Monday, Aug. 19

 

DHS moving LDC residents out fast

[AUG. 19, 2002]  Residents of the embattled Lincoln Developmental Center are being moved out quickly before a Logan County judge can issue another temporary restraining order, according to AFSCME spokesperson Dan Senters.

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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"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]


Ethanol production study funded

[AUG. 19, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan announced last week that the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development are funding a study to evaluate the potential for additional ethanol production capacity in Illinois.

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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"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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