A September 1st article in the online version of one of our local rags reported -- Park Ridge executive picked to join District 64 board. The lucky winner of the appointment to the School Board vacancy is Mr. Scott Zimmerman.
The background and credentials Mr. Zimmerman brings to the position are -- "chief information officer of CenterPoint Properties in Oak Brook and [he] has served on company boards and professional advisory committees. He has a master's degree in management information systems from DePaul University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Loyola University."
Sounds pretty good.
Mr. Zimmerman is quoted in the article as saying, "I had a desire to give back to the community," Zimmerman said. "I felt it was good to get involved."
Sounds pretty cliche.
No offense to Mr. Zimmerman or anybody else, but the PRU Crew is inclined to present a lovely gift certificate to the next person stepping into a public service role who can come up with something, anything, different to say!
However, what really really really caught the PRU Crew's attention in the article is --
"District 64 received 18 applications for the position.
"We had a very healthy number of applicants," said Board President John Heyde, who said the candidates showed a great deal of enthusiasm and were from a wide variety of backgrounds."
How many??? Eighteen???
Outstanding!!!
We hope no less than eighteen candidate packets are requested from the Park Ridge City Clerk for the upcoming elections! We look forward to each of these eighteen enthusiastic people continuing their enthusiasm for...giving back...to the community!
And just in case these eighteen enthusiastic individuals weren't aware of it -- No, you do not -- we repeat, you do NOT -- have to obtain the endorsement of the District 64 & 207 General Caucus in order to run for election to either the District 64 or 207 School Boards!
The PRU Crew may even be more enthusiastic about your candidacy if you didn't!
September 14, 2010
How Many?
September 13, 2010
More COW Bell!
The ding-a-lings we call our elected representatives will be holding another COW meeting this evening at City Hall, beginning at 7:00 pm. The agenda (.pdf) for tonight's meeting covers Finance and Budget, Public Works, and Public Safety.
The first item of business, under Finance and Budget, is an action item -- a. City Manager's Employment Agreement (.pdf). For those of you paying attention, you will remember this item of business was deferred from the last City Council meeting, in keeping with Council tradition. The PRU Crew feels the contract is more than fair for a City Manager position in a community the size and type of Park Ridge -- but we must admit, we're not sure there's enough money in the world to compensate anyone having to deal with our current crop of elected representatives.
Under the Public Works portion of the agenda, the PRU Crew cannot wait to hear the discussion which will take place regarding item 1. Parkway Tree Removal Policy (.pdf) -- and the PRU Crew is wondering what the hell the amount of $167,438.94 is supposed to reference in the cover memo.
The most recent installment of "Meatgate" was covered in one of the local rags here and here. Tree preservation and the Bonita Drive Bunyans were originally discussed on our blog here and here. We are particularly interested in hearing when and how a mere policy overrides a City ordinance, in addition to learning when and how the new City Forester Mr. Tony Gliot can override settled Council policy in particular cases. However, the PRU Crew does have to give a big old tip of our lumberjack hats to the Bonita Drive Bunyans who clearly live by the standard that if at first you don't succeed, try, try again! Two Mayors -- two City Managers -- Two Public Works Directors, and three City Foresters! Third time's a charm!
The last portion of tonight's COW meeting will cover Public Safety and the PRU Crew's favoritest subject, Red Light Cameras. B.O.H.I.C.A.!
And finally, the PRU Crew are very very very proud of ourselves for not making any tasteless jokes here about Police Chiefski's Pig Roast report!
September 10, 2010
September 9, 2010
September 8, 2010
Press Release from Mayor Schmidtzkrieg!
For your reading enjoyment --
Good afternoon-
Attached is the text of the message I delivered to the Council last night vetoing appropriations for community groups. Pursuant to state statute, the City Council will automatically debate overriding the vetoes at the next City Council meeting on September 20.
You will hear some claim that the vetoes were unnecessary and should be overridden because the total amount involved is a small percentage of our overall budget. That is nonsense. Every single dime we have available to us must be spent wisely and solely for the benefit of the taxpayers, not private organizations, nor anyone or anything else for that matter.
As I mentioned last night, the perceived nobility of the purpose does not change the fact that it is still an expenditure of public funds to private entities without any determination that an essential public need is being met through the expenditure. Wrongfully spending taxpayer funds because politicians determine the cause is "just" or the amount involved is "slight" does nothing to make it right.
More importantly, this issue is just part of the bigger picture which involves defining the role of the city government and ensuring that we finally get our fiscal house in order lest we end up in the same financial condition as the State.
This is a public debate. I encourage everyone, regardless of their opinion, to let the aldermen know and me how you feel and to attend the September 20 meeting if you can.
-Dave
Mayoral Veto 09072010
For our part, the PRU Crew is getting the idea that Mayor Schmidtzkrieg has developed a political tin ear.
September 2, 2010
September 1, 2010
Hump Day PRU Briefs!
#1 -- Calling All Grubbers!
For those of you who like to treat yourselves to some good grub, you can do so and help out a good cause!
Despite notions to the contrary, one of our local service agencies has begun another fundraising effort --
Restaurant Rewards Center of Concern
Eat hearty!
#2 -- Thank You, Sir! May We Have Another!
In case our faithful PRU readers missed it at the August 23rd COW meeting, our Aldermopes discussed the possibility of what government officials amusingly like to call Modifications to the ordinance governing business license fees. For those of you new to government-speak, modifications to fees usually translates to mean increases in fees.
In keeping with what has become a tradition with the current crop of Aldermopes, action on the item was deferred in deference to getting feedback from the business community.
According to a press release on the City's spanky new website, "The Procedures and Regulations Committee of the Whole will discuss the proposed increase again at their September 27, 2010 meeting."
The PRU Crew is gong to go out on a limb and speculate that the feedback from the business community will be something along the lines of, "The economy stinks! We're generating less sales! We're generating less in sales tax! So now you want to hit us with higher fees!?!? Thank you, sir! May we have another!?!?"
The PRU Crew could go either way on this issue -- except -- we find some of the spending decisions, voted on by a majority of our Aldermopes so far, negates their ability to reasonably persuade anyone of the absolute necessity for these increases.
And while the last page of the memo provides a nice comparison of Park Ridge fees to those in some fo the surrounding communities, we feel our Aldermopes should keep in mind the size of the Park Ridge market in which these businesses operate.
#3 -- Wanna Buy A House?
According to information contained on the Crook County Treasurer's website, today is the last day to pay delinquent 2008 tax bills or the property will be included in the Treasurer's upcoming 2008 Annual Tax Sale.
The purpose of the tax sale is to garner the unpaid taxes and return the properties to the participating tax roles.
The PRU Crew hasn't done anything close to a comprehensive review of properties in Park Ridge at risk of having their taxes sold due to non-payment. But we know of one in particular. Wanna buy a house? It looks like a nice house -- 
And according to other information on the Crook County Treasurer's website, the 1st installment taxes for 2009 haven't been paid either.
We sense a trend occurring for Property Index Number (PIN): 09-27-414-018-0000.
