From a Friend of McHenry County Blog who does not live in Richmond or Richmond Township:

I have twice now observed Illinois Tax Spending agencies buying diesel fuel and gasoline over the border in Genoa City, Wisconsin for Government vehicles. 

The first time was a Richmond Streets Department 6 wheel dump truck. 

It filled up, filled up the wood chipper it was towing and filled up at least 3 gasoline cans at the Mobil Gas Station which is literally on the Illinois/Wisconsin state line. 

I was so shocked I didn’t think to take a picture. 

Yesterday I was filling up and next to me was the Richmond Highway Department vehicle, which was filled up with gasoline, its bed tank was filled with diesel and the employee filled up gas cans in the bed of the truck see attached photos. 

The “M” plate isn’t that visible but its there. 

I get it, fuel in Wisconsin is cheaper AND better quality (no ethanol if you buy diesel or premium which is why I go there). 

Fuel is cheaper there because they DON’T HAVE THE TAXES THAT SUPPORT THESE 2 UNITS OF GOVERNMENT. 

Both the Village of Richmond and Richmond Township Road District directly receive motor fuel tax receipts, yet they both go support Wisconsin State Government, Kenosha and Walworth County, and Genoa City government, instead of supporting themselves, McHenry County and the State of Illinois. 

This is appalling! 

Any elected or appointed official who authorized or directed his employees to go OUT OF STATE to buy fuel for the entity should be removed from office. 

The employees should be explained jurisdiction and how they should take the appropriate measures to NOT leave their jurisdiction. 

Why would anyone think this is the appropriate use of state resources to spend money in Wisconsin instead of Illinois?

There are at least two gas stations in Richmond proper, Lord only knows how many in Richmond Township. 

Why don’t they pool their resources and create a fuel station themselves and purchase fuel on the state contract, tax free??? 

Seems like an awful waste of money the way they go to Wisconsin to buy fuel.

I’m sure if you happened to go to the Mobil on Route 12 in Genoa City (just over the border) on a Monday morning say around 7 am, I’m guessing that’s when they start their day, you’d easily photograph the Richmond City Streets vehicles filling up. 

I mean other than New Glarus Beer and a good restaurant with a bakery, that Mobil doesn’t offer anything that Illinois Gas Stations don’t, except the different tax rate!

= = = = =

Following up on the reader’s idea of creating a local government fueling station, I asked where.

Here’s his answer:

Richmond Township Road District has the large yard south of Richmond Burton High School they could put a pump station (they could be above ground FS tanks) or the Village has the streets department on the north end of town by the Taco Bell they could put above ground tanks at as well. 

If not, there’s the Marathon that’s out of business at 12 and 31 that already has underground tanks.

They could go in with the Fire Department and put tanks underground there.

Or the school district [could] partner with Spring Grove, Wonder Lake, Hebron, to name a few, and create a conglomerate pump that buys fuel at the State rate avoiding the taxes.

They [governments] are Tax Exempt in Illinois after all. 

It’s impossible to take the taxes off at the commercial pump but at their own?????