By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday’s story was updated with a few things I found in the FOIA request: https://blnnews.com/2026/03/06/normal-doesnt-have-an-underpass-contractor/ Did you know Normal originally stated taxpayers were funding 9% of the project and now it’s 37%? Click the above story! WGLT finally did their own underpass story. On Facebook it has over 100 comments, most want […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you could read between the lines, this story told you: https://blnnews.com/2026/02/24/where-is-the-underpass-normal/ Last October the Normal Council awarded the construction contract to a company in Missouri instead of a local bidder: https://www.millstoneweber.com/ Millstone Weber backed out of the contract early this year. I have a FOIA pending for the emails. Since their […]
By: Diane Benjamin November 3, 2025 meeting: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5414 On the agenda: . From PDF page 106 The bid is only 4 months away from 1 year old. Construction still hasn’t started. On the same page: Is Millstone Weber still going to do the work Normal? How are you planning on completing this massive project by […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) The smoke from Canada is back: 2) The company Bloomington hired to do the $750,000 downtown study is all in on DEI. https://www.cmtengr.com/dei/ The report is due in August. The City keeps using recommendations from old outdated reports like Bring It On Bloomington and the Downtown Bloomington Task Force. How many […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4597 PDF page 36: Normal is handing out your money to promote Uptown. More interesting is this paragraph claims Trail East and Trail West are still going to happen. Unless they aren’t telling citizens, nothing is happening with either. The latest developer backed out last November: https://blnnews.com/2023/02/22/proof-normals-staff-runs-the-town/ PDF page 66: The Council […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.normalil.gov/bids.aspx?bidID=372 The Subway in the Amtrak Station closed in October. The Town of Normal now thinks they need a new tenant. Subway closed because they didn’t have enough foot traffic to sell food in the volume needed. FYI, I know one of the former owners. I was in the parking garage a […]
By: Diane Benjamin EDC director Patrick Hoban showed up at the Bloomington City Council meeting to push for the $750,000 downtown study. He claimed downtown is the heart of the City (heard that before?) and he has studies that claim the Return on Investment is between 100 and 500%. He also claimed we don’t need […]
By: Diane Benjamin Community Meeting on the Future Uptown Connector / Underpass Project PLEASE TAKE NOTICE a public meeting on the future Uptown Connector/Underpass Project will be held at Normal City Hall, Room 409, 11 Uptown Circle, Normal, McLean County, Illinois at 5 p.m., prevailing time, on the 16th day of February, 2022. The meeting […]
By: Diane Benjamin There is a Facebook Group called: Save the Uptown Mural and Historic Buildings On November 29th this story was posted to the group: Against Master Developers The best lines in the story are at the end: Master planner-based developments, with their large, centralized buildings, inhibit the growth of local businesses and reduce […]
By: Diane Benjamin Evidently the owner doesn’t believe vaccines work, is he scared of his shadow too? He only wants vaccinated people in his store but they have to wear a mask? What about people who had COVID and therefore have antibodies? They aren’t allowed in? Daniel C Maloney doesn’t believe people know how to […]
By: Diane Benjamin Most of what you need to know about the passage of accepting all the grant money is in the underpass vote. Koos, McCarthy, Smith, and Cummings were enthusiastic Yes votes. Nord voted No, Preston and Lorenz squeaked out Yes votes after uncomfortable pauses. Watch just the vote here: What else you need […]
By: Diane Benjamin Underpass work session: So far Normal has authorized spending $1.5 million on Phase 1 of the underpass. Chris Koos stated it can not be stopped now because of all the staff time, grants received, and other agencies involved that wouldn’t like Normal backing out now. It almost sounded like Wayne Aldrich (Director […]
By: Diane Benjamin Keep in mind many of Normal’s professional staff don’t live in Normal: https://blnnews.com/2020/12/14/guess-where-town-of-normal-employees-dont-live/ They have no reason to keep taxes low, make the roads drivable, or the water drinkable. The Council will be meeting at 5:15 to hear the status of the underpass project. Public opinion is immaterial. The fanciest properties will […]
By: Diane Benjamin Any surprise the local socialists support Palatine? Hitler was the head of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. WGLT story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2021-05-23/community-members-gather-in-uptown-for-stand-for-palestine-vigil?fbclid=IwAR0bknGfIpae75_4278ez7TvdD40s-ZvhxzyImQkXi5J6yHgcBOV0X4gulY Facts: Israel is the only democracy in the Arab world. GAZA is not a democracy. Israel is a strong ally and share the values of America. Hamas is an identified terrorist […]
The best pictured I’ve seen on line was posted by Belle Pierpont. The caption says it was taken from her window. All of the crossings from Ft. Jesse to University were closed according to the Normal Police Department at 8:30 this morning. This underpass is also closed. Several cars parked at student housing were damaged […]
By: Diane Benjamin Why are they excited about moving to Lexington? No idea, but their customers should be: Driving an easy 15 minutes north will save you 2%! Rent and property taxes are likely cheaper in Lexington meaning merchandise could be cheaper. Is the exodus beginning? .
By: Diane Benjamin According to my millennial interpreter, this means happy and sad at the same time. The symbol is all over Uptown, there are also letters said to be a slur on police. Below are just a few examples: h/t: Two readers Maybe the Marxist teacher running for Bloomington City Council can provide further […]
By: Diane Benjamin The first floor of 1 Uptown Circle has been vacant and never rented since the building was finished in 2017. https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/1-Uptown-Cir-Normal-IL/10774114/ The Uptown TIF was started in 2003 and incurred a massive amount of debt. To date, according to the reports filed by Normal, the TIF has only earned $15,065,431. That isn’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin At Monday’s Council meeting at was announced they think the formerly $24,000,000 underpass can be built for $22,000,000. This Uptown vanity won’t allow a single car to avoid sitting at a crossing waiting for a train to pass. It won’t stop people from crossing the tracks on foot at other crossings. Compare […]
By: Diane Benjamin WGLT reported yesterday Trail East construction has been delayed until spring: https://www.wglt.org/mayor-financing-issues-delay-construction-trail-east-until-spring-2020 Note: The last time a new building in Uptown had “financing” issues, the Town agreed to rent an entire floor at above market rates and the main floor is STILL empty. Demolition of the old buildings on Beaufort may start […]
By: Diane Benjamin May 2, 2013: Tesla Ordinance We know taxpayers are subsidizing electric vehicle charging in Uptown, recently it was reported at a Council meeting the Town found it too expensive to install equipment to make people pay for the electricity they use. What about the Tesla charging stations? We know if they are […]
By: Diane Benjamin Chris Koos didn’t get the lesson from two years ago when he only defeated Marc Tiritilli by 11 votes. Last night the voters in Normal sent a baseball bat to the head message: We demand a new direction! Two of the top three winners took on the Koos and company agenda, Stan […]
No special meeting posted, a demolition permit will likely be issued very soon. Planning to vote now? By: Diane Benjamin Chris Koos seems to have forgotten he does not have overwhelming support from the citizens of Normal: (2017 election results) 12 more votes would have ended the Koos reign of debt and development terror. The […]
By: Diane Benjamin Town Council meeting TUESDAY http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3172 (delayed for MLK Day) Misc spending: CDM is Children Discovery Museum. It’s easy to give your money as a memorial! This is what you need to see: (yes it’s complicated) The Town of Normal owns the building at 104 W. North. It is currently rented to Dan Brady […]
The first public comment speaker was Karyn Smith (not Karen) – also a candidate for Normal Town Council. Other than her comments last night I don’t know anything else about her – yet. By: Diane Benjamin When Chris Koos began public comment he made clear he would time limit the speakers so they could get […]
By: Diane Benjamin Unless a lot of citizens show up for Public Comment, Tuesday’s meeting will last less than 15 minutes. Here’s some of the bills that will be approved: (click any pics to enlarge) http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2827 More proof government exists for government employees: Don’t forget the $60 gift card employees received too! ________________________________________________________________________ I wonder […]
By: Diane Benjamin As of 3/31/17 PDF page 41: http://www.normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/12750 Yes the citizens still owe $87,783,723 for Koos’s Uptown dreams. Police pensions are only 51.76% funded (PDF Page 129) Fire pensions are only 55.53% funded (PDF Page 130) That is why citizens are on the hook for $56,106.352 just for these two pension funds. Obviously the guys […]
Note: A reader commented on the ISU student – Wes Ward (not Wood) By: Diane Benjamin I tried to watch the video of Monday’s Normal Town Council, but never made it past Public Comment. Marc Tiritilli is still the voice of reason and fiscal responsibility. I dare you to watch his comments without standing and […]
By: Diane Benjamin For months Tari Renner supporters have attacked Kevin Lower and me with vile tweets and posts on Facebook. They claim they aren’t doing anything in support of Tari Renner. This comment left on my site proves they are lying: I doubt the media will report the facts, but how depraved do Tari […]
Note: The meeting video is missing! I will change the link when it’s available. Video is back, maybe Koos didn’t like Marc Tiritilli on the opening screen! By: Diane Benjamin The Normal Town Council met last night to approve the budget and talk about Metro Zone. The ruling proletariat is feeling the election heat. They […]
By: Diane Benjamin I reported in September Normal’s funding of Police and Fire pensions was dismal: https://blnnews.com/2016/09/26/normal-what/ While Chris Koos was busy creating his vision for “Uptown”, he forgot the Town’s other needs. One of those is funding pensions for the essential personnel citizens really want – Police and Fire. Somehow the employees on IMRF […]
By: Diane Benjamin Chris Koos CAN’T stop spending your money. A new library is on the way, not for books – he’s creating a social and fun club and expecting all of you to participate. Think Uptown events. Government controls your life – you aren’t allowed to make independent decisions because he is abolishing capitalism. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night Normal voted to waste more taxpayer money on consultants. They already know they want an expensive underpass, but they are spending $1.4 million+ on another study anyway. As of March 31, 2016: http://warehouse.illinoiscomptroller.com/LandingPage.cfm?code=064/095/31&searchtype=allunits&originalSearchString=Normal%20-%20a%20Town%20in%20Mclean%20County%20-%20064/095/31&CFID=11824458&CFTOKEN=2f4040be3c789a16-9F1393A4-5056-93B5-5E7A726C9A88D866 From the link above – click View Data – Indebtedness 2014 Total Debt: $86,788,630 2015 Total Debt: […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday I showed how Normal’s Uptown TIF is most likely not generating enough TIF money to cover expenses: https://blnnews.com/2016/07/26/more-uptown-tif/ Here’s more proof: The 2014 TIF report shows some sharing of revenue with other taxing authorities: Page 5 ftp://ftp.illinoiscomptroller.com/LocGovTIF/FY2014/06409531/14TIF06409531Downtown_volpment.pdf The 2013 TIF report also shows sharing taxes: Page 5 ftp://ftp.illinoiscomptroller.com/LocGovTIF/FY2013/06409531/13TIF06409531Downtown_volpment.pdf The 2015 TIF […]
By: Diane Benjamin Normal’s Uptown TIF began in May of 2003. Remember, TIF’s are created to encourage economic development. The hope is any money borrowed or promised will be paid back by the increase taxes received. The Town of Normal 2010 – 2015 TIF Reports are on the Comptroller’s website: http://warehouse.illinoiscomptroller.com/Downloads.cfm See the chart below. […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Pantagraph has a long history of “floating” ideas fed to them from local government. It’s always the first step in making happen what government wants to happen. Watchdogs they aren’t. The last example was “sharing sales tax” – first mentioned in the paper and expanded since. Sunday more ideas were floated […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you don’t pay attention to how Normal and Bloomington operate, once they start talking publicly about anything it’s already a done deal. Both Councils are stacked, so Renner and Koos can easily talk them into the latest declared “best practice”. Independent thoughts are too rare matter. Have some lunch. Here’s what […]
By: Diane Benjamin Traffic at Bloomington’s library continues to decline, yet plans to expand continue. Why? The answer can be found in NORMAL’s Master plan for Uptown: If you haven’t read Normal’s new plan, here’s a link: Uptown 2.0 Plan (It downloads a PDF instead of linking you to a webpage) The document is the […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’ve wondered since Uptown Normal was completed what buildings the Town owns and rents. I filed a Freedom of Information Request to find out. Wendy Briggs provided the following information with a note that she forgot to put Subway on the list, otherwise, here’s what I received: First, thanks Normal for answering […]
By: Diane Benjamin The address for Babbitt’s Books is 119 E Beaufort St, Normal, IL 61761 I wrote extensively in 2012 on how Normal financed Uptown. A large part was buying properties for way over the assessed value, thus raising the surrounding property values. Existing property owners saw large increases to their tax bills as a […]
