The decision by the Kankakee County Board to give themselves a raise proves these public officials are self-absorbed, sad individuals who are completely ignorant about the state of the world around them.

In a time when the economy is suffering, the US dollar is taking a beating abroad and many people are finding it difficult to pay their mortgage, our elected officials find it necessary to praise themselves for the supposed hard work they are putting in.

Even as the state is burdened with $110,000,000 of debt and the county’s deficit nears $200,000, they remain obstinate to these glaring facts and increase their pay across the board by nearly five percent. Your action to increase your pay from our pockets sickens me.

Don’t legitimize your actions with foolhardy and bogus arguments, especially by using “cost of living” as the basis for this increase. This is the most absurd, distorted logic in the history of economic arguments. Illinois has a per capita income—that means what each person receives financially, for those public officials unaware of tricky governmental jargon—of about $19,000. The median income for a family is just under $50,000. So, if my math works better than the board’s logic, that means the auditor, circuit clerk, coroner and board chairman will be making $40,000 more than the average individual in this county and almost $10,000 more than the average of an entire household in this county. What’s the cost of living like for the average person? Perhaps you can buy groceries or pick up rent for some of the households you supposedly represent, you over-spending, deficit-inducing rats. Both parties are to blame for this egregious—that means offensive—action and anyone who votes along party lines should rethink their allegiances.

I know it must have been difficult, though, as board member Jim Vickery so saliently pointed out, to “drag themselves and their families through election after election.” You, sir, are a public servant. You and these other hoarding rats were elected knowing full-well that being a politician carries with it an often praise-less, underpaid (not anymore) tenure. Play your violin elsewhere, sir, because I’m all out of pity for you and how you’re spending my money.

And no one in your district had a problem with it? This is easy to say, when the constituency—that means people in your district—don’t find out about pay increases until it is printed in the paper on a Wednesday afternoon. Honest, hardworking taxpayers who pay these salaries, are working on Tuesday mornings when you’re searching for ways to get your name in paper and pass yourself off as intelligent.

By the way, Mr. Kruse, you receive a stipend of $2,500 for your work as liquor commissioner, and therefore arguing that the raise reflects your “growing responsibilities” within the county is like shoving both hands in the cookie jar simultaneously. And, please, enlighten us ignorant peons on what the liquor commissioner duties entail? I would love to read all about the back-breaking labor involved in that job.

“It’s time to get over the political posturing and get on with the business of Kankakee County,” Vickery said.

Well, I guess you’ve got the incentive now, so get after it.

Sincerely,


Travis J. Griggs

Travis,
I don’t usually get into political discussions anymore. They always seem to go no where and nothing ever gets resolved. People in political positions choose to do nothing but talk about there way and how right it is. Politicians have forgotten how to listen....how to compromise….how to work together for a greater good. The state of our world is a fine example. Not that I am complaining about where things are….I just know where things could be. Now to bring up the reason I am bloging. I have to agree with you the changing face of our worlds families is disturbing. Coming from a close nit family as you do and having a daughter I would not trade a minute for I too become concerned with where family life is heading. However I do not believe pouring all our money into education and fair job creation is the exact remedy. My opinion is that we need more work in our community. By this I mean more volunteer action with children who come from broken families. I think we need to help build a stronger community for our children to realize the importance of family. We need to help build better values among younger generations. We need to force more parents to take responsibility for their children and spend more time with them in their communities. I don’t know about you but I am the father I am today because of my father and my family. I think that kids who don’t have that need something. Boys and girls clubs…..YMCA…..youth groups. Why can’t our politicians push for these things? Why don’t they get into the community? I know you did with baseball. I just feel our future depends on what we can teach our kids through our community. This included in better education and better jobs for our future could be the start of a plan to bring back what you and I remember of family….a father…..a mother….a brother and or a sister. A family meal…..catch in the yard. All of this I believe starts with installing values back into our youth. And affordable community programs that are about the children not the parents…..sorry little jab at mysa….are a great start.

Thank you.
Josh Dutour

Hank Williams, Jr.
The current sheriff spoke at a press conference on Thursday October 12, 2006 and he stated, “Kankakee County is a safer place today than it was 10 years ago”. If this is a true statement, why is he placing such an enormous burden upon the county taxpayer’s with the Jerome Combs Prison? When completed, this edifice will have an inmate bed capacity to rival Will County’s; not to mention that Will County is 6 ½ times the size of Kankakee, and has out distanced, out paced and out planned us in the field of economic development.
He further proceeded to elaborate by expounding upon a self-generated question, "Do we say that all crime is gone in Kankakee County? Certainly not, but we've made some significant inroads in trying to reduce it."
At the recent Kankakee YMCA’s Living and Learning Committee Forum conducted at Kankakee Community College on Sunday October 15, 2006 the current sheriff when questioned in reference to the drug traffic in the county stated to the effect that it was the federal government’s responsibility to target the high profile suppliers.
It is the sheriff’s sole responsibility to create a comprehensive strategic plan to target the high-profile sophisticated narcotic king-pins and cartels that have a predaceous and cataclysmic history of supplying drugs into our country. Once elected, I plan to work with the federal government and seek federal indictments on this systemic high profile trade.
Crack cocaine has spread across Kankakee County like a prairie fire and the sad downside effect is this; the current sheriff doesn’t want to roll up his sleeves and address this situation. Or maybe he doesn’t know how to address it. Communities are dealing with, and attempting to wrestle with solutions.
For a tiny drug, crack cocaine is having an insidious impact upon our constituency. In its most popular size, 0.2 grams, the white or tan $20.00 crystals are one- eighth to one-fourth the size of an M&M candy. We must aggressively and tactically cut off the supply. Once we diligently cut off the supply, the demand for the drugs will force the dealers and users to obtain and ply their trade outside of Kankakee County.
In another area the current sheriff prides himself on preparing his budgets and making confirmed statements that his department is in the black and that the Rent-A-Prisoner program was on-track meeting their projections. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The current sheriff was budgeted for approximately $4,970,000 and he stated that the $4.97 million was to be derived from the “Out-of-County” Prisoner Program. He failed to mention that to date, he has only received $2,488,000 and is $2,264,000 short of meeting his projections.
The current sheriff also failed to mention that his oversight in attempting to fill bed space in the Station Street facility and the newly constructed Taj Mahal with both Federal and Cook County Prisoner’s has proven to be a “Failed Project.” In the recent Daily Journal article, the current sheriff also spoke about the county's decision to rent out bed space at the county jail, a decision that he said is paying dividends. The sheriff projects the county will bring in $3.9 million this year from housing out-of-county inmates.
The sheriff’s department is over budgeted on expenditures and under budgeted on income. However, his comments in the recent Daily Journal stated, "There are some rumors out on the street that this program with the (U.S.) Marshall's is failing. That's far from the truth." "The truth is we're right on target, the demand for bed space continues and will continue and what we're doing is running this like a business."
Under the Out of County Inmate Housing the current sheriff was budgeted for approximately $2,000.00 and he spent approximately $9,000.00 creating approximately $7,000.00 in deficit spending with three months to go in FY06. Under Food Expense approximately $475,000 budgeted, and approximately $551,000.00 spent on catered food for the inmate population which created approximately $76,000.00 in deficit spending with three months remaining.
The current sheriff is under the 8-Ball to the tune of approximately $45,000,000.00 to be assessed to the taxpayer’s of Kankakee County. The “Run-A-Way” Spending spree associated with the current sheriff’s office is approximately $9,932,157 compared to the budget five years ago. In essence, he has doubled the spending by hiring more employees; and by hiring more employee’s he has blatantly violated the Kankakee County Code.
The Kankakee County Code mandates the number of employees for each department. Currently the sheriff has seventy-one full-time and eight part-time deputies for an approximate total of seventy-nine. This represents an increase of 23 deputies over the allocated number. On the correctional side, there is approximately 128 employees of which approximately 8 are part-time. Mathematically, this represents an increase of 73 personal which will generate a $3,000,000.00 increase in wages alone.
It is time to end this “Run-A-Way” spending nightmare that has been perpetrated by the current sheriff. If you recall, he informed us that he had a contract from the Immigration and Naturalization Service when he conned us into building a facility to house INS detainees. His promise of a low impact revenue source was a just another lie. Egg on our face again!!

With all of the revenue that we are spending, If the “Rent-A-Prisoner” Program were to end for any reason; we are still going to have the Taj Mahal of Prisons, we are still going to have the debt load to repay, but The only thing missing will be the most important ingredient – The Income Revenue. The only thing that will change will be the legacy that the current sheriff will leave “Greed and Greedy Financial Oversight.”

To the person who posted the last comment I received no I will not post your comment or any other from those of you who don't have the guts to use your name. I'll post any clean, at least semi-intelligent comment from anyone adult enough to use there name. Though I will take the time to let others in on part of the last comment. I quote the obviously very intelligent poster, "your an idiot" which I'm pretty sure should read you're, but I'm not an english teacher.

My wife Chris owns a second-hand clothing store in Momence. Today she had a couple little girls around 5th grade age come in the store and play dress up. She says they are regulars. Difference being today one of the little girls asked my mom who at the time was holding my 5 month old daughter McKenna if she has a daddy? It’s now been about 8 hours since I was told of what the little girl asked and it’s still bringing tears to my eyes.

Would the millions of dollars spent on a jail have eliminated every single parent home? Certainly not, but I can guarantee you the millions of dollars spent on jails and prisons won’t eliminate even one. Millions poured in to good education and the creation of jobs with fair wages will most certainly make for stronger families.

I keep myself up at night worrying about issues just like this one. Many issues I have little to no control over. My wife says I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. Maybe this is true. This is serving as both an email and a blog post. Those of you I’m emailing this to are either office holders, candidates for office or another of those like me worrying about what we can do to right the wrongs and make this world a better place for our children and future generations.

I must admit to worrying about what kind of County Board member I will make. I’ve never held public office of any kind. Having served just one year as co-president of our local youth sports association is the extent of my board involvement. Then I remind myself that being a great leader the kind that truly help people, can truly affect change is the person that doesn’t necessarily have the answers, but the one not afraid to ask the questions.

Robert Kennedy often said, “Some men see things that are and say why, I dream things that never were and say why not?”

On November 7th, please vote Democrat.

Nick Allen, John Willard, Dave Causer, myself and Bruce Harrison at the Grand Opening Ceremony for the Democratic Headquarters Tuesday night. Representative Lisa Dugan, Senator Debbie Halvorson, Congressional Candidate John Pavich, County Sheriff Candidate Hank Williams, Jr. and countless others were all in attendance. Thanks to everyone for making the event a huge success.

Cole and new baby sister McKenna.