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[Posted by Mike Murray]
* Illinois tollway chief resigns
The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority’s longtime board chairman resigned today, saying he will serve until Gov. Quinn appoints a successor.
Energy executive John Mitola has overseen one of the tollway’s success stories — a vast expansion of its electronic toll-collection system and reconfiguration of toll plazas so I-Pass users don’t have to stop — since ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed him in May 2003.
* State tollway authority chairman resigns
Quinn is expected to address finding a successor to Mitola at a news conference Thursday and could also talk about replacing board members.
The departure of Mitola comes at a time when the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is under scrutiny from Quinn, who had vowed to clean house at the agency, and from lawmakers, who plan hearings this September on several controversies. A tollway spokesman said Mitola’s decision was strictly personal.[…]
During Mitola’s tenure, the agency instituted electronic tolling, extended I-355 and embarked on a massive widening and reconstruction program.
* Suburban lawmaker wants tollway information
On Wednesday, state Rep. Jack Franks, a Marengo Democrat, requested documents from the tollway regarding the agency’s dealings with Wilton Partners, the private firm that redeveloped and operated the tollway oases. Wilton and the oases are now the subject of foreclosure proceedings and at last count still owed the tollway about $1.3 million in rent.
Franks also sought information about board-member benefits, terminated employees and consulting contracts.[…]
A spokeswoman for the tollway said she first learned of Franks’ requests when the Daily Herald forwarded them to her for comment. She said the agency’s Freedom of Information officer would be preparing a response to the lawmaker.
Next month, state lawmakers will assemble in Chicago to begin publicly examining the Wilton deal and other tollway sore spots. The meeting of the Illinois Senate State Government Committee is scheduled for 11 a.m., Sept. 9 at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago.
* Layoffs mean more limbo for Lincoln Developmental Center
This fall, for the first time in over a 130 years, a once-bustling state facility in Central Illinois will be completely vacant.
Lincoln Developmental Center, which had been Logan County’s largest employer for decades, will have no permanent workers on site beginning Sept. 30.
The three remaining workers are being let go as part of Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget cuts, raising questions about security and maintenance of the grounds.
“Once you stop maintaining facilities, it costs far more to bring them up to speed,” said state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, who represents a part of Logan County. “It just defies imagination.”
* New law gives parents 30 days to drop off babies at havens
Gov. Pat Quinn signed Wednesday a new law allowing parents to drop abandoned newborn babies at a hospital, fire or police station up to 30 days after they’re born.
“Rather than abandon the baby, which has unfortunately happened in Illinois, we’d rather have the parent bring the baby to a safe place, a Save Haven, and we save the lives of many, many babies,” Quinn said before signing the bill on FOX Chicago.
* Safe havens give unwanted babies a chance to live
* New law makes sex offenders’ use of Internet social networking a felony
Gov. Pat Quinn signed new laws Tuesday designed to limit sex offenders’ use of technology as a way to find more victims.
One law taking effect Jan. 1 makes it a felony for registered sex offenders to use social networking sites, a move aimed at taking another step toward shutting down an avenue of contact between an offender and victim.
“Obviously, the Internet has been more and more a mechanism for predators to reach out,” said Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), a sponsor of the measure and a governor candidate. “The idea was, if the predator is supposed to be a registered sex offender, they should keep their Internet distance as well as their physical distance.[…]
Quinn also signed into law a new offense known as grooming, where a predator over time coaxes a minor into meeting for sexual activities. The law, whose sponsors included Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo), is aimed at closing a loophole in the current sex registration law, he said. It takes effect immediately.
* Illinois increases protections for victims of domestic violence and stalking
Under existing law, stalking victims are unable to obtain an order of protection unless they have a domestic relationship with the stalker or have suffered an attack.
Beginning Jan. 1, a victim will be able to secure an order of protection against anyone who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly engages in repeated and unwanted contact with them or with a member of their immediate family or household. Victims must prove they are alarmed or experience reasonable apprehension regarding their safety or the safety of family members.
A second law requires that parolees accused of domestic violence be automatically arrested for violating their parole.
It also doubles to 4 years the mandatory supervised release term for a number of domestic crimes and requires 40 hours of domestic violence training for parole officers handing offenders convicted of domestic violence felonies.
* State law seeks to protect college students from credit predators
With college students about to head off to campus, Illinois is enacting a new law intended to crack down on freebies credit card companies use to entice students to apply for cards.
Gov. Pat Quinn on Tuesday signed into law a prohibition on free gifts that have included things like T-shirts and pizza.
The prohibition is intended to prevent students from being bombarded with card applications and then impulsively signing up for credit cards they can’t manage and ending up thousands in debt before they leave school. It was pushed by Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and overwhelmingly supported by lawmakers.
* Quinn signs 3 public safety laws
Quinn signed the bills Wednesday at a news conference on Chicago’s South Side. Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez also was at the event, where she announced the opening of the county’s second Community Justice Center.
One of the news laws Quinn signed increases penalties for disarming a peace officer or correctional institution employee. Another law adds the street drug commonly known as BZP to the state’s list of Schedule 1 controlled substances. A third law allows stalking victims to pursue court orders of protection.
* All-out blitz as state targets steroids
Against that backdrop, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn last week signed legislation that should mean hundreds more prep athletes will be tested each year across Illinois — an estimated 1,000 students, compared to last year’s 700.[…]
At this point, it’s also unclear when and how the new law will shape high school sports in this state.
“We are still awaiting word from the Illinois (Department) of Public Health on how the structure of the new testing will look,” IHSA spokesman Matt Troha wrote in an e-mail Tuesday. “We do not anticipate it being in place for the fall sports this year, in which case we would likely continue using last year’s testing plan.”[…]
Of Illinois’ 700 athletes who were administered tests, less than a dozen tested positive; all were eventually granted medical exemptions.
* State Capitol Q&A: Distracted driving measures
* What you need to know about the state fair
posted by Mike Murray
Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 11:03 am
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The tollway/Wilton Partners angle has some legs.
Remember this? Wilton Partners, as oasis managers, put out RFPs for food concessions at lease rates so high that no one bid on them.
Wilton Partners then went out and “negotiated” lease rates with clout-heavy concessionaires such as Panda Express (remember who owned those)?
What were the negotiated lease rates? The tollway won’t say, claiming they’re not a party to the agreement. Neither will Wilton.
Does that seem like a particularly ingenuous scam to you?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 11:45 am
Family Issues” have NOTHING to do with Mitola’s resignation from the Tollway.
HE WAS TOLD TO RESIGN BY QUINN.
Ask Mitola how he bought his seat with the over 45,000 bucks he gave to Blago.
He’s just another “reform and renewal” crook that leaves the Tollway in disgrace.
Comment by Tollway Joe Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 2:14 pm
===Does that seem like a particularly ingenuous scam to you?===
Ingenuous and Ingenious actually. Looks like all of the Orange Chicken sales couldn’t cover Rezko’s mortgage payments though.
Comment by Obamarama Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 3:08 pm
Wake Up People!
John Mitola, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority’s longtime board chairman, is under serious investigation by the Feds shortly after had gotten his plum job at the Illinois Tollway.
And he’s not the only higher up with dirty hands.
Comment by Northside Bunker Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 5:43 pm
Arrogant Bunch & Above the Law
Illinois Tollway Chairman - John Mitola, Excutive Directors Jack Hartman, Brian McPartlin, Jeff Dailey (3 weeks before suddenly resigning) strangely when Rod Blagojevich was arrested and indicted). Jeff Dailey was also the Chief Engineer for 3 or so years and steered many engineering and construction contracts for Blagojevich and his Brownshirts.
Comment by iMAGINE Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 5:59 pm
You Can Follow the Trail
Look at IDOT appointments
at every District or Region
You will find NON-QUALIFIED
INDIVIDUALS doing NOTHING
EXCEPT SCAMMING YOU THE TAXPAYERS
OUT OF LARGE GROSS SALARY $$$$$$$$
Go and Check it out see what state employees
make
www.stltoday.com look at news and illinois
section and then look at drop down section
on right of page
YOU WILL THEN SEE HOW THIS ADM.
is still taking CARE of POLITICS !!!!
And not changing ANYTHING
BUSINESS AS USUAL !!!!
Comment by grategul Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 7:21 pm
Quinn needs to go much further.
John Mitola is a real good start.
Comment by ShopVac the Illinois Tollway Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 7:48 pm
In short John Mitola was fired, he didn’t resign. What cozy state Blagojevich created.
John Mitola has resigned as chief executive and as a director of Electric City Corp., the company said late Monday.
His replacement as CEO is David Asplund, who has served as a company director since June 2002.
The Elk Grove Village-based maker of devices that conserve electricity has struggled to make a profit since going public in 1998 and reported a $5.2 million loss in 2004. For the first nine months of 2005, Electric City lost $4.5 million on $3.8 million in revenues, vs. a $3.8 million loss in the year-earlier period.
Mr. Mitola is also chairman of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. He was appointed to a four-year term by Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2003. Also on Monday, the Tollway’s executive director, Jack Hartman, announced he is leaving his job.
Mr. Mitola had been recruited in 2000 from a job as general manager of Thermal Technologies, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Unicom Corp. (now Exelon Corp.), to become CEO.
Electric City said in a release that Mr. Mitola will continue to assist the company as a consultant. The company did not state the reason for Mr. Mitola’s departure.
Electric City also announced a new chairman, Richard Kiphart, who is a large shareholder and a principal at William Blair & Co. He replaces Robert Manning, who has served as chairman since 2001.
Messages left with Electric City and the Tollway authority were not immediately returned. Mr. Mitola could not be reached for comment.
Comment by Plum Jobs Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 8:26 pm
Well, if Paula Wolff is “reform” I’m the KIng of England.
Thank God Quinn didn’t let her screw up another university.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Aug 13, 09 @ 9:23 pm