Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter



CAT Tracks for September 24, 2003
TEAM ILLINOIS MEETING

A standing-room-only crowd attended a "Stakeholder's Forum" conducted by Team Illinois in the downstairs chapel of St. Patrick's Church at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 23rd...

Following an introduction by Alexander County Commissioner Andy Clark and a welcome by Mayor Paul Farris, Ron Carter - Director of Strategic Planning for the Illinois Department of Human Services - conducted the program.

Mr. Carter began by stating that Governor Rod Blagojevich had sent Team Illinois to Cairo (Alexander County) to listen to and take note of the concerns of the community...to bring those concerns back to Springfield...and to find a way to put the resources of the State of Illinois to use in reversing the economic plight of the region.

To emphasize his point of the commitment by the State of Illinois to this project...that Team Illinois was NOT just rhetoric...Mr. Carter asked all state employees in the audience to stand...to come forward and identify themselves to the crowd - name and department represented. Approximately 35 state employees came forward and did just that...an impressive demonstration indeed.

To further emphasize the state's commitment, Mr. Carter announced that Team Illinois would be back...on October 16th, 17th, and 18th...to put on a "Resource Fair". Representatives of 33 state departments will be available to meet with residents...giving them a name and contact information (telephone number and/or e-mail address). Residents will be able to discuss their concerns face-to-face with a state employee and be able to follow up with that person.

Mr. Carter stated that when his team returned to Springfield, they would assign the concerns brought up in the meeting to one of three categories: (1) Immediate, (2) Short-Term - things that would be done between now and the end of December, and (3) Long-Term.

Mr. Carter then asked members of the audience to come forward and state their concerns. Those incuded the following:

  • No jobs in community - have to drive up to 45 miles to get a job.

  • High utilities - paid $35 a month in Chicago; pay $235 in Cairo for same service.

  • Cairo not participating in five property rehab programs since 1997.

  • Downtown buildings have crumbled - had to close business because building next door collapsed. Need to get building torn down so can reopen business...which brings people to Cairo...who then spend money in Cairo stores and restaurants.

  • Need 24-hour hospital - businesses will not come to Cairo unless there is medical care for their employees.

  • Urbandale is a disaster - no sewage. Homes still damaged from the flood. No relief until Alexander County gets back into national flood insurance program. (Andy Clark indicated that the county is working on doing just that.)

  • Property taxes - way too high.

  • Need veteran's services - right now, they may or may not show up on the day they are supposed to.

  • Youth recreation - to combat high drop out rate and high teen pregnancy rate.

  • Loss of I-24 bridge/connectors - Need I-66 to come through Cairo. That's what brings development - malls, hotels, motels, restaurants.

  • Tear down the St. Mary's Hospital building - PLEASE!

  • Need riverboat gambling license - jobs.

  • Swimming pool - kids swim...and drown in rivers.

  • More 4-H, scouts, and extension services.

  • Volunteer corps.

  • Skating rink.

  • Youth center.

  • Professional child care - only center was closed on a Friday...on Monday morning, 65 families had no professional child care.

  • Repairs to sewers - flooding in parts of town...for years.

  • Enlarge city hall - so people will have room to attend meetings.

  • New sidewalks.

  • Remove damaged trees from city property.

  • Deal with corruption in Alexander County - an accounting of previous money that was supposed to revitalize Cairo. Have contacted the Attorney General's office - he says he won't deal with it.

  • Retain tax dollars - people go across river to shop.

  • Safe and affordable housing for people with disabilities.

  • Better schools - shortage of teachers and technology. School district broke. Crowding of schools - referendum to build new school failed - twice. Need money to attract teachers, provide housing in Cairo for teachers to live, and something for younger teachers to do. Need funds from state to renovate Cairo Junior High School building.

  • After school programs.

  • Reliable and cost-effective mass transportation.

  • Things for adults to do as well as children.

  • Vocational training - need a skill center - learn service jobs - carpentry, plumbing, appliance repair, etc.

  • Leaders for Girl Scouts.

  • Business development center

  • Litter clean-up

  • Summer baseball program.

  • Something done about St. Mary's Park to make it accessible to children.

  • CHESI - financial problems due to slow or no funding from Department of Public Aid - 62% of patients. This caused reduction of hours of operation and distracted from attempts to get a 24-hour emergency facility...although plans are still in the works.

    • **************************************************

    Changing pace, Mr. Carter challenged attendees to come up with a list of "assets"...the strengths of Cairo. That list included:

  • Rivers

  • Natural deep water harbor - an all weather harbor.

  • Horseshoe Lake

  • Recreation - hunting and fishing.

  • Airport

  • Railroad

  • People - Human Capital - Community Pride.

  • Local organizations.

  • Riverlore, Customs House, Magnolia Manor, Library

  • Shemwells

  • Civil War History

  • Tourism

  • Geographical location

  • Houses of Worship

    • **************************************************

    Mayor Farris and Commissioner Clark were again called upon to make some announcements...some immediate signs of progress.

    Commissioner Clark announced that the County Board had signed two grants: (1) Sewage for Klondike and Urbandale and (2) redevelopment of Urbandale. He also stated that they were working to try to get Cairo redesignated as a National Port of Entry and to get a visitor's center at Cairo, along with a 300-seat convention center.

    Mayor Farris added his wishes that progress was being made in resolving problems in the election process...especially following the most recent embittered process. He stated that it was important to go forward...that it was important for everyone to work together. As a follow-up, Commissioner Clark announced that Alexander County (along with Cook County, East St. Louis, and others) had been targeted in a lawsuit by the ACLU...and that Alexander County had just entered into a consent decree to implement touch-screen voting by 2006...and hopefully sooner.

    While on the subject of positives, Mayor Farris introduced two men who had been the subject of much speculation in recent months...as in "Who are those guys?" The "guys" are Jay Cook and Aaron Edmundson who have been involved in the renovation of the old Hanna Sign Company. They have decided to invest their time and money into Cairo and have a lot of plans for the future. Mr. Cook indicated that their immediate project is to open a blues club in Cairo...hoping to attract bus tours...create a need for motels, restaurants, attractions, etc.

    Ron Carter closed the meeting by challenging attendees to view the list of problems/concerns as opportunities...a chance to provide a needed service for personal profit. He encouraged members of the crowd to make personal contacts with state employees...to include them in the planning phase of projects...to improve the odds for approval. Mr. Carter indicated that it is very easy for a public official to say "No" to an idea...but that when the public official personally participates in the planning, that is is very difficult to say "No" to himself/herself.

    The Reverand Derek Eurales closed the meeting with a prayer at 9 p.m.

    1