Nov 25
So much for my bon voyage posting being the last one! Here’s what’s happening at Lion’s Park:
1) A new, improved sanitary lift station is being installed. It will be placed higher than the old one, to prevent backup when the area gets flooded.
2) Some of Lion’s Park will be flooded intentionally to allow for skating this winter. I’m told this was planned before the Re:New-city project was hatched.
Whichever patch o’ disturbed dirt lies closer to the playground is probably the rink. ;-P
Nov 18
I never did get around to telling you about making sauerkraut or the Stranded Wind Project or the implications for the defense industry of an ailing manufacturing sector.
But even if I had, closing Citybarbs would still be hard. This blogging thing: I’ve made friends by it, and learned an awful lot. If it weren’t for the demands of campaigning I’d stay ’til they pried the keyboard from my cold dead fingers. Alas, some matters have to be handled off-line.
Thank you for coming and for making Citybarbs what it is. I will always be proud of the caliber of people and discussion to be found here.
Find the campaign website at fazekas4dekalb.com.
Nov 14
Thanks for all the thoughtful comments on the City Council & Outside Help post. Lots of food for thought there—I’m still munching.
This is a weekend open thread, meaning no topic is off-topic. I’ll kick off with a few questions that have arisen this week:
1) Pevo asks whether local contractors support the Construction Manager approach to building the police station or do they prefer Design-Bid-Build?
2) The new, improved Municipal Parking Lot 4 is laid with real brick. Can you use a regular snowplow on it?
3) I’ve been told that 15 or so good-sized trees have been planted on the lot now devoted to the skating rink at First & Locust. Does this say something about DeKalb’s commitment to finding a developer for this piece of property, or not?
Nov 12
There is plenty of controversy surrounding City Council’s decision to spend money for an outside financial consultant. Setting aside for the moment the fact that Council is willing to pay more than the budgeted amount–an issue in itself–the question is what exactly this action says about staff performance. Some say the move is a vote of no confidence, while others say the problems are such that an outside perspective is needed.
Many of us work in fields where, occasionally, decisions must be made to request outside help for dealing with problems that require a level of expertise not found in-house. It is a mark of professionalism to do so. So the question is: Is it reasonable to expect the in-house staff to anticipate and to generate solutions to our budget problems themselves? I say it is. If you disagree, you must explain to me a) what their main function is, and b) how neighboring communities avoided deficits.
As for going over budget to obtain help, iirc my first city-related letter to the editor (LTE) was a complaint about a mayor spending more on travel than was allotted. No mercy.
Nov 11
Petition circulators, signers and donations are needed.
You do not have to believe that Home Rule should be repealed to sign the petition, or to help circulate it. Obviously, you must agree that citizens have the right and should have the ability to decide the issue with authority.
If you agree we need your help. The Barb City Tea Company was formed at a grassroots level to get the Home Rule question on the April 09 ballot. It will remain a grassroots organization. We are looking for volunteers, who are registered voters in the City of DeKalb, to help circulate the petition.
We ask each volunteer for 50 signatures.
The Tea Company faithfully holds meetings every Tuesday at noon at 248 Palmer Court. Bring your lunch if you like.
Please note that the Tea Company limits each contributor to $150 in donation(s) to ensure its continued grassrootiness.
Nov 7
How about YOU choosing the topics this weekend.
Nov 5
I’ve been an election judge on the Northern Illinois University campus for two years now. If memory serves our precinct got 62 votes in the 2006 General, “winning” the “contest” over the other three precincts stationed at the Recreation Center. From then it was all downhill, the lowlight having only 4 or 5 ballots rattling around the ballot transfer box by the end of the IL-14 special Congressional last spring.
Then yesterday we helped 334 young voters cast their ballots, and the precinct next to us tallied close to 600. Read the rest of this entry
Nov 2
Update: Our own Kay Shelton spoke at this meeting. Thanks Kay.
What: The County Board’s Finance Committee is holding a public hearing on the tax levy. I’m guessing they are not going to ask for less. Too many raises at stake.
When: Wednesday, November 5, 7 p.m.
Where: 110 E. Sycamore Street, Sycamore. Admin Building, East Conference Room, south entrance.
There will also be a public hearing on the proposed 2009 budget and final budget recommendations.
[h/t KS]
Nov 2
Saved the best for last.
Nov 1
Chicago Tribune’s “Clout Street” Blog:
The governor said he likes the “concept” of a constitutional convention, but said it could be a costly endeavor that “could upset the delicate balance between the executive branch and the legislative branch.”
…“Thank God that the constitution gives the executive branch a lot of power to get around the legislative branch,” Blagojevich said, adding that without his ability to issue executive orders or use his amendatory veto power there would be no free mass transit rides for seniors or free breast and cervical cancer exams for women.
“If the constitutional convention were to occur and there was an effort to erode the executive branch’s ability to do those things, then I think less good things would happen for people,” Blagojevich said.
Place under “it should be satire, but it’s not” heading.