Tag: Jeff Jurgens

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Opticos: profiting from pre-packaged message

By: Diane Benjamin Opticos Designs is the California based consultant who is recommending zoning changes to single family neighborhoods in Bloomington. Note that Normal isn’t doing anything close. Guess what? Opticos is pushing the same talking points in Maryland: https://montgomeryplanning.org/events/what-is-missing-middle-housing-presentation-to-the-silver-spring-community-from-opticos-design/ This event will feature Tony Perez from Opticos Design who is a Missing Middle Housing expert in […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

More Bloomington Prosecutions for Code Violations

By: Diane Benjamin Elected officials are once again exempt from prosecution. All future local elections will be highly partisan since 3 democrats got away with violating city code. Republican leaning candidates need to play the same game and expose the far left candidates who want you to believe they are just normal democrats. They aren’t. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Jenna Kearns violates City Code Too

By: Diane Benjamin Cody violated City Code. Did Abby Scott do it too? See: https://blnnews.com/2025/03/23/fly-on-the-wall-cody-hendricks/ Will the McLean County Chamber of Commerce withdraw their endorsement of Kearns? If elected officials and those who want to be elected violate laws, why should anyone else obey them? These people are leading the City down a dangerous road. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Pam Reece now makes $226,000 a year

By: Diane Benjamin The Normal Town Council just gave her a 4% raise. Inflation must be killing her. Put “City Manager Salary in Illinois” into your search bar. I got this: https://www.salary.com/research/salary/recruiting/city-manager-salary/il Only 5% of Americans earn more than $200,000. https://gcelt.org/what-percentage-of-americans-make-over-200k-a-comprehensive-look-at-income-distribution-in-the-us/#google_vignette That article also states: “the sectors most commonly associated with big bucks are finance, […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

A Few More Things from Monday’s Meeting

By: Diane Benjamin City Manager Jeff Jurgens has some comments at the end of the meeting – before they went into Executive Session to discuss buying property. Expect an agenda item soon so they can build another fire station. It won’t be in north east Bloomington. I’m just guessing here! Jeff stated the entire bulk […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Jeff Jurgens salary doesn’t leave room for merit raises

By: Diane Benjamin Tim Gleason’s base salary as City Manager was $212,862.84. The 2023 total compensation report is finally posted: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/30290/638487793683670000 A contract for Monday night’s City Council meeting for Jeff Jurgens shows a base salary of $210,000. https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/2570155/Jurgens_CM_Contract.pdf Gleason had much more experience than Jurgens. Jurgen’s in a lawyer and Gleason isn’t. Since a […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: Bloomington names a new City Manager today

I was right. Congrats Jeff. Now cancel rebranding and fix the roads! By: Diane Benjamin I predict Jeff Jurgens will be named City Manager. He wouldn’t be named today if the council wasn’t already on board. Jurgens is one of the good guys, at least in my dealings with him. Of course any City Manager […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington’s Last Meeting of the Year

By: Diane Benjamin The Council will take the final vote on raising your property taxes. Tis the season . . . The Finance Director will give his monthly report – he should present it before the property tax vote but won’t. The City has plans for your money. You aren’t allowed to keep and spend […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Truths we used to know, hook up the Uhaul

By: Diane Benjamin In case you missed this story in the media: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_bc96b2e2-5338-11ee-a876-73caeb277433.html Clever Real Estate teamed up with moving company Allied Van Lines and found that Illinois has had more outbound moves than any other state in the past six months. Why would people continue to flee Illinois? The Bloomington City Council is encouraging out-migration. 5 of […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Inflation Is Good for Government!

By: Diane Benjamin A couple more things from Bloomington’s Monday meeting: Jeff Jurgen, who was promoted to the 2nd Assistant City Manager has a base pay of $186,134. With benefits the total is $234,297: https://bloomingtonil_redesign.prod.govaccess.org/home/showpublisheddocument/29259/638174076712770000 An employee now with the State’s Attorney’s office has been hired to replace Jurgens as Corporate Attorney – Christopher Spanos. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington’s torturous meeting

By: Diane Benjamin I keep forgetting to mention the City has a new website. It is much more functional, content remains to be seen. The last one was impossible to search quickly for the information wanted. See 2:19:56. Bloomington already has it’s second Deputy City Manager. Corporate Council Jeff Jurgens is taking the job. Tim […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Part 3 Bloomington-Is BEC screwing up elections?

By: Diane Benjamin A Facebook friend asked why I didn’t include this in previous stories. Since I still don’t understand the ramifications of what attorney Jeff Jurgens stated Monday night, this just gives me another reason to say the Bloomington Election Commission needs abolished. The City is changing Ward maps to equalize population in the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

More Coliseum even I didn’t know

By: Diane Benjamin I FOIA’d the City of Bloomington for communication about the John Butler/CIAM case. That FOIA I have, I also FOIA’d the County. I haven’t received that one yet. I found some interesting emails, the City was thrilled the case was over. I’m not thrilled because no one employed or representing the citizens […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Parting gift: Tari guilty of another OMA violation

By: Diane Benjamin WGLT reported yesterday Bloomington was found guilty of violating the Open Meetings Act in 2017 for discussing ending the Metro Zone agreement with Normal in secret. The Attorney General had previously ruled it illegal, according to the article the current ruling reversed a lower court ruling. https://www.wglt.org/post/appeals-court-bloomington-violated-open-meetings-act Besides the fact Justice Delayed […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Remember Kirk Allen at Public Comment?

Since the Bloomington City Council refuses to meet in person, the Edgar County Watchdogs did a story today. I can NOT get the link to post. Go to edgarcountywatchdogs.com to see the story. Right now it is at the top of their site. It would have been nice if they could have confronted Tari in […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Jim Karch was demoted

By:  Diane Benjamin The Total Compensation report for 2019 isn’t posted yet, so the only salary available is from 2018:  https://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=21565 2019 was more than likely higher. Karch now has a new job as Special Projects Manager.  How much is he getting paid now? https://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=23785 The rumor is this job is merely a placeholder position […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Proof of a Cover-Up?

By:  Diane Benjamin I received a lot of information from a FOIA filed with the City of Bloomington.  Almost everything is redacted including discussion of Holiday Decorations for downtown.  That must be a state secret! This is what you get when you pay a law firm in Springfield almost $60,000 every month! (pre Tari the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Cannabis Task force will be a joke

By:  Diane Benjamin The Downtown Task Force was a joke, the vast majority of people did not want to build a  new library and bus transfer station by tearing down a parking garage.  Tari claimed the Budget Task force was a success, it proved that Council was incapable of making any cuts.  Huge success Tari.  […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Pension Spiking: incredible waste of money

By:  Diane Benjamin Spiking pensions in Bloomington has cost taxpayers over $2,000,000 since 2012. Spiking a pension means collecting more in retirement than employees are entitled to.  Your government “gifts” them more retirement at taxpayer expense.  The IMRF retirement system started charging for spiking when they realized the pension funds would not remain viable if […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

WGLT finally sees the light?

By:  Diane Benjamin See this recent WGLT story:  http://wglt.org/post/new-documents-link-vague-coliseum-contract-criminal-charges The former Coliseum management could get greatly reduced sentences because the documents WGLT presented prove the City didn’t care – as in David Hales didn’t care.  Hales was paid huge bucks to manage the City, he failed.  I really hope he is called as a witness to […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Who is the leaker?

By:  Diane Benjamin On January 23rd WGLT had an intriguing story.  I was hoping some other media cared or WGLT would do a followup because it left too many questions unanswered. See the story here:  http://wglt.org/post/emails-prosecutors-declined-citys-request-closed-session-coliseum-case According to the story, WGLT got their hands on some emails between Bloomington attorney Jeff Jurgens and the State’s Attorney office.  […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

New Oaths Forthcoming!

By:  Diane Benjamin The “Welcoming Ordinance” meeting is December 18th at the BCPA. This morning I emailed the City Attorney, Jeff Jurgens about the oaths of office.  I just received a response: Keep in mind Tari Renner, Mboka Mwilambwe, Joni Painter, and Scott Black have taken the oath of office before. Ask them why they […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Blatant Taxpayer Abuse

By:  Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington knew the law had changed on pension spiking in 2012.  They changed the policy for NEW hires, but not for existing employees. Here’s the recap: The IMRF retirement fund was tired of paying for spiked pensions because of Sick Leave Buy Back payments that inflated ending salaries. Since […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

The Real Legal Expenses

By:  Diane Benjamin When the Pantagraph appears to do a study of anything, it usually means Bloomington is up to something and using them to gauge public opinion.  Today it was legal expenses and justifying the outrageous amount the City sends to Springfield every month while telling you not to buy on the internet – […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Little of this and a little of that

By:  Diane Benjamin Gas in Decatur today $2.11.  Gas in Bloomington today $2.25. _____________________________ A complaint was filed against Tari Renner for violating the garbage can ordinance:  https://blnnews.com/2017/08/06/do-laws-codes-regulations-matter/ It was filed by a Bloomington resident who has recently been hassled by the City.  The resident filed a FOIA request for the letter sent to Renner’s address, […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Lack of Transparency continues

By:  Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington can’t legally withhold documents that existed before the State Police announced their investigation, but they are trying to keep me from finding the truth anyway.  Did they really think I wouldn’t write about it? I filed a FOIA request for the all General Ledger Accounts pertaining to Sister […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Spending Posted!

By:  Diane Benjamin Bills and Payroll got posted for Bloomington Monday night:  http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=14211 Why is the City using your money for Rotary Club Dues? Library too! Bronner isn’t conducting an annual audit, are they helping the State Police? Did you get your picnic invite? See this story: https://blnnews.com/2016/09/28/consultants-another-one-that-slipped-by/  Yocum only bills the City every six […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Council Monday night

By:  Diane Benjamin Every vote was 9-0 with virtual no discussion, so the Council part of the meeting was boring. Public comment was better.  Note to City:  The length of public comment isn’t 30 minutes – the time citizens spend talking is 30 minutes.  The chair is capable of wasting the public’s time. First up […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Zero Transparency, ISU, and more

By:  Diane Benjamin The Bills and Payroll the Council approved for payment last night have never been posted on the City website:  http://www.cityblm.org/government/advanced-components/documents/-folder-500 I wonder if the council was given a paper version or if they just approved spending without knowing what the voted on?  Keep in mind – these are the same people who […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Followup: Illegal meetings

By:  Diane Benjamin Yesterday I did not receive a response from the State’s Attorney or the Sheriff.  The illegal joint meeting between the Council and the Library Board took place. Bloomington attorney Jeff Jurgens admitted in an email the two meetings now posted on the Library Board website were not posted 48 hours in advance. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington Fails FOIA

By:  Diane Benjamin This isn’t the first time and I’m sure it won’t be the last for the City of Bloomington employees to not care about the law.  Lavish salary and benefits frequently make people think they aren’t answerable to the people who make both happen.  Bloomington employees feel entitled to secrecy and therefore do […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Open letter to the Bloomington Council

By:  Diane Benjamin Go ahead and pretend you have a mandate. 4644 people voted AGAINST Tari Renner Jamie Mathy only won by 319 votes, more than that voted against him. Close to half the people in Ward 3 voted AGAINST Mboka Mwilambwe Joni Painter only won by 97 votes The guy ineligible to serve from […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Excuses OVER Renner!

By:  Diane Benjamin Tari Renner’s claims to now be protecting the taxpayers of Bloomington in the Metro Zone flap are a joke. Why? Besides the fact that 5 Aldermen put Metro Zone on the agenda, not Renner – what happened to the letters Tari received at Rosie’s from citizens about their health insurance costs?  We […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Nothing better than LIES

By:  Diane Benjamin One more note from last night’s Council meeting.  Renner lied – how many times does this make?  Of course, he wouldn’t even recognize lies anymore. The topic was Sick Leave Buy Back again.  The City policy was changed in 2012 to make any new hires not eligible for this benefit available nowhere […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Renner: Think I wouldn’t find out?

By:  Diane Benjamin A few weeks ago City Attorney Jeff Jurgens and Mayor Renner gave a talk at the Illinois Municipal League Conference.  The topic was new media.  I, of course, made sure I knew someone who would be in the room.  The Edgar County Watchdogs and I were discussed at length. This is not […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Road trip to Chatham

By:  Diane Benjamin I’ve been hearing about water problems in Chatham Illinois for months.  Last night I attended their Council meeting with the Edgar County Watchdogs. Chatham has a population around 12,000 people.  Their water used to be supplied from Springfield, but a few years ago the Council changed the source.  Many citizens spoke about […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

The fun never stops: See this!

By:  Diane Benjamin The Illinois Municipal League has a conference in September.  The IML is an organization that hasn’t filed tax returns in decades, their top employees got themselves State pensions even though they aren’t State employees, and they lobby Springfield for local governments – and against the citizens paying the bills. See these two […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

UPDATE: Number SEVEN

UPDATE:   Another agenda for a 5:00 meeting was posted sometime yesterday.  Releasing the transcript may be approved then.     By:  Diane Benjamin Monday night will make the SEVENTH Council Meeting since the Attorney General requested release of the transcript and audio from the illegal Executive Session (Secret meeting) that violated the Open Meetings […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

More Hales bungles

By: Diane Benjamin Another example of incompetence happened at the Council meeting last night.  Increasing Video Gaming fees was illegally on the agenda: Increasing fees on video gaming machines was first discussed at the April 25th meeting.  It was TABLED to a Committee of the Whole meeting : Why is “Tabled” important? City Code:  http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=262 […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Why did Tari explode Legal Expense?

By:  Diane Benjamin 2013 is the budget Tari inherited when he took office. 2017 is all his. I hope the local media quits letting Renner state he isn’t doing anything new and the budget is just increasing 2% per year.  Both are lies.  Look at Legal expenses: 2017 Total Legal  $1,325,308  FY 2017 Budget Detail  […]