Don’t usually get letters to the editor, but here is one that was published in the Northwest Herald as well:
Take steps to end shenanigans of township government
Everyone I’ve spoken with believes that it is long overdue for our state legislators, county board and municipal leaders to step up and do their jobs by standing behind the residents of Illinois to reduce the size and cost of government.
A place to start is through consolidation of township government.
Townships are outdated and do not afford the residents the transparency they deserve.
Road commissioners are independent of the township with no oversight.
Why?
Fifteen electors of a township have authority to convene special
meetings.
Why?
Should it be legal for 15 people to trot into a local tavern in McHenry, sign a petition for a special meeting which is then hidden on the last page of the March 1st Northwest Herald’s newspaper which qualifies as public notice?
A main purpose of the meeting is to increase the pay for the elected
officials.
Can you imagine a system that allows 15 people to speak for 50,000 residents?
This special interest club is your township government.
Can you imagine it’s time for your annual review at the private company you work for so you gather 15 of your favorite coworkers and friends to vote on a several thousand dollar pay increase and submit it to
human resources?
Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
They are doing that at their March 16th special meeting.
If elected boards can be completely disregarded by elected officials and special interest groups, why do we need elected boards?
If elected township officials manage the same mandated services municipal
and county governments do with much more transparency and oversight, why do we need township officials?
Eliminate 4 elected officials and 4 trustees from all 1392 townships in Illinois and stop paying for attorneys at every meeting and for every action and you’d be saving some real tax dollars.
The size and cost of Illinois Government must be reduced.
We’ve lost another 80,000 residents, 2 congressional seats and we are bankrupt.
It’s hard to say we are governing effectively and efficiently in Illinois.
Take the steps to end the shenanigans of township government and help the residents of Illinois.
Jamie Grubich
That’s what I’ve been saying for years.
Mike Tryon is one of the disgraced politicians who said we need bigger government.
There are no upsides to Township government unless you’re a:
1. Illegal alien
2. Township employee or official or their family members.
3. Crooked vendor ready with kickbacks
4.Township pensioner
5. Attorney for Township
Illegal aliens are getting financial assistance
Jamie, a Special Meeting IS oversight.
Grubich, you nailed it!
Now let’s ask our representatives to explain how we, as citizens, can fight the lobbying Township Officials of Illinois who have an iron grip on any legislation that concerns township government.
They pass laws to benefit and maintain tow.gov.
And prevent any real, meaningful changes which would limit their power in any way.
Why do we never have a representative like McSweeney who shows some guts?
I’m just p’d off that my High School Guidance Counselor, didn’t mention Townships, as a possible career path.
Fort Drum missed another beneficiary of township thievery: Township Officials of Illinois, a crooked lobby which uses taxpayer money in Township dues to lobby against taxpayers,
Why isn’t this investigated?
Next time the people seeking to abolish AL Township need to do a better job collecting signatures and hire a better lawyer.
Also, although not required legally, all circulators and petitioners should be AL Township residents to eliminate the political blowback.
Next time the people seeking to abolish any form of government, need to do a better job collecting the numbers related to the facts, and form a plan that shows the savings in writing.
People are more likely to vote for a known tax savings instead of the lip service without proof that is prevalent now.
More BS
“Townships are outdated and do not afford the residents the transparency they deserve.”
The info is there just like every other gov agency, Township lack media coverage, and Y’ll just aren’t paying attention.
“Road commissioners are independent of the township with no oversight.”
Andrew Gasser and Jim Condon are proof township boards do have oversight, past boards were just lazy.
You know that McSweeney’s law requires a 10% cut in the amount levied for township services.