Spring Valley city council meets Tuesday

A visit from Governor Pat Quinn has bumped a city council meeting in Spring Valley back by a day.

The council would have met last night, but they decided to move the meeting to 7pm Tuesday so city officials could attend the annual John Mitchell dinner that featured Quinn as a speaker.

Up for discussion is an identity theft prevention policy and the rezoning of 101 Oak Street.

Union Reacts To Harrison Death

Complete with a ribbon featuring the initials “JVH”, the Ottawa Township High School Education Association is reacting to the death of John Harrison.

The statement released on the union website says “John Harrison was not just a superintendent to us, he was a cherished friend a colleague, a mentor, and leader of our school”.  The statement goes on to say “we miss him now and will miss him forever”.

Harrison was a science teacher at Ottawa High School before becoming principal and eventually superintendent. 

Here is link to the complete statement:  http://www.ieanea.org/local/ottawa/

OTHS Strike Rolls On

School is closed again today at Ottawa High School.  Tomorrow will mark exactly two weeks since teachers took to the picket line.

After the last negotiation session Sunday, School Board President George Hupp asked all the teachers to vote on the board’s latest offer, not just the dozen or so who make up the teacher’s negotiating team.  The teacher’s union hasn’t expressed any interest in doing this.  The sides are still well apart in health insurance salary figures.

Hupp says the recent death of John Harrison doesn’t mean the sides can’t meet this week.

Governor Quinn visits Spring Valley

Prior to last night, the last governor to pay an official visit to Spring Valley was Dan Walker.  Governor Pat Quinn changed that Monday night when he spoke at the annual John Mitchell Dinner. 

Quinn spoke for about 10 minutes, focusing mainly on what he thinks he’s done right since he took office last winter like the passing of a capital bill.

And he touched on green technology and something he thinks is important, high speed rail.

          Quinn says he expects legislation on ethics reforms and a college grant program to come up during the fall veto session which begins tomorrow.

          And of course, Quinn asked for everyone’s support.  He faces state Comptroller Dan Hynes among others in the Democratic primary for governor in February. It was an event hosted by Democrats at Verruchi’s.