Author Archives: Good Day Illinois

Freeport City Council Meeting Tonight, July 21, 2014 – Resolution on agenda for Approving Incentives Offered by Stephenson County for Medical Cannabis Facility at Mill Race Crossing – Let’s See the Incentives!

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20140720-204058-74458642.jpgThe meeting will begin at 6:00 pm in the City Council Chambers at 524 West Stephenson Street, 3rd Floor. If you have Comcast Cable, go to channel 17 to watch live.

1st reading of three ordinances dealing with new Meadows Redevelopment Project (TIF). There will be motion asking that it be laid over until the September 15, 2014 city council meeting.

1st reading of ordinance for purchase of new fire truck ($540,000). Too bad the fire truck will be unable to get to your house since the streets are in horrible condition – especially on the south edge of Freeport!

Resolution authorizing incentives from Stephenson County in form contract relating to Mill Race Crossing intergovernmental agreement for medical cannabis (marijuana for you non-pot heads) growing facility and/or dispensary to this area. What are the incentives? The public and council should see the form contract before approving the incentives contained in the contract. Mayor Gitz says this this resolution does not make any financial obligations on the part of the city. If it does not commit the city, then why is the city’s approval necessary?

Notice from Fire Chief of the emergency purchase of two new stretchers and accessories for price of $28,603.00. If it is an emergency, council approval is not necessary.

For the complete agenda, go to http://www.ci.freeport.il.us/citygovernment/Agendas/A20140721.pdf

If You Like Country – Enjoy Music on Chicago in Downtown Freeport, Illinois on Friday, July 18 – Featuring Jamie Campbell & The Redneck Romeos

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20140716-081011-29411661.jpg5:30 to 11 pm on Chicago Avenue between Main and Stephenson Street in downtown Freeport. Enjoy Freeport’s historic downtown with this music fest featuring two bands, great food and a beer garden, plus an open air market on Chicago between Stephenson and Exchange from 4 pm to dusk the same night. This concert features “Country in Chicago” with The Eugene Smiles Project at 6:00 pm and Jamie Campbell & The Redneck Romeos at 8:00 pm.

For more info on the Romeos http://www.jamiecampbelltheredneckromeos.com/ and for info on the Smiles Project go to http://www.theeugenesmilesproject.com/

Does the Freeport Mayor Want The Fifth Third Bank Building for His New Home?

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Mayor Gitz said in his weekly column in the Journal Standard on July 13, 2014 that the MetLife Building is too big for city hall, and he does not want it off the tax rolls! Surprise! When did a Mayor of Freeport or the present city council get concerned about taking buildings off the tax rolls. Wake up Freeport! Every TIF in Freeport takes property off the tax rolls. The Fifth Third Bank building, if acquired by the city, will take a property off the tax rolls to the tune of $65,455.94. I guess $65,000 does not count! Just shift more taxes to the homeowner and the few remaining small businesses in Freeport. Oh by the way, before city acquires any more buildings, let’s deal with the existing buildings that it owns. It takes a lot of nerve to talk about buying more buildings when the city cannot even maintain its existing buildings.

It’s Fair Time in Illinois – Be Sure to Attend the 160th Stephenson County Fair in Freeport – The First County Fair in Northwest Illinois!

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The fair began on Tuesday, July 8 and runs through July 13 at the Stephenson County Fairgrounds, 2250 S. Walnut Road, Freeport, from 8 am to 10 pm.

July 9: Monster Truck Show, 7:30 pm, Free.

July 10: Lucas Oil Midwest Summer Nationals Tractor Pull, 1 pm: Free; 7 pm: $10.

July 11: Lucas Oil Midwest Summer Nationals Tractor Pull, 1 pm: $5; 7 pm: $10.

July 12: Country music artist, Jerrod Niemann. See information at his website at http://www.jerrodniemannofficial.com/. His special guest will be Chris Cavanaugh (see http://www.chriscavanaughmusic.com/home). 7:45 pm, Standing room only and track seating: $20; general grandstand seating: $10 through July 6 and $12 after July 6.

July 13: Demolition Derby, 2 pm, $10

For a full schedule of events and activities go to http://www.stephensoncountyfair.org/home.html

TIF, TIF, TIF – That is the Question! Public Hearing at Freeport City Council Meeting Tonight, July 7, 2014 on New Meadows TIF.

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The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm in the City Council Chambers at 524 West Stephenson Street, 3rd Floor. If you have Comcast Cable, go to channel 17 to watch live.

The major item on the agenda is the public hearing on the new Meadows TIF (Tax Increment Financing District) consisting of 173.5 acres. A TIF creates funding for public or private projects by borrowing against the future increase in property tax revenues. Every TIF shifts the tax burden to home owners and small businesses since any increase is property tax revenues will be used to subsidize businesses in the TIF. Freeport has many TIF’s established to help such diverse areas or businesses as downtown Freeport, Walmart and Menards, and Heritage Woods on Pearl City Road. A TIF will only last 23 years, and then they will again start contributing their share of real estate taxes! Freeport has lots of TIF’s.

For the Project Plan and Eligibility Report, go to http://www.ci.freeport.il.us/departments/Freeport%20RPA%20Meadows%20TIF%20Public%20Draft_05-09-14.pdf

Other items on the agenda:

New equipment for the Fire Department:

Approval of bid from Bocker Auto Group for $32,251.31(with trade) for 2015 red Chevrolet Tahoe

Requesting action from the City Council to waive the formal bidding process and approve the purchase of a new PUC fire engine from Pierce Fire Apparatus, Appleton Wisconsin in an amount not to exceed $540,000 financed over a period of 60 months.

Update from Community Development Director on transit phone system. Listing of bid amounts at http://www.cityoffreeport.org/OrdRes/DH%20RPT%20Cell%20Phone%20Quotes%2020140707.pdf

For the complete agenda, go to

Click to access A20140707.pdf

City of Freeport Notified Bond Rating Downgraded on May 16 – Why Wasn’t This Made Public at a Council Meeting?

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The Journal Standard reported on June 29 that the city was notified on May 16 by Standard & Poor’s that it had downgraded the city’s bond rating from A+ to A. This means it will cost the city more to borrow money. Since the city was notified of the bond rating change, there have been three council meetings. The big question is why was this was not discussed at one of these meetings? The Freeport Council must have known of this rating change, and did not feel the citizens of this community were entitled to this information. Obviously, the council must not understand the full ramifications of this rating change. Otherwise, it would have been discussed at council meetings. Alderman Tom Klemm was quoted in the Journal Standard article when describing the condition of Freeport – “We’re still in good shape.” What city is this man living in? This simplistic attitude is part of Freeport’s problem. The present leadership on the city council is totally incapable of comprehending the serious issues facing Freeport. If you don’t understand the issues, how in the world will you be able to address them?

Mexican Army Invades United States – Will President Obama Capitulate and Give Texas back to Mexico?

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A Mexican military helicopter crossed the U.S. border today, and fired at a marked U.S. Border Patrol vehicle. Fortunately, no one was injured. After the shooting, the helicopter returned to Mexico. See http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2014/06/27/mexican-military-helicopter-flies-into-us-shoots-at-border-patrol-agents-flies-back-n1856443

Why is this happening? Weakness encourages aggression whether it is Iraqi, Ukraine, and now on our own border with Mexico. This Administration treats our veterans like second class citizens while Mexicans illegally entering the U.S. get first rate medical care. See New York Times Article at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/10/us/va-audit-finds-long-waits-for-care-are-widespread.html?_r=0

This is not the first time Mexico has invaded the U.S. and it is becoming a common occurrence. See article at http://www.kvoa.com/news/n4t-investigators-rogue-mexican-army-troops-crossing-the-line/

What will the Obama administration do? Apologize, Apologize, and Apologize – We will apologize for annexing Texas in 1845, and offer to give the state back to Mexico. Obama doesn’t like Texas anyway – it does have a Republican governor and an economy that is booming. Oh, by the way, do you think Mexico will throw in that American soldier who has been held over 60 days in a Mexican prison? So sad but almost true.

See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2650114/EXCLUSIVE-Mr-President-Commander-Chief-Get-jail-US-Marine-rotting-away-Mexican-prison-making-driving-mistake-begs-Obama-help-free-did-Bowe-Bergdahl.html

We Are The Internal Revenue Service – We Are Above The Law!

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Any taxpayer who has had the unfortunate experience of dealing with the IRS can attest to the fact that there is double standard in Washington.

If you work for the IRS, and don’t pay your income taxes – what do you get? A big fat bonus.
See LA Times article at http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-irs-bonuses-20140424-story.html

If you don’t work for the IRS, and don’t pay your income taxes – what do you get? A sentence to a federal prison. See some of the cases the IRS publicizes at http://www.irs.gov/uac/Examples-of-Nonfiler-Investigations-Fiscal-Year-2014

If you work for the IRS, you can refuse to answer questions before a U.S. House Committee about your work and possible criminal activities asserting your right against self-incrimination – what do you get? A big fat retirement check each month. See article at http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/melanie-hunter/lois-lerner-pleads-fifth-again-house-hearing-irs-scandal

If you don’t work for the IRS, and agents ask you about your failure to report income, and you refuse to answer – What do you get? A sentence to federal prison.

If you work for the IRS, and don’t want incriminating emails released when requested by a Congressional Committee, you say your computer crashed! What do you get? A big fat retirement check each month? See article at http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/06/17/lost-irs-emails-get-real-team-obama-were-not-that-gullible/

You’re audited by the IRS, and tell them your computer crashed and you lost all of your records – What do you get? A sentence to federal prison.

And finally, if you’re the IRS Commissioner, and a U.S. House Committee asks you if you owe the American people an apology for the conduct of the IRS – You refuse to apologize since you know that it’s part of the code of conduct of the IRS. You never apologize no matter how much damage you have done to an honest taxpayer. I guess that means if your are the IRS, you can do what every you want – damn Congress and the citizens of this country. So sad, but true.

MetLife Will Help You with Your Retirement Planning – In Freeport We Know They Are Experts!

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It’s nice to know that MetLife wants to help us with our retirement. In Freeport it is closing its office forcing hundreds of employees into mandatory retirement. Will, I guess MetLife is an expert on retirement. Just ask those Freeport employees who no longer have jobs. Next time you see an ad for MetLife, think about that empty house next door, or your former friends who were forced to move to find a new job. Freeport will be living proof as to MetLife’s retirement expertise.