The Stephenson Blumdoggle

The Delusional Thinking of John Blum Exemplified Once Again

2012-01-25T09:05:00.000-08:00

According to the Journal-Standard and their human echo, Travis Morse, the written statement provided by Stephenson County Board District F representative and current board chairman, John Blum contained the following:

"Stephenson County is currently involved in a number of issues requiring a significant amount of my time and attention over the next few weeks and months...These issues art too important and sensitive for them to be directly connected any political campaign or election. Therefore, I have made the decision to remove my name from the Republican primary ballot...I will continue to personally evaluate and consider my options for continued service to the people of Stephenson County. There are a number of good people on the March 2012 primary ballot and there will be more in the November 2012 general election. However, it will be up to all of you to vote for the best ones. I will continue to serve with the highest level of energy and professionalism until the voters of our great county say otherwise."

"Important" and "sensitive" issues are the exact reasons we have elections every so often, so voters can decide who is on the side of the public. Could you imagine if the the President of the United States (regardless of party) would say "Fellow Americans, due to all of the "important" and "sensitive" information I have to work on, I am foregoing the primary election. John Blum's reasoning is as absurd as it is delusional.

And how does John Blum know that there will be "more" candidates in the general election than in the primary election? Independent candidates can not begin circulating petitions until March. He must think the voters in District F are all idiots.

Blum's last sentence is completely delusional, he writes that he will continue to serve "until the voters of our great county say otherwise." Does John Blum even realize that the voters of this "county" don't have a say so in the District F race? Only those that live in District F can vote or not vote for John Blum. For John Blum to act like he represents the citizens of Stephenson County when in fact he only represents the Stephenson County Board in decisions that have already been made, is total delusion on his part and one of the largest reasons Stephenson County faces so many grave financial problmes. Even if John Blum can win in District F, it does not mean that he will be reseated as the Chairman of the Stephenson County Board. Under the Illinois Township form of county government, the chairman is just a board member and any power beyond that is simply cursory.

In the front page, but three day late, Journal-Standard story, reporter Travis Morse, the human echo, seeks out two of Blum's biggest and blindest supporters for comment. Democratic Stephenson County board members Jeff Mikkelsen and Sheila Hooper are fretting over what would happen to Stephenson County if John Blum isn't there...as if he is the only one that can perform the chairman's duties...both Boyd Boyer and Dean Danner, did a better job than John Blum has done.

Instead of wringing their hands over the possible absence of John Blum I would like to see Mikkelsen and Hooper name three positive things that have happened in Stephenson County since John Blum has been chairman. Think they could do that? Tutty highly doubt that they could come up with one positive thing. Mikkelsen and Hooper's comments make it clear why there should be term limits on even the lowest of governmental offices. These two act like if John Blum is not elected that we might cease to function as a county, what a bunch of phooey.

Life is for the living and no matter who dies or who doesn't get re-elected life will go on. Stephenson County will be here and will be functioning just fine (maybe better) without John Blum or anyone else for that matter. Regardless of who drops over dead in Freeport/Stephenson County, business will not cease, life, as it should, always goes on--are Mikkelsen and Hooper suggesting that somehow the other Stephenson County officials will not know how to function without John Blum on the Stephenson County Board?

What becomes really clear to Tutty throughout this entire saga is how much John Blum and his followers are driven by egotistical delusion. Issues are too "important" and "sensitive" to be mired in politics according to Blum and his followers. Blum said it, not Tutty.

Well folks, in this country, state, county and city we embrace politics to help us determine the feelings of the majority, whenever a local leader is doing their best to avoid the politics of their position they are doing a disservice to the public they claim to represent. Please John Blum logically explain it differently...at least to the District F voters. Talk about making a mockery of the democratic process.

And John Blum claims that he carries the trait of "professionalism"...did Tutty mention how egotistically delusional this episode proves John Blum to be?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

John Blum the County Board Candidate....Or Not

2012-01-24T23:19:00.000-08:00

More than three days and six hours after Tutty posted that John Blum had pulled his nominating papers, thereby removing himself from the Republican ballot for the Stephenson County board in the fast approaching primary election, the local newspaper, the Journal-Standard, got around to posting a story on their web page.

Tutty will address the John Blum saga with a post tomorrow. Right Tutty thinks the Freeport public deserves an answer on why it took so long to report a fact which could have easily been proven simply by placing a call to the Stephenson County Clerk and Recorder. Her name is Vici Otte and her number is 815-235-8289.

Apparently the kids at the Journal-Standard don't think that it's a news item unless John Blum, or some other official looking character, hands them a press release or shows up with a Rockford TV camera.

Maybe that's why the Journal-Standard, as a source of news and commentary, is falling behind the Stephenson Blumdoggle, Stephenson County's leading blog.

Search "Mill Race Crossing" on You Tube and you will see that Tutty's Mill Race videos have had more views than the Journal-Standard's videos on the same subject. Tutty was surprised... and to think Tutty is only a one ghost show with no corporate backing.

Anyway, back to the Journal-Standard story on Blum pulling his name from the ballot. When the newspaper did finally report it they do so by letting Blum claim that there are "important" and "sensitive" county issues he needs to focus on moreso than politics. What are these issues Journal-Standard? Clearly, if there are "important" and "sensitive" Stephenson County issues out there the public has the right to know what they are, don't they Journal-Standard?

Besides "important" and "sensitive" any issue Stephenson County faces should also be specific. Got that kids, when John Blum tells you he needs to work on "important" and "sensitive" issues, it is your job to say, respectfully, "but Mr. Blum, what specific issues are you referring to...the public wants to know" (Tutty wishes he could take credit for this journalism lesson but it was taught to Tutty by an old ghost named Mike Royko).

And the next question should be, "And why shouldn't any public issue be a political issue...isn't that the way we solve problems and differences in this country, state, county and city...by politics." Why can't John Blum run on these "important" issues...who's bidding is he doing, ours, yours or his?

Somewhere young journalists are being taught that it is acceptable to simply take what local leaders say as fact (even when there are no facts) and reporting that to the public and nothing more...and look at all of the wonderful results.

No wonder this one ghost show is kicking butt. Thanks for reading the Stephenson Blumdoggle, Tutty is truly flattered and will work hard to bring you the content you deserve.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Is John Blum Really Leaving the Stephenson County Board?

2012-01-21T11:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday local radio reported that John Blum, the current chairman of the Stephenson County Board, pulled his nominating papers for the Republican primary and will not be running for Stephenson County Board. Tutty posted this on Tutty's Facebook page yesterday.

According to the report on WFRL, AM 1570, "Blum will have more to say on the issue next week."

This series of events makes Tutty wonder many things. Does John Blum see the writing on the wall and that even if he could somehow win one of the two available Republican ballot positions (it was a four person race before Blum's withdrawal) it is very unlikely that he would be re-elected to the position of chairman. Under the Township form of Illinois county government after every general election the newly elected board chooses the next chairman for the next two years. With all of the public anger over Mill Race Crossing and the related debt, it is very unlikely that John Blum will have the support of a majority of the Stephenson County Board.

Tutty also wonders if there is not some sort of an investigation going on regarding some of financial activities of the the John Blum led Stephenson County Board. More than $6 million in public debt and not a damn thing to show for it other than ruined farmland.

Republican Representative Jim Sacia, who sponsored the law that made this debt possible needs to explain how under current Illinois law such a public debt can be incurred without so much as public notice or a backdoor referendum procedure.

Jim Sacia would just as soon ignore that for which he is accountable for.

Tutty wonders too if John Blum just couldn't stand the thought of not being the leader, it is obvious that his ego problems border on psychotic.

One thing is for certain, more will be revealed as the future unfolds before us. However, it is going to take plenty of future to get out from underneath that which John Blum and Jim Sacia have foisted upon the residents and businesses of Stephenson County Illinois.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Readers of This Blog Have Some Real Brains

2012-01-21T07:17:00.000-08:00

The following is a comment which was posted after Tutty's most recent post. Tutty wanted to put it up here so that the links would be made live.

Public Disclosure and Availability of Exempt Organizations Returns: Copies of Exempt Organizations Tax Documents

How can I obtain a copy of an organization's annual return or exemption application?

You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of a tax-exempt organization's:· Annual information returns (e.g., Form 990);· Exempt status application materials; and· Notice of status under Internal Revenue Code section 527(i),in person at the organization's principal office, or its regional or district offices, during regular business hours. Unrelated business income tax returns filed by organizations exempt under Code section 501(c)(3) are also available. You may also request copies of such materials in writing. The organization may charge a reasonable fee to cover copying and mailing costs. Note: An organization that filed its application before July 15, 1987, must make the application available only if it had a copy of the application on July 15, 1987. See Notice 88-120 for details.You are entitled to inspect or receive a copy of any annual return for three years from the date the return was required to be filed (or, for an amended return, from the date it was filed). For more information, see our frequently asked questions on public disclosure, the final regulations, or Disclosure Requirements.For exemption application materials, you are entitled to inspect or receive a copy of the organization's exemption application (Form 1023, 1024, or other document required to be filed), any papers filed in support of the application and any determination letter issued by the IRS with respect to the application.

http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=139028,00.html

Public Disclosure and Availability of Exempt Organizations Returns: Non-Compliance with Exempt Organizations Public Disclosure Requirements

What should I do if an exempt organization will not let me see its Form 990 or 990-T returns or exemption application materials?

Write to IRS EO Classification, Mail Code 4910, 1100 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75242. Your letter should provide the name and address of the organization that refuses to allow public inspection or provide copies of its documents, and request that the documents be made available for public inspection.The Tax Exempt/Government Entities Division of the IRS will contact the organization and arrange a time during which the documents may be inspected. If the organization fails to provide the documents at the agreed upon time, statutory penalties may be assessed. Additional information: Where Do I Send Complaints About Exempt Organizations-Form 13909, Tax-Exempt Organization Complaint (Referral) Form - Frequently asked questions - Final regulations - Disclosure Requirements (Exempt Organizations Continuing Professional Education article)

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopico00.pdf

Manner of Disclosure for In-Person Requests for Public Inspection
A tax-exempt organization must make the applicable documents available for public inspection at its principal, regional, or district offices during regular business hours. See IRC 6104(d)(1)(A) and Regs. 301.6104(d)-3(d)(1)(i). During the inspection, the tax-exempt organization may have an employee present in the room. The inspecting individual is allowed to take notes freely and may make photocopy of the documents for a reasonable fee. If he provides his own photocopying equipment, the organization must allow him to photocopy the documents without charge. See Regs. 301.6104(d)-3(c)(1).

Tutty is deeply thankful to the individuals that read this blog and supply other readers with the knowledge that they possess.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

A List of Stephenson County Not-For-Profits and Their Value

2012-01-20T10:18:00.000-08:00

Tutty has been out of the area for the past week so there hasn't been any new posts...until now.

Tutty recently ran across this website which lists all of the Stephenson County not-for-profits and their assets. Here is the link.

http://nccsdataweb.urban.org/PubApps/geoShowOrgs.php?id=C17177&code=C17177&v=cf

Tutty is amazed that the Highland Community College Foundation has more than $14 million in assets yet is still beating the bushes for more cash.

The above website also provides links to the IRS filings for each of the Stephenson County non-profits.

Tutty thinks you will find it interesting reading. Tutty has just barely scratched the surface of perusing the data. See what you think is enlightening.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Questions on the Stephenson County Convention and Visitors Bureau...No Answers Yet

2012-01-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week Tutty was copied on an e-mail from Freeport resident Mel Haskell. Mr. Haskell sent the e-mail to leadership at the Journal-Standard, Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp, Stephenson County Board Chairman John Blum and other members of the Freeport City Council and Stephenson County Board.

While Mr. Haskell admits that the issues he brings forward might be small "in the big picture" they really are "indicative" of bigger problems. Tutty could not agree more, which is why Tutty asked Mr. Haskell for permission to use his letter--and if it was alright for Tutty to use his name. Tutty keeps confidences at what ever level is requested...so keep those e-mails coming...Tutty wants your ideas and complaints too.

Mr. Haskell's observations center on the Freeport/Stephenson County Visitors Center east of Freeport on U.S. Route 20. This building is overseen by an appointed board called the Stephenson County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Tutty believes, which Tutty will get to, that the building's mortgage is held by the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance.

On January 8, 2012, Mr. Haskell wrote and sent the following, including pictures, to those named above and others:

"My fellow citizens,

It is factual to note the Stephenson County Visitor's Center on Route 20 has a blocked marked fire exit and no working drinking fountains (for more than a year?).

Seems an unfriendly way to greet visitors and make an impression on possible businesses looking to consider our area.

If we can't address small issues, how are we to address big ones?"

Photos Courtesy of Mel Haskell and used here with permission

What Tutty finds most interesting though is that Mr. Haskell had previously raised his concern regarding the lack of good drinking water at the Visitors Center. Mr. Haskell provided Tutty with an e-mail which was sent to Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp, Mr. Haskell's two aldermen, and the Journal-Standard last June.

Tutty wonders why Mr. Haskell's concerns were not responded to back then. Unlike Tutty, Mr. Haskell is not a ghost, he is a real and breathing Freeporter. If Tutty can respond to the e-mails Tutty receives, why can't City officials have the same courtesy?

And while these issues might seem trivial, far too much Freeport tax money is poured into that building not have some accountability. Is there even a potable (drinkable) water source on the property or is the well only good for flushing toilets? What about the septic tank, how big is it and was it built to code or was the forerunner to NIDA, the Freeport Area Economic Development Association able to skirt the permit and code requirements?

Why is there no drinking water at the Visitors Center...what about the impression we leave on our visitors?

Tutty is working on digging up all the previous ordinances which deal with the creation and operational funding of the SCVB. Tutty will share a link to Resolution #2010-64 which was passed (Tutty still wants to know why the City of Freeport can approve long term contracts in a one reading Resolution instead of a multiple reading ordinance but Tutty digresses) here is link to Resolution 2010-64:

http://www.cityoffreeport.org/Ordinances%20&%20Resolutions/2010%20cvb%20agreement%20.pdf

Note what paragraph 10 of Attachment A states, it says this,

"OCCUPATION OF FREEPORT/STEPHENSON COUNTY VISITORS CENTER: The Bureau agrees to continuously be a tenant of the Freeport/Stephenson County Visitors Center, until such time as the debt for the construction of the Center is repaid. During that time, the Bureau will enter into a separate agreement with the Freeport Area Economic Development Foundation for terms; however, such terms will not exceed $40,000 rent per year."

If NIDA does not own the Visitors Center then who does? And where are the measurable results for the huge public expenditure made for this building? Remember how the Journal-Standard told everyone how this building was being funded with "private" funds?

But the biggest question still remains, why can't thinking Freeport citizens get any type of a response regarding their written observations and complaints? Why is it that the Journal-Standard and local leaders can not address citizen concerns, even when those issues are put into writing.

What does the Journal-Standard and local leaders have against accountability to Freeport/Stephenson County residents?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

A Freeport Connection In McHenry County

2012-01-10T09:27:00.000-08:00

Tutty follows a blog called McHenry County Blog and could not help but notice a story posted by that blog earlier today.

It was a story about how local landlord and businessman John Zajicek is getting sweet real estate deals in McHenry County after making political contributions.

http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2012/01/10/vendor-z-financial-contribures-heavily-to-county-treasurer-bill-lefew/

While Tutty does not immediately have the time, Tutty would ask followers of this blog to look up the name John Zajicek or his business, Z Finacial, on the Illinois State Board of Elections web site.

Clearly, money buys influence, anyone that says different...well let's just say Tutty has $2,500 to change your mind...tempted now huh?

Maybe it is time for a new Illinois law that would prohibit anyone from doing business with a unit of local government if that person had given a political contribution to any member of said unit of government during the past 36 months, this would include the purchase of delinquent taxes.

Don't expect Freeport's local Illinois General Assemblymen, Republicans Jim Sacia and Tim Bivins, to embrace such a statute. John Zajicek has already contributed to their war chests.

Thanks to Tutty's friends at the McHenry County Blog.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Concerned Citizen Contacts Tutty Regarding the Proposed Vacant Property Ordinance

2012-01-10T07:37:00.000-08:00

Tutty received the following e-mail regarding the "Vacant Property Ordinance" proposed by the Gaulrapp Administration. Here is the e-mail:

"I, a Concerned Freeport Citizen, wish to bring to your kind attention a pending ordinance that has had five readings in front of the Freeport City Council and is being championed by the Gaulrapp Administration.

Should we be concerned? The ordinance, as proposed, allows the city to adopt a “broken window” concept and identifies a public nuisance building many times and in many ways. I, a Concerned Freeport Citizen, will not burden you with all the definitions, but to highlight a few:

a.)    Any building that lacks sanitary sewage or plumbing.
b.)    Any building the building inspector determines to be unsafe.
c.)     Any building that is capable of being a fire hazard.
d.)    Any building that is unsanitary or littered with rubbish.
e.)    Any building that has overgrown weeds.
f.)     Any building that is in a state of deterioration or decay.
g.)    Any building with doors, windows or other openings boarded up.

The ordinance proposed states that if any vacant building is deemed by the building inspector to fall under the aforementioned categories (among many others), it is “detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare; unreasonably interferes with the reasonable and lawful use and enjoyment of other premises within the neighborhood; may pose an extraordinary danger to police officers or firefighters entering the premises in time of emergency; and detracts from the appearance and good order of the neighborhood; all of which effects are especially associated with such buildings that have been vacant for over two years…”

Should we be concerned…? That the ordinance proposes:

a.)    Remediation plans
b.)    Exterior lighting
c.)    Window replacement
d.)    Fines
e.)    Repairs
f.)     City code compliance

Should we be concerned…? The City of Freeport and the Gaulrapp Administration are owners of three (Rawleigh building, Former City Hall, Former Public Library) of the largest vacant structures in the city limits?

Should we be concerned…? That the City of Freeport and the Gaulrapp Administration, by their own definition, will be the owners of three facilities (Rawleigh building, Former City Hall, Former Public Library) that “may pose an extraordinary danger to police officers or firefighters entering the premises in time of emergency; and detracts from the appearance and good order of the neighborhood; all of which effects are especially associated with such buildings that have been vacant for over two years…”

Should we be concerned…? Mayor Gaulrapp stated at the last City Council meeting that replacing the windows in Rawleigh alone would cost in excess of $100,000.00.

Should we be concerned…? The owners of vacant properties considered derelict (or “slumlords”) must spend their limited resources to bring their buildings up to city code, all the while the largest landlord and owner of vacant or derelict properties is the City of Freeport and the Gaulrapp Administration.

Should we be concerned…? If the ordinance is passed as written, the City of Freeport and the Gaulrapp Administration will have to spend untold millions of dollars that we the tax payers don’t have to adhere to this ordinance?

Should we be concerned…? The City of Freeport and the Gaulrapp Administration are proposing to re-write the pending ordinance to exempt City property and adopt a “do as we say, not as we do,” stance?

Should we be concerned…? That there have been five readings of this ordinance with a sixth planned and it appears the City of Freeport and the Gaulrapp Administration have not thought through what they have repeatedly read?

Without question, everyone would agree that our economy is struggling on a National level. On a local level, unemployment is excessive and families are struggling. New opportunities are limited and our future is bleak as our community leaders have not been able to foster a cohesive vision for the community in which we live.

As a Concerned Freeport Citizen, I ask each of you - if you are also Concerned, let your friends and family know that the liability that we face as Concerned Freeport Citizens. With the admission of the Freeport City Council and the Gaulrapp Administration that they are the largest derelict slumlord in Northwest Illinois, to be in compliance with their own ordinance could cost us untold millions."

Tutty thought the e-mail speaks for itself and will only add a link to the proposed ordinance, #2011-61, this ordinance, if approved, would add a whole new chapter to the City's Codified Ordinances.
http://www.cityoffreeport.org/Ordinances%20&%20Resolutions/abandoned%20property%20ordinance.pdf

Another problem Tutty sees is that the version of this ordinance being given to the Freeport City Council, lacks designated page numbers. So what stops the Gaulrapp administration from adding pages or taking pages away after the ordinance has been approved?

Tutty has some very serious doubts whether City Clerk Meg Zuravel is working for Freeport Citizens or the Gaulrapp administration. All orindances and resolutions should have page numbers prior to City Council review. Why don't they have page numbers City Clerk Meg Zuravel?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

No Ice On The Seventh of January

2012-01-07T20:58:00.000-08:00

Tutty has been around for a long long time and does not believe there has ever been a January, 7th when Tutty's beloved Pecatonica River was completely ice free.

The Pecatonica River at Freeport, Illinois on January 7, 2012

Can anyone else remember a January when the river and ground actually unthawed? Tutty knows we've had warm days in January but usually things to not completely thaw.

What are your thoughts?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

The Media Should Be As Accountable As Politicians

2012-01-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

As some readers of the Stephenson Blumdoggle know, Tutty has a Facebook page and often uses that page to post links to Facebook pages of local media. Some local media block Tutty's posts, others are accepting of Tutty's posts. Tutty put a link to yesterday's post regarding the Freeport City Clerk on WIFR TV's (Rockford, Illinois, channel 23) Facebook page.

Much to Tutty's surprise, WIFR TV commented on Tutty's link, this is what they wrote:

WIFR TV "That particular report is about a minor crack found in the detention basin. Officials say it took 20 minutes to repair the crack with "IEPA appoved" caulk."

Tutty then responded:

Tutty Baker

‎"@WIFR TV Do you have the the actual attachments or is that what someone at Freeport City Hall told you? Sorry but Tutty does not trust local media anymore than local politicians...nothing personal...Tutty likes all you guys...Tutty really does. But if Tutty can't attribute it Tutty don't write it...Tutty only expects the same from local media. Please post the attachments to the letter from the IEPA that Tutty referenced if you have them. Thank you."

As of this writing posting Tutty has not seen the attachments. If WIFR has the attachments then Tutty would like it proven. Who did WIFR talk to? The City of Freeport? The IEPA? Who?

When it comes to that which gets presented publicly the attribution needs to be there. The same goes for Tutty. Tutty learned a long time ago that no one cares what Tutty thinks, the public is only interested what it Tutty knows. And without substantiation, Tutty, nor any other media source knows a damn thing.

Instead of just repeating what ever local officials tell them, local media, including every Rockford television station, needs to attribute their audio and video. In today's digital world local those calling themselves local media could put up the actual documentation with little or no trouble.

Go back and look at what all the local media was broadcasting and printing about Mill Race Crossing in 2005, 2006, 2007 and into 2008. Years of propagandizing an industrial park that without any confirmed buyers or tenants and miles from the closest water and sewer supply. Thanks local media.

Any one that would have looking at the facts five or six years ago instead of listening to local media would have been able to see that Mill Race Crossing was a failure in the making. Why do you think Stephenson County officials avoided a feasibility study?

Tutty really hopes that when local media puts a microphone in front of some politicians mouth and allows that politician to describe a public issue...well then local media has a responsibility to educate themselves on whatever the said issue is to make sure that the "public official" is not just blowing smoke up the collective public butt.

Didn't someone famous once say "trust but verify?"

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Is the Freeport City Clerk Withholding Information?

2012-01-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

A concerned citizen sent Tutty the agenda for last night's Freeport City Council meeting with legitimate concerns about part of the agenda. Under item #5 "Communications to Council" there was a two page letter from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

According to the letter the IEPA conducted an evaluation of the "Freeport community water supply" back in November. The letter stated that there was "one sanitary issue that requires correction" and the IEPA is requesting a response from the City within "45 days".

Below are pictures of the letter provided to the Freeport City Council with last night's agenda;

(clicking on pictures will enlarge them)

The IEPA letter requested that "This evaluation letter should be discussed at the next City Council meeting."

However, this two page letter which was provided to the Freeport City Council is missing the most important parts, the two attachments that came with it. According to the above letter the issue that requires correction is "outlined in Attachment A."

The letter also asks the Freeport City Council to "please review Attachment B. Attachment B discusses recommendations and reminders."

Why did the Freeport City Clerk Meg Zuravel remove these attachments before making this letter available for last night's agenda? And by who's direction did City Clerk Meg Zuravel remove the attachments.

Clearly the attachments were the most important part of the letter. Without the attachments, the Freeport City Council had nothing to discuss.

City Clerk Meg Zuravel needs to be reminded that she is not part of the Gaulrapp administration, so why did she take it upon herself to keep these attachments from the City Council and the public at large? And why does it appear that the received stamp has been altered?

The City Clerk is its own elected position to provide an element of protection to citizens. If the City Clerk Zuravel is working with the Gaulrapp administration, that constitutional protection is out the window.

So the big question is, why is Freeport City Clerk Meg Zuravel working with the Gaulrapp administration to keep the aldermen and the public at large in the dark about problems with Freeport Water and Sewer?

Why were the attachments removed from this letter prior to it being made available on last night's agenda? So much for all of the "transparency" that George Gaulrppp likes to tout..

More importantly, before the next election City Clerk Meg Zuravel needs to make it clear to the public if she is working for them or the Gaulrapp administration. Which is it Meg Zuravel?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

The Gaulrapp Administration, A Case Study In Double Standards

2012-01-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

According to the Journal-Standard coverage of last night's Freeport City Council meeting the so called "abandoned building ordinance" was put on hold for at least two more weeks. The report stated that aldermen were unsure of some of the wording of the ordinance.

Tutty is very happy to see Freeport City Council members actually reading the ordinances instead of just taking the words of Gaulrapp, Griffin and Griswold as fact.

One of the most interesting parts of the Journal-Standard news story was when an alderman asked if this new ordinance would apply to the City as well as citizens. The answer from Gaulrapp, Griffin and Griswold was "no".

There is only one word to describe the Gaulrapp administration pushing ordinances onto citizens but not themselves, it's a compound word, and that word is bullshit.

Where does the Gaulrapp administration get off presenting ordinances that Freeporters have to abide by but the City of Freeport does not?

Does the Gaulrapp adminstration actually think this is responsible leadership/

If the City of Freeport cannot abide by an ordinance than there is no way that ordinance should be foisted upon Freeport citizens. Why should any body of government be able to get around laws, statutes and ordinances that bind citizens.

The Freeport City Council should, at the next reading in two weeks, kill this half-baked ordinance. The Freeport City Council either believes in double standards or it doesn't. Which is it City Council?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

John Blum, the Woman Beater

2012-01-03T10:42:00.000-08:00

While Tutty usually does not like to delve into the personal lives of public officials. Tutty feels that it is necessary at this point.

In a recent Journal-Standard article regarding Bill Hadley's candidacy for Stephenson County Board, someone going by the title of "Fuboy" (the Journal-Standard should know who it is) put two very libelous comments on the internet version of the Journal-Standard article. Anonymously and without foundation Fuboy made all sorts of nasty allegations regarding the personal life of Bill Hadley. The newspaper, after first approving the posting of a clearly personal and libelous attack on Bill Hadley has since removed the post.

It is no secret that John Blum does not like Bill Hadley. John Blum, using an effective whisper campaign against Hadley worked hard to have his yes man, Pete Willging, elected over Hadley four years ago.

In 2006 Hadley was the only member of the Stephenson County Board to vote against the $6 million debt for Mill Race Crossing.

Clearly, the person or persons that are working to libel Bill Hadley are John Blum supporters. Unfortunately for John Blum supporters, their only hope is a whisper campaign of misinformation to disparage anyone that speaks against Blum.

These people seem to forget that in 1995 a woman who is not John Blum's wife had an order of protection granted against John Blum. Here is a link to the factual documentation.

http://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_information.jsp?court=IL089015J&ocl=IL089015J,1995F169,IL089015JL1995F169D1

Unlike anonymous comments to the Journal-Standard and the newspaper itself, Tutty does not make claims that cannot be substantiated with factual documentation.

Tutty thinks it would be very interesting if someone would dig up the eleven pieces of evidence that were used to convince the 15th Judicial Circuit Court to grant an order of protection against John Blum.

Why would anyone in their right mind vote for or support a woman beater in any way shape or form?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

John Blum Minimizes the Big Blumdoggle

2012-01-03T08:43:00.000-08:00

In this morning's hard copy of the Journal-Standard there is a "first in print" story regarding the primary election in Stephenson County District F, because of redistricting there are now four Republican incumbents in District F. They are John Blum, Chris Clukey, Don Parker and Robert Smith. Among these four, two will be elected for placement on the general election ballot this November.

Of course John Blum, the current Stephenson County Board Chairman was busy defending his baby, the Mill Race Industrial Park and the corresponding multi-million dollar debt Stephenson County residents and businesses bear as a result.

Here is picture of the pertinent part of the Journal-Standard article and is used here under copyright law for educational and historical purposes.

John Blum, in an obvious fit of psychosis, compared the Mill Race Crossing initiative with such "essentials" as a jail, highway building and squad cars. John Blum appears to becoming more and more delusional every day. How can you compare the Big Blumdoggle to such needed services as a jail and squad cars? At least in the case of a jail, a highway building and squad cars there is something to show the public for their tax dollars.

What's more, if John Blum hadn't led Stephenson County into such bad financial shape, the jail would have been paid off next year. Instead, it was also refinanced for another 20 years in 2007. Costing Stephenson County taxpayers twice as much in interest.

Blum also talked about "the attributes of a successful industrial park" apparently, to John Blum, those attributes do not include water and sewer service. There is no feasible plan for water and sewer service to Mill Race Crossing and without water and sewer there can be no real industrial park.

The facts are folks, thanks to John Blum's cloudy foresight, Stephenson County residents and businesses are holding a $10 million-plus bag with no possibility of any return. John Blum and company are essentially taking more than $10 million from Stephenson County businesses and residents and throwing it out the window. Without a feasible plan to bring water and sewer to the Big Blumdoggle, it has no future.

So, whenever you hear John Blum or one of his legally blind followers touting the "potential" of the Mill Race Industrial know that they are fully in the throes of some type of John Blum induced psychosis.

Without a feasible and known plan for water and sewer service there is no other way to explain these delusions of public officials.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Paying For the Incompetence of Representative Jim Sacia...For the Next 20 Years

2012-01-02T08:06:00.000-08:00

Tutty recently received a video file of Republican State Representative Jim Sacia speaking on WFRL radio back in the summer of 2005. Sacia was responding to a call in question from a listener.

Sacia makes it clear that the legislation which enabled the creation of Mill Race Crossing was done on behalf of John Blum. Sacia was convinced that the Mill Race Crossing legislation would be good for Stephenson County.

Give a listen to what Jim Sacia said back then, Tutty posted it on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl0TMOBNRhA&feature=youtu.be

Jim Sacia likes to rant about accountability and responsibility but where is his accountability for this entire Blumdoggle?

Jim Sacia did not even know that the legislation he sponsored allowed Stephenson County officials to issue non-noticed, non-referendum public debt. Tutty would put up a link to the January 19, 2006 Journal-Standard article which proves that Sacia did not understand the legislation he was sponsoring but this article is only available for purchase from the Journal-Standard web page.

Where is the accountability from Republican Jim Sacia? Why didn't he have a better understanding of the legislation he not only sponsored but publicly lobbied for as well? The residents and businesses of Stephenson County are now stuck paying for the incompetence of Representative Sacia. How can Tutty call it anything but incompetence, Tutty likes to think most people have a general idea of what the results of their actions will be. Not so with Jim Sacia, he claims he was "surprised" when Stephenson County borrowed money without a referendum to fund Mill Race Crossing, Tutty is convinced that "incompetence" is a good word to use in this situation.

Tutty wonders why Jim Sacia can not explain himself?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Public Pensions in Freeport

2011-12-28T10:14:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to the list of pensions being paid to past employees of Freeport School District #145 as well as past employees of other Freeport taxing bodies. Tutty is sure you will find this link very interesting.

http://www.webploration.com/Pensions/PBE.php?Employer_search=freeport&sel_id=&pe_op=send

Just follow the link and put "Freeport" in the search box and then choose what taxing bodies pensions you want to look at from the drop down box below the search box.

Tutty thanks the Boone County Watchdog http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/ for bringing this website to Tutty's attention.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

John Blum Talking Mill Race Water and Sewer...in 2005

2011-12-27T23:45:00.000-08:00

Here is link to a You Tube video of John Blum responding to a caller's question regarding water and sewer service to Mill Race Crossing. This was recorded in 2005, back when you could call the local radio station and ask live, on air questions, of the guests.

Give it a listen, Tutty is sure you will find it interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g06oV0UR8ZE&context=C30610c4ADOEgsToPDskJrkxtKmIwI5lc-oNKvLOKB

The video speaks for itself.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Where Are The Rockford TV Cameras Now?

2011-12-19T10:33:00.000-08:00

Back on July 23rd Tutty put up a post regarding Candidate George Gaulrapp giving nice pay raises to the City of Freeport's police and firemen.

Tutty wrote the following paragraph in that post:

"Freeport police and firemen, at least temporarily, should be thanking their lucky stars that candidate Gaulrapp is busy trying to get the backing of Illinois' labor unions as he attempts to advance his political career. Tutty doubts that these contracts will be workable for the full four years, there just simply won't be the money."

When candidate Gaulrapp signed these union contracts he sent out press releases to everyone, several Rockford television crews showed up to broadcast the candidate Gaulrapp spiel that City of Freeport budget numbers were now solid enough to support these contracts.

Fast forward to the present day and tonight the administration of candidate Gaulrapp is asking the Freeport City Council to exercise home rule powers to get around the property tax extension limitation law (PTELL) or "tax caps" as it is often called to raise Freeport's property tax levy by 20%.

If they don't do this, look for them to exercise home rule powers to raise one of the other numerous taxes that have been created by home rule powers. Since 2003, as alderman or mayor, candidate Gaulrapp has reached into the home rule bag of tricks at least two dozen times to either incur public debt or create a tax to continue to fund the status quo.

Why can't the City of Freeport live within its means? Candidate Gaulrapp sometimes talks of hard "cuts" his administration has made. This makes Tutty roll on the floor with laughter. Year after year, the City of Freeport budget has grown larger than the previous years. This has not been the case in other local municipalities, including Rockford. In these municipalities the "cuts" have been real. They don't have home rule powers to raise revenue on a mayoral whim.

But with home rule powers, the City of Freeport does not have to live within the same reality faced citizens every day, they can increase their revenue (and decrease yours) any time candidate Gaulrapp can get four aldermen to vote his way.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

What John Blum Did Not Say...And Does Not Want You to Understand

2011-12-14T10:41:00.000-08:00

Stephenson County Board Chairman John Blum's Sunday column in the Journal-Standard this past week was anything but forthright. Here is a link to Blum's column:

http://www.journalstandard.com/newsnow/x1270566068/County-Chairmans-view-Board-looks-to-raise-bond-rating

First, whenever anyone has to use their introduction paragraph to convince the reader how smart the author is...well that's a huge warning that the writer is going to try to blow some bullshit by you.

The rest of Blum's article was basically used to try and make a rather simple math problem more complex than it actually is...John Blum likes to subtly convince others of how complicated things are hoping they will not pursue the issue...he then can tell himself that he is the only one that truly understands the big picture. Read his articles and draw your own conclusions.

Well folks, anything that John Blum purports to understand, regardless of complexity, you can understand too. Tutty will help you. John Blum, despite what he wants people to believe, has not cornered the market on brains.

John Blum wrote that "During this current bond analysis we have had a number of discussions with Standard & Poor's providing an in depth analysis of the county's financial strength and consistency. We humbly anticipate a stronger bond rating."

Two points, who is "we" and where did they get the authority to conduct financial business behind the back of the Finance Committee.? Secondly, Standard & Poor's had already issued a higher bond rating for this debt issue and John Blum knew it when he wrote his article. The rating was issued on December 2nd.

Tutty knows you're asking, but Tutty with Stephenson County finances in catastrophe how did Stephenson County get a higher bond rating for this particular debt issue?

Tutty assures friends and neighbors that it was not the hard work that John Blum claimed it was, all John Blum and whoever else is included in "we" had to do was promise the bond house every potential penny, including the grocery money.

Following is the abstract from the Standard & Poor's rating, emphasis added, the full report is available for $175.00.

-----------------------------

"Standard&Poor's Ratings Services assigned its 'A+' long-term rating to Stephenson County, Ill.'s series 2011A taxable refunding debt certificates and series 2011B refunding debt certificates. The outlook is stable. The debt certificates are secured by a lien on sales tax revenues as well as the county's pledge to pay debt service from any lawfully available and annually budgeted funds. The county's outstanding debt certificates are currently rated 'BBB-'. The 'A+' rating on the series 2011A and 2011B debt certificates reflects our view of the pledge's strength. The 'A+' rating also reflects our view of the county's: Strong maximum annual debt service (MADS) coverage at 2.90x by pledged revenues collected in fiscal 2010; An above-average additional bonds test (ABT)"

-----------------------

The Stephenson County Board and citizens at large should be demanding a written opinion from State's Attorney John Vogt as to how any of this is legal. How can John Blum and "we" pledge away any and all Stephenson County tax receipts to cover the sames colossal Blumdoggle known as Mill Race Crossing?

Where in the Illinois Constitution, Illinois Statutes, or Stephenson County Code is John Blum and "we" granted the authority to expend any and all Stephenson County tax receipts for whatever purpose that John Blum and "we" want to use the capital? If the Stephenson County State's Attorney doesn't know it now he will never learn any younger that without a specific grant of power from either the Illinois Constitution or Illinois Statutes, there is no power to act. Hence, Stephenson County can not write self enforcing ordinances, Stephenson County can not give itself authority beyond what the State of Illinois has granted. It's called Dillons Rule, look it up.

And where is the public notice? There is also something called the Bond Issue Notification Act (lawyers call it BINA and it is often referenced in public debt bond ordinances). Why does this law, a statute that provides for public notice through publication, not apply to this debt? Tutty would think the Journal-Standard and the Illinois Press Association would be interested in this issue. Why is there not proper notification being given to the public that John Blum and "we" have promised away the future of Stephenson County?

As a matter of fact the Journal-Standard would and should be paid for publishing such legal notice. Tutty wonders why Gatehouse Media puts up with a newspaper that protects the secrets of a county board chairman more than it protects its bottom line.

Trust Tutty, this issue has just begun so check back often.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Mayor George Gaulrapp and the City of Freeport are Being Sued in Federal Court

2011-12-03T09:15:00.000-08:00

At the end of the last Freeport City Council meeting alderman-at-large Andrew Crutchfield made a point to push Mayor George Gaulrapp and City of Freeport Corporation Counsel Sarah Griffin about any pending lawsuits.

At first both of them sat stone faced, then after more pushing by alderman-at-large Crutchfield, Sarah Griffin told Crutchfield that any lawsuit would be taken care of the city of Freeport's insurance carrier.

Tutty, at this point, does not have a recording of the exchange but it did prompt Tutty into doing some looking, and look what Tutty found: http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=572122.

If you follow the above link there is a report out of the Quad Cities (of all places) that Mayor George Gaulrapp and the City of Freeport are being sued in federal court for copyright infringement.

While Tutty does not have much more in detail other than the content of the above story, Tutty does find it interesting that Sarah Griffin has already made reference that the City's insurance will take care of the issue. Isn't that an admittance of guilt? And why hasn't the City Council been made fully aware of this situation?

Really George Gaulrapp and Sarah Griffin, is that why the citizens of Freeport pay taxes for insurance, so George Gaulrapp can make all types of boneheaded moves and have his legal protection provided for by the citizens of Freeport?

And why do Freeporters, including Tutty, have to go to Quad Cities news source to find out about the legal allegations made against Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp? Where is Freeport's almost daily newspaper? Probably too busy trying to run protection for the Gaulrapp/Blum/NIDA mafia, clearly the Journal-Standard is a large part of Freeport's problems--why ignore the alleged corruption unless you are part of it?

When was the Journal-Standard planning on reporting this story, or were they just hoping no one would notice until it all went away? Well, Tutty makes an effort to notice what Freeport officials are really doing, not what the local newspaper wants you to believe they are doing.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

The Stephenson County Treasurer Keeps Good Secrets

2011-11-30T08:11:00.000-08:00

With the release of the agenda for tonight's Stephenson Count Board meeting came proof positive of what good job Stephenson County Treasurer, Adrienne Becker abecker@co.stephenson.il.us does at keeping secrets.

On tonight's agenda is a request that the Stephenson County Board issue $2.7 million in tax anticipation notes. Tax anticipation notes are the process of borrowing from the next year's tax receipts. Is Stephenson County in such poor fiscal shape that they must borrow $2.7 million from taxes that are yet to be paid? How much more interest will Stephenson County businesses and individuals be paying as the result of these warrants?

And why didn't Treasurer Adrienne Becker bring this issue to the Finance Committee of the Stephenson County Board prior to seeking a place on the agenda? Who else among Stephenson County officials knew that the current budget was unworkable without an infusion of $2.7 million and why weren't these facts presented to the Finance Committee prior to now?

County Treasurer Adrienne Becker's web page http://www.co.stephenson.il.us/treasurer/ lays claim that it is that office's purpose to "conduct the duties of the office with professionalism, accountability and integrity" and that "it is the goal of the County Treasurer to conduct all the duties of the office in the best interests of the taxpayers by providing exceptional public service, while maintaining a conservative budget."

Ms. Becker needs to explain to Stephenson County taxpayers how it is in their "best interests" that she conspires with other Stephenson County officials behind the scenes to keep multi-million dollar secrets from the public.

The Stephenson County Board, all twenty two members, had better look around because the future that John Blum has been promising them is here now. And it sure as Hell is not what John Blum has said it would be.

A lowered credit rating (almost junk bond status) a $5.5 million outstanding debt and now the request to issue $2.7 million in Tax Anticipation Warrants should be enough to wake even the dead among Stephenson County Board members.

How much longer will the Stephenson County Board put up with John Blum and the glaring mess that he has created for all of Stephenson County (with the help of complicit elected officials like Stephenson County Treasurer Adrienne Becker)?

Any potential business or industry that is looking for a new location will run as fast as they can from Stephenson County once they look at the County's financial shape and practices. They know who will have to get Stephenson County out of this mess...the businesses and individuals that still have the wherewithal to pay taxes that's who.

Do John Blum and company actually believe that those who create jobs do not consider such things? Well they do, because they realize that the incompetence of Stephenson County leadership could directly affect their bottom line.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

WHAM! BAM! John Blum Creates a Multi-Million Dollar Debt For You To Pay

2011-11-29T10:25:00.000-08:00

Tutty's educated guess is that at tomorrow night's meeting of the Stephenson County Board a lengthy and complex bond ordinance of more $8 million will be dropped in the laps of Stephenson County Board members and John Blum will expect a vote on the ordinance within minutes of it being unveiled to the full County Board.

This is not responsible leadership.

How many Stephenson County Board members would refinance their homes without a chance to adequately read over the terms and conditions?

Most people, when buying real estate take a lawyer with them to the closing and even then numerous questions may still arise. So why would any Stephenson County Board member vote to indebt the public without first reading the documentation and having an understanding beyond what John Blum has represented to them.

Most county residents can see where John Blum's representations have taken Stephenson County and it's not pretty.

So how can any Stephenson County Board member justify voting on a multi-million dollar public debt at the same meeting the details are first presented? Most Stephenson County board members have no idea how much John Blum and company are wanting to borrow, the length of the term or the interest rate. Not having these details at this late date speaks volumes regarding the sneakiness of John Blum.

Why has this multi-million dollar ordinance not been vetted by the Finance Committee of the Stephenson County Board prior to being presented to the full Board? Under the Stephenson County Code, it is the Finance and Procurement Committee which "supervises" all County finances, not John Blum and company. Below is a picture of the actual Stephenson County Code.

(clicking on picture will make it larger)

Hopefully, a member of the Stephenson County Board will ask State's Attorney John Vogt for a written and signed legal opinion regarding the propriety of voting on a multi-million dollar bond ordinance without it first coming through the Finance Committee. If this is actually proper, John Vogt should not have too hard of time finding the authorizing language. Note, without authorizing language in either the Illinois Constitution or the Illinois Statutes the Stephenson County Board is not allowed to do anything, it is illegal for the Stephenson County Board to write "self-enforcing" ordinances or resolutions. This is why it took special legislation to create Mill Race Crossing.

Tutty is wondering how many members of the Stephenson County Board will vote for issuing multi-million dollars of pubic debt without first taking the time to know and understand the terms and conditions of the public debt?

The Stephenson County Board needs to remember that they are responsible to their constituents, not John Blum and company. Tutty thinks it is past the time for the majority of them to start acting like it.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

The State of Stephenson County--Delusional and Propagandized

2011-11-28T08:34:00.000-08:00

As Tutty continues to read the weekly column by the Chairman of the Stephenson County Board published every Sunday in the Journal-Standard, Tutty is becoming more and more convinced that Board Chairman John Blum lives in Fantasy Land. A link to his column follows: http://www.journalstandard.com/newsnow/x1293128422/County-Chairmans-view-Budget-geared-to-residents-future.

First off, John Blum claims that he does not write the weekly column to "promote any personal or political issues with any organization or member of our community."

Tutty doesn't buy it folks, look at the scoreboard, just a month ago Tutty took a John Blum column to task for misrepresenting the Illinois Constitution of 1970. Unlike John Blum, when it comes to Illinois Constitutional issues or Statutes Tutty will go straight to the documents and provide quotes. John Blum might provide a citation or two and then write about what he wants you to think it means. Tutty has crossed this bridge and the documentation can be found posted on this blog October 26, 2011 or at this link: http://blumdoggle.blogspot.com/2011/10/public-misrepresentation-of-illinois.html.

In the next paragraph John Blum really proves how delusive he is by trying to separate the term "resident" from "tax payer." John Blum makes the argument that these words are not interchangeable. While many residents are taxpayers, it is important that public services are available to every resident, wrote John Blum.

Tutty disagrees with John Blum's philosophy, every living resident in the State of Illinois generates some type of revenue for county government, money collected for governmental purposes is called taxes. And even John Blum should realize that even the poorest of the poor in Freeport help pay Stephenson County's jail debt every time they buy a role of toilet paper or a tube of toothpaste. Tutty could go on but won't. It would be interesting to know exactly what criteria John Blum uses for distinguishing between a "taxpayer" and a "resident." But it's doubtful John Blum has any criteria he probably only made the comparison to propagate the illusion of inclusion...that's Tutty's opinion.

The third paragraph by John Blum was long and contained much in the way of wind but very little in the way of sunshine. In the first half of the paragraph John Blum used the word "budget" no less than five times yet never got any more specific than "approximately $35 million." A budget, by it's very nature, should contain hard and common facts, why does John Blum only give county residents wishwashiness?

In the middle of the third paragraph is a sentence that cries out for rebuttal, Blum wrote, "The budget process has been intense and inclusive." Tutty will address this sentence soon.

The second part of the third paragraph provided the public (taxpayers or residents?) with John Blum's reassurances that any "distrustful" feelings toward "their elected and appointed representatives" was "not warranted." He closed the convoluted paragraph by writing, "We work together every day to provide an honest, efficient and consistent unit of local government."

Tutty would have a much easier time believing the above if we knew what basis of facts John Blum has to support his choice of words. However, at the last Stephenson County Board meeting, a board member made a motion to hold a "discussion" regarding the "Mill Race Crossing financing options" and John Blum was one of seven Stephenson County Board members to vote against the motion. If Stephenson County is truly being so inclusive and living up to the verbiage of John Blum then why keep any secrets? An "honest, efficient and consistent unit of government" should not be operating in the shadows.

The members of the Stephenson County Board that voted against so much as an open discussion regarding more than $10 million in public debt, payable directly by Stephenson County businesses and residents, need to explain themselves. Those voting to muffle any public discussion were, Alan Harn; Forest Senn; Samuel Newton; Bennie Brown; Jeff Mikkelsen; Shiela Hooper and John Blum.

Voting to avoid public discussion is not a sign of honesty or responsibility.

John Blum's fourth and final paragraph casts serious doubt upon the Chairman's coherency. This paragraph contained three sentences that Tutty has read and reread yet can still not understand what points John Blum was attempting to make.

The first sentence read, "As the county board makes the final budget determinations it is obvious that a vision for the future must drive the financial options and investments contained in the budget plan." Wrong John Blum, a local government budget should reflect the needs of the coming year, not some half-cocked and secret "vision for the future" (note John Blum's unsupported use of the word "obvious").

The second sentence read, "It will be obvious when this budget is finalized what the collective vision of the county board must be." Again, let's concentrate on the needs of Stephenson County businesses and individuals with this budget not some undefined "vision" that threatens to put Stephenson County in the poor house.

The final sentence of John Blum's column read, "I am confident that a majority vote by the county board will match the majority opinion of all residents of Stephenson County." Think about that one for a little while and then call your County Board member and ask them how John Blum knows this? There has been no referendum, advisory or otherwise, so in Tutty's opinion it is overreaching for Blum to claim that "a majority" of Stephenson County will approve any Board action.

The most obvious thing about Mill Race Crossing is the complete absence of water and sewer service to the area and a feasible plan to construct the same. This has been obvious since 2005, yet John Blum and company continue to deflect any direct questions regarding this glaring issue.

To continue to act like there is a future in Mill Race Crossing is obviously nothing more than a delusion. If there was more than hallucinatory value to Mill Race Crossing, John Blum would be able to address the issue directly and with specific facts. This has never happened. Practically all of the official "facts" regarding the potential of Mill Race Crossing have turned out to be contrived bullshit.

The next Stephenson County Budget needs to be about more than John Blum's delusional vision...isn't it obvious?

In closing Tutty will leave you with the definition of propaganda. You are smart enough to decide if John Blum's columns are anything but propaganda.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

Mill Race Crossing Itemized

2011-11-26T06:36:00.000-08:00

A friend of Tutty's on Facebook wanted to know where all the Mill Race Crossing money has gone so, thanks to another loyal reader of the Blumdoggle, here are the revenues and expenses over the life of Mill Race Crossing.

Tutty is kind of curious as to where more than half-a-million dollars, accounted for under "miscellaneous revenue" came from in 2008.

Here is a link to the documents:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=133d624db296d25e&mt=application/pdf&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui%3D2%26ik%3D0e813a579f%26view%3Datt%26th%3D133d624db296d25e%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dsafe%26zw&sig=AHIEtbT9tR48D8k2pI143mmHcqyV00iBZA

Take a good look at the record and then ask any member of the Stephenson County Board how it is in our best interest to keep riding this dead horse.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

A Public Question of Ethics

2011-11-25T20:59:00.000-08:00

At the last meeting of the Stephenson County Board county resident Dave Martindale, according to meeting minutes, "Encouraged board members to contact their constituents and listen to their input on the budget. He questioned if it is ethical to serve on the both the County Board and the NIDA Board."

Mr. Martindale asks a most important public question, a question deserving of an official explanation.

Two members of the Stephenson County Board, John Blum and Jeff Mikkelsen serve on the Executive Committee of the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance. Also serving on the NIDA Executive Committee are Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp and City Council member Tom Klemm.

All four of the above named leaders use their positions as public trustees to promote their private club, NIDA. In several instances these men have used their positions to promote and literally fund their private club with our public tax dollars.

Where is the ethics in this? Why doesn't the Highland Community College Leadership Institute do a program on ethics and explain how this is ethical for local leaders. Sorry, Tutty forgot that the HCC Leadership Institute is not much more than a method of indoctrination in to the good old boys club, and has little to do with teaching real leadership. Rubbing shoulders and massaging egos, that's the real mission. Real leadership involves addressing the difficult, something the HCC leadership avoids completely.

Tutty will bet that the average salary of the graduates of the HCC Leadership Institute already exceeded $50,000 per year at the time they attended. How about that HCC? You want to open up your books and explain why the Leadership Institute only accepts the upper crust and ignores real leadership in favor of secret collusion?

Look around, what type of ethical leaders have been produced? Both John Blum and George Gaulrapp are graduates of the Leadership Institute yet they can't supply the public with a written answer as to how it is ethical for them to use public positions to support their private club with our public funds.

Real leaders, despite what the HCC Leadership Institute might teach, should be able to logically explain themselves.

Tutty would not expect too much help from the Journal-Standard on this issue. Earlier this year Steve Trosley, publisher of the Journal-Standard was appointed by Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp to sit on the City of Freeport's Ethics Commission.

Tutty doubts if candidate Gaulrapp would appoint anyone to such a commission that would actually challenge the status quo, that might be construed as a negative.

Anyway, more people need to keep asking for an explanation from the Blum/Gaulrapp tandem regarding serving on both a public body and the NIDA Executive Committee, especially when an appropriation vote is being taken. Why can't these two leaders explain themselves, if in fact, a logical explanation is even plausible.

Maybe that is the problem...there's no plausible logic at home.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

A Justified Default on $5.5 million

2011-11-24T21:01:00.000-08:00

Stephenson County Board Chairman John Blum recently wrote that defaulting on the $5.5 million debt that Stephenson County took on to purchase the Mill Race Crossing industrial park was "really not a viable or even remotely necessary option for open discussion."

Everyone knows John Blum does not like open discussions on anything but what he wants the Stephenson County Board to consider. However, defaulting on this $5.5 million debt is very much a discussion which should take place. Tutty believes that the Stephenson County Board should at least consider approaching outside legal counsel about putting the culpability of this financial failure upon the mega bank and the handful of complicit attorneys that helped get the original $6 million deal executed.

Everything in hindsight would lead a person of average intelligence to believe that JP Morgan Chase took advantage of an unsophisticated, rural county board in issuing this debt. Two lawyers from the firm of Ward, Murray, Pace and Johnson P.C. also represented Stephenson County and were likely paid from the newly issued debt. These lawyers names are Robert T. LeSage III and James L. Reese. Attorney Reese was present at the May 10, 2006 Stephenson County Board meeting when the debt, without previous discussion, public notice, or referendum was approved. Why didn't these lawyers see the risk involved in this loan? Were they too busy being complicit partners of John Blum and JP Morgan Chase to realize that there was no water and sewer or other infrastructure in place to support John Blum's grandiose visions?

These two lawyers clearly were not working for Stephenson County but for John Blum and JP Morgan Chase. Tutty checked the Attorney Registration and Discipline Commission and both lawyers reported that they have malpractice insurance.

Stephenson County should look at the potential of suing the malpractice insurance of James L. Reese. He sat at the May 10, 2006 Stephenson County Board meeting and allowed a $6 million public debt be issued without the full Stephenson County Board having had a chance to digest the documents that they were just given that night.

Clearly, an attorney knows that lengthy and complex bond documents can not be adequately reviewed and understood in a thirty-minute executive session. The Stephenson County Board was forced to rely upon what they were told. Attorney Reese sat in silence when John Blum told the county board that the money was going to be put into an "interest bearing account potentially earning more interest that we are paying" (quote is from minutes of the meeting). When public debt is issued the lawyers representing the issuer have a duty to know exactly how that money is going to be used, otherwise a single member of the public body may mislead the other members of the public body. Come to think of it, that's exactly what happened here, John Blum lied through his teeth and Attorney James L. Reese was an eyewitness.

That Tutty's friends, is legal malpractice. Stephenson County was paying Attorney Reese, not John Blum.

And what about the role of JP Morgan Chase in this financial catastrophe for Stephenson County businesses and individuals? How many $6 million deals does JP Morgan Chase do without securing any type of collateral other than a wild ass gamble? Doesn't JP Morgan Chase have lawyers too? How many suits looked at this thing and no one raised a single red flag?

Nobody from JP Morgan Chase went out and looked at the so called industrial park and calculated what it would take to actually make the site an adequate industrial park. Tutty is guessing that it will take $30 million to run water and sewer from Freeport and probably about $25 million to run water and sewer from German Valley and then there is no where near enough new hook ups along either route to be able to maintain such a build out without massive rate increases for current users.

Why didn't anyone from JP Morgan Chase even consider the above facts before loaning $6 million?

This entire mess is the result of a cavalier board chairman being given (or taking) the power to secure legal counsel and deal with financial institutions in secret and then working to convince an unsophisticated county board that they needed to approve a $6 million dollar deal within minutes of first being given documentation. Read the meeting minutes, even the documents that Blum handed out he asked the other members of the county board to return, which meant he did not want anyone to even have a copy of what they just voted to approve.

This was a $6 million dollar vote (which is now about to become an $11 or $12 million Blumdoggle) and the Stephenson County Board was given less than 30 minutes to consider the ramifications.

Tutty says default on the remaining money. Stephenson County's bond rating is already poor and cannot be improved any time soon.

JP Morgan Chase should be more than happy with what they've already collected and if they are not threaten to sue them and the lawyers involved as well.

The Stephenson County Board needs to quit listening to the convoluted words of John Blum and start taking care of the public's business, and right now the businesses and individuals of this county would be better served by defaulting on the remaining $5.5 million and placing the blame for this failure squarely on the shoulders of JP Morgan Chase the attorneys named above.

Weren't they paid to be the sophisticated ones?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

The "Chairman's View" ...A Perfect Example of John Blum Convolution

2011-11-20T16:27:00.000-08:00

As usual for a Sunday, the chairman of the Stephenson County Board, John J. Blum, had a column in the Journal-Standard. This week's Blum column is a perfect example of how John Blum uses convolution to convince others, and probably himself as well, that his and the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance's fantasies actual merit further public expense.

If you have not seen Blum's column, here is a link:
http://www.journalstandard.com/newsnow/x937071481/County-Chairmans-view-County-can-t-default-on-debt

Tutty will now address Blum's column on a paragraph by paragraph basis.

Blum uses a lengthy lead paragraph to mention numerous things regarding this year's proposed county budget, using the last line to introduce readers to the topic of "refinancing of $5.5 million in debt certificates."

John Blum uses his second paragraph attempting to lay himself and NIDA as blameless for the entire Blumdoggle, "This obligation was justified at the time by three expansive projects that would have injected more than $100 million of new investment and generated more than 1,000 jobs with an annual payroll of more than $30 million."

Prior to issuing the original $6 million debt John Blum spent much effort convincing everyone that Trim-Rite was a sure thing. Go back and look at the record. John Blum bet the future of Stephenson County that Trim-Rite would not only come but would help finance the massive build out of water and sewer necessary to make any project in the Mill Race Industrial Park feasible. Most slaughterhouses have dedicated waste water treatment facilities.

For those not familiar with the location of the so called "industrial park" it is located almost exactly half way between the waste water treatment plants of Freeport and German Valley by the way the crow flies.

Once the president of Trim-Rite realized the Blum scam, he ran from Stephenson County as if his hair was on fire...and rightfully so. The editors and publisher at the Journal-Standard need to go back and read their old news stories.

Until there is a feasible plan to finance the water and sewer infrastructure...which in Tutty's opinion is decades away...Mill Race Crossing will remain a Blum/NIDA pipe dream.

In his third paragraph John Blum has enough nerve to to write about "realities associated with this public funding."

This paragraph is a nice example of how John Blum really believes that his opinions should be construed as public realities.

Blum calls this debt an "investment" but that is a matter of opinion and not reality.

In one of the most telling lines of the third paragraph John Blum wrote, "this investment supports the growth of public infrastructure that will be provided in conjunction with a current intergovernmental agreement between Stephenson County and the City of Freeport."

Hold on there a minute John Blum, where does the intergovernmental agreement say that "public infrastructure will be provided."?

As Tutty stated earlier in this post, a legitimate plan for financing water and sewer to the Mill Race Industrial Park is decades away. The Gaulrapp administration has just embarked upon a project Tutty calls the "Big Fore Play" because they are going to spend $20 million and not begin to address the fundamental problems with Freeport's water and sewer system. Tutty will elaborate on the Big Fore Play in the near future.

Even if a couple of companies would take land in Mill Race Crossing, without numerous water and sewer hook-ups being added, such a huge build out of water and sewer service is not financially feasible. Tutty estimates it would cost upwards of $25 million to put Freeport water and sewer service into Mill Race Crossing. Three lift stations and a manhole every 500 feet don't come on the cheap and then there is the huge cost of maintaining such a system.

Tutty has plenty of more questions for City of Freeport officials and the Freeport Water and Sewer Commission regarding Blum's claim that "public infrastructure will be provided." Did George Gaulrapp make John Blum a secret promise at a NIDA meeting? And, if a new Mayor is elected what is stopping the current intergovernmental agreement from being torn up? Let's talk reality and not John Blum opinion.

In finishing out his third paragraph John Blum lists as one of his "realities" that the Mill Race debt "is being made to deliver on the highest public priority which has been identified as a strong and dynamic local economy."

Does anyone else need further proof that the entire "Prospering Together" effort was nothing more than an enforcement of the status quo?

If the refinancing of the Mill Race Crossing debt is in reality "the highest public priority" as John Blum opines, then why doesn't Blum ask the Stephenson County Board to hold an advisory referendum asking the voting public what they think of the refinancing? According to Blum, the public backs his plans, so what's wrong with an advisory referendum?

Again, John Blum used an entire paragraph to try and sell his opinions as public "realities".

In his fourth paragraph John Blum claims that "We are unable to unilaterally dispose of the property at a loss..." Why is that John Blum? And why is it acceptable for you to expect other county board members and the public at large to unilaterally support that which you consider an "investment"?

Sometimes, you have to cut your losses. The taxpayers of Stephenson County should not be forced to continue to pay for this man's Blumdoggles.

In the fifth paragraph John Blum claims that, "We have enough financial resources in the near term to support this debt knowing that NIDA continues to work with potential manufacturing projects interested in a location like Mill Race and will eventually succeed." Reality does not support these claims. Recently it was revealed that Stephenson County might not have enough money to adequately plow snow this winter and how long are we going to be hearing about fictional manufacturers that are interested in industrial sites that lack water and sewer? Furthermore, the debt extension being proposed by Blum and company is not about the "near term" it is about the long term. If John Blum gets his way, he will likely die of old age before this debt is retired.

Also in the fifth paragraph John Blum makes the claims that "There are also growing financial resources available to support this debt from the expiring property tax abatements on our wind farms, an increase in the tax increment generated in the EDPA, and the prospect of new enterprise zone fees throughout the county."

Notice though how John Blum avoids the use of real numbers? If John Blum were to live in reality and look at the real numbers he would realize that the above "financial resources" fall woefully short of being able to pay even the interest on $5.5 million, especially when your bond rating is just above the level of junk. Furthermore members of the Stephenson County Board, when did it become acceptable to underwrite long term debt on the "prospect" of new revenue? Why do you think taxpayers are upset? Isn't it obvious.

In the sixth and final paragraph John Blum says that the Stephenson County Board "will forge a new long term financial commitment befor the current agreement expires in January." Blum claims that "This will most likely be in the form of a general obligation bond which is one of the best debt instruments available to local governments."

John Blum needs to elaborate on how it is legal for Stephenson County to issue General Obligation debt without a binding referendum. Where is this authority found in Illinois law Stephenson County State's Attorney John Vogt? Does bond counsel know there is a possibility of litigation if this bond issue is approved?

Since when is appropriate for a Stephenson County Board member to state what the board as whole is going to do in the future, especially when there has been absolutely no public mention of how much Stephenson County is planning on borrowing in order to retire a $5.5 million debt and how long will the residents of Stephenson County be stuck paying for what John Blum and NIDA consider an "investment."

John Blum does his best to avoid real numbers while confusing his opinions with reality. According to John Blum "It is most important to move forward, generate development and reap rewards from our investment. These rewards would be greatly enhanced if more of our efforts were focused on and in support of economic growth."

All Stephenson County has done for more than six years now is focus on economic development and all there is to show is a track record of failure and worse. It is time for the Stephenson County Board to concentrate on the things they are mandated to do and leave the economic development to those that have a strong grasp of reality.

How long will the majority of the Stephenson County Board continue to consider John Blum bullshit as reality? This lack of vision has cost the businesses and individuals of Stephenson County too much money already.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Stephenson County Budgets...Past and Proposed

2011-11-18T07:40:00.000-08:00

Tutty received a request to post links to the Stephenson County budgets and Tutty thinks that is a good idea. So first off here is a link to the 2009-2010 budget:

http://www.co.stephenson.il.us/administrator/data/2009-Budget.pdf

Next is the 2010-2011 budget:

http://www.co.stephenson.il.us/administrator/data/2010%20Budget.pdf

And following these is the proposed 2011-2012 budget:

http://www.co.stephenson.il.us/administrator/data/2011-2012-Proposed-Budget.pdf

The Mill Race Crossing part of these budgets is at the very end of the documents. Tutty has not done the math but year over year there has been millions of dollars pumped into Mill Race Crossing, all at a direct loss to Stephenson County taxpayers.

All those Blum yes men on the Stephenson County Board, Tutty and friends know who they are, sure have plenty to be proud of don't they?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Journal-Standard Bias, Continues to Shine Through

2011-11-15T08:46:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons Tutty started this blog was because the local newspaper, the Journal-Standard a Gatehouse Media property, was not serving the public interest with regards to Mill Race Crossing.

The Journal-Standard has rarely if ever asked a viable question of the multi-million dollar Blumdoggle called Mill Race Crossing. They've used their newspaper mostly as cheerleader for whatever the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance, John Blum and George Gaulrapp can dream up while at the same time being critical of anyone who might actually have a differing view.

Even in news stories the bias is evident. Take these two sentences from the recent article covering the Stephenson County Board meeting,

"(Board member Jerry) Clay said the county could auction off the Mill Race land to the public and use that revenue to reduce the debt. It is unclear how feasible such an option would be."

Since when is it proper for a reporter to take it upon himself to use a news story to write "It is unclear how feasible such an option would be."

Why didn't this same reporter, Travis Morse, who has been covering Mill Race from the beginning ask "how feasible" that project was? Why doesn't this same reporter use a news story to ask "how feasible" a county wide transportation system really is?

Then this past Sunday the Journal-Standard wrote in an editorial the following, "You can’t drive a car if you only watch the rear-view mirror, so it seems to us the members of the county board and the taxpayers of Stephenson County need to get past the past and look ahead."

Wrong Journal-Standard, in a democracy we have the need and the right to know who exactly is accountable and how they are accountable so we do not elect the same boneheads again.

The newspaper's leadership (Tutty says leadership because it is always the publisher that has final say) seems to believe that the only plan out there is John Blum's 20-year plan. Think about that Journal-Standard your company, along with everyone else, will be paying for this Blumdoggle for more than 20 years not only costing us cash but perhaps vital public services as well.

Yeah, the Journal-Standard's got some nerve trying to tell us to just get over it when the real crisis has just begun.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

The Vindictive John Blum First Hand

2011-11-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

Tutty recently received the following e-mail and attachments from Freeport resident John Cook a few hours ago and after some thought, decided Cook's e-mail and documentation needed to go up on this blog...if only temporarily. What follows in bold is Cook's e-mail and the attachents as labeled.

********

Mr. Baker,

Thanks for the enlightening blog and keeping the heat on those among us who profess to be "leaders." Despite reports to the contrary, Mill Race Crossing was never a good idea. In Spring of 2005 I was questioning many aspects of the proposal including the complete lack of water and sewer service. I appeared before both the Planning and Development Committee of the Freeport City Council and the Council. I e-mailed Freeport School District #145 Superintendant Peter Flynn to inform him that the site of the Mill Race Industrial Park was in the Forrestville Valley School District. I also called John Blum on live radio and challenged his self-appointment as "chief executive" in charge of Mill Race Crossing.

Soon after I received the first hate mail of my life. Although, at this point, I had written well over 300 articles for newspapers and magazines. This hate letter is attached and labeled as DOC-A.

Of course, I did not keep my mouth shut or pen still as the author of the hate letter advised me to do, it's not my nature and I am not easily intimidated.

Then, on Saturday morning May 21, 2005 a few individuals contacted me about an e-mail Stephenson County Board Chairman John Blum sent to my employer and copied to them. A copy of Mr. Blum's e-mail to my employer is attached and labeled as DOC-B. Attached to this e-mail was a nasty letter that Mr. Blum alleged that I wrote, he claimed that this was "the most recent example of threatening and insulting communication from John Cook an employee of (your company) keep in mind this letter Mr. Blum attributed to me was not signed. I am not attaching a copy of that letter because it has no value, if someone actually wants to see it, I will get you a copy just let me know.

After learning of Chairman Blum's sneaky and unfounded attack on my character I sent an e-mail to my employer copied to Mr. Blum, Stephenson County Administrator Russ Mulnix and Stephenson County State's Attorney John Vogt. In this e-mail I "categorically and unequivocally" denied sending the letter or any threatening or insulting communications. After speaking with the head of human resources at my company I was told not to worry about it, that my employer would deal with John Blum's unfounded accusations.

By the following Monday I received an e-mail from Stephenson County special attorney Frank Cook. Attorney Cook stated his "surprise" that Mr. Blum accused me of writing the insulting letter. Attorney Cook wrote that at different times he'd even been complimented for things I'd written because we have the same last name. Attorney Cook offered to "reach out" to me regarding this issue. Attorney Cook's e-mail is attached and labeled as DOC-C.

I responded to Attorney Cook by telling him not to e-mail me at my work and if he wants to reach out to me, do so with a signed letter copied to the entire Stephenson County Board. My response to Attorney Cook is attached and labeled as DOC-D.

I have removed anything which would identify my employer in the communications at their request.

I also went to the Freeport Police Department and requested a face to face meeting with County Board member Forrest Senn who is also a Freeport police officer. I looked Mr. Senn in the eye as I handed him the documentation and told him I wanted some answers as to why John Blum would try to get me in trouble with my employer when all I had done is ask questions every taxpayer in Stephenson County has a right to know and understand.

I never heard a thing from Mr. Senn or any other Stephenson County Board member or official regarding Blum's unfounded and tortious accusations with one exception. Bill Hadley called to discuss the issue with me and Mr. Hadley made the call from Iraq, where he was stationed at the time.

I guess the real question I have Tutty is why do so many in a position of power cover for the atrocious and threatening behavior of any Stephenson County Board member? What kind of oath do they take?

Anyway, thanks for putting it out there, people in Stephenson County have the right and the need to know how Mr. Blum behaves and how others in positions of power choose to look the other way and essentially cover up tortious actions by the County Board Chairman.

Thank you, John Cook
johnsamuelcook@gmail.com

DOC-A

DOC-B

DOC-C

DOC-D

********

Clicking on the images will make them larger and easy to read.

Tutty cannot think of much to add to the above other than to reiterate what happens to thinking citizens when they dare question the feasibility of John Blum's dreams...dreams that have become very expensive nightmares for Stephenson County taxpayers.

It sure seems as if Stephenson County officials are as well versed in cover ups as Penn State.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

John Blum and the Reality of Stephenson County Poverty

2011-11-08T09:08:00.000-08:00

Although John Blum did not use his most recent Sunday column to misrepresent the Illinois Constitution as he did two weeks ago in the Journal-Standard (see previous two posts) yesterday's column smacks of an individual out of touch with the working poor of Freeport/Stephenson County.

Here is a link to Blum's Journal-Standard column from yesterday, http://www.journalstandard.com/opinions/x669414785/County-Chairmans-view-Finding-those-truly-in-need

Without providing any substantiated evidence Blum claims that there are those in Stephenson County "we do have people in our community that will and do abuse and cheat the system" with regards to various forms of public assistance.

Quite frankly, the kind of welfare that John Blum and George Gaulrapp have doled out to their buddies through the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance is more heinous in nature than someone selling a cart load of groceries, secured with a LINK card, so they can use the cash to put gasoline in the car to get to their $8.25 per hour job to keep the water turned on.

What happened to the $6 million borrowed to "develop" Mill Race Crossing? It all went to the members of NIDA and their friends that's what. And because NIDA is a not for profit under contract with Stephenson County and runs the business of the big blumdoggle known as Mill Race Crossing their is no legal requirement for an open bidding process.

John Blum did not have hard time going to Jim Sacia and getting special legislation passed so the county board could borrow millions of dollars without the consent of voters so he could give that money to his friends at NIDA.

Go back and look at Stephenson County budgets, look at how much Fehr Graham has recieved for "developing" Mill Race Crossing. Adam Holder, a partner with Fehr Graham, is on NIDA's executive board.

John Blum and George Gaulrapp appear to believe that we pay taxes just their buddies can have more work, yet when it comes to the working poor in Stephenson County, they are not entitled to have enough resources to live a productive life and raise their children.

John Blum believes in subsidizing his friends' businesses yet individuals are expected to starve so he can continue to fund his wild goose chases. Blum wrote, "Poverty can foster criminal activity and add costs in the form of police, jails and courts that takes dollars away from the development of our economy and the local quality of life. " There you have it, John Blum is not worried about those in Stephenson County that are literally starving and homeless, his concern is about having enough money for the "development of our economy" which really just means he needs the money to give to his friends.

What does John Blum know about developing an economy any way? Does he have a degree in that? How many jobs has John Blum ever created?

It is past the time for the Stephenson County Board to start looking beyond the often times incoherent ramblings of John Blum and do the right thing for their constituents. John Blum has done far more to increase poverty in Stephenson County than to reduce it and this fact is plain as day.

How are we going to pay back that $6 million that all went to Blum's and NIDA's friends Stephenson County Board. Until openly address that question, you have not got a good reason to pick on those that may receive public aid.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

Real Honest Journalism

2011-11-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

If democracy on any level is to be truly successful those doing the voting must be informed.

That's why we stress education, self governing requires a basic knowledge of the principles upon which we use to divvy up societal power. These principles should not be secrets, hence it is requirement in Illinois that before you can graduate from eighth grade or high school you will have to have studied and passed tests on the Illinois' and United State's Constitutions.

There are also numerous laws that require governing bodies to provide "public notice" when borrowing money or doing other things which will likely bring an expense to the taxpaying public. Sometimes taxing bodies have to provide "back door referendums" if they want to borrow money. What this means is the governing body publishes a legal notice stating what they want to borrow money for and then stating how many registered voters in that entity's jurisdiction are needed to sign a petition to force a referendum. Most back door referendum laws in Illinois require the governing body wishing to utilize this tool to provide anyone that asks a copy of the legal petition form from the day the legal notice is published.

It's really too bad Tutty seems to be the only journalist in Freeport that understands this stuff. Tutty is convinced that most of the time the news staff at the Journal-Standard doesn't even bother to read their own legal notices. A legal notice is the only mention there was in the Journal-Standard regarding the Freeport Park District Commissioners voting to borrow more than $900,000 earlier this year. As the result of that vote, the Park District can now assess a special levy next month against your tax bills.

Just recently the Village of Lena used a back door referendum for a loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency while the City of Freeport used home rule authority to avoid a back door referendum when utilizing the same IEPA loan program. But you didn't hear about either of these unless you read the legal notices.

Piss poor journalism Tutty says.

Usually, around Freeport, there is much more news in the legal notices than anywhere else in the Journal-Standard.

When people in Freeport do try to speak up and become involved at a meaningful level so called local leaders armed with the best the Stephenson County Bar Association can provide often work behind the scenes to discredit honest Freeporters whose only crime has been to be concerned about the future of Freeport. There is enough documented evidence throughout this blog (and in the minds of long-time Freeporters) to qualify the previous sentence as fact, Tutty also remembers the political action committee "Freeport Forward".

The Blum/Gaulrapp tandem along with their chums down at the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance have been doing their best to label any one with a legitimate complaint as "negative". Another tool they use to marginalize individuals is by associating them with other groups or people. Early on in the Mill Race saga many people in the community were asking important questions about the viability of such a project. But those people were lumped into one category, the "anti-Trim-Rite" crowd. The Journal-Standard did an entire editorial on why we should all come together in the "community's interest" to bring Trim-Rite to town. Never was the feasibility, viability, or liability called into question by local media. And look at the results.

The newspaper never once asked if there was a viable plan to bring water and sewer to the development. Tutty told the anti-Trim Rite people back then that they didn't have to worry about a slaughterhouse coming to Lamm and Springfield Roads in Stephenson County, until there is the ability to flush a toilet, there will be no development--yet, the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance and John Blum have been calling Mill Race Crossing "shovel ready" for a half-a-decade. That says plenty about their honesty and local media's complicit blindness.

Last week Tutty pointed out that John Blum used his Journal-Standard column to mislead the public and his fellow Stephenson County Board members regarding the Illinois Constitution of 1970 and how it pertains to his official position as Chairman of the Stephenson County Board. The newspaper has yet to make a public comment regarding Blum's column.

Publisher Steve Trosley has, in the interim, wrote a column talking about "negative bloggers" and how, using his wife for a story line, local people really don't know what they are talking about when it comes to local leadership because his wife is oh so informed (did she too know that Lena just used a back door referendum and Freeport used home rule to avoid one?).

To Trosley, if a person in a position of power uses Trosley's newspaper to misrepresent the Illinois Constitution and a blogger (I'm guessing it's Tutty in this case) brings it to the public's attention it's a negative and Trosley's just going to ignore the negative. Here is a link to Trosley's column.

http://www.journalstandard.com/opinions/x780394705/J-S-Publishers-column-Negativity-doesn-t-fix-anything

In Tutty's book, journalism should not concern itself with what humans may construe as "positive" or "negative". Journalism should only be interested in the plain and simple facts and spread those plain and simple facts, especially when it comes to local government and better democracy, far and wide.

Do Tutty a favor and drop Journal-Standard Publisher Trosley a respectful note, e-mail steve.trosley@journalstandard.com or give him a call and ask if the journalist in him actually believes that it is proper for the Chairman of the Stephenson County Board to mislead the public about the Illinois Constitution through the newspaper he publishes? Tutty's dying for an answer and he just keeps ignoring Tutty.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

A Public Misrepresentation of the Illinois Constitution and Statutes

2011-10-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

In case you missed it, it will be worth your while to go back to last Sunday's Journal-Standard and read the "County Chairman's View" a weekly column from the chairman of the Stephenson County Board, John Blum.

If you've already put the paper out for recycling, or don't get it in the first place, here is a link to the column: http://www.journalstandard.com/newsnow/x1872803929/County-Chairmans-view-Understanding-the-Township-form-of-government

Of course, John Blum writes as if he is providing some sort of public service and not just using puffery to make his own position appear higher and mightier than what actual Illinois law provides.

Stephenson County operates under the Township form of Illinois county government, Illinois Statutes also allow an Executive form of county government as well. In the latter, the Chairman of the County Board is elected by all the voters of the County and serves a four-year term, has veto powers, and is not a member of the board and will only vote on issues before the board to break a tie. Under the Township form, which Stephenson County is, the chairman is elected by fellow board members every two years immediately following the general election. Under the Township form, the chairman is member of the board and votes along with the board. There is no tie break mechanism that Tutty is aware of, meaning an 11 to 11 tie would be a failure, at minimum a majority of county board members are needed to approve any item.

But of course John Blum, who is not a lawyer, claims, "The position of board chairman contains executive, administrative, and parliamentary duties defined by federal, state and local laws. These duties and responsibilities are the same if the chairman were elected at large."

The two Blum sentences above are enough to prove that John Blum is nothing more than a liar. Unfortunately, John Blum did not have enough sense to cut his losses and quit writing while he had thus far made only a couple of outlandish statements without any specific attribution other than something he must of thought he read somewhere once.

When John Blum finally does provide some type of attribution he does so loosely and without direct quotations.

John Blum wrote the following complete sentence, "The Illinois Constitution (12-15-70). Article VII, Section (4a) states that each county will elect a chief executive officer."

Why John Blum included the date "12-15-70" in reference to the Illinois Constitution of 1970 Tutty would like to know. This was the date of the special election in which Illinois voters approved the new Constitution. However, the Illinois Constitution of 1970 did not become effective until July 1, 1971.

Anyway, the Illinois Constitution of 1970, Article VII, Section 5, subheading (a) does not say what John Blum claimed it says "that each county will elect a chief executive officer." What Article VII, Section 5, subheading (a) actually says is this,

"Any county may elect a chief executive officer as provided by law. He shall have those duties and powers provided by law and those provided by county ordinance. (emphasis added)"

You don't need to be lawyer to understand that in law the use of the word "may" indicates something that is discretionary while the use of the word "shall" indicates an obligation to act.

Clearly John Blum knew that he was publicly misrepresenting the Illinois Constitution of 1970. Do you actually believe that John Blum knows what Article VII, Section 5, subheading (a) says but that he has never read down just a little farther to Article VII, Section 5, subheading (c) where it says that Illinois Counties don't even have to have a board chairman? Here is what that section of the Illinois Constitution of 1970 says,

"Each county shall elect a sheriff, county clerk and treasurer and may elect or appoint a coroner, recorder, assessor, auditor and such other officers as provided by law or by county ordinance. Except as changed pursuant to this Section, elected county officers shall be elected for terms of four years at general elections as provided by law. Any office may be created or eliminated and the terms of office and manner of selection changed by county-wide referendum. Offices other than sheriff, county clerk and treasurer may be eliminated and the terms of office and manner of selection changed by law. Offices other than sheriff, county clerk, treasurer, coroner, recorder, assessor and auditor may be eliminated and the terms of office and manner of selection changed by county ordinance."

Therefore, based on the above excerpt from the Illinois Constitution of 1970, it would be perfectly acceptable to eliminate the chairman of the county board altogether. Why can't, or why shouldn't, the full-time Stephenson County administrator run the board meetings? Isn't the administrator running Stephenson County now? And if not, why not?

John Blum also wrote that, "Illinois Compiled Statutes (55 ILCS 5/2) states that the county board chairman is responsible for administering the Township form of government."

John Blum above cites the "Counties" Chapter (55) of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, Article Two, as giving the board chairman the responsibility of "administering the Township form of government." Because Article Two is so long and John Blum was not specific (probably on purpose) Tutty is linking the entire Article Two of the Counties' Chapter of the Illinois Compiled Statutes. John Blum should be able to point out to his fellow board members, and the Stephenson County States Attorney, exactly what in the Sam Hell he was writing about. Here is link to 55 ILCS 5/2:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=005500050HArt%2E+2&ActID=750&ChapterID=12&SeqStart=7200000&SeqEnd=13400000

Isn't it amazing how John Blum can write like he is a total authority on every subject yet he never provides any real attribution for what he presents as fact, and when he does cite a source it is loosely done without direct quotations. This is not a sign of honesty folks. Go back an re-read John Blum's article. He does not want to provide clarity for anyone. He wrote and cited the Illinois Constitution and Illinois Statutes but when his citations are looked into deeper, they are nothing more than huge misrepresentations. Think about it, why did you have to get to the Stephenson Blumdoggle before you found actual quotes from, and links to, regarding the Illinois' Statutes and Constitution?

If you want Tutty's opinion, it is past the time, and becoming a violation of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, for the Stephenson County State's Attorney to continue to turn his head the other way while John Blum attempts to mislead the public and Stephenson County Board regarding such important matters.

What's more important to an Illinois State's Attorney, the Illinois Constitution and Statutes, or the ego of a County Board Chairman?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Cut Basic Services in Favor of Economic Development? John Blum Says So.

2011-10-24T22:58:00.000-07:00

According to the person that sent Tutty the recording posted here, John Blum said this stuff last Thursday on WFRL radio. He was at the radio station as a guest of Mayor Gaulrapp's during the weekly show called "The Mayor's Report."

Check it out, John Blum clearly states that he is of the mindset that Stephenson County taxpayers should go without basic services while him, Mayor Gaulrapp and the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance fritter away yet more tax dollars for whatever they want to call "economic development."

Tutty is in the process of obtaining a recording of the entire Gaulrapp/Blum show, Tutty is quite sure that there are other portions just as enlightening as this one.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Local Media Really Are Clueless

2011-10-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

When Tutty saw the headlines of the editorial in this morning's hard copy of the Journal-Standard, Tutty had hope that our self-proclaimed local "journalists' had finally advanced out of the shallow end of the pool. No such luck.

"More Transparency needed from Mill Race" the headline read, and while the editor(s) intentions may have been good, the editorial minimized and marginalized the entire Blumdoggle and the huge financial impact it is going to have on the citizens of Stephenson County.

Never once did the editorial mention that the Mill Race Industrial Park is located in the Forrestville Valley school district and any future property taxes from development on this site will go to support a school district based outside of Stephenson County.

Never once did the editorial mention that the Mill Race Industrial Park is lacking water and sewer service with no feasible plan to bring the same to the site. Anyone know where there might be an extra $20 million laying around?

The editorial attempts to shift accountability from the major players, Jim Sacia, John Blum, George Gaulrapp, etc, etc, and lays the blame for the Big Blumdoggle on the "proverbial manure hit(ting) the economic fan." Come now Journal-Standard this thing was a failure long before the economic downturn. There has never been a feasible plan to bring water and sewer to the site or a way to finance the same. Do local journalists understand the importance of a working toilet?

Jim Sacia and John Blum have left "county taxpayers holding the bag" not the economic downturn. Why does the local newspaper feel the need to protect local governmental leaders?

The editorial also suggests that "productive land is always excellent collateral" If this was actually the case, the Mill Race Industrial Park could serve as collateral. No financial institution wants to hold this as collateral. Even if it was still prime farmland it will be long time before this parcel is worth $6 million. Also, the editor's seem to miss the fact that this was productive farmland. Stephenson County, with the blessing of the City of Freeport, used the $6 million to destroy it's value as farmland.

The Journal-Standard completely misses the fact that NIDA and Stephenson County have been unable to give this land away.

In and understatement the editorial admits that "Mill Race is a sore point with many in Stephenson County." Nearly as soon as the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance began the Prospering Together meetings, the Mill Race land use plan was removed from NIDA's downtown window. Taxpayers are angry about this and rightly so, the borrowing of the $6 million was done completely behind every ones back, including other local taxing bodies, and is now poised to have a direct impact on Stephenson County pocketbooks, whether they belong to individuals or businesses.

The sentence in the Journal-Standard editorial that really struck Tutty though and the one that serves to silence and marginalize the concerns of taxpaying citizens more than anything else was this one:

"Silence or behind-the-scenes dealings will only encourage the obstructionists that something shady is going on."

Why, Journal-Standard editors would you use the word "obstructionists"? Who is an obstructionist editors? Anyone that asks a question or gets in the way of government? By giving negative labels to those that openly question local officials only serves to silence meaningful debate. Surely, Tutty would think, that real journalists would have learned this along the way.

The above really shows the taxpaying public who's side local media is really on.

Tutty hopes that someday the editors of the Journal-Standard will be able to swim with Tutty in the deep end of public discourse. The public is in dire need of much more in the way of depth.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

The Journal-Standard and a Decade of Misinformation

2011-10-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday the Journal-Standard published an editorial which relied heavily upon this sentence:
"Knowing the dire facts ensures that we're starting our recovery here armed with knowledge, not statistical fantasy."

Please, editors, share with Tutty and fellow residents how any of the so called "economic development" plans so far foisted upon the region's taxpayers will amount to a recovery of any sort.

So far, all of the economic development initiatives supported by the governing bodies of Freeport/Stephenson County in the past ten years have been based upon lies, misinformation and, as the Journal-Standard says, "statistical fantasy".

Remember ten years ago? Remember how a new downtown library was going to help Freeport to grow? Remember all of the lies the Journal-Standard took part in to help this new building, and the debt that came with it to become a reality?

If you remember back then, a couple of Freeport citizens were concerned that the library plan was too expensive and circulated petitions to force an advisory referendum on the issue. After collecting well more than the necessary ten-percent of Freeport voters' signatures, the petition was filed.

Of course, fearful of even an advisory referendum, the petition's validity was challenged. The Freeport public was led to believe that the objection to the petition came from local attorney John B. Whiton. In fact, Whiton himself wrote the following letter-to-the-editor that was published in the newspaper on January 15, 2002.

(clicking on picture will make it larger)

All the way through the Freeport Municipal Electoral Board's decision and the subsequent appeal to the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court, the Journal-Standard maintained that Whiton was the objector and that he was the one that hired local attorney Frank Cook to challenge the petition. And as you can see from letter above, Whiton claimed, "I am Mr. Cook's client. Mr. Cook, as my attorney in this matter, will present the legal arguments against the validity of the petition on my behalf.

However, when it came time for attorney Cook to send out bills, the bill for his services went to the Freeport Public Library Board of Trustees. Here is a picture of Cook's bill for services:

(clicking on image will make it larger)

The Journal-Standard has never once mentioned this lie and how they helped spread it through news stories and editorials.

On a side note, the above issue speaks loudly to the morals and ethics of the Stephenson County Bar Association and perhaps the entire Illinois Bar. How can so many lawyers have full knowledge of this deceit yet keep their mouths shut. According the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, the practice of law is a "public trust" and knowingly lying to the public is a violation of those rules.

And then remember all the lies told about the library plan itself prior to the advisory referendum. The then publisher of the Journal-Standard, Julie Taulman, was also executive director of Freeport Downtown Development Foundation. This is when the downtown foundation gave a quickly formed political action committee $5,000 and the PAC turned right around and gave the five-grand to the Journal-Standard for political advertising.

This political advertising promised the public that the money for the new library was "here now" and that "no bonded indebtedness will be necessary." All lies.

The results of the above speak for themselves. Freeport is greatly in debt, downtown is crumbling faster than ever and one of the most historic buildings in Illinois is sitting without a revenue source or a clean title. George Gaulrapp was a first hand witness to all of this.

Then a few years later, George Gaulrapp was voted in as Mayor of Freeport. We then began to hear what great economic benefit would come from the Wal-Mart and Menard's development on the south-side of Freeport. As a matter of fact, Mayor Gaulrapp championed a new sales tax in 2007 that he said would "go away once Wal-Mart and Menard's came on line". Apparently that was nothing more than misinformation too, designed to get the Freeport City Council to vote a certain way.

Also, around this same time, something called Mill Race Crossing was being talked about in local media all the time. Every chance John Blum got he told the public what great promise Mill Race Crossing held. John Blum and the forerunner to the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance, convinced Representative Jim Sacia to sponsor legislation that gave Stephenson County the authority to issue non-noticed, non-referendum debt against the project.

All types of statistical fantasies were used to convince the Stephenson County Board and the Freeport City Council that Mill Race Crossing was a sound project.

Both the Stephenson County Board and the City of Freeport passed something called the "Findings of Fact" regarding Mill Race Crossing. Tutty would like to challenge the editorial staff and the Journal-Standard to look over these Findings of Fact and find one thing in there that is not statistical fantasy. It is nothing more than NIDA contrived bullshit. If anyone wants a copy of the Findings of Fact, email Tutty and it will be provided.

Perhaps the most telling sentence in the Sunday editorial was this one, "To be competitive, we must demand the best of our leaders and then we must demand the best of ourselves in participation and support in the efforts they instigate."

Why can't the public take part, through binding referendums, prior to money being borrowed or plans being instigated?

According the Journal-Standard in order for us "to be competitive" we must sit back like sheep "in participation and support" of what local officials "instigate".

What in the Sam Hell do we need knowledge for if we are just supposed to defer to "our leaders" on major tax and spend issues?

The Journal-Standard editorial appears to favor a move toward local Communism, does it not?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

Freeport First?

2011-10-01T09:32:00.000-07:00

This post will concern those of us that live in Freeport and pay all of the many Freeport taxes. Just for fun others might want read it too but remember, Tutty is Freeport. Freeport is Tutty's foremost concern.

Tutty attended the Aquin homecoming game last night and talked to some old friends. One mentioned that after being laid off from an industrial concern in Rockford, he was able to land a good job in Freeport. Now, he said, he was looking to purchase a home outside of Freeport--Dakota, Shannon, or maybe German Valley.

When Tutty asked him what was wrong with Freeport, he gave Tutty a look worth thousands of words. Tutty pursued the issue no farther until now.

Tutty believes that it is more than a myth that a large percentage of those gainfully employed by Freeport business and industry choose to live elsewhere. Tutty wants to know why and thinks that this topic should be of grave concern for Mayor Gaulrapp and the Freeport City Council. How much good will "jobs" do Freeport if those that land the jobs use the prosperity to move out of town?

Instead of promoting "Prospering Together", a regional initiative, Mayor Gaulrapp should be asking what makes Freeport an apparently less desirous place to live when compared to surrounding locales. He was elected to be Freeport Mayor not Regional Ambassador.

Anyway, what is wrong with Freeport? Until we know specifically why people choose to live elsewhere while still maintaining employment in Freeport it will be impossible to correct those things which are effectively driving people away. Until the City Administration (whoever or whatever that is) and the Freeport City Council take action on those things, Freeport will likely continue to lose population and property value.

Tutty does not currently have the means to conduct a scientific survey but Tutty would like to hear from those who have left Freeport but still work here or those that want a good job so that they can move to a surrounding town.

While Tutty might complain about this and that and could speculate all day long about why people don't want to live here--some people want a smaller school, citizens of Freeport do pay exorbitant property tax rates for parks and library service. The rates for the Freeport Park District and the Freeport Public Library property tax levies are two of the highest in in the State of Illinois. Many local towns don't have park districts (it doesn't mean they don't have parks) and those with libraries have a property tax rate that is a third of Freeport's more than forty-cents per hundred-dollars of assessed value.

What's been happening to Freeport throughout the past couple of decades has literally caused Tutty and others to rollover in their graves. Tutty founded Freeport and is pained terribly by what appears to be its demise.

What to you think the specific reasons for this are? Tutty wants to know, you can shoot Tutty an anonymous e-mail or post a message on Tutty's Facebook wall.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Boat Ramp Still Under Construction

2011-09-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

As of Sunday just passed, the boat ramp at Gaulrapp's Landing (the former Burgess Battery site) is still under construction. Following is a video Tutty shot last week.

If you haven't seen Gaulrapp's landing in person head on over and take a gander. There is a huge bridge that doesn't take you anywhere the Stephenson Street bridge can't take you. To Tutty and his old-fashioned, save-your-money mentality, it has been foolish for taxpayers to have sunk so much into Gaulrapp's landing...and yes, Tutty does have viable alternatives.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

A Reader's Comment And Tutty's Response

2011-09-26T22:35:00.000-07:00

Tutty found the following anonymous comment after a recent post on this blog,

"Hello Tutty, Why do you choose to make John Blum a villian. He is just working hard to make Stephenson County a better place to live. What have you ever done? Nothing, you work here and spend your money in Rockford. I doubt if your publish this comment. I think it is funny that you answer your own stories."

Because this post bothered Tutty, Tutty will address it on a point by point basis.

"Hello Tutty, Why do you choose to make John Blum a villian."

Tutty does not "choose to make John Blum a villain", Tutty has gone so far as to defend John Blum on this blog. We need dreamers in Stephenson County, however, when dreamers are left unchecked with our pocket books is when trouble arises. Secondly, John Blum created a boat load of debt for Stephenson County taxpayers on the promise of prosperity, the fact he now chooses not to mention Mill Race Crossing...Tutty doesn't have to paint John Blum, his colors are vivid.

"He is just working hard to make Stephenson County a better place to live. What have you ever done?"

Tutty never said John Blum wasn't working hard but really, where are the results that Stephenson County is better off since John Blum has held elective office? Furthermore, we all want Stephenson County to be a better place to live, yet John Blum chose to go around the voters (all of you) for the Mill Race Crossing debt and now Tutty and his neighbors (all of you) are stuck holding his bag of empty promises.

As for the second sentence above, what has John Blum done for you? Tutty founded Freeport and still haunts this city in an effort to keep citizens abreast of what local officials are up to--because Tutty is a ghost, things like ego and material goods are of no use to Tutty. Tutty only wants to give you insight on what your elected representatives are doing in your name and, allegedly, on your behalf. Tutty loves Freeport/Stephenson County and has never, unlike John Blum, done anything to cost residents money. That's what Tutty has done and continues to do.

"Nothing, you work here and spend your money in Rockford. I doubt if your publish this comment."

That is silly, Tutty does not spend much money in the first place, what the sam hell does a ghost need? Tutty sometimes sees Rockford on his way to Chicago but doesn't visit the Forest City very often. Tutty published your comment, complete with your grammatical errors and misspelling.

"I think it is funny that you answer your own stories."

More information please, Tutty does not know what you're alleging, if anything.

Tutty likes to get comments and will respond on a point by point basis if Tutty feels it is necessary. Keep them comments coming.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

What the Journal-Standard Missed Last Week

2011-09-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Tutty is starting a new feature, every Monday Tutty will write an article featuring a newsworthy item that the Journal-Standard missed in the prior week.

How many of the property tax payers that support the Freeport Park District knew of an upcoming public hearing regarding what has come to be called an "annual" borrowing of over $900,000 by the Freeport Park District.

Here is a picture of the legal notice that the Journal-Standard was paid to run in their classified section:

(clicking on photo will make it larger)

The Freeport Park District likes to tell people that this will not increase your property taxes, which is, of course, baloney. The only reason it will not be noticeable on your property tax bill is because the Freeport Park District does it every year.

In fact, Tutty would urge people to go to the public hearing and ask what will happen to the Park District levy if this bond issue is not approved. It will go down, that is what will happen. You see, the Freeport Park District does not have the authority to levy a tax to retire this bond issue until after the bonds are issued.

Don't believe Tutty? Go to the public hearing and ask the lawyers and investment bankers yourself. Ask them to put their answers in affidavit form with signatures.

The law that allows Illinois Park Districts to do this was not meant to be utilized every single year for regular budgetary items, yet the Freeport Park District takes full advantage to bleed property tax payers of every last penny they can collect. Look around, the Freeport Park District searches for ways to spend money.

Amazingly, while the Journal-Standard is fast to respond to Park District press releases which advertise park events, the newspaper always seems to miss the stuff that can really make a difference to property tax payers--even when it's right under their nose in the classified section.

So if you're not doing anything on October 4 at 6:30pm you might want to head down to the Park District's administrative building on Burchard Avenue and ask the Freeport Park District why, in this time of economic upheaval, they can't forgo this bond issue and give Freeport Park District property tax payers a break.

Tutty is still trying to find an Illinois Park District which has a large a property tax rate as last year's Freeport Park District's (around 95-cents per $100 assessed value) or another park district in Illinois which has used these borrowing laws to create an "annual" bond sale. Maybe at the public hearing these things can be explained in greater detail as well.

Tutty still wonders if the Journal-Standard can think up any good questions to ask on the public's behalf--however, Tutty has little faith in local media. Freeport media appears to simply be an extension of local government.

Is it any wonder things are so out of control...and the public is so uninformed.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

John Blum's Selective Amnesia....And Rhetorical Sidestepping

2011-09-25T22:07:00.000-07:00

Tutty would encourage everyone to read the recent "County Chairman's View" published in today's Journal-Standard. Here is a link for those that might have missed it:

http://www.journalstandard.com/newsnow/x1987955096/County-Chairmans-view-County-budget-brings-a-lot-of-challenges

As anyone can plainly see, this is Stephenson County Board Chairman, John Blum, at his rhetorical best. In writing all about the challenging budget faced by the Stephenson County Board John Blum neatly evades any mention of the Big Blumdoggle known as Mill Race Crossing.

As a matter of fact, John Blum seems to have forgotten all about the mess his $6 million "investment" has caused for Stephenson County taxpayers (or will soon cause). Yet John Blum wrote that "We have no bond issues pending..."

Tutty wonders, did John Blum forget about that $5.5 million being called by Chase bank in less than five-months? Or is Stephenson County planning on defaulting on this debt?

What are the plans of the Stephenson County Finance Committee? This debt was not suppose to cost taxpayers a dime. Remember how John Blum called it a necessary "investment" to ensure jobs and prosperity?

Now John Blum doesn't even remember how he orchestrated the entire fiasco right down to getting Representative Jim Sacia to carry special legislation through the Illinois General Assembly that gave Stephenson County officials the power to borrow money without notice or referendum.

Tutty supposes it is easy for John Blum to forget such glaring facts. Right now all of John Blum's persuasive muscle is being used to convince his fellow Stephenson County Board members that now is the time to continue to "invest" in economic development efforts is spite of a lowered credit rating-- essentially adding water to a ship that is sinking.

The SS Stephenson County has been taking on water for some time but if the other members of the Stephenson County Board don't start looking beyond the constant barrage of verbiage from John Blum and his cronies at the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance, Stephenson County residents had better be manning the life boats.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

Gaulrapp's Landing is Taking Shape

2011-09-13T22:48:00.000-07:00

If you get the chance head over to the old Burgess Battery site and see what's going on. While this City owned parcel is often referred to as "Tutty's Crossing" Tutty does not want or need anything named after Tutty. Tutty is famous enough.

Tutty, as the founder of Freeport, wants this area re-christened as "Gaulrapp's Landing."

As of last week construction has been underway at Gaulrapp's Landing on a boat ramp. Tutty even managed to snap a picture.

Gaulrapp's Landing, Freeport, IL

(clicking on picture will make it larger)

However, the last Tutty knew Gaulrapp's Landing is also slated to be home of the Amtrak train station beginning in 2013. Has anyone bothered to look at how this area will be configured as a train station?

Designing a train station on this land locked section of Freeport real estate is going to be a real challenge. Tutty's guess is all of Gaulrapp's Landing is going to be needed for parking lots. Leaving little room for those with boats wanting access to the river.

Maybe we can build a parking lot on the other side of the river and people could use the pedestrian bridge to walk from the parking lot to the train station. At least then the bridge would actually go somewhere.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

Good Questions For The Freeport City Council...Will They Be Considered?

2011-09-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

In checking Tutty's inbox Tutty discovered a letter that the writer wanted put up on the Stephenson Blumdoggle. The e-mail was from John Cook and was apparently sent to all eight Freeport aldermen.

The e-mail said this:

"Dear Freeport City Council Member,

Attached is a column I wrote but it did not get in the Journal-Standard as I thought it might before tomorrow night's Freeport City Council meeting, therefore I am forwarding it to all of you as well as to the Stephenson Blumdoggle with the direction it can be put on Tutty's blog.

The column contains a number of issues which deserve your attention and response.

Please reduce any correspondence regarding this issue to writing.

Regards,

John S. Cook"

Attached to the e-mail was the following piece written by Cook:

There is a special meeting of the Freeport City Council scheduled for Monday night to discuss whether an intergovernmental agreement with the Freeport Park District should be approved. The contract, if approved, would grant the Freeport Park District free water and sewer service for twenty years.

I'd really like to know where the appointed Freeport Water and Sewer Commission got the idea that could barter with our public utility while the elected Freeport City Council sat back and provided a rubber stamp.

No entity should receive free water and sewer service. That is not how any type of legitimate public utility operates.

On his weekly radio show this past Thursday Mayor Gaulrapp said that even the Freeport Police Department pays a water and sewer bill to the Commission. Mayor Gaulrapp said that he thought this was "wrong" and vowed to change the current practice.

At first look, it's easy to agree with Mayor Gaulrapp. It does appear to be rather dumb for one segment of City government to pay another part of local government.

But if you look a little deeper it is easy to see why it is proper for the police and fire departments, as well as every other entity with a water hook up, to pay a water and sewer bill to the Commission.

First, with a public utility there needs to be assurances that all users are being treated equitably. If there are any users of the public utility getting the service for free, equity is out the window.

Second, water and sewer is an operational expense. If this service is given away free, even to the police and fire department, it puts the users and rate payers of the system in the unique position of paying an operational expense of those who receive free service. Our water bills should not be used as a funding mechanism for operational costs, other taxes are collected for those purposes. Proper accounting and auditing require all users to pay their fair share.

Third, who is going to want free water and sewer service next? Highland Community College? What about Stephenson County, everyone knows they need help, why not give the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance free water and sewer for twenty years? Again, a public utility is not something local officials should be using as a bartering tool.

In the instance at hand it would be interesting to know how free water and sewer for the Freeport Park District even came to be on the table. I am very curious to know why this issue did not come before the Freeport City prior to September. Clearly members of the Gaulrapp administration knew about this easement prior to the alleged July 5, 2011 public hearing but kept it under their hats for whatever reason.

In hindsight, exactly what type of solid data the July 5th public hearing was based on is questionable. There were maps available to look at and according to the legal notice published in the June 25th Journal-Standard, "additional information regarding the hearing may be obtained from Craig Joesten, Executive Director, Freeport Water and Sewer Commission." However, there was nothing in writing on which to base a public hearing. The City Council did not even get to see the actual ordinances until the council meeting after the public hearing on July 18th.

How could the City Council or public at large take an informed part in a July 5th public hearing when all of the necessary documentation was being withheld? Essentially, the City of Freeport conducted a public hearing around what they were told, not what they would be asked to approve. The Freeport City Council should have known about the questionable arrangement with the Park District long before September.

Now, the public and Freeport City Council are starting to find out what the Gaulrapp administration has been doing behind the scenes. This one event makes it easy to see why more and more people in Freeport are wanting a city manager. We need professionalism badly.

John Samuel Cook

Freeport, Illinois

2011

Tutty thinks the above speaks for itself and wonders why the Journal-Standard could not find room to run this article, or at least ask a few of the questions themselves prior to tomorrow night's Freeport City Council meeting.

Without a responsible local media, the public has small chance of using democracy to bring about change. Nor is their any chance of local leaders ever taking deep-thinking citizens seriously.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Twenty-Five Percent Forgiven...Says Who?

2011-09-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

A few hours ago an item was posted on the Journal-Standard web site that was titled, "City Works on Major Sewer Project".

Here is link to the Journal-Standard article: http://www.journalstandard.com/news/x371947802/City-works-on-major-sewer-project

The story, or more like a press release, was about the extensive water and sewer work that the City has undertaken and included this sentence, "The financing will come from an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency loan, 25 percent of which can be forgiven."

Tutty has heard the "25 percent forgiven" figure regularly since talk of the more than $20 million loans first surfaced. Candidate Gaulrapp has tossed the figure around every chance he's had in the past two months. The problem is, Tutty has read the ordinances which authorized these two loans--$10,747,903 for the water portion and another loan for $9,973,008 for the sewer, and they don't say a word about any portion of these loans being "forgiven."

Check it out yourself, here are links to the ordinances which the City Council first seen on July 18, 2011, First is Ordinance #2011-44 http://www.cityoffreeport.org/Ordinances%20&%20Resolutions/ORD%202011-44%20PRELIMINARY%20ORDINANCE%2020110718.pdf

The second is Ordinance #2011-45 http://www.cityoffreeport.org/Ordinances%20&%20Resolutions/ORD%202011-45%20Bond%20Ordinance%2020110718.pdf

So where did Candidate Gaulrapp and the Journal-Standard get the idea that "twenty-five-percent" of this $20 million plus is "forgivable." That amounts to more than $5 million. Does the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's revolving loan fund, therefore the taxpayers of Illinois, lose 25% on every loan they make?

Candidate Gaulrapp, and now the Journal-Standard, need to explain their source for this "twenty-five-percent forgiven"--where is that at in the contractual terms of the agreement with the IEPA's revolving loan fund?

If Candidate Gaulrapp cannot produce anything in writing, preferably something substantive and approved by both IEPA and the Freeport City Council, Tutty wants to know how he expects to collect the twenty-five-percent?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Freeport Park District Extortion, Freeport City Hall Compliance

2011-09-07T22:55:00.000-07:00

Next Monday night there will be a special meeting of the Freeport City Council regarding a proposed intergovernmental agreement between the City of Freeport and the Freeport Park District. As drawn up the contract would last for 20 years and, among other things, grant the Freeport Park District free water and sewer for the next 20 years.

Laughably, City Hall leadership is trying to say this is necessary for an easement through Krape Park.

Let's be completely real. If the City really needed this easement and wanted to go in to court, which they usually seem very willing to do for most things candidate Gaulrapp wants. Heck, Candidate Gaulrapp is presently suing Comcast for moving their office out of downtown Freeport. Any court would order the Park District to grant the easement with little if anything in reparations...it is already public land and the public will not be permanently denied the use and enjoyment of said land.

So why is the Gaulrapp administration allowing the Freeport Park District to strong arm the Freeport Water and Sewer Commission? Exactly what free water and service service for twenty years is worth for the Freeport Park District is impossible to calculate. One thing is for certain in Freeport, water and sewer rates will go up, probably numerous times in the next twenty years.

Tutty does not believe that the Gaulrapp administration is being strong armed. Tutty thinks the Gaulrapp administration has known for several months what was spelled out in this agreement. If Craig Joesten and Denise Ihrig did not know about the supposed "requirements" for this easement months ago, then they are incompetent, it can't be any other way, they are either stupid or they are not. Did they actually draw up all the maps that were available for the July 5th public hearing without having discussed obtaining easements?

Tutty does not believe they are that dumb. However Tutty does believe that for whatever reason they were trying to keep this thing a secret.

Why else was there special meeting of the Water and Sewer Commission on August 30. Why couldn't this have come through a regular meeting? It is hard enough for aldermen to make regularly scheduled meetings let alone all the special meetings Candidate Gaulrapp and his cronies like to call.

Tutty wants to know who the Freeport Park District Leadership thinks that it is, using Krape Park as a tool of extortion against the water and sewer ratepayers? It is already our park, who are they to try and make extra dollars off what is already ours and then not even tell us about it until it came up on the Freeport City Council floor?

Didn't at least one Freeport Park Commissioner think that this thing might need a public vetting before being approved by the Park Board?

If you can find a better example of extortionists that the Freeport Park Board of Commissioners please drop Tutty an e-mail. Also you might want to try to make next Monday night's Freeport City Council meeting...the Gaulrapp administration should be dancing a pretty good jig.

Tutty also wonders if the Illinois Environment Protection Agency knows that their low interest loan to the City of Freeport was going to be used so that the Freeport Park District could have free water and sewer service? Did the City of Freeport disclose this to the public and the IEPA before the public hearing on July 5, 2011?

This thing's gonna get big folks, Tutty might have to write everyday.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

"Free" Water and Sewer for the Freeport Park District?

2011-09-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

If you don't normally purchase the Journal-Standard today might be a good day to buy one.

The perpetual Freeport Mayors' pain in the ass, John Cook, wrote a letter-to-the-editor that is published in today's paper regarding a Resolution that is up for approval at tonight's City Council meeting.

The Resolution, #2011-52, if approved will grant the Freeport Park District free water and sewer service as well as waive all the other fees other fees put on everyone else's water bill.

Here is a link to Resolution #2011-52:
http://www.cityoffreeport.org/Ordinances%20&%20Resolutions/RES%20PARK%20EASE%2020110906.pdf

Tutty agrees with Cook that this represents a "hidden tax increase" for the Freeport Park District and also agrees that it wrong to shift the burden of water and sewer service "from Park District property tax payers to Freeport Water and Sewer rate payers."

If Freeport aldermen were smart enough to look they would see that the Freeport Police and Fire Department's operational sites pay water and sewer fees to the Water and Sewer Commission. While that might sound stupid on first look, for proper accounting purposes it is necessary. Here is why, the operations of the Freeport Police and Fire Departments should not be funded by water and sewer users, not in the slightest, water and sewer is a true public utility and to be giving any entity, government or private "free" service is just plain wrong and often makes it much more difficutl to figure the true cost of providing the said service.

The cost of water and sewer is an operational cost and should be borne by an "operational fund" not by the other rate payers of the public utility.

Tutty wonders who stands to save the most money if this Resolution is approved? It must benefit someone financially or it would have never been drawn up in the first place. The Freeport City Council needs to find out who the Freeport Water and Sewer Commission is giving the sweet deals to.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Where Did Mill Race Crossing Go?

2011-09-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

While Tutty was in downtown Freeport earlier today Tutty noticed that the land use plan for Mill Race Crossing is no longer on display in the Stephenson Street window of the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance.

Why not? Is NIDA hoping everyone just forgets what kind of Blumdoggle has been foisted upon the taxpayers of Stephenson County?

What is it now about five months and the balance ($5.5 million) on the $6 million that John Blum and Company borrowed comes due?

John Blum and Company have been mighty quiet on this issue as of late. Why it seems like just yesterday, while lobbying for City Council approval of the Mill Race "Findings of Fact" that George Gaulrapp told aldermen that Mill Race Crossing was "a calculated risk" but one worth taking.

How about that today Candidate Gaulrapp? Where are you at with Mill Race Crossing now?
You lobbied for Mill Race Crossing Candidate Gaulrapp so how do you propose that Stephenson County pay back the non-noticed, non-referendum debt?

The residents of Freeport/Stephenson County should be asking their county board members where this $5.5 million is going to come from, especially at a time when they say they don't have enough for public safety.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Tutty's Back in Town

2011-09-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

Tutty's back to Freeport for the winter.

Tutty can't believe that downtown Freeport is once again all tore up...making navigation a real nightmare.

Take a look at the following picture, Tutty had to park and snap a shot to hold in permanence the irony.

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Do you see the irony? In order to make the intersections more navigable for those that use scooters and wheelchairs both of the east corners of Stephenson and Chicago have been rendered impassable for individuals, unless they resort to using the street.

Why wasn't this better planned out? Tutty has spent much of the summer in Chicago where some form of construction is always going on but you know what? They first figure out how commerce is going to get through before they shut down a thoroughfare of any type; wheather that be road, rail, sidewalk or waterway.

How badly are these new approaches really needed when the intersection can be completely shut off for days while they are installed.

How much hassle will those bringing commerce to downtown Freeport endure before they decide not to come back?

Tutty's glad to be back and will be providing more thoughts to ponder.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Tutty's Time

2011-07-30T06:49:00.000-07:00

Tutty's been pressed for time lately and has not been able to post as regularly as Tutty would like.

Tutty intends to try and put up a new post or two every Saturday, hopefully, Tutty will get back to having more time to spend on this blog.

Here is a picture of Cloudgate at Millenium Park in Chicago, where Tutty has been spending some time, if you look close enough you might be able to see Tutty's reflection.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

Candidate George Gaulrapp

2011-07-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

From this point forward, at least for the foreseeable future, when Tutty references Freeport's current mayor Tutty will use the term "candidate George Gaulrapp."

Clearly, candidate Gaulrapp spends much more time and effort on political posturing than on running City Hall. Take the recent contracts with the police and firefighters' unions. Why call a big press conference and call Rockford TV crews over to Freeport? Political posturing, plain, simple and illustrated.

And how about those contracts with Freeport's police and firemen? They look awful lucrative to most of the working men and women of Illinois. Most private workers in Illinois, even union ones, are not getting anywhere near the type of raises that Freeport police and firemen are receiving. Tutty would like someone, somewhere, to point out where anyone in the working world, public or private sector, is getting as good a deal as Freeport taxpayers are providing for our police and firemen.

Of course without home rule authority and the ability to raise taxes on a whim, they raises would not be possible. Since inhabiting City Hall, first as an alderman in 1997 and then as mayor in 2005, candidate Gaulrapp has voted to increase the home rule sales tax (without home rule you need a referendum to create or increase local sales taxes) three times. He voted to create both the storm water fee and the capital improvement surcharge on Freeporters' water bills, these fees now amount to $12 on the average person's water bill--and just last year asked the Freeport City Council to use home rule authority to increase the property tax levy by 20%.

Wisely, the City Council voted down the latter. But why in the world was candidate Gaulrapp asking for 20% increase in the property tax levy when he can still shower the police and firemen with taxpayer cash?

Everything about candidate Gaulrapp is focused on the next election, it is all about appearance and nothing about substance. Look around Freeport, the results are everywhere.

Tutty has never seen a Freeport Mayor so far removed from the actual process of being mayor than this one is...if he's at City Hall for fifteen hours a week it's probably by accident.

The economy, especially the local economy, is far from out of the tank which makes the front page of the today's Journal-Standard so ironic. While Freeport police and firemen can look forward to pay raises, others in Freeport look forward to unemployment checks.

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Freeport police and firemen, at least temporarily, should be thanking their lucky stars that candidate Gaulrapp is busy trying to get the backing of Illinois' labor unions as he attempts to advance his political career. Tutty doubts that these contracts will be workable for the full four years, there just simply won't be the money.

As for Tutty and the rest of us still trying to carve a living out of Freeport, well sad to say folks, the economy is only going to get worse and what makes it really bad in Freeport and Stephenson County is the fact that local officials act as if nothing is amiss.

If only Tutty could be more positive, Freeport's economy would turn around...yeah right.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Do Freeport Journalists and Lawyers Bother Themselves to Read?

2011-07-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

In today's Journal-Standard is is reported that, "Stephenson County Board Chairman John Blum Wednesday called for a special joint committee meeting next month to discuss shortfalls in the sheriff's office budget, as well as other 'complex financial issues' currently facing the county."

Problem: John Blum does not have the legal authority to call a special meeting of any committee of the Stephenson County Board. The Stephenson County Code is clear on this issue. Here is a picture of Chapter 2, Article 2, Section 38, beginning with subsection (b) of the Stephenson County Code, this is the Administration chapter, or how Stephenson County should be run.

(Clicking on the picture will make it larger)

Only the "chairperson of any standing committee, or any three (3) members of any standing committee, may call a special meeting of that committee." That's what subsection (b) says, read it for yourself above.

Another interesting subsection found above is (e) which states that, "No member of the board may perform any official action, outside of his normal authority, except on direction of a proper committee and/or board action or actions."

So who authorized John Blum to take the official action of calling a special meeting between two separate committees of the Stephenson County Board?

And why does State's Attorney John Vogt sit by while a clear and wanton (John Blum has never read the code?) violation of the Stephenson County Code takes place. Why does Mr. Vogt sit by while lawlessness occurs? John Blum does not have executive powers, he is only elected by a small fraction of Stephenson County residents.

The largest reason behind Stephenson County's financial catastrophe is because John Blum was allowed to enter contracts and otherwise "run the show" with regards to the Big Blumdoggle known as Mill Race Crossing with little to no board oversight.

Now we are facing down a lowered credit rating, a $5.5 million debt coming due in six months without a revenue stream to pay for it and there is absolutely no chance of Mill Race Crossing ever amounting to anything more than a literal ton of rhetoric.

One reason we have rules and codes and laws is to avoid what has happened in Stephenson County.

Anyone in Stephenson County that would have bothered doing an iota of research, instead of just listening to John Blum, George Gaulrapp and the rest of the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance, would have seen that Mill Race Crossing was destined to be a huge financial debacle for Freeport and Stephenson County taxpayers.

Unfortunately, for Freeport/Stephenson County taxpayers, those around here that profess to be journalists and attorneys, don't spend much time reading the way things should be done. If they would have bothered doing their jobs instead of providing a echo for the NIDA agenda, Stephenson County would certainly not have the financial mess where we now find ourselves.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

The Northwest Illinois Development Alliance And Ethics

2011-07-06T22:38:00.000-07:00

Tutty would advise reading a story from the July 6th Journal-Standard. The story is in regards to the Freeport City Council's discussion of funding for the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance.

Here is a link to the story if you haven't seen it yet: http://www.journalstandard.com/topstories/x1722643097/First-In-Print-NIDA-funding-remains-in-Limbo

The most interesting, and disturbing, sentence of the entire article can be found in the third paragraph where it is written that, "NIDA member and 1st Ward Alderman Tom Klemm, however, moved to suspend the rules and vote on NIDA funding during Tuesday’s City Council meeting."

Tutty wants to know how it is anywhere near proper and ethical for Tom Klemm, who is one of the thirteen directors that make up NIDA leadership, to take such an active role in doling out taxpayer dollars to his own private club.

Why, Freeport City Council and Mayor Gaulrapp, is there not specific rules against such obvious incestuousness?

And if there was a tie vote of the City Council would Mayor George Gaulrapp, who is also one of the thirteen NIDA directors, feel it was proper for him to vote to break the tie?

This same thing happens on the Stephenson County Board. Jeff Mikkelsen and John Blum are also two of the thirteen NIDA leaders. Both Jeff Mikkelsen and John Blum voted to fund NIDA as members of the Stephenson County Board.

Does anyone ethical sit on the NIDA board?

Tutty thinks the good citizens of Freeport/Stephenson County need to stop putting up with such shenanigans and let the few local elected leaders that possess ethics know that we are tired of local leaders, George Gaulrapp, John Blum, Jeff Mikkelsen and Tom Klemm using their public positions for the financial benefit of their private club.

What would be wrong with rules to prevent this? What could possible be wrong with that?

And why does the leadership at the local newspaper stick their head in the sand when it comes to NIDA? Could it have anything to do with the fact that Journal-Standard publisher, Steve Trosley, is also a member of NIDA (although not a director)?

The least Gaulrapp, Blum, Mikkelsen and Klemm could do is publicly explain why they feel that they are acting appropriately with the money that they collect to run government, not NIDA.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Two Way Traffic on Stephenson Street in Front of City Hall

2011-07-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

For those who don't venture downtown Freeport very often, Stephenson Street in front of City Hall (the 200 West block) has been temporarily made a two way street to allow access to businesses along this block.

You must access the 200 block of West Stephenson from Walnut Avenue. The street is closed prior to reaching the Mahoney and Hauser building and all eastbound traffic is directed to do a U-turn.

Here is a couple of pictures to show what the configuration looks like:

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Since the main stream Freeport media didn't think this was an issue worth covering, Tutty thought it would be nice to point out to Freeporters that business in the 200 Block of West Stephenson Street can be accessed from Walnut Avenue. Please pass this information on to those who might find it useful.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

More Taxpayer Dollars For a NIDA Director

2011-06-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

Come Monday night's Freeport City Council meeting a lucrative no-bid contract will more than likely be granted with little discussion or question.

Here is a link to the agenda for the City Council meeting:
http://www.ci.freeport.il.us/citygovernment/Agendas/A20110620.pdf
notice Resolutions 2011-34 and 2011-35 which are in regards to the operation of Pretzel City Transit. Tutty will bet that few of the Freeport City Council members have read these Resolutions and if they have, why have they not asked public questions regarding these lucrative contracts handed out on a whisper and a handshake. Usually followed by blind concurrence from what appears to be a disinterested City Council

Below is a picture of page #41 from Resolution 2011-34 and picture of page #41 from Resolution 2011-35. Check out how much Pretzel City Transit and Nationwide Inbound, both private companies owned by Northwest Illinois Development Alliance director Brian Stewart, collects for providing transportation service

(clicking on the picture will make it larger)

In years past, before the George Gaulrapp regime, this grant money went out for bids every year. How did Brian Stewart get a no-bid contract apparently locked in year after year? Is this acceptable to the Illinois Department of Transportation and the federal DOT?

And how does Mayor Gaulrapp know that this contract is acceptable to Brian Stewart? Did they discuss it at the last meeting of NIDA directors?

A bigger question may be how Freeport City Service taxi cab company can deliver someone anywhere in Freeport for $5 (five-dollars) without any subsidy whatsoever while the federal, state, and city taxpayers pay Brian Stewart more than $12 (twelve-dollars) for the exact same service while their fare still kicks in an additional $2 (two-dollars).

This is the latest example of how the good ole boys of local government in Freeport/Stephenson County do their best to keep their buds at NIDA in Dom Perignon and Lamborghinis while the rest of us drink beer and drive Pintos.

Please Mayor Gaulrapp, explain the lucrative no-bid contracts being handed out by your administration on whispers and handshakes.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

More Rubble Coming?

2011-06-16T22:11:00.000-07:00

Tutty has had several e-mails regarding the collapsed building in downtown Freeport and asking for Tutty's comment. Tutty is, matter of factly, terribly disheartened by the entire ordeal. It's not emotionally comfortable for Tutty to watch the town Tutty founded crumble in on itself.

But that is what is happening. Tutty must be realistic.

While recent mayoral administrations have promised change, it's always the same old story, ignore the needs of established Freeport environs while continuing to push the city's boundaries (with revenue from established Freeport environs) farther west and south.

Wal-Mart/Menards, Burchard Hills, Edge of the Meadows, Indian Springs and other areas of town all have brand new water and sewer lines that established Freeport businesses and residents have financed.

However, the infrastructure which supports established Freeport environs goes unmaintained until it breaks or falls to the ground.

When Tutty heard a building fell in downtown Freeport, Tutty thought it was the one in the picture below. Note the crack which runs the length of the brick wall. Tutty was scared to get close enough to take the photograph, enlarge the photograph by clicking on it and see for yourself why Tutty was frightened.

(clicking the picture will make it larger)

Tutty wonders how long before this building too is a pile of rubble. How much longer before someone is hurt or killed by such hazards?

Tutty's too sad to try to think up a clever closing to this one folks.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

A New Building, Old Problems

2011-06-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

Tutty was sitting outside the Freeport Public Library a couple of days ago when a young man in a wheelchair approached the south entrance, Tutty watched as the young man pressed the button to activate the automatic door opener. After pressing the button, the young man then had to back up and maneuver his wheelchair around a curb in order to gain access to the building. Below is a picture of the location of the button.

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Tutty commented to the young man that, "they sure weren't thinking when they put that button there."

To which the young man responded, "if you think that is bad come inside and let me show you something else."

Tutty obliged and followed him inside. Once inside the building the young man motioned toward the men's bathroom and said, "look at that."

Tutty didn't see anything out of the ordinary, at least for Tutty, and asked what the young man was talking about. He said the bathrooms at the library have doors that open in without any automatic openers. Once inside the bathroom, someone confined to a wheelchair cannot exit the bathroom without help. Below is a picture from inside the men's bathroom.

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For years those that wished to build a new library always complained that the old library was not ADA compliant. Well Freeport's new library, although designed in this century, is clearly lacking the basics of accessibility for those with mobility issues. Tutty wonders if the Freeport Public Library Board is working to correct these architectural oversights.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

George Gaulrapp and Follow Through

2011-06-10T09:46:00.000-07:00

Tutty was rather amazed that Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp publicly acknowledged the marijuana plant that was growing in a concrete planter on a heavily traveled sidewalk. During his weekly radio show on WFRL, AM 1570 (Thursdays @ 12:30pm) the Mayor admitted that he "pulled out" a plant that "looked like" marijuana, he blamed the plant on "seeds blowing around" and added that "ditchweed" grows wild all around this area.

Of all the important topics of public concern that Tutty has raised on the Stephenson Blumdoggle, Freeport's leading blog, Mayor George Gaulrapp chooses to publicly address something as meaningless as pulling out some weed.

Tutty's point was that if these planters are not going to be used, why are they not removed? Marijuana is not the only noxious weed these planters are harboring. Instead of pulling out a single weed, why doesn't Mayor Gaulrapp have these planters removed or maintained in the proper manner?

These planters exemplify the Gaulrapp administration's overall performance, start a worthy project but then neglect to follow through...which is bad enough...but if there is not going to be any follow through, then someone should at least go back and pick up the mess that was created.

As always, your in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

Freeport Beautification And Cash Crops

2011-06-03T21:56:00.000-07:00

Two or three years ago the Freeport Beautification Association set numerous concrete planters around Freeport and filled the same with flowers. Tutty thinks it might have been for the 150th anniversary of the Lincoln/Douglas debate but cannot remember for sure.

Some of these planters have been adopted by businesses or individuals and filled with flowers and other attractive vegetation. Others are overgrown with weeds and at least one appears to contain a cash crop.

Tutty will leave you with a picture which which will demonstrate Tutty's point.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

We Are Already Living Their Vision

2011-06-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

With today's edition of the Journal-Standard came confirmation that so called "local leaders" are working on a new vision for the area that is Freeport/Stephenson County, the newspaper put it like this:

"Led by Vision 20/20 and the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance (NIDA), entities throughout Freeport and Stephenson County are joining forces to create a cohesive vision and action plan for the community."

Tutty doubts that there will be anything truly visionary about a new local plan. Especially in light of the fact that the same "local leaders" organizing this effort are the same "local leaders" that have gotten us to this point in time--or at least sat back and cheered for those that got us to this point.

Tutty ran across some sobering facts regarding the public debt that Stephenson County taxpayers are responsible for and how it has increased dramatically since the beginning of this century.

Following are two documents that list the bonded debt of Stephenson County taxing bodies, one is from 2002 and the other is from 2007. In those short five years the "net direct debt and overlapping bonded debt" of Stephenson County taxing bodies had more than doubled. From slightly more than $44 million to more than $89 million.

Here are the facts:

(clicking on pictures will make them larger)

Readers can view the above documents and decide for themselves how and why the public debt of Stephenson County taxing bodies has more than doubled from 2002 to 2007.

It's going to be extremely difficult to finance a brand new vision when we are struggling to pay for the one that was foisted upon us by the exact same visionaries--George Gaulrapp, John Blum and their chums down at NIDA. And now that the credit rating for Stephenson County has been lowered, other Stephenson County taxing bodies will find it increasingly difficult to get decent interest rates if they do have to borrow money.

And lets now throw in the fact that most classes of real estate are falling in value, which will only serve to put more pressure upon the businesses and residents of Stephenson County as we, over the next generation, work to retire the debt that these "local leaders" created.

Yet when these same "local leaders" say that they are working to form a new "vision" the Journal-Standard jumps on board the ship without an ounce of skepticism. Well, fellow residents of Stephenson County, Tutty is here to tell you that it's going to be awful hard to change the ship's heading when we're still taking on water. Maybe it's time for a mutiny.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

Memorial Day Parade

2011-05-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

Tutty was at Freeport's Memorial Day parade earlier today. There were lots of fire trucks, ambulances and other types of publicly funded equipment.

Tutty heard from several people, and Tutty himself was disappointed, that the parade was at least eleven units deep before the first American flag made an appearance. Of course, that's not counting the one that was on the back of a motorcycle. The ABATE group of motorcyclists, a political group, was placed in front of the first American flag. Tutty thinks this is disgraceful and hopes that next year the parade is led by an American flag front and center.

(clicking picture makes it larger)

The parade did have its highlights, Tutty liked seeing the Freeport High School NJROTC rifle team performing, that's them above.

And the one marching band, the Freeport High School Marching band, was impressive as usual, Tutty has included in this post the first video put on this blog, it is the FHS marching band performing during this morning's parade.

Tutty will probably show up again for next year's parade. Tutty only hopes that next year the Freeport Memorial Day parade is led by an American flag.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

Albertus Airport, A Parking Lot and Campgrounds?

2011-05-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

Albertus Airport, Freeport's municipally owned airport costs Freeport taxpayers much in the way of tax dollars to maintain and operate. Now, finally, after years of wondering why the City of Freeport would spend so much money to maintain an airport that does Freeporters little good, the answer came in the form of a Journal-Standard legal notice.

Freeport taxpayers pay so much to maintain Albertus Airport so that Mayor George Gaulrapp has a parking lot whenever he needs one. Following is a photo of legal ad from yesterday's Journal-Standard.

(clicking on picture increases its size)

Several things about the above legal ad begs questioning.

Who brought this request to the Stephenson County Zoning Board of Appeals? Albertus Airport is owned by the City of Freeport, not George Gaulrapp. As far as Tutty can tell, there has been no action taken by the Freeport City Council on this issue, all Tutty can find is a statement from the May 2nd Freeport City Council meeting where the minutes of the meeting reflect "Mayor Gaulrapp stated the administration is looking in to use a portion of Albertus Airport for parking facilities or camping for the music festival this summer. He has adopted a motto and it is 'We will find a way.'"

Tutty sure hopes that the Stephenson County Zoning Board of Appeals has in its possession a certified copy of the Freeport City Council action which caused the request for "special use" to be created. Without a formal request from the owner of record the Zoning Board of Appeals has no jurisdiction to issue any type of special use permit.

When Tutty sees things like these he is reminded of how incompetent (or is it corrupt?) that local attorneys being paid by public dollars actually are--why don't they seem to know simple things--or do they just choose to look the other way. And what about those that claim to be journalists, don't they bother to question the obvious? Freeporters, at the professional and public level, appear to be surrounded by incompetence. If you can explain it differently, please e-mail Tutty and I will post your response.

Hopefully, someone at the public hearing will ask how the Stephenson County Zoning Board of Appeals came to have jurisdiction to issue a special use permit when there is nothing to show that the owners of record of the property have not requested such.

Does the George Gaulrapp administration actually think that they own, apart and separate from the Freeport City Council, the parcels that make up Albertus Airport?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Finish The Job Please

2011-05-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

Those that use East Stephenson Street in downtown Freeport know that the street was closed for several weeks last year while infrastructure work was completed. Toward the end of last year, make-shift tents with propane heaters were utilized so fresh poured concrete would set in freezing conditions.

The sidewalks on both sides of Stephenson, from the 100 block east to the bridge were tore up and replaced. The sidewalks really didn't need replacing, however the word out of City Hall was that there was a grant for new sidewalks, so new sidewalks were constructed.

Now, with winter long gone and summer fast approaching, the job remains unfinished and untouched. Where the gutter is is supposed to be there is nothing more than gravel, see the picture below.

(clicking on picture will make it larger)

Why is this job taking so long. With a major Freeport employer directly in the vicinity the fact that this job remains unfinished is rather embarrassing. Why hasn't the City of Freeport completed this project yet? It really doesn't make us look good.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

NIDA's Credibility Gap

2011-05-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

The Northwest Illinois Development Alliance has a credibility gap with the general public. Tutty thinks most of this can be attributable to NIDA continuing to tout the Mill Race Economic Development Project.

To this day, NIDA still has the Mill Race land use map in their downtown Freeport window.

(clicking on picture will make it larger)

So far the Mill Race project has resulted in the current public debt of $5.5 million, plus the more than $1.5 million that has been paid out in interest charges so far. Not to mention all of ancillary and hidden costs, like the lost tax base from the farm that is now the failed "Mill Race Industrial Park."

And what has the project generated thus far in revenue? No where near enough to make even a small dent in the huge public expense that was taken on to "develop" this project. Even the feds realized this Big Blumdoggle wasn't going anywhere and pulled their funding.

Now NIDA says they need a new strategic plan. Well, as far as Tutty is concerned, NIDA must first abandon the Mill Race Crossing initiative for any strategic plan to be viewed as credible.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Stephenson County Credit Rating Lowered

2011-05-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

Standard and Poor's, earlier this year, lowered its "issuer credit ratings" for Stephenson County. You can read the abstract of the report at the following link:
http://www.alacrastore.com/research/s-and-p-credit-research-Summary_Stephenson_County_Illinois_General_Obligation-853713

This is real trouble for Stephenson County and perhaps other taxing bodies contained within Stephenson County. In essence, a lowered credit rating, from AAA down to BBB, does not bode well for county officials as they search for a way to get out from under the $6 million bond anticipation note from JP Morgan Chase.

Earlier this month the Stephenson County Board voted to extend the bond anticipation note with JP Morgan Chase for a period of eight months with the county paying interest only while John Blum scrambles to find a way out and save face.

Tutty thinks it's way too late. This $6 million debt was a mistake to begin with and now it is a full blown fiscal crisis which threatens to bankrupt Stephenson County. Clearly, any borrowing by the county will be met with higher interest rates. Even JP Morgan Chase, over the next eight months is demanding payments monthly, it is rather odd for a muni bond issuer to make monthly payments.
This is probably due to a lack of confidence by the lender, JP Morgan Chase, in the ability of Stephenson County to meet its obligations.

Tutty wonders why John Blum has not used his weekly column in the Journal-Standard to discuss this lowered credit rating, surely he's aware of it.

The financial games that John Blum and NIDA have been playing with our future tax dollars, with full concurrence from other local taxing bodies, are coming home to roost and it is not going to be pretty.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

An "Extension" of a $6 Million Public Debt

2011-05-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

In May of 2006 Stephenson County Board Chairman John Blum and a handful of lawyers and bankers convinced the Stephenson County Board to borrow $6 million to purchase and create what is now known as the Mill Race Crossing Industrial Park.

There was no formal notice nor was there any discussion in any committee of the Stephenson County Board prior to the $6 million item appearing on the May 2006 Board agenda.

Thanks to special legislation spear-headed through the Illinois General Assembly by local Republican Representative Jim Sacia, Stephenson County somehow came to gain the authority to write debt against the businesses and residents of Stephenson County without so much as formal notice. And they took full advantage of that authority in May of 2006 and took out a $6 million "Bond Anticipation Note" with JP Morgan Chase.

Clearly, this was too big of an issue for a very unsophisticated rural county board to grasp and get their arms around in one meeting--yet John Blum and his handful of banker and lawyer buddies (whom, so far, have been paid) were saying we must not wait, this project has been reviewed and studied enough already--development is imminent, or so they said.

On a larger scale, this one little incident in rural America, aptly demonstrates why there is a municipal bond crises in the United States. Big banks, five years ago, were way too willing and eager to underwrite millions on nothing but speculation. How many other Mill Race Crossing's is JP Morgan Chase holding on its balance sheets?

Anyway, the five-year $6 million interest only Bond Anticipation Note came due in full this month. At last Wednesday's County Board meeting it was agreed to "extend" the note another eight months and push the maturity out until January 15, 2012.

Usually Bond Anticipation Notes are paid off by issuing larger amounts of public debt, hence the name "bond anticipation." As a matter of fact, Stephenson County's 2009 audit states it like this:

"In May 2006, the County issued $6,000,000 of Debt certificates to pay part of the cost of a public improvement project related to economic development. See Note M for further information. Interest only payments are to be made quarterly at a rate of 4.6%. The entire principal of $6,000,000 will be refinanced with TIF Bonds on May 15, 2011."

However, because there is no new development, there is not a substantial amount of funds to write a TIF bond large enough to cover this debt. A fact that probably does not sit to well with JP Morgan Chase. That's probably why the County had to pay down the principle by $500,000 so JP Morgan Chase would agree to extend the debt eight months.

And where did the Stephenson County Finance and Procurement Committee find a half-a-million-dollars to pay down the principle with? What line item in the budget was there an extra $500,000 buried?

Let's be real on this eight month extension, come later this year John Blum is going to have to ask the Stephenson County Board to levy a tax against the property of Stephenson County businesses and residents to retire this debt. There is no other way.

Where else will the money come from? Furthermore, it is not 2006 anymore, the drunkedness that overtook the Big Banks five years ago is now a huge hangover for most. No one is going to write a $5.5 million public debt without a for sure funding stream. Where will this funding stream come from? It will come from the wallets of the businesses and residents that call Stephenson County Illinois home and there nothing to show for it accept some bulldozed farmland with no hope of development.

Tutty will repeat that, there is no hope for developing the Mill Race Industrial Park. It is nothing more than a Big Blumdoggle for the businesses and residents that must now pay for the cloudy vision of John Blum and the rest of the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance.

The fact that NIDA and John Blum still cling to the notion that development will somehow come to the Mill Race Crossing Industrial park is only serving to solidify how incompentent the leadership at NIDA really is.

How much and how long will the businesses and residents suffer before the full Stephenson County Board realizes the absolute futility of developing land that you can not give away. How long will this continue Stephenson County Board?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Orangeville "crisis drill" Reveals Bigger Problems

2011-05-14T07:14:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard yet, last Friday the Administration of Orangeville School District 203, in cooperation with the Stephenson County Sheriff's Department held a crisis drill. This drill consisted of a Stephenson County Sheriff's deputy, dressed in civilian clothes and unknown to Orangeville students, walked in the main entrance of the high school and fired a .22 caliber blank gun twice (these are not "cap" guns as has been reported by local media) and requested a specific student.

The requested student fled the school grounds in fear for his life. Fortunately, this student did not do something extreme (like people often do when they believe that their life is under direct threat) and was found and returned to the school.

Of course this drill has raised the ire of Orangeville parents and should raise the ire of everyone living in Stephenson County as it was the Stephenson County Sheriff's Department that conducted the "drill."

Drill or no drill, it is highly illegal to fire a look-a-like gun in the public way in front of unsuspecting children. What were these deputies and the entire sheriff's department thinking? What if an armed parent would have been in close proximity and would have shot the deputy dead? Don't think that couldn't happen, Tutty knows people up in Orangeville.

What if the student that the "gun man" wanted would have ran out to his car and come back with a real weapon of his own?

Did the Stephenson County Sheriff's department notify all other law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction what was taking place? Tutty's guess is no.

While the Superintendent of Orangeville Schools has taken full responsibility, much of the responsibility must lie with the Stephenson County Sheriff's Department.

Citizens of Stephenson County need to demand a formal investigation and possible criminal charges over firing a look-a-like gun in an Illinois public school building. Does the Illinois Attorney General know about this yet?

This drill could have been disastrous. The Stephenson County Sheriff's Department really needs to own up to their recklessness. This is "gun play" plain and simple, and anyone with any respect for firearms knows that you do not brandish a weapon and fire that weapon for the purpose of scaring people.

Shame, shame on the Stephenson County Sheriff's department. But Tutty has a feeling the sheriff's department will be hearing from much more than Tutty, and rightly so, on this incident.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

No Local Media Coverage of NIDA Donation or the $6 Million Disaster?

2011-05-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

Last night was the slated meeting of the Finance and Procurement Committee of the Stephenson County Board. On the agenda, or more precisely, according to what has been reported, agenda items included a possible $50,000 donation to the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance as well the possible "extension" of a $6 million bond anticipation note due to JP Morgan Chase this month.

Although both of the above items have been covered by local media, radio and print, so far today Tutty has yet to find any media coverage of last night's Finance and Procurement Committee meeting. Tutty wonders why there has not been a peep of coverage from local radio or a hint of coverage from the Journal-Standard? Tutty would like to give the benefit of the doubt to local media, hopefully the meeting ran late or there was some other technical snafu which has created what essentially is a news blackout on Stephenson County financial issues.

Now, more than ever, Freeport/Stephenson County residents need good media coverage of local public finance. This $6 million due to JP Morgan Chase is a huge disaster. If you are a business or resident of Stephenson County this $6 million is going to cost you...you will feel it...guaranteed.

So far, the $6 million hasn't affected taxpayers because it has been used to "eat itself" meaning the principle was used to make interest only payments. Now the principle is due and even at the best possible interest rate, interest alone will cost Stephenson County businesses and residents more than a quarter-million-dollars annually...and that's before any of the $ 6 million principle is retired.

And so far all that has been accomplished is an October 2007 "groundbreaking" with Don Manzullo, George Gaulrapp and Jim Sacia, check the news archives.

This little NIDA playing in the dirt escapade is going to be very expensive and now local media seems to be missing in action. Or is that part of the plan?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

A Dangerous--And Overlooked--Crossing

2011-05-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

The Pecatonica Prarie Path Commission, which is made up of appointees of Mayor George Gaulrapp, County Board Chairman John Blum and Freeport Park District Executive Director Jack Carey, has been busy spending money to make sure that users of the trail can get across the Pecatonica River. In the past year bridges were constructed in two separate locations across the Pecatonica, one bridge is in Freeport and one is east of N. Fawver Road east of the city.

It's too bad that between these two bridges, those who want to use the trail, will have to figure out how to get across four-lanes of 65 mph-plus traffic on the US 20 bypass.

Take a look at the image below which was taken from Google Earth, the red line is the route of the Pectonica Prairie Path where it crosses the US 20 bypass.

You can click on the image to make it larger.

With all of the money that the Pecatonica Prairie Path Commission has been spending, why hasn't someone at least considered an alternative to this dangerous crossing? Maybe the path could be routed northerly and a pedestrian bridge could be attached to the River Road overpass, just above the red line.

Whatever, if trails are really going to be in our transportation future, we must get beyond the "feel good" projects like bridges to nowhere when there are real logistical and safety issues that have yet to be adequately addressed.

Maybe we can get the local newspaper, the Journal-Standard to provide a list and contact information for the members of the Pecatonica Prarie Path Commission. Hey, Tutty can dream can't he.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

George Gaulrapp Gateway Park...Visionary

2011-05-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

The old Burgess Battery site just north of Stephenson Street on the west bank of the Pecatonica River is commonly referred to as "Tutty's Crossing". In honor of the vision of Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp, Tutty proposes renaming this acreage, "George Gaulrapp Gateway Park".

George Gaulrapp Gateway Park

Actually, while former Freeport Mayor Jim Gitz is the person responsible for turning the old Burgess site into green space curren Mayor George Gaulrapp is the visionary that is promising to transform this site into a public mecca.

Mayor George Gaulrapp was so worried about this park becoming a "trail head" for the Jane Addams Trail and the Pecatonica Prairie Path that last year he appointed both Denise Ihrig and Shelly Griswold to both of the respective trails' commissions. This assured Mayor Gaulrapp of getting the half-million-dollar bridge pictured above constructed, even though it does not connect with anything. Here is a link to the City Council meeting where Resolutions 2010-04 and 2010-05 were approved: http://www.ci.freeport.il.us/citygovernment/Agendas/A20100216.pdf

Why would Mayor Gaulrapp appoint the same two--and both people he can "hire and fire," to two separate trail commissions if he didn't want complete control? And don't try to tell Tutty that either Shelly Griswold or Denise Ihrig would ever publicly cross the mayor. How often have you ever publicaly crossed your boss?

The problem with this new half-million-dollar bridge is that it does not go anywhere. Freeport is not connected to the Jane Addams trail or the Pecatonica Prairie Path and such connections, with a means to successfully cross Route 26 and the Route 20 bypass are still years away. That was one problem Winnebago County leaders took care of first. They built a tunnel under Route 20 in between Pecatonica and Winnebago to accommodate the Pec Prairie Path.

Here in Freeport, the Gaulrapp vision has given us a half-a-million-dollar bridge which doesn't go anywhere. It does not connect with either trail. Freeporters, despite paying more for the Jane Addams Trail and the Pecatonica Prarie Path than any other Stephenson County taxpayers, have no safe walking or biking connection to either trail...but we've got a half-million-dollar bridge to nowhere.

Mayor Gaulrapp has also had some visions 3G park being used as a festival grounds. Tutty sure hopes the City of Freeport runs that one by their insurance company. With a dangerous river on one side, railroad tracks on the other, and the probability of alcohol consumption, a festival grounds would appear to be a liability nightmare.

Another mayoral vision is that George Gaulrapp Gateway Park will become a train station. This will probably come to fruition first as Amtrak comes to Freeport they will need a place to stop. However, if 3G park is to become an Amtrak station, that is all it will be. Every square inch will be needed for parking. Have any local leaders been to a modern train station lately? All they really consist of is large parking lots and maybe a shelter or small building, you buy your ticket on the train.

Has there been any formal preparations yet made for the Amtrak stop? If so, what specifically. How much parking will be needed? Is downtown, at 3G park, really the best place for the Amtrak station?

As far as the trails go, Tutty thinks the City of Freeport should stop all funding until there is a tangible benefit to Freeporters. The Jane Addams Trail and the Pecatonica Prairie Path do nothing for the average Freeporter. There is no reason the Pecatonica Prairie Path could not have followed Stephenson Street to Van Buren and then used the historic Van Buren Avenue bridge to connect, wherever that will be, with the Jane Addams Trail, but that would have been too practical.

Mayor Gaulrapp, afterall, has vision...and he has a half-a-million-dollar bridge to nowhere to prove it.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Local Media...What Purpose Do They Serve?

2011-05-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

Freeport and Stephenson County businesses and citizens are in desperate need of a local medium that does not help local units of government keep secrets. Although it has much more to do with being incompetent than conspiring, there is no excuse for the lameness of the local media when it comes to public tax and spend issues that directly affect Tutty's friends--our businesses and citizens.

Local officials are always talking about how they want more involvement from citizens but use home rule authority and any other means available to keep the public from the decision making processes. How has the City of Freeport raised the sales tax three separate times, created two new fees on water bills, and borrowed more than $20 million without a referendum in just the last ten years? How did Stephenson County use the value of the property of Stephenson County businesses and citizens to borrow $6 million without so much as public notice?

Local media seems to have no interest in covering, and no desire to do better, when reporting on issues of public finance. Local media does not work to keep local government transparent.

Example, how many Freeporters know that there is a legally required "public hearing" at tonight's Freeport City Council meeting regarding the 2011-12 Appropriation's Ordinance? Probably not too many. The only way a person could know that there was a public hearing tonight, prior to today, was to have read one of the two legal ads published last month in the Journal-Standard.

Mayor Gaulrapp has made no mention of the public hearing on his weekly radio show or in a column he wrote for yesterday's edition of the Journal-Standard. There has been no other mention in the local paper, the city beat reporter failed to mention tonight's public hearing in his "City Notebook" column, also in yesterday's Journal-Standard. Did Alderman Bush mention that there would be having a public hearing at the 3rd Ward meeting last Saturday?

If local officials and local media truly want "public participation" why don't they act like it? Why has the Stephenson Blumdoggle been the only place, besides the City of Freeport website, where a business or citizen could find a link to the Appropriations Ordinance that they underwrite? If local media is not an active part of the solution, then they are a huge part of the problem.

Illinois State law requires the City of Freeport to hold a public hearing before passing the Appropriations Ordinance and ran two public notices that the Journal-Standard was paid to publish. Yet the newspaper seems not to have noticed. Furthermore, the newspaper, or other local media, has not questioned a single budget item, even though the businesses and citizens of Freeport are subsidizing the Convention and Visitor's Bureau by more than $70,000 above and beyond what the hotel/motel tax brings in...why?

Here is a link to the Appropriations Ordinance which will be the subject of tonight's public hearing:
http://www.cityoffreeport.org/Ordinances%20&%20Resolutions/APPROPRIATION%202011-2012.pdf

Maybe Tutty is asking local media too much...is it too much to ask for local media to follow local government(s) above and beyond their "legal requirements"? And while, as City Officials will point out, all legal requirements may have been met, Tutty would like to see City officials and local media go above and beyond the threshold which keeps them from jail. Is that really too much to ask for the businesses and citizens which must foot the bill for all of this craziness?

You can click on the picture to make it larger.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Conspiracy Theory? It's No Theory

2011-04-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

Five years ago, aided by a handful of complicit attorneys, Stephenson County Board Chairman, John J. Blum and JP Morgan Chase bank were busy conspiring to place $6 million in public debt upon the unsuspecting businesses, citizens and local governments of Stephenson County.

Tutty will use the words conspire, conspiring and conspiracy, throughout this post. Tutty does so with confidence. JP Morgan Chase and the lawyers involved may not like it, and they may even sue Tutty for slander, it is a free country and JP Morgan Chase has plenty of lawyers on retainer but the facts speak for themselves.

Stephenson County businesses and citizens now owe JP Morgan Chase $6 million and never received formal notice that they would be indebted. JP Morgan Chase handed over a $6 million uncollateralized loan without members of the Stephenson County Board (other than John J. Blum, who is not elected at-large) knowing the amount or the terms of the loan until the night of the meeting where it was approved, May 10, 2006.

Even the agenda for the May 10, 2006 meeting failed to disclose the amount of debt that would be placed on Stephenson County businesses and citizens. All the agenda said was "Approval of Ordinances Authorizing Issuance of Debt Certificates to provide interim financing for acquisition of real estate and construction of infrastructure and utilities improvements for Mill Race Crossing Redevelopment Project Area Phase I."

When it came time to approve the public debt, the actual meeting minutes disclose that the Stephenson County Board did not have the actual loan documents. Attorney James L. Reese of Ward, Murray, Pace and Johnson, according to meeting minutes, told the Stephenson County Board that "the draft documents presented were in Ordinance form as stated on the Agenda. The final documents will be drawn up and executed in Resolution form.

How can lawyers and JP Morgan Chase allow a $6 million public debt to go through when the documents are not yet "drawn up." Those are the quoted words of Attorney Reese as found in the official agenda, not Tutty's.

Attorney Reese, again, according to the meeting minutes, "addressed the process of preparing this document and legal counsels review throughout the process." Attorney Reese himself points to a conspiracy in process, with all of the "legal counsels review" why didn't any attorney including bond counsel might not think it would be a good idea to provide formal notice to those most affected, the unsuspecting businesses, citizens and local governments of Stephenson Count? As far as Tutty thought, there are laws guaranteeing public notice in most cases of public debt. With all of the lawyers, bond counsels and big-time bankers, how did the public notice issue come to be ignored?

If any of the involved lawyers or bankers can find any type of pubic utterance or notice regarding the possibility of Stephenson County residents having $6 million in debt placed upon them prior to the Agenda for the May 10, 2006 Stephenson County, Tutty would like them to produce such.

The conspiracy is continuing as John Blum secretly works with JP Morgan Chase on a refinancing of this debt. Where is the necessary bond counsel? Who's putting together the Official Statement? Why are there so many secrets regarding public debt?

And why are other members of the Stephenson County Board content to let the conspiracy continue? Why can't a JP Morgan Chase banker appear before the Finance Committee and talk terms of refinancing? Why does the majority of the Stephenson County Board defer their responsibilities to John Blum?

This $6 million debt is poised to start costing Stephenson County businesses and citizens some real money. It will be felt by all those who own property in Stephenson County. It is past the time for the Stephenson County Board to pull the covers off the bed where John Blum, JP Morgan Chase and their lawyer friends lie and conspire while the rest of Stephenson County businesses and citizens have to pay up for their folly.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Our Disrespected Culture

2011-04-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

On the grounds of Freeport's Carnegie library stand four works of fine art. The pre-WWII Italian marble statues represent the four seasons and were gifts of W. T. Rawleigh to the citizens of Freeport.

Mr. Rawleigh, a world traveler, purchased the statutes in 1929 and had them imported from Florence Italy. The statues are the work of legendary sculptor Ferdinando Vichi. Mr. Rawleigh was very fond of the work performed by this sculptor and purchased several of his works which, besides these four statues, include several Vichi works of Italian marble which are on display at the Freeport Art Museum on North Harlem Avenue.

The same sculptor, Ferdinando Vichi, also crafted Mr. Rawleighs headstone at Oakland Cemetery, it is clearly visible from Empire/Pearl City Road.

There are plenty of cities much larger that would love to have four Italian marble statues from a famous Italian sculptor to display publicly. Here in Freeport people seem to forget about, or completely ignore, that which has given us a large measure of what Tutty calls refined dignity--a level of culture not found in all places.

Here in Freeport/Stephenson County local leaders appear to believe that we can economically develop some type of new culture. Tutty thinks that it is time to start respecting the culture that built Freeport and begin taking care of the existing city with any new development coming as a result of good health and not artificial growth hormone (government grants and other local government giveaways) to sustain ourselves.

It's not too late to love and respect what we already have.

As always, yours in honesty

Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Finance 101...According to John Blum

2011-04-23T15:35:00.000-07:00

If there was ever any doubt in your mind that current Stephenson County Board Chairman John Blum was a one man show regarding important county business, Tutty would encourage you to view a video produced by the Journal-Standard and posted on their website at the end of January. In this video, John Blum talks specifically about the refinancing of the $6 million Blumdoggle known as Mill Race Crossing.

Here is a link to the video and some commentary to follow:

http://www.journalstandard.com/video/x1145631881/John-Blum-Paying-for-Mill-Race-Part-2-of-2?page=0

Early on, at the 4 minute 8 second mark, Blum claims that, "We have numerous funding options--both real and potential" regarding the $6 million Mill Race debt.

A couple of seconds later, despite the "numerous funding options" John Blum claims that "Our obvious first step is to renegotiate a long term financing plan with our lender (JP Morgan Chase) to spread our current debt over a much longer period."

Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, who is saying that "Our obvious first step" should be to pass this debt on to the next generation...especially if there really are other "numerous funding options"? If John Blum wants to use pronouns then he needs to produce meeting minutes where open votes were taken to prove to the public that he indeed has collaborated with someone else from the Stephenson County Board on these huge financial issues. Taxpayers need accountability, the majority of Stephenson County taxpayers do not have the opportunity to vote for or against John Blum

John Blum refers to the $6 million Stephenson County residents owe as "investment debt" and claims that this "investment debt" has resulted in "hard assets" for the Stephenson County Board. John Blum continues to claim that the Mill Race industrial park is now worth between $35,000 and $50,000 per acre--and actually, listen for yourself, calls these figures "conservative"--at the very same time he and the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance have been unable to give the land away.

"Hard assets" in the opinion of most financiers are liquid, meaning they are either cash or easily converted to cash. The Mill Race Industrial Park is not a hard asset unless you are one of the insiders that have been able to make money off the $6 million debt placed upon Stephenson County taxpayers.

Because the Mill Race Crossing Industrial Park is a "hard asset" that is now worth $5.3 million taxpayers should not worry about the refinancing of this debt according to John Blum. As he says in the Journal-Standard interview, "$5.3 million is a sizable asset to shelter debt."

Did you hear that? Tutty will repeat it because it is that important, John Blum said that "$5.3 million is a sizable asset to shelter debt."

If the value of the Big Blumdoggle was actually a "shelter" from the $6 million in debt for taxpayers, then we could give the industrial park to JP Morgan Chase, plus $700,000 and we would not have to worry about refinancing this debt. Why isn't that one of the "numerous funding options" brought forth by John Blum?

Tutty knows, and so does John Blum, that the value of the Mill Race Industrial Park is not "shelter" for the taxpayers against this $6 million in debt. JP Morgan Chase bank is not stupid. They are not going to underwrite a municipal debt obligation with a "potential" industrial park serving as collateral.

No, JP Morgan Chase will require that any refinancing contain the stipulation that this debt is backed by the "full faith and credit" of Stephenson County. Meaning it is secured by the ability of Stephenson County taxpayers to pay property taxes...taxpayer property is what collateralizes this debt, not the wishful thinking of John Blum.

What a real mess for Stephenson County taxpayers and the Stephenson County Board. Go to the link above and really listen to the bullshit pouring out of John Blum's mouth and then ask yourself if it is any wonder Stephenson County is in the mess it's in.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

What Now NIDA? What Now John Blum?

2011-04-21T23:15:00.000-07:00

If you click on the following link you can view a video from Channel 13 in Rockford regarding Mill Race Crossing losing the EDA funding to Rochelle.

Stephenson Co. doesn't want $1.7 million grant - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

What now John Blum, now that you have Stephenson County deep in the hole on nothing more than a high stakes gamble? What's the plan man?

What does the NIDA executive committee have to say about any of this? Where's the Journal-Standard and local radio at today? They've helped John Blum promote this fantasy all the way through and Tutty can produce the published and broadcast rhetoric to prove it.

A $6 million credit card bill coming due and no revenue source to retire it, What now NIDA? What now John Blum? What a big, big Blumdoggle says Tutty.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

Another Earth Day And More Lip Service

2011-04-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

If you havn't heard yet, Friday is Earth Day. National and Local media have been touting Earth Day all week, many schools have had Earth awareness projects going on since the beginning of the week.

Tutty loves earth. The earth and it's mysteries are Tutty's God. Tutty learned his religion from the Indians that called this place "Winneshiek" way back when the Pecatonica River ran pristine. So it breaks Tutty's heart that Earth Day is little more than a small blip on society's radar screen.

Freeport has grown and grown with little regard for the tendencies of Mother Earth. You'd have thought City Fathers would have learned from the repeated flooding of the Pecatonica River flats, but no, they thought it wise to develop the Yellow Creek flood plain as well.

People in general pay little heed to their affects on the health of our planet. In many cases the media tells us that we can pump billions of gallons of crude from earth's heart, burn it, and not create a problem for ourselves or our children. It's just a scam right wing pundits say, drive your gas guzzler and go ahead pour your antifreeze down the drain, man-made climate change is a fallacy...or so they say.

Tutty doesn't think so. Tutty sees the tons of trash floating down the Pecatonica River, some washed in by storm drains, some obviously dumped from a bridge or other location. And while local leaders talk about the litter problem, nothing has been done about it other than organizing the ever popular "clean-up" day.

Why not use the City of Freeport's home rule authority to do something earth and society friendly? Why can't the City pass an ordinance outlawing those small bottles of hard liqour that--judging from the amount of empty ones laying around town--must be popular in some circles.

Why does anyone need to buy hard liquor two-and-a-half ounces at a time? C'mon Mayor Gaulrapp and Freeport City Council, put an ordinance together to outlaw the sale of the tiny bottles of liquor in Freeport. Let's do it in honor of earth day.

Tutty would like everyone to think of something they can do for Earth Day. Walk somewhere instead of driving or some other simple thing. If nothing else take a good look around this place and really think about what you could do or shouldn't do, our home, Mother Earth, could use your attention.

If you can't do anything else, maybe you can at least think about the effects that we've had on our planet home and if we've always done things as efficiently as they could have been done.

In closing, Tutty will leave you with an aerial picture of Freeport High School from the fall of 1932. You can click on the picture to make it larger.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

Was There a City Council Meeting Last Night?

2011-04-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

Tutty picked up the hard copy of this morning's Journal-Standard to the headlines that the Stephenson County Fairgrounds could play host to a major art and musical festival this August, perhaps drawing tens of thousands of festival goers.

Such a festival sounds like fun and Tutty hopes it can be pulled off successfully despite a few obvious logistical problems...like no booze on the Fairgrounds.

The second part of the headline story was about a legal injunction that Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp "announced" to the City Council that it was the "city's intention" to file an injunction against Comcast for wanting to shutter it's local office.

That's the way it works in Freeport, you actually don't need Freeport City Council approval to sue someone, the mayor and his personally appointed $100,000 a-year-plus-lawyer can decide on who the City should and shouldn't sue all by themselves. This is ludicrous. Mayor Gaulrapp and his attorney are picking a fight against one of the largest media conglomerates in the world with the Freeport City effectively reduced to nothing more than spectators.

How much is this going to cost us? Does Tutty have to remind Freeporters that Mayor Gaulrapp's Corporation Counsel caused more than $30,000 to be spent trying to "quiet the title" to the oldest Carnegie library in Illinois and the City of Freeport still didn't get the title quieted. All of this was done without any approval by the Freeport City Council. And in this case Gaulrapp was not going against a world-wide media conglomerate, what chance does the City have against Comcast, when they haven't been able to shut up John Cook.

But what Tutty really wanted to write this post about was the fact that the above two topics were the entire newspaper coverage of the Freeport City Council meeting. Tutty always thought that meetings were held for the purpose of conducting public business. Yet the newspaper article did not cover any pubic business.

What about the Appropriation's Ordinance, which was up for a Second Reading despite being a new and corrected version from the previous City Council meeting? The mistake Tutty wrote about in the previous post (two page fours) was corrected in this, the newer version, of Ordinance 2011-18.

Why can't we actually get coverage of the public business that was conducted at the Freeport City Council meetings instead of just public relations that go on during the official meeting? Is that too much to ask of those that profess to be real "journalists"?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Does Anyone Else Actually Read Proposed City of Freeport Ordinances?

2011-04-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

Tutty was looking down the latest version of the City of Freeport's annual Appropriation's Ordinance. This year the ordinance number is 2011-18. The proposed ordinance was discussed at the last Freeport City Council meeting with no action taken.

Tutty has given the budget a cursory look and discovered something shocking. There are two pages with the number "4" (four). Both pages contain the exact same line item numbers but list different amounts of money under at least some of the same line item numbers.

You can look at the Appropriations Ordinance yourself at this link:
http://www.cityoffreeport.org/Ordinances%20&%20Resolutions/APPROPRIATION%202011%E2%80%932012_20110331.pdf

The issue isn't necessarily that the ordinance contains two pages with different amounts under the same line items. The issue is, if all eight aldermen and the two aldermen elect were actually reading this most important of financial documents, why didn't any of the ten notice that there were two page's with the same number but different amounts listed in the line item numbers?

Tutty does know that Sixth Ward Alderman Scott Helms asked plenty of questions regarding the Appropriations Ordinance and knows that Mr. Helms has at least looked at the document. And while it might be easy to overlook such a glaring mistake as two pages with the same number. Tutty believes that if the other nine aldermen (including aldermen elect) were doing their jobs and properly reviewing this document, at least one of them would have noticed this mistake.

So, Mayor Gaulrapp and Freeport City Council, how can such an important document as the annual Appropriations Ordiance be in front of the Freeport City Council and no one notices such a prominent error? The only thing Tutty can surmise is that the Mayor and City Council are simply deferring their duties to Craig Joesten and trusting that he is doing his job correctly.

When, Mayor Gaulrapp and Freeport City Council, can the the citizens of Freeport expect you to start doing your job and actually reviewing what the department heads plop in front of your faces?

Is it too much, Mayor Gaulrapp, to ask you to do your job and review the work of those that you appoint? Or are you too busy getting ready to run for Congress again?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

The Stephenson County Code...Does it Mean Anything?

2011-04-16T23:18:00.000-07:00

With a $6 million debt coming due next month it has been interesting to watch Stephenson County leadership squirm...and they are squirming. Now is also a good time to review the Stephenson County Code.

All Stephenson County Board members should be familiar with the County Code, but most are obviously not, take as an example the April 4th meeting of Planning and Development Committee meeting. At this meeting there was much discussion on the $6 million bond coming due. This is the way the meeting minutes put it:

"There was an extended discussion regarding the $6 million loan for Mill Race Crossing that matures on May 15, 2011. The County Administrator explained how the Economic Development Project Area was created and reviewed its history. He noted that Chase Bank has not issued any demands regarding repayment of the loan. Chase and the County have not yet settled on the amount to be repaid on May 15 interest rate moving forward, or the number of and the amount for each of the monthly payments."

Why is County Administrator Russell Mulnix talking to the Planning and Development Committee about an issue that they have no oversight over? Why hasn't this issue come before the Finance and Procurement Committee? Under the Stephenson County Code the Finance and Procurement Committee's duties are to "supervise the county accountant, all county finances, the preparation of annual budget, the appropriations ordinance and annual tax levy, and any other matters pertaining to the finances of the county."

Why isn't the Stephenson County Administrator following the Stephenson County Code?

And because this supposed refinancing of the $6 million debt, under the County Code, can not be done by John Blum and Russell Mulnix alone. Clearly this refinancing will cost more than $2,000 to close and the Code says that anything over this amount has to come through the Finance and Procurement Committee first and then the full County Board. John Blum and Russell Mulnix cannot just drop a 50-plus page ordinance in front of the Stephenson County Board and expect them to vote affirmatively. The fact that the Stephenson County Board has put up with this type of behavior in the past is shameful.

And before someone says, "but the Stephenson County Board voted to give John Blum permission to do such." No, no, no says Tutty. The Stephenson County Board does not have the authority to allow John Blum to go outside of the Stephenson County Code unless allowed by state statute. The Stephenson County Board cannot allow circumvention of the County Code. They must make an "addition" or an "amendment" to the County Code.

Tutty is quite sure some lawyer will tell you that Tutty is wrong, if that happens ask that same lawyer to put it in writing and sign their name to it so you can take a picture of it and send it to Tutty. Lawyers boldly say all kinds of silly things but get much more serious when asked to sign their name for all of posterity to see.

Here is a picture of a pertinent portion of the Stephenson County Code. You can click on it to make it larger and easier to read.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Promoting the NIDA Agenda

2011-04-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

While it is no secret that the local newspaper, the Journal-Standard, a Gatehouse Media property, leaves plenty to be desired. It is hard to ignore how the newspaper marches in lockstep with the agenda of the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance.

Take as an example a news story in today's Journal-Standard. The article is a "First in Print" article and is not yet, as of this posting, available online. The headlines read "Strong support for county system" and was in regards to the transit survey recently conducted by NIDA on the need for county-wide public transportation.

According to the story, "More than 1,100 surveys were completed by Stephenson County residents." Laurie Gungel, NIDA program manager for the Stephenson County Transit Partnership, referred to the less than 1,200 surveys as "a very good turnout."

How can any thinking person consider these numbers as "strong support" or "a very good turnout"?

Just a week earlier the Journal-Standard ran a story bemoaning the lack of voter turnout in Stephenson County. In this article, published on April 8, Stephenson County Clerk and Recorder Vici Otte was quoted as being "disappointed" and that she "was hoping that" more people would be interested in getting out to vote. According to the newspaper article the voter turnout in Stephenson County "fell well below" Ms. Otte's expectations.

How many people voted in Stephenson County? More than 4,800. The actual count was 4,847, according to the Journal-Standard's news story.

So how is it that when more than 4,800 individuals go to the polls in Stephenson County it is "low turnout" but when NIDA collects "more than 1,100" surveys with no guarantee that some people did not fill out more than one, it is considered "strong support" by the local newspaper?

Why, Journal-Standard, do you blindly support the agenda of John Blum, George Gaulrapp and the rest of the NIDA executive committee? And don't try denying that you do it, the above two articles demonstrate the cold stark facts beyond further explanation.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

The Six Million Dollar Debacle For Taxpayers

2011-04-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

The unbiased truth is this, Stephenson County has a $6 million debt coming due and John Blum and his group of buddies down at the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance have not got so much as a clue where they will find revenue.

Six million dollars, before calculating one dime of interest, breaks down to more than $120 per man woman and child living is Stephenson County. It's not a small amount of money.

Wasted money, wasted valuable resources, wasted public trust, wasted farmland and a federal grant now going to Rochelle, Illinois. Yet NIDA still has the land use plan for Mill Race Crossing prominently displayed in their sidewalk level window in downtown Freeport...and they really expect the public to take them seriously?

The $6 million is due next month, when it was borrowed five years ago both Stephenson County Board Chairman John Blum and Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp (both members of the NIDA Executive Committee) exuded confidence that any risk would be offset with development.

According to recent Stephenson County audits the plan was this:

"In 2004, the State of Illinois authorized the County to establish a County Economic Development
Project Area. In January 2005, the County proceeded to establish a Tax Allocation Finance District for development of an area east of Freeport. In May 2006, the County issued $6,000,000 of Debt Certificates, through JP Morgan Chase Bank, for five years. The Debt Certificates are to be repaid, in 2011, with funds from the issuance of TIF Bonds, which would be repaid by the real estate property tax increment from the Tax Allocation Finance District. The County continues to negotiate withpotential developers."

The problem now is that the Mill Race Crossing initiative is generating less than $70,000 a year in "property tax increment" and the interest on $6 million will be way more than $250,000 so "TIF Bonds" are not an option at this point.

Why can't Stephenson County default on this debt and give JP Morgan Chase Bank the land that was purchased with the money? JP Morgan Chase bankers were the ones that were dumb enough to make an obviously unsecured loan to Stephenson County officials.

Tutty can't understand how big banks like JP Morgan Chase can loan huge amounts of money to Stephenson County without there at least being a legal notice provided for taxpayers. How can John Blum and NIDA hold taxpayers to a promise that they made with JP Morgan Chase that was kept a secret from taxpayers until the ink was dry?

To date, Stephenson County taxpayers have never received any form of formal notice regarding what this debt will potentially cost everyone living in Stephenson County. For Tutty's two-cents, Tutty thinks the Stephenson County Board should vote down any refinancing plan brought forth from the secret negotiations of John Blum and JP Morgan Chase bankers

If JP Morgan Chase wants paid, they can come to the Stephenson County Board Finance Committee meeting with some pubic proposals. If the public is expected to pay this bill, then the public should get to see the paperwork...not just John Blum and JP Morgan Chase bankers. They call it "public" financing for a reason.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

Mill Race Crossing Loses $1.75 Million Federal Grant

2011-04-09T21:57:00.000-07:00

Although the Mill Race Crossing project has received more Journal-Standard ink and more free local radio time than any other issue in Stephenson County the past six years, local media seems to have missed the fact that the $1.75 million Economic Development Administration grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce has been pulled from Stephenson County.

That's why Tutty is here. Tutty thinks you should know things like what local officials are doing with your tax dollars, often times behind the backs of taxpayers. Local media thinks you should know what John Blum, George Gaulrapp and the rest of the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance want you to know, at least that's the way they seem to conduct their media businesses.

Anyway, back to the topic, At the February meeting of the Stephenson County Planning and Development Committee, John Blum told the Committee that the federal Economic Development Administration "since there are no pending projects (at Mill Race Crossing) EDA recommends that the grant funds be used for the new Japanese rail car manufacturing plant in Rochelle" Complete meeting minutes can be read at this link:
http://www.co.stephenson.il.us/board/Minutes/2011/PND/02-28-2011.pdf

When this grant was announced, almost four years ago, it was met with official jubilation and fanfare. TV cameras, local radio and press all showed up to spread the news that this $1.75 million was going to go for "infrastructure improvements" at the Mill Race Crossing industrial park.

Now this money, like the $6 million Stephenson County residents still own on the Big Blumdoggle, is gone. And Stephenson County residents are stuck trying to carry a very, very heavy bag.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

Clicking on the picture will make it larger.

Confusion on the ETS (911) Board

2011-04-07T22:06:00.000-07:00

The Journal-Standard is now reporting that the 911 dispatching service of Stephenson County will not, after all, be combined with the City of Freeports. The Emergency Telephone System Board has been putting out press releases for months now stating that such a consolidation was necessary and the Stephenson County Board wrote their budget around such a consolidation.

Here is the link to Journal-Standard article: http://www.journalstandard.com/newsnow/x230263275/Staff-cuts-not-consolidation

The move was questioned by John Cook in an article published in the Journal-Standard last December. Here is a link to Cook's article: http://www.journalstandard.com/opinions/x1167186554/Cook-questions-911-plan

According to Cook's article the 911 surcharge on people's phone bills generated more than $640,000 in 2009. Tutty believes Cook's numbers are accurate because no one disputed what he wrote.

So why, when Stephenson County collects so much money in 911 fees, do they need to consider consolidation or layoff workers? Is it because the County has to refinance the Big Blumdoggle known has Mill Race Crossing and does not have enough left over to provide basic services? Or are County officials robbing the 911 fund to pay for other services?

Stephenson County has huge debt coming due next month and absolutely no revenue source which to retire the bill. John Blum convinced the Stephenson County Board to take out an extremely risky $6 million loan on the hopes development would come to Mill Race Crossing.

Now there is no hope of developing the Blumdoggle and Stephenson County officials struggle to provide the services that should be provided with the tax dollars Stephenson County residents already pay.

Will someone on the Stephenson County Board explain to Tutty and the public at large what responsible leadership is and where it exists in Stephenson County?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

A Crumbling Freeport

2011-04-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

Tutty is back writing Tutty's blog. Tutty can not bear to watch Freeport continue to crumble while local leaders sit in positions of authority and actually brag about what they've done without at least a little bit of scrutiny.

Look around you people of Freeport. We have more debt and more taxes than ever before yet the town is crumbling faster and faster. Even Cherokee Hills has abandoned houses.

What do you think it will take to turn Freeport around? Does the Gaulrapp administration or the Stephenson County Board even have a clue? In the past ten years, both have done more to make a bad situation worse, all the while claiming they've got public interest at heart. Phooey.

For all of this century, Freeport and Stephenson County have been bleeding while local leaders have borrowed millions for pet projects that will not return a single dime. Yet they tell all of us that we need to be more positive.

The fact that the Mill Race Crossing land use map remains in the window of the building that houses the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance and the Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce in downtown Freeport is proof enough that local leaders have not got a clue.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com

John Blum's Refinancing Act

2011-04-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

In one short month the $6 million that the Stephenson County Board borrowed to "develop" Mill Race Crossing industrial park will come due. Yet there has been no public discussion about how this debt will be refinanced.

There has already been more than $1.5 million spent on interest charges but the $6 million principle remains. And let's be real, there is no hope of Mill Race Crossing being developed. Where will the water and sewer come from? Has anyone bothered to look at the condition of the water and sewer infrastructure in Freeport. It's collapsing folks...faster then they can afford to get it fixed.

So call your county board members and ask them why John Blum is negotiating this refinancing all by himself. He will come before the Stephenson County Board and provide them with only one option, his option, and like good little puppets, most of the board will blindly just say "yay".

No wonder the City of Freeport and the County of Stephenson are in such financial dire straights. Nobody is doing the homework that they were elected to do.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com