Government: July 2008 Archives

Just when you think all is lost, like in the bottom of the seventh and Red Sox J.D. Drew launches a rope over the short right-field wall in Yankee Stadium, tying the All-Star game, something enters the picture to make everything all right. Like MillerCoors locating its headquarters and upward of 400 new jobs into Illinois.

Chicago won out over several other cities for the mega-brewing corporation, just as Belgium beer conglomerate InBev, purchases Budweiser, the last big U.S. beer maker. MillerCoors cited Chicago's labor pool, transportation and business resources as the reason to live the Rockies and Milwaukee for the Windy City. Also, Illinois business development folks are giving the firm, which merged the second and third largest brewers, an $18 million investment package for tax credits over 15 years, job training and a grant to offset upfront capital expenses.

But, MillerCoors is planning a $39.5 million investment in Chicago and Illinois. And, they're bringing good-paying, executive-level jobs to the state. Who said it's cheaper to do business in the Badger State?

While the exact location has not been determined, or MillerCoors folks aren't saying where they want to park the city's newest corporate citizen, this sure looks like a coup for the city and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who can crow about bringing jobs to Illinois, even with a recalcitrant Legislature.

Looks like The Hound will be drinking a few new beer brands during baseball season. Skol!

Like many of his fellow Lake Countians, The Hound burned up $4-a-gallon gas cruising the byways on a sun-filled three-day weekend. That was a good thing until passing by the new branch court on Greenleaf Street in Park City. They couldn't make this building any more dismal looking?

OK, so it's a court, it's being built by the low bidder and The Hound would probably complain if more money was being spent to gussy up the place. But couldn't they make it a bit more architecturally pleasing? The Hound isn't looking for eye candy here, but something that doesn't shout: Ministry of the Homeland Protectorate --- Soviet Union style. The Hound has seen better Romanian office buildings circa the Cold War.

Granted, the branch the new court is replacing was in itself quite depressing. Especially when The Hound had to pay the piper in that part of the strip mall west of Lakehurst/Fountain Square. The Hound also has seen the Mundelein branch court, the one actually located in the Diamond Lake area. That seems fairly pleasant, even though one is usually not there for pleasantries --- don't ask.

That being said it looks like the county has settled for function over form, which still doesn't make it right. Actually, it makes it downright ugly.