for the residents, as 372 of the about 600 staff members received layoff notices in February.

The first wave of layoffs was to begin April 16, one day after more than 90 residents were scheduled to be moved from LDC, Senters said. Sixty of the present LDC employees had agreed to take jobs at other state-operated facilities for the developmentally disabled and were scheduled to show up for work at those facilities on the 16th, he said. Other layoffs were to occur April 30.

Senters said DHS has indicated that staff moves are still scheduled.

"Our concern is that we have the staff to provide for the individual care and safety of the residents at LDC," he said.

Reginald Marsh, spokesman for DHS, said last week that "DHS would not lay people off to the point where we can’t run the facility in a safe and effective manner."

[Joan Crabb]

[APRIL 8, 2002]  Illinois taxpayers can file their state tax returns electronically. Taxpayers can use one of four electronic options and can expect to receive their refund in about one week.

To file your taxes online or check the status of your refund, visit the Illinois e-file website.

[APRIL 6, 2002]  ^"With temperatures 3.8 degrees cooler than average across Illinois, March 2002 was the 35th coldest March on record since 1895, reversing a trend of warmer than average months that began in November 2001," says Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey (http://www.sws.uiuc.edu), a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

DeKalb, in northern Illinois, reported minus 17 F, the coolest reading, on March 4; McLeansboro, in southern Illinois, reported 77, the warmest reading, on March 9.

Angel also says this was the 31st wettest March on record since 1895, with 3.59 inches of precipitation, 112 percent of average. Several stations in the southern third of Illinois reported monthly precipitation totals in excess of 5 inches, including 7.27 inches at Anna, the highest monthly total. Rend Lake reported 2.18 inches on March 9, the highest daily amount. These measurements include rainfall and water content of any snowfall.

Snowfall was much above average in the northern two-thirds of the state, primarily from storms on March 1-3 and on March 26, but near to slightly above average elsewhere. Average March snowfall ranges from 2 inches (southern Illinois) to 3-4 inches (central Illinois) to 4-6 inches (northern Illinois). Midway Airport reported 13.2 inches, the highest monthly total.

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An intense low-pressure system produced strong winds that downed trees and power lines and damaged roofs and siding on March 9. Several stations reported gusts in excess of 50 mph, including 56 mph at Springfield and Moline, and 52 mph at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport and at Peoria.

"March had a little bit of everything: temperature extremes, rain and snow, and high winds. One thing we did not see was any tornado activity, even though March signals the start of tornado season. Traditionally, most tornadoes and associated deaths and injuries occur in April, so remember to take necessary safety precautions and heed any warnings from the National Weather Service," concludes Angel.

[Eva Kingston, editor, Illinois State Water Survey]

[APRIL 6, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Prescription drug discounts, a restricted call list for telemarketers, DNA testing of inmates and public notice of water contamination were among the many measures passed this week as the Illinois Senate concluded action on Senate bills, according to Sen. Claude "Bud" Stone, R-Morton.

The Senate will reconvene next week to consider legislation already approved by the House of Representatives and continue work on the state budget.

Stone indicates the budget will continue to be the General Assembly’s major focus this week, as the House of Representatives approved a plan exceeding the governor’s original recommendations and far exceeding available revenues. Republican senators believe the House plan is unrealistic and irresponsible in light of decreased state revenues.

A Senate Republican initiative to help seniors citizens access prescription drug discounts without further taxing the state’s already tight budget gained approval this week. The three-point plan includes expanding the existing Senior Health Assistance Program to provide a clearinghouse of information about public and private discounts, a study of catastrophic pharmaceutical assistance, and public and legislative oversight of existing public discount programs.

The Senate approved two measures to relieve consumers from harassing telemarketing calls. Senate Bill 1637 completely prohibits any telemarketing calls to a cellular phone unless receiving the call will not cost the consumer, such as calls from the cellular provider.

Senate Bill 1830 creates a restricted call registry, where consumers can sign up if they do not wish to receive telemarketing calls. This will not completely eliminate, but will reduce, the number of telemarketing calls a consumer receives.

A new DNA database will better equip law enforcement to close unsolved cases and put offenders behind bars. Senate Bill 2024 expands the current list of criminals — primarily sex offenders and felons who commit violent crime — who must give DNA samples to all convicted felons. The state police would be required to oversee sample collection and use. To pay for the database, the inmates with financial means will pay $500 for the testing.

Another measure will give the public more information about safe drinking water. Prompted by an incident where two wells were closed without public notification after finding carcinogens, Senate Bill 2072 requires public and local government notification of drinking water contamination.

All five measures now await consideration by the House of Representatives.

Other legislation gaining approval in the Senate and advancing to the House this week includes:

Child support (SB 1966) — Requires parents to pay financial support until age 19 if the child is still in high school.

Privatization (SB 1982) — Allows prison commissaries to increase their costs and profits, using the additional $4 million profit for operation of the commissaries to avoid privatization and employee layoffs at Illinois correctional facilities.

Inmate reimbursement (SB 2195) — Requires inmates to provide financial information so the state can collect reimbursement for incarceration expenses.

Credit card theft (SB 1577) — Makes it a crime to steal credit card information by "scanning" or "skimming" a person’s card when someone makes a purchase at a retail outlet.

Resisting arrest (SB 2030) — Increases penalties for aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and resisting or obstructing a police officer.

Juvenile drug court (SB 1638) — Creates juvenile drug courts to address drug-related crimes committed by youths.

Stealing utilities (SB 1646) — Sets penalties for stealing or helping someone steal cable, Internet or other communication services companies provide paying customers.

School fire plans (SB 1545) — Allows local fire departments or the state fire marshal to conduct fire safety checks in public schools.

School bus drivers (SB 1611) — Requires all school bus drivers to be fingerprinted for background checks. (SB 2164) — Requires charter bus drivers to have a valid permit if they are hired to transport students.

HR 1 (SB 1983) — Implements the first phase of the federal House Resolution 1 education requirements concerning assessment, school report cards and bilingual education.

Community college (SB 2018) — Taps federal funds for Career and Technical Education grants to community colleges.

School zones (SB 1808) — Allows law enforcement to issue tickets for speeding on school property.

Teacher quality (SB 1953) — Prohibits students from enrolling in a teacher preparation program at a recognized teacher training institution until they pass the basic skills test required for teacher certification.

Teacher certification (SB 1707) — Increases a resident teacher certificate from two years to four years for employment as a resident teacher in a public school to address teacher shortage issues.

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Energy efficiency (SB 1565) — Creates a low-interest loan program for the purchase and installation of high-efficiency energy equipment or appliances, energy monitoring devices, or clean small-scale energy production devices.

Brownfields (SB 1803) — Expands the Brownfields Redevelopment program to help businesses clean up contaminated sites.

Postpartum depression (SB 1782) — Requires DHS to develop and distribute a brochure or other information about the signs, symptoms, screening or detection techniques, and care for postpartum depression.

Stroke (SB 2050) — Creates a Stroke Task Force to discuss stroke prevention and treatment efforts and develop an education program on stroke prevention.

Emergency evacuation (SB 1537) — Requires high-rise buildings of at least 80 feet to develop emergency evacuation plans to accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Sept. 11 (SB 1531) – Establishes Sept. 11 as a commemorative holiday and school study day and creates special Sept. 11 license plates with proceeds aiding victims of terrorism and local governments in preparing for and preventing future acts of terrorism.

Furloughs (SB 1779) — Gives state employees pension credit for the time taken as furlough days during the state’s budget crisis.

Employee health insurance (SB 1859) — Saves the state an estimated $24 million by allowing state employees to opt out of the state health insurance plans if they have another source of health insurance.

Electronic voting (SB 1972) — Authorizes "touch screen" voting in Illinois.

Mansion curator (SB 2130) — Authorizes a curator, appointed by the governor, to manage and control artifacts of the Executive Mansion, along with the Historic Preservation Agency.

Sales tax collection (SB 2319) — Takes away the city of Chicago’s extra territorial authority to collect a 1 percent sales tax on items mailed to Chicago addresses from retail outlets in other parts of the state.

Disabled parking (SB 1530) — Allows those suffering from peripheral vascular disease to obtain disabled parking permits.

License plates (SB 1552) — Creates special "Route 66" license plates to benefit education, interpretation, preservation and promotion of the former U.S. Route 66 in Illinois. (SB 2185) — Creates "Stop Neuroblastoma" license plates to benefit cancer research, specifically neuroblastoma. (SB 1623) — Creates "park district youth" license plates to benefit after-school programs sponsored by park districts.

Regional airports (SB 1556) — Allows 25 regional airports in Illinois to use up to 3 percent of their property tax levies for capital improvements.

Red-light cameras (SB 2159) — Allows counties or municipalities to mount cameras at traffic lights to catch motorists running red lights.

Pickup trucks (SB 2157) — Allows pickup trucks to display car license plates unless the vehicles are used for commercial purposes.

Car insurance (SB 1839) — Requires insurers to provide a written explanation of underinsured motorist coverage to their insureds.

Abandoned vehicles (SB 2161) — Requires a person who abandons a vehicle to pay all fines and costs before he or she can obtain or transfer license plates for another vehicle.

Illegal driving (SB 1726) — Increases penalties for driving with an expired license or permit, driving without obtaining a driver’s license, and taking a driver examination for another person. (SB 1730) — Seizes the vehicle if a driver drives on a suspended or revoked driver’s license or permit from a DUI, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving personal injury or death, reckless homicide, or statutory summary suspension.

OUI/DUI (SB 1752) — Standardizes penalties between land, water and snow drunk- driving accidents that cause permanent and disfiguring injury.

Truck tarps (SB 1763) — Requires trucks (larger than pickup trucks) carrying dirt, rock, stone or other aggregate materials to tarp their loads to ensure the materials will not escape the vehicle.

Driver’s license (SB 1926) — Requires each driver’s license, state ID card or disabled individual ID card issued to people younger than 21 years old to display the date they reach ages 18 and 21.

Tolls (SB 2067) — Increases the fine for failing to pay tolls from $5-$100 to $20-$250.

National Guard (SB 1583) — Gives state active-duty National Guard members the same civil protections as active-duty federal military.

Military education (SB 2204) — Requires military dropouts to repay any education grants they received.

[News release]

[APRIL 6, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Senate unanimously approved a prescription drug plan Thursday for senior citizens at all levels of income, according to Sen. Claude Stone.

"Given the state’s current budget crisis, this proposal seeks to do as much as possible to address the need for prescription drug assistance without creating a huge new entitlement," said Stone. "It’s certainly not a cure-all, but it is a step in the right direction."

Senate Bill 2098 creates a toll-free informational hot line, a central clearinghouse where seniors can get information on how to access public and private discount programs already in existence. The hot line will become more important later this year when Illinois begins administering a $110 million federal pilot program called SeniorCare. SeniorCare will cover the cost of all prescription drugs. The plan also authorizes a study to determine whether there is a need for catastrophic pharmaceutical assistance coverage options for those seniors who do not qualify for public discount programs but have a higher percentage of prescription drug costs. Finally, the proposal will require legislative and public oversight of the state’s various prescription drug discount programs.

"I’m pleased by the overwhelming response of the Senate in voting to advance this legislation onto the House," said Stone. "This plan, which Republican members of the Senate introduced last month, is supported by the AARP, and clearly their support helped to pass this bill."

Amy Paschedag, AARP’s incoming state legislative chairman, has said Senate Bill 2098 was part of the building-block process in meeting the prescription drug assistance needs of Illinois seniors. "We are fortunate in Illinois to have a strong foundation for our efforts, she said. "This will provide the critical road map for seniors and their families who would benefit from the help that is already out there."

•  The Illinois Department on Aging would operate a toll-free hot line, which would be a clearinghouse for pertinent prescription drug discount information for Illinois senior citizens.

•  Information would also be available from local Area Agencies on Aging.

•  The goal is a "one-stop shop" where senior citizens could receive information on public and private services and discounts available to senior citizens, including state programs, drug company discounts and retailer-sponsored specials. All entities offering a special service or discount for senior citizens would report their program guidelines to the Department on Aging.

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•  The Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Program, called CHIP, will complete a study of the need, cost and operation of a catastrophic pharmaceutical benefit for senior citizens who spend a significant portion of their income on prescriptions.

•  The study also would examine what could be done for senior citizens who have incomes above 250 percent of the poverty level and who are ineligible for current prescription assistance programs.

Legislative and public oversight committee

•  A new legislative and public oversight committee will make certain the programs operate smoothly. The committee will advise appropriate state agencies regarding the establishment of proposed programs or changes to existing programs.

•  The committee will be composed of 17 members — two legislators and one public member appointed by each of the four legislative leaders; as well as the directors of the state departments of aging, revenue, public aid, human services and public health.

•  Senate Republicans have already pledged their public appointment will be a representative of AARP, giving Illinois senior citizens a voice on future prescription drug decisions.

•  Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled, or AABD: This Medicaid-based program was expanded in 2000. The third and final phase of the expansion, effective July 1, will allow senior citizens with income levels up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level to participate in the program, which is administered by the Department of Human Services.

•  Circuit Breaker: The income requirements for this program were expanded in 2000 to include senior citizens and disabled individuals at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level ($28,480 for a family of two). The state pays the first $2,000 (with a $25 card fee and co-pay for each prescription) and then pays 80 percent above the threshold. The program covers medications for the following conditions: Alzheimer’s, arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, glaucoma, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s, and lung diseases or smoking-related illnesses. This program is administered by the Department of Revenue.

•  SeniorCare: SeniorCare will be funded by a federal grant and will provide prescription drug coverage to an estimated 368,000 lower-income citizens through the state Medicaid program, starting in June. The state’s newest program will serve senior citizens at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($23,200 for a family of two). The program will cover the cost of all prescriptions (with a co-pay for each prescription) up to $1,750 each year and then pays 80 percent above the threshold.

[News release]

Military addresses sought

It is a year like no other. Since Sept. 11 we are a changed nation. Individually, our daily sensitivity toward whom and what we have in our lives has been heightened. We are more conscious and appreciative, first about those we love and see everyday. Next, we have a newfound appreciation for those who risk their lives every day as rescue workers and protectors of life and property in our communities. We also now think more about our military men and women who are committed to serve and protect our country. Many are away engaged in battle, some are in waiting to go, all are ready to lay their lives on the line in defense of our freedom.

Lincoln Daily News is seeking the names and addresses, including e-mail addresses, of friends and relatives who are serving in the armed forces. They need not be from here in Logan County. If you know someone serving, please send the information to ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com. A complete list will be made available and kept updated through the site so we might all hold them in our thoughts, prayers and well wishes.

[Click here for names available now.]

Name of person in military:

Branch of service:

Current location of service:

Postal address:

E-mail address:

Relationship to LDN reader sending information (optional):

[LDN]

It’s on the radio, TV, in all the media. You hear it in the office, on the street and maybe at home — threats of terrorism. America is on high alert. Here in central Illinois, away from any supposed practical target areas, perhaps we feel a little less threatened, but we are still concerned. So how concerned should we be, and how prepared are we for the types of situations that could occur?

Whether the threat is domestic or foreign, violent, biological or chemical, our public health and rescue agencies have been preparing to respond to the situations. Lincoln Daily News has been at meetings where all the agencies gather together as the Logan County Emergency Planning Committee to strategize for just such a time. Our reports have not even provided every detail that every agency has reported; i.e., a number of representatives from differing agencies such as the health and fire departments, CILCO and ESDA went to a bioterrorism and hazmat (hazardous materials) seminar this past August.

Here are some of the articles that LDN has posted pre- and post-Tuesday, Sept. 11. Hopefully you will see in them that WE ARE WELL PREPARED. At least as much as any area can be. Every agency has been planning, training, submitting for grants to buy equipment long before Sept. 11. We can be thankful for all of the dedicated, insightful leaders we have in this community.

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• LEPC hears plans for annual exercise

• U.S. under terrorist attack
  How is Logan County affected?

• The day after ‘Attack on America’
  Area leaders respond to national tragedy

• ESDA and LEPC conduct successful hazardous materials exercise at water treatment plant 

• Logan County ready for action if terrorist event occurs - Part 1

• Logan County ready for action if terrorist event occurs – Part 2

• Clinton nuclear power plant safety measures in place

• Logan County agencies meet to discuss protocol for suspicious mail

As promised, the United States led an attack on Afghanistan. The attack began Sunday, Oct. 7. American and British military forces made 30 hits on air defenses, military airfields and terrorist training camps, destroying aircraft and radar systems. The strike was made targeting only terrorists.

More than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East have pledged their cooperation and support the U.S. initiative.

Online news links

Other countries

Afghanistan

http://www.afghandaily.com/ 

http://www.myafghan.com/  

http://www.afghan-web.com/aop/ 

China

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/

http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/

Germany

http://www.faz.com/

India

http://www.dailypioneer.com/ 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/ 

http://www.timesofindia.com/ 

Israel

http://www.jpost.com/ 

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/ 

England

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/ 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/ 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

Pakistan

http://www.dawn.com/

http://frontierpost.com.pk/ 

Russia

http://english.pravda.ru/

http://www.sptimesrussia.com/ 

Saudi Arabia

http://www.arabnews.com/ 

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United States

Illinois

http://www.suntimes.com/index/ 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/ 

http://www.pantagraph.com/ 

http://www.qconline.com/ 

http://www.pjstar.com/

http://www.sj-r.com/ 

http://www.herald-review.com/

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/ 

New York

http://www.nypost.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/

Stars and Stripes
(serving the U.S. military community)

http://www.estripes.com/ 

Washington, D.C.

Announcements

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