By: Diane Benjamin http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1119&Inline=True Bloomington won’t be voting on the changes to your garbage service presented last Monday. It didn’t make the agenda, actually not much made the agenda. The Council will still be meeting virtually but most of the Local Emergency Ordinance is being cancelled. See PDF page 179 and following. Of course the […]
By: Diane Benjamin The IT Department is planning major upgrades, the presentation starts at 50:45. The projected budget for the year that ended 4/30/21 was $3,429,242. The budget for this year increase 15.5% to $4,182,365, an increase of $753,123. Source: Budget PDF page 167 https://www.cityblm.org/home/showpublisheddocument/26434/637575549746730000 This graphic at 59:19 shows where the IT Department wants […]
By: Diane Benjamin http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1118&Inline=True In a perfect example of government believing individuals have no responsibility but government does: The McLean County Regional Planning Commission will make a presentation that includes this: Eliminate fatalities and life-changing injuries from our transportation system by 2030 That is the most absurd statement ever written with tax dollars. I can’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington has been struggling with balancing the solid waste enterprise fund for many years. Don’t forget, until 2005 the taxes you already paid covered the service. The enterprise fund was established only to tax you more until the fund balances. Yearly 3% increases haven’t kept the fund in balance, […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember when Bloomington bought all new garbage trucks so they only needed one person instead of two? Remember when they bought “carts” so those trucks could pick them up automatically? Remember when that didn’t save enough money so a previous Council passed automatic fee increases to avoid ever having to vote on […]
By: Diane Benjamin Committee of the Whole: http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1103&Inline=True Businesses are flocking to low tax states with limited regulations. Proving yet again companies have to be paid to locate in Illinois: Illinois is perfectly located to successful promote economic development without incentives. Standing in the way is Illinois government and the massive debt and unfunded liabilities. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Follow-up to this story: https://wordpress.com/post/blnnews.com/67411 That story has pic from last Friday of brush that was scheduled to be picked up last Tuesday. This pic is from yesterday, the brush is still there – 8 days after it was supposed to be picked up. It has to be in the street to […]
Update: They do charge something for recycling, I’m attempting to find out how much. It depends on where you live in Peoria. The City does have drop off locations. By: Diane Benjamin The City of Peoria just approved a new 7 year contract with a possible 3 year extension for private garbage service that includes […]
By: Diane Benjamin These emails were received by FOIA: I have many emails against the Welcoming Ordinance. This one shows the thinking of people wanting the ordinance. If you believe government performs services better than the private sector, you are dead wrong. The private sector has to compete for your business, government just taxes you […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tari’s protester is back in front of City Hall this morning: Below is what the Council passed last night 6-3. Alderman Sage, Schmidt, and Painter voted against it. A 95 gallon can is now $25.00 a month. It will increase $4 a month plus 3% a year that means: 1 year 29.00 2 […]
By: Diane Benjamin http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=15932 Now for the meat of tonight’s Bloomington City Council meeting! Finally we have arrived at the tax increases. Solid Waste – AGAIN! PDF page 130 The Council will get a choice – all of them cost you more: Ordinance 1: “High Service Level, High Fee Increases” Ordinance 2: “Medium Service Level, […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tari was against privatizing garbage, so last night he changed the rules. An Executive Session (secret meeting) was part of the 5:00 meeting. I don’t remember when the video has ever started before their secret meeting. It did last night so an ASFME representative could inform the Council that privatizing garbage service […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City knows what Bills and Payroll should be posted to their website, evidently you aren’t allowed to know. Nothing has been posted yet, but approval is on the agenda: Labor unions are running the City of Bloomington! They don’t work for you, you are their slaves forced to pay their salaries, […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington’s AFSCME Union is actively campaigning on Facebook for their jobs: Of course they are worried about losing jobs, so are State Farm employees. The difference is SF employees can’t do a thing about it. AFSCME gets pay, benefits, and pensions with taxpayer dollars, but they expect you to lobby for them! […]
By: Diane Benjamin The McLean County Board voted for the original Solid Waste plan without the Scritchlow Amendment. The vote was 10-8 meaning 5 Republicans voted with the Democrats. I hear Don Cavallini takes winters off for warmer weather, that at least is the rumor. Board Chair John McIntyre didn’t vote. The crossed out R’s […]
By: Diane Benjamin The second session of the retreat was 3 hours and 33 minutes. I DID NOT LISTEN TO EVERY SECOND! I jumped around and listened to more than half. It was obvious Quality of Life is not going to be in proposed cuts. The discussion involved real spending for the first time in […]
By: Diane Benjamin I get delicious free water from a well. You folks in town have to pay for it. I bet you think your government priced that water according to what it cost them to bring it to your house. You might even be okay if they added a little to the price to […]
By: Diane Benjamin I remember great angst from the Council during discussion on privatizing garbage in Bloomington. Even citizens wanted government service because private wouldn’t be as good. Seriously? Private MUST succeed because it’s their money at risk. Government has no incentive to provide the best service at the best price because they DON’T have […]
By: Diane Benjamin See Part 1 here: https://blnnews.com/2016/08/03/finally-some-data/ The below is from data posted on the City of Bloomington website by the Finance Department. From Page 9: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=10958 Sewer and Storm water fees will be your next tax increase. You could get a garbage increase too. A summary of Sewer and Storm Water operations is […]
By: Diane Benjamin See the detailed budget here: FY 2017 Budget Detail The document can be searched – if you want more information on any item Click Edit – Find and type the exact words in the Search Box. This looks like more signs pointing downtown: Wayfinding signage – adding $100,000 More consultants: Downtown Parking […]
By: Diane Benjamin Lately the City of Bloomington has been raising every fee possible under the theory of “users” should pay for the service. It doesn’t matter that decades of previous spending paid for the service with taxes already collected. Obviously the goal is to Tax more so they can Spend more. Tonight the Council […]
By: Diane Benjamin Monday night the Council is holding a Work Session to hear the results of the Fee study. See the packet information here: Fee Study Enterprise Funds were created to raise taxes. Solid waste pickup was included in the taxes you already paid just 10 short years ago. Monday night the Council will […]
By: Diane Benjamin Sick of hearing about Solid Waste funding yet? The Council has been discussing it since at least 2013! Don’t worry, it will end soon when fees are raised again. The neighbor wars are going to be great. Somebody dumps junk in front of your house and you get the bill. You […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night’s Bloomington City Council work session never did ONE thing, clarify the purpose of government. The elephant in the room is sucking the life out of the City because local government has no core values. Alderman Fruin tried to start a discussion of Council priorities – start watching at 1:11. His […]
By: Diane Benjamin The below if from page 29: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=9336 The financial statements released last Friday contain a wealth of information. There will be much more information coming in the next few days. The City of Bloomington has been trying to make residents pay more for garbage service since 2005. Prior to 2005 the cost […]
By: Diane Benjamin I have to try the bird-cage liner approach for a minute, only because all this stuff doesn’t fit together: Cheers To Alderman Hauman for offering to lead the next retreat instead of paying Lynn Montei huge bucks. The Council still has to make it official next Monday. Little jeers to some Council […]
By: Diane Benjamin On Monday night the City of Bloomington will hold another Council meeting. Lots of you have commented on this site about the Dukowitz-Renner-Hauman attempt to silence the Press. I STRONGLY encourage you to speak at Public Comment. Too often the Council sees the same people at every meeting. The Council can ignore your […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below are some interesting items approved for payment at the last City Council meeting. Bills and Payroll – 5/26/15 http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8606 Moving expenses for the new City Clerk from Nevada: CHERRY LAWSON 00000 INV 04/30/2015 MVNG EXP NV 4/15 115554 1 10011310 70632 CtyClerk Pro Develp 2,604.55 Invoice Net 2,604.55 CHECK That’s pretty cheap considering […]
By: Diane Benjamin Two schools of thought are in play locally: 1) Government exists to create Quality of Life – no specific definition 2) Government exists to provide essential services citizens can not provide for themselves – police, fire, streets, sewers etc Normal switched to option 1 when Koos was elected. Everything that happens there […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember when Bloomington bought new garbage trucks and cans? Why doesn’t the City know how much money they are saving by automating? How many MILLIONS did that cost, evidently the Council didn’t ask how much would be saved before spending the money and now the City doesn’t know if they are saving money. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Here’s the link to what the Council WILL pass Monday night to still not solve their garbage service problem: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8454 As predicted, the $50 per bucket charge was just to make citizens happy the City settled on $25. Celebrate now, keeping in mind the taxes you already pay used to pay 100% […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below are some of the items on the agenda for Monday’s City Council meeting: Bills and Payroll: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8450 LEGAL Contracted 59,280.00 (Springfield law firm) LEGAL Outside Legal Co 22,519.42 The Council will also approve the payment to me ordered by the judge even though the check has already been cut. Budget: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8447 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Side note – By a vote of 7-2 the potted plants voted to buy the Sugar Creek Packing Co property. Of course it was 7 – 2. Independent thought isn’t in play when Renner and Hales want something. The discussion bordered on fraud since Hales played the non-compliance card. He claims parking […]
By: Diane Benjamin 10 short years ago Bloomington did not charge for ANY garbage or bulky waste pickup. In 2005 the Council decided they could no longer cover the cost. Previously the cost was part of the services provided by the City through the taxes you paid. This is from the FY 2005 budget, page […]
by Diane Benjamin I can’t find this proposed ordinance for the never-ending Solid Waste debate on the City website, this was sent to me. It looks to me like every citizen should request as many 35 gallon carts as they want, because the cost will only be $16. Can anybody clarify? . P.S. Whatever they […]
