Everyone knows that, in this day and age, a company without a logo is not going to get their identity known by the public very quickly. We all know on sight that a pair of golden arches means McDonald’s, for example.

When it comes to identifying a high school, giving it an identity its students and the community immediately identify with, the same thing holds true. And the general public needs to be aware that that school’s identifying symbol must be unique to that school. Normal Community has its one-of-a-kind Ironmen logo. Bloomington High School has been home to The Purple Raiders for years. Normal Community West High’s Wildcats identity has seen a change in how it looks on football helmets and the gear sold by boosters.

University High changed its identity at the beginning this school year. For at least six or seven years if not a little longer, the helmet logo and most of the gear sold at games had a two-color “U”, with each side of the letter not quite connecting to the other. One problem: Except for the colors of green and yellow, the logo was similar to what is used by The University of Miami (Fla.), known to its athletes and alums as “The U.”

“The University of Miami does not look favorably on schools, whether or not they are high schools, borrowing their logo unless you pay a pretty hefty fee,” explained Dr. Jeff Hill, U-High Principal. “Once we were aware of all that, we decided to launch into a logo development project.”

Hill said U-High had contacted University of Miami concerning the logo situation. “High schools were being scrutinized as to where they got their logos and, we just felt like it was time for us to make sure that if the University of Miami knew we were using the logo, and find out under what terms we could continue to use it.”

“The U” did not respond to U-High’s (or at this point in the story in this column, should I call them “The Little U”?…) request, Hill said. At that point, the home of the Pioneers turned to the marketing arm of U-High’s parent, Illinois State University, and an in-house committee at the school to come up with a new logo.

University High set out last summer to look into an identity change. They sought something original. “We spent about six weeks asking for designs, and then set up a logo committee,” explained U-High Athletic Director Wendy Smith. “That committee looked at the original designs and started going though them, narrowing it down.”

Neither U-High nor ISU were notified by the University of Miami about an objection to the yellow and green “U” logo which U-High had used for so long, explained Jerry Abner, assistant director of marketing and communications at ISU. Abner’s department worked with a company based around Columbus, Ohio, Rickabaugh Graphics, to find an original design that would be to the liking of the committee seeking the new logo.

Abner added that, at the time U-High was using their version of the “U,” such things that have become what is known as intellectual property to universities were not on universities’ radar back then. But you can bet any university’s bottom dollar it is now.

ISU, home of the Redbirds, has had to deal with this issue, too, but now ISU has what Abner called “an understanding” with some schools that use the Redbird name or likeness. There are two in central Illinois that I could think of right off the bat: Chenoa and Metamora.

But I checked on the internet and found Redbirds-named high school teams in Allentown, Pa. and Darlington, Wis. Allentown’s logo looks suspiciously like ISU’s. Darlington’s does not, but that does not mean such things don’t matter to ISU for the same reason use of the “U” by U-High would not matter to the University of Miami.

Finding unauthorized Redbirds logos in other locations “certainly woke ISU up to the problem,” Abner said.

Smith said what the logo committee found was, after looking at the designs submitted, they liked a part of one design, found something unique about another design, and merged the parts they liked into one logo. What they came up with was a “U” that has green and gold swirls that pass at the bottom of the letter itself.

Rickabaugh Graphics, put some designs together and gave U-High’s logo committee some ideas to consider, Smith said. The first time fans got a look at U-High’s new look was at the Intercity Football Doubleheader in September. The new logo was affixed to Pioneers helmets in time for that game, Smith said. Also, she said, there is some merchandise available for sale that has the new design. In the months since, I have noticed students, staff, and fans donning apparel with the new logo.

“The people that have seen the new logo and the parents that purchased the new merchandise at registration seem to be pretty excited about it,” Smith said. “I think it’s a fairly popular logo. It’s something new, it’s something that gives us our own identity. Hopefully, that is something that will carry over to everything else having to do with the school.”

“We’re really pleased with the new logo,” Hill said. “It kind of gives us a fresh new look and its nice that it’s our own. The process we used for getting this has put us in a better place as far as our branding goes.”

NORMAL – Members of Normal-based Unit 5 School Board voted unanimously to start negotiations with Cincinnati, Ohio-based First Student School Bus Transportation Co. for outsourced help in transporting students. That action was preceded by a 70-minute public hearing during which Unit 5 drivers and their supporters, numbering nearly 200 people, attended in the cafeteria of Normal Community High School.

Of the 200 in attendance, 22 people addressed the Board, hoping to get Board members to reconsider approving entering into negotiations with an outside firm.

“I really don’t see the advantage to putting another layer of management between children and the drivers,” said Warren Welch, a grandfather of five, two of whom are currently in Unit 5 schools. “I think rather than there being an adversarial relationship between the district and drivers, they need to work together.”

Resident Barb Dixon pointed out that the outsourcing company would be using district buses. In that case, she asked Board members, “Who handles maintenance? Who owns the buses?” Dixon also wondered about how rising fuel costs will affect the situation.

Jeanne Calhoun, a veteran of 22 years as a Unit 5 driver, told Board members at the hearing, “Unit 5 is no longer a cohesive work environment, but a battleground between the classes.”

Another driver, Roger Lancaster, told Board members at the hearing that, “With AFSCME, drivers are becoming a smooth-running unit. Outsourcing is unnecessary.”

Resident Dr. David Gill pointedly told Board members, “You can’t turn your back on 200 people whose jobs would be jeopardized if this is approved.” Dr. Gill is currently running for office, hoping to win in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District.

Kent Beauchamp, regional director for the union that represents the drivers, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), told Board members, “Our duty is to protect the rights and interests of drivers of Unit 5.”

At both the public hearing and during the public comments section of the Board’s regular meeting, Beauchamp threatened a legal challenge if the measure to begin negotiations for outsourcing was approved by the Board.”

When Beauchamp repeated his intent at mounting a legal challenge during the regular Board session, and added he did not think the district’s transportation committee bargained in good faith, Board member Mark Pritchett took exception.

Pritchett responded to the accusation, saying, in part, “I’m a taxpayer, too, so to say that I am not concerned and to say that we are not bargaining in good faith is absolutely incorrect.” He added he found Beauchamp’s accusation offensive.

District Business Manager Erik Bush informed Board members the district received two bids for potential outsourcing services: One from First Student, who bid $18,535,951, and one from Warrenville, Ill.-based Durham School Services, who bid $21,498,877.

Curt Richardson, attorney for Unit 5, informed Board members that while entering into negotiations with First Student, the district would continue “negotiating in good faith with AFSCME.”

Northpoint’s New Principal, Normal West’s New Associate Principal: Matt Harr has been named the Principal of Northpoint Elementary School. He is currently the Associate Principal at Kingsley Junior High School, where he has worked since 2007. Harr replaces Bruce Weldy, who was named the Director of Elementary Education.

Harr is a graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Political Science. He also earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration at ISU, where he also received his superintendent’s endorsement.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to join the Northpoint family,” Harr said. “I look forward to building on the excellence that Northpoint is all about.” Harr and his wife, Danel, a principal in Bloomington District 87, have three children.

Wendy Davis has been named the Associate Principal at Normal Community West High School. An educator for 18 years, Davis currently is the Assistant Principal at Heyworth High School, a position she has held for the past two years. Prior to that, she spent 14 years as a business teacher at Normal Community High School and Normal West. Davis replaces David Johnson, who has been named the Principal at Normal West.

Circle Your Calendars: As part of their omnibus agenda, Board members unanimously approved Wednesday, May 23 as the last day of school of the current school year.

Laptops For District 6th Graders Discussed: In a report to the Board, Dr. Sandy Wilson, associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and Loren Baele, director of technology for district, brought forth a plan for the district to purchase about 1,000 ASUS Netbook computers as part of the district’s digital conversion program. That would mean one computer for each student in all of the district’s sixth grade classes.

Wilson said that students and parents alike would receive information about how to use the computers, and that students would be allowed to take the computers home with them. She added both students and parents would need to attend an orientation before the children would be allowed to have the computers.

District Superintendent Gary Niehaus said school officials would maintain control of the laptops as a means of preventing students from gaining access to inappropriate websites. Access to such sites, he said, would be blocked.

In essence, Baele told Board members, the computers would still be considered district equipment, overseen by the district, and with the students and their parents having use of the computers but having to abide by district rules as to their use.

Niehaus explained that, at a Board Finance Committee meeting later this month, he plans to discuss specific funding for the computers. Each of the computers costs approximately between $400-$500, he said.

Niehaus added funding sources for paying for the laptops is being looked into. On that point, Board member Jay Reece said he wants digital conversion to take place within the district, but he wants to see and hear about the financial sources that the district will use for getting the conversion paid for.

CyberBullying Hotline Pilot Program Starts: As of April 12, Unit 5 became a part of a pilot program launched by SchoolReach, the company that sells and services an electronic notification system currently used by the district.

For the next six weeks, Unit 5 will have a hotline for students who are being bullied to call in seeking assistance. The system can be done with students either making a phone call or texting in to report an issue.

The hotline works this way: A student would call in or text a message to the hotline; A school official receives a message on their mobile device or by e-mail; The student receives an acknowledgement that their message was received; and an anonymous two-way dialogue starts between the student and school official.

The program is in place to assist junior high school and high school students, explained Dayna Brown, assistant to the superintendent, who addressed the Board. She said this program is aimed for use by “students who are not willing to share their problem with others.” She said the program will run throughout the summer.

The hotline will be another tool the district can use in its current anti-bullying efforts, as well as what is available through the district’s schools, explained Nancy Braun, a teacher at Brigham Elementary School, to Board members. District schools currently use the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system which is designed to encourage an “expect respect” philosophy. The hotline would be an additional tool to that, the two women explained.

Braun said whether the bullying is cyber, verbal, or physical, students can get advice and know they are being heard and that their concerns are receiving attention.

SchoolReach gives schools exclusive telephone numbers which can accept both texts and voice calls, and do it anonymously.

The program also provides schools with anti-bullying posters featuring the hotline number. Students attending Normal Community High School and Normal Community West High School can call 309-285-8912. Students attending any of the district’s junior high schools — Evans, Chiddix, Parkside and Kingsley – can call 309-285-8913.

The pilot program is free to the district.

Unit 5 has had a contract with SchoolReach since the two parties first signed an agreement in November 2007, when the board approved the purchase of an electronic notification system from the Fenton, Mo.-based company.

Kingsley Junior High’s “Good News”: Board members recognized the 7th grade girls’ volleyball team from Kingsley Junior High School for winning the Illinois Elementary School Association 7th Grade 4A State Championship on March 13, 2012, at defeating Minooka in two games in the championship match by scores of 25-6 and 25-13. The championship took place at Central Junior High School in East Peoria. Winning the championship contests provided KJHS’ team with an undefeated season, finishing with a 24-0 mark. An all-school assembly was held in their honor on March 16.

This was the first state appearance for the 7th grade girls’ volleyball team in the nine years the school has been open. Members of the 7th Grade team are: Kali Maier, Heidi Zimmerman, Rachel Zimmerman, Emily Hamm, Amber Nanni, Ali Reece, Morgan Knuckey, Hannah Bach, Carly Goben, Leah Sebade, Emily Cash, Stephanie Sturm, Nicole Megles, and Dany Myers. The team’s Student Managers were Kelsey Bouwman and Kylie Hess. The 7th grade head coach is Tony Rio. His assistants are Keith Rice and high school student assistant, Bailey Kotowski.

Parkside Junior High School’s “Good News”: Parkside Junior High School staff and students were recognized for organizing a campaign to rid one word from their students’ vocabularies. Mrs. Kath O’Connell, the Parkside Junior High School Advocates Club, the school’s Physical Educ Department, and PJHS’ Special Services

Staff organized the 1st Annual Spread The Word To End The Word (R-Word) Campaign at PJHS during the week of February 27. The word staff were trying to remove is retard because students tend to use the term, sometimes in general term, sometimes specifically. The Campaign kicked off on February 22 with a special video and presentations by O’Connell, the PJHS Advocates, and students in the Special Services program.

The R-Word Campaign activities continued into the next week with students purchasing “Spread the Word to End the Word” Bracelets with all proceeds benefiting Special Olympics Illinois. Additionally, announcements were made each morning by members of the Advocate Club members from February 24 through March 2, providing students with facts on Special Olympics, Project UNIFY, the R-Word Campaign, and disability awareness. On February 28 and

March 1, Parkside students made on-line pledges during PE classes to drop the use of the R-Word from their vocabulary and sixth, seventh, and eighth graders signed banners that were put up in their respective hallways. Teacher Karen Rennels received recognition for her assistance in organizing the Advocates Club with their presentations made on February 22 and the morning announcements.

NCHS’ “Good News”: Normal Community High School seniors Spencer Smith and Jensen Roll were honored for having played lead roles for a project at NCHS to encourage students and teachers to ride their bicycles to our high school and support efforts to aid developing countries.

The project was initiated from a discussion in AP Human Geography class with teacher Kevin Suess. The unit centered on world economic development and the importance of bicycles in developing countries. For extra credit, students were encouraged to view a film at the Normal Theater titled “With My Two Wheels.” This film told a part of the story of efforts by an international organization called the World Bicycle Relief to get bicycles to individuals in developing countries. While attending the film, viewers could donate money or bicycles to assist this organization in helping people in Third World countries.

After viewing the film, Smith and Roll, along with a number of other students and staff at NCHS, used social media and direct conversation to encourage students and staff members to begin biking to school, explored ways to help support the World Bicycle Relief project, and began some discussions with the Town of Normal about their efforts and the potential to improve the infrastructure around the school.

Subsequently, a number of media stories have aired detailing the student’s efforts. There have been conversations with Mayor

Chris Koos and the Town of Normal which have produced discussion about potential improvements to roads, sidewalks, and the Constitution Trail.

We are a couple weeksremoved from the Illinois Primary. And while folks over age 18 were busyparticipating in the electoral process for part of yet another campaign season,there were some who didn’t participate at all, citing their own reasons.

And then there was a demographicgroup who got their first taste of voting in a mock election. This group wouldbe students at Normal Community West High School. With the help of KathyMichael, McLean County Clerk, West’s student body participated in a mockprimary election on Primary Day, March 20.

Two West Social Studies teachers,Tony Bierardi and John Bierbaum, headed up the group from West’s Social StudiesClub as the young people in the club put the event together.

There were roughly 30 kids in theclub, 20 of them able to come consistently, and 10 others, who were able tolend a hand when other activities they were in involved in allowed. But as agroup, they organized the election day event to have a genuine feel of anactual voting precinct, set up just outside of the school’s cafeteria.

In an e-mail to me disclosing theresults of the mock election, Berardi and Bierbaum wrote, “we’d like to thankMcLean County Clerk Kathy Michael for her support in providing to us with mockballots, two voting machines and some props for our Mock Polling site.”

Some of the members of the club areseniors who were registered to vote for real in the primary.

Katie Appel is a senior who servesas the Whip for the Social Studies Club, making her the Club’s third mostsenior member, just as a Whip in that capacity in the U. S. House and U. S.Senate. She said she found putting the mock election together “really usefulbecause everyone can learn about what it’s like to vote. Not many know what it’slike to vote because they aren’t yet 18, but they need to know about thepolitical process before then.”

The Social Studies Club, withBerardi and Bierbaum’s guidance, and information provided by Michael’s office, setup a polling place just outside of West’s cafeteria. As they will when theirturn to vote comes, students checked in and had their names checked off byother students who served as monitors, before stepping behind a partition andcasting, then handing in a paper ballot.

Michael’s office even provided adisplay electronic voting station, like the one we veteran voters are gettingused to, so that the students could get an idea of what is in their future.

“Mr. Bierbaum, Mr. Bierardi, and a coupleof Social Studies Club officers thought it would be a good idea to do this tohelp students learn about the political process and show kids a way to getinvolved even before they are 18,” explained Tyler Ross, a junior at NormalWest who is president of the Social Studies Club.

“We all thought doing the mockelection was a great idea, especially with the County Clerk’s Office helping,”Ross said. “It would give people a true feeling for what the process would be.”

The students learned that it isn’tjust a matter of knowing about candidates and their positions on issues, but alsoabout some local issues that might be on the ballot, too.

“This election, hopefully, willraise awareness to a lot of issues going on and being brought up by the candidates,”said Anna Detloff, another West senior, who serves as the club’s Speaker. She saidshe has observed that, as far as political views are concerned, there arestudents who are either “extreme Republican or extreme Democrat, but there arealso a lot of students in the middle who just aren’t sure yet.”

“Candidates have flip-flopped, andthere’s so much controversy regarding the selection…There’s just a lot ofissues and kids don’t know what to think,” Detloff added.

Kind of makes you think the kidshave the same problem we older folks are having these days, doesn’t it?

The kids’ possible preferencestoward one candidate or another, like anyone else’s, are shaped by what theymight run across about the candidates on their favorite source for information,the internet, and specific websites they visit there.

“The election will show that yourvoice can be heard,” Detloff said. “When we get older, we will have to vote forcongressmen and presidents. It’s important to start early and understand theprocess and understand what’s going on.”

Appel, Ross, and Detloff got a firsttaste of the actual election process as well because they served as technicalelection judges for the county at precincts on Election Day.

“These are kids in our club who havea bit of a passion for Social Studies and government issues, and that sort ofstuff,” Berardi explained. “It’s not like a run-of-the-mill class in which youmight have 15 percent or 20 percent of the kids that are really in to it.

“It’salso a bit of ownership on their part,” Berardi added. “This is their club. Mr.Bierbaum and I aren’t telling them what to do. We’re just steering them in thecorrect direction. I think they’re taking a real feeling of ownership and pridein creating this endeavor.”

Asfor the results of the election, there were 311 total ballots drawn. Of those, on the Republican side,students cast 161 ballots declaring a desire to vote GOP. Mitt Romney came awaywith 41 percent of the vote; Rick Santorum came in second, having garnered 24percent of the vote; Texas Congressman Ron Paul placed third with 22 percent; FormerColorado Governor Buddy Roemer, running a small campaign, earned six percent,placing fourth; Texas Gov. Rick Perry came in fifth with 3 percent; and formerHouse Speaker Newt Gingrich placed sixth, earning 2 percent of the vote. Also on the Republican ballot was the race for Congressional District 18, whereincumbent Aaron Shock ran unopposed, earning 91 percent of the vote.

Among Democrat Results, 150 studentsrequested Democrat Ballots with all of them voting for President Barack Obama.On the Democratic ballot, students voted for a candidate to run in 18thCongressional District in fall, and selected Steve Waterworth over MattWoodmancy by a 54 percent to 40 percent tally.

The students even had to weigh in on a localissue: A Ballot Proposition for the Town of Normal to arrange the supplier ofelectricity for residential and small commercial retailers that have not optedout of the program. A total of 194 students said yes to the measure, while 86voted no.

Onanother subject, congratulations to Dr. Jeff Hill, currently Principal ofUniversity High School, one of two laboratory schools operated by IllinoisState University. The other lab school is Thomas Metcalf Elementary School.This week, Hill was named to succeed Dr. Robert Dean as Superintendent of theLab Schools. Dean is scheduled to retire June 30.

Priorto coming to U-High nearly seven years ago, Hill served as principal at Olympia High School in Stanford.

NORMAL – Normal Town Council members, by a 5-2 decision, approved a motion authorizing Town Staff to implement a residential single stream curbside recycling program.

The program will begin on July 9. City Manager Mark Peterson told Council members the Town will use the lead time before the program’s start date to order carts and prepare educational materials.

As the program is to be set up, the curbside recycling program will have the following key components:

• Participation in the program is voluntary.

• Weekly curbside collection will take place on neighborhood’s regular garbage day.

• All recyclables will go into one container, also known as single stream.

• Automated trucks will be used for collection.

• Additional cost for program involves hiring of one additional employee, an additional truck, and some miscellaneous expenses.

As a result of the program beginning, citizens will see an increase of $2 in their monthly waste fee, to $12 from the current $10.

Council members Jeff Fritzen and Sonja Reece cast votes opposing beginning the program, but not before each Council member weighed in on the subject. As a result of the Council approving a curbside recycling program, a number of Town ordinances will need to be made to the Town Code in the next 45 days.

Over the course of a pair of Council meetings in January and February, members of the community had their say before the Council, both for and against starting such a program. At Monday’s Council session at Normal City Hall, before taking the vote, Council members expressed their thoughts.

“We talk about being a progressive city, but by not having curbside recycling, I don’t see how we can say we’re progressive,” said Council Member Cheryl Gaines.

Council member Chuck Scott said he would like to see a curbside recycle drop box be placed on the Illinois State University campus. Scott serves as executive director of ISU’s Work Management Department.

This program “is voluntary in use, but not in cost,” countered Council Member Jeff Fritzen, referring to the fact the fee will be paid by people who don’t use the curbside program, as well as by the people who do. “The fee should be assessed to those who use it. Two dollars is not a negligible expense for everybody.”

Mayor Chris Koos countered the concerns about the additional fee being paid by citizens who would not be participating in the curbside recycle program by saying that local residents “subsidize Ironwood Golf Course or the library, but may not use them.”

Residents participating in the recycling program will be required to have two carts • one for garbage and one for recycling. Residents who currently have two carts will be able to get a decal from the Town for one of the carts. Anyone needing to purchase a second cart can do so for half price, or $30, during a 45-day window before the start of the program. After that 45-day period, carts will cost $60.

Two sizes will be available — 65- and 95-gallon.

One change citizens will notice about the containers to be used for recycling is that large vinyl decals with the recycling logo will be used to instead of a change in the color of the lids used for garbage and recycling.

Electricity Purchase Approved: Council members unanimously approved the Town entering into a 36-month contract to purchase electricity from Collinsville-based Ameren Energy Marketing. Four companies, including Ameren Energy Marketing, submitted bids to supply the Town at a cost of .04077 dollars. The Town currently has a contract with Ameren Energy Marketing to receive electricity at a cost of .04585 dollars. That contract expires in May.

Purchase Of Refuse Trucks Approved: Council members unanimously approved the purchase of five refuse collection trucks from Arlington Heights-based Cumberland Servicenter for the net amount of $1,167,840.

Lunkers Fined By Liquor Commission: Prior to the Council session, Council members, serving as the Normal Liquor Commission, unanimously approved to impose a $250 fine on a Normal bar and eatery. Lunker’s, 104 S. Linden St., was cited for a first appearance before the Commission and fined $250. Town Attorney Wayne Karplus pointed out to Commission members this was the first time Lunker’s had ever been brought before the Commission for selling liquor to an underage patron since it opened 13 years ago.

Items included in the Omnibus agenda that were approved by the Council were:

• Approval of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 19, 2012.

• Approval of the minutes of the Work Session of March 19, 2012.

• Approval of Town expenditures for payment as of March 28, 2012.

• A motion to waive the formal bidding process and purchase Turf Maintenance Equipment through the National Joint Powers Alliance for a total cost of $45,590.80.

• A motion to waive the formal bidding process and purchase turf maintenance equipment through the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Purchasing Program for a total cost of $29,615.

• A motion to waive the formal bidding process and award a two-year contract to Illinois Portable Toilets for the low quote.

• A motion to accept a bid from George Gildner, Inc. and award a contract in the amount of $839,395 for the Grove Street and Oak Street Watermain Replacement Project.

• A motion to authorize the renewal of the Town’s Participation in the MICA Insurance Program for Plan Year 2012-13 beginning on May 1, 2012.

• A resolution authorizing the execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement with McLean County for Animal Warden Services.

• A resolution authorizing the execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement with McLean County for Animal Shelter Services.

• A resolution to appropriate $280,740 of the Town’s allotment of Motor Fuel Tax Funds for the Raab Road / Millennium Drive Traffic Signal Project.

• A resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement with the Uptown Normal Business Association, doing business as Uptown Partners, to provide matching funds and services to promote and market Uptown Normal.

• A resolution correcting the legal description on an easement grant to Illinois State University.

• A resolution authorizing execution of an Easement Agreement – Commerce Bank.

NORMAL – Normal Town Council members heard from members of the public concerning the recent dismissal by the Town of Shari Buckellew, manager of the Children’s Discovery Museum. Buckellew, who had been with the museum since 2004, was fired during a meeting with Normal City Manager Mark Peterson on March 9.

The Town issued a four paragraph statement to the media that afternoon, indicating that a search for a new museum manager would begin immediately, and that Carol Struck would serve as the museum’s interim manager, effective March 12. The press release did not state a specific reason for Buckellew’s firing.

In the days since Buckellew’s dismissal and the memo issued by the Town, local citizens have written to and spoken to the media about not only how Buckellew’s dismissal was handled, but also were asking for an audience with Council members to vent their opinions further.

Following the regular Council session at Normal City Hall on March 19, employees, volunteers, and supporters of Buckellew – numbering around 60 — attended a Council executive session meeting where they voiced their support for Buckellew and their objections to her dismissal. Because it was an executive session dealing with a matter that had already been decided by the Town, Council members did not comment on Buckellew’s firing.

But 17 people in attendance did not mince words with Council members over it.

Among them was Jane Smolen, who told Council members that, as she saw it, the process to remove Buckellew from her post “not only seemed to demean Buckellew but also seemed to disregard stated Town policies as detailed in the Town Municipal Code.

“I am concerned about not only how the Town looks to others, but how our town actually treats its employees,” Smolen said. “The City Manager’s actions may well affect how our town is perceived by prospective employees as well as prospective investors.” Smollen said prospective replacements for Buckellew’s post would only have to use Google to look up the Town, Buckellew, or the Children’s Discovery Museum to get a snapshot of the situation.

Smolen suggested Council members “investigate and review the circumstances surrounding Ms. Buckellew’s dismissal, including the use of proper procedures.” Smollen also added Council look into her associations with the Museum board, donors, and the Town Council.

Holly Schurter, a Normal resident who had exchanged emails with Peterson on the issue, told Council members, “I understand Mr. Peterson felt he had reason to act as he did. He wants a change in leadership at the Children’s Discovery Museum. It appears he felt anything was justified to get that change in leadership, even to the point of humiliating a city employee when, in his own words, there were no allegations of misconduct.”

“I would ask you, Mayor Koos and Council members, to reflect on how your city management dismissal process of Shari Buckellew has affected the museum staff, donors, citizens, and Shari Buckellew – beloved founder and first manager of the Children’s Discovery Museum — herself,” added Laura Berk, a donor to the museum. “I urge you to set right the manner in which personnel changes are made in the Town of Normal.”

Normal resident Karen Stephens queried Council members as to whether any sort of probation, or mediation with the Town to save her job, was offered to Buckellew. “Until I hear otherwise, I have to assume every one of you fired Shari Buckellew,” Stephens said.

Some in the audience wondered why Peterson was not present for the session. Koos told the gathering he suggested the Council hear the citizens’ comments without Peterson present.

Council Approves Agreement With Chicago Developer For Uptown One: Council members unanimously approved a resolution authorizing selecting and executing an agreement for the Uptown One site in Uptown Normal with Tartan Realty Group and Harlem Irving Companies, Chicago-based developers.

During a special session the Council held last month at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, four developers, including Tartan Realty Group and Harlem Irving Properties presented their own vision of what sort of facility should go into the plot of land known as Uptown One Development.

Tartan Realty Group and Harlem Irving Properties is proposing a mixed-use project including 5,900 sq. ft. for a American Bistro Steakhouse, 6,280 sq. ft. for a health spa, and first floor space for a five-story boutique hotel. The five floors above the restaurant would have a mix of 85 one-, two-, and three-bedroom “condo quality” apartments. Tartan Realty Group and Harlem Irving Properties is putting the total estimated cost of the project at $20.5 million, estimating between $3 million-$5 million worth of public investment. The developer would build the project. There would be limited parking in the underground portion of the building, with the rest to be at Uptown Station.

Council Approves Transit Board Appointment: Council members unanimously approved the appointment of Mike McCurdy to the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System Board of Trustees. He will serve out the remainder of a term currently being served by Peterson. Peterson is vacating the post, and by Town ordinance, becoming an ex-officio non-voting member of the Board.

McCurdy’s interest in local sustainable transportation has been paralleled by his bicycling to work for over the past four years. McCurdy, who is program director at WGLT FM, Illinois State University’s National Public Radio affiliate, was instrumental in beginning a community sustainable transportation project called, “Good To Go,” which is a year-round campaign to promote events and services related to sustainable transportation.

A Twin Cities resident for nearly 20 years, McCurdy began his employment at WGLT in 1991, serving as news director. He was promoted to Program Director five years later. He and his wife, Lisa Wills, have been married for 12 years.

Liquor Commission Renews 67 Licenses: Prior to the Council session, Council members, acting as the Normal Local Liquor Commission, unanimously voted to renew the liquor licenses of 67 businesses that serve liquor in one form or another. Among the licenses renewed, three were catering licenses; eight were for outdoor garden and sidewalk cafes; 11 were for wine tasting; one pari-mutuel betting parlor license; seven entertainment permits; two hotels; one brewpub; and one stadium.

Omnibus Agenda Items Approved: Omnibus agenda items approved by the Council included:

• Approval of minutes of the Public Hearing of March 5, 2012.

• Approval of minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 5, 2012.

• Approval of Town of Normal expenditures for payment as of March 14, 2012.

• A motion to award the bid for meter vault installations to Bloomington-based Stark Excavating, Inc. in the amount of $97,740 and approve the associated budget adjustment.

• A motion to approve the purchase of two 2012 Mitsubishi Galants from Normal-based O’Brien Mitsubishi – fleet purchasing program in the amount of $27,862.26.

• A motion to authorize Town Staff to work with Oakland, Calif.-based The Stone River Group to seek bids for bulk purchase of electricity for Town facilities.

• A motion to initiate zoning text amendments – Division 13 (Signs).

• A resolution authorizing an agreement for construction materials testing services for the 2012 construction season with Carol Stream, Ill.-based Testing Service Corporation (TSC).

• A resolution authorizing approval of change orders associated with the Gateway Plaza Cistern Project in the amount of $26,884.64 to furnish and install a cistern control vault and to remove and replace electrical lines in conflict with the water storage cistern.

• A resolution authorizing execution of an agreement with Indianapolis-based Tank Industry Consultants for evaluation, engineering, contract administration, testing, and construction services for the elevated Tank #3 rehabilitation project.

• A resolution waiving formal bidding process and accepting a proposal from Stark Excavating, Inc. in the amount of $184,600 for the construction of concrete foundations for a pedestrian walkway over the railroad on the north side of the tracks adjacent to the Gateway Plaza and approval of an associated budget adjustment.

• A resolution ratifying the execution of an agreement with the National Railroad Passengers Corporation (Amtrak) regarding relocation activities and the move of Amtrak to the Uptown Station.

• A resolution authorizing an agreement with the National Railroad Passengers Corporation (Amtrak) for a passenger platform sublease and agreement for construction, operation, and maintenance of the new Normal, Illinois Passenger Platform.

• A resolution conditionally and partially approving a final plat of the resubdivision of Lot 7 of BroMenn Healthcare Subdivision 2nd addition by expedited process.

• An ordinance vacating a portion of Franklin Ave.

• An ordinance authorizing the publication of a zoning map.

• An ordinance amending Division 9 of Chapter 10 of the Town of Normal Municipal Code – Board of Fire and Police Commission.

• An ordinance amending the operating structure of the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System.