By: Diane Benjamin McLean County handed out presents to their employees, picture here: https://blnnews.com/2022/12/22/county-present-to-employees/ Government only exists because of money it takes from taxpayers. Government doesn’t create or manufacture goods and services. It taxes and spends the money collected. That is why the Illinois Constitution states: , What public purpose did Christmas gifts to employees […]
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 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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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: […]
By: Diane Benjamin Imagine the neighborhood bully attacks you in your driveway and does this with a knife? Then the Normal police arrest you for defending yourself even though other neighbors and your family tell them the victim wasn’t the aggressor? This happened last May to a Veteran named Chad Berck. Charges against him were […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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” […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you haven’t taken the survey for the Normal Police Department, see it here: https://normal-il.civilspace.io/en/projects/5/engagements/4/sections/1 You can now take that survey, most of yesterday you couldn’t: This is the error you would have seen if you tried any of the websites above: The person responsible is Vasudha Gadhiraju. She was hired in […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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? . . . .
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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)
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 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember when Stan Nord was denied the right to participate remotely in an off-schedule Executive Session? https://blnnews.com/2022/09/09/village-of-normal-discriminates-against-stan-nord/ Stan wasn’t allowed to participate because it was an illegal meeting to discuss the referendum. Pam Reece knew Stan Nord was unavailable the day of the meeting, she scheduled it that day on purpose, then […]
By: Diane Benjamin If Normal is a Town, why is Angelia Huonker a City Clerk? If Normal is a Town why is Pam Reece a City Manager? Does it make them feel more important with a “City” title instead of Town? More fun: the packet for Monday night has a sliver of minutes from the […]
By: Diane Benjamin A Zoom hearing was held this morning to hear the filing by the State’s Attorneys office representing County Clerk Kathy Michael. She is bound by Federal Law to mail ballots to service members 45 days before the election. She can’t print the ballots before the referendum issue is decided or risk having […]
