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| IDOT Move Results in Lawsuit |
The fight over the IDOT Traffic Safety Division is headed to the courts. Local lawmakers and other Springfield leaders announced Monday they're filing suit over the governor's plan to move the division from Springfield to Harrisburg.
The lawsuit says the Blagojevich administration failed to follow a number of procedures required by law -- including the attorney general's office signing off on the land deal. The division includes more than one hundred jobs which would be moving to Harrisburg.
One of the reasons given for the move is the cost of office space in Springfield. Plus, the governor's office has said this is an economic development issue for Southern Illinois. State Rep. Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) says he is willing to work with State Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Norris City) on some other kind of economic development help for his district, which includes Harrisburg.
The lawsuit follows the July 31 meeting of a state commission which issued an advisory recommendation against the move.
Brian Williamsen, a spokesman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, says: "It is our intention to move forward with the relocation of the Division of Traffic Safety to Harrisburg, after Sept. 11. We are confident the law is on our side in this matter."
AFSCME, Teamsters, and Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce are paying for the suit. They are plaintiffs, along with State Sen. Larry Bomke (R-Springfield), Reps. Poe and Rich Brauer (R-Petersburg), Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin, and the Capital Area Association of Realtors. Defendants listed are Blagojevich, State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Comptroller Dan Hynes, and IDOT Secretary Milt Sees (SEEZ).
Plaintiffs' lawyer Don Craven says a hearing on 08MR506 (petition for leave to file complaint to enjoin the public spending) is expected Wednesday or Thursday of next week before Judge Pete Cavanaugh.
(Source: Illinois Radio Network) |
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