Month: November 2012

Lawmakers looking to eliminate Christmas Eve filing deadline

Posted by mhopf – November 30, 2012

While setting the date for the special election to replace former U.S. Rep Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Chicago, Illinois lawmakers this week also are trying to adjust the last day of filings for 2013 local races.

The last day for filing for non-partisan candidates in city elections and also local school boards, park boards and the John Wood Community College Board of Trustees is Christmas Eve, which means local governments must make sure someone is in the office to accept petitions that day. The filing deadline would now move to Dec. 26. Senate Bill 3338 was approved without opposition in both chambers and now heads to the Gov. Pat Quinn for consideration.

Quincy City Clerk Jenny Hayden said the clerk’s office would have closed at noon Christmas Eve and reopened from 4-5 p.m. If signed into law, filing will end at 5 p.m. Dec. 26.

Seven say goodbye to the Adams County Board

Posted by mhopf – November 14, 2012

Seven members of the Adams County Board received a send off Tuesday at their last regular County Board meeting. Seven new members will be sworn in during a County Board organization meeting Dec. 3.

Each outgoing member received a plaque honoring them for their service.

County Board members Steve Schutte, D-2, and Joe Holtschlag, D-2, lost re-election bids last week, while County Board member Kevin Rankin, R-3, lost his bid for re-election in the March primary.

County Board member Joe Wand, R-4, who did not seek re-election, has been on the board since 2010, and County Board member Nick Peter, D-1, who joined the board in 2009 also did not seek re-election. County Board members John Johnson, R-4, and Bob Scott, R-7, have 20 years of service on the board.  Both did not seek re-election.

“Twenty years kind of flew by fast,” Johnson said. “I guess I didn’t know I was going to be here this long, but here I am.”

Chairman Mike McLaughlin, R-4, also oversaw his last meeting as chairman — a position he has held for 16 years.

“I look forward to taking a backseat,” he said. “I’ve certainly enjoyed it. I thank everyone for the opportunity you have given me. We haven’t always agreed … but that’s what we’re here for is to solve problems and come up with the right solutions for the betterment of Adams County.”

A new chairman will be selected during the County Board’s reorganization meeting.

City Finance Committee recommends debt recovery program

Posted by mhopf – November 6, 2012

The Quincy Finance Committee recommended that the City Council approve entering an intergovernmental agreement with the state of Illinois comptroller’s office for the Local Debt Recovery Program during a brief meeting on Monday.

If someone owes money to the city, the state’s comptroller’s office would reduce any state checks, such as a tax refund, vendor payments or lottery winning and give it to the city. The program was in legislation signed into law in December 2011.

City Treasurer Peggy Crim said the city would only use the program after the city has used all of its options. She said it could be used for nuisance abatements.

“If you don’t pay your bill, you get a statement from me saying you owe still us money,” she said. “Then you get a letter from me telling you if you don’t pay your bill, we’re going to turn it over to the attorneys. After that we turn it over to the attorneys, but even then sometimes it can’t be collected.”

People would receive notice from the state if they will be docked. People will also have 60 days to protest the deduction.

The committee also forwarded an agreement to cede approximately 2.8 acres of city-owned land to Quincy University. The university asked for approximately 1.2 acres to use for its new soccer complex, but the city is including an 1.6-acre parcel with a pond.

In exchange for the land, QU will mow about 2.3 acres of city-owned land next to North Campus for 10 years in exchange for the land.

QU originally offered to mow for five years, but the  the committee asked  if the university would agree to mow for an additional five years.