Category: Campaign Platform
Make a Difference, Vote Russ Clark for County Board
When I began this election, I was spurred on by one main goal. To increase the number of flights at Springfield’s Airport. I was worried I was going to have to explain why this is such an important economic need for our community. Turns out, MANY of the voters in our district agree with me. They already knew that the flights to Dallas and Florida that we lost were impacting our businesses. Remote workers moved to Springfield specifically because it had those airline connections on a time schedule that worked for them. Unfortunately, our community leaders haven’t taken the chance to pursue those flights even after American Airlines CEO, Robert Isom, stated he was interested in serving communities like Springfield again. A vote for me will change that attitude.
The Sonya Massey shooting was a travesty for our community and one that we haven’t suffered since Susan Boone’s utter failure as Sangamon County Coroner. I personally know people who have had their lives turned upside down because the death of their loved one was improperly handled by the coroner. Susan Boone only quit when her office was threatened to be made an appointed position so she could be fired. This cannot be done with the Sheriff per the Illinois Constitution. While Sonya’s killer is awaiting trial and, thankfully, due to video evidence will likely be convicted, there is much work to be done. I fully support the Sonya Massey Commission’s review of hiring practices by Sangamon County and their investigation work in to what actions we, as a county, should take so that this never happens again. I also fully support giving, you the voters, the right to recall ALL county officials if they commit wrongdoing during the course of their term. Currently, only the Sheriff is being discussed. I will work with other board members to put a recall enabling referendum to the voters during my term.
I’ve also met numerous business owners who live in the district. Many of them own small businesses that need economic development to help them to grow. I’m in favor of economic development that allows our small businesses to grow and thrive. Too often, economic development is construed to be developments like the Scheels Sports Complex. Their property taxes will be given back to make improvements on the complex. This is known as a Tax Increment District. This type of development drives UP your property taxes because it removes high valued properties from the tax rolls while they still demand services of city and county governments. This hurts our local small businesses by driving up their property taxes as well. I will not vote for any additions to any tax increment districts or the creation of new ones. We have the fastest growing economy in Central Illinois and over 10 TIF districts. Retiring some of these districts as they expire will help lower your property taxes because more high valued properties are back on the regular tax rolls.
Lastly, The first major downtown projects are wrapping up during the next four years. All railway traffic will be relocated to 10th Street behind the County Courthouse, a new transit hub and depot built and 3rd Street will be renovated into a new pedestrian and bike area. New plans are already starting to be formed around 3rd Street and the Medical Corridor. However, there has been minimal discussion at County Board as to how much these will cost, what role SMTD’s busses will play and how the County Board’s health department and homeless plans will interact. The silence is becoming deafening. As your County Board member, I will attend these meetings either as a board member or just as your voice and push the board to be more active. Failed economic plans means higher property taxes for you. I won’t let that happen.
Make a difference, Vote Russ Clark for County Board
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Posted on 04 Nov 2024, 13:30 - Category: Campaign Platform
Downtown Planning Study
The Illinois Times released an article this week on a draft study for improving Downtown Springfield and the Mid-Illinois Medical Corridor. Click here to read the story. I am deeply interested in economic development here in Springfield. I have also included a link to the study here. There are study review sessions tonight at 5:30 at the Memorial Learning Center, 228 W. Miller St., Springfield, and tomorrow morning at the Citizen’s Club of Springfield (originally ICON) meeting at 8 AM at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., Springfield. I will be attending the Study session at Memorial Learning Center as I have a few questions to have answered before I take a position.
The study does a good job describing the transportation in and out of the Downtown and Medical Corridor areas. It was not updated to include the fact that some streets in Downtown have now been changed to be bi-directional instead of one-way streets. This was a recent change and was one of the recommendations from the study. I liked the fact that the zoning and building use of existing downtown properties was highlighted and the number of surface parking lots were reviewed as well.
The biggest concern I have is that the Sangamon Mass Transit District (SMTD) was not included in the study and didn’t appear to have representation at the brainstorming meetings. The SMTD is indirectly managed by the County Board as it appoints the district trustees. The plan calls for shunting bus routes on 4th Street and 9th Street. I take no issue with 9th Street as the new Hub project is off of 9th Street and the 4 lane with median street can accommodate high traffic. 4th Street cannot. It has been changed to a bi-directional street with a single median and street parking. This means traffic will halt when a bus stops to pick-up and drop off passengers. It is far better to have the busses on 5th and 6th if another north/south pathway for busses is desired other than 9th Street.
The study calls for 2nd 3rd and 7th Streets to be utilized for bicycle transportation. As you know, 3rd Street is slated to be a bike path and pedestrian area as it is too narrow to accommodate vehicle traffic. I object to 2nd Street as this is a MAJOR vehicular street for people entering and leaving the Capital Complex. Given that bicyclists will have free reign on 3rd Street, I do not see the need for 2nd Street to be modified for bicycles with the addition of bike lanes. In fact, the bike lanes will continually be occupied by parked vehicles for loading or unloading equipment or passengers into various state buildings on 2nd Street to the aggravation of bicycle enthusiasts. 7th does have some underutilized space but should that extra space be dedicated to bicycle transit? I don’t believe there is enough demand for all of this and I would prefer 2nd Street be dropped in lieu of making a commitment to making it work on 7th Street.
If you want to make your voice heard on how transit should be improved here in Springfield and Sangamon County, click here to fill out the planning survey.
Read More...Posted on 25 Oct 2024, 12:56 - Category: Campaign Platform
Springfield is a good airline market, why are we underserved?
A couple of quick points from recent presentation from the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance showed how strong our economy is the Springfield MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area, ie. all of Sangamon and Menard Counties).
Our unemployment rate is at 4.6% vs. the Illinois statewide unemployment rate of 5.5%.
Our average private sector hourly wage is $31.14 vs. Peoria at $30.70, Bloomington-Normal at $29.56, Champaign at $28.34 and Decatur at $25.
Higher wages with a similar cost of living means that there is more disposable income available in Springfield. So why are airlines choosing to add service in Peoria, Bloomington and Champaign over Springfield?
Good question! Many of their public entities along with private corporations and public citizens donate to a revenue guarantee fund. A revenue guarantee fund acts as a financial backstop to ensure that the airline providing the flights does not lose money in the first year. Most of these funds are never drawn as the airline is making money on the flights. Most of these contributions are small portions of the annual budget in the range of $20,000 to $50,000. If the funds aren’t used, they are given back to the donor after the first year. It shows the airlines that local government, employers and citizens are united in wanting more airline service for their community.
Airlines serve communities that want airline service, not necessarily those with large populations. Topeka, KS (Pop. 126K, MSA Pop. 233K) is located 51 miles from Kansas City International and has no flights. Yet, Santa Fe, NM (Pop. 93K, incl. in ABQ MSA) is located 66 miles from Albuquerque Airport and has 7 flights a day. Our community has supported flights to Dallas-Fort Worth in the recent past and will again. The question is, will you help elect someone who will push for for a guarantee fund to attract them?
Read More...Posted on 13 Oct 2024, 18:33 - Category: Campaign Platform
Public comment should be appreciated, not scolded
I was asked recently about the protests at the Springfield Municipal Building and the council meeting this week. The protests were about recently retired Springfield Police sargent Egan receiving special treatment after a nearly fatal crash with Trevor Hopkins and Chelsea Farley. Sargent Egan was not arrested for DUI after refusing a field sobriety test per procedure and Illinois state law. He was allowed to access his vehicle for up to 6 hours after the accident and given water while Mr. Hopkins and Ms. Farley were being given first aid and loaded into ambulances. Protesters were asking for Sargent Egan to be arrested and attempted to enter the building. They were met with police shields and two protesters, Tiara Standage and Brandon Dorr, were arrested and later released. Sargent Egan was arrested shortly before or during the protest, arraigned and is out on release with conditions per the Safe-T Act.
During the subsequent City Council committee of the whole meeting, some aldermen chose to argue and leave the room during public comment. The public has the right to provide comment about agenda items or current events that relate to our jurisdictions. None of the county board members acted this way during a very long meeting last month. All candidates that I saw and current board members were respectful and understood that public comment must be valued and respected. While the urge may be to debate and argue specific points, during meetings, this isn’t allowed for time.
I will continue that tradition as your representative on the county board. I’m there to represent ALL of my constituents and the best way I can do that is to listen to your concerns. When you take time out of your schedule to attend our meetings, I will value what you have to say. I will listen, thank you for your comments and take them under consideration. If I disagree with you, I am open to having a discussion before or after the meeting and explain my reasoning. I’m not running for county board to better myself. I’m running for county board to improve our community. I hope I can earn your vote this November.
Read More...Posted on 13 Sep 2024, 11:11 - Category: Campaign Platform
Happy Labor Day!
I want thank working men and women and in particular, those who report for work to a physical location every day and provide the goods and services that make our economy run. I have worked directly with welders, operators and construction workers for the past 23 years. These are dangerous jobs at times and the work is performed in bad weather as well as good. It’s strenuous, physical work and it takes its toll on the body over time. The labor movement started first as a movement over safety and then also quickly began discussing pay. I believe in the freedom of association and this includes the freedom to chose to be a part of an organized union.
As a member of an elected board, I would support using union labor in our projects here in Sangamon County. Some of this is mandated due to the use of Federal or State of Illinois funding. Another would be having a preference for quality work performed by local people. Union members, my family included, take pride in their work. With infrastructure projects, they know that the road they build today or the new county building entrance will be in use for the next 20 to 50 years. They want to have a finished product they can be proud of and show off to future generations. Our represented county employees take pride in their work knowing their services impact almost every county resident.
As an engineer, I have a duty to help working men and women get the job done safely and ensure safety policies are followed. As your elected representative, I have a duty to vote for projects that will help our county provide required services and keep our communities safe. These are not directives that conflict with each other. In actuality, a project that is executed safely is one that is free from costly litigation. Its what we should strive for with all the work that will be performed over the next four years.
Read More...Posted on 30 Aug 2024, 15:54 - Category: Campaign Platform