McHenry County Blog

With its Home Rule powers, the Crystal Lake City Council signaled a majority is ready to change possession of up to thirty joints from a criminal to a civil offense.

Mayor Aaron Shepley led the opposition with Councilwomen Cathy Ferguson, a social worker, bringing her day job experience to bear.  Joining the three in opposition was Brett Hopkins, who said he saw it “in terms of black and white.”

The proposal, basically to decriminalize marijuana, following the example set by Chicago last month, was presented by Crystal Lake Police Chief Dave Linder after testimony from opponents and proponents.

His proposal “to allow Police to issue tickets for possession of small amounts of cannibals” was based on cost savings to the Department.

He pointed to Woodstock and McHenry as two local cities who had already gone the civil violation route.

Linder insisted his proposal “doesn’t represent softening of Police Department attitude toward drug enforcement,” but would “allow more flexibility…a more efficient option.”

Mayor Shepley came loaded for bear.

While complementing the Chief for bringing forth a proposal that the Chief thought would make law enforcement more efficient,” Shepley said that “at the end of the day what we have a a good old fashioned policy decision in a way that could have consequences.”

He then played show and tell, holding up two jars of parsley containing a total of 28 grams.  Possession of more than 30 grams would still be a felony, but in Crystal Lake, if the ordinance passes, the possessor would get a ticket.

“That is not a small amount,” Shepley argued.

Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller, one of three members of the CLCHS  Class of 1981, according to classmate Shepley (the other being Hopkins), said,”You could make a lot more thar 20 [joints].

“We’re not going to go soft on drugs,” Linder interjected.  “It gives the officer the availability to use another [option].  We do the same thing for alcohol, synthetic drugs [and] disorderly conduct.  In terms of time management, it’s not fiscally responsible [to arrest people for possession under 30 grams].”

Linder that a large percentage of misdemeanor charges were dismissed by the McHenry County State’s Attorney to which Shepley that perhaps Crystal Lake officials “need to have a discussion with the State’s Attorney’s Office.”

The Mayor also pointed out that the State had no criminal offense for synthetic drugs, so Crystal Lake’s passage of a ticketing offense was more stringent than state law, not less, as the issuing of tickets for marijuana would be.

Comparing ticketing for underage use of alcohol to Lidner’s proposal, Shepley drew a distinction between a drug which is legal for those over 21 and one “our legislature has determined that no matter how old you are you can’t have it.

“My fear with this is that we’re sending a message.

“If you are smart [enough] not to carry more than a certain amount of drugs, there is no possibility of jail time.

“I’m not in favor of this,” Shepley concluded.

Next up was Cathy Ferguson.

She zeroed in on arguments that it would cover “youthful indiscretions.”

“This does not cover juvenile cases, right?”

Linder agreed.

Ferguson, who works as a social worker, explained, “I treat kids with substance abuse.  I’m seeing these gets getting their drugs from their parents.

“I agree with you in principle, Aaron, that we’re sending a [bad] message.

“Marijuana of today is not the marijuana [of my youth].  A lot of other substances are cut into marijuana.

“When I look at statements that marijuana hurts no one [asserted by one proponent to the Council], that’s a falsehood.

“I prefer there be jail time attached.”

Ferguson then went after the discretion that the ordinance gives police officers.

“[For] one joint jail time is not warranted.

“Thirty joints deserves jail time.

“There’s too much wiggle room [in the ordinance."

Introducing a new aspect was Ralph Dawson.

“Nothing I’ve seen that David [Linder] has presented that the Department’s doing this for monetary reasons,” he said.

“I believe it will give a lot of people a second chance,” he continued.

“I see nothing negative here…better than hitting [youth] over the head.”

“Actually, I was going to move this to [be] discussion only,” Brett Hopkins said.

“It’s a difficult subject.  I’m pretty black and white.  The drugs are illegal. End of story.”

He compares it with enforcement of the sign ordinance.

Carolyn Schofield was next.

“I don’t think this stems from a moral issue.

“If it helps the Police Department–I really believe in him–I want to support him in this,” Schofield said.

The last to express his opinion was Jeff Thorsen.

“I think the Chief is the expert on the situation.

“We do have the right to put this into play.

“We set the law.

“Discretion – they think about that everyday.

I don’t thing a $500 to a $1,000 penalty is a minor penalty.

“If the Chief thinks we’re pulling one-third of our officers off the street, the [Chief is making sense].”

In rebuttal to Schofield, who had argued that consequences are not going to change what people do, Shepley observed, “That’s hat our criminal system is all about..  I would respectfully disagree.

“I think it’s absolutely the wrong way to go.”

He pointed out that he has been “insistent with things we have done to preserve the character of Crystal Lake.”

Mueller pointed out that the Council had “changed possession of liquor possession.”

Shepley repeated his argument that liquor was a legal drug, while marijuana was not.

Ferguson also weighed in on the “consequences” debate.

She pointed to why people pay income taxes.

“It comes down to no one wants to mess with them.”

“I’m trying to keep a level playing field.  If you have a better lawyer, you have a better chance of getting off.”

She repeated her concern that there was too much “wiggle room.”

Before the Council voted, Schofield expressed the opinion that the Council could “look at different levels.”

The first motion was to kill the ordinance.

Shepley, Ferguson and Hopkins voted to keep the status quo.

Mueller, Dawson, Schofield and Thorsen voted to change the criminal penalties to civil ones.

Then Mueller seemed to second Schofield’s idea to lower the threshold for a pot ticket.  She suggested 15.

After than the Council agreed to table the proposal until the Police Department had a chance to consider the consequences of some in between proposal.

Two potential contenders for the Republican nomination for Governor spoke to Party faithful at the McHenry County Country Club Wednesday.

During the cocktail time before dinner State Treasurer Dan Rutherford spoke after an effusive introduction by Party Chairman Mike Tryon.

Rutherford left before dinner.

After dinner State Senator Kirk Dillard was introduced as a potential candidate for Governor by Tryon.

But not before Tryon said,

“We’re fixing to have a right turn.”

The former DuPage County GOP Chairman, State Senator and Republican gubernatorial primary candidate who was barely edged out by Bill Brady spoke of the importance of McHenry County in statewide races and why Illinois needed a Republican Governor after Democrat Pat Quinn.

Although Republican Precinct Committeemen were told that Congressmen Peter Roskam and Randy Hultgren would be attending the event, they weren’t there after I arrived at about 4:20.

I was looking forward to chatting with them.

State Senator Pam Althoff enjoyed my comparison of her happy dance to that of Snoopy.

Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay was in attendance making post State Senate primary connections.

Also speaking to the group after dinner was GOP State Rep. candidate David McSweeney.

Rumors that Independent opponent Dee Beaubien might attend the event were found to be incorrect.

McSweeney has developed a good “stump speech” which takes first aim at replacing Democrat Mike Madigan as Illinois House Speaker.

I continue to bemoan the fact that besides electing McSweeney, a sure vote for Madigan’s opponent Tom Cross, with no opposition being fielded against Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks, the only thing McHenry County residents for major chance in Springfield can do is help Mike Tryon put together the $10,000 he is assessed annually for GOP House races elsewhere and the $20,000 that Pam Althoff has to provide for State Senate races where a Democrat might be taken out.

There were a number of McHenry County Board members at the event.

With the possibility of having missed some County Board members and candidates, here are the ones I saw or heard introduced:

• Mary Donner
• John Hammerand
• Tina Hill
• John Jung
• Ken Koehler
• Donna Kurtz
• Mary McCann
• Anna May Miller
• Nick Provenzano
• Ersel Schuster
• Michael Rein

Most countywide officers and candidates were present, too:

• Katherine Keefe
• Dr. Anne Majewski
• Pam Palmer
• Kathie Schultz
• Phyllis Walters

Missing were the two men:

• Lou Bianchi
• Keith Nygren

Leslie Schermerhorn, the newly-appointed Regional Superintendent of Schools was in Springfield meeting with Illinois State Superintendent of Education Christopher Koch and attending Health/Life/Safety inspection training, she told me.

The winner of the main door prize was newly-elected Republican Precinct Committeeman from Fox River Grove Andrew Gasser.  It was a Jack Daniels barbeque kit, complete with a pint of the real stuff.

The 50-50 raffle was won by Woodstock’s John Cole.  He took home $445.

GOP Executive Director thanked Crystal Lake Committeeman Jim Thompson for making the calls to make the event the best in the last six years.

An informal discussion was held Tuesday night by the Crystal Lake City Council about whether to allow slot machines (“video poker,” if you favor the idea) in town

After presentations by two gambling machine purveyors, City Council members expressed a 6-1 margin against turning Crystal Lake into “Potterville,” to put it in Mayor Aaron Shepley’s words.

“I’ll bet if we wanted to make Crystal Lake the mecca of adult entertainment, we could do that,” Shepley said.

“Just because we could do it doesn’t mean we should do it,” he said just before referring to “one of my favorite movies, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’”

Comparing the scenes of Bedford Falls and Pottersville, he said, “If you don’t look at the extreme examples, you’re not looking at the whole picture.”

Presentations were made by representatives of two slot machine companies.

One, Stepanie Drougas, from Triple 7 Illinois, based in Lake in the Hills, told of the split of profits from the money gambled:

• 30% to the state
• 35% to the liquor licensee
• 35% to the machine owners (the ones at the meeting)

As I understand it, 5 percentage points of the state’s share goes to the local city or county (if unincorporated).

The Triple 7 Illinois woman estimated that each machine would generate $1,000 for the city each year.

“Your bars and restaurants are struggling.  This will give them a little shot in the arm,” she said.

Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller confirmed that the machines to be installed would not be the ones “sitting in bars now.”

“[Is it] basically equivalent to Vegas as to the speed it would spin?” Councilman Ralph Dawson inquired.

Jeff Thorsen calculated that $17 million could be gambled in Crystal Lake machines with $3.4 million going to the state.

“That’s a lot of money you’re pulling out of pockets,” he said.

Yours truly spoke in opposition on behalf of  the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake

I pointed out that each machine could be expected to pull $20,000 out of money now spent in local businesses on goods and services.

I explained that Methodists were holding a once-every-four-year General Conference in Tampa about which stories would surface later this week.

However, I explained the fights between liberals and orthodox Methodists that would end up in the stories would not be about gambling.

I told the Council that both liberal and conservative Methodists opposed gambling.

After the two gambling machine company representatives and I spoke, Shepley said,

“Let’s call it what it is. It’s gambling, period.  This is not Crystal Point Mall and pinball.”

Then he asked his colleagues how whether or not they favored allowing the machines in Crystal Lake:

• “Not,” said Brett Hopkins forcefully.  “I’m not going to open the door now.
• “I don’t really see the need,” Carolyn Schofield said.
• “I have a problem of introducing a sin so we can tax it.  Are those the revenues I really want to chase down and create,  I’m in the ‘No’ [column].”
• “Absolutely in the ‘No’ column,” said Cathy Ferguson.  She told of working with youth at the Arlington Park Race Track.  “I can tell you horror stories about people [there].  I do not want to have any part of that.”  Ferguson later told of visiting South Dakota.  “You cannot go anywhere for breakfast without gambling.  Those towns are dead.  It’s not doing what they wanted it to.”
• Ralph Dawson also spoke in opposition.  He pointed out that the gambling machines might “very well drive customers out of establishments.”
• “It’s not my job to decide what is or isn’t a sin,” Ellen Brady Mueller said.  “Got to bars and [you]see the same people sitting on the same stools [day after day].”  She indicated that a number are probably alcoholics, but suggested, “If that’s your addiction, you’ll find a machine.

“I think I’m probably in the same boat as the majority of the Council.

“I think it’s a fair thing to compare it to the pawn shop.  Those types of organizations tend to prey on the weak or people who are down on their luck.

“Do I find it somewhat disappointing bordering on disgusting that Illinois turns to gambling?” he asked rhetorically.

He characterized selling gambling as the answer to public financing problems as “snake oil.”

In the Illinois General Assembly, State Senator Pam Althoff voted for the authorization bill, while State Senate Dan Duffy voted, “No.”  That Roll Call is here.

In the House of Representatives Mike Tryon and Mark Beaubien voted in favor of the slot machine bill.  Jack Franks opposed it.  Here’s the House Roll Call.

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Tim Kane wrote a story on the council consideration of gambling for Crystal Lake Patch. He pointed out that I began my presentation with my “telling City Council members that the Devil will come as an attractive salesman with a tempting offer. That offer, Skinner added, would be ‘hard-core slot machines.’”

In the Northwest Herald, Brett Rowland also referenced what I said:

“‘I’m sure it would help downtown,’ he said. ‘But I’m not sure downtown needs help. You built a nice downtown district without gambling.’

“He also said that if the City Council doesn’t want pawn shops, he couldn’t understand why it would allow gambling. The council decided last month not to create an ordinance that would have allowed pawnbrokers to operate in the city.”

Here’s the view of Stephen Willson on the proposal for Crystal Lake Library improvements.

Food for thought.

Should We Build a New Library in Crystal Lake?

An open letter to the Crystal Lake City Council

Key points

• New library budget is $715 for each additional square foot of space
• Even with grant, library budget will increase by at least 36%
• Does the City Council want to raise property taxes by $115 or more per household?
• What is the tangible benefit? Will patrons borrow 36% more books? If not, what are we paying for?
• Are there cheaper alternatives, even after considering a potential loss of sales taxes?

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Proposed Addition Is Very Costly

Whether to build a new library or not is a question of value, not values.

We all support the library, we just don’t want to pay more than necessary for the services they provide.

Eight years ago, the citizens of Crystal Lake overwhelmingly voted against spending $18.8 million to build a new library.

Now the library board wants to spend $28.6 million, or 50% more than they proposed eight years ago, for an increase in usable space of 40,000 square feet.

$28.6 million divided by 40,000 square feet is $715 for each additional square foot of space!

Yes, it’s 80,000 square feet total, but the relevant number is how much additional space you get.

If you were building a 1,000 square foot addition to your home and the builder said it would cost you $715,000, would you build the addition? Luxury homes on the lake are now selling for $180 per square foot in Crystal Lake. Regular houses are selling for maybe $125 per square foot. Condos are going for $40 to $50 per square foot.

Can the City Council justify spending $715 per square foot for a new library addition?

If a $7 million grant in state tax dollars is obtained, then the City would have to finance $21.6 million.

At 4%, the annual payment on a twenty year bond would be $1.6 million.

The library’s operating budget for FY2012 is $4.4 million, of which $128,000 goes for building maintenance and a surprisingly small $500,000 is for books, videos, and subscriptions.

So a new building would increase the library’s annual budget by at least 36%, probably more because of the increased cost of maintaining a much larger building.

With 14,421 households in Crystal Lake, this is a property tax hike of $115 per family per year.

What Tangible Benefit?

Is it worth it? Is a new library worth $28.6 million? Is it worth 36% more than we’re spending now?

To answer these questions, we need to know what the library actually does.

Not what its goals are or what its mission is, but what it actually does, because if you define and count the outputs, then you can ask the logical question, “Do the increased outputs of a new library justify its cost?”

The library’s main function is to loan books and videos.

Secondarily, it offers pre-school reading programs and serves as a free Internet café.

So the first question to ask is, “For $28.6 million, will people borrow 36% more books and videos from the library?”

Will the library have 36% more books and videos to offer? Will patrons’ wait time for materials (a very small percentage of the library’s total business) be reduced 36%?

If the answer to these questions is, “No,” then a new $28.6 million library is not justified.

And has the Library actually provided any of these figures to the City Council in seeking to justify a new library? The answer to this question, sadly, is also, “No.”

Are There Cheaper Alternatives?

Now, if a new library is too expensive, there may be cheaper alternatives, and this is worth investigating – something the library board failed to do before making their proposal to the City Council.

One alternative would be to build a smaller, much cheaper one-story addition on the site and add just 50 or 60 surface parking spaces.

As it is unclear that a full 80,000 square foot library is needed, a smaller addition should be considered.

One-story commercial space runs about $80 per square foot, and parking spaces run about $2,000 each.

So a one-story 20,000 square foot addition with 50 parking spaces should cost less than $2 million, and would increase space and parking by 50%.

Is it as nice as a huge new library? No.

But would it substantially reduce the current crowded conditions? Yes.

Of course, we don’t know that even an addition of this size is justified without numbers. Doing the same amount of business with 50% more space is actually just being less efficient.

It has been suggested that the library consider buying the old Wal-Mart site or one of the other many vacant sites on Route 14. Advocates for a big new library have argued that the public wants the library to stay in its current location, but this is false because the question was never asked, “Given these two cost scenarios, would you rather have a library on Paddock or
elsewhere?” Once again, the issue is value.

There are positives to using the old Wal-Mart site. Certainly, it would be much cheaper. As noted above, finished single-story commercial space (like the Barnes & Noble, which is functionally identical to a library) costs about $80 per square foot.

At 92,000 square feet, the total budget would be about $7.4 million, with no need for an expensive parking garage and great
accessibility for the handicapped and for mom’s with strollers.

It’s also divisible space, which a new library on Paddock is not. So if, in the future, the library finds it actually needs less space, as more and more of its media become stored electronically and distributed remotely, then it could sell or lease a portion of the space on Route 14.

Can it sell excess space if it builds a one-purpose building on Paddock? No.

Lost Sales Tax

There are also downsides to relocating the library to Route 14. The City hopes someday to have a business in the old Wal-Mart space that produces sales taxes. Now, JCPenny, which owns the site, has annual sales of about $141 per square foot. So we might expect a business there to achieve annual sales of roughly $13 million. With a 1% local sales tax, the City would forego
$130,000 a year in sales taxes. The lost property and sales taxes to the City have a present value of perhaps $2.0 million.
But what about the rest of the sales tax? With a total sales tax rate of 7.75%, that’s over $1 million per year in sales taxes. Aren’t we giving up all those taxes, too? The answer is no, we’re not, because the sales that would have occurred at that site wouldn’t disappear, they’d just move elsewhere, possibly elsewhere in Crystal Lake. So the State and the County would actually lose
no sales taxes.

This all assumes, of course, that we actually lose a business by using the space for a library (an argument, by the way, that can be made for any space the library occupies, including the current location on Paddock). The old Wal-Mart has been vacant for five years now and doesn’t appear to have great prospects. A new library on that site might well jumpstart the area. So $1 million to $2 million in probable foregone taxes should be added to the cost of locating a new library on Route 14.

Other Issues

The Mayor expressed concern about all the children who currently bicycle to the library and how difficult it would be for them to ride a bike down Route 14. Actually, fewer than a dozen people, adults and children, ride a bicycle to the library on a daily basis during the good weather, and zero in winter. While I appreciate the Mayor’s concern, this argument is specious.

Another downside is what to do with the old library. There was some talk of the County wanting a courthouse annex in Crystal Lake, but this appears to be dead. If the space can be put to good use by another local government or a nonprofit, then the value can be subtracted from the cost of using the Wal-Mart or other vacant space on Route 14 for a new library. If not, then eventually the old library would probably be razed and the land sold for residential development, and demolition would probably exceed sale proceeds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of whether to build a new library and, if so, where, is a question of value to the taxpayers. While the current library is cramped, unless taxpayers obtain tangible value for the higher property taxes that would be required, then a new library is not justified from a public policy perspective. The City Council should consider all alternatives, including no addition, a cheaper one-story addition, and moving to a new location, and weigh the costs versus the tangible benefits before making a decision.

An endorsement letter from Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley arrived in Crystal Lake mailboxes on Saturday.

McConnaughay is running against Cliff Surges.

You can see the letter below:

State Treasurer Dan Rutherford appeared at a fund raiser at 1776 this morning and then attended two “Cash Dashes” in McHenry County for people looking for unclaimed assets that may be in the custody of the State Treasurer’s Office.

Such an event was held at the Algonquin Village Hall from 9-11

There was one in Crystal Lake from 2:30-4:30.

Wednesday he was in Johnsburg at the McHenry Township Hall for another Cash Dash. This one even included dinner for area senior

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hotos from the State Treasurer’s Twitter account.

A press release from those building a shooting range in Crystal Lake:

On Target Breaks Ground in Crystal Lake

Range & Tactical Training Center Targeted to Open in March of 2012

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL – Area business leaders, elected officials, and local residents joined the founders of On Target Range & Tactical Training Center this morning to break ground in the Terra Cotta Tech Business Center in Crystal Lake. On a rainy Monday morning, the attendees found much to be excited about.

“We’re so thankful for all the support we’ve received in McHenry County. So many people have already partnered up with us, from gun-rights groups and gun enthusiasts to public safety officials and firearm training organizations. We’re all eagerly anticipating the Grand Opening in March of 2012,” said Founding Partner Bo Strom of Charles River Group.

Taking part in the groundbreaking, Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce President Gary Reese lauded the business.

“We are always excited to see new businesses come into town. There is a lot of positive growth happening in Crystal Lake, and I want to thank you all for being part of the economic revitalization of our wonderful community.”

There were a number of other notable individuals in attendance, including McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler.

Said Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley,

“In addition to the economic benefits this new business will bring to Crystal Lake, we’re also excited because of what it will do for our police department. Currently our officers have to travel to Winnebago County for their training, but when On Target opens they will be able to complete their training right here in town. That is invaluable.”

About On Target Range & Tactical Training Center:

On Target features a 20,500-square-foot indoor range offering a 12-position 75-foot Pistol Range and a 12-position 150-foot Rifle Range.

Also located within the facilities are

• a large firearm and ammunition retail store,
• a gunsmith shop, and
• several classrooms featuring regular trainings and classes.

Hours of operation are anticipated to be 10am-8pm Monday-Saturday and 10am-7pm Sunday. For more information on On Target visit www.OnTargetSite.com or call (815) 477-2020.

The expensive Tax Increment Financing District remake of Virginia Street from Kwik Kopy to the Pizza Hut is finished “on time and on budget,” Mayor Aaron Shepley told a group of contractors and local businessmen this morning on the northeast corner of McCormick Park.

The city web site says the whole project is estimated to cost $9.3 million. (I have a call into the Finance Department for a better answer, but was told to file a Freedom of Information request, which usually takes a week to get an answer. This article will not wait that long, so if city officials want to be more precise, they can call or leave a comment.)

Add to that the State Department of Transportation spend on the highway repaving.

I see $3 million for property acquisition (look below) in the TIF district, which probably isn’t part of the streetscape. There is another $2.5 million for parking, which may or may not represent money for re-working the parking spaces on the north side of Virginia Street.

Shepley extolled the new look, saying it would look even better next year when the plantings were put in.

He explained that the idea was to make Crystal Lake’s original “Main Street” look like Downtown.

For those who don’t know, Crystal Lake was combined with a village called Nunda that grew up around the train station Downtown.  The merger explains why the lake resort community streets don’t always fit those in the other part of town.  (I remember we got lost a lot when we moved here in 1958.)

The TIF project includes signs pointing to Downtown.

Star 105.5 radio host Joe Cicero suggested a ribbon cutting to celebrate the end of road and “streetscape” construction (and re-construction, as sections of the new asphalt was removed so decorative walkways could be added at Dole and McHenry Avenues).

Shepley said the idea came up 13 years ago at a visioning meeting. There were 21 ideas for the 21st Century, he said.

This idea was pushed by Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller, Shepley said.

After the ceremony I asked Mayor Shepley if there would be another TIF District to continue the streetscaping east of Fifth Third Bank and Pizza Hut.

That’s where the new black light poles, new sidewalks and landscaping end.

Tax Increment Financing District money can only be spent within the boundaries of TIF districts.

“There are no present plans for another TIF,” he said deliberately.

“What the future brings, who knows?”

He added that I had taught him “never to say never.”

I also talked to Shepley about the lost parking places on the north side of Virginia Street.

Pointing to at least two parking spaces that are now covered by grass in front of the white building on the corner of Pomeroy and Virginia, I offered the opinion that it would never be occupied by a business again because of the parking the re-designed of the streetscape had eliminated.

I got the feeling that such implications of less on-street parking had not occurred to him.

Unintended consequences of governmental actions almost always happen.

But some can consequences can be predicted.

It’s not as if the Virginia Street Corridor, the official name of the project, has lots of off street parking similar to Downtown’s.

Two restauranteurs were present for the ceremony, 1776′s Andy Andreski and Andy’s Family Restaurant’s Angie Angelos.

Andresky revealed that the construction season had cut down on his business by 35%.

Angelos declined to offer an estimate, but said that if it were not for her parking lot across the street and loyal customers, not to mention her “construction specials,” business would have been a lot worse.  (She plans “End of Construction” specials now.)

Andresky said he though four business had gone out of business during the traffic snarls.

A commenter names Mark added the following information in a previous post entitled,

“Message of the Day – Waste“

VIRGINIA STREET CORRIDOR TAX INCREMENT FINANCING REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AND PROGRAM City of Crystal Lake, Illinois, February 2005

http://www.crystallake.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=519

A 50 page document stating:

Total Estimated Project Costs: $9,291,000

2003 Equalized Assessed Valuations: $9,845,120

It is estimated that the incremental increase in property taxes over the term of the TIF District in 2003 dollars will be $12,085,875.

Upon the completion of anticipated redevelopment projects it is estimated that the equalized assessed valuation of real property within the Project Area will be in excess of $26,080,000.

This represents an approximate 165% increase in the total equalized assessed valuation.

The following taxing districts cover the proposed Project Area:

Algonquin Township, Algonquin Township Road and Bridge, City of Crystal Lake Fire, Crystal Lake Park District, City of Crystal Lake, College District #528, Crystal Lake Library, McHenry County, McHenry County Conservation District, School District #47, and School District #155.

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The way TIF districts work is that everyone outside of the area pays the bill.

That’s because tax districts are deprived of any increase in assessed valuation. The municipality gets all the money from increase assessments to spend in the TIF area. Besides the new lights, sidewalks, signs, brick-like decorations along the sidewalks, planters, etc., the City Council has provided money to various property owners for new signs, new lights, landscaping, and probably other improvements to private business property.

Unless those deprived tax districts bump into their tax ceiling, which hasn’t happened yet since the Tax Cap took effect, they will just raise their tax rates to make up the difference.

Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church began the day for those attending the first McHenry County Catholic Prayer Breakfast.

Boulder Ridge Country Club was the next destination.

Down Randall Road to Miller Road the cars drove.

The place was packed.

Over 500 people by one estimate.

After the welcome by event chairman Fred Wickham and a prayer by Msgr. Daniel Hermes, breakfast was served.

A prayer for our country’s leaders, out nation and families was offered by Jeff Ladd, Jr.

There were politicians courting votes.

Both Congressman Randy Hultgren and Joe Walsh were in attendance.

The two are Pro-Life.

The sanctity of human life was one of the topics of the main speaker, Raymond Cardinal Burke.

Another was birth control.

The Cardinal spoke at length.

The Cardinal’s biography identifies him as “one of the foremost authorities on Roman Catholic cannon law.

“Raymond Cardinal Burke leads with an unwavering passion for the integrity of Catholic doctrine embodied in the words of Jesus Christ,” it continues.

The Cardinal was born in 1948 in Richland Center, Wisconsin.

Ordained by Pope Paul VI in 1975 in Rome, one of his first assignments was teaching religion at Aquinas High School in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

After studying canon law at Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, he became the first American to hold the position of Defender of the Bond of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Catholic Church’s supreme court.

He now serves Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, to which post he was appointed in 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI.

McHenry County’s local prelate, Rockford-based Bishop Thomas Doran, helped celebrate the Mass and gave a talk at the breakfast.

Brian Burch, President of CatholicVote.org, also spoke to the group. It’s a lay movement of committed Catholics who “are passionate about living our the truths proclaimed by Christ and His Church in the modern world.”

Issues promoted include

• the dignity of the human person from conception until natural death
• the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman
• religious freedom for all people

But, back to political figures in McHenry County.

Candidate for Coroner Anne Majewski was in an exuberant mode.

I saw a photo of Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley.

From the program, I see that County Board member Nick Provenzano played a role.

So did County Board candidate Mary Alger.

County Board member Barbara Wheeler, who is running for State Representative, was caught posing with Patriots United Brian Kelly and Judge Michael Chmiel.

You see Jean Bianchi with Rosemary and Bob Blazier in the photo below, so I assume State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi was also present.

Below is a list of the members of the Board of Directors of the prayer breakfast.

In Friday’s Chicago Tribune column, John Kass wrote about Bill Cellini’s laugh.

I sensed Kass believed that when Cellini laughed incriminated him. Read the piece and draw your own conclusion.

And, if you want to hear Cellini’s laugh listen to the YouTube video of Cellini interaction with Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley.

I note that the Northwest Herald ran a front page story about Cellini’s trail Friday, but did not mention he and colleagues won the Vulcan Lakes Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District development bid. I find that a bit strange because the NW Herald broke the story.

In any event, take a listen below:

Here’s a longer version that puts the snippet above in context: