News

A step in the right direction

Posted December 06, 2015 10:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

After months of lobbying state and local political leaders about the city's backlog of unpaid utility bills, there appears to be help coming for Chester.

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 2309 into law on Monday afternoon, which authorizes the release of $3.1 bill that will, for the most part, go to local governments statewide.

Included in the bill is cash for funds such as 911 centers, road work, video gaming and $1 billion for winners of the Illinois Lottery - who have had to take vouchers for amounts larger than $600.

The funds had already been collected, but could not be released by the state due to the budget impasse. The Senate voted unanimously, 53-0, earlier Monday in favor of the bill.

"It took them awhile to realize what it's done to the local communities, but I think they have a good grasp on it now," said Chester Mayor Tom Page of state lawmakers. "We have certainly done our share of lobbying for us to be paid, including us shutting off utilities to state facilities."

According to documents acquired from the City of Chester, the state owed the city more than $968,000 in utility costs at the end of November. Almost $800,000 of that amount had accumulated during the past five months.

Included in the total cost is service to Menard Correctional Center, Menard Medium Security Unit (MSU), Chester Mental Health, Pierre Menard Home and Randolph County State Recreation Area - which includes the 65-acre Randolph County Lake.

The Chester City Council voted Monday night to transfer funds to the water/sewer operating fund from the general fund and natural gas fund on an as-needed basis "until such time that the city receives payment from the State of Illinois."

"We hope that we are close enough to the (Illinois) Department of Corrections to get a portion of that for our water bills," Page said during the meeting, referring to the pool of money not earmarked for specialized accounts. "A lot better news tonight than last night."

In previous meetings of the city council, Page has stated that he may be forced to cut off water and sewer service to Menard and CMHC due to nonpayment.

The two facilities (and their related operations) owed a total of $688,362.55 in water, sewer and natural gas costs at the end of November. The state has been operating without an overall budget since July 1.

"I've found out I don't need the council's approval to shut the utilities off," Page said last week, adding that the city council members would have been made aware of the decision if it needed to be made. "It would be my decision. I would give as much lead time as I could to both facilities so they could begin preparing."

Page noted that the money the city receives would not pay all of what is owed. He told the Herald Tribune after Monday's meeting that he was told it was up to each individual agency as far as the amount of appropriations each city would receive.

To start December, the city was also without $83,500 in motor fuel tax revenue, $30,000 in video gaming funds and $55,000 in local use tax receipts due to the impasse.

Menard's water service has been shut off before. Page was warden at Menard in 1993, the year of the worst Mississippi River flood since 1927.

"We made our own water at that time and we ended up having Correctional Industries put water in milk cartons to hand out to inmates," he said. "A water truck was brought up for cooking and cleaning.

"It's not something I would wish on my worst enemy, but we managed and got through it."

Page said roughly 250 porta-potties were brought in for bathroom use.

"If you can imagine escorting 3,000 inmates to portable toilets, that was a job in and of itself," he said.

Page indicated that a desire to maintain a good relationship with IDOC and Department of Human Services was a reason why service has continued during the budget impasse.

"The City of Chester and the Department of Corrections and DHS has always had a good relationship and I want to keep that as much as I can," he said. "It's been more than a full-time job lobbying for the money owed to us.

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease and I've been doing a lot of squeaking."

Page told the Herald Tribune he has discussed the issue with local politicians State Rep. Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) and State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville), along with IDOC officials.

"Basically my conversations centered around they better be taking our concerns seriously, because we can't continue down this same path," Page said.

The bill overwhelming passed the House on Dec. 2 on a 107-1-1 vote, with State Rep. Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein) voting "no" and C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) voting "present.

Article Categories
News