Museum project is already creating jobs
From Merle Widmer:
Oh, I forgot, building the museum is jobs but why haven’t they stated building? All those private donations sitting in banks drawing little interest while building costs are escalating. Remember, Mark Johnson, retired from Caterpillar, who our administrator wants to hire to help him with the museum takeover, said rising construction costs caused the $65 million museum to jump to $78 million last year. If that is true then $78 million should jump to $93 million by the time they get started next year. The only thing the museum (county) is going to start this year is the $9 million underground garage, all taxpayer funded, thanks to our elected officials, past and present.
Well, the museum project is going to create at least one job, I hear. A note in my inbox (I won’t say from WHO) says the Peoria County Board is going to hire recently retired Caterpillar executive Mark Johnson as the museum project manager for $25,000 a year.
This is the guy who went around telling everybody that the the museum — and the museum tax increase — would be good for the economy.
Well, if this rumor is true, it certainly will be good for HIS economy.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
They are paying him $25K a year and you call it a scandal? That’s charitable. And of course the project needs a project manager. Where is the story here?
I think that a suporter who was paid Like McMillan now has a salary with the project is one hand washing the other of course it’s not a scandle that is how things are done in this city steal from the poor and give to the rich and for a progect manger how bout a real project manger one who works for the construction companys manager who would have a tight budget. now that is the way things should be done
What has been his experience as a construction project manager? Is there something on the resume that we don’t know?
I think Johnson’s position at CAT was as a Project Manager, so he might have a little experience.
Sorry he was an engineer first then a project manager.
http://www.pjstar.com/business/x708184396/Spearhead-of-Cat-center-retiring
93 million dollars for something don’t you want mmm
see all you hippo crits on the page about property tax increases
Peoria Airport bonds I thinking there having trouble selling there still 3 million, may be you four would like to buy some or don’t put your money where mouth is
steve
Sorry Steve, I don’t live in Peoria County so I don’t pay property taxes toward your airport or your museum, but I do get to use them both! Although I think I’ve flown out of O’hare or St Louis more than I have out of Peoria, most times it isn’t worth the cost and the hassle and it takes about the same amount of time when you consider security and everything else.
Annie writes
you forgetting something when the government pull every cheap trick in the book to get more money out people.
There comes a sudden 5 or 10 million in extra cost because they get scared and need more security against the people they lied too
Can we please make English the official language of this blog because I cannot read (nor understand) a lot of the comments that are written here anymore…
But then maybe it is not Johnson, but Dan Silverthrorn whose name was mentioned or Jim Vergon or Bud Grieves, or Lyle Sumek, or Tim Riggenbach or that Duany guy.
We will find out Thursday at an afternoon committe meeting at the court house. Of course whoever it is will need to be “rubber stamped” by the full board on the 2nd Thursday of July.
Steve writes I was thinking now my employees say I don’t think, but
if its 93,000,000
93,000,000 over 20 years(length of tax passed) = 4,650,000 + 3,500,000 operating buget 8150,000 a year to cover
365 – 20 holidays = 345 days
at 10.00 a ticket
at 2000 people a day at 10.00 6,900,000 revenue short
at 2250 people a day at 10.00 7762500 revenue short
at 2500 people a day at 10.00 8625000 revenue ok
that is 357 a hour
what good for you aye ha
or mmm I dunno
Amy
writes if peoria has so much damn money 93,000,000, why not have peoria health insurance for peorians instead and lower the real estate taxes Its pretty unlikely the musuem is going to succeed with the really high attendance numbers needed, going to be another money pit for peoria, so cancel and give us all health insurance
we all love peoria then
Amy patterson writes
earlier posts made reference to cat leaving get the vote for the musuem, but their diebold logic isn’t working
cat is tearing down office building space near mossville, built a new plant in arksansa
and if the logic to get musuem through is not true, why thats just another reason to cancel
its a recession
Nope: It is Mark Johnson.
“The County would enter into an hourly contract with Mr. Johnson at $50/hour through 2009. It is currently estimated that during the pre-construction phase, the hours would 10 hours/week, and would increase during the contruction phase. It is anticipated that the rate would be revisited in 2010.”
Wonder what all that means….. I will email Erik to find out.
For now, $50 / hour x up to 10 hours per week equals up to $500 / week.
http://www.peoriacounty.org/countyBoard/files/get/Committee_Agenda_and_Minutes/2009%20Board%20Committees/Finance_Legislative/6-June/FinLegPckt090625.pdf
A couple of questions ….
Who currently makes $50 / hour as an employee of Peoria County?
What will the rate be to negotiated to for 2010 — higher or lower?