I found Motown's website, metrosportsentertainment.com, last year and saw on it Vandalia listed under their Illinois link. Now it has been taken off with the location designated as TBD". Looks as though Motown has left Vandalia and is now looking elsewhere, not fulfilling their contract and leaving us in debt for $120,000.00!!

I also see they have an Ohio link and am thinking they are now in Ohio trying to screw a town in that state with false promises. I can't find any info on the internet yet about any town in Ohio talking to Bardwell but I would bet he is over there pushing it.

Their website now has a contact page. So I suggest every resident in Vandalia get on their computer, go to their website and contact them asking for our money. Let's flood them with emails!!!!

I would also email Motown's Development Team Companies and Developer listed on the website and tell them what Bardwell is doing. Maybe some of them will back out because of his shady dealings. From everything he has done in the past, he fits the profile of a scammer. I feel its time for the City to contact the Illinois Attorney General and since he has gone interstate, contact the feds and have this man investigated.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois state Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Highland, issued the following written statement through the House Republican staff minutes ago:

“Early on Monday evening, I was stopped by the Macon County Sheriff’s police and received citations for improper lane usage and driving under the influence. I cooperated fully with the police officers, was ticketed and released later that evening.

“I exercised poor judgment that evening, and I am truly sorry for my actions. I also regret having disappointed my family, friends and those I represent. I take full responsibility and stand ready to face the consequences of my actions.”

According to the House Republican office, Stephens’ breathalizer test showed a blood-alcohol content of .101 percent. The legal limit in Illinois is .08.

The office says the incident happened after Stephens had dinner with his family, and that they were driving in separate cars. Stephens isn’t currently commenting further.

His court date has been set for May 23.

Stephen is an assistant minority leader in the House, where he has served over most of the past 25 years. He is an East St. Louis native, a pharmacist, and a decorated Vietnam War veteran. He’s known in the Legislature for stressing veterans’ issues, and as one of the more emphatic conservative voices on many social issues.

Here are a few things which came up just this year concerning local government that relate to not using common sense in decision making which many residents besides myself think

1. Vandalia officials will be asking city employees to agree to wage freezes for six months. Seems funny that the City Administrator and Director of Economic Development and Tourism slipped their large raises in just a few months before it was announced we were broke. Wouldn't the City Administrator have the common sense to have known at the beginning of the year that Federal and State government were broke, people were not spending, and because of this, it would trickle down to the local level? I guess not because city government kept spending and spending until we had nothing left.

I can not see a raise given to the City Administrator when the United States was coming close to a depreciation and there would be no money handed out to us from the State as we have been used to. People are not spending as much thus lower sales tax.

I can not see a raise given to the Economic Development and Tourism Director when all I heard were excuses as to why she could not bring in businesses and even lost a major employer. Motown has turned into a fiasco which most of the town knew would happen except her and now we have shelled out over $100,000.00 for nothing. She does not know what to do now about this stating on the radio that she can not contact them.

2. When giving new businesses money in grants and loans, shouldn't some investigation and research be done to make sure what they tell you is the truth? I can find out a lot about a company by their finacial records and the internet. Here are a few new businesses that have taken us for a ride;

Letters and Logos - Recieved a loan and stills owes the city around $90,000.00. Can not locate the owners! Also promised to hire additional employees by a certain time and never did.

Mamma Antonia's II - I was told they recieved around $40,000.00 in TIF grants. Lasted about 6 months and closed. I was then told they closed because the street was closed and would reopen when the street was open. Well Gallatin St., where they are located, has been open for months and they still are not open.

Motown - This was the most stupid venture I have seen Vandalia do in all my years of living here. It took me less than 1/2 hour on the internet to figure out Motown was a pipe dream of Bardwell and would never be built in Vandalia. As I have read, the city has invested over $100,000.00 in this.

3. A city alderman illegally in position - The city should have known this years ago and taken action because many people have told me they knew about him being on the Park Board for years.

4. The City Administrator not following the Municipal Code - The one instance that really gets to me is the latest water rate increase.

5. The City Administrator replacing qualified contracted businesses with some one they know. This has happened to my business concerning the city's website replacing me with some one else.

6. The City not following the Municipal Code and not awarding contracts to qualified businesses with the lowest bid.