* As you may know, a water pipe burst at the Statehouse Sunday night and it will slightly disrupt things this week…
The [repair] work will not be finished in time for today’s return of the General Assembly. Some Democratic senators with offices on the first floor and mezzanine will be moved to staff offices and conference rooms for the two days they are scheduled to be in Springfield this week, said Cindy Davidsmeyer, spokeswoman for Senate Democrats.
“I think the disruption will be minimal,” she said.
The north entrance to the Capitol will remain closed at least part of today. Officials want to ensure plaster ceilings at the north entrance were not damaged by the water.
*** UPDATE *** After noting that the burst pipe was caused by an open door in the governor’s suite leading to a balcony, Aaron Chambers notes…
The governor’s staffers use the balcony to smoke. I once saw the governor’s buddies out there drinking beer at the end of session. Must be nice to have a balcony. Maybe in the future, they’ll securely close the door after they use it.
Comments
- Just My Opinion - Wednesday, Feb 13, 08 @ 10:54 am:
For those having to vacate their offices because of water damage, it would be appropriate to move into the governor’s second floor offices since the SJ-R reported this morning that the leak originated as a result of a staffer leaving an outside door unsecured. Either the door was left open or the wind blew it open - either way, it’s the fault of that office for not securing the door. I’ve not been in that suite of offices but I’m pretty sure there would be enough room to accommodate the displaced senators.
- Squideshi - Wednesday, Feb 13, 08 @ 11:24 am:
I think that Donnie Darko did it.
- Anon - Wednesday, Feb 13, 08 @ 11:35 am:
Let’s not speak ill of the lanai.
- Anon - Wednesday, Feb 13, 08 @ 11:42 am:
AKA - The Smoking Balcony
- Tax Money Down the Drain. Literally. - Wednesday, Feb 13, 08 @ 12:26 pm:
I bet you are correct, 11:42. Given this groups attention to detail, the first thought I had was the kiddie smokers left the door open after a smoke break. Considering that administration’s appreciation for the value of tax dollars, they probably figure the repair costs amount to nothing more than chump change. Let the Secretary of State pay for it.
Let’s get the ethics police on this. Oh, never mind, there’s no republicans to blame it on.
- South of I-80 - Wednesday, Feb 13, 08 @ 1:55 pm:
I didn’t realize that G-Rod’s balcony was so big. Makes you wonder if they stepped or measured off the 15′ from the door requirment! Oh well, it’s good to be King!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 13, 08 @ 2:21 pm:
15′ thanks to the Dems! Oh, by the way, “do as I say, not as I do!”
- Millstadt News Guy - Wednesday, Feb 13, 08 @ 2:41 pm:
I’m curious myself about the 15-foot balcony… perhaps the SOS police can issue a symbolic ticket to the offender(s). Let’s check the tax stamps to make sure they’re not from another state too!
- Gregor - Wednesday, Feb 13, 08 @ 7:28 pm:
That balcony’s a perfect perch for Rod to come out and bless the throngs of the faithful from, or for Emil, stogie in hand, to tell folks how he’ll make the trains run on time.
- ANON - Wednesday, Feb 13, 08 @ 8:44 pm:
You guys really think the guv’s staff was outside smoking in zero degree weather in the middle of the night on a Sunday when the legislature was not in session? Knowing the people who work in that office–and knowing that none of them were there at the time this happened–I think a far more likely explanation would be that one of the guys who goes out to scare pidgeons away and/ or clean off the bird poop is to blame. And those guys are SoS employees, BTW, not governor’s staff.
- Romeo, oh Romeo, - Thursday, Feb 14, 08 @ 7:36 am:
The gov’s press staff never sleeps, they are like galley slaves, toiling away writing their propaganda, and the part you don’t understand is, they took the smoke break earlier in the day but didn’t re-secure the door properly and an hour or three later, it blew open under wind loads.