There used to be a rundown house on west side of Route 47 near the intersection of Interstate 55 near Dwight.
My father used to see structures like this and observe that it was listed by Century 19, a play on Century 21.
When I was on my way to Bob Wargaski’s Pigapalooza May 3, I saw this farm building that certainly could be listed by the same real estate firm.
It was southwest of the intersection of North Darrell and West Case Roads.
After publishing my Island Lake Pig Farmer Pigapalooza story, I was informed by Bob Wargaski that it was not a “victory party,” as I wrote.
I’ll let him speak for himself in his email, which is below:
“Actually it was not.“What I discovered was that when people go to village hall meetings it can be intimidating, to stand up and ask questions from the audience.
“So I thought why not invite the electorate and constituents to a casual atmosphere. I was very careful not to let it be construed in any other way.
“What I did was to invite all the newly elected representatives and current village officials from Lakemoor, Volo, Wauconda, Island Lake, Wauconda Township, Nunda Township and Moranine Sanitary District to come out and let their constituents chat and talk to them while chewing on pork and potatoes with a beer to discuss the pork our government is spending.
“My issue with Island Lake is done and over, the event had nothing to do celebrating and type of victory.
“The amount of my money and taxpayer money spent is nothing to celebrate.
“Actually it is a sad issue what the previous Island Lake government did.”
Now that I think about it, Wargaski told me how he had invited various local officials. And I remember meeting some.
May 3rd, the day my computer crashed, I attended Bob Wargaski’s Pigapalooza in Island Lake at the corner of Dowell and Darrell Roads.
This is the site of the NIMBY pig farm.
The pig farm was stimulated by Island Lake’s sneaky village board’s having made a deal with a developer to switch the site for a well from the preferred site on a hill to a lower spot where home sites would be worth less.
The pig roast was to celebrate Wargaski’s pig pen victory over village hall.
I got a tour of the concrete block pig pen.
Wargaski told me it was the smallest in Illinois.
When he showed me the inside, I discovered it was empty.
No pigs.
That surprised me.
What’s a pig farm without pigs?
But, Wargaski explained, the pig pen had the essential element needed to stop a nearby well—poop in the hole.
The hole is under the slates in the bottom of the pig pen.
It seems that as long as there is pig poop in that hole a well cannot be built next door.
A water tower could still be put up across from Wargaski’s home, but the way he figures it, the cost of electricity to pump the water from another well would be prohibitive.
With as many politically active people gathered together, you can guess that I picked up some good rumors.
Lake County State’s Attorney’s investigators are talking to village employees.
Sometime this week seems to be a date by which those not pleased with the way outgoing and arrested Mayor Tom Hyde ran things expect something to happen.
Time will tell.
You know, of course, that you can’t get swine flu from eating pork.
Since a lot of people are not that knowledgeable and I like pork, I figure the cost of my meat will go down as the fraidy cats stop buying pork.
And Island Lake’s NIMBY pig farmer Bob Wargaski is still holding his pig roast this Sunday from 1-5. He’s calling is a “Pigapalooza.”
You remember him. He’s the one who started a pig farm with the powers that be in Island Lake cut a deal with a developer to let him build houses on higher ground, the best site for a new village well, and, instead, decided to put it right across from Wargaski’s property.
There was a big fight, which Wargaski won.
Tickets are $8 each (good price!) and one entitles you to a plate of roast pig and red potatoes.
If they run out, there will be buffalo burgers.
If you have any questions regarding tickets, please call 815-385-7120. Want more, pop for another ticket.
And speaking of pop, soda pop and beer will be available for purchase.
I am sure the recent Island Lake elections will be discussed, but look at the invitees—local legislators State Senator Dan Duffy and State Representative Mark Beaubien, Lake County Board member Bonnie Thompson Carter, plus lots of municipal officials, plus Governor Pat Quinn.
Somehow I image that Governor Quinn won’t make the affair. If he does, he will undoubtedly find some TEA Party sympathizers.
Island Lake pig farmer Bob Wargaski. he who fought and beat “city hall,” lives outside the village limits, but obviously has “had it up to here” with the way the incumbents have run things there.
He commissioned the cartoon you see with the message
He clearly hopes that Island Lake voters “clean house.”
In the pot are
Wargaski offers the following advice to voters, which is not limited to Island Lake’s:
“Even in times of uncertainty, you still live in the greatest democracy of the world.“Embedded in the foundation that our predecessors created, is the opportunity for citizens to choose their governing leaders.
“It is all citizens’ responsibility to know the integrity, creed and qualifications of those they elect to represent them.
“As you approach your opportunity to exercise your voting rights, make sure you educate yourself on those candidates seeking to lead your local government.
“Are they qualified?
“Do they conduct themselves with integrity? Are they knowledgeable?
“Are they willing to seek the truth?
“You don’t want to elect those with a self-serving credo.
“Your choice will have lasting ramifications on your community.
“One way or another, you will be directly affected by those who are handed the scepter of power, good or bad.
“Long ago my grandfather said to me, ‘Listen to the mouth, but watch the feet, it is a dead giveaway to who the person really is.’”
Click to enlarge the cartoon or the picture of Bob Wargaski using his hand as a gun like two Island Lake village officials said “threatening” tee shirt wearing Vietnam Veteran Greg Kachka before they had him arrested.
= = = =
In the group shot was taken the day Fox News was in Island Lake to interview Greg Kachka. On Kachks’s flag-bedecked front lawn are Laurie Rabattini, who has the “What’s happening in Island Lake?” blog and running for village board, her finance, who was filming also, Rob Rekosiewicz, Tom Martin, a former trustee who wife is running for village clerk Bob Wargaski pointing with his unloaded hand, Dave Labuz, and Teresa and Village Trustee John Ponio, who is running for village president, plus homeowner Kachka, who is also running for village trustee. The village trustee candidate on the slate that Wargaski is supporting who is missing from the photo is local contractor Dwaine Schaal, whose family has been a part of Island Lake since its beginning. He’s interested in cleaning up the corruption in Island Lake.
One tote over the Island Lake line resident Bob Wargaski didn’t lie down and take it when people made that suggestion to him.
Be steamrolled by Mayor Tom Hyde and his majority?
No way.
And on December 23rd, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency agreed with arguments he had made to the Lake County Health Department that the well casing installed wasn’t good enough for a permanent well.
OK for a test well, I was told by the EPA, but not good enough for a well to draw drinking water for the public.
Want to see what a letter ending a fight that probably cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars looks like?
Here it is:
Even the Daily Herald recognized the significance of Wargaski’s victory.
Entitled
Daily Herald editorial writers characterize the disputed “a pretty good example of government hardheadedness.”
I must admit that I have not seen a pig farm used as an anti-development tool before.
POV, a commenter under the editorial lays out what happened:
“follow the money. The Village had plans to put is somewhere else, but a $developer$ petitioned them to move it so he could build $ a development without the eyesore of a water tower to detract from his bottom $ line.“So because the village wanted to accommodate $ the developer $ and make more $ tax revenue from the new homes, they decided to aquiesse to the request from the $developer$ and move it to Mr Wargaski’s back yard.
“But they did not figure on the $ power of Mr Wargaski or his creativity and gonads to fight them.
“It is always about $money and $power.
“I hope some lessons were learned.”
The editorial said,
“Wargaski emerges as a folk hero to any suburbanite ever bullied by a government agency in the name of the public good.“Whether or not you agree with him, Wargaski’s lesson is an individual thinking creatively can take on a heavy-handed government.”
All images can be enlarged by clicking on them. You can find links to other McHenry County Blog articles on this subject here.
One tote over the Island Lake line resident Bob Wargaski didn’t lie down and take it when people made that suggestion to him.
Be steamrolled by Mayor Tom Hyde and his majority?
No way.
And on December 23rd, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency agreed with arguments he had made to the Lake County Health Department that the well casing installed wasn’t good enough for a permanent well.
OK for a test well, I was told by the EPA, but not good enough for a well to draw drinking water for the public.
Want to see what a letter ending a fight that probably cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars looks like?
Here it is:
Even the Daily Herald recognized the significance of Wargaski’s victory.
Entitled
Daily Herald editorial writers characterize the disputed “a pretty good example of government hardheadedness.”
I must admit that I have not seen a pig farm used as an anti-development tool before.
POV, a commenter under the editorial lays out what happened:
“follow the money. The Village had plans to put is somewhere else, but a $developer$ petitioned them to move it so he could build $ a development without the eyesore of a water tower to detract from his bottom $ line.“So because the village wanted to accommodate $ the developer $ and make more $ tax revenue from the new homes, they decided to aquiesse to the request from the $developer$ and move it to Mr Wargaski’s back yard.
“But they did not figure on the $ power of Mr Wargaski or his creativity and gonads to fight them.
“It is always about $money and $power.
“I hope some lessons were learned.”
The editorial said,
“Wargaski emerges as a folk hero to any suburbanite ever bullied by a government agency in the name of the public good.“Whether or not you agree with him, Wargaski’s lesson is an individual thinking creatively can take on a heavy-handed government.”
All images can be enlarged by clicking on them. You can find links to other McHenry County Blog articles on this subject here.
I didn’t have time to put together anything on my own, so I offer the following article from “What’s Happening in Island Lake?”
“It’s official —Bob Wargaski won his battle against the Village of Island Lake over the well.
“According to papers and other sources, the IEPA has denied VOIL the required permit to move forward with their plans to build a well at Dowell & Darrell roads.
“The well was originally slated by the village engineers, Baxter & Woodman, to be located in a more central location, but after a developer allegedly paid the VOIL $55,000 to move the tower away from his proposed new home development, the battle between Wargaski and VOIL (Village of Island Lake) began.
“This is a huge victory for Bob Wargaski because three years ago he asked Tom Hyde not to put the Tower across from his property but according to Wargaski, Hyde said he will do what he wants, where he wants and you can’t stop me.
“And so the battle began.”
McHenry County Blog articles that might be of interest:
May 08, 2008 – Pig Farm as Anti-Development Tool
May 09, 2008 – Kill the Pig Farm
June 05, 2008 – Bob Wargaski Digs Pig Poop Pit Next to Proposed Island Lake Water Tower and Well Site
June 20, 2008 – Would John Kass Get Arrested in Island Lake?
September 13, 2008 – Daily Herald Comparison of Island Lake Mayor Tom Hyde with Sarah Palin Answered
October 04, 2008 – Daily Herald’s Small Town Mayor Comparison to Sarah Palin Arrested
October 13, 2008 – Island Lake Misses Hit in Tribune Article
October 25, 2008 – Illinois Ag Dept. Gives Final Approval to Island Lake Pig Farm
November 11, 2008 – Island Lake Neighbors of the Inoperative Well Fear Ground Water Contamination
November 19, 2008 – Ridicule in Island Lake
November 20, 2008 – Lake County Health Department Replies to Pig Farmer’s and Neighbors’ Complaint about Island Lake’s Uncapped Well
Alongside of the links to prior articles is a December 23, 2008, letter from the Lake County Health Department that might be of interest. Click to on the pages of the letter to make the images large enough to read.
I didn’t have time to put together anything on my own, so I offer the following article from “What’s Happening in Island Lake?”
“According to papers and other sources, the IEPA has denied VOIL the required permit to move forward with their plans to build a well at Dowell & Darrell roads.
“The well was originally slated by the village engineers, Baxter & Woodman, to be located in a more central location, but after a developer allegedly paid the VOIL $55,000 to move the tower away from his proposed new home development, the battle between Wargaski and VOIL (Village of Island Lake) began.
“This is a huge victory for Bob Wargaski because three years ago he asked Tom Hyde not to put the Tower across from his property but according to Wargaski, Hyde said he will do what he wants, where he wants and you can’t stop me.
“And so the battle began.”
McHenry County Blog articles that might be of interest:
May 08, 2008 – Pig Farm as Anti-Development Tool
May 09, 2008 – Kill the Pig Farm
June 05, 2008 – Bob Wargaski Digs Pig Poop Pit Next to Proposed Island Lake Water Tower and Well Site
June 20, 2008 – Would John Kass Get Arrested in Island Lake?
September 13, 2008 – Daily Herald Comparison of Island Lake Mayor Tom Hyde with Sarah Palin Answered
October 04, 2008 – Daily Herald’s Small Town Mayor Comparison to Sarah Palin Arrested
October 13, 2008 – Island Lake Misses Hit in Tribune Article
October 25, 2008 – Illinois Ag Dept. Gives Final Approval to Island Lake Pig Farm
November 11, 2008 – Island Lake Neighbors of the Inoperative Well Fear Ground Water Contamination
November 19, 2008 – Ridicule in Island Lake
November 20, 2008 – Lake County Health Department Replies to Pig Farmer’s and Neighbors’ Complaint about Island Lake’s Uncapped Well
Alongside of the links to prior articles is a December 23, 2008, letter from the Lake County Health Department that might be of interest. Click to on the pages of the letter to make the images large enough to read.
Prospective Island Lake pig farmer Bob Wargaski and he neighbors complained to various governmental agencies about the Village of Island Lake’s ungrouted well.
This week they got a reply from Water Well Program Coordinator Lawrence J. Mackey of the Lake County Health Department.
He writes (click to enlarge the size of the print below) he checked the construction report and had one of his staff call the well drilling company. And, you know what, the report says it was grouted.
Standard procedure, don’t you know, for a private well.
But, well, not for a public well.
No danger of contamination, though.
Wargaski called Mackey and, but, allow me to let him tell the story:
“I called him and said I absolutely understand that a driven well with bentonite around the casing as it is pounded in would fall into the minimum standards of the well code.“I said there is one problem, I was there when they drilled the well and it was not driven in it it was oversized to a 12 inch rotary mud cut with a 10 inch pipe put in, leaving a 2 inch annulus around it, which was not grouted.
“In fact I also have the sketch (click to enlarge) from the IEPA submitted by the villages engineering firm drawn the day before the village received their ‘as built’ construction permit on May 13, 2008 that corroborates what I am saying. He said to send him the info I had from the IEPA and he was going to personally call the well driller to find out exactly what was going on.
“Somebody is lying!!!”
Latest Posts
