Edited by author 11-18-2008 12:10 PM

keep your eyes open - this is Jose Clark and he wants your stuff.

The Jose Clark release is very bad news - the chief let me know last night. 2047 W Howard - does anyone know if that is the 2 story or the storefront? I cannot tell from the google map. He is on parole so one false move - which he will make - and he is back in custody.

Have you ever watched the fire department train - If not it is a great experience. Check out James Park on Wednesday and Thursday - very interesting. Great for kids!

The Fire Department will be hosting a Trench Rescue Class. The class is a combination of classroom and hands-on experience demonstrating properly shoring and rescue techniques for below grade rescues. The classroom portion will take place today. The practical portion will take place on Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. in James Park behind the hill. There may be some additional practical exercise on Friday morning as well. The Lead Instuctor is Captain Glenn Vanek. The Department contact for the training class is Deputy Chief Hunter at 847-866-5927. Thanks, Alan

m/14904

2047 w Howard is the 2-story bldg.
That's where he lived prior to being arrested.

The legal address is 2045 w howard.
PIN is 11-30-309-006-0000.
Registered owners are Amobi and Karen Ekueme.

Owners were in foreclosure in the second half of 2007, but action was voluntarily dismissed. I'm guessing they're renting to anyone who is willing to live there and can pay the rent.

Re: Jose Clark -- does the "years" in an offender's sentance always mean "months"?

Edited by author 11-18-2008 04:05 PM
Ann those number are for 2008 not 2004 right?

Ann - I have not heard one council member give any real direction to staff on what they will accept as a budget increase!

That is how much the council allow the entire budget to increase next year - I recall about 17% increase over the last two years.

I also have a feeling many of the council members are not aware of what is going on with the budget.

As I see it and how it has been presented at the last two meetings

5% property tax increase ( bottom line )
short fall of $2,8 million dollars no source of funding
Increase water bills to cover the decreasing revenue ( 33% ? will need to verify since I did not get the handout )
None of this considers the issue of the pension funds and how they might have performed recently. that is coming in January!

Just because no council member said they did not want to raise water bills or raise water bills does not mean much- the standard mode is to wait to the end of the budget hearings and just pass on the increases.

The city staff basically has said no cuts of staff or programs.

None of this is a pretty picture considering what is going on with the entire ecomomy,

Junad I am just a petty alderman who is only concerned about a $7000 lunch for empoyees.

Can't you talk to your alderman? My last direction was to reduce 300,000 with no service cuts and failed. I will be gearing up again but last night was not the night for that kind of thing.

Ann,

Are your cohorts on the Council serious?

They dither over park bathrooms and park walks at $1.5 million a pop, and then they wonder why there is no money, supposedly appropriated, for the leaking (for years) roof on the Civic Center.

Do staff work under umbrellas when it rains? Or, being green, do they pretend they are in a rain forest?

BTW the state of Illinois has the honor of being at the bottom of fulfilling pension obligation funding.

I have to say, looking over what information I've been able to find, I'm in agreement with Vito: if we're in a budget crunch, why are we talking about improvements? Focusing on maintenance and repair of existing facilities (including the lakefront bathrooms) seems to make more sense.

Ann - I am not trying to give you a hard time.

But the council as a group should be asking what percent increase do we want for the budget?

That is 3% total budget increase - given economic times is even high, might be realistic. But it is not likely.

I also think the issue of keep on cutting with no service cuts is not realistic - I believe there are employees we just do not need - that many other cities do not have in similar positions that can be eliminated.

I will speak at the next council as to my views -

Michele - so we should remove from the capital plan the rebuilding of another firestation? Last time I looked they were seeking about $5 million for that - how many firestations has the city replaced in the last ten years?

Edited by author 11-19-2008 09:11 AM
Tim - thank you - so sorry everyone, I did have the wrong numbers - these are correct Precincts 2 and 4 are the top voters but everyone did great!
Also - sorry about the formatting.
SEE /m14924

Junad - I do not think you are giving me a hard time - just want you to get your alderman involved.

On the matter new bathrooms at the lake - we need bathrooms - we don't need the facilities where each is proposed to cost $1.3 million and up. They must be upgraded - they are not ada compliant. The debate was about NOT spending the money - The council didn't put those numbers in the plan -The debate was about removing money from the plan and upgrading.

By the way the meeting was video taped - I will find out when it will be run.

Does anyone know how to format those numbers? I can send you my excel sheet.