We wanted to clear up a couple of things that were written inaccurately in last week’s Lanark City Council minutes published in the Prairie Advocate.
First we would like to publicly thank Aldermen Strohecker and Fehlhafer who both came to our aid when the sewer backed up into our basement. When we couldn’t get Mr. Guenzler to answer his phone or door, it was Alderman Fehlhafer who got things going for us. Matt Haverland was down on our street in no time after receiving the call to go ahead. Simply opening a valve does not take care of the problem. The City ran a pump on Sunday and 3 pumps on Wednesday to relieve the water problem. They pump water out of the sewer and into the storm drain to drain it out of the basements in our neighborhood.
Another inaccuracy is we have not been working with Mr. Guenzler to correct or solve this problem. We were at a council meeting last year after the flood asking for them to fix the problem. At no point has Mr. Guenzler been expected to correct this problem himself. This appears to be a problem far bigger than one man should be expected to fix. What we do rely on Mr. Guenzler for is to bring the pumps to relieve the lines of the excess water and prevent it from filling the basements in our neighborhood.
The City has been very cooperative this time around, and we are thankful to those serving on the council for their time and efforts. We hope this problem can be taken care of in a timely manner once and for all.
Sincerely,
Scott & Jamie Woodley & Family
Lanark, IL
Is There a ‘Fair Tax’?
Illinois voters should be aware that the Fair Tax, H.R. 25, replaces the federal tax system, and its Tax Code, with a National Retail Sales Tax, collected by the States. Not only does that remove almost 26% from the average cost structure of American businesses, so that when we go through checkout, our total tabs should be slightly less, but the Fair Tax ends federal payroll withholding, making paychecks 30% larger. It can do this because “everyone” will pay it.
The Fair Tax also ends the Alternative Minimum Tax, the Capital Gains Tax, the Estate (or Inheritance) Tax, the Gift Tax, Medicare and Social Security taxes, the Self-Employment Tax, etc. Social Security and Medicare will be fully funded on an actuarially sound basis for the first time. Families with small businesses, farms or ranches will be able to pass those enterprises on to their heirs with no tax ramifications at all. It will no longer be necessary to sell the family business to pay the tax.
Since those businesses have a reduced cost structure, their prices can be lower and still produce a healthy profit. That means we can compete in world markets again. And American businesses can do better here too, because imports will be subject to the Fair Tax, the same as domestic products for once. Their “free ride” will have ended.
Economists say the Fair Tax will triple the growth rate of our economy, starting at the first payday, for free. The home foreclosure mess and “banking crisis” will end. Our $1.5 trillion trade deficit will turn around. The $13 trillion in American capital, which found refuge from our tax system in “more tax friendly” countries, will start coming home. The U.S. will be the best place in which to invest again.
Contact your Congressman and urge him to support and co-sponsor H.R.25, The Fair Tax Act of 2011. For a complete analysis of this concept, please visit www.fairtax.org
Pete Malone
St. Charles, IL
Editor’s note: Some important information that Mr. Malone did not address: Monthly “pre-bate” checks would be delivered to all U.S. citizens in the amount equal to the tax that would be paid to the poverty level, thus not taxing the poor or people with fixed incomes inordinately.
Blame it On The TEA Party
In a fit of raging civility, Vice President Biden called the Tea Party “terrorists,” blaming us for the debt downgrade.
In February and March 2009, ordinary Americans started taking to the streets across the nation to protest TARP, corporate bailouts, and “stimulus” spending. By April 15th (Tax Day), these same everyday citizens became a semi-organized movement known as the Tea Party, and again peaceably assembled to tell Washington how we felt.
Throughout the summer of 2009, the people also gathered at town hall meetings with their congressmen in a vain attempt to get them to listen to reason.
In July, again, the voice of the people could be heard across the land as millions cried out against the new massive spending proposed in the health insurance bill. September saw the coalescence of this movement, with upwards of a million peaceful protesters in Washington, and more millions in other cities across the country.
In early 2010, one lone Congressman, Paul Ryan, responded to the people and introduced his Road Map, a plan which would clearly have exceeded the guidelines S&P recommended to maintain the nation’s AAA credit rating.
Throughout the year, the Tea Party continued to attempt to turn Washington from its course, but their cries fell on deaf ears. In November of 2010, the people responded by retiring hundreds of deaf, big-spending politicians of both parties in the biggest landslide election in the nation’s history. Also in November, the President’s Debt Commission released its recommendations, which also met (barely) the criteria set forth by S&P. Their recommendations met the same abysmal fate as the cries of the Tea Party.
In April 2011, the House passed a 2012 Budget largely based on the Road Map. In May, the President introduced his 2012 budget proposal, with deficit spending so massive even Senate Democrats recoiled in horror. It failed on a 97-0 vote, while the House Budget gathers dust in the Senate basement.
In July, the first two rating agencies downgraded US debt. The rest is history.
Mr. Biden, how dare you call me a terrorist for peacefully exercising my 1st Amendment rights? Sir, how dare you place blame on Congressional Republicans for the debt downgrade, when they alone passed the legislation to avoid it months ago?
“We face the most predictable economic crisis in history.” - Erskin Bowles, Democrat co-chair of the President’s Debt Commission.
Terry Smith
Stephenson County Tea Party
Lanark, IL
Morrison City Council Notes
Morrison City Council met August 8, 2011 at City Hall. Mayor Drey, Administrator Wise, and all Aldermen were present. Relocation of the meetings was discussed. I noted that the room at the Sheriff’s department was noisy when the air conditioner was running. Also, residents noted they did not like it that they would have to be scanned when entering the meeting. Administrator Wise said there are microphones available and it’s larger. Chief Melton could do the scan since he comes to the meetings. The motion by me to wait and find a different place died due to no second. A new motion to move the meeting was made and seconded, a vote was taken and passed. The meetings, beginning September 13, 2011, will be held at the County Board room at the Sheriff’s department. Alderman Thorndike asked that the issue be revisited in a couple of months to see how it is going. Make sure you still come to hear what goes on first hand!
Bills payable were $105,257.17. The 1996 Vactor from Rock Falls was purchased for $35,000.00.
A new stop sign will be erected at Genesee Ave. and Academic Drive due to the revised ordinance 11-08. Ordinance 11-09 was passed-no parking is allowed on the south side of Academic Drive between 7am to 4pm. Two hour parking is allowed on the north side of Academic Drive at any time. Ordinance 11-10 pertaining to assault and battery will be held till the next meeting. Ordinance 11-11 is amended pertaining places of consumption of alcohol. Ordinance 11-12 is new it deals with Curfew. It is similar to the state statute-persons under the age of 17(minors) must be home between 11pm and 6am Sunday through Thursday and 12am to 6am Friday through Saturday.
The mayor was to sign an agreement with the IDOT for $30,000 for the renewal of a ten-year agreement regarding local agency maintenance of traffic control devices. Also, Resolution 11-07 was passed that the city’s cost-share would be $325,000 (not to exceed that amount) of motor fuel tax to pay for their portion of the replacement of the Rt. 30 bridge, curb and gutter, storm sewer. This should be all paid up by May 2012 according to Administrator Wise.
A street closure was requested from CAPA for Paint the Town on September 17 starting at 2am through September 18 at 8pm. It was okayed by council.
Other items up for consideration were: to update the sidewalk and excavation ordinances. I could only find 1987 laws and we have had other agreements such as resident pay for cement/city workers do the labor and a 50/50 deal. I could not find where these other agreements were approved or updated in my ordinance book. (Waiting for information.) The installation of the other two bike racks-it was decided by the mayor that if a business wanted one near their business, they are to contact city hall or their alderman to get it installed.
See you at the next Morrison City Council Meeting on August 22, 2011 at City Hall at 7pm.
Harmony makes small things grow, lack of it makes great things decay. (Sallust) I’m all for harmony!
