JOLIET – The city council Tuesday gave conditional approval to $500,000 for the Rialto Square Theatre in 2017.
The conditions were not announced, but the council voted 6-2 to fund the Rialto subject to an intergovernmental agreement yet to be reached. The city is revising an intergovernmental agreement proposed by the Rialto. City officials would not discuss what is going into the revisions. But they could involve some changes at the Rialto, one council member said. Mayor Bob O'Dekirk said at the Tuesday meeting the agreement would be "fair for the theater" and "good for the city of Joliet." Afterwards, he refused to discuss details of the revised agreement, which has yet to be presented to the Rialto board. Read entire article: http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/12/20/joliet-council-approves-rialto-money-with-conditions/amee0tj/
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The Rialto apparently will not get the city subsidy in 2017, although one city council member said he intends to put the question to a vote next week. Without the money, it’s not clear how the theater will sustain itself next year.
“We’re investigating our options,” Rialto attorney David Silverman said. The council at its special meeting last week never voted on an intergovernmental agreement proposed by the Rialto, which outlines city access to financial information while asking for $500,000. Councilman Pat Mudron, who serves as the council’s liaison to the Rialto and supports funding, said he intends to call for a vote Tuesday on the $500,000 request. “In my mind, there has to be a vote,” Mudron said. “Then, when it’s on the record, we’ll see how our people vote.” The City Council will vote Tuesday on a resolution to pursue a change in the state statute that created the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority, the formal name of the government body that oversees the Rialto. Walsh noted that the state has provided millions of dollars used in renovations of the Rialto theater and adjacent office space owned by the authority, and may want compensation before giving up its interest in the property. Reach entire article here: http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/12/16/rialto-square-theatre-drama-has-many-subplots/ayhwn6k/ JOLIET – The Joliet City Council met Wednesday to discuss the future of the Rialto Square Theatre, and it doesn't look good.
There was little support to provide the $500,000 that Rialto officials say they need to pay next year's bills. Some members said they were willing to weigh the impact of the Rialto closing. "It's closed already. It really is," Councilwoman Brooke Hernandez Brewer said. The theater is still open and country star Kacey Musgraves performs Thursday night in what is expected to be a nearly sold-out theater. Read entire article: http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/12/15/joliet-council-members-resist-rialto-500-000-request/aibxerx/
How many of those petitions will be brought back by the filing deadline at 5 p.m. Dec. 19 is uncertain. But Rachel Ventura, who was first in line Monday at City Hall, didn't want to wait to find out. "I don't want to be in the slew of 30 names," said Ventura, a first-time candidate for elected office. "I want to stand out." Being first in line did not guarantee Ventura the top spot on the ballot. But it does guarantee her a chance in the Dec. 27 lottery for all candidates in line as of 8:01 a.m. Read More on Herald News: http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/12/12/joliet-race-shows-high-interest-in-april-election/aihrydh/
Joliet City Manager Jim Hock introduced Tuesday night to the City Council a proposal and path for the city to take over the Rialto Square Theatre.
Tuesday night, Hock proposed the city adopt a resolution asking state lawmakers to introduce legislation that transfers ownership of the Rialto and its properties from the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority, commonly called the Rialto board, to the city. State Sen. Pat McGuire, D-Joliet, whose district includes the Rialto, said Wednesday a local problem calls for a local solution. He said his understanding is the Rialto made the pitch for an intergovernmental agreement in an attempt to answer the city’s concerns about the Rialto's financial transparency. McGuire said he hopes the city will negotiate with the Rialto and reach an amended intergovernmental agreement to keep the Rialto open. Read More: http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/12/07/timeline-for-joliets-rialto-takeover-proposal-is-uncertain/a16j613/ JOLIET – One person spoke in defense of the Rialto Square Theatre at the Joliet City Council, saying it seems like the financially struggling theater is ready to turn a corner.
Manhattan resident Tim Shanahan urged city officials at Monday’s pre-council meeting for continued financial support. His comments follows Mayor Bob O’Dekirk saying that money for the Rialto is not in the city’s 2017 budget. The budget will be voted on Dec. 20. Read More: http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/12/05/rialto-theater-defended-at-joliet-city-council-meeting/agxb2h8/ JOLIET – The Joliet City Council will hold a public hearing on the 2017 budget on Monday with no money in it for the Rialto Square Theatre.
At least there was no money on Friday. “It’s not in our budget,” Mayor Bob O’Dekirk said when asked whether Rialto funding was still a possibility. Asked whether he considered Rialto funding an issue anymore, O’Dekirk repeated, “It’s not in the budget.” It could still be an issue. The Rialto has asked for $500,000, which is less than the $600,000 it had received for several years. The theater received $700,000 before that. But clashes between Rialto and city officials this year amid growing financial problems at the theater has led to a possible end to funding. Read the rest of the article here: http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/12/02/joliet-holds-hearing-monday-on-rialto-less-budget/aw451db/ The city of Joliet is discussing increasing its fireworks fine to $500. The Joliet City Council’s Legislative and Land Use Committee unanimously recommended increasing the fine from $150. Joliet City Attorney Marty Shanahan is in the process of preparing an ordinance for the council to approve at the next City Council meeting. The maximum fine allowed for fireworks, which are still illegal in the state of Illinois is $750, which members of the committee have said should be considered.
Story reprinted from http://www.wjol.com/joliet-city-council-consider-increasing-fireworks-fine-500/ JOLIET – Tasha the potbellied pig may be staying at the Flannery household in Joliet if proposed changes in the city's animal ordinance hold up.
The City Council Land Use and Legislative Committee sent new rules allowing potbellied pigs as pets to the full council for approval Monday. Read More: http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/11/28/joliet-committee-oks-pet-pig-amendments/a1eay2i/ JOLIET – A City Council committee gave a green light on Monday to expanding the inspector general of Joliet’s authority so he can investigate nonprofits and local governments that receive money from the city.
The proposal was shelved in April at a time when the city considered making inspector general oversight a condition of sending money to the Rialto Square Theatre. It is coming up again as the Rialto seeks $500,000 in a city budget to be approved in December. The Rialto, however, was not mentioned Monday. Read More: http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/11/28/joliet-committee-approves-expanded-powers-for-inspector-general/a6ae11c/ |
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May 2017
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