Author: joeward7

Retired 12 year alderman on Springfield City Council 2011-2023

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Ward 7 Meetings with Residents

Press Release – Thursday June 16, 2011

Ward 7 Alderman Joe McMenamin will meet with Ward 7 residents every Tuesday evening from 7:30pm to 9pm and every Saturday from 9am to 11am. The meeting place is South Side Christian Church, 2600 South MacArthur Boulevard, in the Resource Center room just inside the canopy entrance on the east side of the building. Meetings started in June.

This is an opportunity for Ward 7 residents to discuss concerns and issues involving their neighborhoods and City services with their representative on the City Council. McMenamin is also attending neighborhood association meetings in Ward 7.

“South Side Christian Church is a solid anchor along MacArthur Boulevard. It is more than a church, it is a neighborhood center, a civic center, and a green oasis, so I am hugely grateful to the Church leadership and its members for allowing me to hold regular hours in their building” McMenamin said.

“We are intentional in promoting and serving the neighborhoods surrounding our church, and so providing space for Alderman McMenamin to meet with residents to discuss neighborhood issues is consistent with this purpose” Senior Minister Brooks Wilson said.

Tuesday and Saturday meeting hours will continue through the summer. McMenamin said he would adjust these hours for the fall and winter if needed after consulting with the Church.

“I am looking forward to meeting with residents continually. This is how you stay in touch and serve constituents,” McMenamin said.

No appointments are necessary to meet at the regularly scheduled dates and times, it is first-come first-served. Ward 7 volunteers with knowledge of City government will substitute for McMenamin if he is unable to attend a scheduled meeting. Ward 7 residents can also schedule meetings at other times and dates by phoning 787-2297 or emailing joeforward7@aol.com.

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White Oaks renovation planned to attract more people and revenue

By Holly Dillemuth, Illinois Times
Thursday, June 16,2011

A multimillion-dollar renovation is planned for White Oaks Mall beginning as early as late summer. Some say it could mean a boost in sales and property tax for the city of Springfield.

“There is absolutely no question that this mall has been an economic engine since the day it opened,” said Mayor Michael Houston at a June 6 unveiling of a plan from developers and mall owners Simon Properties to renovate White Oaks Mall and add a St. John’s Hospital Third Age Living Center for seniors. “And it’s not just an economic engine for the people of Springfield. It brings people in from all over the central Illinois area.”

The 12-month project will be the first major renovation since 1993. It includes modernizing the facility with warm colors, textures, and wood and stone for a “warmer, softer, welcoming environment,” says Maureen Bluhm, general manager at White Oaks Mall.

Among some of the new changes are hands-free doors, a family restroom on the lower level and soft seating in the food court and throughout the mall.

“Last year, 23 percent of the city’s budget came from our one penny share of the state sales tax,” says Houston. “Sales tax is something that is extremely important to the citizens of Springfield.”

Ward 7 Alderman Joe McMenamin is excited about the new changes to the mall, which he says represent “confidence in the regional retail market” by Simon Properties.

Read the full story at IllinoisTimes.com…

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Fix It: Former bowling alley continues to deteriorate

By JOHN REYNOLDS (john.reynolds@sj-r.com), THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
Posted Jun 11, 2011

People living near the old Spillway Lanes at 1025 Outer Park Drive say pieces of the building’s roof have been blowing off during storms. Some of the chunks measure 2 feet square and have been found in the parking lot and nearby yards, Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin said. “It degrades the neighborhood, and there’s a loss of pride. The residents in the area want those properties maintained,” McMenamin said.

‘Pretty sad’

City building inspectors were at the former bowling alley last month. They noted chipped paint and a crack in the masonry near the west door. Inspectors also took a close look at the dilapidated roof, said John Sadowski, Springfield’s building manager. “It’s pretty sad. A lot of the roof has failed completely. The water just pours into the building when it rains,” Sadowski said. “There are still some of the bowling alley components in the building. You can see where the lanes use to be. It looks like a ghost town in there.”
“The leaking roof is causing steel bolts on the interior of the structure to rust rather badly,” he said. “Eventually, that could cause some structural issues.”

County records indicate the building is owned by Spillway Lanes, care of David S. James. James’ real estate agent, Jim Kuhar, said his client had no comment about the property. City inspectors have sent James a notice to register the building as a vacant structure. The registration includes a fee that is about $1,000 annually.

Cited before

McMenamin said this isn’t the first time the city has found problems at the building. Similar violations were noted in 2009, but the case was dismissed when James said he was planning to get a demolition permit. The permit requested, however, was for the interior and not for the entire structure, McMenamin said. “The building remained unregistered for an additional year and a half. No fees were paid to the city, and the building continued to become a worse eyesore,” McMenamin said.

Now that the city has inspected the building again, the entire process starts over.

Read the full story at the SJ-R.com…

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MacArthur Update – Public Works update

MacArthur Boulevard Business Association – Government Update June 7, 2011
Carol Kneedler

Joe McMenamin, Alderman, Ward7

Joe mentioned that the owners of the previous Kmart building plan to come to Springfield in June. He said he conducted a ride around Ward 7 with the new Public Works Directory Mark Mahoney and is researching use of sweepers and water tank trucks to keep streets & sidewalks cleaner. He intends to keep constituents informed of upcoming ordinance votes and to let MBBA and other neighborhood groups comment on ordinances. Joe will officially open his constituent’s office in South Side Christian Church every Monday night from 7:30 to 9pm and every Saturday morning from 10:30 to noon. The starting date is to be determined. Constituents will be welcome to stop in and talk with Joe.

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Alderman Raises Issue of Pay Spikes

Ward 7 Alderman Joe McMenamin addressed Springfield’s City Council on Tuesday night about the city’s pay spiking policy.  The issue came to the forefront last year after former Springfield Police Chief Ralph Caldwell received two separate pay increases in his final weeks on the job leading to an increase in his pension as well.

View video at WICS News…

Posted: Tuesday, June 7 2011, 10:24 PM CDT

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Owners of former Kmart seek meeting with city officials

By TIM LANDIS (tim.landis@sj-r.com), THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
Posted May 12, 2011

A face-to-face meeting between city officials and the owners of the former Kmart on MacArthur Boulevard is the latest plan to revive the long-unused property. An executive with TLM Realty in New York said Thursday the company hopes to have the meeting next month. “We either want to sell it or redevelop it. Our preference is to redevelop it,” said TLM vice president Laura Hackel. Hackel said “everything” would be on the table, including the possibility of city economic incentives to redevelop the building. “We’ve had that property too long,” she said. Hackel added that company representatives waited until after the April municipal elections to seek a meeting.

Other than special events, the property has been vacant since the Kmart store closed in April 2003. The condition of the building has been a focus of the MacArthur Boulevard Business Association since the group was formed nearly five years ago. There also have been periodic complaints about graffiti, loitering and debris dumped in the parking lot or near the building.

The owners recently approved removal of the old Kmart sign, and Hackel said the company has had discussions with association members on ways the property could fit into MacArthur Boulevard redevelopment plans. “We don’t like it being vacant any more than you do there,” Hackel said. “We want to revive MacArthur Boulevard as a retail center again.”

Two Springfield City Council members said Thursday they are encouraged about the possibility of progress.
Jobe and Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin, also elected in April, updated an association membership meeting on Thursday. McMenamin’s ward includes much of the MacArthur Boulevard corridor. “They said they want to come in June, and I expect that is going to happen,” McMenamin said at the meeting.

Fair market value

Other than special events, the former Kmart building at 2115 S. MacArthur Blvd. in Springfield has been empty since the retailer closed in 2003. Developers and local commercial real-estate specialists say the redevelopment cost or sale price would be determined by the eventual fate of the property.

However, here is the property’s fair market value since 2003, as estimated in Sangamon County property-tax records:

  • 2010: $2,399,991
  • 2009: $3,675,585
  • 2008: $3,601,041
  • 2007: $3,527,322
  • 2006: $3,633,351
  • 2005: $3,500,001
  • 2004: $4,156,590
  • 2003: $4,036,698

Read the full story at SJ-R.com…

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Deputy clerk confirmed

By DEANA STROISCH (deana.stroisch@sj-r.com), THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
Posted May 10, 2011
Springfield aldermen on Tuesday agreed to hire Rianne Hawkins as the city’s deputy clerk. Hawkins’ appointment was approved by a vote of 9-2. Mayor Mike Houston voted to hire Hawkins.  Hawkins, a past president of Illinois Democratic Women, will replace Veronica Bigley, who took a job with the Illinois Air National Guard. Hawkins will be paid $45,500 a year and start work this morning.

Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner and Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin voting against her selection. Turner questioned why an African-American employee with 20 years experience in the office wasn’t told about the position.
City Clerk Cecilia Tumulty said everyone in her office knew of the opening, and no one expressed interest in the job.

McMenamin said he voted against the appointment because it was on the council’s emergency passage agenda, a practice he said is overused. Items on emergency passage require eight votes to pass.

Read the full story at SJ-R.com…

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McMenamin, Cahnman win city council races

By DEANA STROISCH (deana.stroisch@sj-r.com), THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
Posted Apr 05, 2011

In two close Springfield City Council races Tuesday, Attorney Joe McMenamin was elected as Ward 7 alderman and Sam Cahnman was elected to a second term in Ward 5.

Seven incumbents won re-election to the 10-member city council. They will be joined by three newcomers – two Democrats and a Republican, although the board is officially nonpartisan. Aldermen serve four-year terms and are paid about $15,500 a year.

Here’s a look at the aldermanic results:
…

Ward 7

Joe McMenamin won election in Ward 7 with 43 percent of the vote. Michael Higgins, owner of Maldaner’s restaurant, came in second with 34 percent. John Laurenzana, director of marketing and public relations for Capitol Care Center, received 22 percent.

McMenamin said he was happy with the outcome, “but I know there’s lots of work ahead.” “I’m looking forward to working with the next mayor and the city council to strengthen our neighborhoods,” McMenamin said.

McMenamin will replace Ald. Debbie Cimarossa, who didn’t seek re-election.

Read the full story at SJ-R.com…

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Aldermania!

Thursday, March 24,2011
A ward-by-ward look at the candidates and the issues, from potholes to garbage pickup, sidewalks to the city budget. Politics doesn’t get any more grass-roots than this.
By Illinois Times Staff

As Springfield heads to the polls April 5 for the general election, many voters will be focused on their choice for mayor. But just as important is the makeup of the city council, with 10 aldermen drawn from across the city. Together, their decisions will set the tone for Springfield’s future even after their four-year term is over. We’ve highlighted the six contested races citywide and provided some context that will hopefully make it easier to understand both the election and city government thereafter.

…

Ward 7: Three is a crowd
Ward 7 spans some of the most well known parts of Springfield, including the historic Washington Park and Botanical Garden and part of MacArthur Boulevard.

Three candidates are running for one seat, making the contest visible and competitive. The candidates are Michael Higgins, 63, owner and chef at Maldaner’s Restaurant; Joe McMenamin, 58, an attorney and former candidate for the 19th congressional district; and John Laurenzana III, 30, director of marketing and public relations at Capitol Care Center and endorsed by the Sangamon County Republican Party.

…

Ward 7 candidate Joe McMenamin - PHOTO BY DAVID HINE

McMenamin, a self-described “fiscal watchdog,” is a tax attorney soon to be retired from the Illinois National Guard after 30 years of service. He plans to open a constituent office on MacArthur Boulevard with weekend and evening hours.

Higgins and McMenamin focus heavily on infrastructure and city beautification, while Laurenzana’s focus is on redevelopment and incentives to draw businesses to Springfield. Laurenzana is a former Marine with 10 years of marketing and consulting experience but is a newcomer to political campaigns.

The budget is equally critical for the candidates. Higgins says that he has looked at the budget and will not “raid” infrastructure funds if elected to the city council. He would like to turn the vacant Kmart building on Wabash Avenue into a retail open-space and residential small business center and landscape deteriorating parking lots to draw residents from all over Springfield.

McMenamin has seen the city’s budget and wants to boost revenue streams by increasing fees on vacant commercial buildings and property like the Westwood Plaza on Wabash Avenue.

“Unless we take the initiative and put pressure on the property owner, it’s likely to get worse,” he says.

He and volunteers painted over graffiti on the backside of the vacant Kmart building last winter, and he wants to implement a low-cost, high-impact plan to beautify crumbling parking lots with landscaping.

Read the full story at IllinoisTimes.com…

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SJ-R: Ward 7 candidates debate idea of city inspector general

BERNARD SCHOENBURG
THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
Posted Mar 22, 2011

Excerpt:

Ward 7 aldermanic candidate John Laurenzana called Tuesday for creation of a city of Springfield inspector general, as well as a system to let city employees file anonymous complaints to root out corruption.

But both of his opponents on the April 5 ballot questioned Laurenzana’s proposed method.

…

Joe McMenamin, who also is running for Ward 7 alderman, said complaints that come to the city should be investigated by existing staff members.  “Anonymous complaints are by nature unreliable,” McMenamin said.

Read the full story at SJ-R.com…