Wednesday, December 26, 2012
A Patch investigation reveals that a controversial political maneuver cost Prairie State College Wendell Mosby over $1,200 in travel reimbursements.
Documents released by Prairie State College reveal just how hard Trustee Wendell Mosby was hit when the board stripped him of his travel reimbursement privileges earlier this month. The board made the move after Mosby walked out of the Oct. 30 meeting just before it came time to vote on a nepotism policy he disagreed with. The walk-out removed the quorum—preventing the board from making a decision on the policy. Read: Prairie State Board Censures Trustee After Strategic Walk-Out Patch requested an itemized list of each travel expense reimbursement given to each sitting Prairie State College trustee between Jan. 1, 2011 and Dec. 13, 2012. A "travel expense" is defined as transportation costs of in- or out-of-state trips, along with lodging…
Friday, April 29, 2011
A review of items discussed at the April 26 Homewood Village Board meeting.
Main Focus: The sound of applause and the clicks of camera shutters filled the air at the April 26 Village of Homewood Board of Trustees meeting as relatives and friends filled the seats to watch their loved ones being honored or sworn in. The newly appointed village workers and trustees include: Steven Gutzmer, the newly appointed village firefighter and paramedic; Craig JaBaay, a new utility maintenance worker; and Lisa Purcell and Jay Heiferman, both new village trustees. Trustee Heiferman was appointed by Mayor Rich Hofeld after election winner Alissa Opyd declined the position in favor of another village job in the office of community information coordination. Residents honored for their service to village of Homewood include: Harry…
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Plus a mold remediation and a t-shirt contract for the H-F Park District.
We take a look at some of the items approved and discussed at the April 19 H-F Park District Board of Commissioners meeting. The request: Approve the bid from Mold Solutions of Chicago in the amount of $11,430 for mold remediation and reconstruction in the Discovery Center at Irons Oaks. What this means: The Discovery Center at Irons Oaks has had water issues since its construction was completed, according to Irons Oaks Manager Cheryl Vargo. As a result of the water seepage problems at the center, mold has ensued. This contract should alleviate the mold problem. Vote: Unanimous, yes. ***** The request: Approval for the re-bedding of the large pool at Lions Club Park and Pool not to exceed $12,247.80. Quotes: “We initially thought we’d do …
Friday, April 22, 2011
After losing reelection, seven-year H-F Park District Board member Peter Camin was presented with kind words and gifts during his last meeting as a board member.
Cake and sparkling grape juice welcomed guests to the H-F Park District’s board meeting on April 19. The concessions were served in honor of Commissioner Peter Camin’s last meeting as a board member. Camin, a seven-year board member and former president, recently lost re-election to Dallas Collins. Under Camin’s presidency of the board, the H-F Park District was honored as a national gold medal award finalist by the National Recreation and Park Association. Camin’s fellow commissioners offered parting words at his last meeting. “Since I’ve been on the board, for four years, Peter helped me greatly understand the role and responsibility of this board, and made the transition (into being member) extremely simple,” Commissioner Steve Johnson …
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Flossmoor's Village Board voted to proceed with their consideration of a new storm water utility fee which would add an extra $12 to each resident's monthly water bill.
Flossmoor residents may soon be paying an average of $12 extra per month on their water bill thanks to a proposed storm water utility fee. Flossmoor Public Works Director George Peluso spoke in front of the Village Board during their April 18 meeting in support of the fee. He said that an already stretched budget, aging storm water infrastructure and unfunded mandates from both the state and federal governments are largely responsible for the need of a separate fund dedicated to storm water management. While Mayor Paul Braun expressed concern over the introduction of a new fee in a struggling economy, he ultimately gave his approval. “I have to say that all of us (board members) take very, very seriously any time that we have to talk about…
Friday, April 15, 2011
Homewood's Village Board revisited a failed motion from last month to agree to use Charter One as the village's bank
Homewood’s Village Board approved a contract during their April 12 meeting instating Charter One as their new village bank. This decision comes over one month after a failed first attempt. During the March 9 meeting, Trustee Tom Kataras’ recent poor customer experience poisoned the effort. This meeting, Kataras’ optimism deterred his skepticism. “The relationship has got a ways to go,” Kataras said. “(But) it is just starting and nothing was built in a day, so I’m glad to give these fine folks a chance.” Despite Kataras’ change of heart, Trustee Tienstra, who was absent during the last attempt, is pleased with the relationship that Homewood has with Great Lakes Bank, its current financial institution. “(Great Lakes Bank has) been here …
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Leah Bailey Langston and Gregg Lunceford may be the two newest members of Flossmoor School District 161, but they've already forged a working relationship.
After years of serving behind the scenes, parent of two and volunteer Leah Bailey Langston says she's eager to formally begin her school board term April 27. "We as a district spend about six percent of our budget on general administration when the average is three percent," she reflected. "On the outside looking in, we don't know why that is. We have a lot of things behind closed doors." From lunch room to school board, she's also filled multiple hours as a volunteer, and says, whether filing, helping with the school's great books program or serving in the lunch line, she's confident that hours spent serving the school have an impact on the bottom line. "The less time teachers spend making copies, the more time they can spend teaching," …
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
A failed motion by Homewood's Village Board during their March 22 meeting to approve Bensidoun USA as the manager of Homewood's Farmers Market will be revisited, according to Mayor Rich Hofeld.
A failed motion during last Tuesday’s meeting by Homewood’s Village Board to approve Bensidoun USA as the new manager of Homewood’s Farmers Markets will be revisited during the board’s second meeting in April, according to Mayor Rich Hofeld. At least one local Farmers Market vendor is enthused. Kate Duff co-spearheaded her business project, Homewood Kitchen Gardens, two years ago in response to Homewood’s Farmers Market. Duff has participated as a vendor in the Farmers Market during the past two seasons. She was paying special attention to the outcome of last Tuesday’s village board meeting. "What came out (at the meeting) are a lot of the concerns that vendors had,” Duff said. “I felt that Bensidoun answered our questions.” Some of the …
Friday, March 25, 2011
After two formal presentations and a tense debate, Homewood's Board of Trustees failed to approve a motion to allow Bensidoun USA to manage Homewood's Farmers Market.
A motion for a three-year agreement to allow Bensidoun USA, a French farmers market management company, to manage Homewood’s Farmers Market failed during Homewood’s March 22 board meeting. Since 2008, the village has managed the farmers market, according to Community Information Coordinator Rachael Jones. According to Jones, a variety of factors influenced her decision to consider outsourcing the management of the market. “We’ve gotten a lot of feedback as we staff each market, speaking with the public and also our existing vendors,” Jones said. “They would like to see more variety (and) see it grow even more.” Jones said she studied successful markets that have a similar history to Homewood’s, but have exhibited a faster growth rate. Of …
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
A review of items discussed at the March 21 Flossmoor Village Board meeting.
Main Story: Flossmoor's Village Board voted to remove First Midwest Bank from their approved list of brokers due to an unfavorable collateral agreement that was offered to them. PMA Financial will be added in its place. PMA was chosen due to their direct placement, non-negotiable CD program. The board feels PMA will round out their current mix of brokers. Notice of a Grant Award: A $200,000 grant for central business street lights was awarded to the village on March 1 from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities. The project, which has been deferred for the last five years due to budget constraints, will be used to erect new energy efficient lighting fixtures and repair fixtures with wiring and/or structural issues. Revision …
Charish
2:04 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Mosby is a whistle blower PSC should be held accountable for it' s action. more ›