By: Diane Benjamin
The reason I love these remote meetings is it’s easy to catch your elected officials proving they don’t care:
This is Kathleen Lorenz – 55:42. The others have similar moments we would never see at a regular Council meeting. Stan had pulled a water project that was going to be over $400,000 under budget. He wondered why the Town is raising water rates to collect around $100,000 more. Instead of cancelling the increase, Reece wants to look at other projects upcoming and get back to Council.
Stan next pulled the recycling ordinance. This item is being added to the budget at a time when revenues are dropping. He called this convenience, not a necessity. The previous agreement passed by Council said it would end in two years. Since the Council isn’t pushing a new agreement, why is staff going against the decisions of a previous Council?
The Town of Normal claimed the current Town owned recycle boxes have no value. Stan claimed the resale value of the containers is 75% of the original cost. Normal gave them away to Midwest Fiber instead of complying with the Town code for disposal of assets.
1:08:40: Lorenz questions Reece about the disposal of the containers and a truck the Town also gave them. Town lawyer, Brian Day, said it isn’t disposition it is paying the vendors with property instead of cash. Sunset clauses don’t matter if staff says it doesn’t matter. Reece claims they can call this a new agreement instead of an extension.
Stan is alleging this is just another agreement where “friends” profit because the value of the containers and truck given to Midwest Fiber is not reflected in the total cost. This will be back before the Council in 6 months.
The Town justified this expense because recycling reduces the costs they pay dragging trash to a landfill and dumping it. Stan claimed the value of the free containers amounts to $61,875 which is 75% of the original purchase price. The trade-in value of the free truck was estimated at $50,000 in 2018. The addition to the budget approved last night is $45,000 for 6 months.
Just to be clear, this extension violates the language in the agreement passed by a previous Council on March 5, 2018:
http://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2899
PDF page 47:
QUOTE:
“At the end of the two-year period, it will be solely up to Midwest Fiber whether the drop-box recycling program in the community continues or not. ”
This was ignored by everyone but Stan Nord. Remember this the next time Koos claims the actions of previous councils can not be undone.
When you lie and use deceit it’s difficult to keep your stories straight. Stan keeps catching the Mayor and this Council in lies and violation of their own agreements and rules. It’s madness. The energy audit makes me laugh. Koos and his elitist pals in government are all about sustainability, being eco-friendly, and lecturing us peasants, yet they can’t seem to remember to shut off the lights on the way out the door or turn down the thermostat a degree or two? Do as we say, not as we do.
Can someone explain the concept of not being able to rescind things done by a previous Council. Isn’t that why incumbents are voted out; because the people want the policies changed?
Is it illegal, somehow? How can that be?
No it isn’t legal. Councils aren’t bound by previous ones
Then why does Normal (Koos & Reece) say it can’t be done?
Because they can
Oh, Kathy! That’s not a good look on you.
Stay with it Stan we are right behind you…and Diane, I know you were joking, they cannot but they think they are right as always.
I have rebuilt creek channels, waterways and ditches for longer than I’d like to admit. The town is wrong. No common sense. Mowed waterways last generations. This is not rocket science. I am surprised the EPA is screwing this up.
Really think EPA told them to breed mosquitoes?
I used to live along a creek in Normal, and I liked our ‘mini nature preserve’ along the edge of the creek. But ours was Along the creek, not In it. I don’t specifically know the stretch in question so perhaps it is a mosquito haven. And I don’t know enough about overall underlying issues and costs to say anyone is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, just my layman’s opinion.
But even on issues where I disagree, I always appreciate your work Diane, and the input of knowledgeable others like Rich. Thanks, and keep up the good work!
Is Stan the only one speaking up for us? His statements all seem very logical. Was he the lone dissenting vote? Note sure if this blog just likes him or if there are other council members who share his philosophy.
He’s pretty much the only one concerned about taxpayers
If you want to see a total waste of Bloomington tax dollars — look at the work they are doing on Sugar Creek at Towanda and Rowe (continuing 2 blocks to the East). The creek was clean and flowing last year. Then somebody asked the City (probably the well-to-do adjoining property owners) to “cover” the creek. So they laid pipe, and have completely covered it up to look like a grass field. Excess of $100,000.
https://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=18180
See PDF page 50. Is this what they are up to?
I don’t think the Greenway Plan is the reason for the improvements they are making. This part of Sugar Creek is not near any trail. And, more importantly, is snadwiched between land owned by private citizens. It is being covered by grass – not being ‘naturalized’.