By: Diane Benjamin Attorney Tom Devore thinks the Town of Normal will be paying at least $50,000 to the lawyers they hired to keep from complying with being an Incorporated Town. Yesterday Normal has 4 lawyers in court, only 1 was a staff attorney who said nothing the entire time. One of the other hired […]
It is almost 11:15, the case is still being argued. Normal has 4 lawyers in court. Only 2 have spoken so far. Taxpayers will be.getting a huge bill! Those 4 lawyers, at least 3 of them because Brian Day is on staff, likely cost taxpayers $2000 an hour. 9:30 to 12:00. I talked to Tom […]
By: Diane Benjamin Citizens of Normal should find out today if the Town of Normal is required to elect offices stated in the law for Incorporated Towns or if they get a pass. 3 people filed petitions for the offices of Supervisor, Clerk, and Collector. All three are listed as SHALL be elected in Illinois […]
By: Diane Benjamin The hearing Wednesday is at 9:30 AM in courtroom 5D. Tom Devore will attend via Zoom. Citizens can watch on Zoom or attend in person. Either way the judge will know how many people are looking for a resolution. If the Town of Normal is an Incorporated Town, do they have to […]
By: Diane Benjamin The hearing Friday was delayed by Tom Devore because he needed more time to respond to the filing by Normal’s attorneys on Wednesday. The hearing on January 25th is at 9:30, it will be on Zoom. You should be able to access it at this link: https://mcleancountyil.gov/1422/Remote-Hearings Page down to Judge Fellheimer’s […]
By: Diane Benjamin The case has been continued until January 25th so both sides can review filings.
By: Diane Benjamin’ https://www.usgbc.org/articles/us-green-building-council-announces-2022-top-10-states-green-building Illinois ranks third, behind Washington DC and Massachusetts, in the LEED certified number of square feet per capita. Many of those LEED buildings are in Normal. The new Uptown buildings have it written on the doors, Normal requires LEED construction whenever they can. The Children’s Discovery Museum is one of those […]
By: Diane Benjamin I received what the Town of Normal’s lawyers filed with the court. Normal looks like they don’t care how much taxpayer money they spend fighting citizens. Look at all the attorneys listed in the filing: . This is what they filed: The hearing is Friday, 1:30 in courtroom 5D. The Motion to […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/11/05/how-a-county-election-in-rural-illinois-became-a-referendum-on-wind-energy/ Excerpt: Some question whether Hartke is being paid by or is otherwise involved with national groups with ties to the fossil fuel industry. At a hearing in McLean County, resident Andy Byars raised that question, calling Hartke a “carpet-bagging wind opponent” using “fear-mongering tactics” to spark local opposition to wind energy. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Normal’s fiscal year runs from April to the following March. The below shows why Normal plans to finally fix some infrasture next year. Reserves (Ending Fund balance) are HIGH! The data portal only has 2 years of data, comparison to pre-covid would have been handy. By April 2021 I think most businesses […]
By: Diane Benjamin Did anyone notice calamity because the Federal Government has now been shut down for the third day in a row? It shuts down every weekend, today is just a bonus day off for MLK day. Remember this shutdown when media starts screaming about DEFAULT if the debt ceiling isn’t increased. Tax dollars […]
By: Diane Benjamin h/t readers Sonja was at the candidates forum yesterday. She made clear who her favorite Normal candidates are on her Facebook page, keep in mind she is the Normal City Manager’s mother-in-law and lives in a $4000+ a month subsidized apartment at 1 Uptown Circle. If you had any doubt who Koos […]
By: Diane Benjamin Normal’s candidates were much more interesting than Bloomington’s because all 6 showed up. Two of Bloomington’s in the only 2 contested Wards did not. More on them later. Since I have a lot of video I decided to start with the opening remarks from all 6 candidates. There is a stark difference […]
By: Diane Benjamin Police pensions are not well funded in Normal: https://illinoiscomptroller.gov/constituent-services/local-government/local-government-warehouse/processsearchresults/?DisplayMode=GETAFR&AFRDesiredData=Pension%20Funds%20/%20Retirement%20Benefits&Code=064/095/31&CFY=2022&Menu=Yes&PrintIt=No Fire Department pensions are a least over 50% funded, the rest have pensions funded at OVER 100%. Pam Reece will be fine, public safety personnel might not. Even with a dismal percent funded, Koos is going to reappoint a current member: Of course […]
By: Diane Benjamin Is Normal embarrassed they have TWO unsolved murders of young woman attending ISU? They must be since they refuse to release unredacted documents and most interviews from the 1975 case. What they did release shows leads were not documented as being followed up on. The 5th episode of Carol’s Last Christmas was […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Steve Suess is no longer at Cities 92.9. He’s exploring other opportunities. BIG LOSS to Sunday afternoons, guest host spots, and election coverage. 😲 2) State Farm is selling employees: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230112005620/en/HCLTech-to-Modernize-IT-Operations-for-State-Farm%C2%AE Sources tell me these are 1st and 2nd level support and claims help desk staff. Most are already working remotely. […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Unit 5 is counting on low voter turnout to pass yet another attempt to raise your taxes – that’s after they already raised property taxes. These current School Board members want re-elected: Kelly Pyle Amy Roser Both were appointed in 2018, they are part of the problem. Unions will be running […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal looks to have hired yet another law firm to defeat complying with law. Michael Kasper evidently filed something with the court but wasn’t able to attend today. Enter this guy from a different law firm: Mr. Guisinger is delaying the next hearing so he can file a motion […]
By: Diane Benjamin The last time I FOIA’d how much Chris Koos was charged for using the Town’s Mitsubishi I received this: . I don’t know if $45 was listed as additional compensation on every check that year or just monthly. The point is he was paying something for having that vehicle permanently assigned to […]
By: Diane Benjamin Judge Kording ruled in September that Normal is an Incorporated Town even though they don’t act like it. In his ruling he stated he knows his decision could: . The “parade of horribles” has only just begun. The Normal elites ignored the ruling while celebrating the defeat of the citizen led referendum […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2023-01-05/towns-legal-memo-stan-nord-email-placed-him-at-legal-risk Let’s start with the stock photo WGLT used of Stan Nord in the article. It isn’t a picture of Nord serving as an elected Trustee on the Council, it might have been taken at the Citizen Summit the Town of Normal didn’t want to hold because they don’t care what you […]
By: Diane Benjamin Michael Kasper denied the Due Process Rights of the 3 people who filed petitions to run for office (that State law requires Incorporated Towns to Elect) when he sent them letters denying ballot access. Kasper also violated the Due Process Rights of the 2 objectors who filed against them (Dullard and Fritzen) […]
By: Diane Benjamin Thomas Devore filed 2 documents and a summons for each of the three candidates who submitted petitions: ROBERT SHORAGA – Supervisor CHARLES SILA – Collector AMY CONKLIN – Clerk Since the documents are identical except for the names and copies of the petitions filed, I’m only posting 2 of the ones filed […]
By: Diane Benjamin Chris Koos and company must think the three candidates that filed for offices required to be elected in Incorporated Towns will just disappear if they are ignored. Koos is WRONG Without a meeting or even a notice on their website, the Electoral Board decided they won’t hear any further testimony for the […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/03/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-91/ Carper’s term expired YEARS ago, so much for being vital.
By: Diane Benjamin Another bike path was on the agenda. Refer back to the previous story, bike paths have a higher priority than roads. Mayor Bike Shop? The Town supposedly received 100% funding for the new path on the west side of Normal. Engineering is 8.5% higher than expected so the Town needed a budget […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night’s meeting will take more than one story! The Town of Normal GIS system for identifying projects is a useful tool. Try this link: https://tongis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/4f41ead227e440dda1ca5ca85bdbdddb You need to click Transportation on the left side and then 2023 at the bottom. The first thing to notice is it says 27 projects but […]
By: Diane Benjamin See this story for the source or the below: https://blnnews.com/2022/05/09/no-surprise-normal-needs-6-million-more-to-build-the-underpass/ The cost to build an underpass that only pedestrians and bikers can use continues to increase. Note the $6,000,000 increase due to inflation was estimated in April 2022. How much over $6 million is it now? Since inflation is still ridiculously high, […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4527 The Council isn’t meeting until Tuesday night since Monday is another day off. In case you forgot the show staged at the last Council meeting: (copied from the minutes, PDF page 5) Jodi Pomis, Town of Normal Deputy Clerk and Normal resident addressedCouncilmembers regarding an email that Councilmember Stan Nord sent […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’m betting Chris Koos won’t be installing a super-charger at his house to charge the Rivian. He can charge it for free in the parking garage next to his Town office. If necessary he can leave it there and walk to his bike shop. This story has a list of other FREE […]
By: Diane Benjamin Asking the Council to approve buying TWO Rivian vehicles was on the Omnibus Agenda without a cost in the documentation: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4451 The only reason to put this on the Omnibus was to get a blank check vote without any discussion. That didn’t happen. Just hit PLAY to hear Chris Koos say both […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal has only received delivery of ONE Rivian vehicle, the one parked at Chris Koos’ house. The other one Normal put a deposit down on is an SUV. I have no idea when it will be delivered. How do I know Koos has the Town’s Rivian? Freedom of Information […]
By: Diane Benjamin Take a trip down memory lane: Chris Koos had been driving a 2012 Mitsubishi owned by the Town of Normal. Of course that means taxpayers owned it: https://blnnews.com/2021/03/10/koos-car/ Instead of putting government plates on it that only require one payment, the Town paid for plates every year just like you do. Read […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal’s hired attorney thinks he decides who gets on the ballot and who doesn’t. Remember when Mike Madigan’s attorney sent letters to the 3 who filed petitions to run for Clerk, Supervisor, and Collector? Michael Kasper thought he decided who was on the ballot all by himself. If Stan […]
By: Diane Benjamin Normal turned in their certified ballet yesterday, 6 people are running for 3 seats: Lorenz and Byars claim to be Republicans. Byars is on the Planning Commission, appointed by Chris Koos. He was previously an intern for Jason Barickman but he didn’t recuse himself from the vote on Wintergreen Subdivision: https://blnnews.com/2022/08/05/planning-commissioner-byars-should-have-recused-himself/ A […]
By: Diane Benjamin Make sure you read EVERY page: 888
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.normalil.gov/bids.aspx?bidID=372 The Subway in the Amtrak Station closed in October. The Town of Normal now thinks they need a new tenant. Subway closed because they didn’t have enough foot traffic to sell food in the volume needed. FYI, I know one of the former owners. I was in the parking garage a […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Follow-up to Chris Koos’ nomination to the Amtrak Board: https://blnnews.com/2022/09/08/koos-finally-got-a-hearing-in-the-senate/ The Senate will run out of time to get Koos on the Amtrak Board. See this story: https://www.railpassengers.org/happening-now/news/blog/amtrak-board-nominees-left-in-limbo/ Excerpt, this happened 12/7/2022: Dickie Durbin has nominated Koos twice and failed both times to put him on the Amtrak Board. I’d either […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) TIF report for 1 Normal Plaza: https://files.illinoiscomptroller.gov/LocGovTIF/FY2022/06409531/22TIF06409531One_Normal_Place_1.pdf All of the revenue generated is going to reimburse the General Fund for demolition costs. Last year that amounts to $48,087. The TIF is doing little to cover the $3,588,982 Normal spent so far. This TIF began in 2009. As of 4/30/2022 it has […]
By: Diane Benjamin Earmarks were abolished for awhile by Republicans because they explode the budget. Evidently both parties no longer care about the debt your grandchildren and beyond will be paying off. From Adam Andrzejewski of Open the Books: “Earmarks are member pet projects doled out to legally bribe congressmen for their votes on large […]
