Executive Report Ice storm History may remember Easter weekend of 1978 as the end of the nation's longest coal strike, but central Illinois residents will recall the holiday as the time of the worst ice storm in recent memory. Dwindling coal reserves which threatened several states were forgotten as ice brought down power lines arid cut off electricity. When the local strike settlement came after 110 days, it was unnoticed by the many central Illinoisans who were isolated by the storm. Gov. James R. Thompson declared 24 central Illinois counties a disaster area and applied for federal relief March 25. The counties affected were Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Coles, DeWitt, Dougas, Edgar, Greene, Jersey, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, McLean, Piatt, Pike, Sangamon, Scott and Shelby. Federal and state teams estimated the damage to public property at a minimum of $15.8 million and at $10-$15 million for private property. The bulk of the public property loss was absorbed by nine rural electric cooperatives, one electric generating station and eight utilities owned by municipalities. The Federal Disaster Assistance Administration (FDAA) sent a formal letter to Gov. Thompson April 4 stating that it would recommend that President Carter deny Illinois'application. The FDAA justified its rejection saying that "the main problem is fiscal, not physical," and that the disaster 31/May 1978/Illinois Issues "didn't meet the test." It is normal policy for the President to follow the FDAA's recommendation, but Gov. Thompson decided to appeal the decision. The state Emergency Services Disater Agency (ESDA) drafted a supplementary report which was sent April 5 to the President to better document the extent of the damage. Federal teams returned to the area April 11-12 review the damage. As of press time, president Carter had not made an official decision. Gov. Thompson has applied for federal aid twice previously; both times state failed to qualify. Central Illinoisans will never forget the icy Easter weekend of 1978, certainly not at presidential election time. Wage agreement reaffirmed A prevailing wage agreement was signed February 14 by Gov. James R. Thompson Illinois craft union leaders. The agreement signifies that the state of Illinois will continue to pay about 1,100 state employees belonging to craft unions the wage contract rate their respective geographic area. A spokesman for the Illinois Department of Labour said the prevailing wage agreement should be reaffirmed every time there is a change in administration, but this is the first reaffirmation since 1961. A agreement includes sections dealing with hourly wages, overtime, sick and vacation time, grievances and temporary employees. Illinois craft unions involved in the signing ceremony included the Chicago Buillding Trades, Illinois State Conference of Bricklayers and Plasterers, Illinois State Council of Carpenters, Cement Masons International, 6th District Electrical Workers, Ironworkers District Council, Elevator Constructors, Machinists and Aerospace Workers, International Union of Operating Engineers, Downstate Laborers International, Chicago Laborers International, Painters and Glazers International, Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, Chicago Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. May 1978/Illinois Issues/31
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