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The tiny town that said “No”

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Illinois

* The Terre Haute Tribune Star updates its Marshall story…

The City of Marshall, Ill., will meet with representatives from the state today in hopes of arranging payment on outstanding utility bills for Illinois Department of Transportation facilities in Clark County.

Meeting details were arranged moments before Mayor Camie Sanders planned to announce Monday the city would shut off services for all state-owned properties in Marshall. Illinois has operated without a budget since July 1, and utility bills have gone unpaid while a budget impasse continues in Springfield.

Utilities will be kept on at IDOT’s garage and offices on Edgewood Street as both sides discuss a solution. IDOT closed the Cumberland Road Rest Area along Interstate 70 Monday morning.

The ranger at Lincoln Trail State Park has shut off water to all buildings, except his residence, and has personally offered to cover the bill until the state resumes paying, Sanders said.

Marshall — which operates its own utilities — provides electric, water, sewer and gas services to the local IDOT offices, while the highway garage receives electricity. Both the rest area and state park only receive water.

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office called city hall late yesterday morning about the situation, and Sanders will travel to Springfield today and sit down with senior representatives from IDOT and Rauner’s office. […]

“It seems like you do not get a response until you’re willing to pull that plug,” he said. “And it shouldn’t be that way.”

Background is here.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 9:31 am

Comments

Man — if he’s successful in getting a resolution that involves payment they can expect a lot more of this.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 9:35 am
I’m not sure how they are going to arrange payment. I’m also not sure what response the city wanted. There’s no budget. That’s the response a lot of of vendors are getting.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 9:40 am
Good for them. It’s outrageous that utilities are picking sides and enabling the governor’s hostage-taking political strategy by not shutting off the state for non-payment.

The old lady down the street doesn’t get to slide for months on end.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 9:42 am
“It seems like you do not get a response until you’re willing to pull that plug.”

It’s called “brinkmanship.”

It’s what private equity heroes practice in lieu of negotiation.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 9:42 am
Marshall isn’t a tiny town. As anyone south of I-80 knows, towns this size are important for their counties and regions. Marshall is a place where thousands work, go to school, attend churches, and live their entire lives. Marshall has a serious literary history as well. Finally, a tiny town wouldn’t make news like this. We have lots of similar sized towns in Illinois in more serious financial straits, yet don’t get a lick of attention when the residents there try to make news. The fact that Marshall is in the news, shows that it is no tiny town.

It is one thing to have Moody’s downgrade our bonds, and it is another to have localities like Marshall refuse our credit.

Bruce Rauner was elected in towns like Marshall. He has squandered his mandate to such an extent, places like Marshall have publically announced their lack of faith in his administration. The only Turnaround Bruce Rauner should focus on is the one he needs to do with his own voter base.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 9:44 am
Its time for all vendors to start doing this. I am actually yearning for the old days when a budget impasse meant a government shutdown. Rauner is thus far getting credit for his obstructionist ways without feeling any of the consequences of his actions.

Comment by relocated Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 9:48 am
Whatever you call it, they got the attention of the governor’s office. I hope they can work out a payment.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 9:51 am
Alternate headline “Small town uses law to take hostages of their own.” Good for Marshall hopefully the other small towns in IL are paying attention.

Hopefully they hold fast no cash no utilities. Gov you wanted the “leverage” of no budget. You reap what you sow.

To me one of the reasons this has dragged on is that john q citizen doesn’t notice any changes it’s literally business as usual. The municipalities have the power to change that.

Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 9:51 am
The title of this post sounds like the name of a Hallmark Channel movie or miniseries.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 9:52 am
Interesting note, one of Marshall’s favorite sons is Gerald Forsythe, Chairman and CEO of Indeck Companies. IMHO, Marshall is in a better position than most villages to buck the State.

Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 9:54 am
Terre Haute has an e on the end of Haute. Marshall may be small, but it’s the county seat and has much more going on economically than many of its surrounding IL counties.

Comment by Rayne of Terror Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 9:57 am
It’s not Rauner that has caused this financial situation. This has been a long time in coming due to Democrat financial stupidity. Rauner is trying to bring back financial responsibility to this state, and unfortunately Illinois citizens are going to have to suffer going forward for all the financial irresponsibilities of the Democrats. This should not be blamed on Rauner!

Comment by Rauner Strong Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:01 am
@ Rauner Strong Rauner is holding up budget negotiations for an agenda he cant pass through a democratic general assembly. So he’s holding the state government and serivices hostage to an untenable position.

Comment by relocated Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:12 am
I wonder if they will come up with a scheme where someone loans the town the money the state owes, in anticipation of the state later pain. Um, paying.

Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:15 am
==This should not be blamed on Rauner!==

Yay. More victims.

Nobody is blaming the fiscal situation on Rauner. What they are blaming him for is his role in the current budget stalemate. You CAN blame him for that.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:21 am
It is only untenable if it fails….

What is truly untenable is a government that has placed itself (D’S and R’s) in a position where they have given away the house without ever paying for the mortage…. Whoever is the receipient of the house dosen’t own anything but an old debt with lots of interest. I hope they can pay for it!

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:22 am
@Rauner Strong - Rather than say stupidity, I would say spinelessness. And that particular disease affects most politicians no matter their political persuasion.

Comment by cailleach Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:25 am
Closing rest areas on the interstate is very dangerous. Tired truck drivers need rest areas to park and rest. Too many accidents happen because of fatigued drivers. Very irresponsible of Rauner.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:35 am
Expect an IDOT decision oh in the next year or two consolidating facilities at a non-Marshall, IL location.

“He made me look bad…I’ll bury him!” - Anonymous

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 10:36 am
Time for CWLP to start pulling meters in Springfield. No pay, no power.

Comment by Dan S Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 11:07 am
===Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office called city hall late yesterday morning about the situation, and Sanders will travel to Springfield today and sit down with senior representatives from IDOT and Rauner’s office. […]===

Um…Those is Springfield should be made to travel to Marshall. After All they are the ones that are not paying their bills. Just sayin’

Comment by BIG R. Ph. Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 11:15 am
“Time for CWLP to start pulling meters in Springfield. No pay, no power.”

Start with the Mansion and the Capitol building.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 11:19 am
Short term: “Hooray! We’re getting paid!”

Long term: …I’m not sure they fully appreciate potential consequences…

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 12:57 pm
When the IDOT credit cards stop being accepted and the Illinois State Police can’t buy gas Springfield might wake up!!Maybe it’s time ALL vendors stop giving the State credit. Madigan and Rauner, GROW UP and get the budget fixed!!!!

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 2:05 pm
Mayor Sanders would have a lot more credibility if the city of Marshall were hurting financially. It is not. The city treasurer’s most recent monthly report (for October)showed total cash on hand in all funds of $9 million.

Comment by Marshall resident Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 5:56 pm
MR, do you think that insisting that bills be paid might have something to do with that fund balance?

I don’t understand your point about “credibility.” What’s not credible about trying to collect for services rendered?

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 6:27 pm
Keep up the Great Work Governor. They will get over it. Its time to get this right.

Comment by realworld Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 7:19 pm
It’s apparent Mr. Rauner’s wall is beginning to crumble over the fact, the State’s unpaid bills result in utilities being shut off, related services being terminated.

I think it is about time someone shut off the power/gas @ the executive mansion.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 10, 15 @ 7:25 pm