Archive for October, 2010

Roundup & Open Thread

Author: yinn

Oct 7

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Filed under: Council/City Watch, County Watch, Local Campaigns, National Campaigns, Payment Due?, Political Campaigns | Tagged as: , , , , ,

TN Homeowner Fails to Pay $75 Fee, so Firefighters Watch His House Burn

Author: yinn

Oct 5

Firefighters watch as home burns to the ground: If you live on unincorporated land near South Fulton, Tennessee, and don’t pay a $75 per year fee to the city for fire protection, the firefighters are not allowed to save your burning house.

What a terrible policy. Because of it, a neighboring house also caught fire. To me, that’s a clear-cut case of reckless negligence on the part of the city. If someone dies it’s on them, too. Just goes to show we’re not the only municipality lacking competent legal counsel, common sense and empathy.

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Filed under: First Responders, General Happenings

Stroger Aide Arrested in Probe of Cook County No-Bid Contracts

Author: yinn

Oct 5

In the Sun-Times this a.m.:

A top aide to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger was arrested Monday and charged in a criminal probe of county no-bid contracts, including one allegedly steered to the staffer’s privately owned public relations firm, authorities said.

…

“It’s in connection with the ongoing financial crimes investigation conducted by the state’s attorney’s office into the awarding of so-called 24-9 contracts,” [Cook County State's Attorney spokesperson Sally Daly] said.

The “24-9″ reference is to contracts that fall below the $25,000 mark, the threshold requiring approval by the Cook County Board.

You know, kind of like DeKalb’s “19-5s,” which refer to contracts that fall beneath the city manager’s $20,000 threshold at which he must seek approval from the city council. But in DeKalb, it doesn’t matter who gets the business, not even if it’s an alderman. At least Cook County sees justice every once in awhile.

[H/T J.D.]

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Filed under: Council/City Watch, Payment Due? | Tagged as: ,

Comment on Teachers Paying for Supplies Out of Pocket

Author: yinn

Oct 2

The school fees for my middle schooler doubled this year to $140. I trust this means CUSD 428 teachers don’t have to shell out a pocketful for schoolroom supplies.

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Filed under: Dist 428 | Tagged as:

Plan Commission Resignations

Author: yinn

Oct 1

Joe Gastiger and Tom Specht both have sterling reputations, as their dignified resignations from the Plan Commission this week attest. It’s an old-school gesture of protest, and all too rare.

The story is here, available for about a week. Keep an eye on Lunatic Fringe of DeKalb at FB, in case there’s some action.

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Filed under: Council/City Watch | Tagged as:
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