While D99 did not keep a ledger specifically for legal costs surrounding the six year D99/Woodridge cage match, FOIA Officer and D99 Controller Mark Staehlin, as expected, had some solid numbers on legal fees paid specific to the lawsuit: Paid in the three fiscal years from 2004/5 through 2006/7 for meetings and negotiations- $241,061 Paid [...]
Entries Tagged as 'local government'
Can we still be friends?
August 9th, 2010 · 1 Comment · community development, Local politics
Village looks to DMMC for capital project funding Two items that look to be approved this week involve applying for grants for projects through the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference. The application to the DuPage Mayors & Managers Conference (DMMC) is for the 2011 Surface Transportation Program (STP) for highway project funding.
Trash talk
August 9th, 2010 · 40 Comments · budget, Core Services, Village Council
Staff recommends keeping current system On Tuesday council will again visit the next garbage contract. DGreport readers already know the options, but now staff has weighed in, recommending the existing program be kept in place for another three years. This is a first reading (workshop) of that motion, and council is expected to vote next week on [...]
99 seeks input for strategic planning
July 9th, 2010 · 1 Comment · District 99, Strategic Planning
Public input to be sought in strategic planning process. Community High School District 99 will seek the opinions of community members, parents, business owners, students, teachers and staff as part of its strategic planning process, which will be launched this summer.
Should DuPage end Townships?
June 23rd, 2010 · 1 Comment · government, Taxes
The village council approved putting three advisory questions on the ballot this November. One advisory question asks, in essence, whether Townships could be eliminated. Good idea or not?
Tags: county government·local government·township government
Required reading
June 21st, 2010 · 1 Comment · budget, Public opinion, Strategic Planning, Taxes
At the last June council meeting Mayor Sandack referred to 4-5 resident comments on the village website regarding Long Term Financial Planning that starts on June 29th. The lack of input may be from lack of information. This link will take you direct to a 15 page village summary report on the current financial state, [...]
Tags: budget·local government·municipal budget·planning·Taxes
Bandaid medicine for major surgery
May 23rd, 2010 · 12 Comments · budget, District 58, District 99, Taxes, Uncategorized
The state’s unfunded pension debt passed the $85 billion mark this summer. That unfunded liability is squeezing out money for other valued needs, such as education and health care. It means the state has less money for things like child-care aid and fixing roads and schools, or paying some of the $1 billion it owes [...]
Tags: budget·local government·municipal budget·school board·Taxes
Open book
April 24th, 2010 · 18 Comments · Village Hall, Village Manager
Open government gets a lot of topic time everywhere nowadays. Here’s a shining example of walking the walk put right under your nose. If you want to know what’s going on right now, this is a good place to start…
The Town Meeting
April 14th, 2010 · 2 Comments · Local politics
Tuesday saw the Downers Grove Township annual Town Meeting. This was the first one I had attended. It was not exactly what I was expecting. Upon walking in the front door of Ashton Place on 75th Street I was greeted by Republican Danny Moustos and Democrat Mark Garrity, each with a handout.
D99 responds to AG request
January 25th, 2010 · 9 Comments · District 99, FOIA
In a Jan. 20 editorial, the Reporter takes D99 to task for its delay in responding to a request for information by the Illinois Attorney General’s office. The letter from Assistant Attorney General Amanda Lundeen, dated Nov. 10, 2009, asked for a written response within 30 days to a complaint from the Reporter alleging that [...]
Tags: D99·FOIA·local government·Open Meetings Act·Reporter·SB99·school board