The Granite City Steel Mill Set to Re-Open

Granite City Steel Mill Set to Re-Open

100 maintenance workers will return to U.S. Steel's Granite City steel mill this week to prepare for the plant to restart production.

Jeff Evans stated that as many as 600 steel workers who work in the plant's blast furnace could be back in three to four weeks.

"I was told others would return soon, but they didn't give me a time frame," Evans said.

He has also heard that workers could be converting hot liquid steel strip into slabs in four weeks.

"It take a couple weeks to warm up the blast furnace," he said. "If they don't warm them up, that could cause damage."

U.S. Steel Corp. announced Monday that the Pittsburgh-based company plans to recall about 800 laid-off workers at a plant in Canada this summer. The Hamilton, Ontario, plant will restart production at its coke ovens to produce coke that will be shipped to Granite City Works.

The Canadian mill employed about 1,700 people when it was idled in October. About 700 workers elected to retire early. and more than 800 were laid off in waves starting in November.

Dowling said the reopening of the Granite City Steel mill represents a "glimmer of hope," though "we don't know how prolonged this increase will be. We're certainly hopeful that it's a sign of a more general recovery in manufacturing."

Let's hope this thing gets up and going so that our community can get back to business as usual.

Dick Durbin and Cash for Clunkers

Dick Durbin and Cash for Clunkers

Dick Durbin visited Granite City today and talked about a co-sponsored bill that the state is currently moving on.
The proposition in a nutshell is, consumers will receive vouchers from the federal government to help purchase new, more fuel-efficient cards and older cars that damage the environment will be taken off the roads if legislation to establish the "Cash for Clunkers" program is approved by Congress.

A quote from Senator Durbin: "At a time when the future of the auto industry is uncertain and sales are lagging, a program that will bring people back into dealerships and stimulate auto sales is badly needed. The Cash for Clunkers program will not only give consumers an incentive to buy new cars, but will also encourage them to choose more fuel-efficient vehicles. Both our economy and the environment will benefit in the long run from taking these older, inefficient cars off the road."

The "Cash for Clunkers" measure, also know as the Drive America Forward Act provides up to a $4500 voucher to purchase or take a qualified lease on a new, more fuel-efficient car or truck for trading in an older vehicle to be scrapped. Consumers receive a $3500 voucher if the new car is at least 4 miles per gallon higher than the old car. The value of the voucher climbs to $4500 if the new car is 10 mpg higher. Different fuel economy requirements are used for eligible new SUVs and trucks.

New passenger cars must have a fuel economy of at least 22 mpg and have a retail price less than $45,000. Trade-in vehicles must have a fuel economy less than 18 mpg, except for work trucks, be in drivable condition and have been insured and registered to the same owner for a year.

Poverty in Illinois on the Rise

Here is a piece from the Heartland Alliance and their studies show that poverty is way up in Illinois.




Click here to view the information on the 111th District.

Casino and City Troubles

Here in the Metro East the Casino's contribute alot to the community. The Casino Queen's revenues account for 40 percent of East St. Louis' operating budget and Argosy Casino contributes a huge amount to the city of Alton.
The Casino Queen is bringing in apprx. 13.5 million per month which is 3.5 million less than in 2007 and the Alton Belle's adjusted gross receipts dropped from $11.9 million in 2007 to $7.7 million in 2009. This is a big problem for the cities that rely on this revenue.

Major factors which can be attributed to these losses are:

• The recession that has gripped the nation since last year.

• The statewide smoking ban that went into effect at the beginning of last year has forced smokers to light up outside the casino. When they're outside smoking, they're not inside gambling.
  

• Repeal of the loss limit law in Missouri.

• The opening last year of Lumiere Place directly across the river from the Casino Queen.

East St. Louis is having to cut 16 city employees and turn a full time position into a part time one.

What can be done? Personally I think if Illinois were to repeal its take on Poker in the Casinos that would help bring in new revenue. Also maybe Obama could give a few more speeches on hope on positivity maybe people will be inclined to have some fun and hit these establishments.

- John Bracamontes

City Recycling and Revenue

I really feel that we could bring in some additional revenue and act in an environmentally friendly way if the cities within Madison County would simply recycle their waste.
We have tons of city vehicles that need to be maintained routinely and daily. The old oil from these vehicle can be sold to companies that recycle it and use it to create biodiesel fuel, which is definitely environmentally friendly. It can also be used in other applications other than biodiesel.
Other companies recycle cooking oil and create biodiesel fuels as well.

This would create a revenue stream from something that we actually pay to get rid of otherwise.
Simple enough.


- John Bracamontes

2009 Election Results for Madison County

Alright everyone the votes are in and you can view the results for your City, Township or Village here at http://app1.co.madison.il.us/CountyClerk/Election/General040709/Search/ElectionSearch.cfm

Many close races and some very interesting results.

Roxana even voted in a 19 year old School Board Memeber.

- John Bracamontes

Alton School District and the State

In a recent presentation by the Alton School Superintendent David Elson, there is news that the State is delinquent on paying apprx. 2.7 Million Dollars to the Education Fund.
This is forcing a reduction in almost 3 million dollarrs in cost cutting initiatives by the school district. These include termination of positions, shortening of work days and cutting weeks off of the years work for some employeees. Other actions include re-allocating funds and moving eligible salaries to a Liability Fund.
You can read a good report of this at: TheTelegraph

- John Bracamontes