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Now on Twitter!
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Follow Commissioner Goslin on Twitter to find out what he's been reading in the news and for live updates during County and Forest Preserve Board Meetings.
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Now on Facebook!
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Connect with Commissioner Goslin on Facebook and let him know what's on your mind!.
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Pension Obligation Payment Plan Approved
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In 2007, the County Board was scheduled to pay a $104 million pension obligation to the Cook County Pension Fund. This obligation was to be financed with 25-year general obligation bonds. I found the plan to finance an annual obligation with long-term bonds fiscally irresponsible. Along with like-minded commissioners, I fought to pay the money owed to the employee pension fund with general operating revenue.
As a result of our efforts, the County entered into negotiations with the pension board to pay the obligation on an installment basis. These negotiations came to fruition yesterday as the County Board approved payment of the $104 million pension obligation with a short-term borrowing plan. The county will pay $30.4 million upfront and finance the remaining obligation through a three-year loan with 2.75% interest.
This is a major victory in the ongoing effort to ensure that taxpayer money is used efficiently in the management of county operations.
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Fleet Management Program
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At last month's County Board Meeting, I introduced a resolution to explore the use of an
electronic fleet management system to manage Cook County vehicles. This system would use technology similar to Zipcar and I-GO to more efficiently manage the approximately 2000 vehicles in the county fleet.
This resolution was approved yesterday, and will be sent to the Vehicle Steering Committee, where they will examine vehicle demand,
usage and maintenance to gauge the fiscal and environmental impact that an electronic fleet management program could have in Cook County.
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Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
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Yesterday, the County Board authorized the Department of Planning and Development to accept a $12,696,000 grant award from the U.S. Department of Energy. The grant will be used for a variety of activities aimed at conserving energy in Cook County.
$1,950,000 will be used for energy audits of industrial
and commercial buildings to assist companies in their energy
conservation efforts. As a follow-up to these audits, $1,500,000 is
being set aside as a revolving loan fund for companies to pursue retro-fits, weatherization and capital equipment for energy conservation purposes. I will send out more information about how companies can apply for energy audits when it is available from the Department of Planning and Development.
Grant funds will also be used for energy-efficiency and retro-fit intiatives for municipalities and non-profits. Recipients of grant money for retro-fitting in the 14th District include:
- City of Rolling Meadows - Window Retro-fits $250,000
- Clearbrook - Complete removal and replacement of 24 year old roof on 92 bed intermediate care facility. The new roof will be LEED-certified and will cover approximately 44,000 sq. ft. of shingle roofing on several buildings
- Little City Foundation - Replacement of roof on facility used for physical therapy for disabled residents. The new roof will be LEED-certified.
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In the District
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Forest Preserve District Disbursements
Ardmore Associates,
Chicago, Illinois - $6,408.30 for Renovation of Five Limestone
Shelters
JF New & Associates,
Illinois - $12,433.18 for JWetland Restoration at Crabtree Nature Center Preserve and
Sundown Meadow
Master Project,
Chicago, Illinois - $291,073.90
for Limestone Picnic Shelters
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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.
Sincerely,
Gregg Goslin, Commissioner
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