Author: Mike Cerutti

Questions and Answers

Mike Cerutti

1. What is the first thing you will do as Mayor.

The first thing I plan to do as Mayor is to meet with all Dept Heads to establish a budget for each department. We must develop a responsible approach to spending within each department according to needs.


2. Is any candidate considering raising taxes?

I have no intentions of raising property or sales tax at this time. However, certain issues at the state level, such as our Governor’s budget plan for Illinois, may force me to reconsider my options.  Until I am able to review the budget with department heads, the city council and with the possibility of state budget cuts, I will not make any promises that I cannot keep!

3. We’ve had a lot of water main breaks over the past few months. I understand a good deal of Herrin’s water system is nearly a century old. I know it costs a lot of money to replace these systems, but my concern is how to ensure this aging system will continue to provide the town with safe and clean drinking water. In addition, I’m worried about what would happen in the event of a fire with a broken main nearby. Those trucks can only haul so much water. Do any of you, as candidates, have a plan to upgrade the water system? Grants or other possible funding sources?

This is a great question and a very important issue to address. Infrastructure is always a concern, especially water and sewer lines. The water and sewer system is vital to the development and expansion of any community and is a constant concern of the City of Herrin. There has been several major upgrades to the system in the last several years, including the replacement of water and sewer lines below E. Herrin Street before the resurfacing was completed. Recently, a new force main sewer line was replaced below E. Tyler Street, along with new grouting of man holes that had significant water infiltration and currently a new system is being installed on both North and South 17th Street. These are expensive endeavors, but are critical to the growth of the city. Herrin has always taken an aggressive approach with our grant writing and that will not change under my leadership. Many grants require matching funds, so keep in mind that the city must have the revenue to fulfill the match requirement. For example, we have received a $100,000.00 grant from Delta Regional Authority (DRA) for the upgrade of two lift stations on the south end of town. The upgrade to these lift stations is necessary for the expansion of the Route 13 Corridor, but the total cost of the project is $1 Million dollars, leaving the city with a $900,000.00 obligation. As the Mayor of Herrin, the upgrade and replacement of the water and sewer system is an ongoing process that will always be at the top of my list of future projects.

 

4. What education/experience/qualifications do you have that would make you the best mayor for Herrin.

I am a licensed home inspector with the State of Illinois and have owned and operated Advantage Home Inspections for 12 years. I am entering my 7th year as the Building and Codes Administrator for the City of Herrin. During my years as a city employee, I have learned how all aspects of local municipalities work in small city government. I understand the role of the Mayor and the City Council members and the importance of transparency and communication to the citizens of Herrin.

I have been an active commissioner on the Williamson County Public Building Commission (PBC) for 11 years. The PBC is comprised of 5 commissioners and owns and operates the Williamson County Courthouse, Administration Building, Williamson County Jail, Annex Building and supervises the maintenance staff for these public facilities. Responsibilities include:


• Oversaw the construction of the Williamson County Administration Building from initial concept to final completion, an 8 million dollar project.
• Oversee the renovation of the Williamson County Courthouse Building from initial concept to final completion, a 2 million dollar project.
• Negotiate contracts for the Williamson County PBC projects and maintenance staff.
• Manage the budget for the PBC.

I have been an active member of the Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Regional Water Quality Coordinating Council (RWQCC) for 5 years.

The RWQCC serves as a public forum that reviews facility plans and domestic wastewater National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, specifically construction and operating permits of public, private, and industrial facilities. To learn more about this council visit http://greatereqypt.org/regional-water-quality…/

I am a graduate of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic School, Herrin High School, and have completed 2 1/2 years at SIU-C. I am mandated by state law to complete continuing education classes each year for my Home Inspection License.

To see my complete resume and experience along with accomplishments visitwww.MikeCerutti.com

 

5. To the three candidates would you keep the current police and fire chiefs, or would you change them and why?

 

I have no intentions of replacing or changing the police chief or the fire chief.  These positions are to important to the safety and welfare of the city and are needed to keep structure and organization to these departments. 

 

6. What will you do to bring business and jobs to Herrin?

 

My plan includes to better educate our current business owners of the benefits of our TIF District and to futher promote this incentive program to attract potential new businesses.  We must continue to maintain and expand our infrastructure.  This includes water, sewer and road maintenance in order to expand the Rte 13 Corridor. We must continue to seek grants to assit with these endeavors. I will work with current groups such as the downtown revitalization committee to assist them with their efforts in the beautification of Herrin. As the Building and Codes Administrator, I have  recently been in contact with two developers that are very interested in developing properties in Herrin.

 

7. Elected City Officials, on top of receiving salaries, receive Health Insurance paid for, in full, by the City. In the event that the Elected Official declines the insurance, 75% of the cost of the premium, is paid to the Elected Official in the form of an annuity. As a candidate for Mayor, what is your point of view considering this policy, and your justification either way?

 

Currently our city council has an insurance committee that explores the city insurance options. As a city employee, I have not been included in these negotiations.  I believe this happens on an annual basis and our current council has finalized insurance arrangement for this current fiscal year.  As Mayor, I will be very active in the next review of our city insurance plans to be certain that our city employees are treated fairly and we make the best use of our tax payer dollars.


Why can’t something be done about the abandoned properties in Herrin?

Mike Cerutti , , ,

By Mike Cerutti

This is the number one question I get as the Building and Codes Inspector of Herrin, Illinois.  Most of the abandoned properties in Herrin are due to a foreclosure.  Currently there are approximately, 105 abandoned properties in Herrin.  The Building and Codes Department of Herrin has NO STAFF, NO EQUIPMENT, and NO BUDGET for the upkeep of abandoned properties.  This isn’t just a problem in our community but this is a nation-wide issue.

Properties in mortgage foreclosure is one of the main challenges to our community, which usually results in the tenant leaving the property vacant or abandoned. When a property is in foreclosure, the party responsible for maintaining it is often unknown, un-aware, or unwilling to expend the time or effort to do so. Frequently, the culprit is not the homeowner, but the lender who becomes the owner through a foreclosure.

A central problem is assigning the responsibility for care of the property. In many cases, homeowners vanish before the bank that initiated the foreclosure completes the process and legally takes ownership. That leaves local officials to either pursue absent borrowers with no ability to pay or to wrestle with banks that have limited authority to maintain the property.

Another common problem is the lengthy time periods imposed by state statutes on different stages in the foreclosure process (e.g., the time in which the owner has a right to redeem his or her rights to the property); the length of time that taxes must be delinquent before a sale can occur; and whether the state first requires sale of the liens or sale of the property outright.

Municipalities incur administrative costs as they search for owners, enforce codes, and oversee foreclosures, although they may recover some of these costs through fines or fees if an owner can be identified and compelled to pay. Vacancies also reduce local government revenues directly, because owners may walk away from their tax obligations, and indirectly, because of their impact on nearby property values and tax assessments. Although in some instances cities can recover this lost revenue through tax lien sales, if the property ownership reverts to the city, the city has no viable option other than demolition.

Demolition costs can vary widely based on several factors.  It can take 6-12 months to obtain a court order and title in order to be able to demolish abandoned or foreclosed properties. On average, the legal fees and demolition costs on a single family home in Herrin, Illinois, is $5,000-$10,000.

Since I began my job as the Building and Codes Administrator in 2008, eighty-five structures have been demolished directly by the city or by property owners and developers in coordination with the City of Herrin. In 2009, the city received a $10,000 grant from the Harrison Bruce foundation which was used to demolish two properties deemed to be a public safety hazard. One of those properties now has a new home and is occupied by new home owners.  The other property is now a vacant lot. The city has sought grants through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, however, Herrin was not selected.

Through city occupancy inspections, building permits, fines and liens, the Building and Codes Department currently brings in approximately $20,000-$25,000 per year in revenue to the city. I would like to earmark this money toward creating a budget for the Codes Department that will enable this department to have additional resources to attack the issues surrounding abandoned properties.

When available, the city utilizes the Du Quoin Boot Camp work program to assist with maintenance of abandoned properties.  Also, when available, the city uses workers from Man-Tra-Con Corp. through their Summer Youth Program.  In addition to seeking grant funds and utilizing available work programs, I would also like to appoint an advisory board to assist with developing a comprehensive plan to rid Herrin of abandoned sites and turn these into new home or commercial properties that will create property and/or sales tax revenue for the city.

 

 

Running for Mayor

Mike Cerutti , ,

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Hi I’m Mike Cerutti and I am a candidate for Mayor in the city of Herrin, Illinois.

My election as Mayor will bring a new perspective to Herrin. As Mayor I will:

  • Work to ensure Herrin’s safety and security as we continue to fortify our city now and for future generations.
  • Work to have open communication with Herrin citizens. I want your input. I want citizens to feel their voices are being heard.
  • Work to fortify the Community with Volunteerism in our neighborhoods, schools, and government which will lead to a greater voice of our citizens in making the best decisions for Herrin.
  • Further educate the community on the benefits of the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district opportunities.
  • Work to expand and diversify our economic base, and improve our quality of life.

As Mayor I will set the example and lead by consulting with community experts, council members and department heads. I will carefully review our priorities and assets, and set our expenditures to align with our revenues.