By: Diane Benjamin Pretend a big corporation has a CEO and a Board of Directors headed by a guy who tells the CEO what to do. Most on the Board believes anything they are told and never look for facts themselves. The Board fails to realize they have a responsibility to the stockholders, they happily […]
By: Diane Benjamin Friday the bird-cage liner did their weekly version of Cheers and Jeers. Make sure you are sitting down. Ready? They CHEERED the Bloomington Budget Task Force! Evidently they have changed the paper to the local comedy show. Hey Editor – How about asking Tari Renner and David Hales why a group of […]
By: Diane Benjamin I emailed with the reporter of the Chicago Tribune story today. Without him, you never would have known the City was allowing you to be ripped off. Joe Mahr gave me a little more history of spiking. The law disallowing employees to spike their salary in the final 3 months of employment […]
By: Diane Benjamin The fine for Emily Bell spiking her pension was assessed against the City of Bloomington in DECEMBER 2014. It wasn’t paid until 4/30/15 – and congrats taxpayers, interest of $1636.99 was added to the tab. Total paid was $360,031.11! All payments in excess of $50,000 are supposed to be approved by the […]
By: Diane Benjamin See this post from yesterday: http://blnnews.com/2015/08/26/imrf-what-did-hales-know-and-when/ David Hales could have stopped this insanity in 2012. $1,216,177.70 of Bloomington taxpayer dollars would not have disappeared if employees and David Hales had any ethics. All that needed to be done is this: Employees get their accumulated sick leave pay THE DAY THEY LEAVE CITY […]
By: Diane Benjamin At last Monday night’s Council meeting a discussion took place about pension spiking. The Chicago Tribune reported on Emily Bell’s pension spiking and the resulting fine of $358,394.12 the Bloomington taxpayers were forced to pay. Her fine was the highest in the State. Obviously the discussion never would have taken place if […]
By: Diane Benjamin If my Internet hadn’t been down AGAIN for most of the day, I’d look up the video. Maybe you remember Renner talking about downtown: “We wouldn’t want a Jiffy Lube on the corner”. Did you elect a Mayor or god? Who gave him a right to decide what goes where? Maybe Jiffy […]
By: Diane Benjamin Only the Hales supporters on the City Council don’t understand that low employee morale at the City of Bloomington if David Hales’ fault. Employees have been stripped in essential areas while Hales’ staff has ballooned. Employees are forced to document everything they do so Hales can measure results. Much time is wasted […]
By: Diane Benjamin Probably knowing he was getting the blame, David Hales called into WJBC this morning to discuss the sick leave payouts. He claimed that except for Police and Fire. all new employees don’t get that benefit anymore. He blamed past Councils for not taking action. I guess he still hasn’t figured out the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Renner was on WJBC yesterday with Scott Laughlin. You don’t need to listen to the whole discussion, just the last 30 seconds. http://cdn.stationcaster.com/stations/wjbc/media/mpeg/Mayor_Tari_Renner-1439933912.mp3 The topic was the fine paid by Bloomington taxpayers when Emily Bell spiked her pension with accumulated sick days. Renner and the Council were “shocked” according to Tari when […]
By: Diane Benjamin Previously I wrote about local school districts throwing away your money in penalties because some employees were paid more than allowed before they retired – thus spiking their pensions. http://blnnews.com/2015/05/24/unit-5-and-district-87-burn-your-money/ The City of Bloomington is doing the same thing! Their policy of allowing employees to accumulate sick days and getting paid for […]
By: Diane Benjamin The management agreement for the Coliseum specifies concessions will be handled directly by CIAM or an “independent contractor”. BMI Concessions is NOT independent, since John Butler owns both CIAM and BMI, I can’t find where BMI ever received approval from the City Council to operate as a separate company. From CIAM’s management […]
By: Diane Benjamin If the Bloomington City Council hadn’t expanded Public Comment to 30 minutes a few weeks ago (when Renner was out of town), a lot of people wouldn’t have been allowed to speak last night. See the video below – Comments starts at 6:40. First up was Judy Stearns. Please please please listen […]
By: Diane Benjamin Expecting Renner’s hand-picked budget task force to find cuts is laughable, so here’s some help for them: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8482 Salaries make up the largest part of the budget, so obviously every job needs to be assessed for its contribution to the City. Adding personnel in Administration just means employees discovering vital work to do that […]
By: Diane Benjamin Attn: Budget Task Force It is estimated McLean County Land Trust CC-1 currently owes the City $562,194.78 in development fees. http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=6615 Page 167 COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED: Snyder Development From the packet APRIL 14, 2014 The parties are working together in good faith to resolve their differences, and believe that they should […]
By: Diane Benjamin Evidently David Hales, Tari Renner, and John Butler think I can’t prove concessions need to be audited at the Coliseum. Maybe this will help them out. Click on the picture, it’s easier to read if it’s bigger: The above was internally prepared at the Coliseum. John Butler is supposed to pay the City […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington City Council is holding a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night. The June Committee of the Whole meeting was NOT live streamed or video taped. Transparency? NOPE. That means, you better attend! John Butler and Bart Rogers from CIAM are scheduled to proclaim the greatness of what they have […]
By: Diane Benjamin Monday night the City Council approved buying new video board equipment for the Coliseum – $1,389,605 before interest accrues from borrowing the money. The documentation and discussion claimed the purchase was competitively bid because a group called The Cooperative Purchase Network was used for the purchase. The documentation given to the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last Monday the Bloomington City Council voted to BORROW around $1.5 MILLION to buy video equipment for the Coliseum. Only Aldermen Scott Black and Kevin Lower voted against it. Karen Schmidt got out of the vote because she was acting mayor in Renner’s absence. Alderman Joni Painter evidently didn’t do her homework […]
By: Diane Benjamin City Manager David Hales was on WJBC with Scott Laughlin yesterday. The interview is the perfect example of the media not forcing the truth from a City official. Maybe Scott didn’t know what questions to ask. You can listen to the interview here: http://cdn.stationcaster.com/stations/wjbc/media/mpeg/David_Hales__Bloomington_City_Manager-1436880986.mp3 Yes, it’s painful, but the part that interested […]
By: Diane Benjamin Check out the Coliseum’s Income and Budget numbers from 2006-2007: Income: $3,353,392 fell short of the budgeted $3,580,500. Now look at the numbers from 2014 – 2015: (click to enlarge) Income is over $1.3 Million less, the Budget is over $1 Million less! Admitting defeat? In April 2008 they reported income of $3,251,651 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Federal debt now stands at more the $18 Trillion. Bloomington and the County want it higher. Tonight the council will vote to approve a Federal Tiger grants application to expand Hamilton Road and build a Multi-Modal Transportation Center by the Law and Justice Center. Bloomington can’t afford it, so make the entire country pay […]
By: Diane Benjamin The March edition of David Hales’ City Manager report is out: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8528 The usual Strategic Plan is on page 5, note how many items the City of Bloomington is failing to achieve – Financially sound City providing Quality Basic Services See parts a-e. Upgrade City Infrastructure – Quality roads Check the rest […]
Evidently Hales hired a Water Director who wasn’t qualified! Imagine that. By: Diane Benjamin I know it’s a lot to ask, but maybe the local government-run press (bird-cager liner and 90 yrs on air) could every once a while realize they are being lied to. The latest incident occurred this week when Bloomington City Manger […]
By: Diane Benjamin . Watch the public comment at the beginning of the meeting. Deb Polzin was especially good, but some of the others were great too. No wonder the video got lost for a while. The standing ovation for Judy Stearns and her comments after begin at 27:00. See Sage sitting the entire time, […]
By: Diane Benjamin Since Hales is doing such a phenomenal job with things like great roads and public services, he get another raise Monday night. The potted plants will of course comply, putting out scare propaganda like police and firemen will be cut if the State cuts our funds, must be rewarded! Details here: http://blnnews.com/2015/04/20/leaders-verses-crybabies/ […]
By: Diane Benjamin In case you have never read it, the contract is posted on-line: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7935 This version is from April 2013, retro-active to January 12, 2013. The contract expires January 11, 2017. Hales was due for evaluation on or before January 12, 2015, but it still hasn’t happened except in emails from some Council […]
By: Diane Benjamin I recently received a Freedom of Information Act Request on recently hired management by the City of Bloomington. Requested were applications and resumes, I also included David Hales. You can see what I received for Hales here: Hales, David A Before coming to Bloomington, Hales was Director of Finance/Administrative Services for West […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below are 2 charts from the budget documents on the City of Bloomington website. Both recap spending just for Administration. The first chart can be found it: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=2016 Page 143 The second chart can be found at: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8224 Page 118 Total Admin spending: 2011 $590,415.95 Actual 2012 $668,452.00 Projected 2013 […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Peoria Rivermen signed a new deal last weekend with the Peoria Civic Center. It is for one year with an option for another. If you didn’t know – the Rivermen are co-owed by Bart Rogers and John Butler: CIAM (Central Illinois Arena Management). Meanwhile, the Coliseum doesn’t have professional hockey, doesn’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin The December City Manager’s Report is now on-line: http://www.cityblm.org//modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=8147 The City goal: Measuring Performance – Targeting Results The report by the Police only has one chart comparing current violent crime to a 4 year average. The property crimes chart is only for a year. I’d like to see year-to-year comparisons so performance […]
By: Diane Benjamin From the Packet for Monday’s City Council meeting: http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=242&parent=7717 COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED: Snyder Development, A. Clay Cox, Edward R. Gower FINANCIAL IMPACT: It is estimated McLean County Land Trust CC-1 currently owes the City $562,194.78 in development fees. There are other “punch list” items that are covered by this agreement that […]
By: Diane Benjamin I don’t know how long it’s been on-line, but October is finally posted. http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7640 There is a nice story about 2 City employees who noticed a bucket on fire in an open garage and put it out – saving the house! The homeowner was home and didn’t know anything was amiss. Nice […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington has been trying to minimize the power of the City Council. The 9 aldermen are elected by citizens to be their representative, but the seven potted plants on the Council continue to defer to David Hales instead of making common sense decisions for themselves. Frankly, I’m surprised there […]
by: Diane Benjamin Laws are only for us little people, not the guys sucking your tax money. In another episode of releasing Executive Session (Secret Meetings) minutes, this gem was obtaining under the Freedom of Information Act: h/t JS From October 10, 2011 The Executive Session was called to order at 5:02 p.m. Mayor Stockton cited […]
Sorry, Fazzini’s final day was September 3rd. These are after he quit. By: Diane Benjamin Below are a couple more emails I received under the Freedom of Information Act from the Town of Normal. These will tell who Bloomington City Manager David Hales is: A guy who can’t make a decision. Note these emails are […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington citizens should read City manager David Hales’ Monthly Report. It looks like many many hours are put into it, that might explain why the staff is over-worked. The September report can be seen here: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7452 There are a few interesting things. Renner really wants to expand the library. Meanwhile the number […]
By: Diane Benjamin Much of the news about the City Council meeting last night concerned the Brady grant and Central Catholic. It was illuminating to see how the conversation turned from “this is the only use for the $750,000” to now “we can use it for any park or trail project”. Sen Bill Brady was […]
by: Diane Benjamin Bill Brady says if Bloomington doesn’t take the $750,000 to expand McGraw Park, he will have to look for other places to spend it. Hey Bill! Mister so-called conservative, how about NOT spending it. Bill claims it is HIS grant. Really Bill? You have been in government too long Billy. It isn’t […]
by: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington has an employee turnover problem. Back in July it was a topic at a City Council meeting. City Manager David Hales explained the employees don’t have a good balance of work and personal life. He blamed staff shortages for the morale problems. Yesterday David Hales threw City Clerk […]
