tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post3655409249765097473..comments2024-01-30T03:16:18.674-08:00Comments on Vestal Grove: Where Have All the Dollars Gone?Stephen Packardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01811489977185760340noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-22580108629533251342013-01-28T07:39:11.067-08:002013-01-28T07:39:11.067-08:00Many people (myself included) found the District&#...Many people (myself included) found the District's original camping plan to be very poorly thought through and disappointing. But people have offered constructive suggestions, and the planners have removed most of the worst proposals (convention center, wedding facilities, and new roads were among the them). The current plan is much improved. It's great to offer camping to a metropolitan population - especially kids - most of whom have never had the opportunity. Stephen Packardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811489977185760340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-58082999489749343372013-01-27T17:49:32.327-08:002013-01-27T17:49:32.327-08:00So what do you think of the plans for camping in t...So what do you think of the plans for camping in the Skokie Lagoons? I can't imagine anyone would want to camp where there are so many mosquitoes. : ) Is that where we want money spent and infrastructure placed?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-17296028602019834232012-11-06T15:43:45.786-08:002012-11-06T15:43:45.786-08:00You are right, Steve. This outrage can be viewed ...You are right, Steve. This outrage can be viewed as a huge opportunity for the current administration to set things right.FrankBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02077492653777363364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-21599843148721482912012-11-06T15:12:00.024-08:002012-11-06T15:12:00.024-08:00Frank,
Yes, the last decade has been a hard one u...Frank,<br /><br />Yes, the last decade has been a hard one under the cloud of illegal dealings happening behind closed doors. I respect the current leadership for trying to bring transparency to the process. Before people grab their pitch forks and march towards the office of local politicians, we should remember this has been going on for a long time. We should all judge the current administration by how they handle the situation, not by what happened before they took office. I am not depressed. I am actually excited because now something might finally be done about this problem.<br /><br />James<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-6434943821858421252012-11-06T04:33:16.684-08:002012-11-06T04:33:16.684-08:00I very much share the outrage suggested by the las...I very much share the outrage suggested by the last two comments. On the bright side, although this has been going on for years, we now have a new administration that came in with a credible promise of reform. There's a good chance that we'll be able to see actual, effective reform as this scandal is dealt with. I'll report more here as I learn it. Stephen Packardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811489977185760340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-71904780868556711802012-11-05T17:52:08.039-08:002012-11-05T17:52:08.039-08:00I would respectfully disagree, James. The problem...I would respectfully disagree, James. The problem is that $12M was spent somewhere, but not for the intended purpose. As a Cook County taxpayer, I can assure you that not a dime of my share of those funds were returned to me. Stewards are not concerned with delving into the cost of picnic ground renovation. They are concerned with saving what little nature has not already been trashed. They are however stuck with dealing with a bureaucracy because a group of concerned individuals can't scrape up anything like $23 milliion. But I agree with you - the scandal is not a surprise. And that is profoundly depressing.FrankBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02077492653777363364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-13343948874515670062012-11-02T12:46:19.800-07:002012-11-02T12:46:19.800-07:00The Stewards know about every capital investment o...The Stewards know about every capital investment on their site whether a parking lot improvement, a contracted burn, or a renovated picnic area. Even without receiving specific amounts spent from the FPDCC, research could determine typical costs and statistically probable error of those costs for received services, a competitive compensation for employees, and capital investments. If you asked, vendors would likely tell you exactly what they charge. The list of estimated costs could then be added and compared with actual budget figures or collected taxes. Elementary statistics could then be used to determine if the difference was significant enough to warrant further investigation. However, with the discrepancies in your posts you really do not need statistics to see there is a big problem.<br /><br />As a cost engineer, the above was what I did for a fortune 500 company. It is not nearly as fun or satisfying as working in the field (prairie, savannah, etc). However, if no one is watching the money it tends to mysteriously disappear fast.<br />Even though the FOTFPs or other government watch dog agencies need to be doing the above auditing, I cannot chastise the FOTFPs for not doing this work back in the early part of the last decade. The simple fact is they did not have the resources at that time. They were occupied with using their small budget and limited staff for advocacy.<br /><br />This scandal really should not be all that surprising to anyone. Haven’t you ever wondered how the FPDCC can afford to have its employees drive everywhere in F450 pickup trucks even when they are not hauling any equipment. Meanwhile, I had to go out and buy my own herbicide gloves because there was no money for good safety equipment that fit. Just the simple fact that they were not being forthcoming with how tax payer money was being spent is a red flag that is impossible to over look.<br /><br />The way you change a problem like the above is you tell taxpayers (voters) that xyz amount of money is being spent when the cost for what they are receiving should be much less. Voters begrudgingly let their hard earned money get spent. However, they will be damned before they let their money be wasted.<br /><br />James Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-28370921040736909672012-11-02T06:25:43.437-07:002012-11-02T06:25:43.437-07:00James, I agree with your intent. And I'm sure ...James, I agree with your intent. And I'm sure this will happen in the future. But as for the past. How? Starting in 2002, the Friends demanded "actuals" from the District. They've never provided them. Now that this atrocious scandal is unfolding, the Friends, the Civic Federation, the Better Government Association and others will be able to get the numbers. That's politics at its best. This agency needs transparency.Stephen Packardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811489977185760340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-39787060053348566352012-11-01T16:44:47.315-07:002012-11-01T16:44:47.315-07:00Stephen,
Please do not take this as blaming ...Stephen,<br /><br /> Please do not take this as blaming anyone ... but you are on of the board of directors of FOTFP. The FOTFPs should be independently tracking projects, estimating the costs, compiling the numbers, and comparing them with promised budget expenditures. This process is especially important when the government entity in question is not providing information on individual expenditures. If appropriate auditing was happening, I could see a discrepancy of up to 10% occurring, but not the difference you have posted.<br /><br />JamesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com