Wabash County officials are bracing for a hit in revenue generated by the loss of sales tax revenue when businesses were forced to close during the pandemic lockdown. County treasurer Beverly McBride reported to the county board that reports she’s received all indicate the county’s income may take a hit when sales tax numbers come in for the time businesses were closed. She did point out that the state seems to be on schedule with their reimbursement payments to counties.
Mt. Carmel Man Cited For Public Indecency After Saturday Incident
On 6/06/2020, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Logan M. Johnson, age 22, of Mt. Carmel, for Public Indecency following an incident in the 300 block of Poplar Street. The complainant reported witnessing Johnson expose himself naked while standing outside of a vehicle in the 400 block of West 4th Street (across the alley). Johnson was cited for the offense and released with a Notice to Appear in court.
Mt. Carmel Man Faces Battery Charge After Refusing To Leave Residence
On 5/22/2020, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Eddie K. Garrett, age 31, of Mt. Carmel, for Battery following an incident in the 800 block of Plum Street. It was alleged the Garrett arrived at the home and refused to leave at the request of the homeowner. Garrett became belligerent and later shoved the complainant while still at the residence. Garrett was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged and held pending the posting of bond.
Mt. Carmel Man Cited For Disorderly Conduct Following Pear Street Incident
On 5/25/2020, Mt. Carmel Police cited Richard H. Perry III, age 43, of Mt. Carmel, for Disorderly Conduct following an incident in the 1000 block of Pear Street. The complainant reported Perry arrived at their home and began yelling threatening statements to the occupants inside. Perry was cited for Disorderly Conduct and released on a Notice to Appear in court.
Reckless Driving Complaint Leads To DUI Arrest
On 6/05/2020, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Adam E. Bouchard, age 28, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol following a report of a reckless driver traveling south on College Drive. Officers arrived in the area, located the suspect vehicle, and conducted a traffic stop at 8th & Cherry Street. A roadside sobriety check was administered on Bouchard, where clues to indicate impairment were observed by the officer. Bouchard was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged with DUI, No Valid Driver’s License, and Operating Uninsured Vehicle.
Mt. Carmel Man Arrested For DUI After Being Found Passed Out At Casey's
On 6/07/2020, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Taylor D. Lavarier, age 22, of Mt. Carmel, for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol following a report of an unconscious male parked at Casey’s in the 400 block of West 9th Street. Officers arrived and found the subject to be Lavarier, who was parked behind the driver’s seat while at a gas pump. A roadside sobriety check was conducted where clues to indicate impairment were observed by the officer. Lavarier was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was charged with DUI, Operating Uninsured Vehicle, and Illegal Transportation of Alcohol.
Governor Defends Lockdown Order
Wrapping up the week, Illinois crossed two major markers: A COVID-19 testing milestone and more than 1.3 million unemployed Illinoisans.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker was in Peoria Friday touting more than 1 million COVID-19 tests conducted in Illinois since the pandemic began. Of the tests conducted, there’ve been 125,000 positive cases. Of that, most have recovered. There’ve been around 5,800 deaths attributed to the disease.
But there’s also been nearly 1.4 million unemployed mostly driven by the government-imposed shutdown Pritzker defended.
“We’re making the best decisions we can with the science and the data and I’m sure that people will six months or a year or two years from now look back and say we should should have done x, y or z’ but if they weren’t in the room with the information at that moment then I don’t think they’d have a leg to stand on,” Pritzker said.
Wirepoints founder Mark Glennon has been tracking the COVID crisis not just from the health numbers side, but the economic side. He said it’s obvious the governor didn’t take into account the negative economic impacts of his decisions.
“And the healthcare costs, lost lives in the long wrong of a ruined economy now pretty clearly exceed the risk associated with having the strictest lockdown rule in the country in place,” Glennon said.
Glennon highlighted the expected increased deaths from suicide or unchecked and untreated diseases like cancers or other ailements.
Asked what he’d do differently to prepare for the economic consequences from the pandemic and his unilateral actions shutting small businesses deemed non-essential, Pritzker said that’s a hard question to answer.
President Donald Trump Friday urged states that were closed to open back up. He highlighted a Friday report of 2 million jobs added across the country leading to a lower than anticipated national unemployment rate. The stock market Friday also made substantial gains. Trump said there’d be even greater economic growth if states that have strict restrictions in place opened things back up.
Pritzker defended his cautious approach to reopening too quickly.
“This is the history of pandemics, the states and the cities that keep their people safest are the ones that do the best economically coming out of it,” Pritzker said. “So we’re doing our best to open our economy but do it in a way that keeps everyone safe and healthy.”
UIS professor and public policy researcher Gary Reinbold, independently reviewed a variety of COVID stats. He said the governor’s lockdown on downstate Illinois led to lower positive cases per capita but a higher number of COVID deaths per capita than other states with similar demographics.
“You can’t really make a convincing argument based on this data just because the data aren’t solid enough that the restrictions didn’t work,” Reinbold said. “But I think it’s difficult to make a convincing argument that the restrictions did work.”
Illinois’ economy has been under some kind of operating restrictions pushed unilaterally by the governor since mid-March.
Time Running Out on Major Donor’s Pickleball Board Inclusion
The Mount Carmel PickleBall Club has been raising funds for the ongoing construction of six state of the art courts and pavilion at Mount Carmel City Park. To that end, a permanent donor board will be erected noting the inaugural donors to the project.
The design, construction and the installation of the major donor’s sign will be mounted at the main entrance of the complex. The final names must be submitted by June 15, 2020. Those who would like their company or family name on the permanent sign must contact MCPC members Rick Johnston or John Ackerman prior to that date to ensure inclusion.
Three Levels of Sponsorship Participation
Elite Level: “Above the Net” ($10,000 or greater)
The following businesses are included at the Elite level so far:
Andrews Fastbreak, David R. Miller DDS, First National Bank of Allendale, Dee Drilling, New Leaf Fitness and Spa, Kieffer Bros. Construction, Steve and Leann Burton, Jeff Guisewite Inc, Frank Orr Trust
Premier Level: “In the Kitchen” ($5,000+)
These businesses or individuals are participating at the Premier Level so far:
Chuck and Mary Wilkinson, Phil and Tina Hipsher, Doug and Linda Raber, Mike and Sherry Thomson, Taco Tierra, Wabash Coffee Inc, Doug and Christy McPherson, Horrall Electric, H&H Trucking/Excavating, Huff Sealing, Mt Carmel Rotary, J. Wilderman Autoplex/Patriot Motors
Foundation Level: “On the Baseline” ($2,500+)
The following businesses or individuals are participating at the Foundation Level:
John and Debbie Ackerman, Kate Ackerman, Sharon Broster Walden, Matt and Becky Pyatt, John and Jane Evans, First Bank, Jim Wilderman, Richard and Jackie Gochenour, Sharp and Williams, Pat and Tamera Gould, 1st Mid Bank.
The courts will be open to the public all day Monday, Wednesday, Friday as well as the afternoons on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The public is encouraged to drive through Mount Carmel City Park to view the ongoing construction of this facility. Thank you for considering assisting this community project.
Crews were busy last week working on the shelter house at the new pickleball courts at Mt. Carmel City Park.
Huff Sealing workers were busy sealing the new pickleball courts at Mt. Carmel City Park last week.
Huff Sealing workers were busy sealing the new pickleball courts at Mt. Carmel City Park last week.
Officials Studying Impact Of Motor Fuel Tax Downturn
The COVID-19 pandemic kept people at home for about two months and while the economy isn’t completely open for business, it’s moving in that direction.
During the peak of stay-at-home orders during the pandemic, demand for gas went way down – people didn’t commute for work or travel for entertainment. And that means gas tax revenue cratered too – the state can’t collect taxes on goods that aren’t being bought. That could have lasting ramifications for road projects in Illinois.
“We're reevaluating revenue projections, but the exact implications for Illinois won't be known for a while,” said Paul Wappel with the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Wappel said there are other factors putting pressure on the state’s road budget. During the crisis, the state delayed renewals on vehicle registrations.
“Motor vehicle registrations factor as much into our overall funding picture as motor fuel tax and the secretary of state's office is extended by 90 days, the expiration date on them,” he said. “So that's something else that the department will be weighing as well.”
That means money from that source will be coming in a bit later than expected this year – but it should be coming eventually, and that means the state will be able to rely on the money.
“We certainly understand that motor fuel tax receipts are going to be down, but it remains to be seen by how much or for how long,” Wappel said. “At this time, nothing is being delayed or cut, but we are certainly examining the possibility of moving the anticipated start dates or projects in the coming years.”
The state-wide order restricting business and leisure activities expired on May 29 as the state moved ahead into Phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan. State budget forecasters will have a better idea of the impact on the gas taxes as people, and the economy, return to normal activities.
The most recent report from the state’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability said driving was likely to return to pre-pandemic levels.
“Driving was down over 60% for the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago and remained about 40% to 50% down through most of April in both the U.S. and Illinois,” according to the report. “However, throughout May, the number of routing requests has increased steadily and has basically returned to the level seen prior to the outbreak.”
INDOT: SR 64 Project Being Delayed By Motorists Not Using Detour
The resurfacing project for a section of State Road 64 started this week, but early work has been plagued by motorists not using the designated detour and instead driving through the project. INDOT’s Jason Tiller talked with us this morning about the problems being caused by those motorists and the increased dangers being posed to workers and the motorists themselves…