Category: Koos

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Three things you need to know

By: Diane Benjamin Town of Normal cancelled Monday’s meeting: No reason given. Maybe they are afraid of Public Comment after the last meeting’s staged lunacy! In case you missed it: https://blnnews.com/2022/12/06/normal-really-doesnt-want-citizens-interfering-in-their-playground/ FYI: Town offices will be closed on the 23rd and the 26th for Christmas. See the calendar here: https://www.normalil.gov/calendar.aspx?view=list&year=2022&month=12&day=23 Remember how Connect Transit buses […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Yet again laws are immaterial in Normal

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Obviously Normal is aware they have to comply with the Open Meetings Act because they have it right in the announcement of the Electoral Board meeting held on 12/9/22: The Open Meetings Act requires notice 48 hours in advance. This meeting was not posted by 11:00 two days before […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

This WGLT article has little to do with the title

By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2022-12-09/normal-mayor-wants-town-to-draft-rules-to-allow-auxiliary-housing Title of the story: Normal mayor wants town to draft rules to allow auxiliary housing At least half of the story is Koos condemning Stan Nord. Here’s what Koos ignored in the interview: The clerk would not have posted the petitions for Supervisor, Collector and Clerk on the website if Stan […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Happenings at the Electoral Board:

By: Diane Benjamin Mayor Koos was said to be unable to attend, so the Board was Kevin McCarthy and Scott Preston along with the attorney Normal hired – Michael Kasper. The Town really needs to explain why Brian Day, the attorney they already pay, couldn’t handle this hearing as he did the last challenge. The […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

1st Hearing 11:00 today

This hearing may have some surprises or it may not. The Town of Normal wants to make sure citizens have as little access to their government as possible. That’s why they didn’t want representatives elected by districts. The hand-picked Trustees represent the Town, not you. Attend if you can. I will report later today. Details: […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

HUGE News and I mean HUGE

By: Diane Benjamin The three candidates running for offices that Normal claims they don’t have to elect have an attorney: https://blnnews.com/2022/12/01/normal-spending-your-money-to-not-comply/ Tom Devore The challenges to petitions will not be heard tomorrow, those will be delayed until Devore has a chance to file a written response. Tomorrow will only be getting the formalities out of […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Why hasn’t Normal produced it?

By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal’s year end was 4/30/2022. Shouldn’t all required reports be completed by now? It’s been over 7 months! One report is still missing: The missing report is for the Uptown TIF. It isn’t “missing” because Redevelopment is spelled wrong, it’s always been spelled wrong. Illinois Comptroller – Town of […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: The story of Normal you haven’t heard:

The hearing was just posted for Friday: https://www.normalil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20916/OMA-Notice—Electoral-Board-Meeting—12722 Proof laws don’t matter in Normal. By: Diane Benjamin Remember Normal claiming they hired a law firm when the three petitions were filed for offices that don’t currently exist? Now it is easy to see why Koos and crew did that. The LAST place they want challenges […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Hilarity continues in Normal!

By: Diane Benjamin The petitions submitted for Supervisor, Clerk, and Collector have been challenged by TWO people. The challenges are identical. Were they afraid the Normal Electoral Board couldn’t read the first one so they filed two? Guess who is back challenging again? The guy who got Normal into this mess: Patrick Dullard He is […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Media fail: the email is immaterial to the facts

By: Diane Benjamin Did anyone notice the subject line in Stan Nord’s email? Due Process The three people who filed petitions with around 600 signatures each have a right to their day in court. The Normal Clerk’s office attempted to deny their right to Due Process – the bedrock of all laws. Normal does not […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal REALLY doesn’t want citizens interfering in their playground

By: Diane Benjamin Everything happening in the Town of Normal right now was self-inflicted. Chris Koos’ buddy Patrick Dullard argued that Normal was an Incorporated Town and therefore citizens didn’t have the right to put a referendum on the ballot to elect Trustees by district. Judge Kording reluctantly agreed with him: That “parade of horribles” […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Theater tonight in Normal

By Diane Benjamin The Normal Town Council meeting turned into a s**t show tonight. 2 things to know:  Kathleen Lorenz and Karyn Smith can’t run on lower property taxes.  Both voted against it when given a chance. The rest of the ridiculous theater happened because Normal wants to pretend Judge Kording’s ruling is immaterial.  They […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal isn’t raising property taxes because they want Unit 5 to raise them

By: Diane Benjamin Tonight’s packet: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4519 PDF page 49: Depending on the assessed value increase for your property, taxes should stay about the same as last year. If Unit 5 raises property taxes Normal wins big. Remember TIF districts? Normal has 5. Any increase in property taxes for TIF properties goes to the TIF, not […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Pre-Monday poem

Twas the night before petition challenges are due Who will file to prevent voting by you? Will a Town of Normal stooge file as before? Maybe the 3 filings the Town will ignore. An Incorporated Town Koos wanted to be Seems like complying with code should be the key. Have laws ever mattered where tryanny […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Is Normal using tax dollars to create an objection?

By: Diane Benjamin Follow up to this story: Normal: Spending your money to not comply The deadline to file objections to petitions is Monday. Did Normal hire an outside law firm to create an objection? Are they using tax dollars to make sure citizens don’t have the RIGHT to vote for legal offices? Is Normal using […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal: Spending your money to not comply

By: Diane Benjamin Normal issued this statement yesterday: Let’s start with the Trustee candidates listed with red stars by their name. Add former trustee RC McBride to that list. What do they all have in common? They all come from the Planning Commission! This proves why Chris Koos doesn’t tell the public who he plans […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Choose Normal:

By: Diane Benjamin More on this story: https://blnnews.com/2022/11/28/three-file-for-offices-in-normal-that-dont-exist-yet/ Media has decided these 3 filed for office in Normal because the referendum to elect Trustees by district was not allowed on the ballot. They missed one fact: TWO of these three didn’t sign the petition. One told me watching a Normal Town Council meeting made the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Three file for offices in Normal that don’t exist yet

By: Diane Benjamin This morning three people filed for offices in Normal that will only exist because of Patrick Dullard’s stunt throwing the referendum off the ballot with the Town of Normal’s blessings. Judge Kording ruled Normal is an Incorporated Town, therefore the Town needs to comply with the law. Robert Shoraga filed to run […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

The Iron Fist of Normal

By: Diane Benjamin Changes to the sign code took close to an hour to discuss last night. Keep in mind the Town claimed their ordinance needed changed because of a Supreme Court ruling. That ruling happened in 2015. https://blnnews.com/2022/07/08/more-on-normals-sign-code-changes/ The changes passed last night treat real estate signs differently than every other sign. That implies […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Why does Normal have a purchasing policy?

By: Diane Benjamin Tonight’s documentation: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4489 Normal will spend $107,244.79 without bidding: The policy should just be abolished since Pam Reece ignores it at almost every meeting. Time for a lesson on government: Fiscal responsibility doesn’t happen with government because they spend other people’s money (yours). ISU closed the approximately 23 acres on Shelbourne in […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal’s Debt and the Cost

By: Diane Benjamin If you still haven’t played with the Local Government Reporting on the Illinois Comptroller’s website, do it now! This is the link to Normal’s reported debt: https://illinoiscomptroller.gov/constituent-services/local-government/local-government-warehouse/processsearchresults/?DisplayMode=GETAFR&AFRDesiredData=Indebtedness&Code=064/095/31&CFY=2022&Menu=Yes&PrintIt=No At the beginning of FY 2020 total debt was: $88,090,580 At the end of FY 2020 total debt was: $85,752,874 At the end of FY […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

IML Conference expenses: Normal vrs Bloomington

By: Diane Benjamin This pic from the Illinois Municipal League says everything you need to know about them: https://www.iml.org/notices IML refuses to post required information on their website! Yes, they are hiding. They don’t file tax returns either even though their employees receive large pensions: https://blnnews.com/2016/03/29/the-iml-scam/ IML exists to represent government in Springfield, they don’t […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Town of Normal Pension reports don’t match

By: Diane Benjamin Last September the Financial Trends Report was presented at a Council meeting. See it here: https://www.normalil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20653/2021-2022-Financial-Trend-and-Condition-Report IMRF funding was reported on PDF page 45 at 106.2%. IMRF funds all pensions except Police and Fire. Fire Pension Funding was reported at 56.15% funded – PDF page 44. Police Pension Funding was reported at […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Local GOP: Burn the Big Tent

By: Diane Benjamin I heard one of the biggest opponents to the McLean County GOP Accountability committee was George Wendt. He needs to reconsider, the latest RINO Republican to turn on the party is Kathleen Lorenz. 4 years ago she campaigned door-to-door calling herself a Republican. Does George Wendt know Lorenz campaigned for his Democrat […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Kathleen Lorenz proves again why she shouldn’t be on the Town Council

By: Diane Benjamin Every time you eat out in Normal the prices are higher now – the Town is collecting more Food and Beverage Taxes because of food inflation. Every time you buy items in Normal the Town collects more Sales Taxes based on the inflation prices. Every time you buy inflated gas the Town […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal agenda for tonight + Unit 5 referendum:

By: Diane Benjamin https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4474 Add the $1000 deposit: The IML Conference was in Chicago! – probably 3 nights lodging if they attended all 3 days. Over $5000: Agenda: https://conference.iml.org/ams/conf.cfm?job=program&key=193 Why did Normal hire this firm? Chemberly is back teaching kids to be democrats at your expense + Uptown Circle Rent: Public notices must be really […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Unit 5: Need another reason to vote NO?

By: Diane Benjamin Unit 5 has gone woke. The Superintendent uses pronouns on emails. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion permeates the curriculum because Unit 5 hired Dr. Shelvin to indoctrinate the staff and students. Teaching a color blind society has been shelved in favor of the Marxist ideology of division. Human Resources offered counseling to all […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

What is Normal hiding?

By: Diane Benjamin Normal’s year-end was 6 1/2 months ago. https://www.normalil.gov/128/Annual-Comprehensive-Financial-Report See the required Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022? https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=468 What are they hiding? Can you imagine a private company do this? . . . .

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal Buying Luxury Vehicles that Koos says Aren’t

By: Diane Benjamin The entire meeting of the Normal Town Council video is 1:12:08. The discussion about buying two Rivian vehicles started at 14:40 and didn’t end until 1:02:58 with a vote of 4-3. Kevin McCarthy pulled the purchase from the Omnibus Agenda so he could bloviate. He claimed Rivian has paid the town $2 […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal: Solar fail

By: Diane Benjamin This is in the documentation for tonight: 2009 was 13 years ago, what happened between “several” and the past 2-3 years? How much was SolarBee in 2009? https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/383 $14,044.00 was paid with a grant. Solar needs SUN, who knew? Staff wants to waive formal bidding yet again and buy from PAX. Total […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal is buying 2 Rivian vehicles and NOT telling you the cost

By: Diane Benjamin PDF page 69: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4451 Remember when Pam Reece claimed buying these vehicles was not in the 5 year budget? Ha Ha. Remember the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Fund where they stockpile your money so they can pay cash? Remember when they decided to LEASE 30 vehicles instead of paying cash? https://blnnews.com/2021/12/06/normal-truth-in-taxation-is-mia/ Remember […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

FANCY UNDERPASS for Normal

By: Diane Benjamin Two topics were discussed during Normal’s 5:00 pm Work Session: the Underpass lighting and north side aesthetics plus this one: Funding a Housing Navigator Bloomington heard the details awhile back and hasn’t voted, Monday it was Normal’s turn. It was stated by Kathleen Lorenz that Bloomington-Normal is currently short 4300 places to […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Consequences for Normal

By: Diane Benjamin When Judge Kording announced the Town of Normal was an “incorporated town” he also stated he knew this ruling would have consequences. It does! Keep in mind the ONLY reason Normal now has a problem is because the elites didn’t want voters to decide if they wanted Trustees elected by districts instead […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Connect Transit: Record losses!

By: Diane Benjamin PDF page 8: July 2022 PDF page 15: August 2022 Fixed Route ridership was down in August by .04% from the same month last year/ Mobility ridership was up 45% during the same time period, of course the policy changed so the price on either is the same. Video of the meetings […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal is getting another trail

By: Diane Benjamin I can’t imagine why Mayor Bike Shop wants another trail extension, but he does. It looks like yet another grant has been lined up meaning people across the country and State get to pay for what Normal wants: This project is out for bid: https://www.normalil.gov/bids.aspx?bidID=361 It will be fun to see what […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Zoning in Normal: Equal enforcement?

By: Diane Benjamin There is a severe housing shortage locally. Chris Koos is planning on welcoming between 50 and 250 illegal aliens here anyway. Where does that authority come from? Is Koos “compassion” is really to get more funding for his underpass? Where are they going to live? Who is paying the expenses? The elected […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Report from Normal’s Planning Session:

By: Diane Benjamin Karl Sila attended this meeting: https://blnnews.com/2022/09/26/of-course-normal-is-planning-without-live-stream/ Karl is circulating petitions to run for Trustee on the Normal Council. He sent this report to me, staff has scrapped all previous planning for projects that haven’t been started yet. That includes subleasing the ridiculous rent for the second floor of 1 Uptown Circle. Normal […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Of course Normal is planning without live stream

By: Diane Benjamin Today – Normal Council is meeting where parking is difficult and video won’t be available! Make a PLAN, work the PLAN. (Send taxpayers the bill)

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

In case Koos wants RC McBride to run for Council again:

By: Diane Benjamin Keep in mind RC McBride is the WGLT General Manager. Media is expected to keep government in line, not be part of it. McBride is government as chairman of the Normal Planning Commission. He proves why Koos doesn’t reveal appointments in advance so the citizens have a heads up and can voice […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Have the citizens of Normal noticed?

By: Diane Benjamin Nothing is new here. Normal has a long record of disregarding the wishes of citizens. I can’t possibly remember everything, but start with the most recent and work back. All of the below have stories on BlnNews.com, use Search if you want more information. A. Normal ignored the rights of citizens in […]