Soapbox: Clock watching
The Island Lake village board has built a reputation in recent years for being a fiery bunch. The debate is often contentious, discussion is colorful and the meetings go on for hours. Last week, in a unique show of unity, the board approved Trustee Don Saville's proposal to streamline the discussion process. It includes limiting debate to 20 minutes on any one topic, and setting adjournment for 10 p.m. The discussion time can be extended if an issue is especially thorny. We applaud the effort. Heck, just the fact there was unanimous approval is a start. Even more constructive would be for board members to eliminate the politics and personal attacks that sometimes shrouds debate, and pledge to put the best interests of the community first.
Wish list
Lake County officials are working hard to figure out the best way to spend their $28 million windfall from the state's transportation bailout plan. There are lots and lots of projects on the roadwork wish list, and now leaders must whittle them down. So far, we like the way they're thinking. Officials this week said they want the biggest bang for their buck, and would likely spend the money on high-impact projects. For example, the widening of Peterson Road from Route 45 to Route 80. Or roadwork to support development of Grayslake's Central Range area. Officials also look to spend cash on work that will make the biggest dent in commuting times for the most people. And, by completing some of the bigger projects, the smaller jobs will move higher on the to-do list. If this plan sticks, there will be something for everybody. And we should know it that's the case soon enough; county officials plan a public information campaign to outline the projects once the list is finalized.
Educated votes
Voters living on the northern side of Volo and the southern side of Fox Lake will have many decisions to make when stepping into the voting booth Tuesday. With four referendums on the ballot for people in north Volo and three on the ballot in south Fox Lake, the decisions can seem overwhelming. We urge all residents in those areas -- and those voting on other candidates and referendums elsewhere in Lake County -- to become as informed as possible, and not simply let irritation over the number of questions on the ballot guide your vote.
You call this a rebate?
Don't members of Congress understand the definition of the word "rebate?" Apparently they don't, if you listen to proposals for an economic stimulus package that are now degenerating into very familiar special interest debates. "Rebates" are a return of monies already collected to the parties from which they were collected. Thus, you can't give "rebates" to people who didn't pay anything. You can give them handouts, but not "rebates." And somebody has to pay for both handouts and rebates, either in the form of cuts elsewhere, which no one has proposed, or more debt.
Lots of audacity
You've just got to love the audacity. Under Rod Blagojevich, Illinois is sinking in a financial morass he refuses to see. And the state tollway authority can't seem to figure out how to be sure it is actually nabbing the right people in going after toll scofflaws. Yet Blagojevich and the tollway apparently do have plenty of time, and at $15,000 a pop, plenty of money to put up new signs along I-355 that extol the wonders of the governor and the tollway. Is anybody really surprised?