Monday night the Town of Normal is finally “fixing” their Public Comment Policy. The Town is making sure it as difficult as possible for citizens: PDSF page 105: https://www.normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/12612/Council-Packet–PDF Right now citizens aren’t allowed to talk about anything not on the agenda. That was obviously illegal and the Town knew it. Instead of just having […]
By: Diane Benjamin With virtually nothing on the agenda Normal might be back to a short meeting. I don’t expect that trend to continue unless they are completely out of money and just not telling anyone. Monday would be a great time for off-agenda Public Comment – lots of them! Koos has the time to […]
By: Diane Benjamin I wonder if Koos and Reece will admit the Executive Orders issued are now dead? Normal for Monday night: http://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3683 Is this in addition to what taxpayers already pay? Misc: It appears the discussion of paying property taxes by the Town of Normal on property that should be exempt must continue: I […]
By: Diane Benjamin http://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3660 Spending to obtain Tiger grants continues: Normal still allows pension spiking: Lots of Interest being paid:
By: Diane Benjamin Monday night: https://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3566 See this previous story: https://blnnews.com/2020/02/28/normals-hatred-for-citizens-is-now-legendary/ Surprise, surprise, the Budget has now been posted: https://www.normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/16302/2020-2025-Budget Public comment during a budget hearing can NOT be limited. Start reading! The AGENDA will be separate story. Spending: Loss? Why is Normal writing Chris Koos a check? Is it for his retirement or did […]
By: Diane Benjamin Marc Tiritilli has announced he is running again for mayor. The local media apparently is ignoring it, Peoria isn’t: https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/tiritilli-announces-his-plans-to-run-for-normal-mayor If only twelve more people had voted for Marc three years ago the citizen’s fleece and Koos ignoring the will of the people would already be over. Obviously the current mayor is […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3510 Only 3 items are on the agenda for Monday night: Payments that aren’t supposed to be discussed: Maybe this is why the Chamber tells voters who to elect: This is in addition to the $23,920 in gift cards Normal gave their employees: https://blnnews.com/2019/12/23/normal-giving-away-your-money-2/ If there was a “public purpose” for […]
By: Diane Benjamin http://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3339 This statement is in the minutes for approval from the last meeting: Koos had 7 people interested, 3 that had filled out the on-line form. See this previous story: https://blnnews.com/2019/06/27/more-koos-fib-and-kevin-mccarthy/ Normal allows spiking too. CDM (Children’s Discovery Museum) Foundation Board has 13 Board members. Since the Board is a non-profit, why did […]
By: Diane Benjamin http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3296 This paragraph is in the minutes to be approved at Monday night’s meeting. They reflect part of the Connect Transit discussion from the prior meeting. If you remember, Stan Nord wanted some accountability for the money Normal pays them. Did you know that once an item is in the budget it […]
By: Diane Benjamin Normal will have to keep tossing money to their Tiger Grant Application Service. Just since May 2018, they have spent $348,389.08 trying to get free money: https://blnnews.com/2018/10/15/normal-is-following-the-plan/ The only BUILD (Tiger) grant in Illinois went to Springfield for high-speed rail – see PDF page 27: https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/policy-initiatives/327856/build-fact-sheets-121118-355pm-update.pdf The announcement was made yesterday. Where […]
By: Diane Benjamin Town of Normal for tonight: http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3094 Just to prove what I wrote in this story: https://blnnews.com/2018/10/15/why-bloomington-normal-is-doomed/ Completing the Circle is in the plan, therefore it must be done: Bills for approval: These don’t need an explanation, note the Sports Complex is still alive. How did they ever do FOIA requests before spending […]
By: Diane Benjamin http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3047 The financial statements for the year ended 3/31/2018 are being released tonight. Six month old data isn’t ideal and would never be tolerated in the private sector, but at least Normal didn’t hold the information the way Bloomington did last year. Since Bloomington’s year-end was April 30th, their financial statements should […]
By: Diane Benjamin Link to the Monday packet: http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2990 Another 10 minute meeting with not much on the agenda. None of these items will get discussed. At the June 4th meeting $25,000 of Harmon Grants were approved – PDF page 27 http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2973 Monday night they are paying the grants, but the total is $26,500 – PDF […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bills for approval tonight: http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2958 This is the guy running Normal: On 4/16 he was paid $20,658.49 https://blnnews.com/2018/04/13/normal-monday-10-minute-meeting/ These payments total $24,994.08 More non-profit give-ways: (website: https://forbettertomorrow.org/ ) Even more give-away (You pay taxes to Normal so they can give it to Heartland who also taxes you) So you don’t forget how much rent […]
By: Diane Benjamin Monday 4/16: http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2946 Nothing that will take time to discuss is on the agenda. They should discuss spending, but won’t. Below are items I found interesting. The last time Lyle Sumek “consulted” with Normal the Town offered buyouts to employees. What will be cut next? No expense was spared for a retirement dinner! […]
By: Diane Benjamin What we do know: The freshman class this year at ISU was down 9.3% https://blnnews.com/2017/09/07/numbers-lie/ State Farm has cut employees and is cutting more Normal has a budget deficit (local media reports) The Normal Library has decided not to build new – the library WAS the centerpiece of Uptown 2.0 (local […]
By: Diane Benjamin From the packet for the Normal Town Council meeting on 1/16/2018: http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2871 Normal made the same payment in the 1/2/2018 packet. Proof Here A FOIA has been filed. According to the Secretary of State LLC filing, the address is a strip mall in Plano Texas and the LLC was revoked. See https://www.ilsos.gov/corporatellc/ Just […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday’s paper had a front-page story concerning a filing by Jason Chamber’s office with the Attorney General for Open Meeting Act violations. He has been waiting 17 months for a determination. The story claims his office can only prosecute violations for 18 months. First, Welcome to our world Jason! The request filed […]
By: Diane Benjamin Normal agenda and documentation for Monday night: http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2628 Below are some items I found interesting – many others could be questioned. This meeting will be short – nothing serious isn’t on the consent Agenda. 1) Town will reimburse emergency repairs. The documentation says a contractor caused the sewer back-up, there is nothing […]
By: Diane Benjamin You decide if “grift” fits: Bills for approval at the Monday’s Normal Town Council meeting: Source: http://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2610 Click on any picture to enlarge. .. . Paying someone to apply for grant: . Misc: . More Baseball and More Water Main break Expense . Annual Dues – Where ridiculous ideas come from . […]
By: Diane Benjamin The country is $18,000,000,000,000 in debt. I hope I got enough zeros on there for TRILLIONS! No wonder Normal decided to go with the Doug Farr underpass plan instead of the cheaper overpass – they had no intention of paying for it! Chris Koos expects the entire rest of the country to fund […]
by: Diane Benjamin CPA, reg http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_f82ad694-a293-11df-8558-001cc4c03286.html The total cost figures for the multi-modal transportation station vary from report to report – but I will use the ones listed in the Pantagraph above: Total Cost: $43,300,000 Tiger grant: $22,000,000 […]
