28 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Announces $100 Million for Local Transportation Projects

By Leslie Wertheimer

Annual Capital Investment to Create Jobs and Repair Infrastructure

BERWYN - August 23, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced a $100 million capital investment to address local transportation needs and put people to work throughout Illinois. The funding, which is part of the governor's six-year, $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! capital program, will fund the repair of municipal, township and county infrastructure and improve public safety. Illinois Jobs Now! has created or supported more than 140,000 jobs since 2009.

"At a time when many states are cutting back on critical transportation and infrastructure projects, Illinois is moving forward," Governor Quinn said. "This latest capital investment will provide local communities with the resources they need to move forward on immediate projects, while also paving the way for future improvements to create jobs and support economic growth."

Today's announcement allots the third of five, $100 million annual investments to fund municipal, township and county projects statewide. Projects will be selected and managed locally, with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) providing oversight.

"The third installment of capital funds for local transportation projects demonstrates our continued commitment to local governments," Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider said. "We are proud to partner with local communities to improve the quality of life for residents, stimulate the economy, and help advance immediate road and bridge projects where needed the most."

The local component of Illinois Jobs Now! is distributed to local governments based on the state motor fuel tax formula. Projects funded through this process include street and bridge maintenance, upgrades to traffic signals, new storm sewers and bike paths, sidewalk replacement and pothole repairs.

A breakdown of the distribution of the $100 million by county, road district and municipality is available through an interactive map at www.dot.il.gov/fy2013/ and a complete list of projects is available at www.dot.il.gov/blr/mftbooklet.pdf.

Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest construction program in state history. Of the $14 billion in the program dedicated for transportation needs, $11 billion has been spent on projects that have improved 6,900 miles of roads and 990 bridges. In addition, more than $1.7 billion in road construction projects are scheduled for 2013.

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28 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action **Wednesday, August 22, 2012

By William Palmisano

CHICAGO - August 22, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bill:

Bill No.: HB 4674

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Mandates upgrade requirements for the restricted opening of hoist-way doors or on passenger elevator doors be completed by Jan. 1, 2014. Also extends the sunset of the Elevator Safety and Regulation Act to Jan. 1, 2023.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

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24 Aug 2012

Schilling Statement on Updated CBO Outlook

By Andie Pivarunas

"We can find bipartisan, common ground.  We just need the Senate to join us in our efforts."
Moline, Illinois - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) released the following statement regarding the Budget and Economic Outlook report released today by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).  The report indicates that unemployment will remain at approximately 8 percent through the end of the year and that the 2012 deficit will surpass $1 trillion for the fourth consecutive year:

"Today's CBO report makes clearer than ever that a significant problem is heading our way if Congress fails to act.  The House has taken bipartisan steps to keep taxes low for all Americans, which would keep Illinois from losing 30,700 jobs at a time when our state's unemployment rate is at 8.7 percent.  We have also offered a plan to avoid devastating cuts to our national defense, cuts that would cost around 1 million jobs at a time when the nation's unemployment rate has remained above 8 percent for a record-breaking 42 consecutive months.

"The House of Representatives has passed two serious budget proposals in the short time I have been in office to address our debt crisis, flatten and simplify the tax code, turn our economy around, and help spur private-sector job creation.  But as I have said before, the House cannot do it alone.  We can find bipartisan, common ground, and we can stop spending money we don't have.  We just need the Senate to join us in our efforts."

# # #

24 Aug 2012

Rock Island County Forest Preserve District Awarded

By Robert Jackson Jr.
(Chicago)--The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been

awarded to Rock Island County Forest Preserve District by the Government Finance Officers

Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial

report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of

governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant

accomplishment by a government and its management

An Award of Financial Reporting Achievement has been awarded to the individual(s),

department or agency designated by the government as primarily responsible for preparing the

award-winning CAFR. This has been presented to:

County Auditor's Ofñce, Rock Island County Forest Preserve District

The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program

including demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its

financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government

ñnance professionals with offices in Chicago, IL, and Washington, D.C.
24 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action Tuesday, August 21, 2012

By William Palmisano

CHICAGO - August 21, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: HB 5203

An Act Concerning: Elections

Petitions for nomination are deemed to be filed simultaneously when two or more are filed within the last hour of the filing deadline.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: SB 3614

An Act Concerning: State Government

Requires the Health Facilities and Services Review Board's (HFSRB) Long-Term Care Facility Advisory Subcommittee to evaluate and make recommendations to the HFSRB regarding the buying, selling, and exchanging of beds between long-term care facilities.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Aug. 21, 2013

Bill No.: SB 3673

An Act Concerning: Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Amends the AIDS Confidentiality Act and Section 9 of the Criminal Code of 1961 to include the court as an entity which may be notified of the identity of a person who has been tested for HIV or has tested positive for HIV when that individual is involved in a case of criminal transmission of HIV.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 3823

An Act Concerning: Child Visitation

Allows the Secretary of State to suspend the driver's license of anyone who fails to comply with a visitation order.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

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24 Aug 2012

Postponement of August 28 Public Hearing

By Chris Berge

The Scott County Board of Supervisors has received a request from the applicant to postpone the date of its Public Hearing originally scheduled on August 28, 2012, 5:30 p.m. at North High School Auditorium at 626 West 53rd Street in Davenport. The Public Hearing concerns the application to rezone 318 acres in rural Scott County on property located on the south side of 200th Street between Walcott and Davenport.

The Applicant has asked that the Public Hearing be postponed but no reason was given for the postponement. No new date for the required public hearing has been identified, as of yet. When that date is established public notice in accordance with Iowa and Scott County Codes will be given. Notice is given that the public hearing set for August 28, 2012 is cancelled.

Please feel free to contact Scott County Planning Director Timothy Huey at 326-8643 if you have any questions.

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24 Aug 2012

Branstad signs Executive Order 80 to allow stakeholders a stake in the rulemaking process

By Tim Albrecht

Also signs Executive Order 79 to rescind 12 previous executive orders

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today that the governor will be signing Executive Order 80, which will enact greater public participation in the administrative rules process.

The governor also signed Executive Order 79, which rescinded 12 previous executive orders.

By signing Executive Order 80, agencies will create stakeholder rulemaking groups consisting of individuals who can adequately represent the interests that will be significantly affecting by a draft rule proposal or subject matter.

Rulemaking authorities will now work with those who will be affected by new regulations, and they will be fully aware of the full consequences of each rule or regulation they look to put into effect.

"Public participation in the formulation of administrative rules will help our state to reform burdensome regulations and prevent overregulation or red tape, encouraging efficiency, economic growth and job creation," said Branstad.

Once formed, the stakeholder groups will then notify the public to their meetings, receive public comment and input, and then make recommendations to the entity with rulemaking authority.

Reynolds notes that she and the governor visit all 99 counties every year, and conducted a rules and regulations tour with legislators in order to hear the concerns of small business owners and working families.

"What has become apparent in our travels is that public input is vitally important, but it is missing in a critical aspect of state government: our rules and regulations process," said Reynolds. "Iowa government has a responsibility to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state of Iowa. We must enact regulations that achieve this goal as effectively and efficiently as possible."

The governor added that this executive order is about injecting common-sense into the regulatory process.

"Our state will be well served by greater public participation and stakeholder input for regulation and administrative rules," said Branstad. "It is our hope that by giving stakeholders a stake in the process, we can all work together to enact smart, better ways to administer rules and regulations."

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24 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action Monday, August 20, 2012

By William Palmisano

CHICAGO - August 20, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bill:

Bill No.: HB 5587

An Act Concerning: Government

Requires Illinois State Police and Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to conduct or approve a training program in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for their respective law enforcement entities.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

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24 Aug 2012

SECC agenda for 8/23/12 meeting

By Annie Nugent
SCOTT EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER (SECC) BOARD
Board Room, 1st Floor, Scott County Administrative Center,
600 West Fourth Street, Davenport, Iowa
AUGUST 23, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.

Roll Call: Gallagher, Gluba, Lehman, O'Boyle, Sunderbruch
Ex officio members: Bruemmer, Frederiksen, Malin, and Ploehn

Pledge of Allegiance

Approval of Minutes

Presentation of LEED Gold certificate from the US Green Building Council

Director's report

Next meeting date - September 20, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.

Adjourn
20 Aug 2012

Burn ban lifted for Scott County

By Ross Bergen
To Whom It May Concern:  Pursuant to Chapter 100.40, State Code of Iowa, and at the request of ROSS BERGEN, representing each fire department having all or part of their fire districts within SCOTT COUNTY, the open burning ban for SCOTT COUNTY will be lifted effective August 20, 2012 AT 3:00 P.M.

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