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Home foreclosures up for 2007
A report released by the Mortgage Bankers Association last week showed that foreclosure rates have increased dramatically in the first quarter of 2007. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus has organized a special summit meeting on July 9, from 9:00 am to noon, at the CMAP headquarters in the Sears Tower.
All municipalities are impacted regardless of income levels. It appears the problem will only get worse. Foreclosures impact more than just the families who lose their homes. Communities lose the property tax revenue generated by those residences.
Vacant homes can lead to blight and result in loss of property values and possible increases in crime in surrounding neighborhoods.
If you want to learn more about what your community can do to prevent this from occurring, attend the July 9 meeting.
To RSVP, email
or call (312) 201-4507.
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SB 678 in the Governor's hands
The Illinois Senate unanimously approved amendments to SB 678 and now the bill goes to the Governor for his review. With the assistance of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, the Illinois Municipal League and the Attorney General's office, many of the concerns of municipalities were addressed.
Buildout issues were addressed and AT&T has promised to achieve 30% buildout in the first three years and then 50% by five years.
Right of way issues were covered as well. The Mayors Caucus will be developing model ordinances for the following issues:
- Right of Way Construction & Control ordinance
- Service and PEG fees
- Customer Service & Privacy Protection Standards
For the IML Summary and Brief Analysis of SB 678, go to www.iml.org.
After the bill becomes law, agreements made between AT&T and a municipality before May 30 will be honored. Communities in Lake County impacted by this include North Chicago, Mundelein, Park City and Wauconda. Those made after May 30 will not be valid. Communities in Lake County impacted by the after May 30 date include Long Grove.
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2006-2007 LCML Board
President
Mayor Tim Perry, Grayslake
Vice President
President Roger Byrne, Vernon Hills
Secretary
President Elliott Hartstein, Buffalo Gr.
Treasurer
Mayor Rich Hill, Round Lake Beach
Sergeant-at-Arms
Mayor Ted Mueller, Hainesville
Directors
Mayor Jeff Harger, Libertyville
Mayor Dick Hyde, Waukegan
Chair Suzi Schmidt, Lake County Board
Jim Hayner, administrator, Gurnee
Executive Director
Chris Gentes
1937 Municipal Way
Round Lake Beach, IL 60073
(847) 270-3126
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2nd Transportation Commission meets
U.S. Representatives Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Melissa Bean (D-IL), along with state and local suburban leaders, hosted the second hearing of the bipartisan Suburban Transportation Commission to discuss a proposed tax increase on suburban families, along with funding needs for Metra's STAR line. Also at the hearing were state Sen. Michael Bond, state Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr., Mayor Maria Rodriguez of Long Grove, Charlie Eldredge of the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation and Chris Robling of Jayne Thompson & Associates.
Under SB 572, the suburban tax increase would provide $400 million to the RTA. The CTA would receive the lion's share of this suburban tax increase - $193.5 million. Metra would receive $96.75 million and Pace would receive $32.25 million. $30 million would be placed in an "innovations" account to fund new transit projects, although there is no disbursement requirement for sharing funds among city and suburbs. Paratransit would also receive $45.7 million under the suburban tax increase.
"Suburban transit money should support planning for growing collar counties," said Kirk. "Failure to fund Metra's STAR line or the Union Pacific Northwest Line expansion project would result in millions of federal dollars being left on the table. The bipartisan Illinois congressional delegation won the battle against other states to line up federal funding for these congestion-fighting improvements. If the state cancels its local match, we will lose federal dollars, providing no hope for gridlocked commuters. To build our future economy, we have to fight gridlock in our new population center - suburban communities."
Kirk and Bean both vote on federal appropriations to support transportation projects in Illinois. Last year, the federal government provided $280 million to the CTA, $172 million to Metra and $48 million to Pace. The Federal Highway Administration also provided over $1 billion for Illinois roads. Federal studies show the average Chicagoland suburban commuter in our area is delayed 58 hours more per year, with commuting times up 57 percent. |
Durbin introduces bill to fund Emerald Ash Borer costs
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduces legislation aimed at helping municipalities defray costs of performing Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) management activities normally performed by the federal government.
These services include surveying trees, removing infested trees and replacing removed trees. The bill will create a low-interest revolving loan fund for communities for the purchase of capital equipment and replacement of trees.
The current federal program does not reimburse municipalities for expenses related to EAB prevention. States are able to contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture for cost-sharing assistance, the funding does not reach the municipal level. |
| LCML Associate Members Bylaws amendment
If you have not done, please return your ballot for the Associate Member Bylaws amendment. You may fax the ballot back to LCML at (847) 546-2064.
A two-third majority is needed to pass the amendment. The text of the amendment is below:
An associate membership category permits vendors or suppliers doing business with Lake County municipalities to join the Lake County Municipal League. Dues will be set by the Board. Associate Members will not have the ability to serve on the Board of Directors nor will they have a vote, but may serve on committees and participate in LCML activities.
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