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Crain's Chicago Business: Is the state-owned art at Thompson Center in jeopardy?
Here today, gone tomorrow: Is that the fate of the 150 pieces of state-owned art residing at the James R. Thompson Center?
The Thompson Center collection, which contains several valuable pieces by Chicago Imagists—a midcentury school of artists that includes Ed Paschke, Roger Brown, Ray Yoshida and Gladys Nilsson—is part of a state collection launched in 1978 with an initiative that dedicates half a percent of funds appropriated for state-funded public construction projects to art. The 600-piece collection appears in 25 sites around the state. The Thompson Center’s artworks represent the biggest concentration, and its future is as uncertain as the fate of the building.
Champaign News-Gazette: Union effectiveness the issue in wake of Janus ruling
There’s going to be significant fallout from the June 25 U.S. Supreme Court decision that held that nonmembers of public-employee unions can no longer be required to pay fees to unions. But it appears it’s going to take awhile to sort out.
“We’re not going to have the numbers on how many switched one way or the other,” said Abdon Pallasch, a spokesman for the state comptroller’s office.
Chicago Tribune: Watchdog report: Emanuel administration needs to make sure fees match costs
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration doesn’t do enough to make sure dozens of fees it charges Chicagoans for everything from trash collection and water usage to various licenses and permits match up with the costs of providing the services, the city’s watchdog said Monday in its quarterly report.
The city could be overestimating by $45.2 million the cost of collecting residential trash, Inspector General Joe Ferguson’s office said. And it could be underestimating the cost of running the vehicle booting program by $1 million. That’s according to “full-cost analyses” the office did of those two programs to try to determine how the city sets fees such as the $9.50-per-month residential garbage collection fee Emanuel included in his 2016 budget.
Chicago Tribune: Citing 'firmer' budget and sex abuse scandal, CPS to hire 250 social workers, case managers
As sexual abuse and special education scandals continue to loom over Chicago Public Schools, district CEO Janice Jackson committed to hire some 250 new social workers and case managers for the fast-approaching academic term.
The $26 million effort would give 78 schools at least one new special education case manager to help ensure students receive services to which they are entitled through individual special education plans.
Chicago Sun-Times: Inspector general: Some city workers not getting #MeToo message
The City Council has strengthened Chicago’s sexual harassment ordinance five times in six months to drive home to city employees the powerful message of the #MeToo movement.
Still, the message is apparently falling on deaf ears–at least with some members of the city workforce.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Cook County Commissioners Confounded By Hiring Of Health System Consultant
The Cook County Health and Hospitals System hired a consultant last year to help improve its billing and collections process.
But Cook County commissioners just found out about it last Thursday, and they want to know why they were kept in the dark, especially because there have been public hearings and an inspector general’s investigation into the health system’s billing woes.
Chicago Tribune: SIU rift remains as trustees replace president
Even as trustees at Southern Illinois University unanimously approved a severance agreement to remove embattled President Randy Dunn, the rift within the community that led to his ouster was still on display Monday.
Many from the Carbondale campus wanted to oust Dunn, who had served for four years as head of the two-campus system, while many from the Edwardsville campus praised him but were resigned to his imminent departure.
State Journal-Register: Springfield’s Dorsey appointed SIU’s interim president
Springfield resident Dr. J. Kevin Dorsey was appointed interim president of the Southern Illinois University system on Monday, replacing a president whose tenure was marred by controversy over a proposal for changes in funding among the university’s campuses.
Dorsey, 75, former dean and provost of SIU’s Springfield-based medical school, will serve in the interim role for one year while the SIU board of trustees goes through a search process for a new president, according to a news release.
Daily Herald: St. Charles looks to hike alcohol, hotel taxes to prepare for budget shortfalls
Looking years ahead to an anticipated budget shortfall, St. Charles aldermen on Monday supported increasing the taxes placed on alcohol sales and hotel-room rentals in the city.
Growing operating expenses and several planned capital projects will lead to a budget deficit within the next few years if the city doesn’t change its revenue structure, Finance Director Chris Minick said. The alcohol and hotel/motel tax hikes, along with a proposed gasoline tax of 2 cents per gallon, would generate an additional $1.38 million per year — enough to close or significantly mitigate that gap, he said.
Rockford Register-Star: Belvidere City Council approves gasoline tax
The City Council approved a 2-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline Monday — and a sales tax hike may be in the works — as the city grapples with rising costs for municipal services.
The gas tax hike, which takes effect Sept 1, passed 7-1, with Ald. Clayton Stevens casting the lone no vote. Aldermen Mark Sanderson and Michael Borowicz were absent. Administrators say Belvidere needs more money to provide municipal services, tackle infrastructure and pay its rising police and fire pension expenses. A gas tax allows visitors who purchase gas in Belvidere to shoulder some of the burden.
Bloomington Pantagraph: Consultant: $43M B-N sports complex could succeed
An expert consultant believes a new Bloomington-Normal sports complex could make money for the community, become a regional destination and provide a sense of place for the Twin Cities — but at a high price.
Sports Facilities Advisory, a Florida-based company that studies and manages similar complexes nationwide, said a $43 million complex may be necessary to draw the kind of business needed to make such a facility sustainable.
State Journal-Register: Florida official hired to lead Springfield-area economic development corporation
The public-private partnership aiming to attract economic development to Springfield and Sangamon County finally has a CEO.
Eric Berglund, formerly the president of the Southwest Florida Economic Development Alliance, was announced on Monday as the first CEO of the Land of Lincoln Economic Development Corporation.