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Chicago Tribune: Chicago workers' comp: $100 million a year, but no oversight
It might be tempting to brush off a lawsuit filed recently against Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Ald. Ed Burke, 14th, as politically motivated.
Two longtime critics of City Hall accuse Emanuel and Burke of violating Illinois law and the state and U.S. constitutions. The alleged infraction? Allowing Burke, through the City Council Finance Committee he chairs, to administer the city’s workers’ compensation program. The suit argues that the program, which costs taxpayers at least $100 million per year, according to a 2016 inspector general report, should be run by a City Hall agency, human resources professionals or the Law Department.
Chicago Tribune: New distracted driving fine, bike safety rule signed into law
Two new driving safety measures were signed into law this month — one cracking down on distracted driving, and the other encouraging motorists to watch for bikes.
One law signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner imposes a harsher penalty on drivers caught using a phone behind the wheel without a hands-free device.
Chicago Tribune: Wheaton-area school board will consider seeking voter approval on plan to lease new preschool
The Wheaton Warrenville Community Unit School District board on Monday will decide if a plan that would allow the district to lease a new preschool should be put to the voters.
The board had arranged for construction of a new Jefferson Early Childhood Center in Wheaton through so-called lease certificates and had already sought bids for the project. Under that method of financing, the district would oversee construction of the estimated $15.5 million, 41,544-square-foot building, while Utah-based Zions Bank would pay for it and temporarily own it. The district would have a 20-year lease agreement with the bank, which has a Chicago office, and pay about $1 million in annual rent before taking ownership of the building when the agreement expires.
Northwest Herald: Andrew Gasser dismisses road district administrator
Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Andrew Gasser has fired a front desk administrator in his office.
On Aug. 10, Gasser terminated Dorothy Wildeboer, Supervisor Charles Lutzow said.
Daily Herald: Elk Grove Village annexes 58 acres
Elk Grove Village has formally approved the annexation of 58 acres of commercial property near Interstate 90.
The village board Tuesday night unanimously approved bringing the unincorporated area — approximately bordered by the tollway, Higgins Road, Elmhurst Road and Oakton Street — into the village’s boundaries. Businesses in that area would be served by Elk Grove police and fire departments and receive village water and sewer service. Officials have estimated a property tax increase of “pennies”.
Rockford Register-Star: State of the schools is one word: Smaller
There’s no doubt about it, fewer and fewer people are taking up residence in Winnebago and Boone counties, a trend that’s well illustrated in the Register Star’s annual analysis of student enrollment.
Public and private school enrollment in Winnebago and Boone dropped by more than 6,000 students in the past 10 years. Only one school district and two private schools saw growth. The rest saw declines, some very large ones.
Peoria Journal-Star: There’s no doubt about it, fewer and fewer people are taking up residence in Winnebago and Boone counties, a trend that’s well illustrated in the Register Star’s annual analysis of student enrollment. Public and private school enrollment in Winnebago and Boone dropped by more than 6,000 students in the past 10 years. Only one school district and two private schools saw growth. The rest saw declines, some very large ones.
While cutbacks and furloughs loom over City Hall, two administrative positions are being filled.
In the same week that City Manager Patrick Urich outlined plans at Tuesday’s City Council meeting to shore up budgetary deficits both this year and next, the city announced that Deborah O’Fallon would be the new assistant city manager while Farris Muhammad would become the city’s first chief diversity and inclusion officer.
Belleville News-Democrat: The County plans to spend $6,000 a month to chase grant money for MidAmerica Airport
MidAmerica Airport will pay $6,000 a month to a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist group that will try to secure money from a federal grant program for airport improvements.
Daley Policy Group, founded in 2001, lobbies on behalf of both public and private groups and entities on Capitol Hill and in statehouses. Members of the county’s Public Building Commission approved the retainer fee at their meeting Thursday morning.
The Southern: Carbondale to force vacation rental websites to provide address of all rentals in city
Vacation rental owners may have to be a bit more transparent when posting a home on rental websites like Airbnb, HomeAway and VRBO.
The Carbondale City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday night amending its city code to require such websites to notify the city of all locations listed on the service. Additionally, the amendment requires that the websites collect and remit the required hotel and motel tax for the use of the rental.