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Saturday, July 9, 2016
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Stopgap: Just a Band-Aid
g e c p h
Area social service agencies weigh in on lawmakers’ temporary funding fix By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Lawmakers’ last-minute decision to pass the stopgap funding measure last week provides only temporary relief for many social service agencies that rely on federal and state funding. The stopgap bill means some agencies will not have to close doors this summer
and fall. However, the bill is not a permanent budget, but a short-term funding fix that will only last through December. Many social service agency directors are comparing the stopgap bill to a Band-Aid put on a gaping wound. The stopgap bill sets aside about $670 million for social services, which amounts to about 65 percent of the cost of these services from July
Zerneck feels the November election is the only reason the bill covers agencies through the end of the year. “These legislators know a lot of them are up for election in November and don’t want to face angry voters. But the situation starts up again after Election Day. We’re going to be facing the same crisis in December as we did in June,” he said. The impact the budget cri-
2015 to the end of this year. It’s still unclear which social services will get paid and when. Michael Zerneck, director of Freedom House, an agency that provides shelter to victims of domestic violence, said the stopgap measure is better than nothing, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. “It’s called kicking the can down the road,” he said.
sis has is two-fold, according to Zerneck. The first issue is that it has taken away services clients rely heavily upon. “These people are the most vulnerable in our community. The people from whom, I think, the government has a strong responsibility to help, and these people are being left in the lurch,” he said. The second issue is the uncertainty for social service
employees. “It’s really hard for people to plan their lives when they don’t know the status of their jobs at the end of the year,” he said. Zerneck said the pressure put on lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner must continue in order for them to agree on a complete fiscal year budget.
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Dallas shootings
Police chief and governor respond By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com
Police officers and families all over the nation are mourning the loss of five brothers in blue following Thursday evening’s attack in Dallas — an attack that has been marked as the deadliest day for law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001. As of press time Friday, it was being reported at least one sniper shot 12 Dallas officers, killing five, following a Black Lives Matter demonstration. Initial reports said a male suspect told a hostage negotiator he “wanted to kill white people, especially white officers.” After several hours of negotiations, officers detonated a bomb killing the suspect. Police said they didn’t want to risk lives of fellow officers and saw no other option but to kill the suspect. According to reports, the suspect said he had been upset about the recent police shootings of black men elsewhere in the U.S. The demonstration being held in Dallas Thursday eve-
ning was one of several held across the country over the shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, La. on Tuesday, July 5, and Philando Castile in a St. Paul, Minn. suburb on Wednesday, July 6. The demonstration in Dallas drew a crowd of about 800 people, and nearly 100 police officers were assigned to the event and surrounding area, according to reports. On Friday morning, it was being reported police had other suspects in custody, but stated they were being “tight-lipped” about the situation. Police believed that more suspects could be at large. Reports said police believed the suspects planned to injure and kill as many law enforcement victims as possible. Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei issued a statement following the police attacks. “Let us profoundly thank every day all of the brave men and women in blue — our heroes — who faithfully serve to
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Walnut sewer project nears completion Board looks at seven-year plan for street repairs By Nita Wyatt news@bcrnews.com
Wyanet royalty
WALNUT — The village of Walnut’s $2 million-plus sewer improvement project is now considered to be 95 percent complete. At the Walnut Village Board meeting, held Tuesday, July 5, Walnut Superintendent Carl Minks informed the board the new sewer plant was put into service on that day, Tuesday, July 5. This start-up date is well within the projected date for the project to be online. The only remaining items for completion are some landscaping and other general clean-up needing to be done. The plant, according to Minks, is aesthetically pleasing and is anticipated to be highly efficient. An open house for this new facility will be held in September. Minks will keep the board informed of
BCR photo/Becky Kramer
Three queens were crowned at the Wyanet Festival Queen Pageant, held Thursday, July 7, Pictured are Junior Miss Kristin Walowski (left), Little Miss Hannah Fritz (center) and Wyanet Queen Kaylee Towne. See more photos of the festivities on Page 2. The Wyanet Summer Festival continues today, Saturday, July 9. Year 170 No. 82 One Section - 20 Pages
© Bureau County Republican
those plans as they are finalized. A first draft of the contract for the purchase of the Peerless Level properties was given to board members by Walnut Village Clerk Tiffany Pistole. Pistole stated this was being provided for the board members to review, and the final contract will be forthcoming from the village attorney. The board took no action on this draft of the contract, preferring to wait until the final contract is received before taking any action to approve the paperwork. Minks also presented to the board a revised schedule and cost breakdown for a seven-year plan for street repair within the village. Minks, in conjunction with village engineers, Willett & Hofman, prepared this schedule and cost evaluation, so the board would be able to see what the costs might be to make repairs and begin a
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