Herald & Review (Decatur, IL)
May 11, 2008
Section: News
Page: A3
City set to study council representation
Political Watch
INGRAM & FRAZIER
The Decatur City Council in June will study the pros and cons of electing some council members to represent specific areas of the city. If the community seeks greater geographic representation, that goal can be achieved without throwing out the current form of government, Mayor Paul Osborne said.
Copyright, 2008, Herald & Review, Decatur, IL
Osborne and Councilman Dan Caulkins independently have suggested the council could be reconfigured to elect some members from wards without abandoning the council-manager system. Decatur currently is served by six council members and a mayor who are elected at large to represent the entire community. A city manager is hired by the council to administer its policies and run the city�s day-to-day affairs. Osborne and Caulkins� proposal came shortly before the Feb. 5 election, when voters rejected a plan by ChangeDecatur to abandon the council-manager form of government. Voters opted not to revert to a commission system, under which a mayor and four councilmen are elected to run various city departments. ChangeDecatur advocated the commission form of government as a first step toward enacting a strong mayor and aldermanic system at a future election. Osborne said some communities have adopted a "hybrid" council with some members elected at large and others elected to represent wards. He said a city manager would be retained under that system. If a majority of council members agree, the question could be put on an upcoming ballot. Voters ultimately would decide whether to reconfigure the council. Osborne said the city�s legal staff is researching the issue, and the council likely will hold a study session on the topic in early June. That is a slightly delayed timetable because the council has been busy in recent weeks approving a new city budget and starting the search for a new city manager. "Our plate has been pretty full," Osborne said. "I certainly look forward to a discussion on that. I�m anxious to have it as soon as possible." n n n U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, D-Rock Island, recently released his project requests - the "earmarks" he hopes will get funded in the fiscal 2009 federal budget - which include a number of projects in the Decatur area. The Decatur Park District could be a beneficiary. Hare requested $100,000 for planning the Lake Decatur lakefront development; $2.1 million for improving a segment of Twin Bridge Road to U.S. 36 to improve truck access to the Decatur Airport; and $100,000 for renovation of the barn at the Big Creek Riding Center. Hare asked for $5 million for Archer Daniels Midland Co. to conduct a comprehensive clinical trial to evaluate the health aspects of consuming different solid fat alternatives as a way to address heart disease. Richland Community College got four projects listed: $990,000 for its work force Development Center for ethanol and biodiesel process technology training; $750,000 for a sustainable environment education program in cooperation with the University of Illinois in the first LEED certified building in Central Illinois; $400,000 to develop a culinary arts institute; and $720,000 to develop learning resources to meet the education and training demands of students and businesses by developing new educational curriculum in biological science, food security, biofuels production and process technology. None of the requests is guaranteed to make it into the final budget. n n n U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, has signed on as a co-sponsor to a bill that would allow the Army Corps of Engineers to keep funds generated locally at the facilities where they are received. Services have been curtailed this year at corps projects such as Lake Shelbyville, Carlyle Lake and Rend Lake because of budget cuts. For example at Lake Shelbyville, 92 percent of the campgrounds will be open through the July 4 weekend, 85 percent until after Lake Day and 75 percent until the end of the camping season. The Army Corps of Engineers Recreation Improvement Act, HR 4304, was introduced in December by U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Ark. It is awaiting action by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@herald-review.com or 421-7985. Ron Ingram can be reached at ringram@hereld-review.com or 421-7973.
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