Metra watchdog, truck tickets and hot-weather warnings
State Sen. Susan Garrett is on a mission to persuade Metra to institute an independent inspector general instead of one hired by the agency's board of directors.
Her involvement comes after Metra was rocked by a financial scandal involving Executive Director Phil Pagano, who committed suicide in the midst of a misconduct investigation. Since then, instances of possible overspending, nepotism and abuses of power at Metra have surfaced.
So far, based on a recent survey, it looks like many of Garrett's constituents agree with the Lake Forest Democrat's stand.
The poll, which had 162 respondents, indicated 92 percent wanted an independent watchdog. Interestingly, when asked who should appoint the IG, 58 percent said a combination of law enforcement and public interest groups should make the decision. Twenty-six percent of constituents opted for a committee of nonpartisan public interest groups to pick the IG, while only 11 percent wanted Gov. Pat Quinn to make the appointment and just 1 percent favored the Metra board.
And 92 percent wanted to clean house at Metra with a new board. An overwhelming majority - 84 percent - also want to see independent inspectors general at Pace and the CTA.
Reader mailBusiness owner Jay Ackerlund of Schaumburg thinks he got a raw deal when Addison police cited him for an overweight truck last month.Ackerlund, who has a remodeling business, initially was pulled over July 1 because his license plate registration had expired - on June 30. Police escorted him to a weigh station and gave him a $137 ticket for having an overweight truck. The truck weighed 9,650 pounds and Ackerlund's license allows weight up to 12,000 pounds. But because the license plate expired, the vehicle must weigh zero, Ackerlund said he was told."I didn't even get a warning," Ackerlund said, adding he was willing to pay the license registration fine, but not the overweight penalty which also includes court fees.Ackerlund called the ticket "just another example of how our Big Brother government is raising revenue by taking it away from us."I checked in with Addison police Truck Enforcement Officer Richard Kopec and Illinois Secretary of State spokesman Dave Druker to find out more about this policy.Essentially, the law holds that once a truck's license plates are expired, its registration is void and it shouldn't be driven. Therefore, any weight is considered over the limit, Druker explained.It's standard practice to weigh trucks with expired plates, Kopec added."Because these are professional drivers and it is a business, they are held to a slightly higher standard because they're using the public roadway to conduct commerce," Kopec said. "It's not like you and me driving to work. They're required to be licensed and pay their fair share." Ninety-five percent of trucks traveling in Addison are in compliance with licensing requirements, Kopec said.Flotsam and jetsambull; The nonprofit organization Kids and Cars is warning parents and caregivers not to leave children alone at all in vehicles, particularly in the hot weather. So far in 2010, 28 children have died of heat stroke from being left in cars. Even temperatures in the 70s can pose a threat, advocates caution.bull; Illinois is gearing up for high-speed or at least 110 mph rail on its Lincoln Service route from Chicago to St. Louis, and that means some prep work for the construction that is to come. Subsequently, bus service will be offered between Springfield and St. Louis on Trains 303 and 304 until Thursday and from Aug. 16 to 19.bull; IDOT will close Route 59 at the CN Railroad tracks south of Struckman Boulevard in Bartlett starting Monday and until Aug. 15. Detours will be posted while the railroad crossing is repaired. It's a double-whammy as Dunham Road to the west remains closed for work on the Stearns Road bridge project until the week of Aug. 16.