What would you like to talk about today? General Parker running for mayor? District 150 borrowing $16 million to meet their payroll? Making wagers on how soon Governor Blagojevich will be impeached? Thoughts on the Israel-Hamas war, now in its fourth day? Or something else entirely?
This is the place to talk about it. It’s Open Thread Tuesday!
In February, 2002, the State Of Illinois gave Keystone ten million dollars to be paid back to Peoria County over a five year period. After five years it was extend another five years and I believe payment was to be two million per year.
I’ve seen several articles in the Journal Star about Keystone’s profits but I’ve never read anything about any payment of the ten million. Does anyone have any information concerning this?
It is a shame that Blagojevich might be impeached before he can really turn Illinois’s economy around.
My simple coment on Israel and Gaza is that we should stay out of it. These are holy wars that have been going on for centuries and we have no business interferring. We are not the world police and we have no business telling them what to do.
“no business telling them what to do.”
And we should stop sending them both money….
Not living in Peoria any longer, I’m curious, has anything happened in the warehouse district or Renaissance park ??? Both seem like good concepts on the face of it although I haven’t seen a mention of either in months/years.
I’m curious if the City has taken taken any notable steps forward.
“I’m curious if the City has taken taken any notable steps forward.”
Nope
the city hasn’t taken a noticable step forward in – gee – can you remember when? And Mahkno is right, we should stop sending money to both sides. Look at who gets “foreign aid”: Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and the “Palestinian Authority” and right up at the top, both directly and indirectly (the UN, which we also fund and shouldd not, gives additional moneys to the Arabs).
Mouse, Mahkno, I agree we should stop giving all of them money. When was the last time any of them stepped up to help us? Its time to take care of our own backyard.
The world is our backyard, and we are the world’s backyard. The sooner we get out of this medieval notion of “nation-states” and start thinking about the planet, the better off we will be. Healthier, safer, and happier.
The UN isn’t funded solely by the United States. The UN has no authority to tax, so all of its funding is dependent on contributions from the member states. The UN gets a bad rap from Conservatives particularly when it comes to the Security Council. However the UN is far more than just the Security Council. The sum of it all has been very positive for the world in general, including the United States which again, despite what Conservatives might say, benefits the U.S. greatly.
I don’t think we should be cutting off the UN’s funding, but revisiting how much each member state is asked to contribute might be worth looking at again to see if a more equitable allocation is obtainable.
The Security Council is also in need of revision but I doubt any change would satisfy the unilateralist Conservative.
Does anyone remember if the city paid any money to acquire the property on the Sears block? If yes, what was the total amount paid for property assimilation? Thanks.
Karrie,
What evil are you stirring up?
They paid through eminent domain for some of the parcels. It even went to court over the amount that was being offered as compensation. I don’t remember the amount.
It seems Mr. Burris has a history of making donations to Blago’s campaign fund. What on earth was he thinking when he accepted that “appointment”? Has he gone mad too?
NV: You have wounded me to the core!:)
Just wondering that’s all. Today’s Peoria County Finance Meeting was a real treat of new information.
(1) Peoria County feels that they will need to get the City of Peoria to title the museum property to them so that the County will be able to legally issue revenue bonds for the museum project. So, the County is in the process of carrying that water to the city.
(2) Roughly $35M will be needed for the museum project. Roughly — not a firm figure. Is that an increase, decrease or the same amount from the last figure on record? Wonder when that figure will be firmed up?
(3) That the resolution (the referendum language) will refer to a “public facility” not the museum specifically.
I asked that as a voter in the voting booth, how would I know that the money would be specifically used for the museum? I wouldn’t know and that the museum people will have to make their appeal to let the voter know that the money is for the museum. Special, seeing that PA 95-1002 (born as SB 1290) refers to public facilities. I guess we will just vote to pass another tax for the County to start a fund for whatever suits them.
(4) And my favorite, that once the county has repaid the bonds, that the county could just give the land away to anyone — the city, the museum group or whomever. This concept was repeated at least twice.
Oh really — so glad that the octopus is swirling its arms making the water murky and muddy. Happy New Year! 🙂
SD wrote: My simple coment on Israel and Gaza is that we should stay out of it. These are holy wars that have been going on for centuries and we have no business interferring. We are not the world police and we have no business telling them what to do.
I’m in full agreement…let Israel take out the garbage – no immediate call for a ceasefire and no inquiries from worried journalists as to how long the operation will take.
I know I’m wierd, but no I love museums & would probably vote yes, but can anyone tell me why that Stuka dive bomber is pursuing that Spitfire at Chicago Museum of Science & Industry?
Were the museum research staff really that obtuse or is there a weight/structural support reason or something else?
That said, I really love that place & have learned so much there.
What is the cost of education? More importantly, what is the ‘cost’ of ‘not’ having one? Do museums really educate over & above the classroom?
Curiously, I just googled a postcard for sale on ebay showing the planes switched. I’m glad to see they addressed the alignment.
Shay: Believe it or not, I love museums too. Just not this museum as planned for a host of reasons. I am seeking to understand your point of view.
Upon review, do you think that you would learn as much from the museum as planned as you have from the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry? If you would be willing to explain why or why not that would be helpful too.
The RAF fighter is having engine trouble and … er… the pilot was going after someone else and didn’t notice the Stuka above and behind it… is it coming from the EAST?… uh and the weight to thrust ratio vs the turn radius and torque er…uh… ‘Cuz it looked cooler that way?
Shay,
Unfortunately… education, historic preservation, local and regional history, etc. has nothing to do with this project any longer.
It is about the self-aggrandizement of a ‘select’ few in this city.
It is about a group of people, who despite a complete lack of public support, barrel ahead with one failed plan after another to raise funds for this debacle.
It is about a group of people whose knowledge of museums and this areas’ past is limited beyond scope, yet feel they are the best qualified to determine the design, purpose and content of this ‘museum.’
It is about a group of people who have never accepted anything in the way of outside criticism or ideas [except from a couple of consulting agencies – at a million or so a pop]….
Drama……yeah baby.
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’ $217,000 salary is not keeping up with inflation and he has asked Congress for a raise.
SO… how do we go about impeaching a Chief Justice?
kcdad: Isn’t that less money than Ken Hinton makes?
How about we petition Chief Roberts to repeal the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 and all of its amendmenst and then we will give him a raise?
NV: So what is the scope on the covert action? I might like a little Inspector Gadget gig.
KCDAD: Thanks for the belly laugh!
Karrie: Full disclosure: I worked at Children’s Museum of Indianapolis ’82, ’83, &’84 and taught classes at Lakeview years ago & still volunteer a few days a year. I’m moved by the passionate efforts of people like Sheldon Schafer, Marge Bjorkland, Bert Princen, Mike Rucker & many others who make Peoria’s Museum an excellent educational resource.
Karrie, you asked if I would I learn as much here as Chicago? I would have to answer “No.”
Peoria is never going to be a Chicago or Indy, not even close, but there are things that the Peoria museum does/can do well. They’re low on storage & display space.
They have a nice insect collection, but no space to display it. They’ve got a start on a good physics exhibit but need more room & displays/activities. The planetarium is magnificent.
New Voice: I guarantee if Sheldon has a role, his parts of the project will be about education and not just be about a ‘select few.’ No disrespect to others, I just know Sheldon.
Yeah, I read the criticisms. I can definitely respect that its hard times & if we vote that people want time to pull back & heal financially, or correct all these conceptual flaws you mentioned and legal risks/exposures that Karrie mentions, and hold off on the baubles and trinkets, I’m cool with that. That sounds like a necessary way to go. People are broke.
Peoria already has several nice museum settings spread out here and there. We’ll get by, though I hope Peoria’s NorthMoor Observatory will be able to raise enough money to complete repairs and re-open soon.
“Human progress is not always linear…moreoften, it resembles the reelings of a drunken beggar on horseback.” -Thomas Wolfe, ‘You Can’t Go Home Again’
-Scott
Shay: Thanks for your feedback. Exactly time to regroup and redesign with true public input!
Shay,
Not denying that what you say is true – especially about Sheldon.
Lakeview is not the only problem here, but they are supposed to provide the foundation for the rest of the ‘Group.’
Lakeviews’ expansion has been discussed on many levels, and many people agree that their current location affords them the room to expand [and then some].
No one is arguing the need for a ‘museum.’ The list of people you named have made significant contributions to Lakeview, etc. Unfortunately, THEY are not the people making the decisions – at least as far as the current museum is concerned.
The credibility of the Museum Group and its ‘affiliates,’ has suffered [in my opinion]. Having people like Jim Maloof [whose reputation ebbs and flows like the tide] rant and rave in favor of this project, does anything but inspire a skittish public.
Yes, times are tight…money will always be a problem, but this project has NEVER appealed to the greater public [at least not its current ‘design’].
The ‘people’ who are running the show do not have the knowledge and/or expertise to make this happen, yet they persist…..why?
I have asked Diane [and others] why they feel the museum project has been on the skids since day one. I am still waiting for an answer.
Karrie,
Public input? That would be cool…indeed.
Shay,
Almost forgot. You made an excellent point
“Peoria already has several nice museum settings spread out here and there. We’ll get by, though I hope Peoria’s NorthMoor Observatory will be able to raise enough money to complete repairs and re-open soon.”
Imagine what even 1/4 of the requested funds for the ‘new museum’ could do for existing or even new facilities/projects?
NV: Your 1/4 point brings up an interesting facet of P.A. 95-1002 (nee SB 1290) and 1/4 of the rough estimate of $35M equals $8.75M.
The statute language:
For purposes of this Section, “public facilities purposes” means the acquisition, development, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement, financing, architectural planning, and installation of capital facilities consisting of buildings, structures, and durable equipment and for the acquisition and improvement of real property and interest in real property required, or expected to be required, in connection with the public facilities, for use by the county for the furnishing of governmental services to its citizens, including but not limited to museums and nursing homes.
How much money is needed for the Observatory? and the facilities you referenced.
NV: How would you suggest spending the theoretical $8.75M?
Karrie,
Shay mentioned the observatory. I am referring only to a [history] museum for Peoria area, and the funds needed to preserve ‘our’ historical and material heritage, etc…….
Let me bust out my calculator and get back to you.
P.S. Many ideas have been mentioned in the past – refurbish existing building downtown, expand existing Lakeview site – are two that immediately come to mind.
P.S.S The statute language? That is simply the longest run-on sentence I have ever seen. I could have summed it all up using only two letters……BS!
Re: NorthMoor Observatory repair costs, I put a call into the couple who are doing the fundraising to see what is needed, what matching funds are available, etc. I think they’ll post as soon as they hear numbers from the treasurer.
-Scott
NV: That is the point! One run-on after another to get the end result.
Shay: Great. The Observatory is an unique community site which should be preserved and enhanced.
Karrie,
Gotcha!
Trying to make time to come up with feasible plan.
I am joining the Shay discussion about the renovation of Northmoor Observatory undertaken by the Peoria Astronomical Society (PAS).
We have about $74K in our fund with a goal of $115K. That total includes “in-kind” donated work from local labor unions and the Peoria Park District. An additional $15K is needed to fully fund the needed renovations so the observatory can be kept open and available to the citizens of Central Illinois.
PAS members, 110 in number, have raised $32K from within our membership. We have also received a grant from Caterpillar Foundation and a challenge grant from the Community Foundation.
Volunteers from the Peoria Astronomical Society have kept Northmoor Observatory open to the public for 53 years. Without the new dome, this community outreach can not be continued. The observatory is located on Donovan Golf Course just north of Proctor Hospital. For 2009, it will open each clear Saturday night starting in May and continue until the end of October. Take a look at http://www.astronomical.org
Starhouse: Thanks for the info & for contributing to this worthy cause.
Just to clarify how we get from 74k to 115k, NorthMoor needs additional $15k which will then be matched by CAT & Community Foundation for a total of 30k.
So the value of the ‘in kind’ contributions, mentioned in your second sentence such as crane & labor to remove the old dome, etc. is valued at 11k.
Thanks again.
-Scott
NV: Please contact me and I would help with the plan.