12/4/2018: http://www.peoriagov.org/city-council/meetings/
Interesting, yet very long meetings! I admit that I do not attend all City Council meetings and so it is nice to have the podcast/video available. I was especially discouraged when I watched the December 4 meeting. At about 1 hour:25 minutes, the council’s frustration with the budget and with citizens/business groups’ input (criticism) was not well received. There were repeated comments about the small percentage (@11%) of our real estate tax bill going to the City, which is kind of true. Actually, it is @14% if you include the garbage fee which is the city’s. Also, when you look at all your utility bills with charges, fees or taxes- stormwater fee, electric/gas charge, cell phone fee/tax, water bill fee/tax, GPSD charge/fee, you understand that real estate taxes aren’t the only money the city collects from us. And, now a pension fee. Please pay attention to the At-Large City Council candidates in the Primary Election on February 26. We need the ten best candidates to continue to the April election. Go to candidate forums. Ask the candidates for specifics –such as, what is the candidate’s specific solution for the budget? How will they work with other council persons to sell their solution? Cheryl Budzinski, Observer May 24, 2018 meeting started on time with three Board members absent. James Fassino, Chair, present. Agenda available on website; minutes of April meeting approved. These were not on website prior to meeting; March minutes available. Public comment available at beginning of meeting. Nicole Livsey, HCV FSS Coordinator, introduced PHA resident who had completed program and is entering nursing school in fall. Five members of community present; PJS reporter present.
Jackie Newman, Executive Director of Springfield Housing Authority, gave overview of her site visits to PHA properties. Ms. Newman is currently under contract to direct PHA for twelve months after resignation of prior PHA Director. Financial report shows collections are up 8.7% over prior period; this is due to asset management staff handling collections. 7/10/2018: The Election Commission held its monthly meeting on July 10, with Commissioner Reed absent. During the discussion of the payment of bills, it was noted that Peoria County had not yet filed for a tax exemption for the part of the Brandywine building that will be housing the Election Commission. Since the Commission will be using 55% of the building, that percentage of real estate taxes should not need to be paid. Those taxes that the Commission has already paid should be reimbursed. However, the County, which leases the building, has not yet filed the tax exemption.
10/16/2018: During the regular October meeting of the Board of Election Commissioners, a question was asked during the explanation of Bills about the use of flashdrives. Executive Director Tom Bride explained that once the drives are used in voting equipment, they are never again used in voting equipment. They can be utilized for other purposes, but not in voting equipment.
As of October 16, 9000 ballots had been sent out with 47% returned already. Director Bride anticipates 35% voting early. Early voting at satellite sites begins on October 21. 5/15/2018: The Election Commission started their monthly meeting with approval of current bills. The only addition to the normal bills was the cost of the cage and lock at the Brandywine location. All the paper voter cards have already been moved there. Also at the Brandywine location, all the flooring and drywall have been taken out, thus removing any remaining asbestos. Director Tom Bride mentioned that his office will be working with the League again on mock elections. One reason for his willingness to hold these is his ability to get student judges.
Irene Pritzker, Observer 9/27/2018: Peoria Housing Authority Board Meeting was held on September 27, 2018 at Frank Campbell Community Center, 312 S. Merriman, Peoria. Meeting scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM; this was delayed until approximately 3:48 PM due to lack of board members present. Carl Cannon, Vice Chair, was present prior to 3:30 PM; Alma Brown, Secretary arrived 335 PM and Tekia Childs, Commissioner, arrived at 4:47 PM. One other board member was ill, another delayed and unable to attend. Meeting started 3:48 PM. Due to lack of quorum of members, no voting could take place. Review of August meeting minutes deferred to October meeting.
Public Comment: Christine Collins, South Side Office of Concern, reported 71 homeless individuals were provided with housing through program supported by PHA. She expressed appreciation that this program has been renewed. 2/20/2018: The Election Commission meeting this month was the shortest meeting I have ever attended! Even without director Tom Bride, this commission and its employees work very well together. After finally getting clearance about who could be on the ballot, early voting started at the downtown office on Monday. As of Tuesday afternoon 32 votes had been cast and 252 ballots mailed. Training for election judges will be Saturday, February 24, postponed from a previous date due to the weather. March 5, will be the first day for voting outside of the downtown office. Federal Warehouse had the only bid for moving election supplies for both 2018 elections. Their bid of $5600 was in line with past expenses and so was approved.
8/21/2018: Only one representative was not in attendance.
Adam White requested permission to hold 2 segments of the Whiskey Daddle Charity Race in Springdale on Oct 6-7 (Peoria Marathon.) Since the City of Peoria requires events to pay for services needed for their events, such as security or blocking streets, the race looked for different routes. The is the same weekend as the Prairie Historic Tours, but the race will finish and be cleaned up by 12:30, there wasn't a conflict and permission was granted. This is considered a good collaboration. Manager Matusak described the City's pilot program test project to grind the cemetery road with asphalt shingles and other stuff and then seal the mixture. The city has also done some much needed grading, patching, and added riprap to some unstable road shoulders. 6/28/2018: Regular meeting of PHA Board of Commissioners held at Frank Campbell Community Center began promptly at 4:30 PM with all Commissioners present with exception of Doug Draeger. Meeting led by James Fassino, Chair. Mr. Fassino reported that Mr. Draeger had submitted his resignation to the Board due to potential conflicts of interest. Ms. Jackie Neuman, Executive Director of Springfield Housing Authority present.
PHA working on Master Development Agreement for all PHA units to meet HUD requirements. Security: reviewed number of housing units allowed ‘off line’’; currently at 9 units which are used for storage, resource and maintenance as well as Harrison substation. Maximum off line units to meet HUD requirements would be 10. Security expense increased slightly due to activity at Harrison. Ms. Neuman discussed need to plan for increase in security at specific locations that may be hot spots during May-September period and build in cost of cameras to capital budget. This has proved effective at Springfield locations. 4/16/2018: The Election Commission voted to accept the construction bid for the Brandywine building. It had already been accepted by the County Board and may not have been legally necessary, but the Commission felt it was a good idea to approve the bid. Bishop Brothers Construction will do the “build out” which will include construction, extra remediation of asbestos if necessary, contingencies, and commission. The County has budgeted $560,000 for the completion of this project. The Election Commission will cover the cost of security cameras and any new furniture.
In his Executive Director report, Tom Bride said the March primary went smoothly, with a decent turnout of 20.4%. Tom will keep an eye on a bill working through the Legislature that will allow DuPage County to eliminate its Election Commission and turn its function over to the County Clerk. Depending on the final wording, this bill could affect Peoria County as well. In an area where the League of Women Voters has taken an interest, conversations have begun about vote centers. Tom does not expect that bill to go anywhere at this time. Irene Pritzker, Observer |
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