By: Diane Benjamin This was the agenda for the January 2nd for the MENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY FUND ADVISORY COUNCIL (FAC) . I have no idea why this committee, which is subject to FOIA, and the McLean County Behaviour Health Coordinating Council (not subject to FOIA) both need to exist. No documentation was posted […]
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, […]
By: Diane Benjamin I hope you listened to at least parts of Kathleen’s interview from this story: https://blnnews.com/2022/08/01/kathleen-lorenz/ Since she explained over and over that she is data-driven and has an analytical engineers mind, I asked her two questions: Kathleen, I listened to your interview twice only because I was in the car. I’m […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tap-On Fees of course were mentioned by Stan Nord again Monday night. Of course Chris Koos called him out of order. Same story, different meeting. Pam Reece decided to deflect Nord’s comments at the end of the meeting. She claimed there is no favoritism in who is charged and who isn’t. She […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal is getting almost $11 million in American Rescue Funds over 2 years. Remember this slide from the Town of Normal Work Session on spending the windfall? https://blnnews.com/2021/12/07/normals-work-session-lack-of-transparency/ See the $3.5 million for the Savannah Green neighborhood. I have a map of that area below, but first you need […]
By: Diane Benjamin As requested by Chris Koos: Of course the bobbleheads will approve the request. Being less than transparent however, this is in the actual ordinance: Unless you read the documentation above carefully, you wouldn’t know Pam’s Salary is now over $200,000 to manage what is in reality a small town. Normal is Ruled […]
I should have read a few more pages before posting this story. See below, Kathleen Lorenz qualifies as a useful idiot. By: Diane Benjamin The two emails in the previous story are from last fall: https://blnnews.com/2021/04/15/more-on-normals-war-with-bloomington/ Those emails prove Normal’s plan to replace Bloomington water at the Rivian plant. Note the date in this email […]
By: Diane Benjamin This item is on the Omnibus Agenda. In case you forgot, those items are routine and don’t need to be discussed unless a Trustee pulls one. Since Stan Nord was elected the Council does pull items, mostly not to object, but more to praise staff for the great job putting it together. […]
By: Diane Benjamin The best line in a really good movie. It applies here. First: I’ve added some email comments from parents to this story: https://blnnews.com/2020/12/10/parents-your-forum/ The stories are heartbreaking and the actions of school boards, superintendents, teacher’s unions, Pritzker or whoever else is keeping kids from being in school should be considered criminal. They […]
By: Diane Benjamin The current contract Pam Reece has to be Normal’s City Manager is dated March 15, 2018. Expect a review and wage increase soon. It will be discussed in Executive Session but MUST be voted on at a Council meeting. See the contract here; Reece Contract Excerpts:
By: Diane Benjamin Stan Nord has been trying to fix a few things in Normal since before he was elected. Everybody should know by now the Town has been throwing away taxpayer dollars paying property taxes they don’t owe. Stan has tried to bring some other Council members into the discussion in an attempt to […]
