Rebounding from his battle against a rare appendix cancer, 5th Ward Alderman Ralph Dantino says he's ready for another go at the City Council.
It's been a tough but rewarding year for Geneva Alderman Ralph Dantino, who has been battling a rare appendix cancer as well as the mounting medical bills that go with his treatment. Dantino announced this week he is determined to continue his battle against cancer and his service as representative of Geneva's 5th Ward. Dantino said in a quick e-mail on Dec. 5 that he would seek re-election. He intends to file his nominating petition on Dec. 17. He told the Kane County Chronicle that he is feeling good and that he's running again because "I enjoy doing it." In addition to his role as alderman, Dantino is a former School Board member, Dancing With the Geneva Stars contestant and perennial community volunteer. He is known on the council for …
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City staff says it's prudent to OK a 3.43 percent increase in the estimated non-debt-related portion of the tax levy, for two reasons: (a) the final levy cannot exceed the estimation and (b) it allows the city to "capture" new growth.
City of Geneva staffers are asking the City Council to recommend an estimated tax levy in the amount of $6,526,710. That's an increase of about 3.91 percent over the previous tax levy. But staffers underline that it's only prudent to do so. The primary reason is that the final levy cannot exceed the estimated tax levy, so it's to the city's advantage—in terms of total dollars the city receives to run its operations—to estimate on the high side. The danger of estimating low is that the Kane County extension can—and likely will—lower the final levy, in which case the city might have to make major budget cuts to operate. It's also a scary time for municipalities as the state of Illinois continues to hold off payments and examines ways to …
7:19 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Just wait until the Master Plan for the east side of Geneva...and the Settler Hill project!!! Keep electing Burns and Donahue...Isn't Shodeen their big buddies?? Geneva will be taxed out of this world with the two of them running things. You ain't seen nothing yet "Shodeenville" I mean Geneva. more ›
A $250 permit fee and co-responsiblility for maintenance by the property owner and the service provider are parts of the city regulation.
In spite of a last-minute plea from the representative of a local church, the Geneva City Council voted 6-1 Monday on new regulations for collection bins or "donation boxes," depending on what you want to call them. Linda Williams, representing Fox Valley Presbyterian Church, apologized for bringing up her concerns as the City Council was poised for a vote, but said the new ordianance would have the "unintended consequence" of preventing the church from using a paper recycling bin that has been on the church property since 2007. According to the ordinance, collection bins must be located adjacent to the main structure of whatever site serves as host—whether it's a commercial business or not-for-profit agency. The regulations were proposed …
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What do you think? Is the local ordinance prohibiting liquor licensees from holding office a political power play, a matter of fair play, an antiquated law or a good, common sense deterrent to corruption and conflict of interest?
Should liquor license holders be prevented from seeking political office in the city of Geneva? That's a loaded question, but it's also one of sincere interest to Stockholm's owner Mike Olesen, who is interested in making a run for 1st Ward alderman, following the retirement of longtime alderman Sam Hill. Mike Bruno and Zac Ploppert already have announced their candidacy in the April 2013 race for the 1st Ward seat. Back on July 31, the City Council took a straw poll that resulted in an 8-2 recommendation to amend a longstanding rule that prohibits liquor-license holders from seeking an aldermanic seat. First Ward Alderman Chuck Brown said his understanding was that the law was antiquated, set during the Prohibition era and largely …
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1:37 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
This was not a straw poll. The city council directed staff to draft an ordinance modifying the city liquor control code to allow a license holder to serve on the city council just as they directed city staff to draft an ordinance to opt out of video gaming at the same meeting. The video gaming ordinace was passed September 4th. No draft ordinance revising the city liquor code has been submitted … more ›
Project includes widening and reconstructing on new alignment of Route 38 allowing for the construction of a grade-separation bridge carrying traffic over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
How many times have you been driving on Route 38 near the Geneva-West Chicago border and been stuck by a passing freight train? Or maybe, one frieght train after the other? Probably plenty, and the good news is that the wait might soon be over. That's because the city of Geneva, the state of Illinois and other local government units finally have come to terms on the $26 million project that's primarily funded by the state's capital program. More than 21,000 vehicles travel daily over those tracks, along with 75 freight trains and 54 commuter trains, according to state officials. Geneva Public Works Director Dan Dinges said the project is scheduled to start in November. In his announcement of the project, Gov. Pat Quinn said work would be …
1:48 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Perhaps they will be change the traffic light at Kirk and Fabyan as a result of the increased traffic during the Rte 38 construction - two years really is a long time. I haven't noticed much change at Kirk and Fabyan yet, but I suspect it will really back up as the lanes go down to one on 38. In the end, though, you are both right....it will be painful, but we will get through it and likely … more ›
The city of Geneva is looking at ways to memorialize some of Geneva's historic residents.
The city of Geneva will look into making a permanent memorial to one of its favorite sons, Merritt King, who died in January of this year. And at the same time, city officials are examining ways to use city of Geneva rights of way to place memorials to other favorite sons and daughters. In the other business portion of Monday's City Council Committee of the Whole meeting, Geneva resident Colin Campbell suggested extending the sidewalk in front of the Geneva History Center and building a small pedestal for a plaque in King's memory. King was a longtime Geneva aldeman, war hero and "historian emeritus" of the History Center. You can read more about him in this column by Kurt Wehrmeister and in this death notice and this story. "What I would …
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7:22 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Merritt King represented all that is great about our town. He was not only a hero, he was a kind and involved individual. I had the joy of sitting next to him at the Creche Luncheon for many years. He loved our town and he loved the people that call Geneva home. The luncheon will never be the same for me, missing the man who smile warmed my heart. God Bless Merritt King, loyal citizen of Geneva … more ›
And sadly, leaving stuff on your front doorstep isn't any better.
While I’m pleased the City Council is addressing the proliferation of Randall Road parking lot donation boxes, methinks it’s just another chapter in their consistent effort to avoid addressing real issues. Word on the street is the Chronicle has FOIA'd the top Geneva city employee earnings (including overtime), and the results will make you long for the teachers’ salaries. And that doesn’t even include their benefits and pension packages which also put the educators to shame. Then there’s that brand spanking new $500,000 city computer system which miraculously doesn’t make as much as one staff position redundant, a sewer system that’s essentially been ignored for 25 years and a declining downtown. Let’s not forget that my home assessment …
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6:10 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
(My 4th comment) Gaia has also attracted media criticism for its questionable business practices as well as its alleged ties to the same Tvind Teachers Group. CBS5, San Francisco; 2006: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjmLvYhrstA Chicago Tribune, 2004: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-02-12/features/0402120028_1_gaia-bins-clothes (See also the 3 "related articles" in the box at the right … more ›
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns says city newsletters will report when and why flags fly at half staff at City Hall.
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns asked for a moment of silence at Monday night's City Council meeting in honor of former Geneva Republican Editor and Publisher Allen Mead, who died over the weekend. Burns noted the tribute to Mead written by Kurt Wehrmeister and published Sunday on Geneva Patch. He remembered Mead's coverage of Geneva High School sports and the trademark lemon drops Mead would dole out to athletes after games. And after the moment of silence, Burns said he would honor a suggestion by a Geneva resident to make sure all residents can find out when flags fly at half staff at City Hall and who they honor by posting an announcement in the city's newsletter and GenevaMail. Several prominent Genevans have died in recent weeks, including …
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Former 2nd Ward Alderman William Barclay says he is considering a run for either the Geneva mayoral position or the 2nd Ward aldermanic seat.
Former 2nd Ward Alderman Bill Barclay said Wednesday that concerns about city spending and a desire to return to public service are two reasons he's considering a run for mayor or a return to the City Council. "There are ways that we can reasonably trim spending, but we're not looking," he said in a telephone interview. "At this time, with the economy where it is, we all need to tighten our belts." Barclay said he's also concerned about the conversation at City Council meetings, which he said needs more focus on important issues. "We argue about $5,000 for park benches, but we ignore the big things," he said. "The city spent $500,000 on a new computer system for its efficiencies, and then won't talk about eliminating positions." Barclay …
3:18 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Terry, I absolutely agree, but the folks who need to speak up are the aldermen. They're the ones who let the mayor get away with the kind of behavior you just described. Jeff more ›
The problems with the local political process? I may not have the answer, but I do have the questions!
What that heck happened to having some sort of perspective on the political process? We used to have the patience to allow contentious situations to unfold, but now we’ve forgotten German philosopher Georg Hegel’s point that the interaction between a thesis and antithesis is necessary before we can come to a synthesis. Belligerent confrontation used to be the last resort, but now it’s the first. Compromise, a once distinguished and respected art form, has suddenly become something to be despised. And that’s the question that’s been baffling me for the past three months. Despite hours of deliberation and my willingness to take a stab at it here, I’m not so sure I’ve come up with any good answer. I’m convinced the root of the problem lies …
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12:04 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Hal, Now you've gone ahead and dashed the high hopes I had for you after you were the only one to "get" the blogger joke. Since when have I ever made a thinly veiled verbal assault on anyone? This one has nothing to do with any specific person, group or political party. So now I've gone from being too blunt to being crafty? Don't bet on it! Jeff more ›
bob
9:23 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Ralph does a great job. His bout with cancer has shown what a person can do even when facing lifes challenges. more ›