The Latest on Robert Miller’s Quest to Gain Crystal Lake City Council Ballot Access

From Crystal Lake City Council candidate Robert Miller’s wife Dianne: Here is the latest on Robert’s court case…. Robert had a status hearing yesterday in McHenry County. The attorney for the hearing board and a new attorney for Hopkins, Brady … Continue reading

Algonquin Village President Objects to Being Listed as Supporter of Rahm Emanuel’s Massive Gas Tax Proposal

An article reprinted from Illinois News Network drew this comment from Algonquin Mayor John Schmitt: It is unfortunate that some research was not done before publishing this blog. The Mayors and Village Presidents of the McHenry County Council of Governments … Continue reading

Wife of CL Council Candidate Kicked Off the Ballot Chides Council Members for Doing So

Comments made at the Crystal Lake City Council meeting tonight by Dianne Miller: My name is Dianne Miller. I live at 1274 Thornwood in Crystal Lake Robert Miller is my husband. I remember a few months back when City Manager … Continue reading

Did Aaron Shepley Have a Conflict of Interest by Serving on Electoral Board?

In a comment, under this article, the wife of Robert S. Miller, Dianne, wrote the following: During the hearing Robert’s statement included the fact that Mayor Shepley’s wife works for the same law firm that represented [Council members] Hopkins, Brady … Continue reading

Mayors Push for Gas Tax Hike

Algonquin Village President John Schmitt offered the following comment on this post: It is unfortunate that some research was not done before publishing this blog. The Mayors and Village Presidents of the McHenry County Council of Governments does indeed support … Continue reading

McHenry County Courthouse Blizzard Closing Results in CL City Council Challenger Being Taken Off Ballot in Repeat of 2014 Petition Challenge

For a second election cycle, incumbent members of the Crystal Lake City Council eliminated ballot competition. The result is that Ellen Brady, Cathy Ferguson and Brett Hopkins will have no opposition on the ballot…unless challenger Robert S. Miller wins a … Continue reading

Tonight Crystal Lake Council Incumbents Again To Try Remove Only Opponent from Ballot

The Municipal Officers Electoral Board of the City of Crystal Lake is meeting tonight at 7:30 to decide whether the three incumbent City Council members get a free ride to another four years in office. At issue is whether challenged … Continue reading

Majority of Crystal Lake City Council on the Ballot Next Year

Four of the seven member Crystal Lake City Council are up for re-election next year. Mayor Aaron Shepley Council member Ellen Brady Council member Cathy Ferguson Council member Brett Hopkins Shepley, Brady and Ferguson were first elected in 1999, so, … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Council Tax Hikes Far Exceed Increase in the Cost of Living

Take a look at how much Mayor Aaron Shepley and the Crystal Lake City Council has levied in taxes beyond the increase in the Cost of Living: Real estate taxes have increased more than $3 million more than they would … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Accepting Lakewood Sewer Water

Lakewood Village President Paul Serwatka sent the following press release: Crystal Lake Offers Assistance to Village of Lakewood Crystal Lake Mayor Helps Neighbors in Lakewood Clean-up After the Flood Village of Lakewood President Paul Serwatka is pleased to announce the … Continue reading

The Problem for the Crystal Lake Civic Center Authority – Part 3

Today we continue to look at the August 2, 2016, minutes of the Crystal Lake Civic Center Authority. Questions and Answers/ Discussion Mayor Shepley advised that the CCA’s consideration was basically about transferring a loan from Home State Bank to … Continue reading

The Problem Facing the Crystal Lake Civic Center Authority – Part 2 “The Rat’s Nest”

The Crystal Lake Civil Center Authority Board was reconstituted after a long period of inactivity at a meeting on August  2, 2016. Whoever took the minutes did a splendid job, so you can take the same journey of discovery that … Continue reading

Establishment Loses 4th Primary

Time was that the laying on of hands to a candidate by elected officials was considered a benefit. Maybe it still is. But not so much. Challenger Andrew Gasser defeated long-time incumbent Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller by 145 … Continue reading

Jack Franks’ Big Bait & Switch

It was a dark and stormy night for State Rep. Jack Franks’ first Town Hall Meeting. A hundred or so folks showed up, a number long-time supporters. Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley, who has served as Republican Party Vice Chairman … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Taxpayers Owe Tens of Millions to the Crystal Lake Police and Fire Pension Funds

Commenter Mark does a lot of research, which he shares under various stories. Today, inspired by Mayor Aaron Shepley’s endorsement of Democrat Jack Franks, he looks at Crystal Lake city finances. Does endorsing Franks mean the Crystal Lake City Council … Continue reading

Aaron Shepley Lends Name to Jack Franks’ Campaign

Aaron Shepley, the man that McHenry County Republican Party Chairman Mike Tryon appointed as Vice Chairman of Community Outreach, Aaron Shepley is listed as introducing State Rep. Jack Franks’ at at Crystal Lake Town Hall Meeting announced on Franks’ Facebook … Continue reading

Other Entries in CL Parade with Political Overtones

So far, McHenry County Blog has looked at five portions of the Independence Day Parade: Jesse White Jack Franks Patrick Kenneally Democrats Republicans Let’s look at other things with a political tinge. The first I noticed was the squad car … Continue reading