While telling the Village of Savoy and the public that it was willing to enter negotiations to avoid the need for creation of a Savoy Mass Transit District, guess what CUMTD was doing behind the scenes?
During the veto session, CUMTD's director, Bill Volk, and a CUMTD-paid lobbyist, were in Springfield trying to get legislation passed that would stop Savoy and S.W. Champaign residents from creating mass transit districts.
Can you say negotiating in bad faith? Is there no length to which Bill Volk would go to crush democracy and the will of Champaign County residents?
This is the best proof yet that the CUMTD board needs to be directly elected. An elected board would have the will to deal appropriately with Mr. Volk. An elected board would likely dedicate more CUMTD resources toward improving efficiency, safety and service and spend less money on lobbyists and attorneys whose sole purpose is forcing an unwanted agenda down the throats of local residents.
It's time to start contacting our representatives in Springfield and asking them to sponsor a bill enabling direct voter election of CUMTD board members. Here are some phone numbers”¦
St. Rep. Chapin Rose
558-1006
348-7673
St. Rep. Bill Black
782-4811
431-1986
St. Rep. Naomi Jakobsson
558-1009
373-5000
St. Rep. Shane Cultra
558-1039
558-1098
815-268-4090
Referring to spending, not to mention those outrageous travel budgets, paid company cars, state of the art kitchen appliances so Costello can buy, prepare, and feed MTD office staff on the taxpayers tab. Pretty big of him, don't you think?
But I guess if you don't use purchase orders, who's to know?
I appreciated Speaker Madigan's attorney contacting me about the legislation that CU-MTD went to Springfield to push. He gave me the name of the independent lobbyist hired by the CU-MTD and a summary of the ramifications of the bill. Madigan declined to put it in the veto session as the MTD had requested because they didn't have all their questions answered. He called it "pretty significant" legislation and essentially a "statutory monopoly".
It is certainly disappointing that Mr. Volk has chosen to pursue this legislation (and then claim his state organization is the main force) . No wonder the MTD didn't want to sign an intergovernmental agreement which said Savoy wouldn't create their own district and, in return, they would wait until Savoy officials or residents asked for service.
No No No No No
Mr. Volk is my friend. Back of IP. You are just jealous because he is such an enthralling public speaker
Anyone know the know the sponser, bill number, and it's current status?
Token gestures with deceitful intent along with wasteful spending....this type of behind the back behavior destroys public trust.
Hmmm...wonder how long it will take to get beepers and flashers on all the buses? Or was that just feel good talk too?
Isn't Chapin Rose the sponsor of House Bill 362 that allows the board of trustees to annex?
It should be noted that MTD Chair George Friedman's appointment is up at the end of December. Will the County Board democrats reappoint him?
Call County Board Chair Barb Wysocki at 384-3776 and ask to speak with her about this appointment and what her intentions are.
In case anyone still held out any illusion about Bill Volk working with people honestly..... telling Savoy they wouldn't do anything for 2 years but traveling to Springfield to personally push legislation at the same time? He is an appalling public servant.
Gee... what a surprise... I bet Volk and his cronies were surprised when word of this move leaked out.
Thanks for all of your hard work on this Joan. It is appreciated.
Double-whammy for Volk and Company today. Our own JRC just filed his lawsuit for negligence against MTD (or should I say us!?) and the driver of the bus that killed Channick.
Irish Fan23:
"The grieving family of the pedestrian/bus accident are in the office of Attorney JRP:
“What's your strategy, JRP?” Well, I am going to do a lot of pre-trial work by posting anonymous messages to the Illini Pundit blog”¦” "
Who's laughing now?
Today, Thursday, Nov. 16, Clifford Law Offices filed a lawsuit in Champaign-Urbana against the Mass Transit District (MTD) and its driver on behalf of the family of a freshman student who was killed Sept. 29 while walking to her dormitory.
Sarah Channick, 18, of Deerfield was struck from behind by a bus as she walked in the crosswalk at the intersection of Sixth and Chalmers near the campus. She died about an hour later at Carle Foundation Hospital. Her death marked three fatal accidents involving pedestrians and five bus-pedestrian accidents since February, 2004.
Jeffrey Kroll, partner at Clifford Law Offices, a nationally known personal injury firm in Chicago, filed the lawsuit in Champaign County Circuit Court on behalf of her parents and sister from the northern suburb of Chicago. The complaint alleges that the public transportation company and the driver were negligent in the operation of the bus in failing to yield to a pedestrian, give an audible warning and driving too fast for conditions.
"This accident could have been prevented had the driver been more mindful of helpless pedestrians, particularly since there had been so many recent incidents involving buses," Kroll said. "The family wants to make sure that this doesn't occur to any other student, and we will be looking into driver training, campus traffic and bus routes to help create a safer environment for all students."
The Champaign County Coroner's inquest will be held today (Thursday) at 10:50 a.m. at the Urbana Civic Center, 108 E. Water St., Urbana, to determine the cause of Sarah Channick's death.
The driver of the bus, Demetra Camile Young, 22, was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. The minimum eligible age for a bus driver is 21.
Who is JRC?
My bad, it's JRP, J. Ryan Potts of Cliffor Law Offices in Chicago. He was posting earlier this month and last, much to the amusement of IrishFan23, thus the quote above.
I sure would like to know how much tax money the MTD has paid out for lobbyists to screw Savoy. Guess they'll have to annex more area just to pay for lobbyists and lawsuits.
Submit a F.O.I.A. asking MTD how much they spent on "consulting fees"
What Volk has done is beyond dasterdly and is just reprehensible. Back room dealings and talking out of both sides of the mouth is what Volk has exposed the MTD as being. Volk has exposed what his true colors are and destroyed any opportunity for agreement or compromise down the road with Savoy or anyone.
To the Savoy Village Board, if you have trouble getting those knives out of your backs please let us know.
Minor problem: If the MTD board members were to be directly elected, who would elect them? Residents throughout Champaign County can now influence MTD board appointments through the County Board, but participation in a direct election would presumably be limited to those within the taxing district. Is that really what you want?
Taking into consideration the rate at which CUMTD is consuming outlying areas, why should it be limited.
Just announced on WDWS that Southwest Champaign residents won in court today, and that their referendum can go forward...
For the same reason that landowners just outside the City limits of Champaign, even those who are subject to forced annexation, don't get to vote for the Champaign City Council. With the County Board appointing MTD trustees the County Board can make a policy of appointing a board that represents the service area, while maintaining some accountability to the County as a whole. Presumably the County Board could also appoint an MTD member from outside the district.
I agree that it would be fair to give those facing the likelihood of forced annexation by a taxing district some ability to influence the board of that taxing district, but having the entire County elect the MTD doesn't make any more sense than allowing the entire County to elect the Champaign School Board or the Savoy Village Trustees.
Victory for Democracy!
JOAN: Just like I had mentioned some months ago...when SAVOY gave the CU MTD yet another chance to come to an amiable solution. You need to pull the trigger and form the district. Look in your archieves and you will see I and many others have commented that you folks in SAVOY continually appear to believe that KING VOLK and company can be dealth with ( ala NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN, circa 1920) in some gentlemanly manner. FORM THE DISTRICT, IMMEDIATELY..all you accomplished with letting VOLK off was to simply buy time whilst they worked behind your backs with taxpayer supported lobbyists. NOW.....hesitate no more....what in the world does it take for you folks to see the light?????
I'd like to clarify my comments from last night about Speaker Madigan's office. They were very professional. They never in any way voiced an opinion about the legislation, but presented a factual summary of the proposed bill and asked for any input that might help them understand the local issue better.
I want to thank Madigan's office again for their balanced and fair treatment.
Tonight the Central Illinois Municipal Officials Association (CIMOA) unanimously passed a resolution opposing any law inhibiting or removing the rights of any municipality in carrying out its statutory rights to govern and represent its local constituency.
This is a direct response to the proposed legislation by CU-MTD and its state association. I am confident that the IML (Illinois Municipal League) will support a similar effort.
To John, Savoy has not been blind to MTD motives. We can and will act within 48 hours to pass our ordinance. It is already in its final form and has been for a few months. But now, more than ever, the whole community sees what we knew months ago. No one can ever say we didn't try to work honestly and openly with them. But it looks like in December, we will have to act.
I don't think that these collar communities were organizing thier sham "transit districts" in exactly good faith either. Just a cheap tactic to avoid paying their fair share. Hopefully the jig is up for these whiny moochers.
Interloper:
"Whiny moochers"- translation: Those who bought property outside a taxing district and are being sucked-in with no voice in the matter; taxation without representation; unconstitutional.
Or will you make-up a law/policy after the fact and then declare it retro-active?
For those who think Savoy is filled with whiney moochers, why not ask MTD to set a higher fare for people who can't prove they live within the taxing district? Stop whining about Savoy and fix your own MTD problem!
With all due respect, that is not a good idea. The drivers have enough to do without checking id's of the people boarding the bus.
A buck is a buck is a buck. It doesn't matter if it comes from Dykstra, Tapley, or Mr. Champaign.
I think the MTD should be a regional bus system, with the whole area, not just C and U getting service and paying taxes, the bus sytem ostensibly reduces auto traffic, a benefit for everyone, but I don't live in Savoy, so I can't speak for them.
I see their point, but I don't believe in a-la-carte government. No rebate if I don't have school age children, no rebate if I don't use the parks, no rebate if I don't need police or fire.
Police and fire work in other locations besides my house, and that benefits me.
But, again, I don't live in Savoy. So I'll stay out of their fight.
Fire, police, schools, all mandated by law and life/safety issues. Not every city has every service that other cities have. The citizens and officials decide what they are willing to pay for.
"a cheap tactic to avoid paying their fair share."
Yeah, I know what you mean. Those pesky Tolono and Mahomet people come into Champaign-Urbana and drive on our streets and use our services and don't pay their fair share to the MTD.
The nerve!
"With all due respect, that is not a good idea. The drivers have enough to do without checking id's of the people boarding the bus."
MTD already has to check for UIUC IDs, so why not set a higher standard price and offer residents of the taxing district a discount ID card (if requested). Not expensive, not difficult, and would raise revenues from users instead of property taxpayers.
Stop whining about Savoy and just fix MTD!
Here, here! Now we're talking. There are a lot of fixes that could take place. The problem in the past ( and I say that with all hope for new direction of our future) is that input such as this has not ever been seriously considered or instituted. Our own passiveness has lead us to allowing people such as Bill Volk to make all our decisions for us.
I like the way this is going. : )
You people who have been in the CU-MTD for some time should be ashamed of what you have allowed to happen. Now there is a mega million dollar public company with no local oversight or control. You should be supporting efforts of Savoy and us newly annexed areas who are putting non tax dollars up against this tyrannical organization you allowed to be created. The "FAIR SHARE" line is right out of the BILL VOLK BOOK of ECONOMICS, only the tax rate does not go down when the district increases. When BILL says FAIR SHARE, he means the CU-MTD gets their "fair share" of federal, state or local TAX DOLLARS. Don't you people get it---its all about MONEY. The doubling of the CU-MTD budget to over 24 million is not enough for BILL and CO. This current 50k lawsuit is just barely over what Bill spends on his own travel each year. You want to do sometine ---- Call your government representatives---Tell them you want to change the Board of the CU-MTD to being elected----You want accountability at the local level. Just do it!!!!
:::looks at Newly Annexed and shakes head::::
"Get a load of this Johny-come-lately up here? It's a shame we didn't have their wisdom and knowledge all along."