A week ago, I published an article
about the passage of Senate Bill 3010, a bill that took away the power to approve new township halls and senior centers at the ballot box.
As I, a non-lawyer read the bill, if a township has enough money socked away or can predict it will have enough over time, it can get new digs…even if Grafton Township voters, just to pull an example out the McHenry County hat, object.
The April 13, 2010, Grafton Township's Annual Meeting. The over 700 people who signed in were not all processed until over a half an hour after the meeting was scheduled to start. (Click to enlarge.)
The Northwest Herald has now printing an article with the reactions of all the legislators representing McHenry County, except State Rep. Mark Beaubien.
Mike Tryon and Jack Franks debating on the House floor.
In the light of the controversy concerning the Township Trustees’ and supporters’ drive to build a new township hall or purchase an old factory and re-model it for township offices, one might have though State Senator Pam Althoff and State Reps. Mike Tryon and Mark Beaubien would have seen the political danger in voting in favor of such a bill.
Both seem to be saying in the article that it will not affect Grafton Township. It was to “solve” a problem in Orland Township, located in southern Cook County.
Couldn’t possibly have an impact on lil’ ol’ Grafton Township, could it?
This year’s proposed change in state law is typical of the way township officials have acted over time (as in during the last forty years I’ve been keeping watch). If the folks showing up at an Annual Town Meeting don’t let you do what you want, ask your friendly local legislators to change the law to make it possible next time.
In the NW Herald article, Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks talks about townships having outlived their usefulness.
Strange that he spent money and other resources trying to take over a couple of townships in his legislative district spring a year ago.
Althoff, Tryon and franks as most other politicians are not in this for the taxpayers, they are in for themselves. I didn’t vote for them nor will I. Time to elect all new people and give that a try. These people have enough of the taxpayers money already.
Voting against incumbents this year, even if it means crossing party lines. Tryon is not getting my vote and I’m going to urge others to send him a message, too.