Posts Tagged ‘ Gary Sandberg ’

Sandberg gets it: Debt, not economy, is cause of city’s problems

December 9, 2009
By Billy Dennis

The Peoria City Council today approved a $165.8 million budget that eliminated 69 jobs, a log of them from the police department: At-large Councilman Gary Sandberg criticized council members and city officials who have pointed to the slumping of revenue sources during the recession as the main culprit for the deficit problems. He said the...
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PJS just can’t stop carrying water for politicians

November 30, 2009
By Billy Dennis

Sure, the Peoria City Council spent $16,000 to print a glossy and mail a glossy magazine full of old information that’s readily available elsewhere. But there’s nothing to worry about, says the Journal Star’s Word on the Street column. After all, the money was budgeted last year. And they aren’t doing it again this year. And some people...
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Q & A with Gary

November 17, 2009
By Billy Dennis

I get interesting email. Peoria City Manager Scott Moore sent the following email to members of the Peoria City Council: Mayor & Council: Good evening. I wanted to follow up with you to see if you had any legislative items that needed to be added to the proposed list that is being developed. Council member...
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New city manager introduced to staff and the media

August 14, 2009
By Billy Dennis

After the rest of the news media turns off their microphones, cameras and voice recorders, I walked up to new Peoria City Manager Scott Moore and asked him a question: ‘Certainly you’ve seen news reports about the state of Illinois political leaders. Did it give you pause about coming here to Illinois?’ He just broke out...
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Blogger bust? Not really …

June 30, 2009
By Billy Dennis

A grand total of eight people showed up for Blogger Bash. And they weren’t all there at the same time. The event lasted from 6 p.m. until I left at 10:30 p.m. Why was attendance so light? I dunno. Competing events that tend to attract bloggers. A lack of marketing by ME this time around....
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A double first in the Peoria Journal Star

June 19, 2009
By Billy Dennis

Check out today’s column by Terry Bibo. There are two firsts. 1. Gary Sandberg and Merle Widmer are on the same side. They’ve been sniping at each over recently, mainly because they differed on the library vote. 2. Not only DOESN’T the column take potshots at either of them, the column is actually pretty much on...
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Local: A few taxing questions for Gary Sandberg

March 26, 2008
By Billy Dennis

I’m asking Gary because he was the Peoria City Council member who moved to increase the city’s tax on hotel room rentals from the 1.5 percent called for in the Hotel, Restaurant and Amusement tax by another half percentage point to 2 percent.* What essential city services– such as police and fire protection or infrastructure...
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Local: No ‘Meigs’ field solution for Kellar Branch

November 23, 2007
By Billy Dennis

At-Large City Council member Gary Sandberg sent the following email to City Manager Randy Oliver, and the response was what I predicted it would be: Randy et al: Is there or has there been ANY DISCUSSION or CONSIDERATION, MENTION of tearing up or otherwise causing physical damage to the rail lines or rail ...
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Local: Playing Hūsker Dū with new streets and sidewalks

October 16, 2007
By Billy Dennis

Lack of funding for district projects had two district council members demanding changes at the Peoria City Council’s first meeting over the 2008 budget. Barbara Van Auken was angered that the preliminary $22 million capital improvement budget had no funding for the Sheridan Triangle facade improvement program in her 2nd District. It was especially galling...
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Gary Sandberg for governor?

November 4, 2006
By Billy Dennis

From Prego Man, a real grass roots campaign: He has more government experience. He’s not cut from “college professor” cloth. He’s strong-willed. He has a proven track record of representation. And, he was once married to a very hot babe. Rich Whitney has no more business being Governor than I do… and that’s not a damned...
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Battle looming over pet license fees

September 27, 2006
By Billy Dennis

Remember last year when the City of Peoria and the County of Peoria seemed about on the verge of war over which governmental body was responsible for holding prisoners until they make their first appearance before a judge? It was the most public of many disputes the city and county seem to have over...
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JS finds time to agree with Gary

December 27, 2005
By Billy Dennis

Two weeks ago, the Peoria Blogosphere was all abuzz about the cost the City of Peoria incurred with its “River City Review” mass mailing. Council Member Gary Sandberg made an issue of it a week ago today. Today, the Journal Star gave it a thumbs down: Twenty grand may be pocket change in a $106...
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The wheels of government turn slowly

October 7, 2005
By Billy Dennis

Last week, City Councilman Gary Sandberg sharply rebuked Pat Landes, Peoria’s director of planning and growth management, for suggesting that permit approval sometimes takes a matter of minutes. Apparently, this is also a problem in Chicago. People want to do away with the bureaucracy to speed things up and make the city a good place...
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Gary gives his all

October 7, 2005
By Billy Dennis
Gary gives his all

Gary Sandberg rides a Harley and looks the part. But he also serves on the Peoria City Council. It’s not that often you encounter a male politician who can wear his hair in a pony tail. It’s become his trademark, much like a bow tie used to be. But all that may change: Imagine Gary...
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Time for a change in how we elect the City Council?

October 6, 2005
By Billy Dennis

Think about it. With the strong exception of Gary Sandberg, and the somewhat weaker exception of Chuck Grayeb, when is the last time at at-large member of the Peoria City Council assumes a leadership role in shepherding major project through the City Hall? Meanwhile, the five district council members are constantly fielding phone calls...
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Laugh all you want Mr. Bailey

September 25, 2005
By Billy Dennis

The Journal Star’s Mike Bailey finally got around to writing about Gary Sandberg’s idea to tax newspaper boxes to pay for maintaining the hanging flower baskets along West Main Street. He says that the newspaper boxes are unpleasant to look at and a potential safety problem, and that gives the city the right...
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It’s all over, but expect some shouting

September 21, 2005
By Billy Dennis

In the end, the Randy Oliver came up with wording that notified Illinois American that they weren’t going to try to buy the company that didn’t mention “due dilligence.” So Gary Sandberg was happy. But don’t be surprised if the phrase pops up at least once or twice at every single council meeting for the...
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Ugly little boxes, uglier little lies

September 20, 2005
By Billy Dennis

I had a hard time keeping a straight face during tonight’s council meeting. During the “new business” section, At-Large council member Gary Sandberg came up with an idea to accomplish two tasks with at once.
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Well, whaddaya know …

September 18, 2005
By Billy Dennis

Not one, but two anti-Sandberg hatchet jobs on the same editorial page in today’s Journal Star. At least Mike Bailey signed his. Journal Star,Gary Sandberg,Mike Bailey,Illinois American Water Company
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