Macomb, Pella and Highways

A number of years ago a company called Spiegel looked at the possibility of locating a plant in this area. After Speigel eventually decided to locate in a larger community, the Journal Star Editorial Board, hereafter known as the JSEB, wrote a catty article chiding those in the community who opposed a Peoria to Chicago highway that would run on a new roadbed. Community leaders at that time didn’t care much for improving or widening existing roadbeds, they wanted the shortest and fastest way to get to Chicago. The JSEB blamed the “just say no” coalition (actually the coalition against this new highway had no organized name) for losing this “plum”. The JSEB whine was and still is, though not so frequently, “if we had a second Interstate highway, Peoria would get companies like Spiegel to move here”. Well, this “plum” declared bankruptcy a few years ago.

We all know that Macomb recently won a bidding contest (Peoria was in the hunt up to the end according to a high ranking member of the Heartland Partnership) for a new Pella Manufacturing plant that may eventually employ up to 400 people. Since I went to school in Macomb and visit occasionally, (I can also read a map) I can tell you there is not even ONE four lane highway within 40 miles of Macomb. Would the JSEB like to comment?

The JSEB have written about me in a sometimes very derogatory manner. In 1993, I campaigned for a spot on the 1994 School District #150 Board (6 candidates ran for one position, Bob Baietto finished second and I finished third; today we are lucky to get 2 candidates to run). In my interview with the JSEB, they reminded me, after all, “this was the year of the woman” and suggested they would support a woman for the school board position. (1994 was the same year the JSEB strongly supported Dawn Netsch, Democrat candidate for Illinois governor who was soundly defeated). A woman, Jan Deissler, was elected and was ousted in 2004, leaving with the school board in what most consider pretty bad shape. Jan was a good lower grade educator and a dedicated board member but she was not what Dist. #150 needed at that time and certainly not today. You can always consult with good educators or put them on advisory committees but do not let them direct a 150 million dollar budget!

The second time I ran for public office, 1999, the JSEB asked me why I would run against another woman who was doing such a good job for Peoria County (even thru the years of prosperity the county was not in good financial shape in 2000) and why didn’t I run for something like the school board or the park board where I was better qualified. Hmmmm. Fortunately, not too many people believed what they were writing and saying because, after all, well, people would say, this was typical of the JSEB and their reaction when someone disagreed with them; smear them in print (They buy a lot of paper and ink). The JSEB usually ended every article about me with the statement “he also opposed the highway to Chicago”.

The JSEB has been a little quiet on the Highway to Chicago subject lately, especially since the Pella news. The JSEB continues to criticize Congressman Lahood and his support of expanding Rt. 29 into a four lane highway to Rt. 80. Engineers are still “studying” route 29 possibilities and also other projects like the original direct route to Chicago and an eastside by-pass road so there is still editorial copy. The JSEB still report that “since the original east of the river by-pass study is now outdated and the original path clogged with new sprawl, the “studies” would need to start over. Well, at least someone has made a lot of money on these “studies.” Engineers and surveyors are needed as is new storage space and shelves and computers and the JS has a lot of copy to write about. Nothing, of course has been built, but what the heck, its jobs isn’t it? Everybody should have the opportunity to make a good living but if jobs are what it’s all about, let’s just build whatever someone in power wants and let future generations worry about who is going to pay the debt. Click back on my blog “The Answer if Always Yes” for background on the let’s build it subject.

A friend of mine told me his philosophy was to “keep the money in circulation”. He did and when he died, his widow had to keep working until we she was 75 because she was left with the debt and the money was gone. I suspect someone is going to be paying off a lot of debt someday in Peoria if we don’t get the leadership that says “no” when the money isn’t there and the debt is too large. Don’t worry too much about the Peoria County spending more than we can afford, that is, unless health and retirement benefits bankrupt all of the public sector. I made a promise when I was elected in 2000 and 2002 and I’m trying to keep it.

For more than 10 years I have been trying to say we are getting our retention and growth priorities screwed up. But it’s evidently easier to deflect attention away from the real reasons we haven’t grown our tax base in the Peoria area (except a lot of new homes in the expanded City of Peoria countryside which some urban specialists call sprawl) then becoming committed to the boring priorities of reality. But maybe times are changing if it’s not too late.

Well, JSEB, explain the Pella decision and explain why other communities with only one Interstate, are outgrowing us? If it’s me, I’ll move but of course I’ll take my computer with me! (DeWayne Bartels, reporter for the Observer was recently challenged “Give me 101 reasons why anyone would stay in Peoria”. I made DeWayne’s list. DeWayne was later challenged to add another 101 reasons and he listed his general manager as 199!! Not wise, DeWayne. Better tell Henry he can have my spot. Just kidding, of course!!

Actually, the JSEB does a pretty good job overall. So they missed on getting three of their major favorites elected or reelected but again, what the heck, so did the “powerful” Chamber of Commerce thru there political action arm which donating at least $17,000.00 of Chamber Member’s money to at least two of the losing candidates; Teplitz and Thetford. Maybe the JS will publish the names of all donors of over $500 to any of the candidates. If not, I’ll publish all donors as soon as the State of Illinois collects the final figures. I was told that a Chamber member was so embarrassed that he personally offered Bob Manning $500, which Manning refused to take. Maybe time for some changes at the Chamber; longevity often breeds arrogance.

Being a former businessman and now serving as Vice-Chairman of the Peoria County Board, ( I was elected by my peers over Board Member Bob Baietto, who serves the county well and was the previous VC) I certainly want a good transportation to and in Peoria County. However, I disagree with those who want to spend without reasonable justification of a beneficial return to the taxpayer and voter. My theory has always been, make do with what you have and continue to improve what you have; then when you can justify the need to the citizenry and afford to spend the capital, do the right thing for your community. We should all avoid forming cliques that make decisions mainly beneficial to our special interests and treat the public interests as secondary and we should never exclude input or opinions from the taxpayer and voter. Then when companies like Pella come knocking, maybe we can offer them more than another “Highway to Chicago”.