County Executive Race: Budget

Tom Kacich of the News-Gazette looked at a couple budget issues likely facing the new County Executive office on the ballot this year. The County Board is in the process of drafting next year's budget, but the candidates for the new office seem to be confident that they'll be able to work within that initial budget and make changes with the County Board as needed from there. From the News-Gazette Today:

Tom Kacich | County executive a question of funds, staff
One of the primary arguments against Champaign County adopting a county-executive form of government two years ago when the question was on the ballot (and passed, 50.27 percent to 49.73 percent) was its cost to an already cash-strapped government...

Both Hulten and Kloeppel say it's possible that more money may be needed.

"I think I'm going to inherit the staff that currently exists and the county board has budgeted for, and if I need anything additional, I'm going to have to go to the county board and ask for it. All of this has to be done as a collaboration with the county board because budgetary responsibility is shared," said Hulten, who is currently the county clerk. "Initially, I don't believe I'm going to need any more staff than what is there now...

Kloeppel said she's prepared to live within the preliminary budget, although she'll probably need to find money to have an attorney on retainer.

"Yes, I think that I can stay within whatever (county board members) decide. I'm not really pushing hard right now. I know they're working on the budget, and I'm not calling them up every day and saying, 'Make sure to include that,'" said the Democratic candidate...

Kloeppel said she'd need to have an attorney on retainer because the county board would have use of the state's attorney's office in cases where there is a conflict.

On overall spending there were some differences between the candidates on whether spending cuts otherwise would even be possible:

"My plan is, as I have as county clerk, to use technology and organizational improvements and provide more services at a lower cost over time. I of course will have to work with the county board to do that. But I'm looking forward to that challenge," said Hulten.

Kloeppel said she would not make a similar pledge.

"I don't know what he's got in mind. I'm thinking, 'Where would (the cuts) be?' Because in the last three years, the county has cut people to the point where he and all the other officials said, 'We can't cut anymore.' I'm not interested in cutting anybody at this point," she said.

Full article here. Kloeppel appears to be referring to instances like the marathon six and a half hour Committee of the Whole meeting where mostly Republican county government officials, including Hulten, demonstrated in great detail that the County budget was already skeletonized throughout each and every possible office and facility and equipment. The issue then had to do with Democrats trying to find any places to cut to try to retain public ownership of the Champaign County Nursing Home. There was simply nowhere left to cut. A more detailed write-up of that meeting (and video links) here.

Rural Stop Signs Being Installed

Following up on an announcement of a grant by the County Board Chair in the News-Gazette letters several months ago. From the News-Gazette today:

Stop-and-go effort: Signs going up at rural intersections across county
Construction crews began installing 628 stop signs last week at rural intersections across Champaign County.

Once the project is complete, all rural intersections should have at least two-way stop signs.

"The time of year when it's going to be most helpful is when the intersections are blocked by the tall corn," said county engineer Jeff Blue. "We just hope that when the stop signs are installed that people will obey them. If they do, we definitely will have a decrease in the crashes at those intersections."

When the project was approved by the county board in April, Blue said the signs would establish a clear right of way and that federal studies have shown a 22 percent reducation in the crash rate.

Springfield-based TMF Construction received the $171,000 contract to install the stop signs; 90 percent of it is paid for by a federal grant...

TMF has until Dec. 1 to complete the project...

Once the stop signs are installed, it will be up to the township road commissioners to take care of them.

That's "the one downside," said Aaron Esry, a county board member whose district includes the southeastern part of the county. "When they need to be replaced, it will be on the townships themselves."

Full article with additional information here.

Battle of the Bike Laws

If you're interested in various rules and regulations on riding your bicycle around the area, there was a highly informative correction to a legal Q&A on the subject this week from the Champaign County Bikes bicycle advocacy group:

Guest Commentary | Kepley's column on bike rules misleading
...
Several of us are Licensed Cycling Instructors, and as much as we agree that cyclists have the same rights and duties as car drivers and deserve a hug, we disagree that the law requires cyclists to hug the shoulder of the road. This often puts them dangerously in the gutter or out of view of other road users. We also disagree that bicycling under the influence is legal. This is dangerous for everyone. The usual DUI laws do not apply, but cyclists can be charged with public drunkenness or disorderly conduct.

"Hugging the right curb" is not the law and it is not safe bicycling.

The Illinois Vehicle Code states, "Any person operating a bicycle ... at less than the normal speed of traffic ... shall ride as close as practicable and safe to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway."

Practicable and safe does not mean hugging the curb. Hugging the curb puts cyclists in a place often strewn with debris like broken glass. In a city setting, it will place the bicyclist in the door zone, the dangerous area next to parked cars where doors often open unpredictably.

"Practicable and safe" generally means riding several feet to the left of the curb or roadway edge where bicyclists are more visible to drivers at intersections, from driveways and even when coming up from behind. We teach riders to stay at least 4 and preferably 5 feet out from parked cars.

Full article here. Original bicycle law Q&A article here. Links to more safety information and the new Illinois laws.

Illegal Ballot Selfies and Vote By Mail Q&A

Now that Early Voting and Vote By Mail have begun for the November 6th Midterm General Election, there have been some additional voting information stories in the news this week. Did you know it was a felony to take a selfie with your ballot? How to request a mail in vote ballot? From the News-Gazette recently:

The selfie that can land you in an Illinois jail
...
Snapping a photo of your filled-in ballot and posting it on Facebook or Instagram is technically a Class 4 felony in Illinois, which comes with a prison sentence of one to three years. According to the Illinois Election Code, anyone who "knowingly" casts his or her ballot in a way that "can be observed by another person" is breaking the law.

While more than a dozen other states also forbid the ballot selfie, Illinois appears to be the only one where the "offense" is clearly classified as a felony. But it seems no one on record has been arrested for it.

So why is this still on the books?

The intent behind the law is pretty straightforward. These sorts of rules are meant as a firewall against vote buying: Show me a photo of your ballot, I pay you.

Of course, there are already plenty of other laws in Illinois that explicitly outlaw vote buying.

More at the full article here. There was also a quick explanation of the process of voting by mail for most voters from Tom's Mailbag this week:

Vote by mail request
"Can a person request a ballot via email? At what email address, or is it strictly visiting the county to request a ballot? Or can it be done by phone? We usually get an email reminder but so far nothing."

You didn't say where you live but in Champaign County you can request a ballot application through the county clerk's website (https://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/vote-by-mail-reside), by phone (384-3724) or by email (mail@champaigncountyclerk.com), said County Clerk Gordy Hulten.
Using the form on the clerk's website is the preferred method, Hulten said.
It's important to realize, though, that requesting the ballot is just a first step.
"Once we get an email or a phone call, we generate an application that they have to sign," he said. "It just starts the process so we can send them that and eventually the ballot."

 More information on Vote By Mail at the County Clerk's website here and Early Voting here.

Middle Fork and Coal Ash Meetings

 There are a couple opportunities for public input on the proposed bank armoring project by Dynergy to deal with the toxic coal ash site near the Middle Fork River. The first meeting is this Monday night (tomorrow as of this posting) at the Champaign Public Library. From the News-Gazette yesterday:

Environmental groups set meetings on Middle Fork coal-ash campaign
Advocates of protecting the Middle Fork River from possible coal-ash contamination are encouraging the public to attend one of two upcoming meetings that will update citizens on the campaign and offer opportunities to get involved.

Texas-based Vistra Energy Corp., which recently merged with Dynegy, has filed an application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to put more rocks along the river bank near coal-ash pits that were once part of the closed Dynegy power station north of Oakwood.

Recent decisions by the Corps of Engineers and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency have opened the door for more public input into the decision-making process on whether to allow Dynegy to stabilize the bank in the manner it has proposed and let it permanently leave the coal ash in the pits.

Lan and Pam Richart, co-directors of Eco-Justice Collaborative, and Andrew Rehn, water resources engineer with the Prairie Rivers Network, will lead both public meetings, providing updates on the government agencies' review of Vistra's plans and ways to provide comments and learn where each Illinois gubernatorial candidate stands on the issue.

The first meeting is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green St.; the second is set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Danville Public Library, 319 N. Vermilion St.

More at the full article here. More information from the Eco-Justice Collaborative here. More information from the Prairie Rivers Network on the proposed bank armoring here. Their description of the problem explains their demand for Dynergy to seek alternative and hopefully permanent safeguards to the river:

The real issue here is the location of the coal ash – not the river. As long as the coal ash is in the floodplain next to the meandering river, there will be need for repeated bank armoring. Indeed, this project includes removal of the previous bank armoring efforts from the 1980s which used gabions. That set of bank armoring was daunting in size, yet despite the magnitude of the 1980s armoring, the river was able to negate its influence with time.

Bank armoring is a temporary practice. One day, this project will also need to be removed and replaced.

More at their article here.

The Week Ahead: 9/30 - 10/6

Vote By Mail requests are available to voters generally now. Ballot requests for the November 6th, 2018 General Election have already started and EARLY VOTING HAS BEGUN! More information on Vote By Mail in Champaign County here. Ballot request direct link for residents here. More information on County elections (including checking your registration, sample ballots when available, and early voting times and locations) at our Elections page.

Other Events:

There are a lot of political campaign and organizing events popping up (e.g. local candidate forums on upcoming Friday nights). Check out your preferred candidates and you will likely see campaign, canvassing, or voter registration events in the area. Many are using facebook to more easily share event information and reminders. Check out the Champaign County Voter Alliance's preliminary general election candidate guide to see who is running. We'll be updating County race information from the primary election to the general soon.
 
Groups that crossover with Racial Justice Task Force recommendations meeting this week:

Build Programs Not Jails meets Wednesday, October 3rd at 7pm at the Independent Media Center. Meetings are every other Wednesday at 7pm at the IMC.

At July's City of Champaign Study Session of the City Council, the reentry housing issue was raised during public participation (a full write up of the meeting is here and video here). This is following up on the preview of that discussion at the City Council meeting here: Reentry Housing Issue. The News-Gazette had a couple articles following up on the meeting linked on the Cheat Sheet here.

County Calendar:

On Monday evening there is the Nursing Home Board of Directors meeting at the 6:30pm time (agenda here). From the previous month's minutes in this month's agenda packet you can see this is more of a managerial board discussing financials and marketing more than policy or politics, but with the sale of the Nursing Home looming it may have additional related information.

On Tuesday evening there is a Special County Board of Health Meeting at the C-U Public Health District location. A quick agenda summary below and agenda here.

Also on Tuesday is the County Facilities Committee which meets back at Brookens. This committee deals with County facilities maintenance and projects. More information can be found in the meeting agenda packet, including previous minutes to get an idea of what they do.

Thursday has a meeting of the is the Environment & Land Use Committee, which deals with environmental issues and how land is used within the County's jurisdiction. This week there appears to be some updates on the Mahomet Aquifer Task Force and the Middle Fork River Coal Ash Pit situation. There appears to be some items on solar farm exemptions as well. More at the agenda packet here.


The full 2018 schedule is on the Calendar page and the County page. The regular County Board meetings are back to Thursdays until next holiday season.

If you're curious about learning more about how your county government works, it's easy enough to live stream a meeting or go in person: Attend a Meeting.

*Meeting is broadcast live on Comcast Public Access and at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/champco1776

Where is Brookens?

Brookens Administrative Center
1776 East Washington Street
Urbana, Illinois 61802-4581
Phone: 217-384-3772

After 4:30 the Washington Street side Parking Lot is Closed See Maps for the North East Parking Lot Access

Forest Preserve Seeks Citizen Advisors

The Champaign County Forest Preserve is taking applications for its Citizens Advisory Committee (application available here). Blurb from the News-Gazette today:

An excerpt on what the position entails from their website:

The group meets 6 times per year, generally at Lake of the Woods (4 times), Homer Lake (1 time) and Middle Fork Forest Preserve (1 time). Most meetings are held at 6:00 pm on the first Wednesday of every other month. In addition to meeting attendance, members volunteer at community events and/or CCFPD activities to promote awareness of the District.

Recent projects included: collaboration with the CU Astronomical Society to obtain Dark Sky certification for Middle Fork Forest Preserve (ongoing); promotion of and education aspects of the Kickapoo Rail Trail (ongoing); and development of a site plan for Sylvester Woods. Former projects have included making recommendations related to waterfowl areas, potential canoe trails, and firewood usage at District sites.

Application available here. Committee schedule available here.

Candidate Forum and Boycott

The last of three candidate forums went off with mostly one sided pitches from Republicans due to a Champaign County Democratic Party boycott of the News-Gazette hosting the forum. The editorial cartoon they chose to publish was interpreted as disparaging the me too movement and many of the basic principles espoused by activists in it. The cartoonist weighed in on the controversy he caused here. The CEO of the company that owns the paper tried to put a positive spin on the situation here. And there were plenty of angry letters to the editor explaining why people believed the message sent was harmful to victims, sending the wrong message to children, or variously insulting and demeaning.

Dems' absence turns final candidate forum into series of monologues
An overview of what remained of the forum was described in today's paper:

Seven debates among candidates for the Champaign County Board were scheduled for Friday, but only one happened after local Democrats didn't show up.

The Champaign County Democrats urged their candidates to boycott the event after one of the sponsors, The News-Gazette, published a controversial editorial cartoon about the #MeToo movement.

The election forum, also sponsored by the League of Women Voters and NAACP of Champaign County, went on without any of the tension that preceded the event.

Instead of audience-submitted questions about the issues facing the Champaign County Board, the Republican candidates were given five minutes to introduce themselves.

"Our policy is that if we have a forum planned, and there is only one candidate remaining, that candidate will have an opportunity to make a five-minute statement about their policies and qualifications," said Holly Wilper, the forum's moderator.

The only race where two candidates showed up was for a seat representing District 4, which covers part of south Champaign and the southwestern part of the county.

The incumbent Republican, Jim McGuire, faced off against independent Cathy Emanuel, with McGuire touting his experience on the board and Emanuel her independence.

Full article here with more details and background. The video of the statements and the District 4 forum will be here at the CGTV website when it's available.


Other Local Forum Links:

• 9/14/2018 Auditor/Sheriff/Clerk Local Candidate Forum
   
• 9/21/2018 Circuit Judges / County Executive Second Local Candidate Forum
   
• 10/5/2018 County Board Q & A Forum: County Board Candidate Split Forum 

Solar Zoning

Now that solar farm rules have been passed, the fights begin over zoning decisions and exceptions between localities, residents, and businesses. From yesterday's News-Gazette:

Champaign County zoning panel discusses first proposed solar farm
Champaign County's first private solar farm is a step closer to becoming a reality.

In spite of an objection from the St. Joseph Village Board, the Champaign County Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday night discussed proceeding with Community Power Group's proposed solar farm near that village.

The first facility would be a 2-megawatt farm on a 57.84-acre tract just north of the St. Joseph Sportsman Club.

On Thursday, the zoning board received a resolution from the St. Joseph Village Board objecting to the location because it might affect new developments north of Interstate 74 in future years.

"Growing north of the interstate has been a priority for us, and we don't like the idea of being boxed in," said Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges.

She also expressed concern about setting a precedent by allowing a solar farm within a half-mile of the village. The village prefers a mile-and-a-half buffer for such farms.

Full article here. More on the fights to get the solar farm rules passed in the first place and the immediate exception to them requested here. Archive of posts mentioning the solar issue here.

MTD Service Expands in Rantoul

From the News-Gazette yesterday:

MTD board approves extension, expansion of bus service in Rantoul
Bus service in Rantoul will be expanded starting Nov. 1, according to the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District.

The MTD board Wednesday approved an agreement that will continue the C-CARTS Eagle Express service operated by the MTD under contract.

The agreement extends service through Oct. 31, 2020, and further expands the number of routes serving Rantoul from one to three...

Terms of the agreement call for Rantoul to pay the MTD $9,258 a month for the 12 months between this November and Oct. 31, 2019, and $9,350 a month for the following year.

Full blurb here.

Dockless Bikes, Everywhere!

So, if you don't follow local city government and are noticing turquoise bicycles scattered throughout town in ever growing random places, the change wasn't at the Champaign County level, but at the local level in an agreement between Champaign and Urbana City governments and the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Information on this C-U area phenomenon can be found with additional links (including who to complain to if the things are parked where they shouldn't be) here: http://champaignil.gov/2018/09/19/dockless-bike-share-service-launches-in-champaign-urbana/

Essentially the dockless bikes are unlocked via a mobile app that charges various rate options to use. Once you're done you slide the lock back on in an appropriate area and someone else can use it. The company is required to pick them up if they're not where they're supposed to be and the link above has that contact information.

More on the government evolution towards this agreement, including articles covering Champaign, Urbana and the University of Illinois role in the process at the Cheat Sheet: C-U Local here.

Hospital Tax Case Updates

The Illinois Supreme Court recently upheld an exemption that has kept certain tax money collected by local governments in a legal limbo during litigation. What that means for local and county governments is still up in the air pending further litigation that will ride on the courts ruling on the nitty gritty from this decision. The lack of a definitive resolution was explained in a News-Gazette article last week:

Illinois Supreme Court upholds hospital tax-exemption law
An Illinois Supreme Court ruling upholding the state's 6-year-old hospital tax-exemption law is being viewed as a win for both nonprofit hospitals and taxing districts, but it remains to be seen how it will play out in the Carle Foundation's pending lawsuit over property taxes in Champaign County.

The state Supreme Court on Thursday morning unanimously affirmed a First District Appellate Court ruling that upheld the constitutionality of the state law that created new standards for nonprofit hospitals to obtain exemptions from paying property taxes in their communities.

Full article here. Naturally, both the hospital and the taxing authorities seem to think they'll be victorious (at least in their public posturing) in upcoming litigation on the matter. From today's News-Gazette:

Illinois' charity care statute was upheld, but are hospitals really the winner?
...
Steve Pflaum, the Chicago lawyer representing Carle, said it's easy to focus on the longstanding controversy in Champaign County over hospital tax exemptions, when, in fact, hospitals have a long history in Illinois of being tax-exempt and the state constitution hasn't changed.

Pflaum doesn't see any ambiguity in the Supreme Court decision about what hospitals need to do to meet the constitutional test, he said, and he sees Carle being in a solid position heading to trial...

Fred Grosser, the attorney representing Urbana and Cunningham Township in the Carle lawsuit, contended hospitals are going to have to show considerably more than whether they serve everyone regardless of ability to pay to meet the constitutional standards.

He views the Supreme Court's decision as about a 90 percent win for taxpayers and taxing districts, he said.

"Contrary to the claims of Carle and the Illinois Hospital Association, this decision is devastating to them," Grosser said.

Full article here. A local law professor quoted in the article appeared to explain that the courts will still have to figure out how to legally apply the legalese... or something. I leave it to adventurous readers to figure it all out at the original articles. UPDATE: Another article previewing where the both sides of the case are in light of some of the trial judge's input: Judge seeks to clarify how state Supreme Court ruling applies to Carle tax case.

Second Local Candidate Forum

The full forum video is available from the CGTV here. An overview of the forum is available from the News-Gazette here:

4 circuit judge candidates, 2 county executive hopefuls share views
In a candidates' forum Friday, voters heard from four people vying for two circuit judgeships and the two candidates for county executive of Champaign County.

Democrat Ramona Sullivan and Republican Roger Webber will face off this November for the seat formerly held by Judge Arnold Blockman, while Democrat Chad S. Beckett and Republican Randy Rosenbaum seek the seat formerly held by Judge Harry Clem. Meanwhile, Republican Gordy Hulten and Democrat Darlene Kloeppel both hope to be the first to fill a newly created county office...

The forum was sponsored by the Champaign County League of Women Voters, the Champaign County NAACP and The News-Gazette.

Full article with an overview of the candidate arguments here. Video here. Judicial candidate election page here. County Executive election page here. More information on County Candidates at the Champaign County Voter Alliance Candidate Guide here.


Other Local Forum Links:

• 9/14/2018 Auditor/Sheriff/Clerk Local Candidate Forum
   
• 9/28/2018 District 4 Forum / County Board Statements Candidate Forum and Boycott
   
• 10/5/2018 County Board Q & A Forum: County Board Candidate Split Forum 

Local Candidate Forum

[UPDATE: Notes for the Auditor portion of the forum have been added. Thanks Ann!

• Jump to Sheriff portion
   
• Jump to County Clerk portion
   
• Jump to Auditor portion
   
• Jump to forum schedule]

Last night there was the first of three forums coming up (see schedule here) for candidates running for County offices in the upcoming midterm election. Video here when available (probably some time Monday). From the News-Gazette:

Hopefuls in 3 races argue their cases
Some 70 people chose to spend their Friday evening at the Champaign City Building, where they heard from six candidates for three Champaign County seats.

In the first of three Friday forums hosted by the League of Women Voters, NAACP and The News-Gazette, candidates for county sheriff, clerk and auditor answered questions submitted by the audience.

Full article here with overviews of the forums with County Sheriff, County Clerk, and County Auditor candidates.

We have some rough notes from the Sheriff and Clerk candidates below for anyone interested. Special thanks to Ann for these!

General Candidate Forum

Here's the schedule:
7:30-8:00 Champaign County Sheriff: Allen Jones, R; Dustin Heuerman, D

Opening statements:

H: Surprising others due to assumptions about his sexuality, being judge by one aspect of himself. He’s running because he doesn't like what he sees, and he wants to make change. He knows what it’s like to to be stereotyped. No one should fear police, we should work together. Employees should be valued. It is our obligation to provide resources to prevent re-offending. We also need to protect and serve those living outside CU.

J: 29 year veteran, and other work experience. Education. Has experience of running the jail. Many outside sheriff position have little experience. 160 employees, 5 different unions, negotiate and manage. Implementing body cams, crisis prevention training, distributing narcan, co-administrator of grant to reduce jail stay of those with mental illness, substance abuse.

Q: Does current sheriff cooperates with ICE? Should they?

J: Illinois trust act followed by office, don’t detain beyond release point, only when warrant is issued; not detained based on request from ICE.

H: I don’t believe sheriff should cooperate with ICE. Citizens should feel safe and be comfortable. Actively work with immigration groups. ICE makes people not want to report crimes.

How will you handle prisoners with mental illness issues?

H: Collaborate with community organizations to get help before they are arrested. Once in jail they should be provided with resources.

J: Leadership and experience already taking place. Partnership with mental health board. Community providers are already in the jail. Those resources are immediately accessible along with follow-up appointments. He’s an advocate for non-violent offenders.

What is your plan for the downtown jail? Do you think we need additional capacity?

J: We need additional capacity at satellite jail. Downtown jail should be closed. Remodeling and expansion of satellite jail so corrections office can be run under one building.

H: Needs to speak with those who work there to know more details, but agrees with closing downtown jail to consolidate staff and materials. Also believes in alternatives to incarceration.

What features do you think the new jail should have?

H: Difficult to speculate. Study needed. Officer safety is number one priority. Space for GED and vocational classes.

J: The expansion has been studied, the need is 60-80 beds. Ability to house medically challenging or difficult inmates. Medical and mental health staff will be with population. Program space will be freed up. Male and female space should be available at the same time (right now it’s not).

What’s the best way to recruit women and minorities?

J: Go out and build relationships, using current staff who can give testimonials, be present at activities and programs with recruiting cards. Tests used to be once every two years. Now these online tests can be taken any time so recruitment is ongoing.

H: One of the best strategies is to partner with Parkland College and others with criminal justice programs, internships and ride-alongs. Also let them know policing is as much social work as enforcement. Anyone can do the job with right training.

How important would you say experience is when running for sheriff?

H: I think experience is very important. Type of experience is just as important as number of years. Named his experience, which provides best practices for criminal justice.

J: Experience is important, but it’s also relationships. Current relationships with Parkland and other colleges, students have already been doing ride-alongs and have been hired. Established relationships with community and how to navigate that, especially when it’s very challenging financially, it’s very important.

How will you handle racial profiling?

J: It’s illegal, it’s unacceptable, not part of training. RJTF has recommendations which we’re working to follow. Working with data analyst to see if changes need to be made and addressed.

H: Unfortunately it’s due to implicit bias so we’re working against that. Hiring diverse personnel, increase community policing, using data to address issues.

What is your leadership style?

H: collaborative, people who are impacted by decision need to be part of the process. Taking in multiple perspectives.

J: Creative and innovative. Take direction of sheriff and see best ways to make that happen, let the staff loose to follow those directions, while evaluating costs, and keeping the best interests in mind of the community.

What’s the most rewarding part of working on law enforcement?

J: Interaction with community, spending time in community, advocate for mental illness, substance abuse, establishing relationships, seeing and being recognized by those he’s helped, it’s a public service. It’s rewarding.

H: After you do this job for a long time, relationship aspect is rewarding. We see people at very low points in their lives. Helping people find solutions and resources, seeing them helping themselves, it’s very rewarding.

What motivated you to go into law enforcement?

H: I want to help people. Grandfather was part time police office. Now it’s more intelligence led. I’ve learned to appreciate the change being made in someone’s life. Primarily working in a county setting, getting to know people is rewarding.

J: Father, Allen Jones, police chief of Rantoul, growing up in military town, he served with integrity and desire to help the community, lead with a purpose.

Closing statements:

H: Thanking sponsors, husband and voters. Proud to be the first Democratic candidate for sheriff in 20 years. Giving up secure and tenured position because he’s passionate about the need for change. Importance of diversity and equality is an important perspective.

J: Thanking sponsors, family, voters. I don’t rest on laurels of work that’s been done but find ways to improve. With my leadership and experience, I’ve played a key role. Gun violence and domestic violence, opioid addiction, mental health issues, lots of challenges, jail consolidation. I’m the only one with corrections experience. I’ve led that agency. I’ll leverage my experience with the judiciary and the state’s attorney’s office. We have to continue working with crisis response center to give people the resources they need before they become part of the criminal justice system, and someone who doesn't have the right experience will have a lot of difficulty with that.
8:10-8:40 Champaign County Clerk: Matt Grandone, R; Aaron Ammons, D

Opening statements:

A: 1965, AA voting right advocates planned March with 600 people who were stopped by state troopers, Bloody Sunday. Over 3000 marchers then marched with Dr. King to Selma, Viola, a white woman who helped was killed. On the 15th anniversary I walked across that bridge. I value our democracy, this is more than a job, that’s why I’m running.

G: Born and raised in Urbana, has worked for Gordy for 4 years, yes it’s a job, the voters and taxpayers ask us to do it. I’ll talk about what I've already done in clerk's office, run last eight elections. Including largest election in our history, we do it better than any office in state because we hire competent people. Now hire the most competent person to lead this party forward. We Follow Illinois election code which changes every day. I’m the one who can do this.

Describe the job of county clerk. What are 3 most important duties:

G: 1) Run elections, 2) vitals department, 3) tax department, looking for easy ways to get documents that are needed, to help citizens get the help they need, providing information to trustees, etc, so they can provide the services needed.

A: Tax, vitals, and elections. That’s a given. What I see as most important is outreach to community, make sure underserved have a voice. It’s bigger than just a job, also providing a sense of security for voters. I’ve voted in 26 last elections, Matt voted in 10.

Position demands management and organizational skills and dealing with documents. Do you have the skills to do this?

A: Serves on state retirement board serving large number of pensioners. Alderman, also president of union, validating contracts, training, negotiations, etc. Endorsed by employees who work in county clerk’s office.

G: Running last 8 elections. Primary 610 different ballots, making sure every single voter gets right ballots, 550 election judges with equipment when needed,

What would you do differently or better?

G: Hiring full time programmer. Part time on contract currently, so we can continue to evolve and make sure we have secure networks. We use paper ballots so our system is secure.

A: Someone in this audience got the wrong ballot, so he knows it doesn’t always work the way they say. Spent countless hours registering voters already before I event chose to run, I would give $5000 of salary to outreach. There should be an independent commission to oversee process, I would not endorse a candidate.

What makes you qualified?

A: My passion for Democracy separates me. Given job of director after only voting 3 times, vs. someone who is committed to voting and studying the history of voting. I have the trust of people who put faith in me. Elected three times as president of the union. Values and exercise the right to vote.

G: I understand the difference between county clerk’s office and election commission. Election commissioner is not elected. County clerk is constitutionally elected office. Their office knew exactly what they were talking about during objections re: county board candidates.

Obama: Only ⅕ of millenials voted. What would you do to encourage new voters?

G: Parkland and Quad day to engage with voters. Any new registrants are sent email with options listing how to vote. They want the ease of voting and we’ve made it very easy for them.

A: I enjoyed meeting President Obama. I’ve been registering voters in Champaign county before I ever thought about running for County Clerk. It’s not Dem agenda to stop students from voting, with consolidated locations, moving polling places, etc. I’ve been involved in large drives to register voters, vs. county clerk being in one spot at Quad Day, making students come to them.

Should the recorder's office and clerk’s office be combined?

A: As a taxpayer, we should use revenue wisely. I want to save dollars by calling for salary freeze for four years. That would also help us balance the budget. It’s up to voters to consolidate those offices, but if they decide that I’ll go along.

G: I don’t want to comment on something that will appear on the ballot. I see no reason why the clerk's office couldn't handle that change without any loss of service or additional cost.

Do you support or oppose Crosscheck?

G: I don’t think there’s a way to support/oppose if it’s not being used. We haven’t used for two years. ERIC requires you to make a change. Crosscheck is a tool in the arsenal. We must use it correctly.

A: I strongly oppose Cross check, and I don’t want the right to vote taken away from any citizen. Grandone knows it disenfranchises voters. Other states have left Crosscheck because data isn’t secure.

What is the single most important issue or problem to address as county clerk?

A: Outreach: fundamental issue. People should know they have a right to vote, students, underserved communities, those who live in rural areas, voters with disabilities.

G: Is election equipment moving forward? It was purchased in 2006. We need to continue to upgrade our equipment, the bill would be 1.2 million dollars but that is nowhere in budget, but we need to advocate in Springfield, so equipment can be replaced. Paper ballots should continue to be used. But we need to keep equipment upgraded.

Transparency/consistency

G: Testing voting machines, public invited, live streams of machine test, 5% retab open to public, we’ve done the best we can. Consistency. We should be doing the same thing at all polling places, so voters have the same experience no matter where we go.

A: Voters are going to come out more when polling locations are consistent. The number of ballots should be right for all precincts. Grandone voted in 2017 Democratic mayoral primary. (He was interrupted at this point although his time was not up. He was allowed to finish his time.) This is not a record you can trust.

What service improvements would you make in vital records?

A: My experience (listed as before) to make sure there’s a seamless transition.

G: 1) Get away from vendor supporter system for processing requests to something that works with web site. Getting away from vendors is cheaper and provides more control, 2) index all private records so they are accessible and provide to businesses like genealogy for revenue stream.

Closing remarks:

A: It’s been a tough week for me, my wife has been ill but she’s resting and feeling better, thanking parents, friends and supporters, our democracy is strongest when citizens are engaged. Which candidate has a personal commitment to voting, which has inherited office like others before him? Who has experience and endorsements in working, I have experience and integrity. I’m Aaron Ammons, I’m asking for your vote.

G: Please vote early, don’t wait, it makes it easier for us. Was it a good experience? Did you find the information you need? When you consider those questions, think about which candidate made that possible for you. The wrong choice could lead to chaos. We already have free and fair elections. 4 of last 8 have been largest of their type. I’m Matt Grandone, next county clerk.

For the Auditor candidates, please check out the forum video when available (probably Monday) from the CGTV link here. UPDATE: Auditor notes from Ann:

Auditor Candidate Forum

Diane Michaels, R
George Danos, D

Opening Statements

D: CPA from UI, works as accountant for large non-profit, recently saved his employer 1.8 million dollars by finding an error on a complicated invoice. In 2016, nearly toppled incumbent, then that person decided to be treasurer, so he now faces someone who was appointed by her party. He brings accounting experience and indepence he doesn’t believe his opponent can bring to the race. 3 main goals: 1) rigorous in policing outgoing funds, budget deficit for years, 2) tighten up internal controls, restricting credit card use, 3) issue timelier annual financial reports. Last annual financial report currently available on web site is from 2016. We need competence and commitment a CPA could bring.

M: I have been on county board for 8 years, 5 of those on finance committee, including work as chair, experience in banking and lives in Champaign County, born at Chanute, long standing commitment to county, husband self-employed, knows vendors, has done a lot of community service. It’s a numbers game, know who you’re working with. We are the gatekeepers of taxpayers’ money and takes that very serious. It’s your money. In banking and finance for a long time, has a good name in the community for being loyal and committed. Not party affiliated for a line that comes into the auditor’s office. There aren’t a lot of gray areas. New accounting system, 40 years old, looking for efficiencies in the department.

Why do you want to be auditor? Have you run before?

M: I have ran for county board and precinct committee person. Held many offices in community, children’s schools, wants to support her community and being consistent in the auditor’s office, background knowledge is important. With my experience in banking and finance and my experience on the board, I bring that consistency.

D: I was the Democratic nominee, 2012 and 2016, endorsed in 2012 by Chamber of Commerce and News-Gazette. Showed strong interest in finance all life. After defeat in 2012, earned Masters in accounting from UI. I’ve only run for auditor, and I’m absolutely committed to this office. I lost by only 36 votes in 2016 election. If I had won, we wouldn’t be having this special election now.

Can you objective and independent of the claims on the county and how so?

D: Independence is a special strength of mine, coming from the private sector. The auditor has to challenge the expenditure requests and be a check and balance on the county board. My opponent relies on those she works with on county board and those who appointed her for this position.

M: Absolutely. The board is made of Democrats and Republicans. I was appointed to finance committee, working very well with all on the board. I’ve been told I’m too honest, too right down the line with policies and rules. Hold integrity of office and county. We have a balanced budget. Chief Deputy Auditor, Barbara Ramsey is strong. We do the job at hand. We do a good job regardless of who appointed me. Buck lies with me.

How would you help Champaign County have a balanced budget?

M: Budget is balanced this year. There are things that come up in the year that cause adjustments. Some things may help but we must be delicate with what we do, because they affect social services and we want to keep those. A budget is a guideline and we sometimes have to make adjudgements.

D: I differ from those statements on the budget being balanced. The estimates depend on nursing home being sold which hasn’t happened yet. Overdue coffer (?) states that we will have budget deficits and budget will be depleted by 2020. I spoke out about nursing home and opposed another layer of government, the county executive position. Current office has shown misplaced priorities.

Should auditor be an elective office?

D: Office owes its independence in not being appointed. If I’m elected, I will be first CPA to be elected. UI has flagship program, where I graduated. I think you need competence and independence.

M: I agree with Mr. Danos, we need an independent person responsible for the taxpayers’ money. Going over all items, we do have a competent staff including a CPA. It takes more than being a CPA. It’s not all just numbers, it’s contracts and dealing with vendors and should be independent of the county.

How important is party identification to rule of auditor?

M: I’m not your typical politician, I’m a numbers person, like my opponent. It’s kind of crazy that you have to choose a side. Look at the candidate responsibilities and experience. It’s important we work together for conservativancy. My track record will show I’ve worked with both sides.

D: Normally I’d say there’s no importance, the most important is dedication and  competence. Demeanor and relationships have something to do with it. It’s different this year, with so many county-wide officers with one party affiliation. Electing an officer from the opposite party provides a check on those officers. In this case, my party affiliation is an advantage to oppose one party executive rule. My third run for this office shows my dedication and commitment to this office.

What might be done to prevent misuse of county-issued credit cards?

D: 1) Employees pay for items and then apply for reimbursement, 2) ask that banks place vendor restrictions on the cards or item restrictions on the cards.

M: We go over every credit card statement that comes through the office. Sometimes it takes to the next statement to see the fraud, but you investigate and find out what’s going on. We have turned away some because we don’t pay sales tax. We watch the cards very closely. We don’t just focus on cards, we focus on everything to be paid.

What are your criteria for choosing a new accounting system for Champaign County?

M: working in banking business over 40 years in this community, I’ve gone through upgrades and transitions, we have a labor intensive system, we’re using DOS system now, too many inefficiencies, being able to see the history when you pull up a vendor, now we have to use paper documents. I’ve been through many transitions of software, and you have to balance your books, that’s important.

D: My criteria would be to make sure the cost is justified by the functionality and functions are consistent with needs of staff, especially making annual financial reports available earlier which affects construction of budget. I would consult with staff to get what we need for the right price.

Closing statements:

D: County auditor serves several roles, timely and accurate financial reporting and for authorizing – or declining or altering – the claims on taxpayer’s money, check claims for compliance and correct amount. An effective auditor is a watchdog and accountant.
Entered Masters program in 2012, in 2016 challenged incumbent, coming within 36 votes winning. Six months later, Republicans began appointing themselves to offices that are supposed to be elected. A banker whose background is better suited to treasurer is now auditor. None of the Republicans seek offices for which they received a single vote. The News-Gazette called it musical chairs. In an era of tight budgets, we must have the best professionals. It’s time we had a strong team devoted to offices they seek without leaving to grab the brass ring. It’s my goal to be the most effective auditor Champaign county has ever had, and the first CPA.

M: Thank you to the LWV, NAACP, and NG. It’s very important to me that we have an auditor who is responsible and well-respected not only for the decisions they make but for the decisions they’ve made in the past. My role in the community, I have a vested interest in community, experience in corporate world and nonprofits, my family also has business in town, I know how to look at books and make decisions. I’ve had and will continue to have respect from board on both sides, it’s a job and I take it seriously. I ask that you vote for me this fall.

Forum schedule from the News-Gazette Wednesday:

It's forum time.

Three of them — sponsored by the League of Women Voters, NAACP and News-Gazette Media — have been scheduled for the next three Friday nights at the Champaign City Building.

The lineup of confirmed Champaign County candidates:
Friday

7:30-8: Sheriff, ALLEN JONES (R) vs. DUSTIN HEUERMAN (D).

8:10-8:40: Clerk, MATT GRANDONE (R) vs. AARON AMMONS (D).

8:45-9:15 Auditor, DIANE MICHAELS (R) vs. GEORGE DANOS (D).

Moderators: THERESA MICHELSON and BARBARA SCHLEICHER.
Sept. 21

7-7:40 Circuit Judge, ROGER WEBER (R) vs. RAMONA SULLIVAN (D).

7:45-8:25 Circuit Judge, RANDY ROSENBAUM (R) vs. CHAD BECKETT (D).

8:30-9:10 Executive, GORDY HULTEN (R) vs. DARLENE KLOEPPEL (D).

Moderators: DEB RUGG and SHANDRA SUMMERVILLE.
Sept. 28

County Board races TBA.

Other Local Forum Links:

• 9/21/2018 Circuit Judges / County Executive Second Local Candidate Forum
   
• 9/28/2018 District 4 Forum / County Board Statements Candidate Forum and Boycott
   
• 10/5/2018 County Board Q & A Forum: County Board Candidate Split Forum 

[Originally posted on 9/15/2018 at 6:07am]

Area Electronic Recycling Registration Open

If you have electronics to recycle, registration for the area's big recycling event is now open (registration and more information at the website here). From the News-Gazette website last night:

Registration now open for Oct. 13 electronics recycling event
Registration has opened for this fall's electronics recycling event.

Residents from participating communities can register for 15-minute slots between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at ecycle.simplybook.me.

A little over half the slots are full, said Nichole Millage, environmental-sustainability specialist for the city of Champaign.

At the event at Parkland College, residents can drop off up to two TVs and up to 10 items total per person.

Millage said residents should check the registration website for details on what items are allowed to be dropped off.

For example, computers, cellphones and microwaves are allowed, but batteries, dehumidifiers, smoke detectors and vacuums are not.

The event is open to residents in Bondville, Broadlands, Champaign, Fisher, Gifford, Homer, Ivesdale, Ludlow, Mahomet, Odgen, Pesotum, Rantoul, Royal, Sadorus, Savoy, Sidney, Thomasboro, Urbana, and unincorporated Champaign County.

A few additional details at the full blurb here. There is a lot of additional information, including a Guide for Residents, at the registration website here. It includes area recycling options for items not part of this event and year round recycling options if you can't make it to this one.

The Week Ahead: 9/16 - 9/22

*** There is a County Board regular meeting this Thursday. Agenda here and addendum here (more information below). More information on how to attend a county board meeting here. ***

Vote By Mail requests are available to voters generally now. Ballot requests for the November 6th, 2018 General Election have already started and early voting begins later next week! More information on Vote By Mail in Champaign County here. Ballot request direct link for residents here. More information on County elections (including checking your registration, sample ballots when available, and early voting times and locations) at our Elections page.

Other Events:

There are a lot of political campaign and organizing events popping up (e.g. local candidate forums on upcoming Friday nights). Check out your preferred candidates and you will likely see campaign, canvassing, or voter registration events in the area. Many are using facebook to more easily share event information and reminders. Check out the Champaign County Voter Alliance's preliminary general election candidate guide to see who is running. We'll be updating County race information from the primary election to the general soon.
 
Groups that crossover with Racial Justice Task Force recommendations meeting this week:

Build Programs Not Jails meets Wednesday, September 19th at 7pm at the Independent Media Center. Meetings are every other Wednesday at 7pm at the IMC.

At July's City of Champaign Study Session of the City Council, the reentry housing issue was raised during public participation (a full write up of the meeting is here and video here). This is following up on the preview of that discussion at the City Council meeting here: Reentry Housing Issue. The News-Gazette had a couple articles following up on the meeting linked on the Cheat Sheet here.

County Calendar:

*** There is a County Board regular meeting this Thursday. Agenda here and addendum here (more information below). More information on how to attend a county board meeting here.


The full 2018 schedule is on the Calendar page and the County page. The regular County Board meetings are back to Thursdays until next holiday season.

If you're curious about learning more about how your county government works, it's easy enough to live stream a meeting or go in person: Attend a Meeting.

*Meeting is broadcast live on Comcast Public Access and at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/champco1776

Where is Brookens?

Brookens Administrative Center
1776 East Washington Street
Urbana, Illinois 61802-4581
Phone: 217-384-3772

After 4:30 the Washington Street side Parking Lot is Closed See Maps for the North East Parking Lot Access

Nursing Home Public Hearing

Following up on this previous Cheat Sheet Post on possibly one of the last public input opportunities on the Champaign County Nursing Home in the process of being sold. The hearing was for public input for a State level review board that has to give its additional approval for the County approved sale to continue. The News-Gazette had coverage of that hearing last week:

Proponents, opponents of nursing home sale put comments on record
If Champaign County can't sell its financially strapped nursing home soon, the home will have to be closed, a state board was warned.

Some former and current county officials and local business leaders came to a public hearing Thursday in downtown Champaign urging that a planned $11 million sale of the nursing home be allowed to proceed, while a handful of opponents continued to express doubts about selling to the only taker.

The hearing was called to collect public comments for the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, which will have the final say about the nursing home sale next month.

Additional information, including some of the arguments made for and against the sale, at the full article here. Champaign County Health Care Consumers, which opposes the sale to this sole bidder had an informational page for folks wishing to attend the hearing here. The arguments for the sale are covered fairly well in the article, but there is additional information at our Nursing Home page for a deep dive into the issues surrounding it.

Kickapoo Rail Trail Update

A quick update on the Kickapoo Rail Trail (more on the project and collaboration at this Cheat Sheet post) from the News-Gazette last week:

Kickapoo Rail Trail paving the way through downtown St. Joseph
As fundraising and design work continue on the Kickapoo Rail Trail, a construction crew started work this week on another section of the path — a paved portion, less than a half-mile long, that will extend through downtown St. Joseph.

"It will go all the way down to Seventh Street," said village President Tami Fruhling-Voges. "It's going to be a really nice addition."

The new segment will extend the already-in-use trail (6.7 miles from Urbana to St. Joseph) through downtown St. Joseph and over to the east side of town.

Currently in the design stage is another 5.1-mile stretch, which will extend the trail to Ogden.

And fundraising continues for other sections that have yet to be designed and built.

Full article with a lot of additional information here.

STAR Program and Conservation Ratings

 The Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation District is hoping to give a boost to awareness and competition for conservation in farming by promoting and managing a rating system similar to other industries. From the News-Gazette earlier this month:

Champaign County group hopes farmers reach for the STAR
...
But if a farmer wants to show that his or her field uses sustainable farming practices, there's not a popular certification program to turn to.

The Champaign County Soil & Water Conservation District is hoping to change that with the STAR program, which stands for Saving Tomorrow's Agriculture Resources.

"Who can be against that?" said Steve Stierwalt, a farmer near Sadorus and vice chair of the county conservation district.

Now in its second year, the STAR program gives fields one to five stars based on what conservation practices are used on them, such as reduced tillage or cover crops.

In its first year, 78 farmers from 15 counties in Illinois participated in the free program...

Besides playing on farmers' competitiveness, the STAR program is hoping to become a standard certification, like LEED and Energy Star.

It has a science committee to ensure the stars given are based on good science, and it's designed to be flexible, so that practices that work best in east central Illinois aren't forced on farmers with different conservation needs.

Full article with more information here. More information from the Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation District on the STAR program here (including a brochure).

Drainage Districts

In a follow up to a previous Cheat Sheet post and Prairie Rivers Network article on a lesser known local government unit that resulted in many residents seething about a massive tree clearing project on and by their properties:

Heather Hill residents press on after bid for drainage district board falls short
...
The campaign to get Heather Hills resident Nick Josefik elected began in earnest just two weeks ago. But the root of the issue stretches back to early July, when residents of the neighborhood that borders the Salt Fork just north of St. Joseph discovered that a contractor hired by the commission cleared trees on their properties adjacent to the waterway...

Most of the residents were upset by the clearing, and none of them were notified of the work ahead of time, which drainage district officials said they're not required to do.

The drainage district has an easement along the river — 100 feet in each direction from the center of the waterway — allowing it to do regular maintenance to keep the waterway clear. That, in turn, helps keep water drained off farm fields and other land throughout the district.

Drainage districts are authorized by state law to levy an assessment on all landowners within their borders to cover the cost of maintaining and improving drainage, which in the Upper Salt Fork includes about 21 miles of waterway, stretching from Rantoul to about 3 miles south of St. Joseph, where it empties into the Salt Fork.

Typically, seats on drainage district commissions are filled by property owners who are farmers. Commissioners in some districts are appointed by their county boards, but in the Upper Salt Fork, the three commissioners are elected to three-year terms by property owners in the drainage district.

The full article with more details on the efforts here. One of the big hurdles is that even at small obscure government bodies, the rules are skewed in favor of incumbents:

Wardrop said some Heather Hills residents and property owners believe they deserve a spot on the Salt Fork Drainage District's three-person board.

It's in need of change, she argues, noting that the last edit to the official responsibilities of the district happened in 1955.

"Much has changed in the landscape since then," she said.

Tuesday's election was held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Stanton Township Hall north of St. Joseph. Commissioners could have moved it to a more convenient time — like 6 p.m. — but chose not to, Wardrop said.

Josefik said people he talked with while going door to door indicated their jobs would keep them from being able to vote between 2 and 4 p.m. Tuesday. There was no option for absentee ballots, he added.

"That seems very detrimental to people who are being taxed," he said.