Ask MRN: How long is pothole truck out of commission and what happens when FOID cards are revoked or expired?

Dear MRN:

I saw the pothole truck wrecked the other day on Locust in Quincy. Do you know how long it will be down for?

Kevin McClean, director of Central Services, said the city’s pothole truck was rear ended in early June. 

“Pretty much ruined the whole back end of it,” he said. “The assembly that holds the jackhammer, the auger and the compactor, all of that was severely damaged when the car hit it.”

McClean said the truck has been sent to Bergkamp, Inc., in Salina, Kan., for repairs. He doesn’t expect it to be back until mid-July at the earliest.

McClean says the truck has already put down “at least 30 or 40 ton” of asphalt this year. He said the truck usually goes through about five tons of asphalt in a week. Putting the truck on the sideline puts a pinch in the city’s summer road maintenance plan.

“The mayor (Mike Troup) would like for us to not use cold patch and go back to the old ways of (fixing potholes) unless it’s absolutely necessary,” McClean said.

McClean said he asked Bergkamp if it had a replacement truck the city could borrow, but one was not available until July 10. The one-month rental cost is $13,500.

What does law enforcement do when a FOID card is revoked or expired?

To legally possess firearms or ammunition, Illinois residents must have a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card, which is issued by the Illinois State Police to any qualified applicant. Adam Yates, chief of the Quincy Police Department, says there isn’t anything specifically his officers can do when a card is expired.

“It would be up to the FOID card holder to get their card renewed,” he said. “During the time period when they don’t have a FOID card, they should not be in possession of a firearm or ammunition.”

When a FOID card is revoked by the Illinois State Police for a particular reason, Yates said ISP will send his department a letter informing them about of the revocation of the FOID card.

“The FOID car holder is then required to turn in the card and fill out an affidavit that attests to the fact that they do not own firearms, and if they did, what they did with those firearms, so they’re no longer in their possession,” Yates said. “If your FOID card gets revoked, you can give your guns to someone else with a FOID card. It isn’t like you have to turn them into the police department or something like that.”

A FOID card is valid for 10 years. The application fee is $10. A minor can apply for a FOID card if they have a sponsor who is a parent or legal guardian. The parent or legal guardian does not have to have a FOID card but must be eligible for one. Apply for a FOID card by visiting the Illinois State Police Firearm Services Bureau website and clicking on the blue “Enter” button.

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