This is going to drive the anti-"Creative Class" folks nuts:
Mayor Jerry Schweighart says it was his idea.
"I love fountains," he explains.
Schweighart said he was the person who raised the idea of having a fountain in One Main plaza when the building and plaza were constructed a few years ago. The proposal didn't come to pass due to a lack of money, but the appropriate plumbing and electrical work was done so a fountain could be eventually be added – if and when the money became available.
That moment is at hand, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and another $50,000 from the city's downtown tax increment financing district.
The city council authorized signing the grant agreement at its weekly meeting Tuesday night. The grant was due to efforts by state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-Urbana.
Discuss.
Your tax dollars at work. One Main plaza just wasn't going to "make it" without a fountain, paid for by those from Chicago to Cairo. Wonderful.
A fountain will be a great public addition to downtown! In every community in which I have been that has a fountain it attracts lots of public life and people love them. I am thrilled to have my tax dollars at work making the community a more attractive place to live, work, and play.
I have this to say to Naomi, "You go girl!"
If y'all heard a strange noise coming from outside that was just the thunderous sound of me slapping my forehead... hard.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
Where's the Eternal Flame? It used to be at that spot for Kennedy and Lincoln, I believe. The city extinguished it during the first gas shortage in the '80's and then it disappeared. Eternal Flame, Water Well, now fountain. Maybe OK if it's filled with beer (oops, Cosmos for the Creative Class).
Don't forget about the cost of maintenance, either.
But it will be a nice place to sit and smoke cigarettes, for the homeless to wash up, and for pranksters to toss detergent into.
anon, I have no problem with fountains, and could even support tax-dollar funded fountains. But, a fountain for Champaign (or a fire truck, or a bike path) should be paid for by Champaign tax dollars.
As a token of my appreciation for Naomi's acquiring of funds for the fountain and my deep appreciation for her gun policies... I recommend dumping a bucket of Kool-Aid powder in it... I can think of no finer ode.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
Yay! Now Mollie will have someplace convenient to freshen up between "jobs".
But it will be a nice place to sit and smoke cigarettes, for the homeless to wash up, and for pranksters to toss detergent into.
You know, there's something to be said for giving the homeless a place to wash up.
What a stupid idea. What a waste of money. It will be especially wonderful in winter.
The mayor is not an intelligent man.
How about spending the money on a better chief of police, like one that doesn't come from a crappier town than here?
This grant will be a boon to local business.
Teens will be buying soap by the boatload to dump into that fountain late at night which will increase revenue (and taxes) for our local retailers.
Someone will have to clean up the mess, so either the city will create new jobs or hire local contractors also increasing their revenue.
Look at the upside, people!
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j
Part-Time Pundit
Green bubbles on St. Patrick’s Day in the fountain, sounds like great fun. We can start a tradition and have a party.
YOU ARE THE MOST NEGATIVE PEOPLE I HAVE EVER HEARD. IM GLAD YOU ARE NOT RUNNING OUR CITY OR WE MIGHT STILL HAVE MUD STREETS IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
Mollie does run the city, or maybe that’s she has some responsibility for all the streets. How did you say that again Wally?
In light of the budget or non-budget, if you will, I was wondering, will the grant be paid in the same manner as Lincoln Hall at the U of I?
Alas, looks like the green bubbles may have to wait for Naomi to do something really constructive, like a Budget. You go girl.
The sound you hear is both Glock and I slapping our forheads.
To that end, I am, and shall always remain;
Rex Bradfield
I'm going to pee in it.
Hey, I'm planning to use that fountain to make some homemade liquor, so no pee or detergent. We don't want the cops showing up at inopportune times, do we?
I've got an idea. Instead of filling the fountain with detergenty urine, how about champagne. So it could be a champagne fountain in Champaign.
That idea is almost as stupid as the idea of building a fountain with $100,000 of public funds.
It's not the public funds bit that annoys me... beautification projects can be worthwhile sometimes.
But this particular area isn't ugly by any means... it's actually pretty nice, and the flaws it may have, a fountain won't fix.
Secondly the source of the funds isn't just local tax dollars being thrown at an obviously unnecessary project, it's using funds intended to help commerce from the State. Of all the places in this town that are in dire need of some economic stimulation it isn't the place that is booming just fine without a fountain there (as if a fountain would help in this case).
Third, considering the dire straights of the State budget this misuse of State funds is completely inappropriate. It'd be like buying an X-Box when your rent's late. Just doesn't make any friggin' sense.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
"What a stupid idea. What a waste of money. It will be especially wonderful in winter." Honey, they turn fountains off in the winter just like they drain the swimming pools. You all are priceless.
I don't know, Glock--I've never bought an XBox and I've never been homeless. But I do imagine it's pretty boring to be homeless. Maybe if it's some kind of solar-powered XBox, it would be totally worth it :)
As for the fountain, how about a drinking fountain?
I love fountains! I hope this is a sign that she can continue to influence important change. I understand she led a discussion on workers comp and yet the cost for small businesses is still almost double what it is in surrounding states with no action plan. Maybe some real help is on the way?
We must also be concerned about liability,,,what if some drunk stumbles and doe's a header in the fountain,,,,,and drowns!!! Who pays?? Also,,,,with all of the new (sorry, can't resist), "creative class", people coming to town,,,,,some of them may think it is a giant bidet (sic)? you get the point,, a big public john just like in ancient Rome,,,,,which finally went down it self by the way.
IlliniPundit commenters rise and prove they are philistines.
May all your public buildings be what you want: flat sided windowless concrete boxes. Me, I like art.
Even public art, like the Alma Mater, the Meadowbrook Park art, the fountain and statue at West Side Park,
Little minds, little minds.
"Me, I like art." - at taxpayer cost, when there are higher priorities NOT being funded.
Little mind, indeed.
This is among the most juvenile discussions I've ever seen on here.
Peeing in the fountain?
If you don't like it, or don't like how it's being funded, then so be it. But please try not to be so bizarrely juvenile.
B for Business,
Does anyone have pictures or a tape of her leading a discussion? Especially on business issues because she has never worked for a business for any period of time. That is a revelation.
01:11 AM, Anonymous
Got some "priceless" bad news for you, it is bad engineering practice to drain swimming pools, without the balancing hydraulic forces of the pool water, they tend to float from the groundwater effect. Second, draining fountains is becomming less and less prevalent because of a couple of reasons, see above for one. Second, it is better to design them for cold weather operations, than to have an empty fountain collecting precipitation, snow, then freezing, without any cold weather protection. Here's the rule, "Water will get there, engineers make sure it gets there on their terms"
An finally, the issue here is not one of not enjoying or wanting art, it is the timing of the spending of the money. Obviously, the Mayor, planned in advance and for reduced cost provided for the electrical and plumbing for a fountain whenever the funds became available. That is good thinking. The City of Champaign also has made a decision that their budget (Unlike the State, they have a Budget) will allow the contribution of $50,000 for that purpose. It was a planned expenditure for Champaign, by Champaign.
Naomi, on the other hand, is willing to spend development grant money for a fountain, when other State issues are jeapordizing economic development in the State, moreso than I can remember in my 60+ years. It could serve this area and the State better with more judicious application. That is NOT good thinking.
To that end, I am, and shall always remain;
Rex Bradfield
Of all the places in this town that are in dire need of some economic stimulation it isn't the place that is booming just fine without a fountain there (as if a fountain would help in this case).
Actually, downtown is not booming as you say. Rather, it is sucking millions of public dollars from areas. This fountain is just more of the "pour everything into downtown" schtick of this city.
Of course the fountain will be turned off in the winter. I think that was the other poster's point. Once turned off, it won't be so beautiful.
As to the vandalism and other nonsense, we don't seem to have that problem in West Side Park, which would be much more prone to such things as it is more hidden. I don't see that as a problem.
Lastly, this is a perfect example of the screwed up priorities of our state government.
The recent topics need this touch of sophomoric humor to spice them up. <yawn> <stretch>
Nothing wrong with recess.
Spending state money on this may be dumb, but state money is going to get spent on dumb things no matter what. The real solution would be to just have them cut money for all of these pork projects in one go. However, until they do that, I'll be damned if I'm going to sit by and watch Effingham, Moline, and Peoria get shiney new fountains built by that sweet, sweet government gravy. So I'm a fountain YIMBY (yes in my back yard). I like your principals about state money - but I'm not going to sign on to them if they make me feel like a chump as everyone else is getting new fountains. And kudos to Naomi Jakobsson - let's see more delicious bacon in CU. (Maybe a state-funded airplane to fly our elected reps to Springfield and back every day? It may be all that keeps Willard afloat.)
AH, now CHAMPAIGN can free up more money to send to VOLK EMPIRE and the lawsuit! Ya gotta love these guys.
anon 9:51 said: "Actually, downtown is not booming as you say."
I wasn't talking about downtown as a whole... but the location being at one main plaza... they already attracted a great deal of business there, and I don't think a fountain will make one iota of difference for that particular location for retention of business there or attract new business. It'd probably look nice, but that area already looks nice. I'm actually a little surprised that other liberals aren't giving Namoi and the mayor a little more heat on this one... it seems like a slap in the face to areas dealing with far more difficult economic situations. Somehow I doubt some of these poorer neighborhoods that had Naomi signs in their yard would be big on making sure the well paid computer programmers and socialites had a fountain as opposed to something that would help with the economic disparity.
I don't think the idea is bad per se. Just shows a lack of priorities, that's all.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
The real solution would be to just have them cut money for all of these pork projects in one go. However, until they do that, I'll be damned if I'm going to sit by and watch Effingham, Moline, and Peoria get shiney new fountains built by that sweet, sweet government gravy.
Agreed. Only one person in the state can do it, and the Gov has no desire to do so. It just really makes me sick that this is how things work in our state and in our country.
The vitriolic respose to this fountain is interesting and at times entertaining. And recess is cool. The rehabbing of some great old buildings is wonderful and the revitalization of the area is outstanding. I have have no objections to a fountain; aesthetics often being given cursory attention in development in this area.
But to further tweak out the environs of the trendy, self-appointed, hipper-than-thou creative class seems a bit over the top. The place is hardly an eyesore. We have so much of the worst kind of we-don't-need-no-stinkin'-farms sprawl; the slums-of-the-future housing developments that have had the black topsoil sold off and are left with a yard that can hardly sustain grass, much less trees. It seems like downtown Champaign is getting a disproportionate share of govenment largess at the expense of the greater part of the community.
Agreed. Only one person in the state can do it, and the Gov has no desire to do so. It just really makes me sick that this is how things work in our state and in our country.
The governor, whom I gave no support, certainly has some power on this issue, but he is in no means supreme emperor. Every elected official has some amount of power to not take the selfish road on this issue, and yet the majority are happy to bemoan it while fighting for their own district...
It is a nice thing to see the Mayor of Champaign get his wish for a fountain, especially supported by our 'great' state house representative in their quest to be good public servants. Very fitting for the State of Illinios and local political croonies to fund such a worthy effort. Amen.
"Honey, they turn fountains off in the winter just like they drain the swimming pools. You all are priceless."
I think the point was that the fountain does not yield benefits for a significant portion of the year.
Artichoke... it's kind of a silly topic, so the silly responses, while a bit over the top, are probably not too awful serious (including mine on the Kool-Aid). But that "at the expense of the greater part of the community" is the bit that seriously bugs me. There seems to be parts of our community that could really use more help. I don't mind a fountain either but it seems to me to be the wrong place at the wrong time for these commerce funds... especially considering that particular area is hardly an eyesore by any means.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
That is what I thought I said ,Glock. Though I truly believe there are (or at least could be) the means and certainly the creativity in this community for both beautification and for practical, less purely aesthetic improvements that would accomodate a broader cross section of people.
Fountains and indeed any kind of water feature are potential targets for vandalism and humor. Fortunately, for the size of this community there is really very little of that. Witness the nearly complete lack of vandalism at Meadowbrook Park.
"That is what I thought I said ,Glock."
Yeah, i was mostly just agreeing. Sorry if I fumbled my wording a bit there.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
Eggs, I think what's left of the "Eternal Flame" is or was in West Side Park, It was moved there after the last big mistake Champaign made the "Neil Street Mall" the monument had fallen into disrepair after several cars and trucks had damaged it. And yes OHHHH it was burning natural gas so it was extinguished. OK Naomi now the fountain thing is a go how about you and the rest of the do-nothing Dems get going on that darn budget! You need to stop getting paid at the end of May then you might "Get R Done!"
For the record, I didn't say **I** was going to soap the fountain... I said kids would soap the fountain. Though I fully support the Champagne fountain of Champaign idea.
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j
Part-Time Pundit
What about a Miller High Life fountain? It is the Champagne of Beers! We could have it dedicated by the guys who do those hilarious commercials. "Clean up on aisle common sense".
I'm with you on that one Cheesy :-)
And to think I thought yesterday, this is the second thing Rep. Jakobsson has done that I approve. One Main Plaza already has a "Champaign Fountain" plaque, which led me to wonder if the dry well were by some government designation a fountain. One Main Plaza may not be the best place for a fountain, but the city certainly could use one, and it is nice to see Rep. Jakobsson working with Mayor Schweighart on this and the blood drive.
If the alternative were a $1000 rebate to every taxpayer, I would disapprove, but does anyone believe we would see this money otherwise?
It seems to me that the City Council talks incessantly of improving downtown and Campustown, and we hear virtually nothing about the rest of the City. There are plenty of neighborhoods that are starting to crumble; have no sidewalks; have no streetlights, etc and yet the Mayor's apparent biggest wish is for a fountain in downtown. If you raise that issue with the Counci, what you hear is that what is good for downtown is good for business and therefore good for the rest of the city--it improves our tax base, etc. While I support business, I have yet to see any impact on my taxes--in fact, my taxes have gone up every year for the past 10 to 15 years, without much end in sight.
Where the creative class doesn't go, doesn't really exist. It's really all about the artists.
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j
Part-Time Pundit
When is the fountain getting here?! I'm standing out by the One Main Plaza nekkid so I can be the first skinny-dipper in the fountain, and the cops are giving me funny looks.
That's scary, I don't think that will help the cities image if that gets on the news, Mollie.
Ok, There are a lot of things going on in the city if you choose to look around. All the home building, North Prospect, and the distribution warehousing that are going in is huge. I was really surprised to see Hobby Co.’s huge new warehouse with others north of the Mall. While these are not big Manufacturing companies maybe those types of jobs unless their "cleaner" jobs are not what we want in our community. Carle and Christie are building northwest of town also. So while I will take jabs at the management of this City because our taxes are too high here, they are doing many things well. Downtown is really kind of a neat thing to see if they can pull it of to have high wage "creative Class jobs" people working down there generating growth downtown. I will still go down there and have fun and eat in the new restaurants and MOMS. Of course do not forget about the new buildings and growth at the U of I research Park. All of these things create Jobs and tax revenue. So while it does seem different to have a fountain downtown I really don't mind it, it comes with growth. I hope I get to meet Mary Tyler Moore.
That's scary, I don't think that will help the cities image if that gets on the news, Mollie.
Well, it's a good thing that it's being installed in downtown Champaign instead of in Naomi's backyard, because I don't think Naomi would let me go skinny-dipping on her property. How "progressive" is that, I ask?
If you want to be fullly informed you might attend the council meetings. You would find that the council is involved with all parts of the community. Also you can give your imput on what you thinkwould make a quality city. Just take a look at all the projects going on in the city this summer and future projects.
I know the mayor and if you want to t\be fully informed I know he will meet for coffee with anyone and fill you in on whats happening. Be informed, not just negative
To Anon. 5:29 I don't know what part of town you live in, I lived in the Ridgewood II subdivision for 30 years and saw the city do absolutely nothing to help our neighborhood. A lot of the homes were owner occupied when I bought mine in 1976. Over the years a lot of these were turned into rentals, Junk cars in the drives and on the street, drug houses and just plain blight. I cannot remember how many phone calls, letters, and Council meetings I went to trying to get this fixed, If that's the kind of town Champaign wants that's fine with me. I sold my home and moved to a smaller town. The older parts of town are being forgotten. West Champaign used to be a nice place to live, but not for me! I think the same thing will eventually happen to Southwood, Cherry Hills and even the new sprawl being built by "King Atkins"on north Neil. The City can't do enough for these developers, and the taxpayers pay thru the nose, Poorly built streets that crumble in a few years. And by the way if Champaign is right on the ball getting things done, What about the million or so dollars put into the Bradley Ave. re-construction? If I recall that road had extensive pavement replacement done on it for the last 3 years, I guess nobody knew it would be completely rebuild this summer. Also the West John area where the Mayor lives is going down hill fast, but I guess form City Hall he cant see it.
I think that the City of Champaign, with its down-to-earth, multi-experienced mayor and diverse council people have been and are doing a good job when I look at what other towns in central Illinois do for their citizens.
After all Champaign provide its citizens with water from one of the finest aquifers in the United States---oh no, is a 'public' utility which is privately owned by a German Company is entrusted with that responsibility.
Well they provide treatment of the wastewater generated in the city---oh no, this service is provided by the Urbana Champaign Sanitary District.
Well they provide bus service to their citizens---oh no, those buses were given to the Champaign Urbana Mass Transit District, but they support them regardless of how they treat the citizens of the city.
Well they provide garbage pickup---oh no, a few private 'sanitary services' pick up all the garbage, competing for citizen's business sometimes on the same day.
Well they take care of the storm water drainage when it rains---oh no not all, there are 'drainage districts' which manage most of that task.
Well they provide electrical and gas distribution service, provide generation capability, and negotiate contracts so the citizens get competitive rates---oh no, Ameren IP does all that with a smile and the worst customer service in Illinois except ConEd.
Well they provide schools for children in Champaign---oh no, that is done by Unit #4 school district.
Well they provide a meeting/entertainment facility which accomodates 5% of its population---oh no, they let the University of Illinois handle large groups and national entertainment.
Well they are going to provide a fountain for the downtown area------Yippee!!!!!!!!
OK, I talked with two of Naomi's staffers tonight about the fountain. It sounds like Naomi had obtained state funds for various governmental agencies (e.g., cities, fire departments, etc) to spend on projects for their community. The City of Champaign chose to spend theirs on a fountain.
wayward... as much as I dislike Naomi on various ideological grounds, thank you for pointing out who is to blame for this gross misappropriation of funds here. The city council should walk down University Street to the east a ways and see there is grievous issues with economic development. Perhaps they should take a stroll through neighborhoods east of the railroad tracks and see all the people desperate for work in the neighborhoods plagued by economic hardship. Maybe that 50k would be better spent on job training or beautifying areas that are obviously having far more trouble. Will they? I hope so. But I doubt it.
Perhaps this is my liberal side showing through, but I see far more desperate places in need of commerce aid than the corner of Main and Neil. And they aren't subdivisions full of people who can afford to move. They're the people who have to put up bars in their windows because young thugs find crime far more lucrative than the lack of opportunities otherwise, and our school districts are failing at getting them out of the endless cycles of poverty that keep them there.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
Well, I haven't asked Naomi personally, but I'm pretty sure that she would not be excited about seeing Mollie skinny-dipping in downtown Champaign. :)
LV sounds a little distraught about the minimalistic approach used by the cities of Champaign and Urbana in caring for their residents. Nice to know this fountain will improve the view of Local Voter.
Correction: "Downtown Fountain," not "Champaign Fountain."
You folks obviously understand NOTHING about economic development. Look, when "Tad" (the guy writing code for video games) leaves his job at 2:00 a.m. after working a "flexible" 16 hour day he is going to need to feel good about himself. We all know that most of the bars are closed by 2:00 a.m. and ALL the restaurants have shut down by then. So what is left? No family to go home to because Creative Class types don't really want to be weighed down with kids (it destroys their ability to be "flexible" for the boss), nowhere to get a tattoo, no movies .... what is a Creative Class Boy to do?
A fountain! Of course! It is just this kind of thing that will make the difference. When Tad graduates from college and is looking for a place to work flexible 16 hour days he might choose Chicago, Austin or even Boise but if we have a FOUNTAIN then maybe, just maybe he will choose to plant his roots (for 1-3 years at a time) here in good ole Champaign!
And when Tad walks out of One Main at 2:00 a.m. after dedicating most of his day and his intelligence to the creation of a new, extremely violent video game he will be able to sit for a spell next to the fountain and drink in all the privilege he can handle. You could say it will rain down on him forever (or at least 1-3 years before he moves to Austin).
Thank you Naomi! Let the economic boom times begin!
Plus, Tad will need a place to pee when he's done sitting in front of a computer for 16 hours.
The Grant process to obtain funds from the State is NOT just an Elected official, going to the Governor and getting a Bag full of free money for them to spend as they please.
In order for any agency, private citizen, Government Division to obtain a grant, you first have the kill a couple of trees to make all the paperwork that you must fill out. That process requires that the need for the Grant be identified and the entire budget, receipts and expenditures be identified. Professionals must provide certified estimates of the cost of the project that will be constructed or cost of the Fire Truck, or Cost of the Snow Plow, including the means by which the grant money will be used. Sometimes some of the documents will require statements under penalty of perjury. The State MUST account for all the money being used for the purpose of the Grant.
For instance, say the Village of Ogden needed a water main extension and did not have all the funds. A proposed plan would be developed by City staff and the Engineers. That plan would identify all costs, including design, materials, labor, construction, etc. with a final estimate being created by the Engineer and Comptroller, which includes the amount of the Village participitation and the amount from the State Grant. All the grant application papers are filled out and submitted, reviewed, returned for additional information, resubmitted and maybe approved. The final approval clearly states the allowed use for the Grant to be the Water Main, and the accounting methods allowed to show that proper use.
These procedures prevent some Legislator from dropping off a bag of money, heading to the press and saying I just got a bag of money for whomever. If they were not in place, then the money from the bag could be used to buy lunch or toys or cars for whomever for years. Grants are free money and carry a considerable accountability responsibility.
The City HAD to apply for this grant, and submit all the necessary paperwork identifying the fountain as a use for the money.
That being said, this (below) post is very inconsistent with the grant procedures I have seen:
"talked with two of Naomi's staffers tonight about the fountain. It sounds like Naomi had obtained state funds for various governmental agencies (e.g., cities, fire departments, etc) to spend on projects for their community. The City of Champaign chose to spend theirs on a fountain."
She may have obtained them because the were approved, and their may have been many projects for which that money was earmarked. But they had to be identified in the application(s). You don't just get a bag of money to spend as you please.
Naomi had to know some of that money was going to be used for a fountain, it was on an application.
To that end, I am, and shall always remain;
Rex Bradfield
Naomi is no Lily Allen.
"Naomi is no Lily Allen."
That ought to have been her campaign slogan.
Tad going right back to work or will he be sleeping till 6:00am when he can go do some of the fun things others do.