***Update 3/21/2018: Home rule was rejected by nearly 54% of Rockford voters.*** Let’s start by reviewing what almost happened here a couple months ago. The city manager in DeKalb decided she wanted to raise the sales tax, claiming complete inability to balance a budget without it. Having the highest sales tax around is not the…
Tag: winnebago county
Trial Set for Free Speech Lawsuit — and It’s Soon
The plaintiff in a federal free-speech case with implications for local government meetings finally has a court date: October 21. From the Rock River Times: The plaintiff in the lawsuit, Rockford resident and former Winnebago County Board chairman candidate Michael Castronovo, alleges multiple violations of his free-speech rights at Winnebago County Board meetings and at…
Trial to be Set for Free Speech Lawsuit with Implications for Local Government Meetings
The two sides in a settlement conference on a federal lawsuit regarding public input at public meetings were deemed “too far apart” to come to terms, so it is expected a trial date will be set at a conference hearing June 21. Two allegations from Count II of the suit, having to do with possible…
Listen Up, DeKalb. Public Meetings Must Allow Public Comment
**Update: You may have noticed we were offline most of the day yesterday, due to the host’s making a change in server hardware. The last step, restoration of data via a backup, left a draft version of this post that I’ve tinkered with and republished. Winnebago County has opened up its board committee meetings to…
Rockford Working Its Way to Landlord Registration Program
It’s registration without tons of new staff or inspection ordinances of dubious constitutionality. Right now, the only thing between the city and a new landlord registry is the right software, said Paul Arena, president of the Rockford Apartment Association. The property managers want the database to link to the city’s police and code enforcement reporting…
Winnebago Forest Preserve District Eliminates Public Safety Job
***Update 1:30 p.m.: Their lips say no, but the timing feels like there’s some piling on.*** **Update 9:45 a.m.: Here’s the latest put up by RRStar. I do NOT agree that WCFPD has a credibility problem (stated at the end of the article). Instead, I’d argue that any credibility problem is Randy Olson’s alone at…
Lots of Good FOIA and OMA Action in Winnebago Forest Preserve District
*Update 10:45 p.m.: Olson is out as district president! The story is here. But that’s not all! Find bonus Chuck Sweeney here with free shipping!* The Rockford Register Star used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain e-mails to and from Winnebago Forest Preserve district president Randy Olson that trace the process of creating a…
Rockford Rejects Collection of Fee for Electrical Aggregation
Rockford Register Star asked the question: When it comes to municipal electrical aggregation, what’s in it for the city? City brokers deal with other municipalities, lands nearly $20 million in savings for area customers, hands over thousands of accounts and gets nothing in return? Rockford’s Central Services Manager Carrie Eklund says that’s exactly what the…
Winnebago Forest Preserve Power Struggle Continues
In a continuation of this story, Winnebago Forest Preserve District president Randy Olson has created and staffed a public safety job without the approval — and indeed in defiance of — a majority of the board. And, it appears the move might even be legal: Olson’s authorization of the hire is a rare move in…
Winnebago Forest Preserve Board Smacks Down Perceived Abuses by Its President
Four Winnebago Forest Preserve Board commissioners — a majority — are accusing the board president of misusing a closed session meeting in an attempt to create a new position. Chuck Sweeney examines the letter the commissioners sent to board president Randy Olson: First, it says, “We believe the Board was placed in jeopardy by using…