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In This Issue

2015 Regionwide Scholarships Awarded


During  May,  the WIRC-Community Action Agency awarded   five scholarships through its 2015 Regionwide Scholarship Program. Each recipient received a $2,000 award based on scholarship potential, commitment to civic and public affairs, and career goals. Funding for the program was provided by the Community Services Block Grant Program of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The  recipients are:
Danielle Barnes, Shavonya Williams,
Crystal Carter, Tracey Petersen all of Macomb  and Adam Kerns of Colchester.


       

 


DIRECTIONS  - Suzan Nash, Executive Director  

 

As of this writing, the General Assembly and the Governor have not reached an agreement on the FY 2016 budget which would fund the new fiscal year that began July 1.  This is not news to anyone reading this article but the lack of an agreement between the Governor and the General Assembly has led to a budget impasse which is affecting both state and federally funded programs that flow through the state of Illinois.

The state needs authorization from the General Assembly to spend federal and state funding. This is normally accomplished through an appropriation in the budget.  The state budget consists of budget/spending lines for both state and federally funded programs even if Congress has already appropriated spending for a specific federal program and those funds have been allocated to the state of Illinois.  
WIRC Executive Director Nash Announces Retirement  


Suzan Nash, Executive Director of WIRC and the WIRC-CAA, announced her retirement to a joint meeting of the boards on  

June 18. 

 

Nash began her career with WIRC in 1979 and has served as Executive Director since 1981. Nash stated to the boards she plans to depart in April or June 2016, which will leave sufficient time to seek out her replacement and to allow for an adequate transition period. A search committee was formed to find Nash's replacement. 

 

"This has been a very emotional and difficult decision to come to. I have been so honored to be a part of this agency that has such a wonderful and committed staff, hardworking board members and has done so much for so many over the years, " Nash said. "I look forward to being a part of the transition process and then watching the agency grow and flourish under new leadership."
 

Funds Available Through CDBG Disaster Recovery Program
All counties and communities within the WIRC service area are eligible to submit a pre-application for the program.

 

 

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced on June 4, 2015 the release of $16,000,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Public Infrastructure funds (DRPI).  The funds are for communities determined eligible under the CDBG Disaster Recovery Program.  The funding has been authorized for grant project funding for water/sewer systems, storm drainage systems, levee systems, and roads and bridges located in flood prone areas and/or areas substantially damaged as a result of flooding and storm damage between 2011 and 2013.  The maximum request per community is $600,000.  There is no match requirement for this program unless the project exceeds the $600,000 maximum project budget. 

WIRC Submits 14 CDAP Public Infrastructure Applications 

 

The WIRC submitted 14 Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) applications to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity on July 8, 2015.  The following projects were submitted for the public infrastructure component of the program: 
  • Village of Alexis; Back-up generator for waste treatment facility
  • Village of Avon; Water main replacement
  • City of Bushnell; Sanitary sewer main relining and point repair
  • City of Colchester; Water main replacement
  • City of Dallas City;  Sanitary sewer main relining and point repair
  • City of Hamilton; Water main replacement
  • City of Laharpe; Water main replacement
  • City of Macomb; Water main replacement
  • Village of Seaton; Drill new well, water main replacement and bio-retention basin
  • Village of Victoria; Water main replacement
There were four CDAP Housing Rehabilitation applications submitted for the following communities: 
  • Village of Blandinsville
  • City of Havana
  • City of LaHarpe
  • Village of Plymouth

 Staff expect application award announcements sometime later this fall.       


"In My Beginning is My End."  T.S. Elliot 

 "In my beginning is my end."  T. S. Eliot 


I recently heard this quote while watching a webinar with Dr. Vincent J. Felitti, co-author of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study and Casey Gwinn, JD, author of Cheering for Children.   Listening to Dr. Felitti say this, and repeating it in my head several times, brought an understanding of how our lives in childhood influence our lives in adulthood.  

 


Tri-County Resource & Waste Management Council  

Renews Five-Year Intergovernmental Contract  

 

The counties of McDonough, Mercer and Warren have continued the services of the Tri-County Resource and Waste Management Council (TCR&WMC) with a five-year intergovernmental agreement.  The Solid Waste Coordinator for the TCR&WMC, Tim Lobdell when asked about the renewal said, "Of course we are very aware of the financial uncertainty that all public bodies are facing in the State of Illinois.  I believe it is a testament to the quality services that we provide for the residents and local governments of these counties that ultimately made the decision a unanimous vote in each county."  Those specific services include local township clean-ups where requested; consultation for local municipalities and townships regarding general waste, recycling and special waste issues; and the tremendously popular Tri-County Regional Collection Facility.

 

TCRCF Celebrates 10th Anniversary With Open House

 

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 23.  The Tri-County Regional Collection Facility (TCRCF) will be celebrating its tenth anniversary!  Join us as we look back on a whirlwind ten year journey.  This is a great opportunity for our friends and partners to see the operation first hand.  Refreshments will be provided, tours of the facility and the Envirofil Landfill in Macomb will also be available.  A special thanks to Waste Management for making this celebration possible.  Invitations will go out in late August or early September.  RSVPs will be requested.

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NetWIRC Newsletter - Volume 21/Issue 1 
Western Illinois Regional Council
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Macomb, IL 61455
(309) 837-3941
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Western Illinois Regional Council
c/o Western Illinois Regional Council
Macomb, Illinois 61455
309-837-3941