Is Normal Blaming Citizens?
By: Diane Benjamin H/T a reader Sure looks to me like Normal thinks citizens dial 911 way too often:
Category: Koos
Need Proof Media Lies?
By: Diane Benjamin I get Google alerts on lots of things, one being Rivian This one came in this morning: . It’s hard not to burst out laughing at that headline. Investing.com must have received lots of negative comments, the link to the story now doesn’t work. Just to refresh your memory, this site shows […]
Luxury Apartments Available – 1 Uptown Circle
By: Diane Benjamin Maybe 6 are available because ISU people moved on. Uptown needs more non-student housing? Keep in mind this building would not have been built without taxpayer subsidies. https://www.liveonthecircle.com/vacancies
Normal got Progressivism, now pay for it
By: Diane Benjamin Progressives believe government creates prosperity. In Normal, that meant Uptown would magically fill with developers eager to do their bidding. Years after taxpayers were forced to fund the project, the first-floor restaurant space at 1 Uptown Circle sat empty. Two other large buildings meant to complete the circle still don’t exist after […]
Normal is back to wanting a large sports complex + Underpass
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader This message was sent to soccer families: Hello FCCI Families, We wanted to share an exciting opportunity for our soccer community and ask for your support. The Town of Normal is currently gathering community feedback regarding the possibility of developing a large sports complex facility similar to the Rantoul […]
50 Feet At Any Cost in Normal
By: Diane Benjamin According to the Pantagraph, the underpass will be back before the Normal Town Council with an even higher bill. Monday’s agenda hasn’t been posted yet. Chris Koos and (mayor in waiting) Kevin McCarthy will never say the cost is too high. I doubt Rory Roberge or Karyn Smith will either. Saving 50 […]
Normal: Underpass
By: Diane Benjamin Awarding a new contract to build the underpass is NOT on Monday’s agenda: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5568 Did the Council finally come to their senses? Don’t count on it. Link to just one of numerous underpass stories: https://blnnews.com/2026/03/06/normal-doesnt-have-an-underpass-contractor/ That story says the grant deadline to finish the project is June 2027, but I also heard […]
Tax Increases in Normal Tomorrow
By: Diane Benjamin PDF page 75: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5414 . The underpass is going to be even more expensive when a new contract is proposed for construction later in April. It’s possible the Town is stripping amenities to bring down the cost, all the fancy items will be added back in future years. Chris Koos, Kevin McCarthy, […]
McLean County lost 1082 residents last year
By: Diane Benjamin Quote from the story below: While Bloomington saw more births than deaths, domestic outmigration of more than 1,000 residents led to overall population decline. Why are people leaving? Duh, taxes. We can quit worrying about a housing shortage. People will continue leaving since there is no reason to stay good enough to […]
Fly on the Wall: Underpass
If you thought Chris Koos would abandon the way-to-expensive underpass, you’d be wrong. The cost will be even higher.
More on Normal’s Underpass
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday’s story was updated with a few things I found in the FOIA request: https://blnnews.com/2026/03/06/normal-doesnt-have-an-underpass-contractor/ Did you know Normal originally stated taxpayers were funding 9% of the project and now it’s 37%? Click the above story! WGLT finally did their own underpass story. On Facebook it has over 100 comments, most want […]
Updated: Normal Doesn’t Have an Underpass Contractor
By: Diane Benjamin If you could read between the lines, this story told you: https://blnnews.com/2026/02/24/where-is-the-underpass-normal/ Last October the Normal Council awarded the construction contract to a company in Missouri instead of a local bidder: https://www.millstoneweber.com/ Millstone Weber backed out of the contract early this year. I have a FOIA pending for the emails. Since their […]
Where’s the Contractor Normal?
By: Diane Benjamin I wonder if Chris Koos or Pam Reece has anything to announce at tonight’s meeting? It looks like a 10 minute meeting: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5523 Flashback to November 3, 2025 meeting: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5414 Underpass project cost: $40,300,920 PDF page 136: Clark Dietz was hired to oversee construction. PDF page 147: . It’s now March and […]
Where is the Underpass Normal?
By: Diane Benjamin November 3, 2025 meeting: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5414 On the agenda: . From PDF page 106 The bid is only 4 months away from 1 year old. Construction still hasn’t started. On the same page: Is Millstone Weber still going to do the work Normal? How are you planning on completing this massive project by […]
Where does Normal’s EMS Revenue Go?
By: Diane Benjamin Update to this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/12/10/how-much-does-normal-charge-hudson-lexington-and-towanda/ I asked the Town Clerk a simple question about the FOIA I filed: Security Key:2491BAE5 Reference Number:RR-1767-2025 Can you tell me what fund this revenue goes to? This is the response I received from Clerk, Angie Huonker: Hi Diane, The deposit account (001-0000-341.16-00) is the “Charge for […]
How much does Normal charge Hudson, Lexington, and Towanda?
By: Diane Benjamin I filed a FOIA request to find out how much revenue Normal received from providing fire related services to Hudson, Lexington, and Towanda. Remember, when Normal is running calls outside of Normal they aren’t available to run calls in Normal. The timeline for my FOIA was 1/1/2023 – 12/1/2025. That amounts to […]
Is Normal Raising Property Taxes Tonight?
By: Diane Benjamin A special meeting is being held tonight. Since only the Agenda is posted with NO documentation, it’s likely safe to assume the answer is Yes. https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5453 There is no packet posted explaining what this means: Nothing about property taxes was on the December 1st meeting agenda. Don’t fall for “the rate will […]
Normal Fire Department – Part 2
By: Diane Benjamin Adding to this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/12/02/normal-fire-department-start-here/ The two calendars below have additional information. The RED Bloomington are mutual aid calls showing Bloomington responding to calls in Normal. When Bloomington is listed more than once it is because they ran calls more than once. . PDF page 210: https://www.normalil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/28107/Annual-Comprehensive-Financial-Report-for-the-fiscal-year-ending-March-31-2025—locked?bidId= This chart shows the number […]
Normal Fire Department: Start Here
Part 2: https://blnnews.com/2025/12/02/normal-fire-department-part-2/ By: Diane Benjamin Normal residents are concerned about the closing of the College Avenue fire station when they move to the new station east of Menards. That prompted me to look further into operations. This is going to take more than one story, so stay tuned. I sent a FOIA to Normal […]
Normal is a SMALL Town paying the City Manager Big City salary
By: Diane Benjamin I know most residents of Normal don’t care or they would quit electing the same people over and over, but just for the few who do care: https://www.25newsnow.com/2025/12/01/normal-city-manager-line-49-raise-topping-what-peoria-bloomington-managers-make Quotes: Normal Mayor Chris Koos is recommending a 4.9% pay raise for City Manager Pam Reece, which would lift her base salary above what […]
What the Town of Normal Didn’t Tell You
By: Diane Benjamin The Town used the same tax scam recapped in the previous story: https://blnnews.com/2025/11/20/property-tax-scams/ WGLT gladly played along: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-11-18/normal-town-council-discusses-2025-tax-levy-during-sometimes-tense-meeting . That $280,000 home isn’t $280,000 now. Your Town of Normal property tax bill will increase MORE than $48. It would have been nice if Trustee Preston had mentioned that, he didn’t. Worse, they […]
Remember the 2 unsolved ISU murders?
By: Diane Benjamin The families of murder victims deserve justice. The families of Jennifer Lockmiller and Carol Rofstad deserve justice and haven’t received it. Has the DNA from Jennifer Lockmiller been uploaded to CODIS? Is any DNA available from the Carol Rofstad case? If you don’t know what CODIS is? https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/dna-fingerprint-act-of-2005-expungement-policy/codis-and-ndis-fact-sheet If CODIS doesn’t have […]
4-3 vote, shouldn’t be a surprise
By: Diane Benjamin 10 people spoke at public comment. Of course the first 3 or 4 were Koos supporters who always show up to support more spending. The room was packed – standing room only and they stayed for the whole meeting. No, I didn’t watch the entire 2 1/12 hour discussion. I didn’t have […]
$40 million, 50 Feet
By: Diane Benjamin Review this story about the underpass, it has lots of the underpass history: https://blnnews.com/2024/11/27/normals-underpass-history/ See the email in that story. The underpass SAVES 50 FEET for the low cost of $40,000,000+. Tonight’s Packet PDF page 76: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5414 Social media comments have destroyed Koos and Company ever since this idea was floated: . […]
Hilarious Normal: Funding the Underpass
By: Diane Benjamin According to this story the Normal Council held a special meeting last night: https://www.wglt.org/politics-and-government/2025-10-30/completing-uptown-normal-underpass-to-require-tax-hikes?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook The project is unaffordable, so staff wants to raise taxes. Drivers stuck behind trains blocking the tracks can watch walkers and bikers go under the tracks. Keep in mind Normal could have had a FREE overpass years ago […]
New Uptown TIF Proposal: What You Need to Know
By: Diane Benjamin WGLT story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-10-08/normal-looks-to-create-new-uptown-tif-to-spur-development?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook 2024 Downtown Development TIF report: https://files.illinoiscomptroller.gov/LocGovTIF/FY2024/06409531/24TIF06409531Downtown_volpment_1.pdf PDF page 8 shows this TIF is underwater: ($47,720,848) Normal taxpayers are on the hook for expenses the TIF didn’t generate enough revenue to pay. Now Normal wants a new Uptown TIF and claims to have developers interested. The WGLT story did an […]
The Stupid Generation
By: Diane Benjamin . Those pictures are from Maroa Il – the site of a former solar farm that didn’t survive storms on 8/18. No reports blame anything but severe storms. https://www.wandtv.com/community/maroa-solar-farm-suffered-significant-damage-from-overnight-storms/article_a6e03577-0e19-480c-bc3c-e931c0e4e753.html I did see a report on Facebook of power outages close to Bloomington. Ameren blamed this solar farm wreckage. The power grid has […]
Shoplifting Is Legal at Home Depot
By: Diane Benjamin This story was told to me by a reader – it happened yesterday: I just watched a guy shoplift a couple grand worth of Milwaukee tools from Home Depot in Normal. I got pics of his vehicle and plates along with him from the side. I found out Home Depot doesn’t report […]
AI replaces Consultants
By: Diane Benjamin Does anyone truly believe a consultant from California can offer advice to Bloomington on missing “middle housing”? Many people can no longer afford homes in California. I will only care about what Opticos Design says after they solve California’s housing problems where they are located. https://blnnews.com/2025/05/28/bloomington-part-2-missing-middle-housing/ Computers are rapidly becoming over 100 […]
Terri Ryburn: Are you receiving TWO pensions?
By: Diane Benjamin Additional information on this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/07/07/is-terri-ryburn-still-living-at-spragues/ From Open The Books Note: These numbers are MONTHLY.
Is Terri Ryburn still living at Sprague’s
More in this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/07/07/terri-ryburn-are-you-receiving-two-pensions/ By: Diane Benjamin Since I don’t follow the Normal Council meetings anymore, I don’t know the answer to that one. I do know her name is still on the windows according to this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-07-04/b-n-tourism-group-gets-state-grant-for-route-66-renovations-at-spragues-in-normal I also know the place received another $150,000 grant from the State, your money that […]
5 Things You Need to Know
By: Diane Benjamin 1) See all Boards and Commission here along with a link to apply: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/government/boards-commissions Some diversity and new blood on Boards and Commission is badly needed. 2) I recently looked up a house that just went under contract. This was on Redfin, progressives want you to be too afraid of the weather […]
Normal’s Homeless relocated
By: Diane Benjamin H/t a reader The homeless camp by AutoZone in Normal had to be relocated for a sewer project. They have been moved to Adelaide close to Normal’s water treatment plant: . I’m told Normal used a small dump truck to move possessions. This location makes it harder for people serving them. See […]
Essex passed – Citizens expected different?
By: Diane Benjamin I hear the Planning Commision meeting last Thursday was around 4 hours long. Many citizens from the area spoke, their quiet neighborhood and property values will be affected. Chris Koos’ handpicked commission members mostly ignored them and approved the project. I think 3 story buildings got reduced to 2 stories. Will that […]
Normal Planning Commission TODAY
By: Diane Benjamin I expect lots of opposition to show up for this meeting: . Media coverage should be enlightening. I won’t be covering it.
Proposed Essex Development, Collie Ridge, Corner of Shelbourne and Beech
By: Diane Benjamin I have been contacted by numerous residents of Normal regarding this development. The property was originally zoned for single-family use but was abruptly rezoned for multi-family housing in the heart of a single-family neighborhood. Area residents fear this will disrupt their tranquil lifestyle, increasing traffic and crime. Normal’s leadership appears unresponsive to […]
More than double the cost, plow ahead anyway
By: Diane Benjamin If you want to buy something and then find out the cost is more than twice what you expected, what do you do? If you’re the Town of Normal and want to save 50 feet with an underpass that vehicles can’t even use, you plow ahead and look for more money from […]
Where Normal?
By: Diane Benjamin Posted on Facebook by the Town of Normal: Two points: Don’t forget that many multi-million $$$ project is to save 50 feet. The cost is now way over $23 million. FYI: You still have no one who doesn’t support the project to vote for.
Normal’s Uptown TIF should be a campaign issue
By: Diane Benjamin I continue to see comments concerning Normal’s debt. Some people don’t understand Normal paid off all their debt so they could take out bonds for the grand Uptown plan. TIF report as of 3/31/2024: https://files.illinoiscomptroller.gov/LocGovTIF/FY2024/06409531/24TIF06409531Downtown_volpment_1.pdf PDF page 8 shows the debt Normal too on for Uptown: The point of creating a TIF […]
More unintended consequences from the left
By: Diane Benjamin I’ve written many times about the left governing on feelings while the right uses facts. Here’s another case: https://wirepoints.org/homelessness-could-no-longer-be-a-crime-under-a-new-plan-filed-in-springfield-wand-decatur/ An Illinois Democrat wants to legalize homeless people and allow them to camp on public property. It will be wonderful to see Bloomington’s new $28 million library turned into a homeless camp and […]