Tag: CIRA

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Who do you believe?

By: Diane Benjamin If Illinois really wanted to “spur developments and create jobs”, most laws regulating and taxing businesses and their owners would be repealed. The Illinois exodus isn’t for better weather. Since everything is a secret, start connecting dots: 2023 Megasite Investment Press Release: https://www.chicagowestbusinesscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/26898-_Governor_Pritzker_Announces_Recipients_of_Megasites_Investment_Program.pdf Excepts: What company agreed to provide $1,736,501? It’s a […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

CIRA – Part 2

By: Diane Benjamin This story and the last one about CIRA are because a reader contacted me. Part 1: https://blnnews.com/2026/03/03/cira-part-1-2/ That reader left a voicemail at CIRA on February 5, 2026: . The name is redacted because it isn’t important to the story. Based on what this reader was told, I FOIA’d CIRA for what […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

CIRA – Part 1

By: Diane Benjamin Taxation without representation: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-02-13/cira-cruises-along-at-a-stable-altitude Springfield allowed CIRA to tax the County thanks to Sen Dave Koehler https://blnnews.com/2023/04/27/cira-doesnt-need-money-they-just-want-it/ Your property tax bills this year will reflect that. County property owners get yet another line item added to their bill. Bloomington-Normal gets a decrease. One of the dumbest parts of the WGLT article: “The Airport […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Goose hunting

By: Diane Benjamin This pic is from a video was on NextDoor. The comments say geese were being shot at the airport. That makes sense since geese and planes can be a deadly combination. There is a retention pond west of the airport with large geese population. Shooting a few won’t fix the problem permanently. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Living on Grants instead of within your means

By: Diane Benjamin In case you missed it, CIRA got a Federal grant for improvements: https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/federal-dollars-coming-to-cira-to-buy-new-safety-equipment-rehabilitate-runway/ “Bringing home the bacon” to buy votes wouldn’t be needed if the Federal Government wasn’t trying to control everything by spending $2 Trillion more a year than it receives from taxpayers. Like inflation? Unless the size and spending of […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Like paying other people’s bills?

By: Diane Benjamin The entire County is going to be taxed to fund the airport. This was passed in Springfield without a vote from the County residents and by representatives that don’t represent them (Chung and Koehler). Remember: Taxation Without Representation? Details here: https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/cira-authority-expansion-means-new-tax-for-rural-mclean-county-property-owners/article_e7aeccb8-3339-11ee-966e-fb07c1b7d8e3.html The County is also forced to pay for the Bloomington Election […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Sometimes the truth has to be said

By: Diane Benjamin I can think of 3 recent times democrats changed the law in Springfield to benefit government, this isn’t “democracy”. I’m not a republican but I will never be a democrat because of oppression like this. The first one was the Town of Normal conspiring to pass a law to exempt ONLY Normal […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Seen Helicopters at night with SEARCH Lights?

By: Diane Benjamin I was notified by a reader who lives in the Ewing Park area that very frequently multiple helicopters are flying over his house after dark, sometimes using search lights. The reader had asked the Bloomington police, they didn’t know who was flying. The National Guard out of Peoria does training from CIRA, […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

HB 3337 hearing postponed

By: Diane Benjamin Sen Dave Koehler has proven twice in recent weeks that he represents government, not the people. Even though Koehler doesn’t represent much of McLean County he wants to tax them anyway. Of course he’s doing it because CIRA wants him to, the rest of the people who will be taxed are immaterial. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

CIRA doesn’t need money – they just want it

By: Diane Benjamin Sen Dave Koehler should be an embarrassment to the Democrat Party. He has no co-sponsors in the Senate to HB 3337 that removes the rights of citizens in Normal to elect required offices. I wonder how he justifies a bill that ONLY affects Normal? Democracy! Next he sponsored a bill to tax […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Leroy passed a resolution opposed to CIRA last time

By: Diane Benjamin Every small town in McLean County should pass the same resolution now. See what Leroy passed in 2018 when CIRA wanted to tax the entire County: Not everyone who uses CIRA lives in McLean County but they aren’t being taxed. Every small town and city in the County can’t afford to have […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

CIRA is back to wanting County money

By: Diane Benjamin The Peoria Journal Star reported on a study that claims Illinois is the WORST state for taxes: https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/state/2023/02/23/illinois-is-the-worst-for-taxes-study-says/69931709007/ The exodus from Illinois will continue when it is MUCH cheaper to move than stay in Illinois. Since every other level of government wants more money, CIRA is joining the party. See this story […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Select info from the FOIA

By:  Diane Benjamin I finally made it through all 924 pages of the latest FOIA from Normal. Marc Tiritilli addressed the Council in person before they voted to continue electric aggregation.  Prior to that he sent this email: I suggest you compare Ameren prices to your bills if you haven’t opted-out.  Marc knows what he […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Art Gallery opens at the Airport today

By:  Diane Benjamin From a Press Release issued by CIRA: Of course there is more to the story.  This is an epic case proving when government is involved everything is much more difficult and more expensive.  It proves yet again why government must be limited. Received by FOIA Start with this email – note the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Emergency Landing – the rest of the story

By:  Diane Benjamin The Pantagraph did this story about a flight from Columbia Mo. to Chicago made an emergency landing in Bloomington last night:  https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/public_safety/chicago-bound-regional-jet-makes-emergency-landing-in-bloomington/article_390f574d-ce47-5824-874c-ce4d6f1731f6.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1 That story might make you think it was no big deal.  Other media has a different story.  Evidently the Pantagraph didn’t send a reporter to the airport to talk to […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

UPDATE: Pantagraph hides the truth!

Just like magic – the comments to the Pantagraph story are back.  Here’s one: By:  Diane Benjamin The Pantagraph has a story about Beth Whisman stepping down from the Airport Authority Board:    http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/whisman-resigns-from-airport-board-due-to-job-conflict/article_4a553dc2-2423-58b8-8d44-cdd535b1f6b6.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-2 Besides proving Chris Koos and Normal’s legal team didn’t bother to read the law (or they can’t read), the Pantagraph proved real […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Sport complex is already decided

By:  Diane Benjamin http://www.wjbc.com/2018/04/14/consultant-community-has-room-for-new-sports-venues/ According to the WJBC story. the decision has already been made by the consultants who were just hired:  we need a sports complex. The Pony League fields began in 1988 with no tax dollars.  Hundreds if not thousands of kids and adults play there every summer.  Have you noticed all the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: Beth Whisman must resign from airport

Whisman has resigned.  The Edgar County Watchdogs did a followup story – the last line is particularly good! http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2018/04/beth-whisman-resigned-as-commissioner-of-bloomington-normal-airport-authority/ ______________________________________ Original story: http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2018/04/beth-whisman-unqualified-to-serve-as-commissioner-of-bloomington-normal-airport-authority/

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

FAA, CIRA, and Soccer

By:  Diane Benjamin I filed a FOIA request with the FAA pertaining to the soccer fields on January 31, 2018.  I received it today by mail.  It’s not that big, no word on why it had to be mailed. So, why does soccer need to leave the airport property? See this 1994 letter written by […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

CIRA needs money too

By:  Diane Benjamin Illinois is in a death spiral and now it’s local.  Every level of government refuses to live within their means and adjust to changing conditions.  They think they can pick your pocket whenever they want. Central Illinois Regional Airport is the latest. CIRA has found a state legislator in Bellville to sponsor […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Why is BN Advantage a secret group?

By:  Diane Benjamin BN Advantage was formed in 2015.  Their mission is to get all the players together for collaboration on economic development strategy. The Bloomington Council approved the formation in October 2015, see this doc:  BN Advantage  I’m sure other area governments passed the same type resolution. Temporarily forget the fact that government doesn’t […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Moving out?

By:  Diane Benjamin I recently had some time to read through the minutes of CIRA Board meetings and other information on their website. Discussion about extending the soccer lease took place in March:  http://cira.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/March-14-2017-minutes.pdf Normal has every intention of forcing its citizens to pay for the proposed complex: I found another item that is even […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

WGLT: Your local tax dollars

By:  Diane Benjamin UPDATE to this story:  https://blnnews.com/2017/01/23/redistributing-your-wealth/ Since WGLT is National Public Radio, your federal tax dollars already fund them.  They aren’t allowed to sell advertising, all they can do is “underwritten by” non-specific ads. That doesn’t keep your local tax dollars from ending up in their pocket though.  I received this information under […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

News from CIRA’s minutes + Soccer

By:  Diane Benjamin The Central Illinois Regional Airport has their new website:  CIRA.com Meeting dates, agenda’s, minutes etc can be found under “About the Airport” and then “Airport Authority”. Since I haven’t had time to follow them lately, I clicked on the November minutes and found this under Public Comments: The address is Bloomington.  It’s […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

CIRA getting a new website

By:  Diane Benjamin Central Illinois Regional Airport wanted a new website, mostly to comply with laws concerning required postings. As I stated in this article:  https://blnnews.com/2016/04/19/cira-complies/ $50,000 was a ridiculous amount for a website.  The bids received showed that.  At the August meeting a company was selected: The minutes state CIRA wants to “own the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

I couldn’t decide . . .

By:  Diane Benjamin I couldn’t decide which story to do, so I’m throwing THREE into one story. 1) Are employees fleeing?  THREE Manager openings at once!  http://www.mcleancochamber.org/chamber/job-openings 2) This one is funny!  The Title in the printed version of the Pantagraph was “Visitors center a strain on museum” The on-line version got changed:  http://www.pantagraph.com/news/national/government-and-politics/museum-seeks-help-for-route-center/article_97cecedb-3e91-5734-8da3-246c1fa238d6.html “Museum […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

CIRA – still violating?

By:  Diane Benjamin The next meeting of the CIRA (Central Illinois Regional Airport) Board of Commissioners is May 10th.  Since the April meeting, Minutes for January-March have been posted on their website:  http://www.cira.com/   See the bottom of “About CIRA” If you missed previous stories, CIRA was violating the Open Meetings Act by not posting meeting […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

CIRA complies

By:  Diane Benjamin I wonder why nobody ever noticed CIRA was violating the Open Meetings Act? Illinois has a HUGE problem with too many units of government, the Central Illinois Regional Airport being just one.  Since I didn’t want to FOIA them every month for information or just be on their email list, I filed […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Airport Grants

By:  Diane Benjamin See the 2017 Airport proposed budget here:  FY2017 Draft budget-1 The far right column below is part of the budgeted revenue for 2017. State grants:  $132,024 Federal grants:  $5,895,954 Note – the Feds are paying $2,500,000 or the $3,500,000 interior rehab mentioned in the last article.  The Feds are also paying for […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

More on the airport

By:  Diane Benjamin Update to this story from yesterday:  https://blnnews.com/2016/04/14/airport-report/ I received this explanation from Carl Olson (airport manager) about the $9.3 Million reflects as Investments: I received a copy of the proposed budget – a note was included that it will be voted on at the May meeting.  See it here:  FY2017 Draft budget-1   […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Airport report

Update:  Right after I posted this story I was contacted by Carl Olson at the airport.  Hopefully he can answer my question. By:  Diane Benjamin Last Tuesday I attended a CIRA Board meeting for the first time.  I’ve previously reported on CIRA, see stories here:  https://blnnews.com/?s=CIRA I’m sure I was the last person they expected, […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Let’s see if CIRA gets it

By:  Diane Benjamin The Central Illinois Regional Airport is owned by taxpayers.  It isn’t a private company doing whatever it wants – it just acts like it. The meeting minutes aren’t posted on their website.  No agendas and no meeting dates either. That means they are violation of the Open Meetings Act! I thought CIRA […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

More CIRA stuff

By:  Diane Benjamin TAXPAYERS own the Central Illinois Regional Airport, but you know very little about the management or financial position. See the CIRA website here:  http://www.cira.com/  (Under “City Information” – Mitsubishi is still listed) It has ZERO transparency!  There are no links to financial information, agendas, minutes of meetings, or who is on the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Why does CIRA Manager get BIG $$$?

By:  Diane Benjamin The City of Chicago owns both O’Hare and Midway airports. From OpenTheBooks.com the salary of the person who manages BOTH airports in 2014 was: From Rosemarie’s LinkedIn page:     How much does the CIRA Manager earn?  http://blnnews.com/2016/01/28/cira-part-2/ $186,576 for managing O’Hare and Midway. $172,365 for managing CIRA. Anybody see a problem? […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

I despise flying

By:  Diane Benjamin The last time I traveled by air it took 2 hours to get to Washington DC.  Considering I’d driven there twice, each time taking around 13 hours, it was great! It took two days to get home though, Delta stranded me in Atlanta Ga. with no luggage. Last week my daughter flew […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

CIRA: Part 2

By:  Diane Benjamin The first time I sent a FOIA request to the airport for payroll, I received Medicare Wages:  http://blnnews.com/2016/01/21/cira-explain-please/. I did another request for the full salary and benefits paid to the airport manager, Carl Olson.  The original request shows Medicare Wages of  $175,710.68 I received this the second time:  (click to enlarge) […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

CIRA: Part 1

By:  Diane Benjamin The information below was obtained through by the Freedom of Information Act.  The Central Illinois Regional Airport auditors released this information in their report for the year ended 4/30/15. Source:  BNAA – FINAL – Audit Report – 8.20.2015 The airport doesn’t rely on taxes and subsidies nearly as much as Connect Transit […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

CIRA: Explain please

By:  Diane Benjamin According to this Pantagraph article:  http://www.pantagraph.com/business/local/olson-gets-contract-extension/article_c3a51735-c4ad-5cda-853b-7704ebcffb8a.html – the Executive Director of the airport (Carl Olson) just got a 2.5% raise.  It also states he was earning $172,365 per year.  The article is a glowing endorsement of the great job he is doing.  Funny, because in January the Pantagraph also reported traffic was down […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Airport: If we build it . . . .

By:  Diane Benjamin Add CIRA to the list of projects government created firmly believing it would create economic activity, benefit citizens, and not be a tax burden.  CIRA now joins the ranks of other local boondoggles like the Coliseum and the BPCA. If we build it, they will come. For awhile they did come.  CIRA […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Fly on the Wall: Pantagraph says it’s YOUR fault

According to an anonymous Editorial: It’s your fault Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA) keeps losing airlines.  Quit driving to Springfield, Peoria, or Chicago to fly – you are hurting the local airport. Here’s the plan: 1)  You need to fly somewhere that currently isn’t a destination from Bloomington. 2)  Book a flight out of Bloomington […]