Granite City Free Press

Officer Violating Department Policy

2010-07-16T13:15:00.000-07:00

Here an officer is smoking a cigarette which is a violation of Granite City Police Policies and Procedures.

Due to state laws which prohibit the recording of audio of the police without their consent during the course of their public duties makes it difficult to show some of the other surrounding circumstances and greatly hampers the ability to show all aspects of the incident.

Conduct Unbecoming an Officer?

2010-05-07T22:51:00.000-07:00

Here is a Observation of Officer Klump not stopping at a stop sign which is a violation of the law. There were no lights or sirens to indicate the need to respond to a call. I continued to record the entire interaction. So what happened when this was brought to Chief Millers attention? I was told they were looking into weather or not I violated the law for making the recording from the original audio.
Although consent was present, most of what was said could not be heard. Is this conduct unbecoming an officer? Why should this officer not be cited for what anyone else would be cited for?

From the Granite City Police Policy and Procedure Manual

3.300 General Rules of Conduct
E. INTEGRITY
2. Members shall obey all federal, state and municipal laws. Failure of such is conduct unbecoming an officer.

In case this is not enough there is another section that affirms the officers of the Granite City Police Deptartment must obey the laws.

4.030
IV. PATROL VEHICLES
3. When an officer is not on an emergency call, all normal safe driving practices, obedience to all traffic laws, and basic rules of courtesy shall be observed.

Public Records Online

2010-05-07T19:21:00.000-07:00

Announcing the launch of Granite City Public Records a branch of Granite City Free Press. Here you will find various public records made available for easy viewing online. This is one of the improvements we hope you will like. Enjoy.

http://gcpublicrecords.co.cc

Granite City Fire Department Training

2010-02-25T13:09:00.000-08:00

Thursday, February 26, 2010

Today many people have probably seen the wreck of a mess of cars in the parking lot of the Downtown Granite City Fire Department. That's because the department was conducting a training and practice exercise in auto extrication, or as many refer to using the jaws of life. This is an important and effective tool for saving the lives of people who become involved in an auto accident and can not get out of their vehicle. Time is crucial in such instances of injury. Training in auto extrication is imperative in reducing the time it takes for the EMT to administer medical needs for saving lives.

*Granite City Free Press would like to extend a big thank you to the members of the Granite City Fire Department for all your hard work.

Harshany Terminated As An Administrator

2010-02-02T18:42:00.000-08:00

After over 2 hours of closed session, the verdict is in. The Board voted to terminate Brian Harshany as a school administrator, with a meeting to determine his termination as a tenured teacher on the horizon. The Board Meeting room was full of supporters and opposition of Harshany, with mixed opinions on what Harshany's future should hold in the school district. It was not clear what type of salary Harshany would recieve over the next week as he is no longer in an administration position and it was not discussed during closed session. The board voted to hold a hearing for his full termination with one board member voting no to such a hearing. Many people are tired of this issue dragging on and wish they would just get it done and move pass the issue.

Some showed up with signs to voice their opposition to Harshanys continued employement.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ONLY WANTS TO HEAR YOUR SUPPORT FOR HEALTHCARE REFORM

2009-11-06T23:18:00.000-08:00

With Health Care Reform being a big debate as of lately and a vote in the house expected soon while many people still oppose Healthcare reform. What are they basing their idea of the majority wanting this reform some may wonder. Well one basis for their belief that most americans want this might be found at www.healthreform.gov The site is an official U.S. Government Web site managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services as it states at the bottom of their page. Looking around it wouldn't take long for anyone to see they don't want to hear about people who oppose the health care reform with their well to see button that offers you to state your support for health reform on their main page to the contact page that only asks you to send in messages of your support and send in your stories and send in ideas about why we need health reform this year. Why do we have a government that seems to be making it clear that if we don't like what they do, then we need not bother contacting them. If it's not fitting to their plans then we the people have no say in what they do. What will it take to change that mindset of those in government that We the People are still the masters and government is servant and bound by the US Constitution whether they like it or not. If you owned a business and hired a few people to work for you, would you want your employee's whom you pay telling you what you will and won't do with your business? Then all of the sudden those employee's decide they want you to still pay them and do what they tell you to do. I wonder what would happen to those employee's anywhere else.

Train Derailment Closes Missouri Avenue

2009-09-21T23:27:00.000-07:00

At Approximately 11pm Sept 21, 2009 A train that was crossing Missouri Avenue derailed closing the street. An officer confirmed the train derailment and that there were no injuries reported. The cause of the derailment is not yet known at this time. Officers stated the road would be closed all night and it would take several hours for crews to get their equipment in to get it cleared. There were supposedly no chemicals or hazardous materials spilled that should be cause for alarm to area residents.

MAJOR VICTORY FOR ILLINOIS FOIA REQUESTORS

2009-08-17T20:50:00.000-07:00

Today Governor Pat Quinn Signed into Law a piece of landmark legislation. Senate Bill 189 which changes many aspects of the Freedom of Information Act was signed into law and will take effect January 1, 2010. Many Changes set to take effect include but are not limited to:

Allowing for penalties of not less then $2500 and not more then $5000 each occurrence for willfully and intentionally failing to comply with the act.

A public body may no longer require a request be submitted on a standard form.

It changes the number of days required to comply with a request from 7 days to 5 days as well as change the extension time allowed when needed from an additional 7 days to an additional 5 days.

If a public body fails to supply the requested record in the specified time period but does later supply the record, the public body may not charge for the requested records.

It will limit the charge per page to 15 cents per page which will change Granite City's ordinance establishing 20 cents per page.

It allows for no charge for the first 50 pages of black and white legal size print of a request by a requester.

It eliminates many of the numerous exceptions that were once listed making it hard to understand or know what may be withheld yet it does add a few new exceptions.

It allows for the Creation of Public Access Counselor whose decisions will be binding when assistance is requested for non compliance issues unlike previously when The States Attorney Generals Office could send a letter asking the public body to comply but could not force them to. A loophole in compliance that is closed.

It would also require that all public employee's who deal with FOIA Requests take and pass training curriculum on the Freedom of Information Act.

The Freedom of Information Act reform has been long overdue with numerous violations occurring all over the state but with very little citizens could do without shelling out the money to file suit against public bodies. Hopefully now, public bodies will be more willing to start complying with the law when facing civil penalties.

NO AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM

2009-08-16T22:29:00.001-07:00

Jeremy Lindsey

Many People have been talking lately about a hot topic in the United States. Health Care Reform. While the thought of the Federal government proposing Health Care Reform legislation may seem great to some people, it is still widely opposed by others. But even if it was looked at as a good option for the United States, the authority does not exist for Congress to legislate in such matters. They lack any Constitutional standing in legislating things that are not specifically granted to them that are spelled out in the US Constitution. Article 1 Section 8 in this great document lists what congress is allowed to do, Amendment 10 states that anything not granted to congress by this constitution and is not prohibited from the states in dealing with, that it's left up to the states to decide.

Courts have determined as well in the past that these issues the federal government has no control over.

In Linder v. United States, 268 U.S. 5, 18, 45 S. Ct. 446 (1925), The court ruled: "Obviously, direct control of medical practice in the of states is beyond the power the federal government."

In U.S. v. Anthony, 15 Supp. 553, 555, (S.D. Ca., 1936) and U.S. v. Evers, 453 F. Supp. 1141, 1150 (M.D. Ala., 1978), the court ruled: "...The direct control of medical practice has been left to the states."

So why aren't people outraged not over the fact that they don't like some of the options being proposed but over the government over stepping its bounds and trying to take over another facet of the lives of the citizens. Could it be because people have failed to understand what their government is allowed to do due to lack of interest or education of the US Constitution. When people fail to understand what their rights are, it is ever so easy to trick them into giving them up.

Those in government who support the Unconstitutional Health Care Reform are for a change fearful of the people who are speaking out against it. So much they are taking cheap shots at the citizens and calling them mobs and un-american. If they would stop legislating where they have no authority to do so and quit creating programs that cost billions of dollars, We may just be able to abolist half the taxes that are taken out of payroll checks. Think of the billions of dollars that would thus be going back into the economy.

PUBLIC RECORDS NOT PUBLIC TO THE PUBLIC

2009-08-12T10:33:00.001-07:00

When it comes to public records The City of Granite City has a different idea about who can have what. Recently the Granite City Police Department denied access to arrest logs to citizens where they had no basis to. When questioned why newspapers can have such information it was advised that they can have the information when requested but no one else could. The States Attorney Generals Office advised to submit the request again in writing. Such was done and access to some of the information was going to be granted. However the satisfaction of the request fell short when it was advised that the names of those arrested could not be seen but instead only what people were arrested for. The stance of the Marti in the Granite City Police Records Department is that Granite City Free Press is not considered the press and thus they can not have the names or other information that the press can have. That stance is invalidated for one reason. The Law!

(5 ILCS 140/3) (from Ch. 116, par. 203)
Sec. 3. (a) Each public body shall make available to any person for inspection or copying all public records, except as otherwise provided in Section 7 of this Act. Notwithstanding any other law, a public body may not grant to any person or entity, whether by contract, license, or otherwise, the exclusive right to access and disseminate any public record as defined in this Act.

The law also states what must be released to the public.

(d) Criminal history record information maintained by

State or local criminal justice agencies, except the following which shall be open for public inspection and copying:
(i) chronologically maintained arrest information, such as traditional arrest logs or blotters;
(ii) the name of a person in the custody of a law enforcement agency and the charges for which that person is being held;

Even if Granite City Free Press can not be considered news media in their eyes, It's not a legal basis for refusing access to records. The information is to be made available to any citizen. When governmental bodies are allowed to operate in secret and decide on their own who they give what or what they refuse to give at all, it opens up the opportunity for internal criminal activity with no oversight whatsoever.

News Media is defined by statute under the FOIA law.

(f) "News media" means a newspaper or other periodical issued at regular intervals whether in print or electronic format, a news service whether in print or electronic format, a radio station, a television station, a television network, a community antenna television service, or a person or corporation engaged in making news reels or other motion picture news for public showing.

The Stance of the Granite City Free Press is we are classified as news media under the law. We provide news as we can in electronic format. All citizens should be aware of what is going on, it is the only way to hold governments accountable. Even if a citizen does not need to make use of the law, it needs to be fought for the right to use it for others who are repeatedly and illegally denied access. It seems apparent that citizens, when told something is not available for public inspection by a public employee, take them for their word as truth and go away empty handed and never ask for it again.

Woman Found Dead in Granite City

2009-07-27T16:13:00.000-07:00

A 54 year old female was found dead in a house on Missouri Ave. The Granite City Police Department have a few people of interest and detectives are talking to them but have not named anyone as suspects just yet. An autopsy is expected to be done Tuesday to determine the cause of death. A seperate investigation lead to the discovery of the woman. Chief Miller declined to name the victim but stated that more information should be released later in the day as to the specifics.

GRANITE CITY SENT LETTER BY STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

2009-07-18T19:52:00.000-07:00

Granite City has been put on notice by the States Attorney Generals office for their violations of the Freedom Of Information Act and ordered to fulfill pending requests which have been denied. Also affirming that it matters not if you are or are not a resident of a city that records must be provided despite Alderman Partney's belief that if you don't put an address you are not considered a resident of the city and can not get access to any records. City Clerk Whitaker had maintained that she has up to 14 days to fulfill any request and that requester needed to go back to the library and read up on the law.

The following letter has been sent to the city of Granite City by the States Attorney Generals Office.

Dear Mayor Hagnauer and Clerk Whitaker:

I write regarding a request for assistance that our office has received related to the City of Granite City and its compliance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq. Mr. Jeremy Lindsey recently submitted material to our office indicating that the City is not complying with various requirements of the Act The material we received indicates that Mr. Lindsey requested from the City a list of all types or categories of records available for inspection and, in response to that request, the City demanded that Mr. Lindsey specify the particular category or records he was seeking. Mr. Lindsey was also informed that he would have to submit a FOIA request for such a list and that the City would have 14 days to respond to that request. Additionally, Mr. Lindsey has asserted that the City fails to accept his requests, submitted on City forms, unless he includes an explanation of the purpose for his request and that the City has asserted that it need not respond to his Freedom of Information Act requests unless he verifies he is a resident of the City.

Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, “[e]ach public body [must] make available to any person for inspection or copying all public records, except as otherwise provided.” 5 ILCS 140/3(a). There is no basis under the Act for asserting that a requestor must be a resident of the public body in order to have access to the records of the body. Further, the Act does not permit a public body to distinguish among requestors based on the purpose of a request. As the Illinois Supreme Court has stated, the Act “does not require that the persons requesting the information explain their need for that information or their planned use of that information.” Family Life League v. Dept. of Public Aid, 112 Ill. 2d 449, 456 (1986). Nothing in the Act permits a public body to deny a Freedom of Information Act request based on a requestor’s intended use of the requested records or based on a requestor’s failure to explain the purpose of the request. As such, the City is obligated to respond to Mr. Lindsey’s requests for records, regardless of his status as a resident of the City or his refusal to explain the reasons for his request.

The Act requires that “[e]ach public body shall, promptly, either comply with or deny a written request for public records within 7 working days after its receipt” and further requires that “[d]enial shall be by letter.” 5 ILCS 140/3(c). While the Act does allow a public body to extend the time for response to a request up to an additional 7 working days, the public body may only invoke such extension under the limited circumstances laid out in the statute. In order to properly extend the time for response, not only must one of the statutory reasons apply, but the public body must also “notify by letter the person making the written request within the [original 7 working day time period] of the reasons for the delay and the date by which the records will be made available.” 5 ILCS 140/3(e). The Attorney General’s Office wishes to take this opportunity to remind the City of its obligation to respond to all requests for public records promptly and in accordance with all of the requirements of the Act.

Additionally, the Freedom of Information Act expressly requires that “[a]s to public records prepared or received after the effective date of [the] Act, each public body shall maintain and make available for inspection and copying a reasonably current list of all types or categories of records under its control.” 5 ILCS 140/5. The purpose of this requirement is to aid requestors in making requests under the Act to the public body. To the extent that the City does not currently maintain such a list, it is required under the Act to create one and to make it available to Mr. Lindsey and any other requestor as soon as possible.

We ask that the City immediately respond to any pending Freedom of Information Act requests from Mr. Lindsey in accordance with all of the requirements of the Act. The City may also wish to take advantage of the resources available on our website (www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov), including a detailed guide to the Freedom of Information Act, in order to further familiarize itself with the requirements of the Act. If you have any questions about these or other Freedom of Information Act issues, please feel free to contact us.

Respectfully,

Heather V. Kimmons
Assistant Public Access Counselor
Assistant Attorney General

SWEETIE PIE'S GRAND OPENING

2009-07-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

Party Time
Free Food
Free Drinks
Free Fun

Illinois
Grand Opening
July 10
7pm-until

Come celebrate Ms. Sweetie Pie's Birthday
And The Grand Opening Of The New Location

From Hwy 270
Head east on hwy 270 entering Illinois
Take exit 4 Granite City South
Go straight approx 1 mile and make a Left on Pontoon Rd
Pontoon Rd ends at Nameoki. Make a right.
Turn into the first plaza on the right (Big Lots, Long John Silver)

From Hwy 70
Take the Salisbury exit.
Take the Mckinley Bridge entering Illinois.
Go Straight on route 3 approximately 5 miles.
Turn right on Pontoon Rd.
Pontoon Rd ends at Nameoki. Make a right.
Turn into the first plaza on the right (Big Lots, Long John Silver)
3801 Nameoki, Granite City, Il.

FIREWORKS IN THE PARK

2009-07-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

Photo taken by Jeremy L

It was a great turnout for fireworks in the park for the Independence Day Celebrations. There was wonderful music and the booms were fantastic. The fireworks started a little ahead of schedule due to the approaching of rain and possible storms. But that aside it was an enjoyable evening of explosive colors in the sky. The fireworks ended just shortly before the rain started. Pops and crackles could be heard before and after as friends and families got together to set off their own little displays. The City did a wonderful job in putting the display together. Thank you Granite City for the time and effort that went into making this a wonderful event. From The Granite City Free Press, we wish everyone a safe and happy 4th of July weekend.

ALDERMAN USE OFFICE TO FURTHER SELF INTERESTS

2009-07-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

Jeremy L

Elected officials are elected with a purpose in mind, to represent the citizens. So what about when those elected officials use their position to create ordinances that would prohibit the citizens who would dare run against them and those citizens who would support those who are running against incumbents.

According the the Granite City Council Meeting Minutes for April 6, 2009 an ordinance was passed.

MOTION By Kambarian, second by Partney to only allow Municipal election Signs to only be able to be displayed for 30 days prior to municipal elections.

Motion carried.

Many Cities have attempted to pass ordinances restricting the time limits before an election that signs can be displayed and those ordinances have been struck down as unconstitutional.

In Gladstone, Mo such an ordinance was ruled unconstitutional. The court ruled that city residents can be allowed to display political signs as long as they chose.

Whitton v. City of Gladstone, 54 F.3d 1400 (8th Cir. 1995)

We can't have city officials thinking they can use their office for their political gain and we can't have them thinking they can just ignore our constitutional rights. That is not what they are paid for. The fact that they are not limiting other types of signs or political signs, but specifically municipal election signs, can come to show that their intent is not to reduce clutter, but to infringe upon our right to free speech and as an attempt to further prohibit others who are running for their position. It can be looked upon as an attempt to further their own self interests which is not the interest of the people. They are already in office and don't need to worry about getting their name out there.

In Bell v. Baltimore County Judge Catherine Blake ruled that political signs are a form of protected free speech. As such, no government can infringe upon it. History has shown if citizens let their governments infringe even on the simple basic rights, they will not want to stop there.

This is not the first unconstitutional ordinance they have passed and had struck down as unconstitutional. Previously known the ordinance that restricted the sign size of protesters at certain parades. Such as an ordinance that was struck down as unconstitutional prohibiting the distribution of handbills. Which leads to make one wonder, why is such a person who continues to draft these ordinances still being paid by the taxpayers.

Independence Day Carnival

2009-07-02T17:12:00.000-07:00

Jeremy L

The Independence Day celebrations are here again. The editor of Granite City Free Press would like to wish everyone a safe and fun time as cookouts get underway and families get together to go see the fireworks. Here are a few things to consider when going to the carnival at Wilson Park.

Hours of Operation.
Thursday 6pm to 11 pm
Friday 1pm to 5pm and 6pm to 11pm
Saturday 1pm to 11pm
Sunday 1pm to 5pm and 6pm to 11pm

Thursday is matinee night with all rides costing 1.50
Friday is wrist band night with wrist bands costing $16
Sunday 1pm to 5pm is matinee with all rides costing 1.50

Normal Ticket Prices are as follows:
Single Tickets $1
Book of 20 $16
Book of 40 $30

Local vendors include
New Creation Fellowship Church 100 Greenway & E Chain of Rocks Rd
Lisa's Diner 1621 Madison Ave, Granite City, Il
Trinity United Methodist Church 2452 E 25th St, Granite City, Il
Mr Twist 2641 Madison Ave
Full Gospel Fellowship 3950 Horseshoe Lake Rd
Moose Lodge 2521 Maryville Rd, Granite City, Il
WeatherVane 3208 Maryville Rd and 2257 Washington Ave, Granite City, Il

Some come out and have a great time. Bring the whole family and help support local businesses.
Have a safe and Happy Weekend.

FRESH PAINT COVERS OLD EYESORE

2009-06-30T14:59:00.000-07:00

Jeremy L

Fresh paint on the walkway of the viaduct covers old graffiti and makes the city look a little better in the process. In recent days, I've had the chance to see a city worker painting away in the sweltering heat. Much thanks and appreciation goes out to the City of Granite City especially the workers who worked in the heat for making this improvement to an old eyesore. This is just one of the many improvements the city is attempting to make to make the city look more appealing for all. At one point after fresh paint was placed, vandals had put up fresh graffiti over the new paint. City workers were quick to remove the fresh graffiti. Citizens responsible for graffiti should take a little more pride in their city and not work to hurt the appearance of the city. We look forward to seeing more improvements such as this.

CITY CLERK NOT TO KEEN WITH PUBLIC SCRUTINY

2009-06-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

Jeremy L

I made a trip into the city clerks office today to be greeted with an angry City Clerk. Mrs Whitaker told me she didn't appreciate me writing about her on the internet, also saying I'm writing things that I don't know what I'm talking about. She made sure to let me know that she knew what was in the Freedom of Information Act. Yet she still could not produce a list that is required by law to be maintained and current. She has a big book that has some categories of some records, but citizens should not have to go through a book to search for the categories. A book tabbed is not a list. Mrs Whitaker said she is open about everything and does her best to help people with the information they seek. So why should citizens have to wait up to 14 days as Mrs Whitaker has stated for inspecting a list that is required by state law to be maintained to have to then turn around and wait up to another 2 weeks for the information they request from said list.

I find appalling the unprofessional conduct portrayed by Mrs Whitaker. All city officials are to be the subject of public scrutiny. They are the employee's of the people. Their salaries are paid by the people. Unfortunately, city officials don't seem to feel the same way. She tried saying that I never made it known what I was looking for and seemed upset that it was reported on. City officials should act as if every person that walks through their door is a member of the press. Furthermore, when attempting to fill out their form for public records I was told I'm required by law to fill out the form completely and correctly. Mrs Whitaker refused to take my request unless I put an address on it. She could not show me the law. She asked why I wouldn't put an address on it, where I lived, did I even have an address. Every citizen should take notice as to what is going on with their government and know what the city officials are doing in the name of the citizens and doing it with the citizens money. As it stands, the law does not provide for up to 14 days for records that are readily available for public inspection.

(c) Each public body shall, promptly, either comply with or deny a written request for public records within 7 working days after its receipt.  Denial shall be by letter as provided in Section 9 of this Act.  Failure to respond to a written request within 7 working days after its receipt shall be considered a denial of the request.

(e) When additional time is required for any of the above reasons, the public body shall notify by letter the person making the written request within the time limits specified by paragraph (c) of this Section of the reasons for the delay and the date by which the records will be made available or denial will be forthcoming.  In no instance, may the delay in processing last longer than 7 working days.   A failure to render a decision within 7 working days shall be considered a denial of the request.

Every citizen should be concerned by lack of oversight of those they pay to do a job for the public.

GRANITE CITY NOT COMPLIANT WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

2009-06-25T10:02:00.000-07:00

Jeremy L

It appears that after making a few requests and a little bit of research that the City of Granite City is in violation of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Not knowing what all kinds of information is available; I asked if there was a list of all the types or categories of records that are available. City Clerk Judy Whitaker's response is that everything is a matter of public record, what do you want to know? I again said I wanted a list of all the types of records available for inspection and or copying. I was most dumbfounded when she proceeded to tell me that she needed to know a specific category of what I was looking for. Funny that, how can I request a specific category if I don't know what all types of categories there are. Currently as the law states:

(5 ILCS 140/5) (from Ch. 116, par. 205)
Sec. 5. As to public records prepared or received after the effective date of this Act, each public body shall maintain and make available for inspection and copying a reasonably current list of all types or categories of records under its control. The list shall be reasonably detailed in order to aid persons in obtaining access to public records pursuant to this Act. Each public body shall furnish upon request a description of the manner in which public records stored by means of electronic data processing may be obtained in a form comprehensible to persons lacking knowledge of computer language or printout format.

City officials seem to not understand what the Freedom of Information Act entails as no such list exists. Not having such a list as stated by law lays a cloak of secrecy over much of what they have. If people don't know they have it, they can't see it. Furthermore when asked, Mrs Whitaker didn't even have a copy of the Freedom of Information Act.

It seems to be the same issue at the Granite City Police Department. When I spoke with Marti Tanthavong in the records department and asked for a list of all types of records that were a matter of public record I was told I could get Police Reports where I am the victim and Accident reports. Nothing else is a matter of public record except what I just listed to you. I asked for example what about emails or memo's sent within or out of the department. Marti stated that if she sent a memo to another worker it was not public record.

(c) "Public records" means all records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, recorded information and all other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared, or having been or being used, received, possessed or under the control of any public body.

There are a few exceptions as listed by law, but to deny a record, they must list the statute granting authority for denial. All denials for public records must be maintained and made available for inspection upon request.

A Complete Guide to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (pdf reader required)

Text of the Statute can be found here

Update on stagnant water.

2009-06-23T21:29:00.001-07:00

Jeremy L.

It seems the city has taken notice to the signs posted with the stagnant water ordinance. While following up to see if anything was being done about it, a day and half later two workers from the Granite City Park District was at the park seemingly to work on the fountain. I spoke briefly with one of the workers to find out what he thought of the fountain and the condition it was in. (see video below) The park district worker didn't have much to say but I was able to get a few questions asked and answered although the answers seemed a little vague. The Fountain now sits turned off as the Park District claims it's going to be cleaned out. One would think the Park District would and should take a little more pride in the parks of the city including more so the park that is for the memory of veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country.

Stagnant water shows lack of mantainance

2009-06-22T21:34:00.000-07:00

by Jeremy L

Signs posted at a downtown park water fountain shows how the City of Granite City is not abiding by their own ordinances. A seemingly concerned citizen felt the need to take it upon themselves to post notice for all to see. Ordinance 8.80.020 concerning stagnant water is displayed on the fence around the fountain. The city has declared that allowing the stagnant water to remain is unlawful, so why is the city of Granite City allowing the water to remain in the fountain and better yet, why is the city of Granite City allowing it to get in this condition.

While on the scene to report this event I myself have noticed that when certain cycles of the fountain occur, the putrid water is misting upon the bench where park goers sit to enjoy themselves. This is certainly a health and sanitation issue for the residents of the city.

Welcome

2009-06-22T16:48:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Granite City Free Press. This is an independent media site with content geared towards the reporting on and exposing what's wrong with the local government as well as the good things the government does. There will be other content as well related to the Granite City and immediate area. Check back in the next day or so for the start of new articles. If you have an idea for a story, feel free to email me.

freedom_fighter_of_america@yahoo.com