Fart interrupts City Council, I wish it happened here.

I just couldn’t resist

Ok Ok I will keep going

And so the Saga continues….

If you’re really wondering about my posting yesterday I will add that I think this is what Terri Glass meant to say.  (Posted in Blue) I am just confused as to why she couldn’t just say it instead of asking a bunch of useless questions and beating around the bush.  That’s a politician for you and that’s why I don’t trust them.  Mostly I think the Republicans should be worried but we as citizens should be very concerned, concerned enough to get every person currently in office voted out of office.  I mean that for the City, County and Township.

The issue with Dini being on the review board in my opinion is to railroad assessment appeals.  Next year will be another record for assessment protest (wait and see) due to the declining economy.  Maybe even more so I think, because Diann Helnore will be taking over as Belvidere Township Assessor in 2010.  (Belvidere Township generates the most property tax revenues in the County)  Another opinion I have is; with Dini on the review board he will counter every effort Diann makes to accommodate property tax assessment protest.  Less revenue means less money for the Boone County Board’s pet projects and their friends.

MORE DRAMA

If you read Sunday’s paper (July 5) you probably read through the Local & State section.  I am sure you didn’t miss the story, Belvidere closer to reclaiming contaminated sites. Cleanup could begin soon if the Illinois EPA accepts the City’s report.

Are you kidding me?  I am closer to winning the lottery without purchasing a ticket.  I had to chuckle when the paper writes A project to redevelop the land has inched along for more than a decade.

Furthermore Kim Ellingson (Director of Neighborhood Development) is quoted as saying, “They had a few additional points they needed us to clarify.” “Once these have been adequately addressed, then our report should be accepted.”   Not only that, she goes on to claim that the City could implement a clean up plan and find a prospective buyer for two sites it owns within 3 to 6 months after an IEPA response.

if the Illinois EPA accepts the City’s report (if, red flag)

should be accepted (should, why not it will)

the City could implement (could, why not will)

WOW, how exciting.  This has taken 10 years folks, and there are other smaller communities out there that have accomplished a hell of a lot more in less time.  One of the problems is that a key person working on getting this done (our Director of Neighborhood Development for the city) is no more qualified, in my opinion, to get the job done than our Mayor.  Do we have anyone working in City Hall that can write a grant without the help of the county?  Have we ever had anyone that knows how to write a grant?  Shouldn’t that have been a requirement for the Director of Development since most of the money for the projects the City wants done comes from grants?  Shouldn’t that have been a requirement for someone at sometime working on this project other then Vandewalle & Associates?

Unfortunately the bad news continues, or it could be good news depending on whether or not you have been waiting for Ron Wait to do something.  I am just wondering if it is taking so long to clean up a major part of the City (The Riverfront) so the Mayor can encourage urban sprawl (Irene Road Development).  The Mayor hopes he can develop the Riverfront into retail shops, restaurants and condos.  HA!  Now that’s funny, retail, restaurants, really?  Don’t we have 17 empty spaces now spread out through 6 different strip malls?  How about getting those filled first.  You might want to consider loosening up the restriction and becoming more business friendly in order for that to happen though.

Why did Ron Wait get $330,000 added to the State Capital Improvement Plan for the purchase of land by the City of Belvidere to locate a transportation center on it?  I would like to know if the land is located at the proposed Tollway Station Point (Irene Road) and owned by Darecloud.  I would also like to know why Distillery Road gets stop lights when there are several other intersections (Town Hall Road, Beaver Valley Road, Anderson Drive) that don’t have them.  And do not email me to say that is the responsibility of the Township or the County that has to take care of that.  I want them to work together to make Belvidere a better community.  Enough of the disconnection.  Back to why only Distillery Road.  Is it because several close friends of the Mayors who are members of the Hardeman Corporation and Debbie Carlson had a role in that development?  Just wondering.  I am also wondering if someone could tell me if anyone has conducted a traffic count at those intersections.  One last question for now, can the City please fix the pavement over the Main Street bridge?

Well I believe I have managed to put in all of the points I was asked to cover with the latest emails that came my way.

I will share the hate emails later.  I will let them build up a little more.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Since you asked………….

Ever since I posted a letter that was emailed to me I have been getting some mixed reviews form my readers and so I thought I would share them with you.

It’s funny sometimes reading my email because there are some who think I must be Satan for bringing these topics to light and discussing them out loud.  Shame on me, how dare I.  How dare I have a blog in America and exercise my freedom of speech yet not sign my name.  How dare I make public what most of you are thinking but too afraid to say publicly.

Here are just a few of the emails and I will respond to each one and my responses will be in red.

The first is from Jim Wise and he writes;

Interesting indeed, Silence.

This note or hoax may be telling of politics in Boone County/Belvidere.

It is very arrogant to assume that pressure from within the Board will persuade anyone to change their vote. Even more so, it is appalling to me that someone would engage in a misinformation campaign to gain the upper hand.

In addition; regarding the issue of BW re-nominating Mr. Mace for the vacant Board position, such a thought is ludicrous. It would be foolish and political suicide to attempt to force thru the appointment of Mr. Mace at this point. Regardless of the Boards’ position for BW to make such an attempt would be a show of contempt for the Board of which he may never recover from. With another year and half to go before the Board has the opportunity to select a Chairman. Such an effort would only cause the Board to be even more disruptive and divided than it is now.

What can I really add to this?  Mr. Wise, in the past, has been a contributor to this site and he will ask that I print something and I will.  Obviously he is more up to date on County Board issues than I or it might be that I could care less and just printed what an avid reader requested.  I personally could care less, in my opinion they are all lying, back stabbing hypocrites.  This is a prime example of why animals eat their young.  I have better things to do with my time than to analyze this political rhetoric.  I am however glad that Jim has the time.  We need people who make a point and make sense in their responses to my postings to weigh in every now and then.  On a lighter note I find this whole thing to be very funny and quite laughable, one would think we’re living in Chicago.

The next email I have chosen to share is from someone who sent it to me anonymously.  The irony.

you reveal not only your slanderous character but your allegiance to Ward’s gang when you promote the hoax concerning the Boone county board-(sic)

Ouch, now that hurts.  My slanderous character, do you even know what that means?  I have not said or done anything other than state my opinion, for which I am entitled.  So whoever you are that wrote me this email, you have a choice not to come to my blog if you don’t like what I say.  In fact that goes for anyone of you.  Stop coming to my blog if you don’t like it.  I could care less.  But you keep coming back don’t you?  You want to know what I will say next.  You want to know who I will say it about.  You want to know because you secretly say it and you’re glad someone is putting it out there.  The numbers don’t lie folks and I get a lot of visits to my site.

Now as for Ward, I have no allegiance for her.  I have yet to see anything good she has done for the County.  In fact I am very disappointed in both parties right now.  Very disappointed indeed.

Now this last email I have chosen is from Terry Glass.  Now I have not met her personally nor have I figured out what she contributes to the community, she is another one that I will use my favorite saying on; you don’t have to yell to be heard, you have to improve you argument.

Here are my questions

1. Why is Hursh mentioned? He doesn’t hold office anymore.

Who cares why Hursh is mentioned and I am happy as hell he doesn’t hold office anymore.  Aren’t you?

2. I love the fact that certain departments are specified; sheriff, county clerk, treasurer, circuit clerk, probation and other ignored- States Attorney, administration, etc.

Is there a question in there somewhere?

3. Hasn’t anyone asked why Dini is being pushed for the Board of Review?

No, who cares.  In my opinion, he can’t be trusted either.  None of them can.  That includes you.

4. Isn’t it pathetic that the Republicans are so desperate they are begging the Democrats for help?

It’s almost as pathetic as the Democrats not being able to find one person to run against Fred Brereton or Ron Wait and win.

5. I know there are many who will refuse to believe that such a memo could have been written in Boone County. But instead of asking WHY it was written or who would benefit, we are more focused on who wrote it.

Well duh, if we knew who wrote it then we would know why it was written and who would benefit.  Did you even read what you wrote to me?

Ask yourself the tough question…. Had this memo not been made public WHO would have benefited? WHY did someone feel the need to put this down on paper? Does this make certain people look bad… sure it does, but only if it’s really how people think. And if that is how some of our elected officials think maybe we need to make them look for a new job.

I’m sorry I thought you said tough and question as in one.  Oh well, what was I expecting anyway?

First question, who knows.  Second question, because people are stupid. Third statement, of course it is at least how one person thinks, they wrote it down.  Seriously……..

Yes I agree with you Terri, it is time for every elected official to find a new job.  In my opinion, they are not doing a very good job here in the County of Boone.

I am looking forward to finding out what the rest of you think so feel free to respond.  I will also be posting what I think of the redevelopment project on the river.

Your Faithful Servant

Silence Dogood

Hoax or Truth, You Decide

Good Evening Folks,

Here is a piece of information that was forwarded to me perhaps with the hope that I might be able to discover the truth. I ask my readers to decide if this is a hoax or what is going on here. This could be very serious if proven to be more than a hoax.

Let me know what you decide.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Well said Jennifer

Hello there Silence! I thought you may find this interesting. I feel Belvidere could benefit by considering some of these opinions…

Sincerely,

Jennifer Riley

www.rrstar.com/opinions/x2085765367/Rockford-can-learn-downtown-lessons-from-Greenville-S-C

Source: rrstar.com

Thank you for the article it was great to read and I agree 100% with you and the article.

Your Faithful Servant,

Dogood

Did you miss me?

While I was MIA I did take notice of a few things around town.  For example we have another tattoo parlor in our downtown.  That’s great, how many does that make now?  If I am not mistaken I think it makes FOUR.  So for those of you who have had to stand in line and wait, this should help.

I also noticed that the old Huddle location was turning into a used car lot.  Gee I am so glad we didn’t have Walgreen’s open up there, in my opinion it would have made the neighborhood look so much worse.  I am glad that we have a city council that nips capitalism in the bud.  Take a look for yourself.

Now here is what we could have had…. Take notice of the landscaping

Maybe this will open up across the street!!!!!

Doesn’t this mural look better without the banner hanging in front of it?

Can anyone at the City from the planning department explain how this happened?

Just somethings to think about while I prepare my next post.  I really wish they wouldn’t make it so easy for me.  I would much rather be challenged but…….

Your Faithful Servant,

Dogood

And introducing our newest Alderman, as always the entertainer….

Is this Puttin on the Ritz or The Mayor at City Council Monday night introducing our newest Alderman?

That is the long version of seven minutes, but if you don’t have that much time here is the shorter two minute version.

Read below for more information on Monday night’s Council meeting.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Morris does not disappoint

Belvidere,

I went to the Council meeting on Monday night for pure entertainment and I was not disappointed.  I think we now have another person at the table who doesn’t have a clue about what is going on in our town.  Was there not a meeting with the Mayor and Department Heads prior to Monday night?  Do we need another person sitting blindly at the table making decisions for our future?

In my attempt to control my laughter I overheard some conversation back and forth between the Alderman over the issues at hand and I am amazed still that no one takes the time to read their packets and to keep informed.  That is what we pay them for right?  Do we have to pay them and spoon feed them too?  The salary for the Aldermen should be based on how many years you have been there and the effort you put forth.  That’s how most businesses run right.? How about creating value for your position.  You get paid for your worth.  In my opinion we would be paying very little then and should be able to save some money.

Just because it’s the City doesn’t mean anything.  It’s a business when you are trying to balance a budget, and Belvidere has a small budget.  Department stores have bigger budgets.   They get paid from the general fund and they need to work harder.  Hell they worked the hardest at writing letters to the paper asking for votes.

I am not the only one who feels this way.  I am sure that I am the most critical and rightly so, it annoys me so that there isn’t even so much as a dress code for alderman.  Watch them sitting in their chairs, you will see one of them nod off, others rocking back and forth and the rest looking in the air or at papers for the first time while someone is standing at the podium.  Watch and witness how disrespectful they are, I think, as a concerned citizen is talking to them, or when someone is giving a report.  They are reading their packets that they just picked up and scrambling to catch up.

Here is my solution to the problem; all chairs must be removed at once and the entire administration will  have to stand at the meetings.  Watch and see how fast things get done then.  Next, pay them based on performance from a city wide level, how well they keep informed and participate at council for the betterment of Belvidere.  Pay them based on what their constituents say about them and the work they have done for the ward they represent.  Lastly, for now, instill a dress code.  I will come up with more solutions.  If my tax dollars are paying for their salaries then I want them to work and dress in a professional manner.

Here is an email I received from a concerned citizens who was just as unhappy as I while attending the Council Meeting on Monday night.  I think her concerns are very valid and I hope that this administration shapes up quickly.  They made a lot of promises and we in Belvidere want some implementation of those promises.

Dear Silence,

I can’t begin to share my extreme disgust felt at the Monday night’s council meeting.  A faithful attendee of City Council meetings, I have been wondering when the new alderman would start attending- would he wait until he was on the payroll? Or attempt to be ready to work by being informed at his first meeting?

I shouldn’t be surprised by the answer- he waited until he was on the payroll-as I mention this, and now the election is over, so I am not mud slinging, those dedicated individuals that were asking for votes?  Most of them have yet to witness a council meeting!  Needless to say, the new alderman was essentially clueless to the matters at hand, and possibly to those matters being discussed-does he not even read the newspaper????

Furthermore, although I do not agree with the whole swine flu chaos- do you think somebody could’ve questioned whether swine flu had anything to do with potbellies before they gave their okay for them to live in town?  Belvidere, quite the comedy…..

P.s.you can post this-

Jennifer Riley

If anyone else feels the same I would love to hear from you.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Clever Name or Concerned Citizen

I have been walking around downtown and taking pictures for some time now.  I am fed up with the lack of enforcement from this administration and the fact that nothing is being done about certain things that clearly go against the ordinances.

If I am wrong tell me it’s ok, sometimes I am, put me in my place but fix the ordinance.  Take the time to put the correct ordinance on line.  Stop being lazy do your job.

I most recently took some pictures of a salon downtown to show that if our ordinance states that you can not use primary colors and red is a primary color, you can’t use black but we have a black awning then what message are you sending to people.

I received an email from ANNIE MOSSITY and she said to me that the canopy was put up without a permit, staff is reviewing the new canopy for compliance right now.  Due to a massive amendment of the downtown overlay district last year, those colors are now permitted.

If that is the case then why is the massive amendment for the downtown overlay district not out there for us to see?  Where is that amendment when you go to the City’s website and try to fumble through the code?

By definition massive means (huge, enormous, gigantic, colossal and so on) but don’t insult me or my readers by suggesting that the current administration has the ability to do anything on a scale of massive.  Are you kidding me?

I will give you props for a clever name but that’s it.

So this leads me to another point, the budget didn’t come in as expected so changes have to be made.  In reading on line from the Rockford Register Star I found this paragraph that helps me prove what my whole blog is about.

A decline in sales tax revenue and slowdown in growth helped contribute to the deficit. A lack of residential and commercial growth over the past year led to building department revenues falling about $346,800 under expectations budgeted for a year ago.

This administration makes you jump through so many hoops to open a business that no one wants to do it.  Everyone always talks about how they would love to have less “chains” and more of the smaller mom and pop stores open and especially in our downtown.  Unfortunately though, with all the crap you have to go through to open a business here it’s only the “chains” that can survive long enough to do that.  No one wants to open a business here, much less move here.  They are hassled too much.  We need less government and more free market here.

Permit, no permit, you can have that color but you can’t have that color.  We have too many restrictions and hoops.  We are not business friendly.  However, is it too much to ask for consistency since we can’t dictate good taste?  Is it too much to ask for to have the tobacco store follow the rules of the amount of coverage on their window?  Or does the new massive amendment allow for that now too.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Check out what the Rockford Register Star is reporting

BELVIDERE —

Two Boone County candidates who lost by narrow margins have filed their official requests for a recount.

Belvidere mayoral candidate Karen Schrader and Belvidere Township Assessor Bob Falkenstein each turned in their petitions for a discovery recount Tuesday afternoon, Boone County Clerk Pam McCullough said.

Mayor Fred Brereton defeated Schrader by 13 votes. Falkenstein, the assessor for the past 16 years, lost by two votes to Democrat Diann Helnore.

The recount request does not change the official results of the election, but is a discovery tool for candidates to attempt to have a court overturn the election.

Candidates by law can request 25 percent of the precincts to be recounted. Belvidere has 18 total precincts and Belvidere Township 22.

Schrader requested that precincts 9, 12, 17 and Flora 1 be recounted.

Falkenstein asked for 8, 12, 15, 16 and 17 recounted.

The time and date of the recount has not yet been scheduled.

School Board candidate Cristina Gloria, who trailed by nine votes to Board President Dick Van Evera, said she will likely no longer seek a recount. Gloria originally said she would ask for a recount but since has decided to focus her time and energy on “something that is productive and what achieves my goals, which is to help out people,” she said.

Check back at rrstar.com for more.

Staff writer Kevin Haas can be reached at 815-544-3452 or khaas@rrstar.com.

Who are the Candidates for Mayor of Belvidere

Currently we have 3 people who have announced their candidacy for Mayor of Belvidere. Republican incumbent Fred Brereton, former Alderman of the second ward Jim Wise, who is also running on the republican ticket, and Independent Karen Schrader. This means that Fred Brereton and Jim Wise will face off in the primary on February 24, 2009 and the winner will face Independent Karen Schrader and someone from the Democratic Party if they are able to offer up a candidate. At any rate on April 7, 2009 we will be voting again and we have a very important choice to make; things here in Belvidere can not remain the same.

As I continue to live here I am convinced that we need a new Mayor and a City Manager. Belvidere is a beautiful little city and we have our usual small town politics but our current Mayor is not getting the job done.

I decided to produce an independent commentary for Belvidere under the pseudonym of Silence Dogood. Silence Dogood was just one of the pseudonyms used by Benjamin Franklin. I feel comfortable publishing anonymously and being able to exercise my first amendment right. In fact others who have enjoyed this right, along with Franklin, were Paine, Hamilton, and Madison to name a few.

I represent no party; I will provide the citizens of Belvidere a fair politics blog commenting on the future of our community and help educate those who are interested in making a difference.

Is Fred Brereton fulfilling the responsibilites of being a Mayor?

A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning “greater”) is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government.

In many systems, the mayor is an elected politician who serves as chief executive and/or ceremonial official of many types of municipalities.

In the United States, there are several distinct types of mayors, depending on the system of local government. Under council-manager government, the mayor is a first among equals on the city council, analogous to a head of state for the city. He or she may chair the city council, but lacks any special legislative powers. The mayor and city council serve part-time, with day-to-day administration in the hands of a professional city manager. The system is most common among medium sized cities from around 25,000 to several hundred thousand, usually rural and suburban municipalities.

In the second form, known as mayor-council government, the mayoralty and city council are separate offices. Under a strong mayor system, the mayor acts as an elected executive with the city council functioning with legislative powers. She or he may select a chief administrative officer to oversee the different departments. This is the system used in most of the United States’ large cities, primarily because mayors serve full time and have a wide range of services that they oversee. In a weak mayor (such as in Belvidere) or ceremonial mayor system, the mayor has appointing power for department heads but is subject to checks by the city council, sharing both executive and legislative duties with the council.

What kind of job is Fred Brereton really doing? This is the time where I should mention how strongly I believe in term limits. I think Fred has become too complacent and relaxed in his position. He no longer works for the people; he does not have our best interest when working for the future of our community.

Am I the only one who has counted the empty store spaces in all of the strip malls we have? I understand that times are bad but these spaces have been sitting empty for 2 years.

I also think that if we had a City Council with better leadership they might understand the importance of smart growth. Here smart growth is nothing more than an oxymoron.

Jim Wise holds a “Meet the Canididate”

Jim Wise, former Alderman Ward 2, holds his first Meet the Candidate to introduce himself to the public. On Monday morning November 10 residents could stop by Cuppa Joe’s to ask questions, make statements, and find more info on Jim Wise, one of the 3 candidates running for Mayor at this time. Jim is running under the republican ticket so therefore will have to compete against out current Mayor in the primaries come February 24, 2008.

Jim has been very out spoken on his opinion of the current administration and their incessant need to continue to go back to the taxpayers every time there is a problem. We are lacking leadership and any clear ideas on thinking outside the box. There is no one in this current administration who can think of any other way to generate revenue except going to the taxpayer. Is this possibly a platform for Mr. Wise to run on, stop going to the taxpayer every time the administration needs money. Great Idea, does this mean he can do it though and can it actually be done.

I took the liberty to visit the Rockford Register Star website and I came across an article about how The Public Safety Building Topic will go back to drawing board after referendum fails. Perhaps the city and the county need to take a look at how much the referendum failed by, not only this time but back in February as well. Newly elected county board member Danny Anderson says. “Eventually were going to have to go back to the voters.”

How many times do we the people have to say no before our officials get it?

When Mr. Wise held his Alderman position he tried to come forward with a plan to cover the cost of a new public safety building and no one was interested, how about now? I will print more information on that when I receive it. Meanwhile I am also waiting on information on ow how our current Mayor, Fred Brereton, and want to be Mayor Karen Schrader think that they will cover the cost. Neither one so far has come forward with a plan. Fred mentioned in the paper that city officials will continue to search for a way to provide necessary expansions, as if they have been doing that this whole time. Also he says that he hasn’t convinced the community that we have identified the right funding source. I would like to say to Mayor Brereton, raising our taxes is never the right funding source.

Lastly I would like to mention that last year Rockford raised its retail sales tax and today, November 10, 2008 the news is reporting that there has been a significant reduction in sales across the city. Consumers are driving elsewhere for their needed/wanted products. They went on to say that in the surrounding areas where the tax is less, even though those areas are experiencing some loss is retail sales, it is nothing like Rockford. I think there is a connection to make here.

The City of Rockford will be reducing the staff at their PSB building because they have to balance their budget as well. My point is that raising taxes didn’t work, the consumer just drove else where to shop and Rockford shot themselves in the foot. Perhaps someone should suggest lowering the taxes so the consumer will come back to shop and spend more.

Yes, the economy is bad but that doesn’t mean that people are not out there shopping. They are out there shopping where they can aford. This is basic economics and if the current administration in Belvidere doesn’t get it and wants to make the same mistakes Rockford is making, do not re-elect them.

Thank you to all Veteran’s

We are all blessed because of the thousands of Veterans in this country, the greatest country in the world. I would like to thank every man and women serving presently in the US Military and those who served in the past. I would also like to thank their families for supporting them. Protecting our freedoms so we can be a free nation is the greatest gift we can receive so if you love your freedom than thank a Veteran.

Now a little history on this special day…..

November 11, or what has come to be known as Veterans Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor Armistice Day – the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislature that was passed in 1938, November 11 was “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.’ As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on November 11.

Who is Karen Schrader anyway?

Do we really know who Karen Schrader is? I have seen her at a few City Council meetings getting angry, and meeting people at the local restaurants in downtown Belvidere.  She is loud, that is true, but what has she done for Belvidere. I would like to see her resume; I want to know what she has to offer. The last time I saw her at City Council I thought she was very unprofessional and I wouldn’t want her to represent Belvidere on any level, at any local, regional, or national event.

You don’t have to be the loudest to be heard Karen; you just need to improve your argument.

Ask and you shall receive

I asked for information on the candidates and I have been receiving your e-mails so thank you. A reader gave me a website about Jim Wise running for Mayor and I said I would publish it so here it is www.belviderecommunityfirst.com

Check the website out, it covers just about everything you might want to know, and if you have any information on the other 2 candidates running for Mayor please email me at Silence.Franklin@gmail.com I would love to hear from you. I want nothing more than for the people of Belvidere to be more informed so we can all make a better educated vote this time around.

Let us hear from the candidates

From time to time I am asked to post e-mails that I receive and sometimes the writer will ask to be kept anonymous while others would like for me to print their name. I have no problem doing either. Other times I receive mail that is pure hate mail and I will not post anything just for the reason of posting it.

This evening, however, I received an e-mail from Mr. Wise (Candidate for Mayor) asking if I would post a letter clearing up some confusion about his ability to be Mayor if he is working at the Pentagon. There are several of you who think it is possible to do both, that is not the case.

I am posting his e-mail and you will find my reply directly below.

Mr. Dogood,

I have found your web post to be most interesting. I hope that you hold true to your position of not supporting one political party but, rather, that you support the people and their quest to find truth and honor in
government.

I hope that you are able to enlighten the citizens regarding the candidates for mayor of Belvidere and what they represent.

I have heard, from some, that a few citizens of Belvidere are wondering how it is that I can serve as mayor and serve my country. Let me clarify this matter.

I have served my country for nearly four of the last five years. Since early 2003, I have served two tours overseas, in Afghanistan and Iraq, and two years of service at the Pentagon.

I have, while serving at the Pentagon, transferred from the Illinois National Guard to the United States Army Reserve. I am now a member of the USAR control group with no further obligation to serve on active
duty once my tour is finished here, which will be within days of the April general election.

I want to come home. I want to come home so that I can be a father to my children, to be near my family and to serve the citizens of Belvidere.

If I were to be elected as Mayor of Belvidere in April, my children, my family and the citizens of Belvidere are those whom I will be serving with my fullest commitment. My children I will put above all else, my
community I will put first.

Respectfully,

V/r
James R. Wise
LTC, IN
XO ADCS G-3/5/7

Dear Mr. Wise,

Thank you for your e-mail and I would like nothing more than to assure you that I am not writing in favor of Democrats, Republicans or any other party. I am writing to engage the citizens of Belvidere to get them thinking about what is best for Belvidere and who would be the best person to take us into the direction where we need to go to in order for us to compete globally with the greatest of leadership. I believe our current administration in lacking in that area.

Thank you for your continued service to our country, it goes without saying that I truly appreciate my freedoms. For all of the men and women who have served or currently serving out country, you do a great job and I want to say thank you.

I have had a few people e-mail me about the number of absences you accrued during your last year as a councilman. There have been several questions and statements as whether or not you would be able to perform the job of Mayor if you were still enlisted and were not able to be in town 100% of the time. I did not post those e-mails as I was asked to keep them private and so I did. I appreciate you clearing up the confusion and setting the record straight.

I would be happy to post anything for you on my blog as I would for any candidate; you thus far are the only one coming forward and asking so consider it done. Perhaps the other candidates just don’t know about my blog as of yet.

Good luck with what you hope to accomplish.
Regards,
Silence Dogood

Crisis in the Rockford Mass Transit System

Silence Dogood:
I have attached a URL that is linked to a Rockford Register Star report of the financial crisis that the Rockford Mass Transit District is in. Believe it or not, this crisis will have an impact on Belvidere. Allow me to explain.

The Keen Age Center will lose its Federal Funding for the Keen Age transit service that the citizens of Belvidere have enjoyed for many years within the next year. When we lose this service there will be no form of mass transit system available in Belvidere. This will leave our senior citizens with no public transit service to drive them to the Keen Age Center, the Post Office, shopping, or on other errands. The loss of this service will literally cause these citizens to become isolated even more so from their friends, family and health care services.

Discussions between the City and RMTD are underway; however there has been no clear commitment from RMTD to provide bus services to Belvidere. Given the ongoing financial crisis it is doubtful that Belvidere will be serviced by the RMTD before the Keen Age Center transit service is discontinued.

What are we to do? I may have a solution.

Our City is in need of a public transit system. A public transit system that will provide an internal service for our senior citizens and all citizens who need such a service. If I were the mayor, I would approach the local school bus service and discuss with them the opportunity to extend their services to the City. I would propose that a contract for an intricacy service that would provide transportation for every citizen during regular business hours here within the city be arranged. Before you scoff at this idea let me continue. I am not thinking about a bunch of large yellow school buses traveling on our city streets driving our citizens to wherever it may be that they need to go. What I am proposing is that an arrangement for a central service would include the condition that smaller more accommodating buses be used for this purpose.

This may be an idea that some would find amusing, but I find nothing amusing about leaving our senior citizens out in the cold with no way to get were they need to be. When it comes to meeting the health care needs and providing a means to the senior citizens of our community so that they may socialize with friends and family you can count on me to make it happen.

http://www.rrstar.com/communities/x466660894/Transit-officials-fear-rider-decline-possible

Jim Wise

City Council

I took the liberty to take a peek at the minutes of our city council. I was curious to know if we had an Alderman in place or have had one in the last few years that ever made presentations or came up with an idea to generate revenue without going to the taxpayer.

Now I have seen my fair share of presentations when an Alderman wants to talk about an issue that someone in his ward brought up, stop signs, cross walks, curbs, gutters sidewalks and the normal stuff that the City of Belvidere should probably have in place.

I have, however, never seen an Alderman stand up and say hey I have a new way for the City of Belvidere to make money, generate revenue without going to the taxpayer.

As I went through the minutes I noticed nothing that the average Sam couldn’t do. Do we have requirements/qualifications to be an Alderman or do they just go out and get as many signatures as they can and POOF there they are at council being sworn in. Do the citizens who want to be an Alderman have to provide a resume?

I saw nothing in the minutes that would lead to any council member bringing forth new ideas, change, and smart growth. I only see our current Mayor saying this is what I want done any every council member voting in his favor. Can someone please explain why we have a council if they don’t run the city and make the decisions?

You may remember a few months ago we had an Alderman resign, I hope it was for this exact reason, that no one wants to listen to new ideas. As it stands right now you would think that no one wants growth in this city. If that is the case can someone please explain to me how anything is going to be paid for without going to the taxpayer without growth?

I would appreciate any comment on this issue. If you think I am in the wrong then tell me. The City of Belvidere needs to start talking about our issues. We all need to bring something to the table if we want to compete.

Looking for more opinions

I have posted a letter for Jim Wise at his request. He has concerns about the Rockford Mass Transit System and how it will affect the seniors in our area. Please read his letter and click on the link to read full story. If anyone has any other comments about this story I would love to hear them.

Are you unhappy with the same old distorted politics in Belvidere?

If you are like me, becoming more and more unhappy about the same as usual distorted politics here in Belvidere than I want to hear from you. Click on the Contact Me tab at the top of the page and email me your thoughts.

Please refrain from any name calling and the use of bad language. This is an independent commentary and I look forward to discussions that engage the public. If you disagree with anything I write I would also like to hear from you.

I want to know what you think about City Council, the Plan Commission, School Board, Taxes, the candidates for the upcoming Mayoral race and anything else you would like to discuss.

Where can I find out about Hometown Christmas?

What I thought was a beautiful crisp morning turned out to be a morning of pain trying to wade through website after website just to get information on Hometown Christmas.

One would think that you would be able to go to the City’s website and found out when the local Christmas Parade is. I found nothing about Hometown Christmas or the Parade. Clicking link after link I found the Chamber website and I thought, at last, an answer. No, my heart was crushed again and the need to toss my computer across the room was getting stronger.

I clicked on Community Events tab on the Chamber’s site thinking that the parade or Hometown Christmas for that matter is a Community Event. Wrong, nothing was listed, why, am I not surprised. So I decided to click on Chamber Events and finally some small information about Hometown Christmas but still nothing about the Parade.

Now I was thinking, what if I was new to this community, I would go to the City’s website and click on the new residents tab. What to my wondering eyes should appear, tree branch pick up service and cleaning up of the leaves, but nothing on Community Events encouraging families to get together. Are citizens just supposed to know because there is nothing on their calendar either.  I love the communication we have in this City.

For giggles I decided to visit the Tourism website, which was another disappointment. It is disappointing to see a Tourism office located in Belvidere that continuously promotes every other city better than the city where it is located.  Is it a lack of communication, or just bad leadership?

At the end of the day though, between all 3 of those websites I found no more than 2 sentences promoting our Hometown Christmas celebration. Now there may be another site with all of the information I need but my point is this; one would think that a person could go to the most visible sites (The City or the Chamber) for information about the community without having to spend all day looking for it.

Can someone tell me where the parade starts, what time, what day, anything?

A citizen needs help

I received this e-mail and I thought I should post it before I answer. I am hoping to hear from a few of you before I take my turn. Do not let me down.

Dear Mr. Dogood,
I moved out to Belvidere from the community of Rolling Meadows. I did vote in the last election where as it seemed the only people I had heard anything about were the Presidential nominees. I did not really know anything about the local people running. I have since learned that Belvidere will be having a Mayoral race in 2009.

My girlfriend showed me your blog and I am so glad that she did. All of my friends use this method for information and communication. I was wondering if I could bother you for some information on the candidates running for Mayor.

What are their positions on the taxes, growth, the downtown and utilities? I could use more information about the Public Safety Building and what the pros and cons of staying together versus separating are.

Can you tell me anything about the County Board or School Board?

Finally I would like to say that I do enjoy the parks here, I just wish the downtown looked as clean. It only looks like the city cares for about 2 blocks and that’s it. There is not a lot of retail but a lot of service businesses.

Thank you for the help,

Kim Harris

Just call me Roy voices his opinion,

Hello Dogood,

I would like to start by saying that I heard about your blog when it was first created and I have enjoyed watching it evolve into an informative place to get info on the feeling of the residents of the City and County.

I do not want to necessarily comment on any one individual politician, but, comment as a whole as to the way I see our City and County being run.

I am not a “born and bred” Belvidere resident, but I have lived here for quite a few years. The way I see it, I feel it may be time for a change in the people that our running our city. I am tired of referendums on every election ballot with these people asking for more money from the taxpayers to make up the deficits in funding for projects that should have been foreseen had they thought through the growth they allow to happen. Developers over the last 10 years would waltz into town and say we want to build this or that and the city pulled out their rubber “Yes” stamp and approved it. This applies to not only residential, but, commercial/retail as well. The mayor and city council should have thought about when these houses sell, and families move in with 3.4 children, where are we going to educate them. You know where? REFERENDUM. When we keep adding more police and fire personnel and the building gets too small to house them occurs because of this rapid growth, where do we get the money to expand? You know where? REFERENDUM. When they allow retail strip malls to be built, did they ever think if there is going to be businesses to rent these spaces? No. That’s why we have ghost strip malls at almost every entrance into the city. Why does a good realtor friend of the mayor end up having her name plastered all over these developments as the exclusive agent to sell the homes? How does land adjacent to one of these developments get purchased by the above realtor, before the development is formally announced?

Why do they allow the park district (which is also going to being asking for more money soon) to constantly take cash in lieu of land as part of the development plan. Why isn’t the park district doing what they are supposed to be doing and creating more parks?

Why does the City have $2,000,000.00 in a utility tax fund when they don’t adhere to the road reconstruction plan? Why do we have such a high (5%) utility tax in the first place?
Why don’t other villages within the county (Capron, Caledonia, and Poplar Grove) pay their fair share into the upkeep of the Public Safety Building as the City of Belvidere residents do?

These are just a few of the concerns that I, and other residents are asking. Let me remind you that the majority of the residents of the City and County are transplants, and were not born or raised here. They are not going to accept this path that the Mayor, City Council and County Board are taking with our money. We are not going to open up our wallets because these same people only think about if they CAN do something, not if they SHOULD do something.

It is time for the “Good Ole Boys Club” to disband.
It is time for some new fresh ideas.

Signed,
Just call me Roy

Thank you for the post

Below you will find another citizen unhappy with the current administration with the City and County. Take a look, very interesting; let me know what you think. For those of you who have written to me again too ask why I publish anonymously and why I leave the names off of some of the emails or post I receive I will just say this. I am embracing one of the oldest traditions of free speech in America. Many of the greatest men of this republic published anonymously. There are also some people who would like to be able to speak their mind and they don’t want to leave their name. That is fine and I look forward to hearing from more of you.

As for answering Kim’s post below I did try to find out when the parade was schedule in print and I was not able to do so either. I feel her pain. Looking through the City’s website is most excruciating and difficult. It’s reminds me of how things are run here in a way, layer after layer of I don’t know why I need this information. I have often thought that there needs to be a central website for useful information for this community. Maybe our neighborhood development department can put something together that includes a community calendar. I won’t hold my breath though.

And to the rescue

Dear Dogood:

I found the recent postings by Ms. Harris and “just call me Roy” to be interesting. Apparently, I am not the only one to have concerns about the direction that our community is going and how we are going to get there.

I would like to address Ms. Harris’ questions first.
In regards to the downtown, I too believe that not enough is being done to promote the downtown or to keep it looking good. I have several ideas that I would implement if I were to be given the chance.

First, I would make a greater effort to keep ALL of the downtown clean. There are ways to do this without over taxing the street department.

Secondly, I would clear up all of those street signs that are planted into the streetscape as though they were part of the shrubbery. There are other ways of ensuring that the public is aware that there is a two hour limit on parking other then placing a street sign at ground level every 200 feet in our downtown.

Thirdly, Ms. Harris and every citizen can learn of my thoughts about taxes, growth and other issues at my website www.belviderecommunityfirst.com. I will take the time to explain a few of my thoughts in my response to “just call me Roy.”

I agree with the assessment that our current community leaders rely too heavily on seeking tax increases to pay for the things that they want, such as a larger Public Safety Building.

While I was an alderman, I introduced a concept to the council that would require adequate public facilities, such as schools, parks, roads and city services are in place before large developments were approved. This growth management tool, Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the city council to approve a development without ensuring that public facilities and services, capable of meeting the increase in demand the development places upon the public services and their facilities, were in place. Unfortunately, the council and our city administration did not support this idea.

Regarding impact fees and our schools, I presented the city council an idea that called for altering the city’s impact fees charged for schools from a fee based on the number of bedrooms a new home contains to a fee based on a Capital Cost schedule. A Capital Cost schedule would require the development to provide an impact fee based on the number of students that it would place into the school district with an assigned cost placed upon each student.

The concept works like this. If it cost the school district $8 million to build a school large enough to educate 1,000 students and a new development puts 500 new students into the school district then the developer would pay to the schools 1/2 of the cost of building a new school, or $4 million! Unfortunately, the council and our city administration did not support this idea either.

Currently, our impact fees provide less than 1/3 of the assigned capital cost of each student – at the elementary level. Impact fees do not provide a sufficient level of revenue for the school district to build new schools nor, do they provide enough to meet the operating expenses of a new school. A new system needs to be put into place before the next wave of growth comes upon us. And, I think that I have the answer to keeping the school district from asking the taxpayers to foot the bill for new school construction and yet another referendum. If only I were to be in a position capable of influencing the council to agree with me.

Respectfully,

Jim Wise

Another reader looking for information

Dear Mr. Dogood,

Thank you for starting this blog. I hope more people find this site and start to voice their satisfaction or dissatisfaction within our community. It was by chance that I came across your flyer and I will do my part to spread the word.

I am hoping that you or any of your readers can tell me something about Karen Schrader. I am very familiar with Fred Brereton as I have lived here my whole life. I know of Jim Wise because he was my Alderman and I can also share with you that when I did have a problem and I called Mr. Wise he always took care of it.

I do not know where Karen Schrader stands on anything or what she will even bring to the table. I certainly do not remember her on Council. I am not happy with the way the current City Council or the Mayor are running things but before I make a decision I would like more information on Karen.

If you don’t mind could you please post my e-mail?

Many thanks and good luck,

Wal Mart is good for Belvidere after all

Dear Dogood,
I have been asked by many to provide an example of what, if any, differences of opinion or intent existed between our current mayor and myself. I am going to provide you with the first of many.

In 1999, it was rumored that Wal-Mart desired to locate a store in the city of Belvidere. In 2000, the rumor had become true and planning was underway. A local developer sealed the deal with Wal-Mart and was to locate the store where it sits today, at the Gateway Center off of Route 20 and Genoa Road. Mayor Brereton was opposed to this development. I and several members of the council fought tooth and nail with Mayor Brereton for a year to bring the matter to the council and obtain council approval. We foresaw the economic benefit of having a Wal-Mart in town. A Wal-Mart would bring jobs, sales tax revenue and many other benefits to our community that was having difficulty finding ways to pay its bills. We also had a very severe dependence on the auto sales businesses in town and we needed to find ways to generate sales tax dollars that were not associated with the auto sales in town. At that time, 45% of our sales tax revenues were generated by auto sales at the local car dealers. I argued that we needed to reduce our dependence on auto sales and create a more diversified sales tax base. Mayor Brereton protested mine and others’ attempts to convince him otherwise. His points of opposition were indefensible and weak. Mayor Brereton accepted the arguments of those who protested bringing Wal-Mart to town by believing that it would destroy our downtown and take sales tax dollars from other businesses. Mayor Brereton was intent on going against the council’s wishes and made every attempt that he could to stall the development and the construction of the Wal-Mart store. Fast forward six years to now. Wal-Mart has opened its doors, and several other new businesses have opened since in the Gateway Center. The City has increased its sales tax revenues by more than 60% since 2002. And, its dependence on auto sales to generate sales tax dollars has fallen to just less than 30% of all sales tax dollars collected by the City. The sales tax dollars that Wal-Mart, and the other new businesses at the Gateway Center, generates for the City allows us to pay for police and fire protection along with the other things that a growing community needs. The concerns that Wal-Mart would destroy our downtown, take sales tax dollars from other businesses, and not be a good corporate partner have not come true. So much so that now, six years since opening its doors, Mayor Brereton is presenting certificates of appreciation to Wal-Mart for being everything that he thought they would not be.

I would ask your readers; who was the visionary in this particular matter?

Jim Wise

Please click on the link below to view a story about the Mayor recognizes Wal Mart and says how good they are for the City.

http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/Boone-County-News-10-24-08.pdf

Lets work together

Good Evening,

I am writing to inform you about a couple of new blogs that I have recently learned about. These blogs come straight from someone who visited my site and although we may not agree on everything we both want the citizens of Belvidere and Boone County to be more informed.  I hope you visit them and make up your own mind. These blogs are about our community and we the people need to speak up, speak out and inform those who sometimes speak for us what we think of the job they are doing.

Please take a look at http://www.boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com and http://www.district100watchdog.blogspot.com

Happy surfing and let me know what you think.

Your Faithful Servant,
Silence Dogood

Mr. Wise being questioned

Mr. Wise should be a little fairer to the original opponents of Wal-Mart. The original proposal from Darecloud (Belvidere Bank) and Wal-Mart was for hundreds of thousands of dollars of sales tax abatement if Wal-Mart was going to come. After the organized opposition the city actually received I believe $400,000 in impact type fees for the city infrastructure. I think Mr. Wise should present all the facts. I never understood where the Mayor stood on the issue but without some opposition the city’s treasury would have suffered.

BILL P.

In response

Mr. Dogood,
In response to Bill P., who wrote about Wal-Mart and impact fees. I wish to address Bill P., and his comment.
Any development that occurs within the Enterprise Zone, whether it is commercial or industrial, is granted abatement’s as incentives to encourage construction of commercial and industrial businesses. This is allowed by law and a condition the State of Illinois established in order to create an Enterprise Zone. The Gateway Center is no exception. The impact fees Mr. P., writes of were paid to the City to encourage the City to approve of the development and subsequently to bring Wal-Mart to town. These impact fees provided a matching fund to rebuild the Genoa Road interchange with I-90. The organized opposition Mr. P writes about provided an emphasis for the City to pursue monetary concessions from both the Wal-Mart corporation and Darecloud. It was Darecloud that agreed to fund one-half of the cost of improving the Genoa Road interchange with I-90 as a condition of gaining City approval of the development of the Gateway Center. The opposition largely comprised itself of those who viewed the bringing of a Wal-Mart store to Belvidere as the beginning of the end of commerce in Belvidere. The threat to existing businesses and the resulting loss of our “small town” life that the opposition spoke of never came true. As for the loss of impact fees. Darecloud had agreed all along to pay all fees due to the City and never attempted to negotiate its way out of doing so. I am not aware of any impact fees that were “saved” by the organized opposition. I am however aware of and appreciative of their effort to stand up and speak out against what they perceive to be a wrong commited by the City.

The City of Belvidere is lucky to have such people, and I hope that there will always be such a group of citizens who are willing to take a stand when they believe that they have been wronged.

Jim Wise

Sorry for the delay

For those of you who have written me I must apologize for taking too much time to respond. I have been cursed with a black plague and to this very moment am struggling to stop coughing. I hope to not spread it further but my quest for freedom for Belvidere must go on.

I do wish to thank the local papers for providing me information on Hometown Christmas. It is a shame though, two weeks before Hometown Christmas I couldn’t even go to the City or Chamber’s website for information. However, I have learned my lesson, and if I want any information about my community I will not visit those sites again.

Now I would like to move on to the pressing matter of the day for me to discuss. I wish to engage more of our community on my blog so spread the word. I want to address where we are in our city presently, how we got here and where do we go from here. So with that being said let us challenge one another.

Another question for Mr. Wise

I wish to thank Mr. Wise for an explanation of what occurred in regards to Wal-Mart and the Enterprise Zone. I wonder if Mr. Wise could sled some light on the situation regarding the new Holiday Express which is planned for the same shopping center. I would assume that it also is in the enterprise zone. Exactly what taxes (sales, hotel and property taxes) will be going to the enterprise zone and after what period of time or dollar amount will the city, county and school district begin receive their normal taxes from the project.

Bill P.

Where is Ron Wait?

Silence,

I was just wondering where Ron Wait is? For the last year he has been in the paper weekly telling us exactly what we wanted to hear. I am ashamed to admit that I voted for him. Now that he was re-elected I guess he thinks he can relax.

Pam Thompson

City Council doing their best, I don’t think so

Being absent from posting daily because of being under the weather has not stopped me from reading the latest copy of the City Council minutes that I was sent. Now I checked the site as usual in the evening and when I went through the November 17, 2008 minutes I noticed that the meeting started at 7:00 pm and a motion by Alderman Pendzinski at 7:33 ended the meeting.

So am I to believe that the City’s business was conducted in 33 minutes? I find that oddly amazing yet as I look around at our city very plausible. I don’t know about the rest of you but I can’t balance my check book in 33 minutes. I am double, triple checking everything.

It bothers me that they voted to receive a raise because when I make my regular visits to council I continue to watch 2 Alderman open their Council Packets those same evenings. On November 17, 2008 2 Alderman came to work unprepared, said nothing, voted yes to everything and got paid for 33 minutes of work, if you can call it that.

I am scratching my head over this and wondering how much time was put into the comprehensive plan and if any Alderman contributed anything to that. Must I say again that Smart Growth and Belvidere do not belong in the same sentence? I hope not. What do the rest of you think?

Lastly, it looks like the City Clerk and the City Attorney are doing all the work and the Mayor and Council get to take credit for it.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

An answer for Bill

Silence Dogood,

I am glad to see that you are back on the job of watching our city administration. I want to briefly answer Bill P’s question regarding the Belvidere Enterprise Zone.
To answer the question – the rules of an Enterprise Zone are complex. But, putting it into simpler terms, a new business is allowed to abate (be forgiven) property taxes at a graduated scale over a period of five years. In its first year of existence, a business is allowed to abate its property taxes at an 80% rate followed by a rate of 60% the second year, 40% the third and 20% the fourth year that the business is open. On the fifth year the business pays the full amount of property taxes that are due to the county. There are other incentives that go along with opening a business in an Enterprise Zone all of which are associated with the purchase of goods and services from other businesses that are also within the Enterprise Zone. But, to answer the largest part of the question, all other taxes; sales tax, hotel tax, income tax from employee’s wages etc, are paid in full from day one of the business being open.
I hope that this answer alleviates any concerns that your readers may have regarding Enterprise Zones and taxes.

Well did you enjoy yourself

I am curious to know if everyone had a good time at Hometown Christmas. Now I know it was cold and the bitter wind stung your skin, but aside from that, is was a lovely family event. Children were running around laughing, throwing snow and hitting their siblings. It’s fun to watch the kids; I often wonder if they even realize how cold it gets.

Oh how I miss the days of waiting in line to see Santa Claus, sipping hot chocolate, throwing kettle corn and roasted chestnuts up in the air to see if I can be slick enough to catch them in my mouth.

The Ice Sculptures were a beautiful site. Where was Santa’s House this year?

I must confess that I came down late to avoid our Mayor speaking. I simply can not listen to one more speech when I don’t believe he means anything he is saying. He isn’t the only politician I feel that way about but for the sake of this article he is.

Your Faithful Servant
Silence Dogood

Great question Bill

When will the city, county and school board talk about the community’s biggest problem-Chrysler. With or without a bailout it is a different ball game. At best a very different Chrysler plant will still be here in three months. The question is what and when will local government begin to review their budgets and adjust to the current recession (and possible local depression). Government likes to talk about being “pro-active” whatever that means-but there is not even talk by our politicians as to the what if’s of the current economy.

Bill Pysson

Which Mayor was quoted first and which Mayor re-used the quote?

I received a great question from Bill (preceding this post) and my answer will be frank and straight to the point. How can our Mayor be pro-active when he can’t even come up with his own quotes for a press release?

I never like answering a question with a question but in this case I had no choice. You bring up a great topic, Chrysler, and what is going to happen. In today’s paper (December 10) there is a press release from our Mayor who wants to take Belvidere into the next competitive level of manufacturing for our region. Fred was in Washington D.C. trying to help Belvidere but he doesn’t know how. I do not believe his is experienced enough to help us. I do not believe he knows how to help us.  I have never heard the City or the County talk publicly about how they plan to address our economic problems.

So Belvidere here you go, I report, you decide. The first partial press release is from Mayor Richard Notte, Sterling Heights, Michigan. The story was posted on December 6, 2008 and I will give you the link at the end of the story.

The second press release is from our Mayor Fred Brereton and was posted on December 10, 2008 and again will follow with link. My question is who said the statement first. In the 4th paragraph of both stories there is exactly the same quote from both Mayors. Who said it first and who copied who word for word. I want to know if we have a Mayor running for re-election telling the community that he is the best leader and he can’t even come up with his own quote. I suppose it’s possible that it is the standard quote that every Mayor used but in looking through the other press releases of the other Mayors that were in attendance I have found nothing that leads me to believe that. I will however keep digging.

STERLING HEIGHTS – Mayor Richard Notte and City Manager Mark D. Vanderpool will join 25 mayors and other government officials from communities across America to convene on Capitol Hill on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 8-9.

Sterling Heights Mayor Richard Notte said preserving the viability of local automotive facilities and citizen jobs at the many auto plants across Michigan and the entire nation is key to preventing a total economic collapse. “Auto jobs are a backbone of our economy, both here and across America,” said Notte. “We believe in keeping the U.S. car companies competitive and innovative for the 21st century, and Sterling Heights intends to be a partner in this innovation.”

http://www.ci.sterling-heights.mi.us/bins/site/templates/default.asp?are

BELVIDERE -
Mayor Fred Brereton and other city and county officials were among dozens of city leaders and representatives in Washington, D.C., today to lobby lawmakers on the need for federal assistance to the automotive industry.

The Belvidere Chrysler plant is the region’s largest employer. It has roughly 2,600 employees, down from 3,700 at the beginning of the year.
The Mayors Automotive Coalition, which includes leaders from cities in Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, traveled to D.C. to urge Congress to provide emergency financial resources to the U.S. automotive industry and support communities dealing with the impact of closed plants and laid-off workers.

“Auto jobs are a backbone of our economy, both here and across America,” Brereton said in a news release. “We believe in keeping the U.S. car companies competitive and innovative for the 21st century, and Belvidere intends to be a partner in this innovation.”
http://www.rrstar.com/belvidere/x415872282/Belvidere-mayor-lobbies-for-car-companies-in-D-C

Take a close look at both articles, the Mayor from Sterling Heights, MI. was interviewed before he went to Washington.  The Mayor of Belvidere, IL was interviewed during the trip to Washington.  Where is the integrity of our administration?  Am I the only one questioning this?

Silence Dogood

Another shining moment for Ron Wait

As I was sitting at my kitchen table this morning reading the every so unbiased, fair Rockford Register Star newspaper I noticed again why I am sadden that Ron Wait was re-elected. He is just like another politician in Belvidere incapable of thinking for himself.

If you read the Local and State section of today’s paper, Sunday December 14, 2008, you will find a section where there is a survey of local Legislators weighing in on Governor Blagojevich. Out of all 5 surveys Ron Wait is the only one without a quote at the end of the survey. I wonder why that is. Maybe the paper just didn’t find it interesting enough to print, maybe the paper ran out of space, maybe he didn’t want to get caught taking other Legislators quotes like our Mayor Fred Brereton did, or maybe its just because he couldn’t think of anything of importance to say. I am inclined to go with the latter two.

Now this brings me back to an earlier post where I was asking, where is Ron Wait? This guy was in the newspaper every week telling us how he did this and did that and BLAH BLAH BLAH. Well by some miracle he was re-elected again and where is he? What is he doing?

Over a year ago I had a discussion with Ron about his lack of time in Springfield and his huge lack of work down there. I asked him why he isn’t fighting for the money the state owes us for our school district. His reply was, “No Republicans can get anything done in Springfield. The Democrats run everything down there.” HA! Mr. Wait that is not the point, the point is that you are getting a paycheck from the tax papers and we expect you to at least try. You are not trying; you are sitting in your office all day doing nothing. When are you going to start working for the people Ron Wait?

So I am not at all surprised that you did not have a quote at the end of your survey when your peers did. It seems to me that why would you have anything to offer now when you have never had anything to offer before.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

How can we pay for a new Public Safety Building without raising taxes

Silence Dogood,

Recently, while talking with many fine citizens of our community, I was asked to explain how my proposal of separating the Belvidere police department from the Public Safety Building would work. More importantly, how would the City pay for a new building that would house the Belvidere police department and where will they move to? While I was able to explain this idea to those who asked, I need to ensure that every citizen is offered the opportunity to learn of and understand what it is that I am proposing.

I would like to explain this proposal for the benefit of your readers.

To pay for this proposal I would pursue a number of options. One of which is, the City owns several acres of land, in the West Hills Neighborhood, that could be sold. This land is zoned as commercial property and would bring a generous profit to the City if sold as is. The money paid for this real estate could be used towards the cost of a new City Public Safety Building. The next course to pursue would be to negotiate a payment plan with the County to compensate the City for the one-half ownership of the Public Safety Building that the City would forego. To accommodate the County, the agreement would contain conditions that allow the county to provide annual payments, to the City, at a rate that would not stress the County’s budget. And, perhaps the most important component of this proposal is that, I would ask the city council for permission to use 1/5 of the Utility Tax for public safety. This would be the equivalent of 20% of the tax collected annually and would generate nearly $400,000 a year to be used for public safety expenditures. In addition to paying for the cost of a City Public Safety Building, I would use these funds to put more policemen on our streets, more firefighters in our fire stations and maybe, just maybe, return ambulance operations to the Belvidere Fire Department.

To answer the question – where would the Belvidere police department move to? I would locate the City Public Safety Building, the new home of our police department, in our downtown. Doing so would help spur private investment in our downtown particularly, if the building were to be located within the Kishwaukee River Development District.

So, to answer the public’s and your question of how would I pay for my proposal? Any combination of these sources of revenues would pay the cost of a new City Public Safety Building. And, more importantly it would do so without raising taxes.

Jim Wise

Do we want change or more of the same

Happy holidays to everyone, I hope all enjoyed themselves with their loved ones. I took some time off to spend with family and wanted to take a break from the politics of Belvidere.  However, time is running out to inform the community on all we need to speak up to make a difference.  Reading the Rockford Register Star it explains how our upcoming election will take place. We have 3 people running for Mayor or our City.

First we have incumbent Fred Brereton who is seeking his 4th term. With not too much at all to show that he has accomplished in his previous 3 terms I don’t know what he can offer us at this point. Frankly without the help of Growth Dimensions I don’t think this City would have gotten anything done. Fred is a part of the Good Ole Boys club that does things for himself. He has the thought process that he waited long enough for this position and things are going to be done his way not the correct way. Do we need more of that?

Second we have Jim Wise, who has been on City Council for the last 10 years but couldn’t get anything accomplished. He brought a lot of ideas to the table but was always being fought all the way. You almost got the impression that if it wasn’t Mayor Brereton’s idea or if he couldn’t get credit for it, it wasn’t worth pursuing. Of course City Council doesn’t have the best of the best on board so it’s no wonder nothing got done, no one every stands up to the Mayor and says enough is enough.
So as it stands right now we have 2 people going against each other on the primary February 24, 2009. That is Incumbent Fred Brereton and challenger Jim Wise. Who do we want, who will do the best job?

Our third candidate Karen Schrader will compete with the winner at the General Election on April 7th. Karen is running as an independent and she has no challengers so therefore she does not need to be in the primary. So we must decide if we want more of the same or do we want change. If we want change we vote for Jim Wise and let him go against Karen Schrader and hopefully we will find out who is the most qualified and who can offer us the best future. They both say they can bring change.

As I stated in an earlier post I do not know a whole lot about Karen. I have seen her at several City Council meetings and I have always walked away thinking that she is not supportive of change or growth. We simply cannot remain the same in this economy and expect to compete globally. This community will be left behind and our children deserve better, we deserve better.

I know just a little more about Jim Wise since he has been pretty vocal and has been on the council for the last 10 years. Can he bring the change we want? Will he listen to the public and bring change? I wish I had those answers right now.

I have not decided who I will support yet between Karen and Jim. I have decided that I will not support Mayor Brereton again. I have driven past one too many empty strip malls, and I don’t believe he wants to support making the downtown better. He had his chance and I think it only fair to give someone else a try now. I believe very strongly in term limits. We need to have a checks and balances system in place and currently we do not. We have one person with way too much power.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Who should be the next Township Supervisor

I have not talked about the township so far, but now is the time. We have much to discuss about these 3 candidates. Again in my opinion I will let you know up front that I favor Bob Cantrell. He was my Alderman and he was always available to talk too.

So let’s talk about the candidates and you decide who you like. Let’s start with Pat Murphy. I have no idea how his peers nominated him to be the current Supervisor since Bob Turner’s passing. (By the by, I thought Bob was a great supervisor) I guess the trustee’s our about as smart as the City Council. Wasn’t Pat our Mayor for a time being? What did who do for us then? I believe if you do your homework you will find how Pat spent money very unwisely. Do we want that for our Township? Also when he was an Alderman he didn’t have anything to offer. I think it stinks that he gets to be listed first on the ballot too. Tell me what you think.

I am hoping that I will receive emails on what others think and what they know about the candidates. I would like to share that information with everyone.

Next I would like to mention Dana LaPier, who I have never met but have seen him coach at BYB. I know he used to be an Alderman and I know that I have received e-mails from people telling me that Dana cares less for our Mayor than I do if you can believe that.

When I witnessed Bob Cantrell on Council I saw him repeatedly stand up to our Mayor on the Brownsfield site behind Ace Hardware. Which by the way weren’t we promised by our Mayor that that site would be developed by now? I witnessed Bob making sure that money was spent correctly and I respect that. Of course they were things I didn’t like.

I am asking for my readers to write to me to let me know about the candidates, who you like and don’t like and why. We need our voters to be informed so they can make an educated decision on who should be running our community. Let’s all work together and do our part to help. I know who I am voting for in this race, but now you must decide.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

City Officials should just stop talking

This is some information and quotes that I found in the paper and I just have to say something about them. I do not know why I am surprised by these comments, I think I am just hoping our officials will smarten up but it doesn’t look like that will ever happen. I just might have to start the beginning of each year with the 10 stupidest things said in the last year.

First, on the 23rd of December I read this: This year’s quest to keep the budget in the black may become policy for Boone County Board. Seriously, are you kidding me? Say it isn’t so Joe. The article goes on to say, Board Members Wednesday authorized administrators to draft a resolution to be voted on that asserts the Board will keep operating expenditures below revenues. Do you mean that isn’t happening now, is that why you need to come to the voters and ask for a tax increase? With this thought process I will never vote yes to increase my taxes.

Next, I read – After voters twice refused sales tax increases, officials may turn to President-elect Barack Obama to fund expansions to the city and county’s Public Safety Building. It just gets better and better. City officials are preparing to vote on a resolution Jan. 5 that submits a dozen projects for the Obama administration’s consideration. The list includes transportation projects like an Irene Road/Interstate 90 tollway interchange, sewer upgrades and other road construction projects, as well as the PSB expansion.

“The whole economic stimulus (submission) is a wish list at this point,” Ald. Mike Chamberlain said. “Because of the severity of the economy, we’re leaving no stone unturned, not missing any opportunity that we might have to secure some kind of funding if indeed the stimulus package does go forward.”

Wow, so you’re not leaving any stone unturned. So every idea that was put forward by the Alderman to pay for the expansion of the PSB building was looked at. Was there any idea put forth by any Alderman besides Jim Wise? Can someone please explain to me why no one is trying this idea? If it can’t work than can someone please tell me why? No stone left unturned my butt!!  Where are all of the ideas?

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Very Interesting Quote

In light of the present financial crisis, it’s interesting to read
what Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:

“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our
liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow
private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation,
then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the
banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up
homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”

City Council Meeting January 5 2009

I went to the City website to see if I could obtain a copy of the agenda for Monday night’s council meeting. I could not find an agenda nor could I find any more information on the resolution the council members want to vote on that submits a dozen projects for Obama’s administration to consider.

My question is this, “Is this a waste of time, is this the council’s way of trying to trick the community into thinking that they are doing something?”

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Happy New Year

I predict happiness for the people of Belvidere if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. With that being said I hope that the current administration will try to figure out a way to generate revenue and figure out a way to get businesses to come to town. Also for the New Year I hope that the City stops with the ridiculous hoops that a business has to go through to come to town. Enough of the regulations that make businesses go to every other town but ours.

Lastly, I hope I do not see another referendum on my voting ballot asking me if it is ok to raise my taxes because it is not. I will leave you with this thought, “To induce a man to support financially with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and dictatorial.”

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Mayor’s Proposed Resolution

In regards to the proposed resolution I’d like to see that our Mayor is proactive, but he needs to direct our council as to the proper procedures that might make a difference for our community. We need someone at the helm who not only knows how to make things happen but someone who can make it happen.

Tonight the City Council will meet and vote on a resolution that submits a dozen projects for Obama’s administrations consideration. I am trying to find the resolution on the City’s Website but I am told that it will only be in the council member’s packets.

I am still inclined to warn everyone that this is all for show to make us believe that our Mayor is really doing something. Instead he is wasting the efforts of Council in the guise that he is accomplishing something good for our community.

But, you should know that I am putting it out there for all to read that when Belvidere doesn’t receive any money for the projects that will be listed in tonight’s resolution we can expect to hear the same excuse as always.

If our Mayor is serious about trying to get something good to happen for our community and if someone in City Hall would have taken the time to call the House of Representative’s Transportation and infrastructure Committee. Had that been done, then they would know what should be done and a better plan could have been put into place. It would have been better to submit this resolution to the state of Illinois’ Capital Development Board and Illinois Department of Transportation rather than our Congressional Representatives.

Is that asking too much, that we pursue the correct course of action and have a real plan put into action?

Here is the link for the agenda for tonight’s city council meeting.

http://www.ci.belvidere.il.us/bodyframeset.htm
Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Who’s gonna help us with our Wish List again

Does the Mayor really know when or if the Train is coming

I recently visited candidate Jim Wise’ web site and I read some interesting quotes by our current Mayor Fred Brereton regarding commuter rail service coming to Belvidere. The original quote was from the year 2001 in which the Mayor states that commuter rail service will come to Belvidere in 5-7 years. The next year (2002) the Mayor was again stating that rail service will be in Belvidere in 5-7 years. Again in (2003) the Mayor once again states that rail service will be in Belvidere in 5-7 years. Now in 2008, the mayor states that rail service will be in Belvidere in 4 years.

Now I’m not sure what math class our Mayor attended in high school, but, it must have been that “new” math. Or maybe another explanation was there was no referendum on the ballot that year for the school district to provide the then young Brereton with the classes needed to count to a number greater than 7.

It is time for the citizens of Belvidere to wake up and quit believing that rail service will ever come to Belvidere. It is time for our citizens to quit listening to the material spewing from the Mayor’s mouth. This same material is what our local farmers fertilize their fields with at planting time. It is time for our city council members, such as Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Deckert, to get their noses out of the Mayors rear end and stand up for the people they represent. Mikey and Davey should quit being “yes men” to the mayor.

Why doesn’t anyone listen to some of the good ideas coming from Alderman Racz instead of consistently dismissing all of his ideas?

I for one have had enough.  Time for a change!

Signed,

Just Call Me Roy

Register to Vote

http://www.elections.state.il.us/Downloads/VotingInformation/PDF/R-19.pdf

Has Ron Wait been reading my post?

Did I say something do make Ron Wait appear in the newspaper more often again? If so let me be the first to say I am sorry because that was not my intent. My intent was to get his attention to make him do something worthy for the residents of Boone County. Not to think that we will be fooled by these feel good efforts.

I have mentioned before that we would be better off if we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. So now that I have seen 3 different articles about Ron Wait (Co-Sponsoring Laws) and his plans for moving forward I could not let another opportunity go by without repeating myself.

“Ron Wait announces his schedule for the public so we can go and talk to him in person about our issues,” why? So we can hope that he might be able to help us. We have a better chance at winning the lottery. “Ron Wait puts on Tax Assessment forum.” Shouldn’t one understand the tax system first and stop pushing for increased taxes in your area before you do this? Am I to believe that he will be able to explain why we have this assessment and what the benefits are?  Instead of telling us why our property is getting taxed – which we all know why.  Why don’t you co-sponsor, sponsor, or pass a law that changes the tax assessment schedule from a quadrennial assessment period to an annual assessment?  Then when our property values go down so will our taxes rather than like now where my house was devalued 27% because of the crisis, but my taxes went up by 12 % if not more this coming year.

My favorite is that “Ron Wait sponsors 2 new laws taking effect on January 1, 2009.” Is there any reason that Ron would Co-Sponsor a law that actually helps the residents of Boone County? Let me just spout off a few, help push the IEPA to sign off on the landfill closure permit. Isn’t that costing the City and the County $100,000 each per year? Perhaps he can help find funding to develop the Ag-Tech Park, oh and lets not forget there is that issue of the money that the state owes us.

Now I am just suggesting that our representative do some things that will benefit our entire community. As good as those 2 laws may sound that Representative Wait Co-Sponsored I don’t know what that does for Boone County. You may and probably do have different ideas about what our locally elected officials should do and I would love to hear those ideas as well.

Your Faithful Servant

Silence Dogood

Just call me Roy is mad as hell

I must respond to Silence as it pertains to the following “Then when our property values go down so will our taxes rather than like now where my house was devalued 27% because of the crisis, but my taxes went up by 12 % if not more this coming year.”

I whole heartedly agree with him/her. People are barely scrapping by at this point but the people running our city, county, and representing our district don’t care.
I recently read an article in the Boone County Journal that stated that Ken Terrionni, (Boone County Administrator) does not know how the county is going to meet expenses per the budget due to the economy. The income normally derived from the sales tax on automobiles is so far down that the county is looking for other means to cut expenditures or increase revenues. That scares the hell out of me when I hear that. Not only am I paying to bail out the automakers from a Federal standpoint, now it appears that the county and the city is going to ask us to make up the difference on the local level.

I have a better idea, LET JACK WOLF PAY THIS!!!

Signed,

Just Call Me Roy

Test your knowledge if you dare

Today I want to have a pop quiz covering economics 101. You will not need paper or a pencil; this is how simple “basic economics” is. This is a true of false quiz.

1. It is smart for the government to push us to drive fuel economy cars then raise the tax on gas.
2. It makes sense for the government to raise the tax on cigarettes to encourage the consumer to drive elsewhere to spend money or to stop smoking.
3. It is a considerate thing for the government to do lowering the blood alcohol limit from .08 to .02 so that the bars and restaurants that lost only ½ of their customers because they can no longer smoke will loose the rest because they won’t be able to drink there either.
4. The government should have given the people a $10,000 car voucher instead of bailing out the big 3.
5. The government should have given the people $100,000 each instead of bailing out banking/mortgage/insurance industry.

How did you do? Am I the only one who sometimes feels like we don’t have the sharpest tools in the shed making decisions for us? Are we moving forwards or backwards? Why does the government raise taxes to generate revenue that end up making the consumer spend less money and puts us and future generations in more debt?  For more local lessons on basic economics and how our Belvidere Government doesn’t understand math please check out this blog.  It is very interesting and reason 412 why I will never vote for a tax increase.

http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/01/mystery-grant.html

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Let’s have a Voice of the People Debate

The Primary for Belvidere is on February 24, 2009. I think it would be a great if our current Mayor Fred Brereton and his opponent Jim Wise would honor us with a debate. I don’t know about all of you but I have questions I want answered. I want a Voice of the People Mayoral Debate. I think that one of the problems we have here in Belvidere is we have an overconfident incumbent who has forgotten that he’s here to serve the people.

I think everyone should remember that elections our about choice. This is very important and I bring this up because the Mayor has run unopposed for his last several terms. For the last few terms you did not have a choice. It’s about change. The Mayor has done some good things throughout his terms but we have tremendous issues and challenges facing our community. Things have been status quo for too long. We need to move forward. The Mayor when he ran 4 years ago unopposed had more ideas and new plans on the table than he put on the table this year. All the Mayor says is “we have a plan in place.” but it’s really about the status quo.   If you look at the budget, if you look where the money and focus is, it’s time for a change. We need a leader, more than that we need a servant leader who will lead by example.

Please contact the following gentlemen and tell them you want a debate. Then after the primary the winner can debate Karen Schrader. We the people need to start asking more questions from our elected officials. I want to know more about the three people who are running for Mayor.

Mayor Brereton @ 815-544-2612 or mayor@ci.belvidere.il.us

Jim Wise @ 815-904-9576 or james.r.wise@live.com

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Agenda for Committee of the Whole January 12, 2009 6:00 PM

Here is the agenda for the Committee of the Whole meeting tonight.  For more information on the water and sewer grant for the nursing home please visit the Boone County Watch Dog site listed under my Blog Roll.

AGENDA
Monday, January 12, 2009
6:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
401 Whitney Boulevard
Belvidere, Illinois

Call To Order – Mayor Fred Brereton

Roll Call:                   Present:                                 Absent:

Public Forum:
Public Hearing – Economic Development Grant to help fund water & sewer
infrastructure for a supportive living facility directly east of Maple Crest Nursing Home on Squaw Prairie Road.

Reports of Officers, Boards, and Special Committees:

Mayor:       Assistant Attorney Options
Youth in Government Day (2/16/09)
City Clerk:
Neighborhood Development: Kim Ellingson, Monthly Report
Finance Manager: Annual Electric Bid
Other: Fire Chief Request for FEMA Grant Matching Funds

1.     Building, Planning, and Zoning, Unfinished Business:
A Construction of 1818 Logan Avenue

2.     Building, Planning, and Zoning, New Business:
A. Case No: 2008-25; Alpine Bank Special Use Request for an Electronic
Reader Board at 1425 North State Street
B. Case No: 2008-26; Infrastructure Defense Technologies Proposed Zoning Amendment for Off-Street                              Loading Standards

3.     Public Works, Unfinished Business:
A. Road Salt Update

4.     Public Works New Business:
A. Bridge Inspection Proposals
B. Landfill Sampling & Analysis Bids
C. Request for Reduction in Letter-of-Credit for Plat #1 of Shaw Mills

5.     Other:
A.

Amended Agenda
1/9/2009 10:49 AM

What I thought was going to be a great basketball game

As I was driving home from work this evening, listening to my favorite radio station, I got a pleasant surprise. They now play Notre Dame ball games. Now I must mention before I go further into my story that my favorite team is the Fighting Illini, but I enjoy watching the Irish so please, no hate mail. To continue though, it was Notre Dame playing Louisville, who just happens to be my least favorite team. I was like a child at Christmas wishing for everything and scared because I did not want to be disappointed.

To my utter disbelief Louisville managed to pull off an upset in overtime. I couldn’t believe it. It was bad enough that I was pulling over every few miles and trying to clear the snow off of my wipers but to have Louisville win was just twisting the knife of an already painful drive time. What happened to the Irish? Louisville is ranked 20 and the Irish have the reigning Big East player of the year, Luke Harangody.

Now I know how it must of felt for little Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story, being told he could never have an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model BB riffle with a compass in the stock. The disappointment he felt was what I felt when the team I dislike the most won. Let us just hope I have better luck going back to the Big Ten and watching my Illini when they play Michigan on Wednesday.

Having said that I feel better and I will get back to the serious side of things and continue on my quest to make our elected officials more accountable and to have a more open and transparent government.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Thank you Mr. Wise

I read with interest your posting of “Has Ron been reading my post”? I especially thought that the part about how Ron can help the citizens of our community by altering the property tax cycle from its current four year cycle to a one year cycle was right on. Doing so would cause assessors to establish property values, annually, which would be more reflective of current market conditions rather than allowing them to base property values on past years assessments or averages. Such a change in state law would provide tax relief, in the future, for property owners who have found little relief from rising property taxes this year. I think that a more readily solution that would have prevented an increase in property taxes this year could have been obtained had city hall not failed the citizens of Belvidere.

On the same day of your posting a Tax Assessment seminar was held at the Belvidere Township offices. Many property owners attended this meeting seeking answers as to how could assessments of their properties gone up when their property values were declining because of the housing market meltdown.

Illinois Property Tax Code states that the property assessment cycle is every fourth year, beginning in 1995. Also, in according with state law, in years one thru three of the assessment cycle, Township assessors …”may revalue property if its value is incorrect.” Unfortunately, for the citizens of Belvidere, a lack of leadership and foresight prevented this from happening.

Since 2009 property taxes are based on property values as of January 1, 2008. This should have meant that the 2008 tax year would have been year one of the four year assessment cycle. According to state law, Township assessors have the authority to adjust property values if they are incorrect. Could property values have been more reflective of current market conditions? I think that they could have. But that is not the case.

According to the county assessor property values, benchmarked on January 1, 2008 …” was (were) (established) several months before the housing market imploded.” Ironically, this “housing market implosion” began several months before the city established its 2009 tax levy. Had city hall foreseen the impact that this “housing implosion” would have upon property values and the resulting anxiety that it would cause the citizens of our community. It could have adjusted its tax levy accordingly and asked, of the county assessor, for less property tax revenue for the coming fiscal year than it did. In turn, this would have caused the county assessor to levy a lower amount of taxes on property which then may have been more reflective of current market conditions. Thus providing tax relief for the citizens of Belvidere today rather than taxing their anxiety and causing them more uncertainty in these troubling times.

Now we all know that the city is just one taxing body that benefits from property taxes. But again, had city hall shown leadership, and created a “coalition” of taxing bodies that would have joined forces and collectively reduced their tax levies. Then the citizens of Belvidere would have been breathing a sigh of relief while opening their property appraisals rather than gasping with despair.
Jim Wise

Is that Blazing Saddles or Belvidere

Does anyone remember the scene in Blazing Saddles where the gang of riders come up to the 10 cent toll booth in the middle of the Plains? Instead of going around the toll booth since it is only about six feet wide the leader says, “Does anyone have a dime?” “Someone has to go back and get some dimes.” So the gang waits while one rider rides back to town and gets dimes and then comes back. The gang then proceeds to go through the toll booth one at a time. Every time I watch that scene it hurts and I say to myself (while I’m pretending that I am talking to the people in the movie), “no you did not just make that stupid decision.” That is how I feel about what is going on in this community most of the time. The people who have been in office forever are ruining our beautiful town. That scene is not about being honest and making sure everyone pays their way. That scene is about a group of people who don’t know how to get out of a box. They only know one way to solve a problem. It’s their way and only their way, that is the only method they know and they will not consider anything else.

That is what I think about the people who think they are in charge of Belvidere. It is amazing to me how our elected officials forget they work for us the people of Belvidere. Actually everyone should watch Blazing Saddles from start to finish and then we can compare it to Belvidere. We can talk about how everyone is afraid of change and how things really get done behind closed doors.

Where was Ron Wait on Thursday January 8, 2009? I wanted to question him at the Tax Assessment Seminar that he put on but did not show up for. Yes I know for some time I have been saying that Representative Wait should be in Springfield doing his job, and I do think that is where he should be most of the time because that is where we need him to be. However, on January 8th we needed him to be at the event he was putting on. Ron Wait should have been at the Belvidere Township Hall to answer the questions of the people, that is where we needed him to be. Wait will tell you that he needed to be in Springfield though; they needed his vote for the Impeachment process. I don’t buy that since there was another member missing because he was on vacation with his family.

Our Grand Governor has been under investigation since his second year in office. Having Representative Wait in Springfield the night before the Impeachment vote that went 114 to 1 shows me that Ron could have stayed here on Thursday evening for a few hours and then went to Springfield. He still would have been able to vote on Friday, or was he part of the special committee that recommended to the House that our Governor should be impeached.

Several people attended this event expecting him to be there to answer their questions. I don’t think he understands the Tax Assessment enough to explain it but you never know. I just find it curious that whenever Wait thinks he needs to be in Springfield he is there but if we think he needs to be in Springfield fighting for us Ron just tells us “you can’t get anything done in Springfield as long as the democrats have the majority.” I now refer you back to Blazing Saddles for a further explanation.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

For Sale – Not For Sale – For Sale – Not For Sale

Here is the beginning of the end of Belvidere as we know it.

In a press conference held today, Chrysler officials attempted to dispell rumors that the Belvidere plant is for sale. Although the statement was short Chrysler officials were adament that no sale of Chrysler brands or manufuacturing plants were being pursued.

You draw your own conclusions

http://www.freep.com/article/20090114/BUSINESS01/90114053/Reports+of+sale+talks+are+false++Chrysler+says

Someone needs to start answering the questions

Great job Boone County Journal! Over the weekend I was able to read the January 16, edition of the Boone County Journal and I for one was thrilled as I read through the editorial. Are these projects really needed? And reading through the rest of the paper I learn that we now have a Belvidere, Boone and Manzullo stimulus plan package.

Belvidere’s stimulus package is a plan put together without much thought to us, the citizens, of Belvidere. It is though, a plan, that will make the Mayor look good (again all show and no substance). I like the term “shovel – ready” though, as if we are really ready for another interchange. Is it pivotal to the future growth of Belvidere? How about filling the 17 vacancies in the already existing strip malls and finish developing those areas first?

If anyone driving on I-90 decides to get off on the Belvidere exit they will drive by several strip malls with plenty of empty spaces. So empty that it does not encourage anyone to visit our downtown and shop. It gives the visitor the impression that we must have an empty downtown as well. It becomes much easier to just stay on the bypass and go around Belvidere altogether. Perhaps a hotel might encourage travelers heading west to take to Belvidere ramp and avoid the last toil. We might even have some shoppers and dare I say it, incur taxes from the hotel motel tax.

It was interesting to read about the proposed downtown transit center. So again we are left guessing is the train coming or not. Why can’t anyone just be honest and answer the question? Is it true that Rockford wrote a resolution that enables Belvidere to be a part of the plan that is different from the plan that Metra and IDOT preferred? If that is the case then would it go to referendum so we the people could vote on whether or not we want a ¾ % sales tax increase? How does that effect the sales tax increase that the city or county want to enact to pay for the PSB building? Why is everything a secret?

We need open and transparent government. We need change and we need it with the next primary.
Your Faithful Servant,
Silence Dogood

Jim Wise finds out more information, do we want the train now?

Silence,

I too read the January 16, Boone County Journal with great interest. I have spoken my piece about the City’s “wish list” and its misdirected intent. Now, I have learned that our mayor has not only decided to go against the very principles that he preaches, but is attempting to defy the desires of our congressional legislators and a State agency.
In the regards of the issue of passenger rail, you referred to the BCJ editorial and its listing of the City’s proposed stimulus projects that were submitted to our congressional representatives. You both mentioned the issue of passenger rail coming to Belvidere. I now have new information that confuses the matter even more so than ever before. Allow me to explain.

In the past several days, I have learned that our mayor has convinced the membership of the Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning (RMAP), to reverse a previous decision made by RMAP to support the choice made as to how best pursue the restoration of passenger rail to Northern Illinois made by our congressional representatives and the Illinois Department of Transportation. I will attempt to explain this matter as clearly as possible.

The matter of passenger rail coming to Belvidere has taken two paths. One is a local effort made by a handful of elected and appointed officials from Boone and Winnebago County. The other was an effort initiated by our congressional leaders. The first effort is led by a consortium of local leaders known as the Northern Illinois Commuter Transportation Initiative (NICTI). NICTI commissioned a consulting firm to develop a transportation plan that would include the city of Belvidere. This plan put to paper a way that includes Belvidere as a commuter rail stop connecting it with the Chicago metropolitan area. The plan identified a way to do it, at an exorbitant cost.
The second effort, initiated by our congressional representatives, was a study that would show how intercity passenger rail service in Northern Illinois could be restored. Amtrak was enlisted to conduct this study. Amtrak completed its study and identified the most feasible and least expensive way to restore intercity passenger rail service to Northern Illinois. Now herein lays the confusion and the separate paths taken by our mayor and our congressional representatives.

In the spring of 2007, RMAP approved a resolution supporting IDOT’s choice of which plan they would pursue and support. IDOT chose to pursue the Amtrak plan, which was to use the old Blackhawk Trail route that follows along the CN rail line from Chicago thru Genoa, Rockford and onto Dubuque, Iowa. RMAP further went on to approve a resolution of support for the Amtrak decision. This was done to give our congressional leaders what they wanted which was a “one voice” collective support from the communities in Northern Illinois-and they had it for all of a year.

In the fall of 2008, Mayor Brereton convinced RMAP to reverse itself and instead adopt a resolution that supported the NICTI study and the route that this study proposed as the “most feasible” route to use in order to restore passenger rail service to northern Illinois. The route that NICTI identified as the “most feasible” to use is the UP line that runs through Huntley, Marengo, Belvidere and onto Rockford. Currently, neither IDOT nor our congressional leaders have been convinced to change their decisions from the original agreed upon choice of using the old Amtrak Blackhawk Trail route in the pursuit of restoring passenger rail service to Northern Illinois. RMAP and NICTI are now attempting to do just that.

Is passenger rail coming to Belvidere? Your guess is as good as anybody’s.
This is what I think. I think that our mayor has gone against his self proclaimed principle of regional support by attempting to buck the system. Instead of agreeing to accept the decisions of our congressional leaders, a State agency and a national passenger rail provider. Mayor Brereton wishes to lead Belvidere and its citizens in a different direction. He has confused the issue, annoyed our congressional representative’s possibly denying us federal support for the restoration of passenger rail to Northern Illinois and, instead, is leading us down the most time consuming and most expensive path to follow. To obtain passenger rail service the Mayor Brereton way. Belvidere would need to become enjoined with RTA, (by referendum), enact a sales tax increase of .0075%, (again by referendum), and build a station platform (at our expense). To secure passenger rail the Amtrak, IDOT and congressional leaders preferred way. The city of Belvidere and its citizens would not incur any expense other than what it would cost to drive to Genoa or Rockford to get on the train.

In addition, the costs to the citizens of Belvidere, the State and Federal governments would be outlandish if they were to follow Mayor Brereton and the direction that he is leading them. The NICTI proposal is pegged at an expense of at least $250 million. The majority of this expense will be paid for by federal grants, the citizens of Belvidere and the other communities that are located along this path. The Amtrak proposal is pegged at $32 million and will be paid for by federal and state funds with no expense to the citizens of Belvidere, or any community.

I don’t know about you, Silence, but I would have to think that Mayor Brereton is leading our community in the wrong direction. To bring passenger rail service to Belvidere he would squander our city resources, increase our taxes, create animosity between City, State and Federal legislators and cause the federal government to expend $250 million dollars that it does not have. I do not think that we can afford another four years of Mayor Brereton at that expense. Do you?
Jim Wise

Why do politicans wait until election year to take action?

‘Residents may get a little tax relief this spring…’ a story in the Rockford Register Star announced. Following the Belvidere City Council retreat of Saturday, January 24 the papers reported that Mayor Brereton was offering tax relief to the citizens and businesses of Belvidere in the form of a reduction of the Utility Tax rate for the 2010 fiscal year. “The reduction was proposed to give businesses and households’ relief during a tough economic climate, Mayor Fred Brereton said.”

Sounds good, but this is nothing more than a cheap election year ploy. For two years Mayor Brereton had attempted to convince the citizens of Belvidere to approve an increase in the public safety sales tax to pay for an expansion of the PSB. If that effort had succeeded, you would be paying $100-$125 more a year in sales taxes than you are now. This “tough economic climate” began more than a year ago, yet now mayor Brereton is realizing the impact that this is having on the citizens of Belvidere.

Now, in an attempt to prove that he is protecting the pocketbooks of the citizens. Mayor Brereton is proposing a reduction in the Utility tax rate of two percentage points (from the current 5% rate to a 3% rate) for the 2010 budget. This would be the equivalent of paying 40% less in utility taxes this coming year than you paid last year. If you pay $200 in utility taxes between May 1, 2009 and April 31, 2010 then this would equal a savings of $80. Wow!!! Now that’s some real relief!

Where was this consideration during the recession of 2002 brought on by the events of 9-11? Then our economy suffered through an 8 month recession. Yet, I don’t remember Mayor Brereton offering to reduce the utility tax rate then. Or, what about when times were good? When revenues were up? When sales taxes, income taxes and property taxes were rising could the city have forgone a few hundred thousand dollars in utility tax revenue then? Mayor Brereton did not think of reducing the rate then either. But now when an election year nears, Mayor Brereton is ready to play his hand. And, he’ll throw in the ultimate election year teaser, saying that “…the city will assess the possibility of making the cut permanent.”

Apparently, Mayor Brereton is attempting to create the appearance that he is looking out for the best interests of the citizens of Belvidere. It is unfortunate that Mayor Brereton only thinks of these things during an election year. I think that he is grasping at straws desperately trying to find any means possible to secure a fourth term as our mayor. He’ll even go so far as to play the ‘I will lower your taxes’ charade while all the time hoping that you will have forgotten that he spent the last two years trying to raise them.
Jim Wise

Purchase a picture of our Mayor

I don’t know what I find more ridiculous, the article that states our City Council is considering lowering the Utility Tax when for the last few years Fred has fought to keep it in place or that I can actually purchase a picture of our Mayor Fred Brereton through the Rockford Register Star. I will have to think some more on this one, so far it’s a tie.

http://www.rrstar.com/boone/x1589174724

Your Faithful Servant

Silence Dogood

Protesting Property Taxes in Boone County

Visit this link to find out how many residents protest their home value. Remember the night Ron Wait couldn’t make the meeting he was holding (explaining how the tax assessments work) so he could be in Springfield to be part of a vote the next day. Well maybe he should have shown up because we have broken a record in Boone County.

http://www.rrstar.com/belvidere/x1278515891/Boone-County-home-value-protests-set-new-record
Your Faithful Servant

Silence Dogood

Here they come

Independent Candidates are challenging every seat for the Aldermen positions and for the Mayor’s position. Vague story coverage by the Rockford Register Star, and somehow that does not surprise me.  I was hoping for a more intense report and some actual coverage on what qualifications these candidates are bringing to the table when introducing them to the public for the first time.

Does it really matter what town you were born in if you have the talent, education and professionalism to do the job? Is it what year that you moved to Belvidere that makes you the better candidate? No one will be able to convince me that the Born and Raised Belvidere residents will make better choices or fewer mistakes for our community. There certainly is no proof of that now.

My point is covering the story with information that is important to the topic. Why is the article pointing out who is a native and who isn’t? I hardly see what year someone moved into town is of any importance. Is that the only information they were willing to talk about, or were there no real substance questions asked by the reporter?

I think we need to start asking questions about why some of these people want to run for office. Are they qualified, do they have the experience, I have my own opinion and of course I will share that with you on a later post.

I would also like to add that is refreshing to have women on the ballot.  I would like to point out that I have never seen Laurie Anderson in a public forum but after witnessing how both Karen and Jennifer behave I hope she is nothing like those two.   Unfortunately I have seen both of those women do nothing but go to the podium and yell, belittle and act in a most unprofessional manner.  We have enough of that already in case no one  has noticed.  I have never seen either one of those two present an idea that generates revenue, solves a problem or at the very least come up with an idea that someone else didn’t already present.  They just like to argue.  Our elected officials are a direct representative of our community.  They visits other cities and represent us on a local, regional and national level.  We should expect nothing less than professional manners in public.

Your Faithful Servant

Silence Dogood

Nearly all men can withstand adversity, if you want to test a man’s character, give him power

“Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character. Characters do not change. Opinions alter, but characters are only developed.”
Henry Clay, 1777-1852

In every election year politicians seeking re-election will, as if by divine intervention, do the will of their constituents. Whether it is to pass laws that rule men, facilitate commerce or make war then, and only then, when these men seek to hold on to what they believe is rightfully theirs will they act on behalf of the citizens that they represent.

Today, I wonder what our founding fathers would think of these politicians who, under the guise of doing the will of their constituents, only do what is necessary to gain favor among the voters to retain their elected office. These actions are not done to honor or to please the citizenry, but rather they are done only in the effort to advance their political careers.

I recently read about Mayor Brereton’s proposal to lower the utility tax by 2% and I thought how convenient it is to do what the citizens of Belvidere have been asking for now during an election year.

There are two very important points that I want to make. First, is the issue of the mayor proposing a 2% reduction in the utility tax, during an election year, as if he now understands that we all have suffered from the effects of a turbulent economy, which began its downward spiral in December 2007. This has not been the only year in recent memory that the citizens and businesses of our community have suffered economic hardship while being subjected to the utility tax without the same consideration of reducing the burden of this tax that this year is being given. Other civic leaders have attempted to convince the mayor to reduce the utility tax to ease the burdens of this tax yet, not before now has such a proposal been offered by Mayor Brereton or, those made by others been accepted. Since its inception, there has been a common thought among the people that the utility tax is too high and that it could be lowered without causing the City budget to suffer, only now when seeking to retain the office he holds has Mayor Brereton chosen to do what the citizens have asked to be done.

My second point is that I believe our founding fathers would admonish the man who puts his ambitions above those who he leads. The mayor’s proposal has put those who sit upon the council and hold membership to the same political party as he does in a perilous situation, which threatens to tarnish their integrity, their honor and their political futures. Can these aldermen go against the mayor’s proposal and say no, even though it is the right thing to do? No, they cannot. If they do they will surely be voted out of office for having supported higher taxes. If they say yes, they will be viewed as political stooges, eager to do the beck and call of the mayor at further risk of being voted out of office for being too compliant with the mayor’s doing. Where is Mayor Brereton’s adherence to the principles of party politics and the need to be mindful that mutual support, between office holders, is needed in order to advance the party for the benefit of its membership? Casting aside the loyalty and service of those who he leads while attempting to satisfy his own ambitions is not an application of the true democratic principles of governing; it says much more about the style of government within our community.

In our community, the practice of electing a leader representing the people has been a façade to which a select few use to hide the true form of government that rules our community. We are not a community governed by democracy but, rather, we are governed by a select few who practice a style of government more so in keeping with oligarchic principals.

For too long our community has been governed by these individuals who believe that they are the rightful heirs to the office of mayor, an office that is only to be shared amongst them. This select few entice the citizens of our community to become subjected to their desires and their rules with the promises of inclusion, unity and common purpose only to be cast aside once the intents of this small group of individuals have been achieved.

In his efforts to obtain a fourth term in office, Mayor Brereton has erased from our civic government the very principles of government that our founding fathers believed in and fought for; unity, consensus, and the purpose of service to the citizens for the common good of all. Mayor Brereton is not a servant leader that leads by example; he is one of individualism, self service and self adulation.

In selecting men/women for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate – look to his character….

Your Faithful Servant

Silence Dogood

Interesting Statistics

Professor Joseph Olson of Hemline University School of Law, St. Paul,
Minnesota , points out some interesting facts concerning the Presidential
election:

Number of States won by: Democrats: 19 Republicans: 29
Square miles of land won by: Democrats: 580,000
Republicans: 2,427,000
Population of counties won by: Democrats: 127 million
Republicans: 143 million
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by:
Democrats: 13.2
Republicans: 2.1

Professor Olson adds: “In aggregate, the map of the territory Republican
won by Republicans was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens
of the country.
Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in
government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government
welfare.

Professor Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the
“complacency and apathy” phase of Professor Tyler’s definition of
democracy, with some forty percent of the nation’s population already
having reached the “governmental dependency” phase.

If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal
invaders called illegal’s and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the
USA in fewer than five years

Pass this along to help everyone realize just how much is at stake, knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.

Your Faithful Servant

Silence Dogood

Pittsburg Wins 43rd Super Bowl

Hooray for Pittsburgh. Winning the 43rd Super Bowl is just fantastic. I thought the game was great. Ben Roethlisberger was terrific and when he made the throw to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left in the game I could hardly contain myself. What brought me back to earth was the fact that there isn’t really one decent place in town to watch a great football game. Sad really but that is what we have and will continue to have as long a Fred Brereton is still in office.

Back to game though, Kurt Warner should have used the skill that got him that trophy for Man of The Year at the beginning of the game. Well deserved but Warner should have brought his A-Game. When Harrison, the defense player of the year, intercepted a throw from Warner then ran 100 yards for the longest play ever. That was beauty in the making folks, beauty in the making.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

I wish Mayor Brereton would do this

Well this is a nice surprise, more open government.  You might ask why I decided to print this letter from a County Board member when I have been focusing on the City level of politics most of the time.  Truth be told, I am hoping that the Mayor will read this and start doing a better job at being more transparent himself.

I have mentioned before how I try to figure out what goes on at council and that it is impossible based on the fact that the minutes tell you nothing.  Actually one could figure out from the agenda, after all, the minutes as currently written are just the agenda written in a sentenced that has been reversed.  Also, I think it is silly that they won’t post them until they are voted on because sometimes you see the film of council on TV before they vote so it what is the point.

Take a look at the letter, you don’t have to agree or disagree.  You just need to understand that this might very well be a step in the right direction of accountability.  Let us ask the same of Mayor Brereton and the current Aldermen.

From the Desk of …
Anthony J. Dini
Boone County Board – District 2
Page 1 of 4
January, 2009
Dear District 2 Constituents,
Just a few months ago I asked for your vote for the County Board. On November 4th, 2008 you, the residents in District 2 elected me to bring professionalism to the County Board. On December 1st, 2008 I was sworn into office to serve you. Since that moment I have been hard at work trying to make sure that I do the very best job possible to represent you. December 1st marked the start of many good changes to come.

This letter is just the start of what I promised you during my campaign. I intend to write a letter like this to you and I will then publish it on my website for everyone to view. You also can go to my website and send me your email address and I can email it to everyone when I publish it. I am doing this to help all of you be more informed about what the County Board is doing and why. In addition to this effort I will be setting up periodic town hall meetings open to everyone so that I can answer your questions.

Issues that the County Board has acted on:
Change of the Date for which the County Board Meets
On January 14th, 2008 the County Board voted to change the monthly meeting date of the County Board to the third Wednesday of each month. In December of 2008, I wrote a letter to the States Attorney asking for her legal opinion after I found out that the County Board was not following the intent of the Opens Meetings Act and that in order for the Board to complete follow the intention of the law and serve our constituents properly it had to move the meeting date. The Administrative and Legislative Committee addressed this issue in January and then brought it forward to the Board on the 14th. I recognize as a board member, that many of you would get involved in Government if given the chance and the right information. I feel that the change that was made is only the first step in making sure the public is better informed on what is going on.

The 2020 Space Plan (Courthouse Renovation/Logan Avenue Addition) Back in October and November, 2008 the prior County Board voted and approved the sale of bonds to fund this project. On January 14th the County Board approved the Architect to solicit bids for the construction of this project. I will be honest with all of you, I don’t feel comfortable going forward with this project without having any plans for addressing the space needs at the Public Safety Building. I believe that the problems we have at the Public Safety Building are larger than the issues at the courthouse and should be addressed first. At the February meeting of the County Board, we will be able to see what the bids come in at and what we will be actually spending for this project.

Update of the Comprehensive Plan At the January meeting of the County Board, we approve the Planning Department to start a in-house update of the Comprehensive Plan. According to staff this process will take about 18 months or more and will include involvement of the public and all the municipalities within the County. Members of the Board asked if staff could include a Capital Projects Plan in it for everyone’s reference. The in-house approach to this project should allow it to be done at little to no extra cost to the County outside of the money already in the budget for salaries and supplies. The current plan was passed in 1999.

Issues to be coming before the Board in the next few months

Natural Gas Peak Power Plant
The process for approving a zoning change to allow a Natural Gas Peak Power Plant to be constructed on Garden Prairie Road immediately south of the Tollway has been started. This issue could be in front of the Board as early as February. There is no guarantee that thisPower Plant will service Boone County or who will even own the Plant upon completion. For more information on this issue please contact the Boone County Planning Department.

Carrie Lynn Center
The Carrie Lynn Center came to the Board asking us to add to some fines that are paid in the court system and pass that money onto the center for their operating budget. This center provides services to abused children. At the January meeting of the County Board, the motion to approve this fee was on the agenda. When the item was brought up, I made a motion to send this item back to the committee level for further review. Many of the Board Members, including myself, felt that this item needed further review before we pass another fee in this County. The fee would affect most fines that are placed on people by the court, including traffic fines.

Liquor Code Revision
Currently in the committee level they are discussing a revision to the liquor code to allow for outdoor activities that include the consumption of alcohol (ie. Beer Gardens). This issue will be discussed at the committee level in February. The effort is to make provisions to allow Beer Gardens and be able to regulate them efficiently. For more information you can contact the Boone County Administration office.

Items you should be informed about

Release of Jurisdiction to Timberlane

This issue, even though it was withdrawn before a vote, I believe, necessitates some history recap. Back in October of 2008, the previous County Board voted to pass the issue and allow the jurisdiction to be released. One month later, after both the Village of Timberlane and the developer had an opportunity to proceed on the premise that the Board voted to pass the issue, the previous County Board on a motion made by Dana Lapier voted to reconsider the issue and send it on to the new incoming County Board. I feel this issue was dragged on by the County for far too long and at a disservice to the Village, the Developer and the citizens of Boone County.

Federal Wish List of Capital Projects

The County has submitted to our Federal Lawmakers, a wish list to be considered if President Obama’s Stimulus Package gets passed and the government releases money to local governments to proceed with capital projects to help create jobs. We are currently awaiting passage by the Federal Government on this package.

Possible Budget Shortfall

As many of you may already know, the County is currently looking at a possible budget shortfall for this Operating Year. Our County Administrator tells us this deficit at the worst could be up to $300,000. The County Board is currently acting on this possibility byworking with the Department Heads and other Elected Officials withinthe County, to try to curtail spending on unnecessary items with out cutting labor or services. This is the Board’s first step in trying to avoid a budget crisis.

Conclusion

My goal in writing these type of letters each month is to help YOU, my constituents, stay more informed on the current issues. This should allow you to keep track of what our County is doing. If you have any further questions on the issues that I have talked about above, or any other issue, please don’t hesitate to call me at any time at (815) 666-4736. I was elected by you to represent you and your views and ideas. I look forward to serving all you in my district to the best of my ability.

Respectfully,

Anthony J. Dini
Boone County

The Mayor will have to answer for his actions now. It’s debate time

February 4, 2009

On February 12, 2009 Jim Wise, candidate for mayor of Belvidere Illinois, and Mayor Fred Brereton will conduct a debate at Belvidere Central Middle School.

The debate will begin at 7:30 pm and will conclude at 8:30 pm. Doors will open at 7:00 pm for seating of the audience.

Moderators of this event will be Mr. Eric Wilson and/or Ms. Dani Maxwell of WREX Channel 13.

The debate will be conducted in a style that is in keeping with the celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s 200 birthday. To celebrate the anniversary of the 16th President of the United State’s birthday, the debate will be conducted in the Lincoln-Douglas style of debate. This allows the debaters to take opposing positions on the agreed upon topics. Ensuring a robust debate and an entertaining evening for those attending this momentous event.

“I look forward to bringing the issues that challenge our community into the open for the public to see. Bringing transparency to our city government which has been absent from our community for several years now.”

“As a candidate for the office of mayor, I offer the opportunity of renewal and the hope for change to the citizens of Belvidere and it is my intent to prove this to them on February 12.”

Questions may be directed to:
Jim Wise at 815-904-9576
Email: james.r.wise@live.com

The Mayor is up to his old tricks again

Does the Mayor Know proper procedure or not?

Question of the day:

Can anyone tell me why none of the Aldermen pointed out that the Mayor is not following proper procedure?

Answer:

The Mayor isn’t following proper procedures and the Aldermen are not pointing it out because complacency is the Mayor’s middle name and apathy is the middle name of every Alderman we have elected into office. The entire council has become so enthralled with Fred, or he has conditioned them to not act on their own, that they do not even look into the validity, the right, or the adherence to law regarding the actions that are requested of them.

While looking at the City’s website I came across the City’s budget. During my quick review, I noticed something about the budget that I believe has not been openly shared with the public. Apparently, the mayor’s real reason for suspending the road reconstruction program was not to ease the economic hardship of the businesses and citizens of Belvidere. (He only stated that because, after all, this is an election year) It was so he could raid the utility tax fund to pay the salaries of public employees. I find this to be very alarming.

I have asked questions and sent out emails to see if anyone else was aware of this or shared the same concerns that I have. If we want better leadership and if we want things to change then we need to get out and vote for it on February 24. This is not acceptable and we deserve better.

In a letter obtained by me, Jim Wise points out the issues of the Mayor’s failing to properly follow governmental procedure. Take a look at the letter that Jim wrote to Mike Drella, City Attorney about this issue.

Mr. Mike Drella
401 Whitney Blvd
Belvidere, IL 61008

February 3, 2009

Mike,
I hope that this letter finds you in good health and spirits.
I have looked at the proposed City’s 2010 fiscal year budget (the overview) as presented on the City’s website in the form of a power point file.

While I had found nothing out of the ordinary, other than it is definitely a much underfunded budget. I did notice that the mayor is proposing to utilize the Utility Tax fund to finance a portion of the Public Works employee’s salary line item. The intent to use $761, 000 from the Utility Tax fund for this purpose is unacceptable and is in violation of the ordinance. As stipulated in Chapter 106 Taxation, Article VIII, Utilities Tax, Sec. 106-191, of the City of Belvidere Code,

(Monies collected pursuant to this tax shall be deposited into a special account designated strictly for a city-wide street reconstruction program. Such funds shall be used for that purpose only. However, if the corporate authorities determine that there is a surplus within the special account, over the amount currently needed for street reconstruction, the corporate authorities may, by three-quarters vote, resolve to transfer said funds to the general fund to be used for any public purpose.)

In regards to the mayor’s intent I will argue three points;

First, there is no surplus of funds. The ordinance reads “…if the corporate
authorities determine that there is a surplus…over the amount currently needed for street reconstruction.” There is never a surplus in the sense of the word because a definition of the phrase “currently needed” is not provided within the ordinance. It was determined
by study that there are millions of dollars of deferred public right of way maintenance that, to date has yet to have been significantly reduced, or eliminated. This study represents an established and current need of the city in regards to street reconstruction. Hence, the need to define the phrase “currently needed.”

My second point of contention is that the corporate authorities have not established that a surplus does in fact exist. It is my understanding that Mayor Brereton, absent of council action, arbitrarily made the decision that a surplus of the Utility Tax funds does exist and that they can be used for a purpose other than intended. The ordinance
stipulates that the “corporate authorities” are to make that determination. You and I know the term “corporate authorities” implies all elected members of the council in addition to Mayor Brereton. Such a determination made by the “corporate authorities” is needed before the Mayor’s intent can be fulfilled.

Third, the ordinance strictly states that it may be amended by three-quarters vote of the corporate authorities. The inclusion of these funds into the proposed budget and subsequent passage of the 2010 budget ordinance does not qualify as a separate and distinct vote as provided for in the ordinance.

This ordinance is separate and exclusive. Meaning that its intent must first be satisfied separately from all other actions and cannot be combined or included in an Omni-bus action such as a motion to approve the 2010 budget as presented would be.

To end my argument, the “corporate authorities” must first establish that a surplus does exist and not by arbitrary decision as made by Mayor Brereton. The city council must define the phrase “currently needed” in keeping with the context of the ordinance and then conclude the process by completing a separate vote that would allow, if
approved by the “corporate authorities,” for the transference of Utility Tax funds into the general fund as stipulated within the ordinance.

I would appreciate your review of this proposal and that a legal opinion is issued to the city council for their review and consideration of the guidance provided by you.

Respectfully,

Jim Wise

I wish to thank Jim Wise for his permission to post this. This is just one more reason why we need a change of leadership in Belvidere. We need more transparency and a more open form of Government so people in elected positions can be held accountable for their actions.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

 

Rory Peterson, what can I say that he hasn’t already said

Rory and I agree that Fred Brereton does not belong in office but make no mistake about this; Rory was not the sharpest tool in the shed when he was Mayor either.  So Rory would you like to be the Kettle or the Pot today?

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Check out Mayor Brereton’s My Space Page

Just when I thought I didn’t have anything to talk about, well here you go. I am doing my usual daily activities, reading all the papers, checking all the local news scrolls and reading up on the fights at the local pubs.

As I moved on and was looking up information on Mayor Brereton this morning and different things going on in the city I came across the Mayor’s My Space page.

Now I know I am old since I still heat up water for my bath over a fire, ride a horse to work and read by candlelight, but I think even I could have managed a better site with my quill and ink well.

This page makes me nervous about our future in Belvidere with Brereton at the helm. I am guessing that he doesn’t know how to make his page private or even more scary the fact that he might not even know he has this page. I rather doubt that since he was posting his re-elect Brereton motto all over the site, plus his breakfast and the upcoming debate. I am rather curious about his friends that have been added. I am also wondering if we have a person that out of touch with technology as our Mayor, how he can possibly bring jobs to our community that will help us compete globally.

I am posting the site, and you can decide for yourself. If nothing else I am sure you will get a kick out of this.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=45281788

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

What purpose does Silence Dogood serve?

To the author of the New England Courant.

SIR,

It is undoubtedly the Duty of all Persons to serve the Country they live in, according to their Abilities; yet I sincerely acknowledge, that I have hitherto been very deficient in this Particular; whether it was for want of Will or Opportunity, I will not at present stand to determine: Let it suffice, that I now take up a Resolution, to do for the future all that lies in my Way for the Service of my Countrymen.

I have from my Youth been indefatigably studious to gain and treasure up in my Mind all useful and desirable Knowledge, especially such as tends to improve the Mind, and enlarge the Understanding: And as I have found it very beneficial to me, I am not without Hopes, that communicating my small Stock in this Manner, by Peace-meal to the Public, may be at least in some Measure useful.

I am very sensible that it is impossible for me, or indeed any one Writer to please all Readers at once. Various Persons have different Sentiments; and that which is pleasant and delightful to one, gives another a Disgust. He that would (in this Way of Writing) please all, is under a Necessity to make his Themes almost as numerous as his Letters. He must one while be merry and diverting, then more solid and serious; one while sharp and satyrical, then (to mollify that) be sober and religious; at one Time let the Subject be Politics, then let the next Theme be Love: Thus will every one, one Time or other find some thing agreeable to his own Fancy, and in his Turn be delighted.

According to this Method I intend to proceed, bestowing now and then a few gentle Reproofs on those who deserve them, not forgetting at the same time to applaud those whose Actions merit Commendation. And here I must not forget to invite the ingenious Part of your Readers, particularly those of my own Sex to enter into a Correspondence with me, assuring them, that their Condescension in this Particular shall be received as a Favor, and accordingly acknowledged.

I think I have now finished the Foundation, and I intend in my next to begin to raise the Building. Having nothing more to write at present, I must make the usual excuse in such Cases, of being in haste, assuring you that I speak from my Heart when I call my self, The most humble and obedient of all the Servants your Merits have acquir’d,

SILENCE DOGOOD.

The New-England Courant, April 30, 1722

A debate on the Public Safety Building. As if that was our major problem in Belvidere.

Reason #1 why Fred Brereton should not be re-elected

The Mayor has completely lost touch with the citizens of Belvidere if he thinks
for one minute that the PSB is debate worthy at this point in our economy.

I think the Mayor should have chosen one of the topics listed below. A topic that affects our pocket books, and is closer to home. Most couples are struggling to make their car loans, mortgage payments, put food on the table, daycare, insurance, doctors appointments, school, clothes and sports their kids want to participate in. Yet the Mayor is going to insult us and use this time to explain why keeping the Police Department and the Sheriffs Department together is the hot topic.  This is his pet project and it’s not important to us the citizen’s of Belvidere right now.  This is not the topic people are discussing at their dinner tables right now.  People in our community can’t pay their bills and you want to tax us more.  That is not Smart Balanced Managed Growth.

Here are the topics that I feel are important to the Belvidere Citizens. Before we look at them I think it is important to preface my story with the fact that when I contacted the newspapers and TV stations to find out if any such debate would be happening, (I have been asking everyday ever since I suggested this on my blog) I was sent an Agenda for the Mayoral Debate on Thursday evening at 7:30 at Belvidere Central Middle School.

I have also learned that it was Mr. Wise who challenged the Mayor and made the request for a Lincoln-Douglas style debate. That being the case once the Mayor accepted the challenge, and he did, he, THE MAYOR, gets to pick the topic and he picked the PSB. I am outraged. I have gotten better topics from a drunken monkey.

Please take a look at the following. In my opinion I think the Mayor is avoiding the important topics, issues and concern of Belvidere and sticking with what he knows.

 What is the current Mayor and his administration is doing to create jobs?

 What are they doing for business retention?

 What are they doing to attract business?

 What are the plans for their Smart Growth plan? My favorite Oxymoron!!!!

 What are they doing as a city to be more business friendly?

 What are they doing about improving communications with other agencies in town?

 What are they doing to help are students complete globally for jobs.

 What are they doing to attract graduates from the 7 colleges that are near by?

 What are they doing to create a wireless downtown and catch us up to other communities?

 What are they doing about creating critical mass and making the downtown a destination?

I could go on but I think you get my message here and if you don’t I will try again. Let’s take a deeper look at why we need to separate those two buildings. Did we not learn anything from 911? Does Homeland security have recommendations on this? Did we ask?

Now any ding dong can go on line and goggle case studies about the pros versus the cons of keeping the departments together or separating them. But let me talk about why everything you need to know you learned in kindergarten.

Did your mother ever tell you don’t put all your eggs in one basket? Of course she did, and do you know why? Because it works that’s why. First thing is first. If you look at a ten year study you will find that it is not cheaper to keep the two agencies together. In fact over time it will cost the tax payers more money.

Let’s look at what it would do for the downtown if they separated. It would bring safety to the downtown. It would also bring people who eat lunch and would spend money in the downtown. There is plenty of parking in that lot next to the City Hall parking lot.

Why don’t they move the BOONE COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM to the BOONE COUNTY HISTORIC COURT HOUSE so they can have a bigger venue and more parking and hopefully increase attendance and get everything in one place and out of 6 different city building basements where the items are rotting? Maybe they can actually start making money instead of using our taxes with nothing to show for it. I think I see one school bus every three months there. Or maybe we could just dig another big hole and then have 4 parking spaces in it this time.

What would happen if there was a big gang riot, a huge jail break or a natural disaster and we have everything in one building? Then what, what do you do? Where do you go? Where do you store things. What if the buildings had a bad fire? As it stands right now they have 80% of their records on paper still not backed up electronically. Is that why they need more space? Yes, there are tons of boxes everywhere. Why is this stuff not saved in a electronic file and then backed up?

If anyone would like to challenge me on any of these issues I would love to hear from you and I hope to see everyone at the debate. If I can get the agenda released to me I will share.
Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Who do you think won the debate?

I can’t believe I missed Survivor for the Mayoral Debate…..

I went to the Mayoral debate last evening and I was not at all impressed by either candidate. The Mayor, Fred Brereton, was his usual slick self, and why not, he is used to being in this position and felt very comfortable telling people what they wanted to hear. It just made me angry that he was able to stand up there and act/pretend that he has done several things for this community.

I will agree that he did take over the office when it was in bad shape. He took over from who though, Rory Peterson who took over from who Pat Murphy? Or was it the other way around? (Who cares, it was a long time ago and it is time to move on) How hard could it have been to balance a budget? Basic check book skills could have fixed that. The only way to go was up I don’t think it could have gotten any worse. What astounds me is that Rory and Pat are running for office again and will probably be elected again. We as voters in Belvidere are the creators of our own problems because we keep electing them back in.

On to the debate:

Eric Wilson was delightful enough and kept things right on schedule, I was at least pleased with that. Mayor Brereton spoke first and said thank you to everyone and hi to all family members. That truly must have taken almost 2 minutes. I would have preferred that his spent his opening remarks on what was important, the voters and his actions. Jim on the other hand was clearly nervous and has not had the experience talking in public like Fred. Unfortunately his nervousness lead to him taking forever to get to his point of view on where he stood within this debate of the Public Safety Building. He should have just pounded the message Fred had his chance, if you want change and we all do then vote for me Jim Wise February 24, 2009. If you want another 4 years of the same then vote for Fred Brereton.

The Mayor spoke about the Public Safety Building and about how his decision was in the best interest of the public. Really? I don’t think so. The Mayor stated that the PSB has housed both entities since 1975 and that they have a shared expense and that was actually a savings to the tax payer. The savings amounts to the tune of 4 new police officers or deputies salaries a year. So is that 4 officers/deputies a year or over a period of 10 years, I’m confused.

The Mayor feels that if they are kept together there will be no duplication of records, and records would be easier to locate. Well if we got out of the Jurassic Period and put the records in an electronic format maybe they would be able to be located better. I hate driving by the PSB building and seeing stacks of paperwork and boxes in the windows. He also said transportation between the two would be easier and the communication between the two offices would be better because they are in one building. Again are we not in the 21st century, do we not keep records on the computer, do we not communicate via radio? His last point was that the tax payers do not loose out and it would be most effective if the police and sheriffs office stayed together. I am not buying into that theory and his position did not change mine.

The Mayor admitted at one point he was in favor of splitting the two buildings until he had an hour long conversation with Police Chief Jan Noble and Deputy Chief Dave Ernst. My point here is that an hour conversation hardly makes for his argument, how about spending weeks on it or at the very least a few days but an hour. I just don’t know about that.

Jim on the other hand talked about bringing us into the future; I just think he could have done a better job in his presentation. Clearly Jim is hungrier for the position but Fred has more practice with being a politician. Something we don’t need more of. Jim went on to say that we need to advance ourselves, be more progressive, and have more transparency. He noted that a Police Department downtown would increase safety and provide more money being spent downtown especially during the lunch hour. I do tend to agree with that statement. I enjoyed when he was talking about the police cars taking up space on the side street next to the PSB building. If you are driving on Main Street in front of the PSB building and when you stop at the four way stop sign it is almost impossible for you to see cars coming. There is always a police car parked in front of the yellow curb and they have even taken it a step further by putting up a sign that says the police car is allowed to be there. It is an accident waiting to happen.

Jim went on to talk about why we need to stop increasing the taxes in our areas when so many people can barely put food on their tables. Along those lines he tried to explain how it would actually cost less to build a separate facility then to keep one. Plus he said he would not increase our taxes. Unfortunately it just took him way too long to make his point and he was losing the audience. He reinforced what I stated in my posting earlier about the weather, gang trouble or anything that might destroy the building and with one building only where would we be then.

During the question and answer period from the public, Fred was asked about the money being taken out of the utility tax to pay for salaries for the street department. He slickly talked his way through that one by saying he was taking money out of the utility tax for salaries but instead putting the salaries need into the tax fund so they could pay them that way. What bothers me the most was went he went on to say basically it’s the same thing. I want to know if one way is legal and one way isn’t. Or is it that one way the council would have had to agree that there is a surplus in the fund for it to be allocated for anything else plus a super majority vote. Perhaps Fred knew that the councilmen wouldn’t have done that so he found a loop hole? You decide. Either way it sounds very unethical to me but I thought the question was a great one.

Jim answered the question but I don’t think he put it in enough layman’s terms for most of us to understand. I think he was actually trying to tell us that there is enough money in the budget right now and we don’t have to switch anything around. Fred then came back and said we our fooling ourselves if we think that and our reserves are for a rainy day and that rainy day has come. He mentioned that again after another question was asked of Jim on how he would have paid for the new building for the police department. Jim said he would have used the utility tax to pay for it. Fred went on to say that he already tried that but the council said no. That isn’t surprising when you look at our representatives that we voted in to be our Aldermen.

In the closing remarks both candidates sounded good, I do think Jim sounded like he wants the job more and Fred seemed very complacent. Jim highlighted that he wanted the opportunity to take the community forward and Fred seemed ok with telling the audience that things were just fine the way they are and just remain because we are getting better.

My opinion is that I believe in term limits and I don’t think anyone should get to hold an office longer than 2 terms. It is time for new blood, new ideas and changes. I have hope and we need change.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Will someone please make them stop?

Karen Schrader, Rory Peterson & Clinton Morris do not understand
the importance of a Public/Private Partnership

Yesterday as I was looking through last weeks Boone County Journal and Thursday’s Boone County Shopper I had to yet again endure the comments of Rory Peterson, Karen Schrader and Clinton Morris. I am so sick and tired of them pretending that they know what they are talking about and how they could do a much better job. You had your chance and it didn’t work and we need to move on. Wasn’t Karen and Aldermen at one time? I also thought that Clinton was an Alderman for Rory Peterson. We need new blood, new ideas, not the same old baggage that you seem to want to carry around forever.

What we don’t need is another group to come into office to replace the group that needs to get out of office. How smart would that be to replace the current Mayor and his click of friends with a new Mayor and her click of friends? That is not smart at all.

I would like to address the comment being made all the time by these 3 individuals. I am talking about the comment on the Buchanan Street project and the investment made by the City. First let me start by saying that these 3 people just don’t get it. They don’t get how important the downtown is to the overall community.

The Downtown is the Heartbeat of the community. If the heart stops beating everything else dies too. I hope I made that simple enough for them to understand, somehow I don’t think I did so I will continue.

Does anyone remember what that corner block looked like when the Buchanan Pub was there? I do, and I must say I am glad that it is gone. I am glad that those beautiful historic buildings were restored and that the wood that was boarding up everything is gone. Remember how half of the wood was painted the awful color and that huge metal duct work just hung over the side? It was an eye sore and now that street is beautiful. We have businesses in there and the children feel safe riding their bikes to the candy store. I guess Karen would not like to see that as our Mayor. Maybe she prefers that the corner bar stayed with the graffiti on it.

Ed Marx’s who owns those buildings took it upon himself to restore them. In doing so that means that the private dollar came first. Is everyone in the group following along? If only I had a ruler to smack some hands right now. Let’s continue; Fred did not squander anything. Fred can’t do anything unless council approves it. So with that being said the City then did the right thing and invested in our downtown. Should Fred get the credit for that? Absolutely not, it wasn’t his idea and it came up 5 years ago in council. Should Fred be blamed for the money being spent to add beautification to the downtown? No, he should not.

Okay I know I might have been going a little fast for those of you who just don’t seem to get it so let’s recap. A citizen has invested his own private money into restoring buildings in the downtown, created a few jobs getting the work done, and created a few jobs and businesses for others citizens who had a dream of owning their own business. Are you still with me? Next the city stepped up to the plate and invested the public dollar to show that they too have a vested interest in the downtown, the Heartbeat of our community.

Now what does this mean for us the citizens of Belvidere? It means that when Growth Dimensions bring corporate businesses to town to entice them to invest in our community so they can create jobs, pay taxes and so on, the Director will have a beautiful downtown (again the Heartbeat of our community) to drive them through. Maybe even stop and get a bite too eat.

Let’s look at the effect of that one block street to nowhere shall we. You have Buchanan Street re-developed; you have several more stores on State Street developed all by the same person. Next the other property owners started thinking that they should make there buildings look better too. So we have another private investment with Barr’s Flowers coming downtown, the Boone County Journal is now located downtown, Foot traffic increases in the downtown and the retail sales tax increases for that area. Isn’t that a good thing? Isn’t that the point?

Is it all starting to come together for you, is it making sense? That is why it is important for a public/private partnership. We are all stakeholders; we are all vested parties for the downtown and community. When Growth Dimensions is driving people around for a tour of our community so they can judge the quality of life we have here before they invest millions of dollars, you can bet that they want to see the Park Districts, the School District and the Downtown. A thriving downtown is a good sign of a healthy community.

Now again is Fred responsible for that, no I don’t think so. He fought most of the change and didn’t want to do anything with the downtown except on the Silver’s property. So it was the community who kept telling him the Downtown had to change. If he really cared about the downtown our community would still be a Main Street community but we are not. Instead we have the Mural Mile Association which makes no sense to me. I think Fred just needed to have is Neighborhood Director doing something.

Was the $600,000 dollar investment by the city worth it? Absolutely Yes. The downtown is not where it used to be and it is not yet where it needs to be but we have taken a first step. We need to keep moving forward. Not take one step forward and 2 steps back. We have been doing that long enough.

We need change and we need it now. We should be able to keep up with the surrounding communities but instead we are being left behind. We will continue to be left behind if Karen is elected into office with her old school thought on growth. We will continue to be left behind if Fred remains in office because we have 12 years of that to prove it.

So please join me in asking Karen Schrader, Rory Peterson and Clinton Morris to stop talking about things they don’t understand. Sadly they do not comprehend the importance of our downtown and they are hurting our community in the long run.

Make sure to read my posting on the Mayoral Debate as well. It is posted below.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Get out and vote on February 24, 2009

I wanted to share the e-mails that were waiting for me when I woke up this morning. They aren’t favorable towards me I must warn you.

I am including them because they should be seen, they are important towards our upcoming election.

I take no issue with people being upset with me and I am fine sharing the fact that a few people thought I was wrong with my opinion. Just remember it was only my opinion for that one evening. The debate was to short, Mr. Wise should have told that women who asked why he was gone over the last few years was because he was protecting this beautiful country we live in. This wonderful republic we live in.

From the beginning I have stated that I represent no particular party, but I have also stated that I believe that between the two men running for Mayor on the Republican ticket, I stand for and behind Mr. Wise. The only other person I have said that I would vote for and stand behind is Bob Cantrell for Township Supervisor. Everyone else is still wrapped up and entrenched in politics as usual. I find that sad and very scary for this community.

I hope that everyone gets out and votes on February 24, 2009 and takes a stand and says enough is enough.

WE WANT CHANGE!

Here you go

Silence,

I have been reading your blog for sometime and felt no need to comment until now. I thought that you liked candidate Jim Wise for Mayor. After your last posting I am not so sure anymore. I would like to tell you that I think you treated him unfairly because he was nervous speaking in front of people.

We need more people like Mr. Wise to take on the current administration and the way that things are done in this city.

I felt Mr. Wise did a great job of getting his point across and I made my decision to vote for him based on the debate.

I hope more people will do the same.

Sarah

Mr. Dogood,
I thought this website was about making a difference in this community. I was glad when I found a blog that didn’t cater to the born and raised of this community. I am tired of feeling unwelcome in this town, I am tired of feeling that because I moved my wife and kids here that somehow we are to blame for the problems in this community. Just because we are from a suburb of Chicago we the bad people.

3 Cheers for Mr. Wise for even taking Mayor Brereton on. Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

You can not put down the man for being nervous. You’re writing a blog without giving out your name. What does that mean?

I say we all stand together as newbie’s in this town and take it over. We can make it better, and a real place to call home. A welcoming community for everyone, Belvidere should be the melting pot of the region.

We have great citizens here in Belvidere from every background and they are never given the time of day.

Good luck Mr. Wise, you have my vote.

Richard Taylor

Silence, Silence, Silence…..

Shame on you, you owe Mr. Wise an apology. You were out of line and wrong. I thought he did a great job at the debate. If you think you can do better than why don’t you run for Mayor?

He took his time making points, not taking his time getting to the point. Mayor Brereton or Sir Brereton as some people refer to him, as been around for a long time. It is time we gave another person a chance. Karen Schrader isn’t making the cut either.

I enjoyed Mr. Wise the other evening, he sounded nervous sure but it is hard speaking in front of other people. I have been giving presentations for over 20 years and I still get nervous, you’re out there selling yourself and its damn hard. Give the guy a break; I don’t see anyone in this town willing to take Sir Brereton on.

My vote is for Jim Wise for Mayor. Fred stood up there behind that podium hiding something.  I just don’t trust him any longer.

Eric Stanley

Counting down to February 24, 2009. Have you made up your mind?

Let take another look at the candidates for the offices that are open one more time before I really start slamming them. Shall we? Oh let’s!!!

Let’s start with the Township and the three people that are running for Supervisor. I think we can all agree though that it is a wonderful life kind of feeling that Debbie Carlson isn’t running for Supervisor, although secretly I wish she wasn’t running for trustee either. OK, secretly is not true. I wish she wasn’t running at all and I hope she does not get re-elected. Has she ever brought anything to the table that has helped improve Belvidere’s quality of life? The correct response is NO little birdies.

I am also hoping that we can all agree that whoever is elected Township Supervisor should make cleaning out their website a priority. By that I mean put information on it that we need and take off everyone’s picture. What is that about? A whole page of them, no thank you. Oh and please can someone tell Debbie Carlson to stop with that god awful pose she has. She always looks like she is tipped over. Look at her picture and tell me you don’t feel the need to reach right in there and push her back up. It must have been senior picture day at the Township Office.

Moving on, let’s talk about my least favorite person Patrick Murphy. I would like to see a real resume and call for references. You shouldn’t just get to list every committee you served on that pads a never seen resume. What have you done? What difference did you make? Did you do a good job at being Mayor? If you did then Brereton wouldn’t be able to continue whining about what he inherited. BOO HOO! That makes a NO vote for Pat Murphy.

Well what can we say about Dana LaPier? Does anyone remember the last time Brereton had a Mayoral Debate. I do. Do you know who it was against? I do. It was Dana LaPier and he was clearly over his head. It was sad. In a nut shell I like the guy for disliking Brereton as much as I do but he has no people skills. I just can’t bring myself to vote for anyone who doesn’t dress like they have a purpose in life either. Does he not own one pair of dress pants? Come on you’re a reflection of our community and if you want to be paid for an elected office that dress like an adult not like your seventeen. That makes a NO vote for Dana LaPier.

Next we have Bob Cantrell. I like this guy. I used to love watching him at council meetings yelling at Brereton and the mess that silvers used to leave on Main Street. It was poetry in the writing. I find Bob Cantrell to be a true stand up guy. I think he is exactly what we need for the supervisor position for our Township. I have never witnessed Cantrell being in the political clicks either. That makes a YES vote for Bob Cantrell.

I can smell a change a comin…. It’s in the air. We need to vote the old guard out and let the new guard in and start making progress towards the future. Let’s cut the cord.

Tomorrow I will talk about the Alderman and all of the independents that I haven’t even see one ad for. Wouldn’t that be funny if they all got elected without running one ad?

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

My take on the Aldermen and a few other things

I just saw the Boone County Journal and inside was another ad to elect Patrick Murphy for Township Supervisor. Now I am wondering if anyone can help me. Where is Murphy standing and working on those signs? Please tell me that it is his garage or his friend’s garage and NOT THE TOWNSHIP BUILDING. I think we all know that if he was in the Township Building he would be in violation of the rules. It’s a big no no to use that space for yourself when it comes to anything that deals with an election. Is there someone out there that knows where he is standing?

Is that a Fred Brereton sign in Dana LaPier’s yard? Interesting, I have been at many, many functions where he has said some very harsh things about how Brereton runs this community. After all that is why Dana ran against Fred a few years ago, isn’t it? That almost seems like the Epitome of Hypocrisy. And that is who we want running our Township, I don’t think so.

As I am starting to write my opinion about the current Alderman and their challengers, I wonder how many of my readers have ever read the constitution. I witness our administration just taking away everything we have and they have forgotten that they work for us. I am saying this because things that directly affect you, I and us start at the local level.

In my opinion I do not think our current Aldermen listen to us and I have been given no reason to believe that the independents who are challenging them, will listen any better. So I use this blog as an outlet for my feelings and opinions. You may not agree with everything I write but I want you to think about this.

Our constitution enables us to have the power. We are supposed to tell our representatives what we want and then they pass it up the line. Well that has not happened in this community in a long time.

Again in my opinion the current Aldermen do not listen to us. We need to stand up and get them out of office. Unfortunately the candidates running against them aren’t any better. What shall we do? Can we all just write down Mickey Mouse or something?

Ward 1 David Deckert will be challenged by Clint Morris and Democrat Paul Ainley

David Deckert I think he has been useless since he has been on Council. He has not come up with
any idea on his own and has pretty much rubber stamped every thing that Brereton has
wanted to do. I have seen him ask questions that had nothing to do with the topic the
Mayor was covering.

Clint Morris is a former Aldermen of Rory Peterson and that in itself to me is scary. I believe Clint likes
to write about things in the paper he is ignorant about. Mainly the road to nowhere, Clint
would rather see the downtown look like it used to. Remember when it looked gang
infested? I do and this is much better and makes a difference for our quality of life. I
don’t think Clint understands that, in fact I am sure he doesn’t understand that. If Clint
doesn’t speak with Karen Schrader and Rory Peterson first I don’t believe he would have
anything to say.

Ward 2 Robert Bowely will be challenged by Rory Peterson

Robert Bowely was appointed to take the place of Jim Wise after he resigned. Bowely was also an Aldermen once before as well. He seems like a nice enough guy but frankly I think he is just another yes man for Fred Brereton and his old school ideas.

Rory Peterson is someone who, I think, just shouldn’t be allowed to run at all. We do not need someone on the council who just wants to argue. He reminds me of those people who always complains. There should be a new ordinance that says if you want to complain you have to also come to the table with an idea or solution to solve what ever it is that you are complaining about. You are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

Ward 3 Mike Chamberlain will be challenged by Laurie Anderson

Mike Chamberlain is another one who I think needs to go because all he does is agree with the Mayor as well. How many Aldermen do we need to pat the back of Brereton? Chamberlain talks a good game but never sees anything through has been my experience. I have yet to see him come to council and say hey, I have a revenue generator. No, he seems to just take up time on the TV whenever the council wants to increase our taxes. You can always count on Chamberlain to give you a reason why we need to pay more taxes. No thank you.

Laurie Anderson is someone I don’t know at all. I have never seen her or met her. My fear is that she is somehow connected with the click of Schrader, Peterson and Morris. I really hope not but time will tell. Mean while I will try to find out what I can.
Ward 4 George Crawford will be challenged by Jennifer Riley

George Crawford was someone I used to actually like, but I don’t think too highly of him since I drove by his house and saw the signs for the candidates either. I don’t think it is a good thing for the Chairmen of the Republican Party to put signs in their yard. Not if more than one republican is running. Bob Turner would have never done that. I truly miss him. That was a great man and politician, someone who these men and women should really hope to aspire to be. Bob used to always say signs don’t vote.

Jennifer Riley on the other hand is someone I know and I don’t want in office and I will not be voting for her. I just don’t care for people who like to go to council meeting just so they can get up in front of the podium so they can yell. I wonder if Jennifer and Karen talk about who’s going to yell about what. I just don’t think Riley has the experience for this job in the current situation of our economy. At least I have never seen anything that would make me believe that she has the experience to take our community to the next level.

Ward 5 Mark Sanderson

I have not seen or heard about a challenger for Mark Sanderson and that is sad. I think he is another one that has been in too long and now has become part of the Schrader, Peterson and Morris click. Does that mean he can’t think for himself either? I remember watching the video of a council meeting one night and the Main Street gal was trying to get the council to allow sandwich board sign downtown. Sanderson was the Aldermen who thought that was a terrible idea. I believe he actually thought that every merchant would want one, use one and what on earth would we do if the wind blew one up in the air and hit someone. Have you ever heard anything more ridiculous? No, I didn’t think so. Do I need to say more, hmmm no I think you get the picture.

Something I think every elected official should have to read and remember:
Amendment X (1791)
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Note well this: Anything not expressly granted to the Federal government is reserved for the States or the People. Although this amendment is very liberally interpreted, it is one of the tenets of the Constitution. This amendment is also known as the States’ Rights Amendment.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Jim Wise runs his Mayoral Commercials

Tonight I was watching TBS channel 40, and at 7:00 pm Men in Black 2 came on. As I have seen this show 45 times too many I got up to hunt down the remote control to change the channel. It was again lost and it took me a good 10 minutes to find it. Anyway as I was searching for the remote a commercial came on that had Jim Wise asking for your vote on February 24.

At first I didn’t know what to think. I mean it has been a long time since anyone has cared enough to spend the money to put an ad on TV for a Mayoral position. Once I got past the initial shock I had to think about what I thought of the commercial. It wasn’t your typical political ad for a local office. You didn’t see him there just sitting and making promises that he will never be able to live up to. So at first since it wasn’t what I usually see in those ads I immediately didn’t like his commercial. But since I still had no luck in finding my remote and I refused to switch the TV by hand, it’s a matter of principle. I spent a ton of money on this special universal remote and I was going to find it no matter what, so I kept the TV on TBS and saw his second commercial.

During my search I had time to think about the Wise for Mayor commercials. I found myself thinking, yes the commercials are different, but isn’t that what I have been writing about and saying we needed. Someone different, someone who can shake things up. So it wasn’t the typically ad, big deal, that’s a good thing. The ads caught my attention because they had flavor for a change but the ads kept my attention because they addressed things that are important to all of us. The School District and the infestation of gangs in our community were the gist of his ads.

Maybe this is the first step in politics NOT as usual. I hope so and we will soon find out what the rest of you think. At the end of the day though, it is important that you just get out there to exercise your right to vote. Maybe we won’t vote for the same people, I certainly hope you have done your homework and vote for the person who will make change. If you want to make a difference in this world start with yourself. Don’t complain about how things are around here and continue to vote the same people in over and over and over again, vote for change, and vote to make a difference.

 
Your Faithful Servant,
Silence Dogood

Just Call Me Roy says… “it’s time for a change”

Hey Silence,

It’s been awhile since I wrote to you but I having been following your blog faithfully. I have found it to be at times humorous, aggravating, and informative. I like the way you can stab at all my emotions. You must be female.

A recent responder to your blog made a comment that said he is a transplant from a Chicago suburb and he felt that they should take to community over and make a change. I whole-heartily agree. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE in this community. We need to wipe the slate and start anew. I also am tired of Fred Brereton’s way of doing things. I am tired of his spending practices where his Realtor friend keeps getting richer at our expense.

I also was in attendance at the recent mayoral debate. I thought that Mr. Wise did appear nervous, but, he made his point much better than Mr. Brereton. The mayor has perfected the skill of avoiding answering questions. A former alderman asked him some question about taking money from the utility tax to pay for some other department salaries. His response was something to do with balancing the budget and referred to the utility tax fund as a “rainy day” fund. That struck me very strange and I went out of my way to look into this. I strongly suggest to our current mayor to read the creation of this fund and what is was to be used for. No where does it say that it can be used for salaries. He is blowing smoke up our backsides.

A few words on the other candidates; I agree with you that Bob Cantrell should assume the Township Supervisor position. I have spoken to Mr. Cantrell on three occasions and this man cares. He has my vote.

Debbie Carlson should hit the road. She is only there to keep her name in the limelight. Murphy and LaPier (Laurel and Hardy) don’t deserve a comment.

In ending, I am going to say that it IS TIME FOR CHANGE in our community. Believe it or not, it is OUR COMMUNITY, not these politicians. I personally am going to VOTE AGAINST every incumbent and look forward to A CHANGE.

I also am tired of hearing about the “Block to Nowhere” referring to the Buchanan Street project. I visit the downtown on occasion and I feel that was one on the best improvements done to the downtown in years. I travel quite frequently in my job and I see many small towns and how nice they look. I always hoped that Belvidere’s downtown could one day be the same. Buchanan Street was a start. I only hope that it was not the end, no matter who our next mayor is.

One other thing, the old junkyard behind Sullivan’s, COME ON ALREADY!!!!!!!

Your faithful follower,

Just Call Me Roy

YES WE DID

To the Citizens of Belvidere

Today, February 24, 2009 is the day you can make change happen. Today is the first day of a new beginning, go and exercise your right to make a difference in our community. Enough is enough with the current Mayor.

While you’re trying to figure out where you can find a job, how you can feed your children or how you can pay your ever increasing power bills, Fred Brereton has decided to keep every city worker employed at the expense of fixing our city streets. I believe he wants to take money from the utility tax fund to pay for salaries and that is wrong. I think he should take it out of the savings account the city has.

The question now becomes, what are we gonna do about it? We the people, we have a responsibility to ourselves and our children and grandchildren. We need to make a change and it starts by going to the polls and saying no more, enough is enough. We can make a stand, set an example, and stop the politics as usual within our community.

YES WE CAN.

Go out and vote to make a difference.

Go out and vote to say we are not going to take this anymore.

Go out and vote to say you, the elected official, work for me, the public, the almighty. TAXPAYER.

Go out and vote in remembrance of the Boston Tea Party.

Go out and vote in remembrance of our Forefathers.

Go out and vote because you can make a difference.

YES WE CAN.

Your Faithful Servant,
Silence Dogood

Remember this when you go to vote today

When you go to the polls today I am asking you to remember this phrase from the Declaration of Independence. I am asking because if we want to make a change it starts with us. It starts with us using our right to vote as the perfect mechanism for taking a stand. If we don’t like the way our community is being run we are the only people who can change it. Make a difference today.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

For those of you who have been reading my site I have posted this phrase under contact me from the very beginning of my blogging efforts. This is what I believe in. This is the entire basis, foundation of our country. We have the ability to change the guard so lets do this.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Get out and Vote

Today is the the last day to make a difference in our community.  Pleasde go out and vote and voice your opinion.  Make yourself know, let them know that we are not gonna take it anymore.  It is we the people that have all the power.

VOTE FOR CHANGE, VOTE FOR A DIFFERENCE.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood,

So the black cloud continues to hang over our head

Thank you to everyone that went to the polls and voted. Fred Brereton will now face Karen Schrader in the general election in April.

I must say I am not happy about the results. I would have preferred the race to have gone the other way. I am now stuck with voting for a person I have no respect for.  For those of you who are happy about the results or did not vote, well, you made your bed and will now have to lie in it.

I do hope that this race woke Brereton up. Fred did not win by a large margin. In fact it was less than 100 votes according to the paper. I guess I am not the only one unhappy with the way this community is being ran.

I have not yet been informed about the township race.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

A clever joke before the storm

AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE PROBLEM

A cowboy named Bud was overseeing his herd in a remote mountainous pasture in California when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, RayBan sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the cowboy, “If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, Will you give me a calf”

Bud looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, “Sure, Why not”

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cell phone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.

The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses an MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes receives a response. Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the cowboy and says, “You have exactly 1,586 cows a nd calves.”

“That’s right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves,” says Bud.

He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.

Then Bud says to the young man, “Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf”

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, “Okay, why not”

“You’re a Congressman for the U.S Government”, says Bud.

“Wow! That’s correct,” says the yuppie, “but how did you guess that”

“No guessing required.” answered the cowboy. “You showed up here even
though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to
a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than me you
are; and you don’t know a thing about cows…this is a herd of sheep. Now give
me back my dog.

How Did We Get Where We Are Today?

Thomas Jefferson said the purpose of the Federal Government should be to deliver our mail, protect our shores and stay out of my business. So how did we get to where we are today with the government involved in damn ne ar every aspect of our lives, right down to deciding what kind of TV reception we will get

Your Failthful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Where oh where has the Republican Party gone

When I found out that Pat Murphy won the Township Supervisor I was sad all over again. I found myself wondering what happen to the Republican Party here in town. I took a drive all over town to see who put whose election sign in their yard. It didn’t do any good for Bob Cantrell or Dana LaPier to have Brereton’s sign in their yard. They both still lost. But it was amusing to see all of the people in town who always smack Brereton down have his sign in their yard, Percy Gordon, Dana LaPier, and the likes. Too funny and so hypocritical but it just figures. It seems to me that the people who won do the most sucking up. They just don’t really do much of anything but walk around and tell the others how great they are. I mean really how can Murphy screw up the city budget when he was Mayor (we all heard Brereton talk about what he inherited at the debate) and win the Township Supervisor position.

What bothers me the most though is what George Crawford did? Can someone please tell me how he took over as the Chairman of the Republican Party? Who is he and what has he ever done for us or this community? Is it just me or is it just a little bit of a conflict of interest to have the Chairman of the Republican Party sit as a City Council person? Yes, I know that Bob Turner was the Township Supervisor and the Republican Party Chair but he was Township and Crawford is not. Crawford sits with Brereton and votes with Brereton. He puts a Brereton sign in his yard. If you are the Republican Chair aren’t you supposed to remain neutral until the person is chosen by the people? There should have not been one sign in his yard until after we the people voted. Then as the Republican Chair he supports that person. I don’t ever remember Bob Turner doing that. He was very fair and had the respect of the people and he respected them. We need that type of leadership back again. We need a leader (Party Chair) for the young politicians to look up too. I think we should ask George Crawford to either resign as Republican Chair or he shouldn’t be allowed to hold a seat at City Council. I think Crawford is a follower and not a leader and is doing nothing for our party. It’s like watching a train wreck happen in slow motion.

Something to think about…..
Your Faithful Servant,
Silence Dogood

Stay tuned to see if I think Steve Schabacker is enforcing the city’s ordinances

Sounds like the Republicans in Belvidere

Jim Wise Fights Back

I have received another request from Mr.Wise to post something for him.  I have agreed to do so and I have every reason to believe that he must have read my post because I think we are on the same page with this topic.  Unfortunately I received 2 other emails from citizens who share my frustration but did not want to be mentioned by name but one was willing to share a video.

One of the more funnier things he did mention was going back to my earlier post and how a lot of people feel they are mistreated and trapped if they were not born or raised here.  They never feel excepted and I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing.  This person took a look at my youtube clip and then after reading some of my post sent me one that reminds him of Belvidere.

Remember things are the way they are in Belvidere because we allow them to be that way.  Take a stand and say what you believe in.  It is your right.  Here is the video from a reader and following is the letter from Jim Wise.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1119352258/bctid6407234001

“Is Belvidere like an episode of 1967’s The Prisoner?”

Silence,

Below is a copy of an email that I wrote to George Crawford the Boone County Republican Party Chairman and 4th ward alderman. In my email I addressed the unethical treatment that I received from himself and other members of the Republican Central Committee during the primary campaign leading up to the election of February 24. Mr. Crawford committed several violations of ethical behavior towards fellow Republican candidates (me). While the central committee chairman is typically expected to remain neutral towards candidates during the primary season until after the primary elections. Mr. Crawford flagrantly and publicly campaigned for an incumbent candidate and did not offer to me the same consideration or courtesy that he did for the incumbent, who was obviously his candidate of choice. If he is not able to conduct himself in a manner that is ethical, with integrity and honesty as the Chairman of a political party. I wonder if he is able to do so as well as an alderman of the 4th ward.

*********************************************************

George, I am writing to you to address the unethical and prejudicial treatment that I received from you and the Boone County Republican Central Committee during this past primary election.

Never, in all my years as a member of the Republican party in Boone County, Illinois have I been so disappointed, disgusted and discouraged by the actions of yourself and some members of the Republican Central Committee Staff.

From the very beginning of my involvement with the Boone County Republican party. It had been my belief that the Boone County Republican Central Committee’s primary duty and responsibility was to promote maximum participation among the citizens of Boone County in the electoral process of our local, state and federal governments.

Your actions and the actions of others under your watch has caused me to lose faith in your abilities to fulfill these duties and responsibilities.

During the entire campaign period you did not contact me once to offer your or the central committee’s assistance. Later, during the campaign, I organized, paid the expenses for and conducted a candidate debate for the benefit of the citizens of Belvidere. I contacted you prior to this event to inquire if the committee would be interested in hosting this event and you did not respond to my inquiry. A few days later after the debate, at the Lincoln Day dinner, a dinner which you hosted and is used to promote the Republican party and its membership, you allowed the incumbent to promote his campaign in front of the attendees’ but did not extend the same consideration or courtesy to me. It became apparent to me that you had made the determination to support the incumbent that I was challenging for the party’s nomination for the office of Mayor in Belvidere, Illinois. That is wherein my compliant lies.

Past committee chairman have withheld their support for one candidate over the other until after the primary election had been concluded. You did not maintain this previous practice. You promoted the incumbent over my challenge and set yourself about to work on the behalf of his reelection. While I will not beget you your right to support the candidate of your choice. Your lack of discretion in publically showing favoritism of one candidate over the other prior to the primary election has served to alienate many fellow republican’s including myself. In doing so you have caused irreparable harm to the Boone County Republican party.

I am inquiring with the leadership of the Illinois Republican Party as to whether or not there is an official avenue that I may pursue in order to register a charge of unethical behavior on your part. As it is, regardless if I am or am not able to lodge a complaint with the State party I will take this matter up with the Boone County Central Committee and the precinct committeemen.

It is my intention to have you removed from your post as the Boone County Republican Central Committee Chairman for your lack of discretion and flagrant violation of the ethics of fair treatment among political candidates.

Respectfully,

Jim Wise

C;

Chris Brown, State Central Committee Deputy

Jane Burrs, State Central Committee Deputy

Andy McKenna, Chairman

Enforcement of City Ordinances

Next week I am starting with the downtown and I have decided to take pictures of everything that is in violation of our city ordinances.  I am going to find out who is getting favors and who isn’t.  Next I think I will take pictures of some rental properties that City Officials own and I want to see how many violations are there as well.

After that I will move into other developments to see if the email I received about being harassed by the City are true.  I had a women email me and tell me that she is trying her best to get some work done on her house but being hassled everyday by the city.  Meanwhile I can name 5 stores downtown that are in direct violation of the sign ordinance and have been for over two years.

If your not going to enforce the law, then why have it?

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Belvidere Thruway

Here you go Becky, you should really see the whole movie.  This scene in particular was the scene I was referring to in my earlier post from a few months ago.  It’s true of Belvidere and it just keeps getting worse.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

I am not Jim Wise nor am I Rory Peterson

This small website has been publishing for less than a few months, but in that time it’s seen steady readership growth, and a fair amount of reader e-mail. I thought that I would take a moment to answer some of the questions that I’ve been asked. (As I publish pseudonymously, I ‘ll not publish the names of any readers.) Here are the paraphrases of questions that I’ve been asked, and my replies.

Q: Do you really live in Belvidere?
A: Yes, I am a long-time resident. I have been here long enough that, by any conventional reckoning, I have been here forever.

Q: Why do you want to embarrass/criticize the town?
A: Reform and growth begin with honesty, not whitewash and Potemkin villages. We have some great possibilities before us, but some of our fellow residents have been treated with outrageous cruelty and official indifference, lies, and excuses.

Q: You seem to ‘have it good,’ so why would you complain?
A: It’s no way to live, silent while others are injured. Thanks for noticing — I am citizen, resident, property owner, white, and educated. By the distorted view of some in this town, I should be contented, and quiet.

Q: What do you mean ‘toward a free and honest city?’ We’re free now.
A: We’re not the municipality and society that we should, could, and one day will, be. The lack of honesty takes a few forms: (1) officials disguise their real motivations, (2) use their offices to enforce ordinary regulations selectively, for friends and against enemies, (3) refuse to accept accountability for unconscionable or revolting actions, and (4) spread the message that this town belongs to a select, mostly town-bred group, not all residents.

Q: What do you mean by ‘town elite?’
A: That’s a good question, because even in our small town, there’s more than one person who’s part of the town elite, or town faction. Many of them, in fact, would hardly be considered elite at all, but they do have a significant influence here. Some are established, white-collar long-term residents. They’ve either been here a longtime, or forever, except for time away at school, perhaps. They’re established, if bit stodgy. Many consider themselves a true elite, but actually know little about the world outside, and are suspicious of change, and newcomers.

The second principal group is blue collar, with high school or tech school educations, and works in supporting jobs, either for the city or in town businesses. They gain their influence through occasional favoritism in their municipal jobs, through selection as pushovers on municipal committees, or through any number of predominantly blue-collar social organizations. Among these groups are most police officers, municipal workers, clerks in many town businesses, and the volunteers of the Fire Department. (The police and fire departments are blue collar organizations, and they think and behave like working class organizations. The fire department includes many working class residents who would otherwise have little status or authority except through membership in its fraternity.)

These two groups are not alike, except in the broad particulars that ultimately unite them: white, clannish, suspicious of others, ignorant of economics and business-standard practices, ill-disposed toward minorities, and determined that their views should prevail here perpetually.

Q: Do you work in Belvidere?
A: No.

Q: Why don’t you leave?
A: This is my home as much as anyone’s home, and I will never leave. I have written truthfully about our city, and I have only begun to do so. I’ve had solid growth in readership (although some may not admit that they’re readers, which tells you how close-minded others in town are), and I will begin a significant publicity campaign beginning this fall. (At this rate, though, I may not need one.)

Q: It makes me feel better that someone understands how I feel. How can I thank you for what you’ve written?
A: You just did, although you owe me nothing. I’ll keep typing.

Comment: …finally some one who tells it like it is!!!!!
Reply: Well, that’s it’s really not hard at all, but merely a recitation of what some some of the police, and others, have themselves said and written. It may sting the ears of some, but only because they’re so vain and imperious that that they feel themselves above ordinary public criticism and discourse. Having spent years heaping false praise on themselves, it seems almost unimaginable to them that someone would question their conduct in any regard. They lack even the smallest measure of humility or even, apparently, self-reflection. These are very ordinary people, who wish to be regarded as extraordinary, and will browbeat anyone who’ll listen into distorted versions of events.

Dear Mr./Mrs. Silence Dogood,

I have been watching your blog for a bit now and feel the need to inquire further.  First, let me say, don’t flatter yourself!  Posting under a pseudonym such as the likes of Franklin, Paine, and Madison DOES NOT bring you any closer to such a level of admiration or reverence.  Instead, you feel compelled to exercise your first amendment right anonymously, no differently than the fifteen year olds on Myspace that start a “Hello my name is Miley Cyrus” page.  What’s next?,  pictures of your imaginary self superimposed on Franklin’s physique.–get real.

If you are truly interested in “providing the citizens of Belvidere a fair politics blog…” in order to make a difference, might I suggest that you step out from behind your obnoxious pseudonym and do just that: provide a  FAIR politics blog.  The filth that spews from your mouth day in and day out  makes you sound like nothing more than a child talking big on his computer while mommy and daddy sit in the next room. Clearly, you lack anything that resembles a fair outlook on the politics of Belvidere.  Alternatively, you pick and choose those officials and candidates  (which you give your meaningless nod to) based on nothing more than the way a camera may have caught their head tilt…again, GET REAL!

So, while I might not be a treaty signing, document writing super-citizen like you, Silence Dogood, I do know that a way a person dresses, how they tilt their head, or how in depth their résumé may be is no measure of the good they have done (or are able to do) in our community.  I further implore you to exercise your 1st amendment rights in a matter different than the National Inquirer.  Future blog posts could include your actual ideas for improving the community we live in, instead of bashing the officials that have the drive and  ambition to make an actual difference beyond the world wide web.  Feel free to provide concepts that might help us all exercise our minds to new possibilities in Belvidere.  Feel free to be part of the solution, and not further the problem!  No one is perfect–just as our officials are not–but it takes a great person to continue to plug away at a solution even in the midst of naysayers that hide behind their computer and a fictitious pseudonym.

Reply:

One must wonder, as perhaps you do, what would inspire this website. Our beautiful city deserves better than it has received from its government, civic organizations, and long-time residents. We are over twenty thousand in number, but a few hundred short-sighted, self-interested citizens have led others astray, and by doing so leave Belvidere crippled.

Our municipal government is narrow-minded, with a poor grasp of economics, and clings to burdensome regulations that make Belvidere unattractive to businesses. We gain housing, but lose industry: a recipe for perpetual second-class status. Our economic development is less about a free market economy than about any number of empty municipal gestures.  We can have the Mural Mile Association put on a special event every week and still businesses would close and go elsewhere.

We are in the grip of a small, obstinate, and poorly educated local elite, that often would rather see the city sink under their control rather than for it to prosper free from their influence.

It is a local, town-bred elite that dislikes anyone that isn’t born and raised here.

It is a local, town-bred elite that dislikes, and fears, the many Mexican Americans in our community, and ignores, or distorts, the many positive contribution Mexican American workers make in our community.

And yet…and yet…this will someday be a BelvidereSovereignty, more prosperous, fair, and pleasant. Even these several challenges will be overcome, to the benefit of our community.

Q: Thank you for offering a resource for alternative opinions in our City. I, too, love Belvidere, but agree there are many improvements can be made, and many of them begin with our local government. I wonder why there is growth all around our City, but there is nothing happening here. Is it the “reputation” Belvidere is rumored to have? Thank you for the time you devote to the website. With the current political climate, I expect your readership will continue to grow:

A: No, thank you for visiting belvideresovereignty, and for your kind words. We can build a new and better reputation, but only through genuine reform. When we are open and fair, we will be happy and prosperous. We were this way once, and we will be this way again.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Some additional remarks

On the idea of refusing to respond to anonymous or pseudonymous criticism:

There may be some who can credibly and consistently contend that anonymous or pseudonymous criticism does not merit a response –

The idea of refusing to respond to anonymity or pseudonymity is not a credible refusal on principle – it’s a refusal based on self-interest.

Let’s be clear though — there is always a response: to change, to stay the same, or to act indirectly. Everyone knows this, and from the first instances of political criticism in America – or anywhere else – these three responses have always been available, and at least one has always been taken.

Belvidere is no exception. Quite the contrary – it’s likely a case type of the third response.

On the idea of using social pressure to silence criticism:

There are, however, two groups who argue against truly free speech, for different reasons. The first group comprises those in this town who like the position that they have, and feel that they’re entitled to special consideration. There’s a belief some people have here, that position justifies, excuses, and entitles. They think and act situationally — if they are so-and-so, then they should be trusted, and they are entitled. I reject this view. They are justified, excused, and entitled only through law and morality, not based on an appeal to their status. When the town faction acts, they act first and foremost based on status — they ask and expect trust based on who they are, or what they claim to be.

Their status is unimpressive to me. It should be unimpressive to any resident and citizen: they are just people, neither more nor less. I can be neither smooth-talked nor cajoled into support for what I oppose. I could never be co-opted onto a board, commission, etc. I lack for nothing that those I criticize could give me; the tradition of which I am a grateful inheritor gives me more than they could take. They ask that speech be curbed, but they would never curb their actions in return. In any event, my speech — and yours — is a right, yet their actions are often in disregard of others’ rights. We could never have a fair trade: some would sacrifice what liberty allows in exchange for others’ ceasing a disregard of their fellow residents’ rights. That’s the worst possible bargain.

They stand on local status as entitlement, and that’s why the exercise of speech rights is so disturbing to them. One would think that Belvidere were a small, corrupt island in the middle of nowhere, for all the difference it makes to those who oppose mere speech on the basis of their inflated sense of local self-importance. They don’t have a meritorious position; they have a mistaken view of themselves and of the rights of others in our city.

Which brings me to this comment;

I think example #1 of self-importance is:  Patrick Murphy driving around town in his SUV with Patrick Murphy, Belvidere Township Supervisor plastered all over it.  I think if he truly cared about the people in the Township and not so much about self promotion he would have a Township phone number listed or the website address listed.  He has neither, just his name and title.  What message does that send to us, the citizens?  Are you telling us your approachable, that we can contact you about anything at any time or do you just want to let us know who you are?   (I hardly believe it’s a marketing tool for the words “vote for” are missing)

I think example #2 of self-importance is: My comments about Ms. Carlson and her picture on the Township website, well it strikes me as odd that the Township needs anyone’s picture.  Or for that matter why we need the township.  However, that will be another posting.  Does the County Board or City Council have pictures of their members posted on their websites?  No, they do not.  Take all of the pictures down and replace that page with information that we can actually use.  Yes I mentioned how she was sitting in the picture, big deal.  I didn’t say anything about how she looks, she’s an attractive women.  My point was the fact that the Township Trustee’s have the nerve to post their pictures period.  I find it ridiculous at best and I think they are self promoting the validity of being a Trustee.

And so on…..

Many years ago, Bernard Bailyn wrote a masterwork on the intellectual atmosphere of pre-revolutionary America entitled, Ideological Origins of the American Revolution. That book was was the winner of both the Pulitzer and Bancroft prizes. In that work, and in other studies since, Bailyn shows the power and use of pamphlets — often anonymous or pseudonymous — in shaping opinion in favor of independence. Pamphlets played other roles, too: many were small collection of poetry or religious tracts.

I am quite sure that the objects of criticism in these pamphlets dislike them intensely. So be it; they were part of tradition of free speech on this continent that continues to this day.

Naturally, local officials despise these blogs, and consider them an affront. How dare someone write these things? Often they try (unsuccessfully, of course) to suppress the independent commentary, or bemoan its pseudonymous nature, or smear those who write these blogs.

America has returned to her pamphleteering tradition, in a new, electronic form. This form will not go away — it will surely evolve, and grow more robust.

I am sure that this makes life less convenient for public officials who formerly relied on a few complaint local newspapers and their small circle of stodgy, uncreative, reactionary supporters. Those few want their old, easy world back again.

It’s not coming back.

One last point: the only line of advance is forward, by embracing the full and rich constitutional tradition of our beautiful country. I am just a common person, but many great people have committed themselves to free commentary undeterred by criticism, personal attacks, etc., etc. Great libertarian heroes, for example, Paine and Mencken, were attacked in all manner of ways. (I am religious where Paine was lukewarm, and Mencken cold, but they are no less admirable as models of free expression.) They believed in what they were doing, kept doing it, and didn’t care what critics thought.

They grew more vigorous over time, not less so. Those who do this sort of thing enjoy it, and prefer the heat of the kitchen. Publishing like this is a romance with both the American and American libertarian ways of life.

Anyone can embrace this way of life, and in doing so, become confirmed in the effort, and better for it. Through blogging, one becomes more American, by drawing closer to the heritage of free expression — attributed, pseudonymous, or anonymous, that America guarantees to all.

Some may dislike these rights, but those who oppose them truly oppose the heritage of the country they profess to love.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Who will be better for Belvidere, Schrader or Brereton?

Both of these people have told us they know how to plan for the growth of Belvidere, in their opinion of course. My question becomes can they work with everyone to do so and do either one of them know what is really best for us?

Here is my opinion,

Government Planning:

Planning in this context refers to government planning. It’s indisputable that people can, and should, plan certain affairs. Objections to planning are not objections to mere human action and design — they are objections to human action through design where a market could operate. Neither private list-making, nor calendar-scheduling, constitutes planning, in any event. Planning in this context refers to human action and design of politicians, officials, and bureaucrats.

(By the way, when I discuss planning, and planners, I am not referring to a single person or position. It’s a role and disposition — held by more than one in and out of government — that I’m describing.)

Planning to Compete:

It’s also true that some level of planning is necessary to adopt basic laws of contract, or other laws that describe the rules of the game. That’s not what’s at stake in the objections to planning. That’s merely planning to compete; it’s planing to produce an outcome that’s the disputed matter. Planners seeking a result are by nature utopian: they contend that they’ll create a better world by design. Those advocating a spontaneous order have no fixed result in mind — we’ll not seek to engineer a result, as we believe it can be done neither well nor fairly.

That’s why — when someone contends that a planning group is the arbiter (not mediator, but arbiter) of the community’s values — that libertarians find that bold statement undesirable and more than a bit arrogant.

Planning Characteristics:

Government planning has a few simple characteristics: it is human action, by design, involving regulation of property that politicians or bureaucrats themselves did not earn, and property about which they are less familiar — by sheer circumstance, proximity, and often skill of acquisition — than those who did earn it. The public nature of government planning will attract a greater notice, and by consequence a greater potential for special interests and special pleaders, than private activity. The planner will be convinced — if acting sincerely — that he can decide about the property’s use better through design than through the operation of a market.

It is on this point last point — about the better use through planning than through a market — that the dispute against planning lies. Objections to planning, and in favor of a spontaneous order — have two main, connected components: planning is less efficient (its many conceits notwithstanding), and planning reduces the scope of individual freedom.

Markets:

A market, by the way, may be described variously as simply a market, an emergent phenomenon, or a spontaneous order. These fancy terms do not mean the same thing, always (and are used variously by different people). No matter: the market forces that I am describing really mean forces that are the result of human action, but not design. An engineer designed your car, but our language did not involve by design. We speak the language, and use it intelligibly among ourselves, without a designer. We do not have a Department of New Words, yet new words enter our common language every day.

Limits and Comparative Advantages:

Markets will not develop where there is only one actor, or where the is no desire for common activity. One ties one’s shoes alone, by individual skill and action — that’s not a market matter. (The division of labor’s not that specialized.) Nor do I even remotely believe that markets are perfect, or will work only in circumstances or perfect information, or work perfectly in each and every case. It’s only necessary that they work better, when conditions are suitable, than government planning.

We are convinced that no number of people, however well-intentioned, intelligent, and educated will be able to design so well and so efficiently as a spontaneous order without design. That’s why we contend that its merely a conceit — well-intentioned in America, detestable in extreme forms abroad — that the planner can manage so well as a market.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Roy says No to Exploitation

The primary election is over,but, I am not.
I just saw a commercial for the Jack Wolf car dealership. I was appalled.
The commercial states, “Let Jack Wolf Rebuild America” and “Jack Wolf Has A Stimulus Package” with “Stimulus Pricing”
Give me a break. Jack Wolf is just trying to sell inferior cars that struggling America cannot afford to keep running on our American roadways. I find it very insulting that he would even try to use America’s financial dilemma to sell his cars. Why doesn’t he write a letter to the manufacturers that he represents and tell them to build quality and not quantity.

On another note. Just a word to other “Silence” blog readers. “Silence” is just a very, very, concerned citizen that realizes that our town is going downhill due to the personal agenda’s of the current administration and does not feel that being “Silent” is the way to go. I
agree. I applaud them.

Respectfully,

Just Call Me Roy

Brereton and Schrader square off

The next meeting, of the (BCTA) Boone county Taxpayers Association will be held on Thursday march 26, 2009, at the Belvidere Township Hall on Fairgrounds Road. Speakers will be Mayor Brereton and Challenger Karen Schrader.

The (BCTA) has decided to host a Mayoral Candidate Forum, March 26, 2009 from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Belvidere Township Hall on Fairgrounds Road.

This should be interesting. There is nothing more that I enjoy than watching people trying to convince others that they have our best interest at heart.
Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

It is sad that these 2 are our only candidates for Mayor

I believe strongly in growth for Belvidere and the importance of attracting new businesses to our city. I don’t think I can say the same for Sir Brereton or Karen Schrader.

If it weren’t for the efforts of Growth Dimension’s, I don’t think that our community would have experienced any economic development during the 12 years that Sir Brereton has been in office. Yes, for those of you who say well that is why we give money to Growth Dimensions, we have a contract with them for economic development. Correct we do, but I think that our Mayor should understand that process of how to have smart growth if he is going to take all the credit for it. Especially during an election year when he is going around saying look at what I inherited and what I have done.

Karen Schrader on the other hand is way off base if you ask me regarding economic development. I have heard her comments about how her administration will be open and will inform the public when a developer is in town and looking at Belvidere as a potential site for a residential, commercial or industrial development. What was she thinking when she made a comment like that? Making such a comment leads me to believe that Ms. Schrader knows nothing about the free market and how it is intended to work. A developer will never come to town and just be an open book. These people have private businesses that compete against one another and they want to be the first in the community. Both Sir Brereton and Ms. Schrader are of the mindset that over regulation is the best way to control growth in our community. Excessive regulations and restrictions on economic development prevent a free market from being established within our community. An absence of a truly free market in Belvidere means that Town B will swoop in grab up our missed opportunity and say, “come to our town” and there they go. Now, Town B has the money to pay for new roads and schools and we are again left behind wondering why we have no growth, no revenue and higher taxes.

I am also concerned about the recent exchanges between Sir Brereton and Ms. Schrader. Ms. Schrader is saying that the Mayor is not spending taxpayer’s money correctly and also not reporting it correctly. On some of the items she listed I tend to agree with her. I agree with her about City Hall. Ms. Schrader states that the New City Hall cost $2.5 million. Sir Brereton fires back with a – no it didn’t – and says that it only cost the tax payers $1.6 million. But, the City financial officer says – if you add the interest owed then the total is $2.1 million. When you ask for the numbers from City Hall you will get a different answer from everyone that you ask.

Its behavior like this that makes us, the citizens, question the transparency of this entire administration. If everyone remembers there were statements put out there from Mr. Wise about how Sir Brereton spent your money. Are those comments not being disputed? Was what Mr. Wise said true then, or does it no longer matter since he is no longer a candidate? Does the Mayor think we are stupid and that we wouldn’t question something like this? So the total spent was $2.1 million and not $2.5 million, but more importantly not $1.6 million. The fact is we would have never known the difference if it weren’t for a few nosy citizens asking a few annoying questions.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Is crime really dropping?

Crime	2008	2007
Homicide	0	0
Assault	333	312
Burglary	101	95
Larceny/Theft	488	527
Motor Vehicle Theft	23	34
Vandalism	690	584
Narcotic/Drugs	290	213
DUI	257	257
Total	2182	2022

These stats come from the Rockford Register Star article about how Belvidere is lowering the crime rate.  You have to click on a special link to see the chart.  When you do there is also a graph.

My question is, have the crimes really gone down or are the people committing the crimes just doing different crimes?  We have assaults that went up by 21 and burglary is up by 6.  Larceny/theft along with Motor vehicle/theft is down by 50.  But vandalism is up by 106 and narcotic/drugs are up by 77.  Why is everyone talking about crime going down.  If you click on the link below it will bring up the tables for you.

http://www.rrstar.com/belvidere/x1959826368/Belvidere-sees-crime-rate-fall-despite-growing-population

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Larry, Moe and Curly are at it again….

Well I opened the Boone County Shopper to look through the ads and boy did I find them. It’s unfortunate that I can’t believe them.

Political advertising is

Advertising whose central focus is the marketing of ideas, attitudes, and concerns about public issues, including political concepts and political candidates. The essential task of political advertising is to gain the confidence of the people for their acceptance of ideas and, in the case of political campaign advertising, to influence their vote. Political advertising differs from commercial advertising in that the product is a person or a philosophy rather than goods and services, and, in addition, the advertising objectives must be met within a specific time frame. Also, political advertising carries a moral implication, because the results have potentially far-reaching effects on the population at large. Political advertising raises many controversial social questions concerning the funding of political campaigns, the truth or reality of political claims, and the likelihood of slanderous or libelous claims made by political candidates.

Let’s start with Rory Peterson again. Clever idea putting your ad in a cut out form, I learned how to do that in kindergarten, along with everything else I needed to know for the rest of my life. I think the ad lacks substance and it’s the same old song and dance that he has been trying to sing for months now. The problem I have right now is listening to a guy try to tell us about how bad our current Mayor is doing, (as if we didn’t really know that) but if you look through the records while Rory was in office he couldn’t and didn’t do any better. Does that seriously escape Rory, what a mess he put this city into? And what, are we somehow supposed to forget that and just vote him back into the council.

Do you know what else I learned in Kindergarten? I learned that history repeats itself if you’re not careful. Why would we make that mistake again? Burned once shame on Rory, burned twice shame on us. The real kicker is how everyone keeps talking about this one block street to nowhere, its funny how that one block has probably seen more foot traffic, retail sales tax generated, and families than our own Boone County Historical Museum. That Museum sees more of my tax dollars than the Buchanan Street block and where is my ROI for the Museum Rory? Can anyone answer that question, or if you do, you know you will have to say something about how and who is running it as the problem and we wouldn’t want to do that. Let’s just allow it to suck up more of our tax dollars instead. God forbid the place be ran like a business and if it isn’t making a profit and making visible, tangible differences then changes have to be made. Including personnel.

Next I read the 2 page spread from Karen Schrader. It was impressive how she stated that she was born and raised here in Belvidere. As if that somehow makes up for lack of education in Public Administration. Did I miss something in that article or is it the fact that she is a mom, grandma and pet lover that makes her qualified for Mayor. I don’t like to be insulted and I hope the rest of you don’t either, but I am wondering how it is that Karen knows what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck. She has a nice full time job, probably with benefits, but I am not positive about that.  Isn’t her husband a retired firefighter again with benefits? How is that even remotely close to knowing what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck? Tell that to a family who had to go on welfare and has no health insurance and who you don’t want coming to a food pantry in your neighborhood.  Are you embarrassed to have them in your neighborhood for fear of your property value going down?  Or what would you say to a  family that makes too much money to get help from the state to pay for medical health care but still can’t pay their gas bill?  Believe me, I don’t like Brereton any more than most but at least he doesn’t pretend to be poor and act like he knows what most families are going through. He’s wealthy but he doesn’t rub it in our face, that falls to the one wearing the full length mink coat during the winter parades. However Schrader please don’t insult us and pretend you know what it is like to wake up scared every morning not knowing how you will get through the day.

What are her qualifications to be Mayor?  By what the ad said and if you go by that principle, than I should be able to fly a plane.  I mean I fly in one all the time and I know what I want my flight to be like. So there you go. She is at many council meetings unpaid, and voicing many concerns that we all share so she is more than qualified than be Mayor, right? Wrong!

Let’s go over what Karen did that was for the betterment of us all. So she helped defeat the Mayors push to rezone the old St. Joseph Hospital that would allow for a food pantry. What?  Didn’t Karen say that she understands what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck, so why wouldn’t she want a food pantry in her neighborhood?  Would she have to look at welfare recipients excepting food because they can’t make ends meet? I volunteer at the food pantry and grateful to be part of such an amazing team that goes out of their way not to embarrass the families that have to come there all of a sudden. In a community this size we should have one food pantry at St. Joe’s and one downtown. There is no shame in that. The shame lies with a person who says she knows what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck but doesn’t want the reality of it rubbed in her face.

Next she said she supported the resident’s objections to the rezoning of the Huddle property for a Walgreen’s. Gee let me thank her for that. I enjoy driving by the Huddle in its current condition so much more than a Walgreen’s that the Plan Commission could have made look lovely with a conditional use permit. The boarded up doors, broken glass, weeds and oh lets not forget the neighbors who never clean up their yards. Wow that is so much better than a business that would generate a retail sales tax for the city that needs money. Yes, that is what I was thinking as I drove by the Old Huddle at 11:30 at night 2 days ago on my way to Rockford to the Walgreen’s to get my daughter more medicine for her cold. I am so happy I gave Rockford my sales tax when we need it here in Belvidere.

She also supported fellow citizens in the Mayor’s idea to replace Life Line Ambulance with another. Isn’t that called free market? The city goes out to bid and we choose the one that fits in our budget in an economy that is really bad and a city that again needs money so our taxes can stop being raised.

Schrader says she has no conflicts of interest, really, are you sure? She also states that she has the experience and knowledge and vision of how City government should work because she sat on City Council. Again I have sat in a seat on an airplane for 3,482 times. It doesn’t mean I know how to fly the plane. Oh and I have eaten Crab 416 times but I still can’t cook it.

Where is the real experience in Risk Management, Budgets, Personnel, Business Plans, Marketing, Grant Writing, Taxes, Unions, Contracts and Economic Development? I don’t want you to bring back the government in your way to the people. It is not 1948 anymore and it will never be that year again. We need someone in office who understands the current situation and how to grow correctly within it.

Lastly I will discuss Clinton Morris, who I see has another clip out coupon in the Shopper. I wonder if the two of them (Morris and Peterson) got together to design this form and discussed this type of marketing. I wonder if Peterson, Morris and Schrader get together to talk and strategize. They all sound similar in their ads. But that wouldn’t happen, Karen has said she doesn’t do things like that; she has no special interest other than us, the COMMON citizen. How sweet I think I’m gonna cry.

As far as Clinton is saying, I think the ad sounds like we don’t have commercial growth here because of our utility tax. Are you sure?  Whenever I read the papers it sounds more like the incompetent council putting up more restrictions and regulations and therefore the businesses never make it to the negotiation table.

I can agree with Morris on the increase of the salary for the Alderman. That should never have happened in this economy. Other communities have taken on freezes but not ours. No they get to show up wearing anything they like, smelling like stale beer and vote themselves a raise.

Clinton however was an Alderman when Rory was Mayor so that kinda scares me too. Were all three of them (Peterson, Schrader, and Morris) working together back then and now they want a second chance. So if Karen, Clinton and Rory get together to discuss things how is that any different from what Brereton does with his friends.

Something to think about,

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

New Blog for Jim Wise

I received an e-mail from Mr. Wise to promote his new blog.  Please feel free to post comments on his site and every other site that allows you the chance to speak and open up.

His link is listed under Blogroll and is called Belvidere Politiks

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood,

Why do some have to obey the law while others do not?

I stated in an earlier post that I was going to start taking photos of businesses downtown that seem to be exempt from having to follow the sign/awning ordnance.

Now it is my understanding that permits are not transferable.  So this business TU Y YO/You and Me Beauty Salon is on violation of the sign ordinance.  Take a look at this picture.  This awning is too big for this window and has been like this for over 3 years now.  The rest of us have to go to  City Hall and fill out a permit and pay money.  This business was allowed to move their awning over from their old business.  On top of that the entire awning is covered with lettering.  Is anyone going to go to this business and make them follow the same rules that the rest of us do?  Don’t we have someone on the city payroll that takes care of this?  Or do we need to transfer more money around from the budget to pay for salaries.

Why do we have ordinances in place when they are not enforced?  Or are they are only enforced when Schabacker wants to enforce them.  Check out the photo and let me know your thoughts.  You can clearly see that the awning extends past the length of the window by a good two feet.  Check back for the updates as I have several more coming.

ARTICLE 10.  SIGNS

Sec. 150.1001.  Purpose.

The purposes of these sign regulations are: to encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication; to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and the city’s ability to attract sources of economic development; to encourage signs that are compatible with their surroundings; to minimize the possible adverse effect of signs on nearby public and private property; to improve pedestrian and traffic safety; to enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign restrictions.

(Ord. No. 801G, § 3, 3-6-06)

Sec. 150.1002.  Goals.

The standards, procedures, exemptions, and other requirements of this chapter are intended to establish a permit system to allow a variety of types of signs in commercial and industrial zones, and a limited variety of signs in all other zones, subject to the standards and permit procedures of this chapter; to allow certain signs that are small, unobtrusive, and incidental to the principal use of the respective lots on which they are located, subject to the substantive requirements of this chapter, but without permits; to provide for temporary signs in limited circumstances; to prohibit all signs not expressly permitted or provided for by this section; to provide for the enforcement of the provisions of this section.

(Ord. No. 801G, § 3, 3-6-06)

B.   Canopy sign. Any sign that is part of or attached to an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area. Includes both fixed and movable awning signs. Content shall be limited to name and/or logo of the establishment utilizing the canopy. Letters and logos shall be permanently mounted and flush with the surface of the canopy, and shall not protrude above, below, or beyond the sides of the canopy. Canopy signs five inches or less in height s hall not be counted against total permitted area (or number).

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

A Little Gun History

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control.
From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
——————————

In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
——————————

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
——————————

China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
——————————

Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
—- ————- ————-

Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
——————————

Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
—————————–

Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
——————————

It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own Government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars. The first year results are now in:

List of 7 items:

Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent.
Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent.
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!
In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and criminals still possess their guns!

While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed
drastically upward in the past 12 months, since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.

There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY. Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort, and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society of guns. The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove it.

You won’t see this data on the US evening news or hear politicians disseminating this information. Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens.

Take note my fellow Americans, before it’s too late!

The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson.

With guns, we are ‘citizens’. Without them, we are subjects’.

During WWII the Japanese decided not to invade America because they knew most Americans were ARMED!

The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.

SWITZERLAND ISSUES EVERY HOUSEHOLD A GUN!
SWITZERLAND’S GOVERNMENT TRAINS EVERY ADULT THEY ISSUE A RIFLE.
SWITZERLAND HAS THE LOWEST GUN RELATED CRIME RATE OF ANY CIVILIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!

IT’S A NO BRAINER! DON’T LET OUR GOVERNMENT WASTE MILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE ALL LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AN EASY TARGET.

Daily Laugh

Enjoy

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Daily Laugh

Sign Ordinance Fairness

I have been receiving emails asking why I am attacking the city and the downtown businesses regarding the signs/awnings owners have up to promote their business.  People are also asking if I am over stepping my bounds and infringing on the business owners first amendment right.  I am also receiving mail in regards to color choices that people use on their businesses and properties and why we can’t make them change as it is hard for some people to look at.

First let me say that I for one do not mind the signage/awning on any building.  I don’t care how you want to advertise your business, I fully support any measure.  My problem, and why I  started this series, is again with the city having ordinances on the books which they do not enforce.  Small businesses spend a ton of money with permit fee after permit fee.  Then a few businesses come along and they get away with everything under the sun.  There is a lack of consistency in this administration.

It goes back to that old saying it is easier to say I am sorry rather than I didn’t know.  There is favoritism and either enforce on an equal basis or remove the ordinance.  However the several questions that have been asked of me need to be dealt with in a more legal answer and my answer might help explain why I take issues with the city and call them not so business friendly.  Too many restrictions for a mom and pop store to come to town with the current ordinances on our books and my hope is that someone take a look at them and change them to reflect the current conditions economically.

The questions I have been receiving are understandable, as First Amendment law includes aspects of expressive conduct.  The law’s ever-evolving, but the question about paint color is one that one can answer confidently.

First Amendment protections cover different forms of speech, and some types of expressive conduct.  I’ll describe a few different types.  The most obvious form of protected speech involves political speech, about public issues or topics.  There is no question that political speech is protected under the First Amendment.  Political debates, commentary on public issues, laws, policies, etc.  These protections are the core of First Amendment freedoms.

Although there are theorists who contend that the First Amendment was intended, and should cover no more than political speech, they are in a distinct minority in America.  (Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork would be a famous example of someone who holds this view.)

Even in cases of purely political topics, speech can be regulated to prevent content that is defamatory (an extremely hard standard to meet in political matters), or without regard to content to limit speech in time, place, or manner (a community can impose reasonable limit when marchers can march to prevent congestion, etc., but cannot do so based on the content of their message).

A second category of protected speech includes literary and other works that do not address political topics.  An example would be the right to publish a novel about life on farm, or at a carnival, that had no political content.  These topics would also be protected.

A third category involves expressive conduct, often meant to include a political message.  Flag burning would be an example.  Although flag burning can be regulated to prevent fires or injury to the public, flag burning is not unconstitutional.  There’s both a message and conduct involved, but neither is categorically unlawful.

The examples from the emails involve aesthetic expression that both conveys a taste or preference, and involves conduct.  Unfortunately, First Amendment law is clear that rights of free expression do not prevent communities from imposing design and color requirements on properties.  These requirements may be a matter of either (1) private agreement as in a subdivision or condominium association, or (2) politically imposed by a state or municipality, either has part of planning and zoning regulations, or from a special designation like that of an historical landmark).

Regulation is easiest in cases involving commercial properties.  Commercial expression has fewer protections that political or non-commercial speech, and commercial expression like the exterior of a building, in color or style, has almost no First Amendment implications.   (Please note that churches or synagogues are not considered commercial buildings for First Amendment analysis; a community would not be able to prevent any display of a cross or Star of David on a church or synagogue without multiple First Amendment challenges.)

That’s why even large commercial enterprises, like Wal-Mart, have to bow to aesthetic conditions from small towns.  If a municipality insisted on a set of aesthetic standards, and applied them fairly and consistently to all applicants, even a larger corporation would have to acceded or abandon the development.  (The corporation could threaten to abandon, or litigate, and either threat would likely produce a compromise.  Still, if the community insisted, they would likely prevail, if they were willing to defend a fairly imposed set of aesthetic standards.  Almost all communities come to a compromise with large merchants over aesthetic standards.)

Since some corporations dislike being told that they must modify traditional colors or styles that consumers easily recognize, there are corporate efforts to find federal laws on which they can rely to trump state or local regulations.  It’s telling that First Amendment law is not among those federal laws that aggrieved corporations will consider.  I have attached a link to an article about how desperate corporations are considering federal trademark law to prevent municipalities from mandating local alterations to the typical design of their buildings.

http://www.law.duke.edu/shell/cite.pl?53+Duke+L.+J.+1537

I do not think that this avenue is promising, but it shows how frustrated some corporations are, and that they are not looking at First Amendment options.  I will also not that not only is this avenue unpromising, but that it offers nothing for small shopkeepers or residences:  they do not have the vast multi-location presence even to consider this approach.

A community that imposes aesthetic and design regulations in a way (1) in violation of its own published guidelines, (2) inconsistently between applicants in a way that can be demonstrated as a frequent violation of its guidelines, or (3) with a demonstrable bias apart from aesthetics can find itself a target of litigation.  It is difficult, and expensive, to set forth this kind of case.

As you know as well as anyone in our whole community, most businesses have so many other pressures, that establishing bias is just too expensive, distracting, and uncertain.

I have also included an article from former Reason editor Virginia Postrel, where she notes how communities increasingly impose aesthetic standards that include color choice.

http://www.reason.com/news/show/28905.html

From my point of view, as I have posted, communities should not be so concerned about these aspects of design.  I would prefer in almost all cases that private parties choose as they wish.  Most will choose well to attract customers, and those businesses that chose poorly will suffer as a result.  I do not doubt, though, that communities have the power to impose basic requirements on color, for example, without running the risk of a First Amendment violation.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Daily Laugh

A day in the life of Silence Dogood

This morning after I walked around taking pictures of all the inconsistencies within our sign ordinance, I started looking at other things as well.  If I didn’t need my cane to walk, I am after all over 200 years young; I would have thrown it through several windows to get the attention of the City.

I then tried to muddle through the City’s website to find codes and ordinances; I think it would just be easier if I joined the French Foreign Legion.  It’s no wonder we don’t have more businesses opening up in the downtown.  It takes FOREVER to get through the crap the city puts you through just to be able to have the privilege of paying sales/property tax and still get robbed by every permit fee ever made up.

Anyway as I was looking through the website I came across a Facade/Business grant program that is supposed to be administered through the City and the Belvidere Main Street Program.  I thought the City stopped being a Main Street Community.  Again, why should we hold businesses and property owners accountable when the city can’t even keep up on what they have available and what they don’t.  Everything is so backwards, and why do we keep re-inventing the wheel in this city?  Do we have a Facade Grant Program?  If not then why does it say we do?  If we do then why does it say Belvidere Main Street Center?

Am I the only one scratching my head and wondering hmmm no wonder nothing gets done?  (Yes your right, a lot of stuff doesn’t get done because of the 10 Alderman who do NOTHING but collect paychecks)

Wasn’t the Main Street program replaced by the Mural Mile Association and what have they got done?  Nothing!  How much money is wasted on that program?  Are they a 501 c 3?  I recently read an article where the Mayor had said that he inherited the murals and the cost of maintaining them.  I think inherited is Brereton’s new favorite word.  I hope it replaced Going Green and Sustainable.  Anyway, it is my understanding that the Mayor did not inherit those murals, I think that the Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce owned a few copy rights, the Boone County Arts Council owned a few copy rights, and maybe the Wall Dogs or another individual.  I remember being at more than a few City Council meetings where the Arts Council and the Chamber wanted to turn over the Murals to the City and the Mayor wanted to have the City take on the Copy Rights.  I think I remember being at a meeting where the Mayor was asking the City Attorney how much longer it would take to talk to property owners and then to acquire the copy rights.  I wonder if anyone out there knows how that turned out.  I just think that for the Mayor to use the word inherit, and he has been using that word a lot lately, is wrong and is very mis-leading.  I wonder what else is mis-leading in the current administration.  Stop making excuses and get the work done.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Does everyone have a conditional use permit or did we just stop following the rules.

I am continuing on my quest to hold the City accountable in treating business and property owners the same.  There has been enough favoritism in this City and changes have to be made.  I would also like to remind the readers that I don’t care how businesses promote their business; my whole reason for starting this is to remind everyone before the next election that this is what our council does.  They make up silly little ordinances and codes that they don’t follow.  If you’re going to have a rule just so it can be over ridden with a conditional use permit then why have the rule.  Does the plan board and city council just sit around and decide it is okay if they make a little extra money by allowing plans but they say oh well we will make an exception and we will make more money?  I really have no problem with how people want to advertiser my complaints are with the city on this.  The city should have to follow the rules and well.

For this post I will cover some awnings but mostly signs and the information I found on the City’s website in regard to them both.  I found the code section most interesting because of its lack of statements being true since the enforcement is not there.

Let me just mention again that this site is so difficult that I wonder if it is done on purpose.  If I wanted to open a business and I went to the city’s website to find my own answers I would choose another city to open a business in.  After I finish with signage I will move on to the Over Lay district, that is another subject I find laughable.

Primary Colors are either additive or subtractive: additives are Red, Green and Blue, subtractive are Cyan, Magenta and Yellow.  Whoever came up with the definition of primary colors didn’t take art in school.  Please read the information below and feel free to laugh as much as I did.  I have also taken the liberty to take some more photos to see how many things are not in compliance with this ordinance and yet again nothing is done about it.

11.   Exterior colors. Selected exterior colors for structures and appurtenances including fixtures and signs shall be compatible and harmonious with those of existing buildings in the immediate area which conform to the general design theme noted above. Specifically, throughout the district:

A.   Primary (red, blue, green, and yellow) colors, black, and fluorescent, “day glow,” and/or “neon” colors shall not be permitted. Earth tone colors are encouraged. Where such colors constitute a component of a standardized corporate theme or identity, muted versions of such colors shall be used.

This grocery store has a red awning and I have no idea what the name of this place is.  I can’t read the sign.  Aside from that, isn’t there an ordinance about the amount of space one can use in the window.  When I get my PHD I am sure by then I will be able to navigate my way through the city’s code book.

This building a good example of a facade restoration, looks very nice, but again why do we have in our books that we can’t use certain colors and you can have only so many signs in a window, especially hand written ones, if we are not going to enforce them.

B.   High gloss paints, lacquers, varnishes or other “shiny” non-glazing surfaces shall not be used.

I think this sign has everything that Letter B said it can’t have, perhaps I need new spectacles though.  I see high glossy paint, lacquer, varnish, or some other shiny non-glazing surface.

C.   Color combination schemes shall be limited to no more than three different colors for all the structures and appurtenances on a property (varying shades, tints or intensities of a color shall count as a different color for this purpose.)

D.   Color schemes shall be used consistently throughout the property, including on both the upper and lower portions of buildings, and on all facades of a building or structure.

12.   Exterior signage. All signage which is visible from any point outside of the building or structure shall be compatible and harmonious with the general design theme noted above. General signage regulations are provided in article 10. In addition:

A.   Sign location. Wall signs, canopy signs and projecting signs shall not be located on any portion of upper stories. The location of signs shall fit the building.

B.   Sign colors. Primary (red, blue, green, and yellow) colors and fluorescent, “day glow,” “neon” and other “loud” colors shall not be permitted. Where such colors constitute a component of a standardized corporate theme or identity, muted versions of such colors shall be used. Color combination schemes shall be limited to no more than three different colors for all the structures and appurtenances on a property. (Varying shades, tints or intensities of a color shall count as a different color for this purpose.) Color schemes and lettering styles shall be used consistently on all signage used throughout the property.

C.   Sign materials. Permitted sign materials include wood, brass, metal leaf, metal plates, canvass or related fabric, or etched glass, stone or concrete. Plastic signs are not permitted. High gloss paints, lacquers, varnishes or other “shiny” non-glazing surfaces, including smooth plastics and related materials, shall not be used.

I know that I have openly admitted that I am having trouble with the code section but even I can figure out that this sign is on the second floor and it’s yellow with red lettering.  Above this picture Letter A say that a wall sign can’t be placed on the upper level.  Plus the location of the sign will fit the building.  Is the third floor invisible so then the second floor doesn’t count as the upper level?   There is a movie poster in every window on the second floor as well.

Can someone please tell me what this is supposed to be.  They have been working on this sign for at least two years.  I thought we had a time limit too.  Is this supposed to be Uncle Sam’s hat?  Is this supposed to make me feel more comfortable about paying more taxes than I should in Belvidere.  Are we recruiting for the Military?  I am just not sure but either way I see the color blue.

D.   Sign illumination. Illumination of exterior signage shall be limited to shielded spotlight. The lighting element of such fixtures shall not be visible from public rights-of-way or adjoining properties. Internally illuminated and/or flashing signs (including illuminated awnings with or without messages) are not permitted, including neon and related illumination systems.

E.   Removal of signs. Illegal signs, nonconforming signs, poorly maintained signs, and obsolete signs pertaining to a closed business, shall be removed including all supports and hardware. The property owner shall be responsible for the removal of such signs.

13.   On-site landscaping and screening. On-site landscaping is not required within portions of the downtown design overlay zoning district located along the core downtown streets, except to provide vegetated ground cover for pervious (non-paved/roofed) surfaces, and to provide screening and shading of on-site paved areas.

A.   Groundcover. All areas which are not covered by impervious paving or structures shall be covered with vegetative groundcover. Appropriate groundcover includes grasses, forbs, and shrubs.

B.   On-site paved areas. On-site landscaping shall also be provided for on-site paved areas used for outdoor seating, vehicular parking, or loading, except for pedestrian and vehicle walks and drives which connect such areas to public rights-of-way (such as driveways and walks to building entrances).

Required screening. On-site paved areas, including parking lots, loading areas, circulation drives, and patios shall be partially screened from the view of public rights-of-way and adjoining properties by, at minimum, a continuous vegetated hedge with a minimum width of five feet, and a height of between 40 and 60 inches. This hedge may be supplemented by trees and/or compatible iron, masonry, and/or wood fencing.

Required shading. In addition, one canopy tree (with a minimum installed breast height caliper of 2 1/2 inches) shall be provided within, or within five feet of the edge of, on-site paved areas for every 2,000 square feet (or fraction thereof) of paved area.

C.   Exterior storage and utility areas. Trash storage areas, air conditioning units, and related storage and utility areas and components shall be fully screened from the view of adjoining properties, public rights-of-way, and customer areas.

D.   Freestanding signs. The base of freestanding signs shall be fully concealed by plants to a minimum height of twenty-four inches.

E.   Additional landscaping standards are found in article 6

14.   Exterior lighting. Throughout the district, on-site exterior lighting shall be compatible and harmonious with the general design theme noted above and city street lighting in the area.

Specifically:

A.   Pedestrian lighting. The design, color, height, location and light quality of on-site pedestrian lighting shall be consistent with the pedestrian lighting fixtures.

B.   Vehicular circulation lighting. The design, color, height, location and light quality of on-site vehicular circulation lighting shall be consistent with the lighting fixtures recommended by the planning and zoning commission.

C.   Additional lighting standards are found in § 150.707.

15.   Rehabilitation and restoration. New projects, building additions, and new appurtenances and features shall comply with the provisions of §§ 150.106(C)(2)B.1–14, above. The following standards shall apply where existing construction is proposed for rehabilitation and/or restoration:

A.   Buildings shall be restored relying on physical evidence (such as photographs, original drawings, and existing architectural details) as much as possible, in keeping with the general design theme noted above.

B.   Exterior materials and surface features. Materials and features identical to the original shall be used. Where such knowledge is lacking, materials and features in common use at the time of building erection, shall be used. Significant architectural features, including cornices, moldings and coursings shall be preserved or replaced with identical features and materials where possible.

C.   Windows and doors. The size, proportion and rhythm of original windows and doors shall not be altered. Original window and door openings shall not be blocked, except with a dark opaque panel placed behind the window or door to preserve the appearance of the opening. Where now blocked in another manner, blocked window and doors shall be restored using said method. Window and door features, including lintels, sills, architraves, shutters, pediments, hoods and hardware, shall be preserved where possible, or replaced with identical features and materials. Dark frames (i.e. anodized bronze) shall be used to replace storefront and upper story windows. Clear aluminum finishes and mill finish aluminum storm windows are prohibited. Wood shutters and awnings shall be used if there is evidence that they were a component of the original building design. Vinyl and plastic shutters and awnings shall be prohibited.

D.   Shop fronts. Shop fronts should fit inside the original shop front in terms of all three dimensions (vertical, horizontal and front to back articulation);

E.   Display windows. Display windows should be restored to their original appearance.

F.   Entrances and porches. Original porches and steps shall be retained, except as required to meet accessibility standards. Porches, steps and related enclosures that do not comply with the architectural design theme, shall be removed.

G.   Roofs. The original roof shape and character of visible materials shall be retained. Original architectural features which give the roof its essential character, including dormer windows, cupolas, cornices, brackets, chimneys and weathervanes, shall be preserved if in keeping with the architectural design theme.

H.   Painting and color. See §§ 150.106(C)(2)B.11., above.

I.   Signage. All signage, existing upon the adoption date of this ordinance, which does not comply with the standards of §§ 150.106(C)(2)B.12., above, may be continued so long as well maintained. However, the maintenance of such legal nonconforming signs shall be limited to repair of the sign structural or lighting elements, and to the repainting or replacement of the sign face with identical new material, message, and original appearance. Should a change in material, message, or original appearance be desired, the legal nonconforming sign shall be removed.

J.   Cleaning. Structural components and exterior materials shall be cleaned when necessary, and with only the gentlest possible methods. Low pressure water and soft natural bristle brushes are acceptable. Sandblasting is never acceptable. Other methods shall be pre-approved by the planning and zoning commission.

C.   Residential construction. Proposed residential construction, located on properties having frontage on the core downtown streets, including new structures, building additions, building alterations, and restoration or rehabilitation shall be reviewed per §§ 150.908(D) by the planning and zoning commission. The building setback, height, mass, roof form, exterior materials, exterior surface appurtenances, exterior colors, landscaping and lighting shall be compatible and harmonious with the general design theme noted above.

D.   Designated historic structures (Reserved).

(Ord. No. 801G, § 3, 3-6-06)

Maybe the Mayor can have Ms. Ellingson drive through the downtown and take pictures instead of the older neighborhoods.  I mean I have seen my neighbors letter where he was told to clean up his back yard and get rid of the scrap car.  That way, I believe,  Alderman Mike Chamberlain will have another bullet point for his resume and he can say he started that program as well.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t

I will try to say this one more time, I am not Rory Peterson, nor am I Jim Wise.  That is an insult to me to suggest that.

I am publishing a few emails that I have received but I am leaving off the names because I write anonymously.  But I decided  to share some of the comments because some people do not like what I am doing at all and mostly by posting real pictures of some of the businesses downtown.  While others like what I am doing and applaud the efforts.

I write this blog because I legally can.  It is my right.  These are my opinions, my frustrations, my complaints, my issues and I am using this method to let it out.  I pay taxes in this town, I spend money in this town and if I don’t like what is going on I am going to write about it.  If you are offended by my site which based on a few of the emails I have received but can’t print might I suggest that you visit other sites.

I just finished reading the latest edition of the Boone County Journal and I can assure you that if you haven’t liked what I have written so far, you won’t like what I will be writing either.  I just need to get my oxygen tank back to its normal levels.  After I read all of those articles from and for the politicians I stopped breathing.

Here are some of the emails that people have sent me.

You must realy not have a life. Do you have a job? If you do i hope you get  caught doing your research on the company internet. But you probly dont have job do you Jim Wise.

Dear Mr./Mrs. Silence Dogood,

I have been watching your blog for a bit now and feel the need to inquire further.  First, let me say, don’t flatter yourself!  Posting under a pseudonym such as the likes of Franklin, Paine, and Madison DOES NOT bring you any closer to such a level of admiration or reverence.  Instead, you feel compelled to exercise your first amendment right anonymously, no differently than the fifteen year olds on Myspace that start a “Hello my name is Miley Cyrus” page.  What’s next?,  pictures of your imaginary self superimposed on Franklin’s physique.–get real.

If you are truly interested in “providing the citizens of Belvidere a fair politics blog…” in order to make a difference, might I suggest that you step out from behind your obnoxious pseudonym and do just that: provide a  FAIR politics blog.  The filth that spews from your mouth day in and day out  makes you sound like nothing more than a child talking big on his computer while mommy and daddy sit in the next room. Clearly, you lack anything that resembles a fair outlook on the politics of Belvidere.  Alternatively, you pick and choose those officials and candidates  (which you give your meaningless nod to) based on nothing more than the way a camera may have caught their head tilt…again, GET REAL!

So, while I might not be a treaty signing, document writing super-citizen like you, Silence Dogood, I do know that a way a person dresses, how they tilt their head, or how in depth their résumé may be is no measure of the good they have done (or are able to do) in our community.  I further implore you to exercise your 1st amendment rights in a matter different than the National Inquirer.  Future blog posts could include your actual ideas for improving the community we live in, instead of bashing the officials that have the drive and  ambition to make an actual difference beyond the world wide web.  Feel free to provide concepts that might help us all exercise our minds to new possibilities in Belvidere.  Feel free to be part of the solution, and not further the problem!  No one is perfect–just as our officials are not–but it takes a great person to continue to plug away at a solution even in the midst of naysayers that hide behind their computer and a fictitious pseudonym.

I think it is great what you are doing! Don’t let people stop you….ever…They will try. They’ll put fear into you so you stop………. don’t let them do it!
It is great that you actually published photos of the violations…AWESOME! violations are violations and this entire county has had a severe case of “so and so” getting away with things! You are right….this is a “if you are so and so” type of a place! So and so gets away with it and yet others get railroaded. WHY? I agree with you on so much….I’m proud of what you are doing…..I have so much I’d like to put on here….I think so many of us have our stories of living in the “Boonies”…it is the boonies and it shows when the higher government actually lets our local government officials get away with what they have. Its absurd. This place heavily lingers with conflicts of interest and sneaky anlawful actions. I Just want to say good job and really….take the criticism in, but don’t let them stop you. Honestly, by reading your posts, if someone is coming to you, like over the sign ordinances…then it must be someone with an unpaid unrecognized violation…because you are
right, any other one of us would be forced with permits and/or violation fines…why do some have to pay and others go free. AWESOME AND GREAT JOB MR. SILENCE DOGOOD! We need your voice and eventually, enough people could get fired up enough to start taking their own stances. It is hard to do that here, but we all need to remember…WE ARE THE PEOPLE! We need to make sure our government knows this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here in boone county, they seem to try and take down the people who care and yet, basically give “keys to the city/county” to the wrong people!

I can’t express enough to you that you are on a good thing here. We need all of these little injustices exposed. Maybe then they will stop!

I want to thank you for providing a refreshing view into the abysmal political situation that Belvidere is currently in.

I believe your insight to be right on the mark in most cases with our current politicians and a “clean slate” approach is the best idea at this point for the City was well as the county as a whole.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Tell me why we have an Overlay District

In this section I am posting the beginning of the code I was looking at.  I saved this for last because I find it most amusing.

Since today, after all, is St. Patrick’s Day and if you otherwise had no justification to drink, you do now…

We have a Downtown Overlay District and it basically covers ONE street.  After several phone calls and a lot of run a round (why I do believe city hall is getting tired of my phone calls) I discovered that it was told to the City (planning department) by Vandewalle to not over extend ourselves, are you kidding me? Did we actually pay them to tell us that?

Rory Peterson, Clint Morris and Karen Schrader and all of their fans that (Block to Nowhere) that you keep crying over is the best looking block downtown and it isn’t even in the Overlay District.  None of this makes any sense.  We have built up all of these restrictions and have become so anti-business that we create rules we don’t follow.  How much sense does it make to have an Overlay District that allows you to enforce strict policy and then just over turn it with a conditional use permit?  Now you have a street that is supposed to look the best and set the example and follow the over comprehensive plan and that is the street that looks the worst.  You have allowed for every rule to be over turned.  So again I ask; why have the rules?  Not to mention you have a BEAUTIFUL Buchanan Street that is not in the Overlay and is following all of the rules.  Maybe when Dave Deckert stops crying about his missing Vote for me Signs, Boo Hoo, he can tell you why the council allowed Alpine Bank to get the sign that they currently have in the downtown (which isn’t allowed in the Overlay District) and I could be mistaken about this but then allowed Alpine Bank to opt out of being in the Overlay District.

Maybe Deckert should write about everything that gets stolen in his district, you know, things that really affect your constituents.  I am just guessing here but I am sure cars and house stereos are being stolen, and drugs being sold are just a little more important.  Why haven’t you written about those things?  Do you just take out ads when it is time for an election?

Sec. 150.106.  Overlay districts.

(A)   Purpose. Overlay districts are created for the purpose of imposing special regulations in given designated areas of the city to accomplish stated purposes that are set forth for each overlay district. Overlay districts shall be in addition to, and shall overlap and overlay all other zoning districts within which lands placed in each district also lie, so that any parcel of land lying in an overlay district shall also lie in one or more of the other zoning districts provided for in this chapter.

(B)   Establishment. Overlay zoning districts and amendments thereto shall be established in the same fashion and by the same procedures set forth in § 150.902 and § 150.903 for other zoning districts provided for by this chapter unless these procedures are qualified by the provisions of a particular overlay district as set forth herein.

(C)   Downtown overlay district. This district is intended to implement the urban design recommendations of the comprehensive plan, by preserving and enhancing the historical quality of the downtown, and by attaining a consistent visually pleasing image for the downtown area. All buildings located on either side of the street along North State Street between West Madison Avenue and the Kishwaukee River; South State Street between the Kishwaukee River and West 2nd Street; and Logan Avenue between South State Street and South Main Street are included in the Downtown Overlay District. These streets comprise the core downtown streets.

As emphasized by the comprehensive plan, this district is designed to forward both aesthetic and economic objectives of the city by controlling the site design and appearance of development within the district in a manner that is consistent with sound land use, urban design, and economic revitalization principles. The application of these standards will ensure long-term progress and broad participation toward these principles. Refer to § 150.908 for the procedures applicable to proposal review in this overlay district.

(1)   Definitions.

A.   Cornice: The topmost projecting portion of the entablature, or top portion of a building. This term also refers to any “crowning” projection of a building.

B.   Header: A brick laid so that the end only appears on the face of the wall, as opposed to a stretcher, which is a brick laid so that the side only appears.

C.   Kickplate: A horizontal area on the facade of a building located between the sidewalk/entrance pavement and the lowest storefront windows.

D.   Sign band: A horizontal area on the facade of a building located between the transom and the cornice, which is typically opaque and provides a location for signage indicating the name of the establishment.

E.   Sill: A horizontal, lower member or bottom of a door or window casing.

F.   Transom: A horizontal bar of stone, wood or glass across the opening of a door or window.

(2)   Urban design standards for the downtown design overlay zoning district overall design theme. The design theme for the downtown area is based on the historic character of the city’s settlement period characterized in the buildings and storefronts along the core downtown streets.

A.   Nonresidential development. The design theme varies by location.

1.   Street frontage. Along the core downtown streets, the nonresidential design theme is characterized by a variety of architectural styles popular at the time, including Italianate, Romanesque and Neoclassical, in a two-story format with office, storage or residential located over commercial. The facades of these buildings have a traditional main street storefront appearance, are relatively small in scale, have street-yard and side-yard setbacks of zero feet, have prominent horizontal and vertical patterns formed by regularly-spaced window and door openings, detailed cornice designs, rich detailing in masonry coursing, window detailing and ornamentation, and are predominantly of brick, stone or wood. Exterior building materials are of high-quality. Exterior appurtenances are minimal. Exterior colors are harmonious, simple and muted. Exterior signage blends, rather than contrasts with buildings in terms of coloring (complementary to building), location (onbuilding), size (small) and number (few).

2.   Remainder of downtown design overlay zoning district. In this area, the nonresidential design theme is characterized by a variety of architectural styles popular throughout the entire 20th Century. Building styles, heights, setbacks and details vary significantly. In the desired theme, exterior building materials are of high-quality. Exterior appurtenances are minimal. Exterior colors are harmonious, simple and muted. Exterior signage blends, rather than contrasts with buildings in terms of coloring (complementary to building), location (on-building), size (small) and number (few).

GRAPHIC LINK: Nonresidential Development

3.   Residential development. This theme is characterized by a variety of architectural styles popular at the time, including Queen Anne, Gothic, High Victorian, Georgian, and Prairie. These homes have generous street-yard, sideyard and rear-yard setbacks, and are well-landscaped with a mixture of canopy and understory yard trees, and foundation shrubs and/or flower beds. For illustrative purposes, examples of architectural styles which tend to have elements incompatible with downtown historic styles include (with no attempt to be inclusive) Spanish Mission, Scandinavian Modern, Bavarian, and California Contemporary.

B.   Nonresidential construction.

1.   General. Nonresidential construction, including new structures, building additions, building alterations, and restoration or rehabilitation shall correspond to the urban design guideline requirements for building setback; height; building mass; horizontal rhythms (created by the placement and design of facade openings and related elements such as piers, columns); vertical rhythms (created by the placement and design of facade details such as sills, transoms, cornices and sign bands); roof forms; exterior materials; exterior surface features and appurtenances; exterior colors; exterior signage; onsite landscaping; exterior lighting; parking and loading area design; and the use of screening.

GRAPHIC LINK: Nonresidential Construction

2.   Determination. Design guideline requirements shall be determined by either the zoning administrator or the planning and zoning commission, as specified in § 150.908(D).

3.   Building Setback. Throughout the district, the setback of buildings from street-yard and side-yard property lines shall be compatible with existing buildings in the immediate area which conform to the general design theme noted above.

4.   Building height. Throughout the district, the height of buildings shall be compatible with existing buildings in the immediate area which conform to the general design theme noted in §§ 150.106(D)(2)A., above. In no instance shall buildings be more than one story taller or shorter than the height of a building of similar use on one of the immediately adjoining properties, which conform to the general design theme above.

5.   Building mass. Throughout the district, the mass of buildings shall be compatible with existing buildings in the immediate area which conform to the general design theme noted above. The characteristic proportion (relationship between facade height and width) of the general design theme shall be maintained. Building mass for large structures (with a facade area exceeding 5,000 square feet) shall be disguised through the use of facade articulations, or through the use of exterior treatments which give the impression of directly adjoining individual buildings.

6.   Horizontal rhythms. Along the core downtown streets, the horizontal pattern of exterior building elements formed by patterns of building openings for windows and doors, and related elements such as piers and columns shall be spaced at regular intervals across all visible facades of the building, and shall be compatible with those of existing buildings in the immediate area which conform to the general design theme noted above.

7.   Vertical rhythms. Along the core downtown streets, the floor heights on main facades shall appear visually in proportion to those of adjoining buildings. The rhythm of the ground floor shall harmonize with the rhythm of upper floors. The vertical pattern of exterior building elements formed by patterns of building openings for windows and doors, and related elements such as sills, headers, transoms, cornices and sign bands shall be compatible in design and elevation with those of existing buildings in the immediate area which conform to the general design theme noted above.

8.   Roof forms. Along the core downtown streets, flat or gently sloping roofs which are not visible from the street shall be used. Mansards or other exotic roof shapes not characteristic of the general design theme noted above, shall not be used. Throughout the district, roof shapes not characteristic of the general design theme noted above, shall not be used.

GRAPHIC LINK: Roof Forms

9.   Exterior materials. Selected building materials shall be compatible with those of existing buildings in the immediate area which conform to the general design theme noted above. In addition:

A.   Masonry. Along the core downtown streets, stone or brick facing should be of even coloration and consistent size. Cinder block, concrete block, concrete slab, or concrete panel shall not be permitted.

B.   Siding. Along the core downtown streets, wood or thin board textured vinyl or textured metal clapboard siding may be appropriate — particularly if the proposed nonmasonry exterior was used on a building which conforms to the general design theme noted above. In certain instances clapboard, board and batten may be in keeping with the general design theme. Asphalt shingles shall not be permitted.

C.   Glazing. Along the core downtown streets, clear, or slightly tinted glass or related glazing material shall be used. Mirrored glass, smoked glass, or heavily tinted glass shall not be permitted.

10.   Exterior surface appurtenances. Exterior surface appurtenances shall be compatible with those of existing buildings in the immediate area which conform to the general design theme noted above. In addition:

A.   Along the core downtown streets, the traditional storefront design theme (characterized by strong horizontal and vertical rhythms formed by building openings, storefront columns, storefront cornices, upper cornices, kickplates, signbands, large display windows, and transom windows) shall be employed for all new nonresidential buildings–including retail, office, professional service, personal service, maintenance, lodging, entertainment, and storage uses.

B.   Throughout the district, avoid cluttering building facades with brackets, wiring, meter boxes, antennae, gutters, downspouts and other appurtenances. Unnecessary signs shall also be avoided. Where necessary, such features shall be colored so as to blend in, rather than contrast, with the immediately adjacent building exterior. Extraneous ornamentation which is inconsistent with the general design theme noted above, is also prohibited.

C.   Throughout the district, awning size, color and placement should complement the architectural character of the building. Soft, weather-treated canvas or vinyl materials, which allow for flexible or fixed installation, shall be used. Aluminum or suspended metal canopies shall be prohibited. Signage applied to awnings shall be simple and durable. Backlit awnings are prohibited.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Some Humor

April 15 is just around the corner

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

My opinion on Letters to the Editor in the March 13 edition of the Boone County Journal

This posting, some will find, to be rather long as I am angered by the continuous letters to the editor through the Boone County Journal.  Week after week Politicians and want to be Politicians, write in with all of their accomplishments and their promises.  However, in the last two papers we have even had a few crybabies because their signs have been stolen.

My first posting will be on the March 13, 2009 edition.  I will then give my opinion on the letters in the March 20, 2009 edition.  Finally I will end with the flyer I found on my front porch from Karen Schrader.  I am ending with Karen because I find it most amusing, and expected nothing less coming from someone I feel is  under educated and only looking out for her family and making promises she can’t keep.

And so it begins…………

I would like to give my opinion on Mike Chamberlain running for re-election of the 3^rd Ward.  No thanks! But Chamberlain at least has the decency to throw in a tag word phrase, working as a team, however, it does not take away from the fact that for the most part he shouldn’t be able to be re-elected or take credit for a lot of those things.  Just because you come in on the back end of a project doesn’t mean you get to attach your name to it to further your own political career.  Chamberlain states that he helped prevent inappropriate uses of the old St. Joseph Hospital facility (a food pantry).  You sound like Karen Schrader now, so am I to take it that when you say you want to help people, it’s only as long as they don’t show up in your neighborhood.  That sounds hypocritical, it is very rough out there and people are losing their jobs by the thousands and they need help.  I am curious to know is that what you find inappropriate, a man who can no longer put food on his table because he lost his job and has to rely on the food pantry to help him until he can get back on his feet.  Or is it that you some how see that building being an open air neighborhood center with a little grocery store anchor.  Good luck with that, the longer the building sits it will be harder to restore and if Karen becomes Mayor there will not be a developer who will come within a mile of Belvidere to sit in an open meeting with the public and discuss their plans.  How ridiculous.

He goes on to mention the clean up of Logan Avenue, initiated by the Older Neighborhood Re-Development Committee.  Let me say that I commend those volunteers who took time out of their day to pick up garbage.  However my point is, the committee took a year and a half to get organized enough to do that.  This committee should be creating programs that enable neighborhoods to get grants to help lay sidewalks, write grants, get new lighting, creating the safe environment and walkway as you enter the downtown.  In my opinion since I covered that committee as a freelance writer for the first two years I don’t remember ever seeing Chamberlain at one meeting.

The funniest is the closing of Silver’s reclamation yard along the Kishwaukee River at Main and Meadow.  I nearly choked I was laughing so hard when I read this one.  The closing of that site has been going on for ten plus years, I don’t think Chamberlain had anything to do with it other than vote yes or no when at council.  I am appalled at the mere suggestion of that.  Are you kidding me?

My favorite and what I am most concerned about is the fact that you used your Public Position to Profit.  I am glad that the City of Belvidere believes in and exercises self-development as long as it benefits the tax payer.  You were hired as a consultant to co-create the U of I Institute of Government’s newest leadership curriculum for local government.   Regardless if you are creating more classes to educate other officials the point is that, we the taxpayers, paid for you to go to class and then you turn around and use your PUBLIC POSITION FOR PROFIT.  I would like to know if the city paid for those classes or did you pay for them out of your own pocket.  If that were the case then I would have nothing to write about.  (Before one writes that he will continue to work hard for all of us one must first start)

The next article is in favor of Mark Sanderson.  I remember one day seeing Mark Sanderson, Rory Peterson and Karen Schrader all eating breakfast together at the Steam Plant.  I wonder what they were talking about.  It says in the article that he has been fighting against new subdivision development but also says he has been fighting to keep our tax dollars low by initiating impact fees on builders.  So which is it, I mean how can you collect impact fees if you don’t have builders.  Is he talking about commercial, industrial, or residential development?  Let me see, if he is talking about imposing on just one, say for example commercial, then no development will occur, then there will be no need for residential and we won’t grow.  Hey that sounds great doesn’t it; we can all go back to the 1950’s with Mark, Karen, Clint and Rory in office.  Except our taxes will be more because there will be no development and we, the taxpayers will be stuck paying for everything, far worse than now.

So two alderman up and two alderman get a no vote.  Let’s continue and before I forget am I the only one wondering if Karen, Rory, Clint, Mark and all of the new Independents are meeting somewhere and going over who gets to say what this week.  I mean it’s nothing new; it’s the same ole thing week after week.  It’s kinda sad if you think about it.

The next letter to the editor comes from Dave Deckert, not that he can really tell you anything that he has done for the city.  No, he has been an Alderman for 4 years and this is the only thing he has written about, his missing campaign signs.  Big deal, get over it and start getting angry over things that really matter.  (Hmmmm) like crime, education, jobs or lack of in the area to just name a few.  I would like to thank the people taking the signs if that is the case.  Our community is starting to look a crap hole.  Signs, signs, everywhere a sign, as the song goes. It is beginning to show the tourists how divided we are as a community, that we have no common ground, we just like to fight.  Us against them; the born and raised against the implants.  It’s childish to say the least.  I think Deckert should suck it up, pull up his bootstraps and move on.  Signs don’t vote and it’s a very sad day when we are forced to recognize that the people vote for you based on just seeing your name more than on your record or character.

I was also reading another letter that goes on to say how wonderful it is that Karen, Rory and Clint have come to our rescue.  I wonder if they say a secret pledge at their secret meetings.  Oh my knights in shining armor, be still my beating heart.  Is there anyone else out there that remembers when Rory was Mayor and all of the fighting that went on at City Council.  I seem to recall that Morris took a punch at someone.  Or maybe someone can tell me if he did try to take a punch at Ed Fabish.  Why isn’t anyone talking about all of the fights that went on when Karen, Rory and Clint all sat at the same round table?  Is everyone afraid to bring that up?  Is it not true about the screaming, yelling, swearing, fist throwing fights?  Yeah that’s what we need again; I mean there is nothing like taking one step forward and two steps back.  I am so thrilled that our meetings are on tape now.  Can you image how we will become the laughing stock of the region if those three who I like to refer to as the three stooges are back in on the ice again?  Just one more reason to stay at home the night it comes out on TV.  Maybe we can make it a pay per view show to generate revenue.

As I turned another page I came across to more letters but I found myself in agreement with them.  It’s no big secret that I am not a Brereton fan but when one is left to choose between him and Schrader well then one must go for the lesser of the two evils.  I know what I am getting with Brereton, I don’t know with Schrader and I am too scared to find out.  She has surrounded herself with tools that are not sharpened.

As I read through Jessica Muellner’s ad for candidate for the 5^th ward, I find that she is so close to sounding like she knows what she is talking about except for one thing.  There is so much talk about impact fees, this fee, and that fee and let’s punish anyone who wants to develop here.  Let’s make it as difficult as we can for businesses that want to open here.  Now if that is the case, we are in for big trouble.  Let’s just put a sign on highway 90 that says we don’t believe in capitalism here in Belvidere so keep driving down the road.  We will all be counting on all of this money from the developers, well guess what folks it won’t be coming.  We have to get the developers to the table first and when all of the restrictions start to be imposed than we can just say bye bye to all of the money you think the developers are going to bring to the table.  Sorry but they will be laughing at us as they develop in every other town but ours and then we will have to pay for everything and our taxes will continue to be raised.  It’s called balance folks and we don’t even have it now.   Any developers we might manage to drag here would soon see what hoops they would have to jump through.  They could probably solve world peace easier.   We don’t have developers and we don’t have new businesses because of what I have been saying all along.  Right now we are too restrictive and if Schrader takes over I see it being worse and we will be taxed more because she is not experienced enough to know how to do this job.

As indicated I will continue with more on the March 20 edition tomorrow.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Round 2

My opinion on the letters to the editor from the March 20, 2009 edition of the Boone County Journal…

Well said Mr. Ainley and I for one am glad that you are going door to door.  I am growing very tired of looking at all of these signs.  On the rest of his campaign letter I think that there is no need to mention how long you have lived here.  Twenty years, five years or two months makes no difference.  We all have a vested interest in our community and I think that the time is here to get over the stigma of where you were born and how long you have lived here.  I thought History was a required course.  Isn’t that the foundation of America, we are the melting pot of the world?  Isn’t that why we are the greatest nation on earth?

I would also like to see some of these candidates explain the slogan Unrestrained Growth.  Is that supposed to be the opposite of Smart Growth?  I want one of the candidates to give details on what they would do to generate money. It’s all fine and well to walk up and down the street, show up at city council and write letters to the newspaper complaining about the growth in town but when is someone going to enlighten us on how they (the complainers) would generate revenue for our community.  Where are the plans?  How do you think you can keep our taxes lower by imposing stricter restrictions on any kind of development?  Does anyone out there at all understand what I am saying?  If the developers stop coming here how are you going to generate money for our community?  Why is it that everyone is telling us what we don’t need more of but they won’t tell us their plan?  Oh just that their plan is to stop growth by having stricter rules.  Have you taken a look around town, do you live here, is there any enforcement of rules with the ordinances now?

The next letter I want to address is a letter written by Jennifer Riley asking for help with the upcoming Fourth of July celebration.  It is a very important holiday to celebrate and certainly the Mural Mile Association and Heritage Days need your funding and your volunteer support.

The letter states; last year due to the great efforts of the Mural Mile Association and the Heritage Days Committee and some very dedicated community and local business people, Heritage Days was expanded to a 3 day festival that offered a wide range of activities, which were well attended and enjoyed by all. The letter goes on to say that we feel that this year, more than ever before, our community deserves a family friendly, affordable weekend of fun and entertainment that is in their downtown area.

Now I bring this up not because I don’t feel that there is value in special events and volunteers, because in my opinion  that is the best way to market your community.  I bring this up because I received several emails from committee members and people who volunteered for a festival we used to have in our downtown called the Wheels Fest/Heritage Days.  The emails expressed a lot of anger at Ms. Riley’s lack of knowledge at attempts by other individuals who put years of volunteering into growing a festival that started in a parking lot, with a great car show, then elevated to Doty Park and became a 3 day festival several, several years ago.  One e-mail in particular noted that it was at the Mayor’s request that the two organizations (Wheels Fest Committee/Heritage Days)  merge.  Wheels Fest would be on Saturday (car show, beer tent, bands, free admission to Historic Museum with kids actives in front).  Heritage Days would remain on Sunday (fireworks show, kids activities and bands).  Another email explained to me that it was the Car Show organizers that ran the beer tent on Friday night when it became a three day event.  Lastly and most disturbing was an email from a young women that said she was going to vote for Ms. Riley until she wrote that letter.  The young women was terribly upset at the fact that Ms. Riley had just insulted all of those people (volunteers) and everything they tried to do for this community.  How dare she act like her group did something special after the foundation was laid, (I had to re-word that sentence, as I couldn’t possibly type all of those naughty words that she wrote).  She ended her letter with this comment; Jennifer should get her facts straight before she starts spouting off about something she knows nothing about and stop belittling the volunteers that worked for more than a week straight each year in the set up process alone to make a good time for all in the downtown.

Needless to say that my efforts to find out if there was a previous 3-day event in the downtown confirmed that there was a 3 day celebration downtown long before the Mural Mile Association was formed and that over 100 volunteers a year helped with that celebration.

For a fellow Blogger (Pill Pysson) whose blog I enjoy reading and even though we don’t agree on most things, I think he was given a raw deal and it reeks with favoritism so I quite enjoyed his letter.

Regarding the letter Ed Fabish wrote, well I agree with that one as well.  Yes, I know it’s surprising because it now makes two times that Ed and I agree.  I just wish that Ed had more people on his side for the whole Walgreen’s business coming to town.  But I guess we should all get used to just looking at the old Huddle because again this is what our whole town will look like if Schrader, Morris, and Peterson are elected.  Get ready folks, and be prepared to vote to save our town.

Last one for today, I promise.  Jason Sewell I will tell you the same thing I told Dave Deckert, SNAP OUT OF IT!!!!  So your signs got stolen, stop blaming your opponents.  Do you really think that blaming your opponents is more grown up than the actual stealing of the sign?  Start walking the beat buddy, signs don’t vote.  This isn’t high school and a popularity contest alright, people vote for you based on past achievements and your character.  So let me be the first to say thank you for showing all of us yours.

And this is who we have running for office.  (Brilliant, just bloody brilliant ) Oh my god we are in trouble.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Some much needed humor

Karen Schrader sends out a flyer that states People not Politics.

Front page is a CONTRACT WITH BELVIDERE My first year as Mayor.

My First question is why didn’t you bring any of these ideas to the table when you were an Alderman?  Not that I agree with you, I’m just curious. Do you really think we are stupid enough to believe that you can do all of this in your first year?  I think most of your first year, if by shear chance you’re elected, will consist of you learning how to be Mayor.

So you will lead the Council to end the utility tax.  I wonder what Mayoral candidate you heard that from.  If you stop the utility tax can you tell me how you will generate enough revenue to fix the roads?  Is it going to come from the developers that you are going to restrict and over charge so they won’t develop in Belvidere?  Oh, I have an idea.  Let’s have a BAKE SALE.  Oh goody, can we have a silent auction too?  Maybe everyone in the whole town should take a 25% decrease in pay.  After all we are the creators of our own problems are we not?  We all need to be accountable for our actions.  Instead of the decrease going to a charity we can throw a party to host the BAKE SALE and fund the projects that still need to be completed by the silent auction.  I think I am really on to something here.  Basically I think what Karen is saying is that Belvidere will have no taxes because the public will never approve taxes.  Wow!  A lot of promises are being made with no clear plan on how she will accomplish them.  Sunset clauses never work by the way.  Nice dream though.

Next you state that you will stop spending money we don’t have.  Of course you will have to do that.  I don’t think you will be generating any new monies coming in so you will have no choice but to do that.  A brownie at a BAKE SALE only brings in 50 cents these days.  Your contract says prudently and common sense is how you will do things.  I didn’t even see you answer any question in the secret debate on March 19.  You avoided more questions than Obama.  You certainly ducked a few questions when asked about layoffs and how you would balance the budget.  In my opinion, you looked like you had no idea what you were talking about.  I find it very odd that you are always talking about transparency and openness and yet there you stood in an elementary style secret debate that only a few in the city knew about.  Are you the kettle or the pot today?  I did enjoy watching you tell the community what you would like to see but you had no idea how to do it or how to pay for it.  Priceless.

I hope I am reading the next bullet point correctly but I don’t think I am.  You say you won’t jeopardize my trust by spending money that personally benefits you or your interest.  You lost my trust the morning I saw you, Rory, and Sanderson sitting together at the Steam Plant.  You lost my trust when you stated at a PROFESSIONAL DEBATE (questionable) that you didn’t know how the police department would raise money outside other than perhaps a BAKE SALE or something.  Remember the Health Department might charge a fee for that unless it is prepackaged. Can you get that fee waived?  Will I have to charge sales tax?  Can you get that waived?  I also can’t have peanuts or chocolate.

Against Home Rule – I did a search to find communities within a 25 mile radius of Belvidere that has home rule.  I suggest you (the reader) do the same.  That will be the only way you get the correct information on what Home Rule really is.  In my opinion I don’t think Karen can explain it to you.  Who wants to take the bet that if Karen is elected Mayor she will go to home rule.  I think she will because it will be the only way she can pay for anything that needs to be accomplished.  But my search online lead me to the town of Sycamore being the closest Home Rule community with Loves Park right behind.

Take a look at this website:

http://www.celdf.org/HomeRule/DoesmyStatehaveHomeRule/IllinoisHomeRuleandMunicipalGovernment/tabid/288/Default.aspx

I agree about the separation of the PSB building, I do not agree on the location.  I think we need a Police and Fire Station right downtown.   But we all know all Karen feels about the downtown.  She has made that perfectly clear.  My next question to Karen is have you ever asked the merchants on Buchanan Street what they think of the improvements?  Have you asked the merchants what it has done for their business?   Walk across the street and ask the Boone County Journal if that improvement had anything to do with their decision to move downtown.  Then ask the Journal how much they invested in their current location.  Do you even know the meaning of Public Private Partnership?  The City invests money then the private sector money comes on board.  That’s what you call a win win Karen.  That’s a huge ROI.  Return on Investment.

Look for more on Karen Schrader, Fred Brereton and the March 19, 2009 Debate over the next few days.  I will upload the debate video later today.  If you would like to go to www.fredbrereton.com you can also see it.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54370651

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Enjoy

‘Individual Liberty, Free Markets, and Peace’

While most government watchdogs are watching Washington or the statehouse, who’s watching the courthouse and city hall? This site is intended to give you an example of just what sort of chicanery goes on with your local tax dollars.

http://localgovwatch.blogspot.com/search?q=Illinois

The motto of the Cato Institute is composed of three principles: ‘Individual Liberty, Free Markets, and Peace.’ I cannot think of a better set of political principles. The Cato website offers more, in explanation:

Today, those who subscribe to the principles of the American Revolution-individual liberty, limited government, the free market, and the rule of law-call themselves by a variety of terms, including conservative, libertarian, classical liberal, and liberal. We see problems with all of those terms. “Conservative” smacks of an unwillingness to change, of a desire to preserve the status quo. Only in America do people seem to refer to free-market capitalism-the most progressive, dynamic, and ever-changing system the world has ever known-as conservative. Additionally, many contemporary American conservatives favor state intervention in some areas, most notably in trade and into our private lives.

“Classical liberal” is a bit closer to the mark, but the word “classical” connotes a backward-looking philosophy.

Finally, “liberal” may well be the perfect word in most of the world-the liberals in societies from China to Iran to South Africa to Argentina are supporters of human rights and free markets-but its meaning has clearly been corrupted by contemporary American liberals.

The Jeffersonian philosophy that animates Cato’s work has increasingly come to be called “libertarianism” or “market liberalism.” It combines an appreciation for entrepreneurship, the market process, and lower taxes with strict respect for civil liberties and skepticism about the benefits of both the welfare state and foreign military adventurism.

The market-liberal vision brings the wisdom of the American Founders to bear on the problems of today. As did the Founders, it looks to the future with optimism and excitement, eager to discover what great things women and men will do in the coming century. Market liberals appreciate the complexity of a great society; they recognize that socialism and government planning are just too clumsy for the modern world. It is-or used to be-the conventional wisdom that a more complex society needs more government, but the truth is just the opposite. The simpler the society, the less damage government planning does. Planning is cumbersome in an agricultural society, costly in an industrial economy, and impossible in the information age. Today collectivism and planning are outmoded and backward, a drag on social progress.

Market liberals have a cosmopolitan, inclusive vision for society. We reject the bashing of gays, China, rich people, and immigrants that contemporary liberals and conservatives seem to think addresses society’s problems. We applaud the liberation of blacks and women from the statist restrictions that for so long kept them out of the economic mainstream. Our greatest challenge today is to extend the promise of political freedom and economic opportunity to those who are still denied it, in our own country and around the world.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Public Servants of Belvidere — Reject Selfish Compensation

Hello Council Members

Cast those silly notions aside, and embrace a new and more open culture.

We’ve no politicians in Belvidere, Illinois.  We’ve no career bureaucrats, either.  They’re all public servants.  Ask them, and they’ll be happy to tell you as much.  I’ll take them at their word – they (like the Vulcans from Star Trek) have “come to serve.”  We are fortunate for it.

They have surely noticed what others have, too – that America sinks in recession, groans under increasing public expenditures, all with no end in sight.  Only a few miles away, Rockford sinks into something worse than mere recession; her number of unemployed grows each day.  Much was made of the benefits of being in her orbit in better times; in these difficult times, one might guess our prospects, like hers, are darker.

Let’s be clear, and set aside the euphemisms of well-fed, white-collar politicians and career bureaucrats, that we have ‘difficulties,’ ‘challenges,’ &c.  No we don’t.  We have jobless residents, destitute neighbors, and hungry and frightened fellow citizens.  Not far away, in some vulgar hovel, but here, in the ‘City of Murals of the Midwest.’  Here, in this city, of this state, of this beautiful republic.

All the preening, false humility, and showy processions change nothing of our fellow residents’ condition.   And yet, our City Council comes to serve.

I have a modest proposal, seemingly small, but principled:

Renounce compensation for service while holding elective office in Belvidere.  Take none of it for yourselves.  Confer it, completely and transparently, to those in need.

These are not times in which those who represent Belvidere should take even a penny in compensation from this community.  If it’s an honor to serve – and it is – and one hears it from our politicians often – then it should be a true, unpaid honor, under the increasing unemployment, hunger, and poverty of our city.

Lincoln was right, considering an even more sinister circumstance – one should not wring bread from the sweat of other men’s faces.

Service needs no compensation, no stipend, and no ersatz retirement check.  Reject it all – in doing so, our political class will have embraced a truly principled and fair service

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Humor

Some changes are needed and others are not

Good Morning all –

We have one day before we exercise one of our greatest constitutional rights. I say that because so many people choose not to vote and I truly don’t understand why.

One of the most vital ways that (we the people) can influence governmental decision making is through voting. Small community elections are just as essential to individual participation in government.

I encourage all of you to go out and let your voices be heard. Make a decision and stand by it, for better or worse. For myself, it will come down to several issues and I am going through all of the candidates to figure out who is doing the best at telling us what we want to hear or what they can do for us. I think the candidates get that mixed up.

For Mayor we have the incumbent Fred Brereton and his challenger Karen Schrader. I did not support either of these two candidates from the beginning, but now I must choose one of them. I have questioned both of their records as I have not been impressed by either and what they say they have or can accomplish.

For this race I am choosing who I believe is the lesser of two evils. I find myself in complete dis-belief that someone can even continue to show their face in public after suggesting the Police Department have a BAKE SALE for funding and then not show up for a debate. I am very disappointed in that. Should Karen receive any votes after those tactics ?  I don’t think so, but, you will have to make that decision for yourself when you enter the voting booth.

Karen has been saying for sometime we need change. That’s great, but she does not represent change.  I think she represents the same. Here’s the thing, how can Karen state that our current Mayor does things without the public knowing and that there is no transparency in his actions and he lets friends and developers guide him in his decision making process. I am asking that because it looks like she is doing the same, correct? When she has meetings with Rory Peterson, Clint Morris and Mark Sanderson isn’t she forming her alliances and getting her friends to be on council? How is that change? I think she is aligning herself with people who will vote the way she wants them to vote and again I ask if that is change.

She says Fred cares more about the developers than the citizens but isn’t she acting the same ?  Instead of developers, it’s the Fire Department? Is that change or is that the same? I’m confused. Did everyone get a chance to look at the debate that no one knew about, is that change?  If you’re so in favor of transparency wouldn’t there have been an ad for a few weeks about something as important as the Mayoral Debate? Shouldn’t the citizens of Belvidere (the ones you care so much about) have a chance to ask you questions? Maybe that is the change she is talking about.

Maybe someone can write to me and give me Karen’s definition of change because the way I see it at present, it is just a moronic statement.

Just try to remember this quote by Arnold Glasgow: One of the true tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency. I don’t think Schrader has that ability. Do you?

Over the weekend I was given a paper from the Mayor himself that was refuting everything that Karen, Rory and Clint have been saying. Hmm, everyone has a sign, flyer, and paper, my goodness. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone running for office worked this hard the whole time they were in office? Imagine what our community would be if that were the case with the County, Township and City.

Fred has his own paper, Brereton Daily Republican; it’s almost as silly as Patrick Murphy driving around in his SUV with his name and title of Township Supervisor on it. Why doesn’t Murphy just wear a jumpsuit like NASCAR drivers so we can see who his corporate sponsors are?

Anyway the paper was very interesting though. Here are my concerns.

I don’t think that the council works as a team. He states that being an Alderman is not as easy as one might think. If that is the case then why aren’t their standards or some kind of evaluation for the Alderman position instead of just an election every 4 years? They are getting pay raises and it seems to me that they should be deserved, that they do things in order to get a raise just like the rest of us. When I go to council meetings and I overhear an Alderman telling another Alderman that they haven’t even looked at the weekly agenda packet yet, well that  is a big problem to me. Then I have seen time after time where they Alderman are getting some item placed, that night, in front of them and are expected to vote on it. I have heard Alderman say that practice has to stop and yet here we are. The chairs need to be removed from the Council Chambers so everyone on Council and the City Staff will have to stand during the entire meeting and then I bet that things will start to happen. Right now they lean back,  fall asleep and rock back and forth, unless that is working as a team.

I am still looking into the whole Mural process. The minutes from the BCAC state that there has been discussions between the Arts Council and the Mayors office to have the City take over the Murals to help with the Maintenance (cost and logistics). It also states that several months in a row  the City Manager is still looking into how to have the city take over the copyrights and not have new owners of buildings be able to just paint over them. So when the Mayors states that, (he inherited 10 murals), I am not sure about that. I will let you know how my investigation is going as I gather more information.

Lastly I think he should have mentioned in his paper the Buchanan Street project and everything good it has accomplished for the rest of the downtown.

At the end of the day I will be voting for Brereton. I don’t think Schrader has the experience nor the education for the job. We, as the voters, are the CEO’s of Belvidere and we need to hire the most qualified person for the job. We have two people to choose from and the choice is clear. This process shouldn’t be any different than hiring a person to run your company. If you were the Human Resources department you would be doing reference checks, background checks, credit checks and everything else to make sure you hire the correct person for the job. Voting for a Mayor should be no different.

On to the letters to the Boone County Journal and those lovely ads from those who want our vote.

As soon as you turn to page 2 there is a letter from Kim Larson saying that as a Republican Precinct Committee man of 20 years he is disappointed with Fred’s work? Does he really believe Schrader can do a better job though? Really? Really? Seriously? Really? WOW! Also on the same page is Re-Elect Mark Sanderson who has been a Alderman for 12 years. Isn’t that the same amount of time that Fred has been Mayor? How long has Andy Racz been in office? My point is that all the problems (no matter how little I personally care for Brereton) is not all one person’s fault.

The problem I have with the 19% unemployment rate is this: Aren’t these numbers skewed just a wee bit lad? I mean every time Chrysler has a lay off for even a week those numbers get counted in the over all picture of things. So is Brereton to blame for Chrysler making crap cars that no one wants to buy? Hardly, the cars are not what the public wants. Larson makes some great points about Brereton but at the end of the day Schrader, in my opinion, is still not qualified for the job.

So if you are one of those people who say/think that we need change then you wouldn’t be re-electing Sanderson who has been in office for 12 years. You would be electing Jessica Muellner if you lived in Ward 5. Now I have never met Jessica and I do not vote the democratic ticket. I wish there was a true Libertarian out there running. But if you look at what Jessica says she wants to hold developers accountable but not punish them before they get to the table. Basic economics teaches us that there is a way to do both. Something I don’t think Schrader or Sanderson know how to do. I think what I like the most is, she is the only one talking green and sustainability in her ads. That is important and we need to continue on that track.

Ward 1 has David Deckert running for re-election. Now I think David has put forth a great effort and was always on the rear of Brereton to get the hospital to come back to town. I think that has been his whole platform and good for him. He went after something and he got it. But I also think he needs to quit crying over the stolen signs, and writing letters about it. Stick to writing letters that are important to the whole community. If you want to write a letter complaining that your signs got stolen than you had better be prepared to write letters for every person in your ward that think they have something important to write about. It works both ways and if you are truly a public servant than why does it seem that the only time you get fired up, or work really hard is during the election process? The question applies to every person running for office. I don’t think that David really has too much to worry about. I think we can all agree that we do not want Clint back in office. He had his chance and was not re-elected once before. We are moving forward and there is no reason to all of a sudden take (well I would normally say 2 steps backward) but it would be more like 20 steps if he were to get back in office in my opinion.

Ward 2 has Rory Peterson challenging Robert Bowley. Should I continue? Of course I should. Is anyone out there now wishing that Wise had not resigned? Rory has been talking up a storm in the papers for two years and if I can say just one thing, you do not have to yell the loudest to be heard; you need to improve your argument. Something I don’t think he can do, because when it comes right down to it, it comes down to the firefighters for him and Schrader. Not the citizens.

If you live in Ward 3, well, I think I have been crystal clear about my opinion of Mike Chamberlain. I’m surprised he isn’t taking credit for the internet as well, I mean why not. I haven’t seen any ads about his opponent Laurie Anderson other than what the RR Star wrote, and that she works in Wisconsin at Lowes. I hope she wins that one.

Ward 4 I see that we have George Crawford running for another term and I don’t know why. I don’t think he has done anything in his first term let alone in his position as the Republican Chairman. Next you have Jennifer Riley and Jason Sewell. Well for me Jason is out because he supports Karen Schrader. That is sad because he has a good looking resume and seems to have a good business background. However that being said, it isn’t worth much if you have all of that business education and then support Schrader. Is that smart for Belvidere? I don’t think so. So we have to decide between Riley and Crawford. Riley stated in her ad that she volunteers on a regular basis for numerous things and goes to City Council on a regular basis. Well I am on the road 5 out of 7 days a week. I fly weekly on airplanes but it doesn’t mean I can be the pilot. I eat out 4 days a week at pretty good restaurants. That doesn’t make me capable of being Head Chef. I go to movies every weekend but I couldn’t be an Actor.

Why can’t anyone just say, this is what is wrong, this is why it is wrong, here’s the proof, and here are the consequences because of it. This is the correct way to fix it and I will tell you how to do it, along those lines. In the end though, George had his chance and basically I don’t think he did much, so I would have to give Riley the shot. I think he should have at least worked as hard as Deckert and I don’t think he has.

So if I was able to vote and have my way I would keep Brereton in office, re-elect Deckert for Ward 1, re-elect Bowley for Ward 2, elect newcomer Laurie Anderson for Ward 3, elect newcomer Jennifer Riley for Ward 4, and elect newcomer Jessica Muellner for Ward 5.

Remember an Alderman is just as good or just as bad as the leader over him.

I would not vote for Patrick Murphy for Township Supervisor and I would go with friend blogger Bill Pysson for his picks on School Board and County Board.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Let your voice be heard by voting today

Afternoon reminder –

Please go and exercise your right to vote

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

I am not the only one who thought too close for comfort?

That was a very close race for several people.  How many people are in this town and how many took the time to vote? Are the citizens that dis-enchanted with our government that they just gave up and don’t care anymore?

I feel bad for the citizens of ward one.  But wait, who needs Obama we have Morris, he will be our Messiah!

If nothing else it will provide for more entertainment at council.  15 votes separated Brereton and Schrader.  My My, I bet the Mayor was sweating bullets last night.  However, I am glad he won, I stand by what I said.  I do not think Karen has the education or the experience  to help us in this times. I think she would have set us back at least 10 years.  It is comforting to know that she had one “ok”comment in this mornings paper.  “He knows now he’s got to shape up.”   Is that even English, but none the less I think he realizes that.

I am so relieved that Peterson did not get elected.

10 votes separated Chamberlain and Anderson and again that is really to close for comfort.  I received this email this morning how interesting is this.  I will let you decide.

Silence,

Can you please post my email and you may use my name.  I visit your blog but stayed away from writing to you thus far.   Several people actually think I am you and they can continue to think that as far as I am concerned.  I am flattered that people think I am you and I hope you don’t mind either.  Keep up the good work, and I will continue to visit your site.

I had trouble at my polling station and I am curious to know if anyone else did either.  I sent a email to the Mayor, and the current Alderman of Ward 3 and 4 where the error was happening. I live in Ward 3 but was given a Ward 4 ballot.

(More for just you Silence) I was disappointed that you did not have a picture of the banner that hangs up in the parking lot downtown for the dental patients parking.  Isn’t there some kind of law that prevents that?  Or isn’t there a time limit?  That and the store downtown that sells the tobacco and supplies.  It looks horrible and I don’t understand the difference between a sign being on the inside or outside of a window.  Esthetically it changes nothing, still looks bad.

Good Afternoon,

This morning I went to vote at the Church on the corner of Main & East Lincoln.  I am in the 3rd Ward.  I have an Alderman, Mike Chamberlain, who is up for re-election.

When I went to my polling station I was given a Ward 4 Ballot.  When I reached the section of Alderman was when I noticed the error.  I knew I should have had 2 Choices.  Mike Chamberlain and Laurie Anderson.  Instead There were 3 choices, Jason Sewell, George Crawford and Jennifer Riley.

I took my form uncompleted to the table and informed the volunteers that I was given the wrong form.  I need to be voting for a ward 3 Alderman.  They all looked confused and I tried to explain that I lived on the river side of East Lincoln and I am in Ward 3 not 4.  (However there are a few ward 4 signs on my side of the street)

They explained to me that this was the first year they were given 2 different ballots but either way I was supposed to have form 5.  Upon further questioning one of the ladies came around the table took me back to my booth to explain to me that if I didn’t know any of the candidates in ward 4 then I just skip that section.  I explained to her that I know all of the people on the ballot for ward 4 but that I wanted to vote for the Alderman that covers the ward I lived in.  Another women then said since she didn’t know what to do there was nothing she could do.

I am not sure who I forward this information to and I realize that this only effects so many houses on that one block when that boundary was changed a few years back.  I just think it would be awful  for someone to win/lose in Ward 4 or someone to lose/win in Ward 3 because people are not getting the right ballot.  After a while they found the right ballot for me but if there is someone out there who doesn’t even know who their Alderman is and is voting the wrong ballot things might not turn out.

I very well could be the only one this happened too and I hope that to be the case.  It only covers that one block and who knows how many people will vote today but I thought it worth mentioning and if anyone knows where this email should really be sent then please forward it to me or provide me a number so that I might call to report the error.

Thanks so much,

Tami Brodnicki

PS -

I received an email back from Mayor Brereton saying that he would forward this to the correct person and I am sure he did, he has always done so in the past for me.  I heard nothing from Chamberlain nor Crawford which does not suprise me.  Why should they start to do anything now?

Thank you for the notice Ms. Brodnicki.   I have more photos that will soon be posted and I am glad other people are noticing as well.

It does not surprise me about Crawford or Chamberlain either.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

I’m Back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well Good Evening to all,

Please forgive my absence as I was having trouble and had to trade in my old computer for a new one.

Have no fear I am back and I have some more pictures to share with all of you.

I am so thrilled to see that the awning came down on the You and Me Beauty Salon.  I at one time showed this picture in hopes someone would do something about it, but also to show how there is a huge lack of enforcement down at city hall.

So, let us see if we can get the paid employees to continue to do their job.

First we shall review.

BEFORE

AFTER (oh how I love the power of the internet)

NEXT……

Can someone please let me know what is wrong with the next two pictures?  Does it really matter if the signs are on the inside or outside of the window?  I think not.  It doesn’t change the look of the window.  It still looks bad.  When is someone going to do something about this?

What about this picture?  How long is a banner allowed to stay up, or do we call this a temporary sign?  Maybe it is considered an off premise sign.  Who knows, who cares?  I care, it looks terrible and sends a bad message to potential customers to our downtown.  Do not park here, it is for me and my customers only. Is a banner needed for that?  I would think that the signs on the building might be enough.  Don’t misunderstand me, I think they look bad too, however it is less obtrusive to the eye.  The signs on the building in my opinion hurt the Mural.  Why don’t people work together downtown?

I think the banner adds so much to the Mural as well.

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood

Is Steve Schabacker Blind?

Can someone please explain to me how this can be allowed?  You take down one awning to put up one that looks worse and still has all the colors that you are not suppose to use according to our sign ordinance.

I want to know what our newly re-elected Mayor is going to do about this.  I want to know what the Plan Commissions is going to do about this.  I want to know what our City Council is going to do about this since they care so much about us and our downtown.  If the City wants the North side of State Street to look like the South side of Chicago then re-write the sign ordinance, if not then enforce the ordinance we have now.    At the very least is it too much to ask to use a frame that fits the window.   Isn’t that the same awning they used on their old business.  I always thought that a sign or awning permit was not transferable.

I guess the Mayor is still recovering from that close election and that is why he hasn’t done anything about this or ask his code enforcer to do anything about it.  I would hate to think that I voted for the wrong person

Your Faithful Servant,

Silence Dogood