Taking part in a formal Boeing Corporation grant presentation for the East St. Louis Center (ESLC) last month were (from left): Rich Walker, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) interim vice chancellor for administration; Johanna Wharton, East St. Louis Center (ESLC) director of New Program Initiatives; Jesse Dixon, ESLC executive director; Brittany Douglas and Amber Hersh, both Boeing community investors; and Jeff Sweet, Boeing manager of Global Corporate Citizenship, Central Region.  (Photo courtesy of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE)

Mine retirees fear health benefit, pension loss

Retired Metro-East area coal miners were among United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) members gathering Nov. 18 in Carterville to urge federal legislation that would prevent the loss health-care and pension benefits.  As the result of widespread coal industry bankruptcies, benefit funds are expected to begin running out of money next year.

On Jan. 1, funding for the health care coverage of 22,000 UMWA members nationwide UMWA members will begin to run out, unless Congress passes the pending Miners Protection Act. About 16,000 of those members would immediately lose their medical benefits and another 6,000 would lose theirs over the course of 2017. Pension funds meanwhile will be at risk of insolvency in about five years without a new infusion of cash, the UMWA says.

The union says loss of health and pension benefits for retired miners could pose economic and social service crisis in Metro-East and across Southern Illinois. With coal mining once a major industry in downstate Illinois, many counties have substantial numbers of coal mine retirees.  Many of those counties have also experienced economic downturns and population losses over recent decades, leaving them with aging population and reduced funding to serve them.

Legislators OK benefit extension for Granite City steelworkers

The Illinois General Assembly last week overwhelmingly approved bipartisan legislation (S.B. 1941) that would extend unemployment benefits to 56 weeks for the approximately 2,300 workers who were laid off in December of last year at U.S. Steel’s Granite City Works.

The measure now goes to Gov. Bruce Rauner for his signature.

The legislation was sponsored by several area legislators including state Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea), state Rep. Dan Beiser (D-Alton), state Rep. Dwight Kay, (R-Glen Carbon), state Rep. Eddie Lee Jackson (D-East St. Louis). and state Sen. William Haine (D-Alton).

It passed in the Illinois Senate on a 47-6 vote, with all but two members of the Illinois House supporting the bill.

Laid-off workers in Illinois normally can receive unemployment benefits for only 26 weeks.

Alton, Granite City, Highland win sustainability honors

Alton, Granite City and Highland were recognized for environmental efforts Dec. 2 under the St. Louis Green Business Challenge program.

Alton was honored during the annual St. Louis Green Business Conference for its climate action plan to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The Alton Public Works has reduced electric usage by a third through lighting upgrades and other energy conservation measures. The city has also implemented a curbside recycling program for all single-family residents.

Granite City was recognized for its new Cool Cities Advisory Committee and ongoing development of an environmental sustainability plan. The city using a $30,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to establish an ozone garden, deploy ozone monitoring equipment to provide localized air quality reports, and establish bulletin boards at area schools, advising students of the health risks associated with ozone and particulates in the air.

Highland was recognized for its “Stop Idling” signage campaign urging parents to turn off their engines while waiting to pick-up their children after school.  The city will receive a grant to expanding the program to other locations around town.  

The St. Louis Green Business Challenge is sponsored annually by the St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Missouri Botanical Garden to recognize businesses and public entities for environmental efforts that also provide fiscal and social benefits.

O’Fallon mayor to retire

O’Fallon Mayor Gary L. Graham plans to retire at the end of his current term in April.  In an open letter to citizens last month. Mayor Graham, 72, said a current state of prosperity and growth in the municipality is providing a good opportunity for transfer of power to a new administration.

During his 20 years in the mayor’s office, O’ Fallon’s population has grown from 15,000 to 32,000. Graham moved to O’Fallon in 1989. He was elected to the O’Fallon School Board In 1993 and, the following year, the O’Fallon Board of Aldermen. He served on both bodies until a change in Illinois law was barred individuals from serving on both school board and city councils.  Graham chose to remain an alderman. He was elected mayor in 1997.

East St. Louis pre-school center receives grant

The Boeing Company awarded a $65,000 grant to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) to help permanently establish a high-quality early childhood program for pre-kindergarten children.

The center offered its “Kindergarten Camp” for the first time this year, June 15-July 15, as a pilot program serving 40 children who had never before attended a preschool program.. With the help of the grant, the center now plans to enroll 80 East St. Louis children in its second camp, June 12 to July 14, 2017, in partnership with East St. Louis School District 189.

ESLC Executive Director Jesse Dixon notes that pre- and post-program test results indicate that participant’s scores improved in cooperation, assertion, empathy, communication, responsibility, engagement and self-control. The largest gains were reported in self-control, communication and engagement with 30 percent of participants in each domain increasing from below average skills to average skills.

–Metro East News Briefs–