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Laurence Brandon Sr regarding Petition available to put tax rate hike on ballot

Mr Dettman. Please go to this site, scroll all the way to the bottom, read the next to very last entry by SFDfyrftr. ____ http://www.firehouse.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-32972.html ____ I just thought it was a very interesting and informative read. Maybe others will want to scan it also.

Laurence Brandon Sr regarding Rental inspection program morphing: Sterling to include  all types of properties, not just rentals

Andrew, I just had a thought. What you describe about a rental having a leaky roof and no one learning of it until it hits the court. But isnt there an existing process for a tenant to complain? Isn't there an existing procedure for the zoning office or code enforcement to make an inspection upon receiving a tenant complaint? If what I think I remember is true, then it looks like part of the problem lies in getting the tenant's complaint to the right people. If so, using established policies and procedures some enforcement could happen just by building a highway between tenants and the proper place to register their complaints. Now I know what complaints are like. This highway would be traversed by many complaints of little credence and would need to be weighed by massive common sense. However, it could provide the avenue to bring action to the owner for, in this case, a leaking roof. What do you think?

Elizabeth Anschutz regarding Sign petition to put rural fire tax hike on ballot

No possibility for compromise. Well, that seems to be the manner of these things. It still boggles my mind that WE are being asked to fix a problem that WE had no part in making. The substation doesn't help us, the extra firefighters to man the station don't help us. The city doesn't want to raise taxes on Sterling residents. The city doesn't want to touch its 'reseves' to fund THEIR contract with the firefighters. The unelected RFD board seems inclined to raise taxes on residents. So yes, we will work to defeat this thing at the polls, for sure. That's all we can do.

Vern Klenz regarding Sign petition to put rural fire tax hike on ballot

Ms. Anschutz, I believe that what Larry is trying to say is, that there is no way to make that compromise at this point. The only way to guarantee that the tax rate doesn't increase to the max is to get the signatures on the petition, defeat the tax rate increase at the polls in February and hope that the Rural Fire District put a smaller, more realistic tax increase on the ballot for the next election.

Elizabeth Anschutz regarding Sign petition to put rural fire tax hike on ballot

Yes, but the RFD board does not have to increase that levy all the way to 30%, if I understand correctly and it sounds like they might be a BIT more understanding that times are tough for folks out here, too. I just don't want to get hit TWICE, once with this rate increase, and then again next year when the City and SFD renegotiate the contract with the RFD(as the City as already said they're going to increase fees in the new contract). I wish there was some way the City, SDF and the RFD could decide on a middle ground, that included an increase for city dwellers, as well as country folk AND addressed the RFD contract renewal. Or just shut the darn substation and lay off the firemen that aren't needed. WHEN will these gov't people realize that they CANNOT continue their profligate ways? It's truly astounding how insular their thinking is.

Laurence Brandon Sr regarding Sign petition to put rural fire tax hike on ballot

The problem I see with your suggestion Elizabeth is apparently the State has some statues that regulate the Levels of taxation rates for fire protection districts. I did not go to read it yet but Mr Dettman cited the statute above, I believe. So, any increase in Rural rates would go to the next step of 0.30 %. Once the Maximum rate is established at that level, the Board members are free to negotiate any levy in that range. I guess my analogy of the "airplane ride" is my biggest stumbling block here. I would hate paying first class fares while riding in coach.

Vern Klenz regarding Sign petition to put rural fire tax hike on ballot

Wow Larry, that is quite a file. I especially enjoyed the city exposing the myths in Mr. Laughlin's letter-to-the-Editor.

Elizabeth Anschutz regarding Sign petition to put rural fire tax hike on ballot

Wow...totally fascinating reading. I esp appreciated the map of the districts.Thanks for posting that, Larry. Seems to me that we have a def case of a greedy public union, unwilling to forego BIG(to many of us, anyway) raises to save some layoffs of their brothers, in this difficult economic time. Typical. They want it both ways. Sounds like a case of the pouts, to me. I'll make my suggestion again: why doesn't SFD accept a smaller raise, while the citizens of Sterling AND the RFD accept some small bump in their fire taxes. Can't we meet in the middle, boys?

Laurence Brandon Sr regarding Sign petition to put rural fire tax hike on ballot

Here is some very interesting reading that is germane to this subject too. http://ci.sterling.il.us/main/downloads/2009/2009-10_Budget_Hearing.pdf This is apparently a file created from the Power Point file the City used at budget time. I think this could easily raise some additional questions other than just level(s) of service.

Laurence Brandon Sr regarding Rental inspection program morphing: Sterling to include  all types of properties, not just rentals

I guess I dont quite understand why it would be difficult to track down and owner of a building. And I think I am missing something Andrew when you said, "That's for condemned buildings." Sometimes my brain works kinda slowly.