03 Oct 2011

Governor Quinn Announces Volunteer Fire Assistance Program Grants

By Katelyn Tye

Federally-Funded Grants will Boost Public Safety Throughout Illinois by Supporting 90 Rural and Small Town Fire Departments

CHICAGO - September 30, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced that 90 Illinois communities will benefit from more than $677,000 in federal grants to rural fire protection districts and fire departments. The Volunteer Fire Assistance grant program is a federally-funded program that provides matching funds to aid fire departments in the purchase of new equipment and training.

"This important program boosts public safety by helping many of Illinois' rural and small town fire departments upgrade their equipment and training," Governor Quinn said. "Homeowners and business owners throughout the state will benefit from this assistance to their local firefighters."

The Volunteer Fire Assistance grant program reimburses 50 percent of the recipients' costs for providing training and acquiring equipment to assist local firefighters. Grant recipients must make the initial financial outlay for the projects before being reimbursed. The grants announced today are supporting more than $1.3 million in local projects.

The U.S. Forest Service grant program is administered in Illinois by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), however no state funds are involved.

"Local firefighters will be able to do a better job of protecting property and lives in their communities thanks to the federal funds being used for the new equipment and training these grants support," IDNR Director Marc Miller said.

A list of the 90 grant recipients is attached.

 

Volunteer Fire Assistance Program Local Agency Grant Awards

 

Volunteer Fire Department Name         Grant Amount    County




Alto Pass FD

$  7,331.50

Union

Amboy FPD

$15,000.00

Lee

Anna FD

$11,500.00

Union

Ashland VFD

$  1,375.75

Cass

Bath FPD

$  4,420.00

Mason

Bismarck Comm. FPD

$  6,000.00

Vermilion

Blackhawk FPD

$  7,105.00

Rock Island

Bourbonnais FPD

$ 2,400.00

Kankakee

Brighton Betsey Ann FPD

$  2,878.00

Macoupin/Jersey

Cerro Gordo

$  2,985.00

Piatte

Chadwick FPD

$  6,876.85

Carroll

Cobden VFC, Inc.

$14,959.50

Union

Crete FD

$  1,500.00

Williamson

Crete Township

$14,850.00

Williamson

Divernon FPD

$  5,647.00

Sangamon

Dixon Rural FPD

$  4,120.00

Lee/Ogle

Dowell FD

$  1,441.00

Jackson

Easton Rural FPD

$  4,750.00

Mason

Fairbury, City of

$10,262.28

Livingston

Fillmore Comm. FPD

$  3,316.00

Montgomery

Fox Lake FPD

$14,770.00

Lake

Freeport Rural FPD

$  5,019.75

Stephenson

French Village FPD

$  7,200.00

St. Clair

Godfrey FPD

$15,000.00

Madison

Grant Park, FPD

$  5,000.00

Kankakee

Greater Wabash FPD

$13,365.00

Wabash

Greenville FPD

$  7,061.50

Bond

Hebron/Alden/Greenwood FPD

$  3,750.00

McHenry

Hull-Kinderhook FPD

$  4,804.00

Pike

Jonesboro FPD

$  7,500.00

Union

Kankakee Twp. FPD

$  4,975.00

Kankakee

Keyesport FPD

$  9,490.00

Bond

Lake County Wildland FTF

$     459.00

Lake

Lake Egypt FPD

$  7,399.00

Williamson

Lena FPD

$10,385.00

Stephenson

Leonore VFD

$15,000.00

LaSalle

Lexington FPD

$ 0,800.00

McLean

Liberty FPD

$12,000.00

Adams

Limestone, FPD

$  4,300.00

Kankakee

Lincoln FPD

$  7,314.00

Coles

Loami, FPD

$  2,901.00

Sangamon

Lostant FPD

$15,000.00

LaSalle

Maeystown

$  2,500.00

Monroe

Magnolia FPD

$  2,000.00

Putnam

Massac FPD

$15,000.00

Massac

McClure/East Cape Girardeau

$  7,982.50

Alexander

Metropolis FD

$  5,765.00

Massac

Mid_Piatt FPD

$  2,325.00

Piatt

Milledgeville FPD

$  2,475.00

Carroll

Morris FPD

$15,000.00

Grundy

Mt. Hope Funks Grove

$  5,012.50

McLean

Mulberry Grove

$  3,960.00

Bond/Fayette

Neoga FPD

$  3,967.50

Cumberland

New Athens

$  7,463.00

St. Clair

Newport

$  3,500.00

Lake

Niota FD

$  6,000.00

Hancock

North Clay FPD

$12,370.00

Clay/Effingham

Northern Piatt FPD

$  8,077.00

Piatt

Oakland FD

$15,000.00

Coles

Odin FPD

$  7,497.50

Marion

Oglesby FD

$  6,600.00

LaSalle

Olmsted FD

$  2,160.00

Pulaski

Olney FPD

$ 5,000.00

Richland

Park Forest FD

$  2,102.00

Cook/Will

Petersburg FPD

$  9,574.50

Menard

Pleasant Plains

$ 5,000.00

Sangamon

QEM

$14,200.00

Jersey

Rapids City FPD

$12,500.00

Rock Island

Roanoke FPD

$     915.00

Woodford

Rural Pope County

$12,608.00

Pope

Salina Township FPD

$  2,565.00

Kankakee

Scales Mound FPD

$  6,347.78

Jo Daviess

Secor FPD

$  4,079.00

Woodford

Sheridan Comm. FPD

$  8,750.00

LaSalle

Sherman FPD

$  1,617.00

Sangamon

South Jacksonville FPD

$15,000.00

Morton

Spring Valley  FD

$  2,402.12

Bureau

St. Libory FPD

$  7,287.50

St. Clair

Standard FPD

$  4,625.00

Putnam/LaSalle

Stockton FPD

$14,408.00

JoDaviess

Timber Hollis, FPD

$  8,115.00

Peoria

Union FPD

$14,824.50

McHenry

Utica FPD

$  6,810.00

LaSalle

Valier FPD

$  7,600.00

Franklin

Valmeyer FPD

$  8,720.00

Monroe

Vergennes FD

$     400.95

Jackson

Ware-Wolf Lake FPD

$  2,850.00

Union

Williamson County FPD

$  6,590.00

Williamson

Williamsville, FPD

$10,464.00

Sangamon

Woodland FPD

$  4,990.00

Iroquois





Grand Total                          $677,211.48
03 Oct 2011

Braley Statement on Budget Agreement

By Jeff Giertz

Bipartisan agreement extends disaster recovery funding for Iowa flood victims

 

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today released the following statement after Senate leaders announced a deal on a bill that temporarily funds US government operations, including support for Iowa flood recovery:

 

"The solutions to our nation's problems won't be found in partisan bickering.  That's why I'm encouraged that, for one of the first times this year, politicians in Washington put aside their differences and put our country first.  When people in Congress do something as simple as talk to one another and are willing to work across the aisle, we can find common ground.  We're facing some big challenges right now, and Congress must rise to the occasion.

 

"This budget agreement will ensure that disaster recovery work in Iowa will continue uninterrupted, and I support its passage as quickly as possible."

 

# # #

03 Oct 2011

Davenport Parks and Recreation - Ward 4 Meeting Update

By Kenneth Asta
Please note that the Davenport Parks and Recreation Ward 4 meeting held on Tuesday, October 4th has been moved to the Putnam Museum and IMAX Theatre (2nd Floor Lecture Hall) located at 1717 W. 12th St.  Meeting time will remain the same time from 6pm-8pm.
03 Oct 2011

Braley Calls on Congress to Stay in Town and Complete Work on Flood Funds

By Jeff Giertz

Monday deadline looming, but Congress skips town before funding FEMA disaster relief 

 

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today called on Congress to stay in town to provide desperately-needed funding to FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, which includes support for Iowa flood recovery, and finish its work on a spending bill to temporarily fund government operations.   According to news reports, FEMA could run out of funding as early as Monday if no spending bill is passed.

"It disgusts me that Iowa flood recovery has gotten caught in Congress' latest juvenile partisan game.  Helping people get back on their feet after a disaster is the most basic function of government - it shouldn't be an issue bogged down in Washington politics.

 

"Rather than going home for the weekend, Congress should stay in town, do its job, and make good on a three year promise to fund Iowa disaster recovery.  Thousands of Iowans haven't gotten a day off since this year's flooding ripped their lives apart.  Why should Congress?"

 

Congress hasn't yet passed a funding bill for the fiscal year that begins on October 1st.  For the past week, House and Senate leaders have argued over bills that would temporarily fund US government operations until November 18th and add money to FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund to continue paying the cost of disaster recovery from this year's Iowa floods and other natural disasters.  No bills have passed into law.

# # #
27 Sep 2011

Governor Quinn's Request for Agricultural Disaster Declaration Approved

By Rick Martin

Declaration Will Assist Farmers in 73 Illinois Counties Who Suffered

Crop Losses from Severe Flooding Earlier this Year

SPRINGFIELD - September 22, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced federal disaster assistance is available to help Illinois farmers who suffered crop losses due to flooding this year.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted the Governor's request to designate 46 Illinois counties as natural disaster areas. The designation qualifies farmers in those counties and 27 contiguous counties for assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), including low-interest emergency loans.

"Grain prices will help offset production losses for farmers who were fortunate enough to get a crop in the ground, but thousands of acres across Illinois were totally destroyed," Governor Quinn said. "These loans will help farmers who weren't able to plant this year's crop by refinancing debt and covering production costs and essential family living expenses."

The January to June period this year was the fourth-wettest on record. Precipitation totaled 27.2 inches - nearly eight inches more than normal. This includes a record 7.59 inches of rain in April, which delayed spring planting in much of the state and flooded an estimated 500,000 acres.

The 46 counties declared as primary disaster areas are:

Alexander, Brown, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Crawford, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Madison, Marion, McDonough, Mercer, Monroe, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Schuyler, Scott, St. Clair, Stephenson, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White and Williamson.

The 27 contiguous counties approved for disaster assistance include :

Adams, Bond, Bureau, Clark, Clinton, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Jasper, LaSalle, Macoupin, Mason, Massac, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Pike, Sangamon, Shelby, Stark, Warren, Whiteside and Winnebago.

Farmers who believe they may qualify for disaster assistance should contact their county Farm Service Agency office. Staff in county Farm Service Agency offices can then verify whether producers are eligible for emergency funds. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and take into account the extent of production losses, available security and an applicant's repayment ability. Farmers have eight months from the date of today's declaration to apply for assistance.

###

22 Sep 2011

Help Determine the Design Aesthetic of College Hill District

By Jill Doak

Thursday, September 29, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

South Park Presbyterian Church, 1501 30th Street, Rock Island

 

Business and property owners, residents, community leaders, and college and high school students are invited to participate in a Visual Preference Survey Workshop designed to gather instantaneous electronic opinions from participants that will eventually be incorporated into conceptual streetscape designs for the College Hill District.

The City of Rock Island has been engaged in a planning process with College Hill business stakeholders to create a future vision for this eclectic neighborhood business district centered around two nodes along 14th Avenue at 30th and 38th Streets. The City has commissioned The Lakota Group, a Chicago-based planning, urban design and landscape architecture firm, to help craft a Visual Preference Survey and facilitate a community Open House.

The purpose of the Visual Preference Survey is to introduce community character concepts that can influence streetscape and building facades and gauge stakeholder opinions regarding aesthetics of various elements and ideas. The survey will take the form of a PowerPoint presentation, using electronic key pad polling to create an interactive process with instantaneous results.

The survey will focus on the following design categories and/or elements:

  • Overall District Character
  • Streetscape/Landscape Design
  • Building/Façade Improvements
  • Building Height, Bulk and Setbacks
  • Traffic Calming/Pedestrian Realm
  • Public Spaces
  • Branding/Signage and Identity

Following the survey, the consulting team will facilitate small group discussions concerning the character of the College Hill District and the preferences of the participants.

In addition to the conceptual streetscape designs, The Lakota Group will prepare a summary report of the findings that will help guide decisions about future College Hill District improvements. These elements will be incorporated into the College Hill District Revitalization Plan that is expected to be completed in late fall or early winter.

Support your neighborhood businesses, bring your ideas, and help mold the future of the College Hill District.


20 Sep 2011

Courts Uphold Right to Film Police

By Darryl W. Perry
When one hears the term wiretapping, normally one thinks of secretly recording phone calls of others; some may have thoughts of Watergate. However, under some crafty interpretations of the legal definition of wiretapping, several people have found themselves as suspects of this offense for filming their encounters with public officials. Most people familiar with the Free State Project are aware that Pete Eyre and Adam Mueller (aka Ademo Freeman) were recently acquitted of the felony wiretapping charges in Massachusetts. Some people may even be aware that the 1st Circuit Court ruled that filming public officials while on duty is a "basic and well-established liberty safeguarded by the First Amendment."

While, the 1st Circuit Court ruling only applies to the States that are part of that Court's jurisdiction, it was cited by a judge in Illinois as a "pervasive authority" for ruling on similar cases. Specifically the case of an Illinois man, Michael Allison, who was recently convicted of five counts of felony eavesdropping and sentenced to 75 years in prison. The Illinois law makes it a felony to record a conversation without consent of ALL parties involved, regardless of the circumstances. Allison's troubles began when he recorded his encounters with police who were seizing cars from his front yard. Allison then attempted to record his court appearance and was arrested for supposedly violating the Judge's privacy. However, there is good news for Mr. Allison, another Judge (David Frankland) dismissed the charges against Michael Allison and ruled, "A statute intended to prevent unwarranted intrusion into a citizen's privacy cannot be used as a shield for public officials who cannot assert a comparable right to privacy in their public duties... Such action impedes the free flow of information concerning public officials and violates the First Amendment right to gather information."

Additionally, the ACLU is challenging the Illinois law in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, with the court expected to issue a decision in the next month. And a Chicago jury recently acquitted a woman for secretly recording a conversation with police regarding a sexual harassment complaint she was attempting to file against the department.

It seems police officers have no issues if they are filmed during parades or doing something good, such as getting a kitten out of a tree; it's only when the officer is being "less than cordial" that it becomes an issue. Why should someone film a police encounter? Doing so, and presenting the film as evidence during his trial, helped Dave Ridley win an acquittal for trespassing at a public event in New Hampshire.

It's good to see courts, and juries, recognizing the fact that filming cops is not a crime. I encourage everyone to carry a camera (or two) just in case the need arises to film an encounter with a "public servant." You may be able to hold them accountable, and possibly protect yourself from jail.


--
In Peace, Freedom, Love & Liberty,
Darryl W. Perry
Chair Boston Tea Party National Committee
http://BostonTea.us
Owner/Managing Editor Free Patriot Press
http://FreePatriot-Press.com
2016 candidate for President of the United States of America
http://dwp2016.org


Darryl W. Perry is an Activist, Author, Poet & Statesman. Darryl writes a weekly article for the Mountaineer Jeffersonian, a monthly article for The Sovereign and has appeared on various alternative media talking about his books, political career and goals. Darryl is the Chairman of the Boston Tea Party National Committee and Owner/Managing Editor of Free Patriot Press.
20 Sep 2011

Constitution Week

By Michael Elliott
Man-made law must base its authority on natural law to allow true peace. The first law of nature is self-preservation, defined by three branches of an individual's natural rights: Life, Liberty, and Property. When man-made laws defend against violations of these rights, peace and justice can prevail.

On the other hand, when laws place collective force at the disposal of those who would use it to exploit others, injustice prevails and there will be unrest in society. It does not matter if the exploitation applies to health, labor, education, safety, or religion. The law becomes legalized plunder, blurs society's understanding of justice and injustice, and disguises anarchy as order. Since people naturally rebel against injustice, unrest ensues.

True peace can be achieved only when man-made law obeys natural law, when justice is blind, and individual natural rights are protected

19 Sep 2011

Harkin Announces More Than $300,000 for Housing Assistance in Iowa

By Sen. Tom Harkin

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that $308,634 will be awarded to four housing centers across Iowa.  The funding comes from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding will be used to hire Service Coordinators for housing centers that assist elderly and nonelderly individuals with disabilities who live in or are assisted by HUD housing to help them live independently. Harkin is a senior member of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds housing initiatives.

"This funding supports some of the most vulnerable in our community, allowing them to thrive and live independently, while also supporting jobs," said Harkin.  

Details of the funding are below.
Bettendorf-Spruce Hills Village $79,532
Dubuque- St. Mary's Apartments $92,250
Nevada-Meadows Apartments $67,026
Waterloo-Liberty Manor Apartments $69,826
16 Sep 2011

Governor Quinn Vetoes Senate Bill 1652

By Katelyn Tye

Action Stops State's Electric Utilities from Imposing Billions in Rate Hikes Following Summer of Major Service Disruptions

CHICAGO - September 12, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by Attorney General Lisa Madigan and advocates from across the state to fulfill his pledge to protect Illinois consumers from massive electric rate hikes. The Governor today vetoed Senate Bill 1652, which would have allowed Illinois' utility companies to impose billions of dollars in automatic rate hikes every year for the next decade, while eroding more than a century of consumer protections.

"More than 1.5 million people and businesses have had to deal with power outages and services disruptions this summer," Governor Quinn said. "Now these same utilities are trying to change the rules to guarantee themselves annual rate increases and eliminate accountability.  I will not support a bill that contains sweetheart deals for big utilities, which could leave struggling consumers to pick up the tab for costs such as lobbying fees and executive bonuses. We can ensure innovation and investment in our electric grid, and create new jobs, without compromising core safeguards for Illinois consumers."

The legislation would strike more than 100 years of Illinois consumer protection law and weaken the oversight ability of the Illinois Commerce Commission to reign in excessive rate hikes that will heavily burden consumers and disproportionately harm seniors, minorities and low-incomes households. Without adequate oversight and effective performance metrics, Illinois ratepayers will be forced to pay billions in rate hikes, while potentially receiving the same subpar service they have for many years.

"This bill would have been devastating for Illinois consumers," Attorney General Madigan said. "At a time when people are already struggling to pay their bills, the utilities want to make an end run around the regulatory process and stick consumers with huge annual rate increases for unproven technology?all so they can guarantee their profits for the next decade. That's not a proposal I can support."

Senate Bill 1652 also gives unprecedented advantages to Illinois utilities that have less-than-stellar records for providing reliable service. Recent storms in the Chicago area exposed significant service shortcomings when more than 1.5 million people suffered through lengthy and widespread outages. Local businesses and consumers who depend on regular, predictable electricity suffered enormously.

The stated purpose of the bill is to allow the implementation of Smart Grid technology, which the Governor and many advocates support in concept as part of an overall strategy to make Illinois a leader in the clean energy economy. But Senate Bill 1652 puts too heavy of a burden on consumers at a time when they aren't getting the service quality they are already paying for each month. In addition to locking-in extremely high profits in exchange for lower risk by the utility, the measure also includes provisions that have nothing to do with improving service and could stick ratepayers with the cost of executive bonuses and lobbying fees.

Today's action was supported by AARP, the Citizens Utility Board, Citizen Action/Illinois, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, and many business and consumer groups. Along with the state's other leading consumer advocates, Governor Quinn and Attorney General Madigan are urging consumers to contact their legislators and convince them to uphold the veto.

The Governor also announced his support for reforms proposed by the Illinois Commerce Commission that move Illinois towards the goal of modernizing the electric grid, reforming the regulatory system and protecting rate payers. House Amendment # 3 to House Bill 14 represents a good faith effort toward modernizing the grid, reforming our regulatory system, and protecting Illinois' ratepayers.

For more information on how to get involved in stopping rate hikes, visit www.SayNoToRateHikes.org.

###

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