The DeKalb County Landfill is on the fast track to a major expansion. If approved, the landfill will be the entrance to DeKalb County for those coming from Chicago. If approved, the landfill will expand to fill about 2.5 miles of I-88 frontage, from  Somonauk to Hinckley Road between the Tollway and Gurler Road, with 4,000,000 pounds of garbage per day for the next 49 years or so.

The trash would come in via 100 transfer trucks (80,000 lbs. each) and another 140 assorted packer trucks and rolloff trucks each day (6 days a week) from 16 northern Illinois counties — not counting this one.

Thursday March 11 beginning at 1:00pm is the last scheduled public hearing on the mega-dump that if approved will straddle the Union Ditch near the headwaters region of the East Branch of the South Branch of the Kishwaukee River. It is located within 1/2 mile of a public elementary school that taxpayers just paid some $15 million to build.

Observations and comments about state government by State Representative Robert W. Pritchard.

March 8, 2010

Topics this week:
·        Ag Fees to Increase
·        General Assembly May Cut Scholarships
·        Medicaid Managed Care Plan Explained
·        Exercise Gives Brain Power
·        Youth Council Studies Government
·        Remembering our Troops
·        NIU Speaks Frankly About Funding
·        Budget Address Begins Process

Ag Fee Increases To Keep the Lights On

Budget cuts and fund sweeps over the past three years have left the Department of Agriculture unable to conduct its regulatory and inspection functions.  To keep many businesses operating, user fees were increased by legislation that passed out of the House last week.

An estimated $2 million will be raised by increasing such fees as pesticide registration, applicator license, diagnostic tests, certificates, permits and inspection.  Most of the fees will be paid by farmers and agribusinesses but a few could be passed through to consumers.

Gracie and I were playing catch up on our websites. We decided to listen to the DeKalb City Council meeting via streaming to make best use of our time. About midway through the Committee of the Whole meeting I was in my truck headed for City Hall.

h/t Mark Charvat
I had just heard Tom Teresinski state that the TIF revenue forecasts did not support the projected additional costs of selling debt obligation bonds as TIF revenue bonds. So he and the rest of the council were leaning towards General Obligation bonds, as staff recommended.

Notes from a busy calendar:

What’s 118-feet high with a garbage truck on top?

Going into Day Three of the DeKalb County Landfill Expansion public hearing. I promise a full report when the hearing is over. The Chronicle has reports here and there. The Northern Star’s got coverage here. WLBK’s got some scoop here. The best source is live at the hearing as a participant.

I am deeply grateful to Dan Kenney for his leadership and effort; to Clay Campbell for all his help; to Gracie as always; and to the fb 730 or so who know who I’m talking about.

A deepening financial morass:

After the first all day session of the landfill public hearing was over I headed over to the DeKalb City Council and Finance Advisory Meeting. I was too tired to be effective. Too pooped to fight about anything. So I sat there and mulled over a survey I didn’t really fill out. Gave minimal input because I was confused. And I’m starting to feel a little like Rodney Dangerfield.

This is the report I submitted. An email asking me to fill out a survey was never received so I guess Rudy took my report and matched up my input with the survey answers to get a 100% survey response. More on that later.

It looks like the staff either agrees to a 12% cut in pay or they’ll face a 12% cut in jobs. That could mean a loss of some of our most experienced staff because such a salary cut would mean a reduction in pensions for employees near the end of their careers. More on that later, too.