By: Diane Benjamin
This meeting was back to being broadcast over zoom. Instead of watching a zoom call that may or may not work, I attended in person and filmed it myself. Remember the official video isn’t saved or posted anywhere.
This is one item approved Tuesday night: https://normaltownship.org/index.php/food-replacement-program/
Check out the requirements to get free food to replace what was lost due to power outages. One of them is showing an ID. I thought that was racist!
I still have at least 4 other topics to cover after this story. One thing to note is NO meeting documentation is provided on-line or at meetings explaining the agenda. Since no video of meetings is posted, everything your representatives do is a secret unless you attend meetings.
See the agenda here and note New Business items are listed as “approve” like everything it a done deal: https://normaltownship.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/August-Township-Meeting-4.pdf
The first video has to obligatory stolen land acknowledgement read at every meeting. Nobody made a motion to return the land to the people Normal stole it from. Next is the one and only public comment by the acting clerk Becca, last name unknown. The website still lists the elected clerk that has now missed 3 monthly meetings due to illness. Becca celebrated the Board cut this years budget from a 30% increase to just over 20%. Look at your property tax bill. Of course that is WAY over the rate of inflation, Normal voters picked representatives who believe your money belongs to them.
One way the budget was cut was to limit grants to $40,000. That meant previous grant recipients didn’t bother to apply. On the agenda was approving a grant to a NEW recipient: Prairie Pride Coalition to train people how to care for elderly LGBTQ people.
The second video shows the discussion didn’t go how Krystle had planned. The Board actually questioned how a new grant can be funded without notifying past recipients money is available.
Rejection Tuesday night doesn’t mean it’s dead. It will be reconsidered. This is why meetings videos aren’t posted online.
“Check out the requirements to get free food to replace what was lost due to power outages. One of them is showing an ID. I thought that was racist!”
But how on earth will the unhoused, minorities, and married women ever possibly provide an ID?!?! Don’t you know, it’s impossible for them to obtain birth certificates or provide proof of address!!! Only White Cisgendered Men can obtain an ID because of the Patriarchy and Systemic Racism!!! **Vigorously clutches pearls**
Republicans need to pass a bill that says everyone that votes gets a can of beans, IF you present a picture ID.
You’re welcome 🙂