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However, Reginald Marsh, spokesperson
for the Department of Human Services, says the moves have been
carefully worked out and are merely part of the plan to close the
125-year-old facility for the developmentally disabled by the Sept.
1 deadline.
Marsh said there would be 74 residents
at LDC by the end of the day Monday. DHS plans to more 12 people
today, he said, but he did not know how many were scheduled to leave
Tuesday.
He confirmed that 11 residents had been
moved out on Sunday.
"We just needed the green light from
the Health Facilities Planning Board to be sure the legalities were
taken care of," Marsh said. "We have been poised to move the
residents for some time."
Senters said the number of residents
moved on Sunday was 12 instead of 11, and 31 instead of the
scheduled 24 were moved on Saturday. He believes DHS has accelerated
the moves because of the sudden death of AFSCME attorney Steve
Yokich’s father. The senior Yokich was a prominent attorney for the
United Auto Workers in Detroit.
Senters said that when Yokich learned
of his father’s death, he had been preparing to file an appeal of
Thursday’s ruling by the state’s Health Facilities Planning Board
that gave DHS a permit to close the Lincoln facility. Yokich also
planned to ask for a temporary restraining order to prevent DHS from
taking any more residents from LDC without the consent of their
parents or guardians.
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this article]
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"I presume after they heard about
Yokich’s father’s death, they began moving people fast because they
thought that would delay us from getting the temporary restraining
order," Senters said.
Senters also said that Barbara Hillman,
another attorney for the same firm, has picked up the case and is
filing the appeal today. He said it will be in front of a
judge no later than tomorrow.
Plaintiffs in the suit to appeal the
planning board ruling are American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees Local 425, which represents LDC employees; state
Sen. Larry Bomke; Norlan and Eleanor Newmister, parents of an LDC
resident; and Don Todd, president of the local union.
DHS and Gov.
George Ryan, citing allegations of abuse and neglect, set Aug. 31 as
the date to close LDC completely. AFSCME and other plaintiffs are
appealing the decision of the planning board to allow the closure,
on the grounds that the services of LDC are needed in the area and
that the state could find money in the budget to continue funding
the Lincoln facility.
[Joan
Crabb]
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The study will develop information to
encourage and guide public and private investment in building new
ethanol plants. It also will serve as a resource for organizations
and farm groups that are considering such development.
"With the expectation that demand for
ethanol will increase significantly in the near future, there is a
tremendous opportunity for Illinois’ ethanol industry. This study
will help our state evaluate what steps we need to take to maintain
our position as the leader in ethanol production," Gov. Ryan said.
The Illinois Corn Growers Association
will conduct the study using state and federal funds totaling
$80,000. The Department of Commerce and Community Affairs is
contributing $16,000 from the Illinois Biomass Energy Program, and
the Illinois Department of Agriculture is awarding $8,000 from the
AgriFirst Program. Last month, DCCA received a $56,000 grant from
USDA Rural Development to fund this study.
The study will review the current
ethanol industry, project future ethanol demand through 2012,
evaluate corn and other feedstock resources, and analyze Illinois’
infrastructure, transportation, utilities and labor market needed to
support additional ethanol production. The study also will compare
the tax and incentive structure in Illinois with those in bordering
states. It will also identify banks and financial institutions
interested in backing new ethanol production facilities and farmer
cooperatives.
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article]
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"The study will aid current and future
ethanol producers to select sites, develop business plans and obtain
financing to build or expand production facilities in Illinois,"
said Pam McDonough, the DCCA director. "It also will assist
policy-makers to compare potential ethanol production capacity in
Illinois to other states."
State and national energy policies
emphasize using renewable fuels such as ethanol. During the next
decade, the ethanol market nationwide is expected to grow to about
five billion gallons annually from 1.8 billion. Illinois currently
leads the nation in ethanol production.
"Choosing Illinois for this study
demonstrates a federal recognition of the importance of Illinois
ethanol to the nation and the state’s commitment to expanding
ethanol production," said Illinois Department of Agriculture
Director Joe Hampton. "This study will help us determine whether
current programs and policies are adequate to meet future production
demands."
"Increasing
ethanol production is a tremendous economic opportunity for rural
Illinoisans," said Doug Wilson, Illinois state director for USDA
Rural Development. "Developing renewable energy sources improves our
quality of life and is a great example of value-added agriculture."
[Illinois
Government News Network
press release]
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