Clayton named Civic Center general manager

Anne Clayton, interim general manager of the Peoria Civic Center for six months, was named to the position full-time, the Civic Center announced on Monday.

SMG Management, which operates the Civic Center under a contract with the city, and the Peoria Civic Center Authority Board made the announcement during a staff meeting.

Clayton was director of finance for the Civic Center when she was tabbed to be interim general manager after Jim Wetherington resigned May 12 for personal reasons. Clayton continued to do her job as finance director while serving as interim general manager.

SMG Regional General Manager Richard MacKeigan said Clayton was chosen after an extensive national search process.

“Anne has a proven leadership style which will empower staff members to think and act progressively as we continue to work on fulfilling the vision and mission for the Peoria Civic Center as set by the PCC Authority and the city of Peoria,” MacKeigan said. “The Peoria Civic Center is a key venue in SMG’s management portfolio and we are thrilled to be able to have such a reliable and energetic leader at its helm.”

Bob Manning, chairman of the Peoria Civic Center Authority, expressed the authority’s excitement on the appointment of Clayton.

“I have worked very closely with Anne over the past few years on the finances of the Peoria Civic Center and I know we are in good hands.” Bob Manning said, “Her skills and management strengths are exactly what we need at this time. She has the full confidence and trust of the Authority.”

Clayton started her career at the Peoria Civic Center seven and half years ago as a staff accountant. She has since held multiple roles in the accounting department, including accounting manager, assistant director of finance and director of finance. Clayton is a lifelong Washington resident and graduate of Bradley University.

Clayton will begin her role of general manager immediately. “We are one, we are a team,” she reiterated to staff after the announcement of her appointment, a motto she embodies as she leads the team in enhancing economic vitality in Downtown Peoria and generating more entertainment opportunities for the residents of Central Illinois, the Civic Center release said. 

Governor, leaders meeting reset to Dec. 1

By Mark Fitton

Illinois News Network

SPRINGFIELD — The meeting between Gov. Bruce Rauner and the four legislative leaders has been rescheduled to Dec. 1.

Rauner late Friday afternoon released his proposed format, but on Saturday his staff said he would push the meeting back to accommodate House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, who won’t be available Wednesday, Nov. 18, because he will be attending a family funeral out of state.

In a letter on Friday from the governor to Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton, Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno and House Republican leader Jim Durkin, the governor outlined the following format:

• The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. in the governor’s Springfield office, with a pool camera streaming video to media outlets.
• The governor opens the meeting and explains the format.
• The governor and the leaders then take 10 minutes each “to make his or her case to the people of Illinois — uninterrupted and unfiltered.”
• The meeting next goes private (no camera) for negotiations.
• When the meeting has adjourned, any or all of the participants conduct their news conferences outside the governor’s office.

Rauner said the format strikes a balance of giving the public access yet keeping the negotiating time useful.

“It affords each of us the opportunity to address the people of Illinois without interruption or media filter — and it strikes a balance to ensure we maintain decorum and a constructive atmosphere for negotiations,” he wrote in his letter to the leaders.

A coalition of good-government groups in October called for the meeting and offered to facilitate it to get the governor and four leaders talking again.

Illinois is now in its fifth month of fiscal year 2016 with no budget as the first-term Republican governor and legislative Democrats — who have supermajority numbers in each chamber of the General Assembly — continue to disagree on the state’s finances and Rauner’s agenda.

All of the leaders had indicated they planned to attend a Nov. 18 meeting, although Madigan said he wanted to see an agenda before he’d commit after Rauner wrote to the civic groups saying the governor’s office would organize and host the meeting.

Rauner: State to suspend accepting Syrian refugees

By Mark Fitton

Illinois News Network

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday announced Illinois is putting a hold on  accepting any new refugees from Syria.

“Our nation and our state have a shared history of providing safe haven for those displaced by conflict, but the news surrounding the Paris terror attacks reminds us of the all-too-real security threats facing America,” the governor said in prepared statement.

“We must find a way to balance our tradition as a state welcoming of refugees while ensuring the safety and security of our citizens,” Rauner said.

“Therefore, the state of Illinois will temporarily suspend accepting new Syrian refugees and consider all of our legal options pending a full review of our country’s acceptance and security processes by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,” he said.

The Chicago office of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) disagreed with the decision.

“What Gov. Rauner and others are missing is that refugees driven from Syria are fleeing violent extremists like the ones that committed the Paris attacks,” the organization said. “Statistically, the vast majority victimized by terrorist groups purporting to act in the name of Islam are Muslims.”

CAIR-Chicago said that since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America, the U.S. has resettled about 784,000 refugees and exactly 3 have been arrested for planning terrorist activities.

“Governor Rauner's decision is an impulsive reaction that is a political exploitation of a tragedy rather than an effective security measure,” said CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab. “It gives a false sense of security by demonizing a population in need and plays into the hands of extremists groups hoping to alienate Muslims from western countries."

The state’s Department of Human Services said 169 Syrian refugees have settled in Illinois since 2010, according to the Associated Press.

Other states have taken similar stances, including Indiana and Wisconsin.c

OSF increases minimum wage for its employees

OSF HealthCare announced Thursday it will set the minimum wage for employees across its entire system at $10 an hour, well above both the federal minimum wage and that of the two states where it operates.

The increase will take effect Nov. 22, OSF announced.

“As both an employer and a Ministry of Catholic health care, OSF HealthCare is called to be socially just and recognize the personal worth and dignity of every person served – including its own Mission Partners (employees),” OSF said in a statement announcing the increase.

The higher minimum wage will affect about 482 employees, or about 3 percent of the total 17,000 employees in the Peoria-based OSF system. OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, which is based in Peoria. The system consists of 11 acute care facilities in Illlinois and Michigan, two colleges of nursing, a physician organization and, and an extensive network of home health services.

The news release noted that the federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour, while the minimum wage in Illinois is $8.25 an hour and in Michigan, $8.15 an hour. While some national retail companies have announced moves to boost the minimum wage for workers, OSF HealthCare is one of the largest health care systems in Illinois to do so, the release said.

"We have made the decision to increase the minimum wage because it is the right thing to do. The adjustment impacts these Mission Partners the most,” said Sister Judith Ann Duvall, O.S.F., Major Superior and OSF HealthCare Board Chairperson in announcing the increase. “Our Sisters deeply value all of our employees and the wonderful service they bring to our Sacred Ministry." 

“This socially just wage is consistent with our Values and the Catholic teaching on the dignity of workers and work,” added Kevin Schoeplein, OSF HealthCare CEO. "Each OSF Mission Partner counts; each of us makes a difference in the way we treat our patients, their families and each other.”

The majority of those who will benefit from the wage increase serve in food service, housekeeping, gift shops, or are members of the guest services team.

“For me, it’s a student loan payment or car payment every month,” said Rebecca Copeland, a room service ambassador at OST Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. She is married with a kindergartner who accepted a starting position at the hospital so she could gain experience in the dietetic department, so she can fully use her college degree. “OSF is a great employer, but this is a physical job with long days, so the increase is a positive, encouraging step.”

“This shows me OSF cares about taking care of its workers – they value us,” said Abby Nicolet, a food service assistant at OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton. She’s been there a little over a year. “I am paying for college and want to continue working in the medical field; this will help. Plus, I will be able to help my mom with some bills.”

Trevor Malatek, a floor care technician at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford for about 10 months, is also a college student, studying to be a nurse. “When employees get paid more, they have more pride in their work, so patients benefit, too. OSF didn’t have to do this, but it will have a lot of benefits in the long run,” he said.