In this issue:
- Shred truck event coming up next weekend
- Hunger Action Month collection drive
- State Fire Marshal hosting informational meetings
- National Preparedness Month
Shred truck event coming up next weekend
Next Saturday, September 14, I will be hosting a FREE shred truck event in Gilman. We will be at the Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau office, located at 1381 S. Crescent Street in Gilman from 9 a.m. until noon.
This is an opportunity to safely and securely shred your old, confidential documents. It is a drive-up event, so you do not even have to get out of your car: just pull up and we will unload and shred your documents. My staff and I will be on hand to answer questions about state government or provide information about state programs.
Hunger Action Month collection drive
September has been declared “Hunger Action Month” and today, September 6, is National Food Bank Day. Far too many of our neighbors deal with food insecurity. You can help by supporting our local food pantries, which do such good work helping those in need in our local communities. Next Saturday morning in Gilman, alongside our shred truck event, we will be collecting non-perishable food items for our local food pantries.
As part of the commemoration of Hunger Action Month, I had a great visit to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank on Tuesday. They took me on a tour around their facility. Their pantries are currently serving 90% more of our neighbors than in 2022. The need is great, but our community is greater. Thanks for all you folks do!
For more information on next Saturday’s events, please call my office at (779) 218-3070.
State Fire Marshal hosting informational meetings
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is accepting applications for funding through the Small Equipment Grant program. This program helps fire departments all over the state obtain small firefighting or ambulance equipment, up to $26,000 per grant. My office is happy to assist any local fire department which intends to apply for the grant. Applications are being accepted until October 1.
To assist fire department which might have questions about the program and the application process, the State Fire Marshal is hosting a series of hour-long informational meetings online next week. On Monday at 10 a.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and the following Monday (September 16) at 7 p.m., representatives of the Fire Marshal’s office will be available to answer questions.
The meeting will be hosted through the Webex platform and links to join can be found on the Fire Marshal’s website at sfm.illinois.gov.
September is National Preparedness Month
Every year in September our local, state and federal emergency managers and disaster responders mark National Preparedness Month to help people all over the country prepare for emergencies. Just in the last few years in our area we have had snowstorms, floods and tornadoes. These are just some of the emergencies that can strike a household, a business or a community. It is important to be prepared.
There are many steps you can take to prepare your home or business for an emergency. Know where to go (and make sure each member of your family knows where to go) in an emergency. Have an emergency kit with important supplies. Learn lifesaving skills like CPR. Have extra copies of important documents stored in a safe location.
These are just a few things any individual can do to be better prepared when an emergency occurs.
Our current bill backlog
When a vendor provides the state with goods and services, they submit the bill to the Illinois Comptroller for payment. The Comptroller processes the paperwork and pays the bill when funds are available in the state’s checking account. Currently the total amount of unpaid bills is $2,018,585,676. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $2.1 billion in bills awaiting payment. This only includes bills submitted to the Comptroller for payment, not unfunded debts like the state’s pension liability, which is well over $100 billion.
Illinois headlines
Professional licensure in focus for Republican legislators
Illinois to accept designs for new state flag. Here’s how to submit a design
ISP August roadside safety results
Illinois law banning concealed carry on public transit is unconstitutional, judge rules
Peoria-based 182nd Airlift Wing partners with German Air Force for national training
IDOR reminds eligible taxpayers to take advantage of back-to-school tax benefits