MAYOR STAYING PUT

Green Says He's Not Stepping Down

Kankakee Mayor Don Green isn't going anywhere.

That's what he told a city alderman during Monday's City Council
meeting, during which Green was asked if there was any truth to the
rumor that he was planning to resign prior to the 2009 election.

"I've been receiving phone calls all week," said 5th Ward Ald. Hank
Williams, adding that the callers had been wondering "if there was
any truth to the rumor that you'd be leaving soon."

Green, who has served as mayor since 1993, was swift and emphatic in
his reply, noting that he's not planning on stepping down early for
health reasons -- or any other reason for that matter. He has
indicated he will not run for a fifth term when the current term
ends.

"No, not true," he told the council during the alderman's comments
portion of the meeting. "Really, I feel pretty good."

Also during the discussion period, 2nd Ward Ald. Cheryl Jones
questioned whether city employees were required to take drug tests.
Mayor Don Green said those employees do not have to take such tests
because it isn't included in their negotiated union contracts.

However, city department heads could be required to take them, Green
said, but only if the City Council passes an ordinance requiring them
to do so.

City alderman recently took urine drug tests at a local occupation
health center when the city opted to begin more rigorous enforcement
of a law on the books requiring them to be tested twice a year.

Enforcement of the provision arose as an issue anew after Williams
questioned why he hadn't been given a drug test during an earlier
meeting.

Results of the alderman drug tests have not been released to the
public.