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Round-Up: Municipal and County Governance

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Illinois

[posted by Mike Murray]

* DuPage County Board may outlaw video gambling

Gamblers could have 35 fewer options if the DuPage County Board votes today to prohibit video gambling.

Just weeks after proposing a ban on gambling machines at nearly three dozen eligible bars, restaurants, golf courses and social clubs in unincorporated parts of the county, the board is planning to make its opposition official.

* Will County wants to ban video gambling

In a news release, Will County Board chairman Jim Moustis said he wants to ban video gambling in unincorporated areas of the county. Towns in Will County would continue to determine if the state law will take effect within their jurisdictions.

“I am opposed to video poker and believe it has no business in our communities,” said Moustis (R-Frankfort). “The board needs to begin discussions this month and make a decision, sooner rather than later. This type of gambling is a losing bet for our residents and their families.”

The county board has set a meeting for Thursday to begin deliberations on the subject.

* Oak Lawn rejects union concessions

Concession packages, including furloughs and raise deferments, recently were offered up by leaders of Oak Lawn’s fire union and Operating Engineers Local 150 only to be rejected by the village.

Oak Lawn’s three other employee unions say they aren’t negotiating at all.

Local 150 represents more than 100 public works and clerical positions. The fire union represents nearly 90 village firefighters.

Together, those union jobs account for 28 of the village’s planned layoffs, scheduled to take place Aug. 31.

* USOC Hall of Fame in Chicago

The final fundraiser for Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics will be a big one with top athletes inducted into a hall of fame.

The U.S Olympic Committee is holding its hall of fame induction at Chicago’s McCormick Place on Wednesday.

Inductees include the 1992 men’s Olympic basketball “dream team” that include Chicago’s Michael Jordan, track star Michael Johnson and skiing champ Picabo Street.

The ceremony doubles as a fundraiser for the local Olympic organizing committee, which will find out soon if Chicago gets to host the Olympic games.

* Chicago Public Schools Move to Year-Round Calendar

* Lack of Air Conditioning Doesn’t Stop Schools From Switching to Year-Round Schedule

It’s back to school today for 90,000 Chicago Public Schools students who are moving to a year-round schedule. Many of those students are in buildings without air conditioning.

Libby School on the South Side is 108 years old and has only fans in classrooms. Principal Kurt Jones says the school decided to go year-round despite a lack of air conditioning.

* Getting data 1st step to making path safer

* Recorder’s office launches new Web site

The Sangamon County recorder’s office has launched a new, expanded Web site that includes links to frequently asked questions, programs and forms.

* LED pilot project could expand in River Forest

As River Forest works to find a use for its tax increment financing money before the fund expires later this year, it appears that at least one public works initiative is likely to win approval. A project studying the effectiveness of energy-efficient light-emitting diodes in outdoor streetlights has won support from the village board, though it hasn’t yet been put to a vote. The pilot project, which encompasses just one streetlight near the corner of Central and Lathrop Avenues, could be expanded later this year.

* The cost of history

Woman sues Edgewater preservationists for blocking sale: ‘They were trying to ruin me’

* Ice cream shop gets licked

This is a tale of frozen custard and the City of Chicago Municipal Code 10-28-805.

- I did not find much news worthy about this article. Isn’t his how local government is designed to work. Sounds like a text book case of compromise, but instead of reading it again to make sure I would see if anyone disagrees with me?

posted by Mike Murray
Tuesday, Aug 11, 09 @ 10:54 am

Comments

Sure seems like people prefer illegal rather than legal video poker.

When are the bonds for the cap plan supposed to go out? Looks like we’re going to have to rethink a portion of the revenue source.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 11, 09 @ 11:34 am
[…] Round-Up: Municipal and County Governance Just weeks after proposing a ban on gambling machines at nearly three dozen eligible bars, restaurants, golf courses and social clubs in unincorporated parts of the county, the board is planning to make its opposition official. […]

Pingback by Bet Boxing Odds » Harry and Louise, closet socialists Tuesday, Aug 11, 09 @ 6:33 pm
Pingback, it is official. The DuPage County Board voted unanimously to ban video poker. The thing is, that only covers unincorporated DuPage County.

Comment by Obamarama Tuesday, Aug 11, 09 @ 7:50 pm
Local 150 was the one of the first unions to cave in to Daley’s demands. Their member load non-union hired trucks in Chicago every day. Irving park and Oakley. Payback is no fun! They also load non-union trucks when union 726 member picket right infront of them. Fire all of em!

Comment by Patrick McDonough Tuesday, Aug 11, 09 @ 11:02 pm