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At Your Service
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Have a question or concern, but missed our booth at the Glenview Street Sale last Saturday? We're always available at our downtown and district offices! Call and let us know what's on your mind!
312-603-4932 or 847-729-9300
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Now on Twitter!
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Follow Commissioner Goslin to find out what he's working on in the District or for live updates during County and Forest Preserve Board Meetings.
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Sales Tax Repeal Update
There were numerous proposals for various forms of a sales tax repeal on today's Finance Committee Agenda, but none of these proposals have enough support for passage. All items relating to the sales tax repeal were deferred to the next meeting of the Finance Committee on July 21st to give us the opportunity to build consensus.
I remain in support of a full repeal of the 1% sales tax and will
continue working to bring about a successful resolution of the proposed
sales tax repeal that places the interests of Cook County citizens
first. |
Reforming Health Care Responsibly
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As you may know, I have headed the National Association of County's Hospital Task Force for the past two years and have been heavily involved in county hospital reform.
There are currently many reform measures under consideration
in Washington, D.C. and it's important that any measure makes responsible reforms to our healthcare system and reinforces the strength of
American healthcare while addressing the shortcomings. It was with this in mind that I traveled to D.C. a few weeks ago to lend my experience and findings to the Obama Administration at a White House Health Care Conference.
At today's County Board Meeting I introduced a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to enact
comprehensive health reform legislation without delay before the end of its
first session. Such legislation has a great impact on Cook County, as our safety net hospital and
clinic system comprises nearly 40% of the County's annual operating budget.
This resolution also endorses reforms of the country's health care system that include:
- Reducing health care costs and
reduce Medicare and Medicaid fraud
- Expanding health care
coverage
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Improving quality, promoting
innovation and requiring greater accountability
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Ensuring each individual's
personal ownership of medical records
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Allowing patients to chose their own doctors
and preserve the doctor/patient relationship
- Continuing support for DSH that
supports safety-net hospitals
Only by enacting these responsible reforms, increasing hospital efficiency and improving healthcare delivery systems can the County and the Nation hope to create a sustainable and satisfactory healthcare system.
This resolution was sent to Health and Hospitals.
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Abolishing the Regional Office of Education of Cook County
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The Regional Office of Education of Cook County was originally responsible for all Cook County children, but was abolished and re-instated in the mid 1990s as a solely suburban Cook County Office.
This office has limited duties with respect to the education of children and has demonstrated severe mismanagement under the administration of Dr. Charles Flowers. His administration defaulted on a loan given to the office by Cook County and displaying misfeasance in the expenditure of public funds.
To put an end to this mismanagement of public funds and duplication of education agencies, I sponsored a resolution urging the Illinois State Legislature to permanently abolish this office and transfer its limited duties to the State Board of Education.
This resolution passed.
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Facilities Management Earns NACo Achievement Award
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The Cook County
Department of Facilities Management has received national recognition for it's
innovative B.T.I. program and has been awarded an Achievement Award by the
National Association of Counties.
The Building Team Initiative or B.T.I. was started as a new program in June, 2008 of 2008 in an effort to more effectively maintain the Juvenile Detention
Center. Facilities Management Director
Jim D'Amico proposed the new approach as a proactive effort to maintain a cleaner and
safer environment for the approximately 400 juvenile detainees. The BTI approach consists of all tradesmen simultaneously performing all maintenance on one housing unit such as: painting, re-lamping, minor
plumbing, graffiti removal, tuck pointing, lock repairs, plastering and ceiling
repair.
Facilities Management proposed one unit a week to start, and the program was so successful in completing one housing unit a week, as opposed to one a month
previously, that the number of housing units per week was increased to
two. The success of this
program has decreased the number of emergency work orders and allows Facilities
Management to complete 95 to 100 work orders per week per housing unit instead
of 60 orders per 4 to 5 weeks and allowed Facilities Management to reallocate
resources to their other areas of responsibility.
As a strong proponent of efficient and innovative government, I applaud this effort by Facilities Management, and sponsored a resolution at the County Board Meeting recognizing their efforts and achievement.
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Brookfield Zoo Celebrates 75th Anniversary
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On Wednesday, July 1st, the Forest Preserve District Board Meeting was held at Brookfield Zoo in honor of its 75th Anniversary. Since it opened on July 1, 1934, the Zoo has welcomed more than 133 million people
and has cared for more than 110,000 animals. It is a top tourism attraction with 2.1 million annual visitors and 90,000
member households. Brookfield Zoo was one of the first 'bar-less' zoos in North America. Based on the belief that animals should be
exhibited in more natural conditions, for the benefit
of both the animal and the viewing public, Brookfield Zoo was designed
with this in mind. The zoo took creative approaches to maintaining safe, cageless environments in Chicago's northern climate. Today, exhibits maintain their modern
approach through a focus on ecosystems, incorporating native plants
into animals' habitats.
Brookfield Zoo became the first zoo in North America to exhibit giant
pandas in 1937, to breed black rhinos (1941) and okapi (1959) in
captivity, and created the first inland 'Dolphinarium' in 1960. It was
also among the first to open a zoo animal hospital and to launch animal
nutrition programs. I hope you find an opportunity to visit our excellent zoological resource this summer. Brookfield Zoo's Dinosaurs Alive! exhibit will be going on through October. |
Deer Grove West to Receive Nature Preserve Designation
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The Illinois
Nature Preserves Commission, world-renowned for
assisting private and public landowners in protecting the
State's most rare natural areas in perpetuity, recommended
that Deer Grove West become the 500th site in the Illinois Nature Preserves System. Upon signature of the Illinois Governor,
this goal will be accomplished.
Deer Grove was purchased by the Forest
Preserve District in 1916 and thus became the first forest preserve in Illinois and the first
jewel in an emerald necklace of public forest preserves that
now account for more than 68,000 acres, exceeding 11 percent of the land in Cook County. Deer Grove West provides more than 1,000 acres of
forest and wetland habitat for 394 native plant species, 8
State-endangered or threatened plant and animal species, and 18 species considered by the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources as wildlife "in greatest need of
conservation." |
In the District
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Northfield Township
Approved variation to reduce corner side yard setback from 15 feet to 9.7 feet; and
reduce front yard setback from 26 feet to 23 feet for a proposed
addition in the R-5 Single Family Residence District. The subject
property consists of approximately 0.24 of an acre, located on the southeast
corner of Knollwood Lane
and Holly Lane.
Approved Change in plans and extra work on West Lake (East Lake) Avenue, Milwaukee Avenue to Patriot
Boulevard, in the Village of Glenview.
Approved disbursement to Autumn Tree Care, Glenview, Illinois,
for invoice totaling $21,140.00, payment for Hazardous Tree Removal North Region.
Palatine Township
Approved request by Forest Preserve District to enter into an
intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Palatine to construct
200 feet of paved bicycle trails within Deer Grove Preserve, at the
Northwest corner of Dundee Road and Hicks Road. There is no cost to
the District.
Approved application variation to
increase height of fence from 3 feet to 6 feet and 7 feet in the R-7 General
Residence District. The subject property consists of approximately 4.68
acres, located on the southwest corner of Nichols Road and Route 53.
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Let's
have a conversation! As always, feel free to
reply to this newsletter, send me an email or give me a call about any
Cook County issue. Have a great Fourth of July weekend!
Sincerely,
Gregg |
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