McHenry County Blog

And the “IF” was in capital letters.

Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano and Joseph Gottemoller, attorney for Metra, appear before the Crystal Lake City Council seeking permission to proceed with annexation of the land for a Ridgefield commuter station.

Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano returned to his home town city council for a second time seeking permission to proceed with plans seeking approval for a new commuter train station in Ridgefield next to the old 84 and new Alexandra Lumber location.

The proposal debated by city council members basically said that if Metra met all the requirements set by the city council that it could gain annexation to the city.

Mayor Aaron Shepley framed the debate like this:

“The question is solely whether council wishes to assume control of development of this project.”

At the end of the debate, the council voted 5-2 to assume control. Jeff Thorsen and Ralph Dawson voted “No.”

Jeff Thorsen registered his complaint about what he saw as the one-sided nature of the agreement.

Thorsen thought the agreement too one-sided.

“The agreement does not even require they ever annex,” he said. “At the end of the day, we can’t say ‘No.’ You can say ‘No.’”

He worried that if money is needed to enforce Crystal Lake’s Watershed Ordinance that Metra would not have to pay its fair share.

Shepley wondered if Thorsen wanted county government to be the approving governmental entity, as it was for 84 Lumber, which property covers more of the watershed than would be allowed had it been annexed to Crystal Lake.

“If the county wants to be irresponsible about developing it, then it’s not on my shoulders,” Thorsen replied.

Later Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller pointed out that the proposed 2030 Plan for county land development does not recognize Crystal Lake’s Watershed Ordinance.

Ralph Dawson views a Ridgefield Metra Station in Crystal Lake as a way to stretch city police forces too thin.

Ralph Dawson worried about extending city police protection still farther, pointing out that the Pingree Road Station had had vandalism problems, which Crystal Lake Police had to handle.

“It’s a far stretch from the city limits,” Dawson said. “I cannot support the City of Crystal Lake annexing the station. I don’t think the city should be obligated to go that far out to give it service.”

Trying to pour water on the fire, Pagano affirmed, “Metra intends to work with the city on the watershed…and traffic.”

Still Dawson concluded,

“I don’t see my taxpayers to benefit on this project.”

Brady Mueller asked,

“Are we out there already?”

Police Chief David Lindner pointed out that his force already served nearby McHenry County College and

“If there is a request from the Sheriff and we’re closer, we go out there.”

Ellen Brady Mueller argued for city control of the Crystal Lake watershed on which the proposed Metra station would be located.

Brady Mueller wanted to know,

“Why in the world would we want to give up a piece of property in the watershed?”

“We want to have the control.”

Cathy Ferguson agreed:

“I want control. I have enormous traffic concerns.”

Both relative newcomers Brett Hopkins and Carolyn Schofield concurred.

“I’d absolutely like to see it under control of the city, rather than the county,” Schofield said.

Summing up, Shepley said,

"If we say, 'No', we're counting on somebody else to do our job," Mayor Aaron Shepley said.

“We have fought like wolverines to control what goes on in the watershed. It’s not just our right; it’s our obligation.

“There is no done deal. Mr. Hopkins said it. The only question is who should we be dealing with.

“The downside for them is if they don’t meet our standards, they still have to go to the county.

“As far as police enforcement goes, Mr. Dawson, I think that is a fair concern. If it should go to the county we’ll still be the first responders.

“The difference is that the benefits will not fall to the Crystal Lake side of the ledger.

“If we say ,’No,’ we’re counting on somebody else to do our job.”

Dawson suggested the county was “in a new era. They’re talking about water, at least they’re making waves in an election year.”

“If the county is good, we’re better,” Shepley stated. “We owe it to the people to protect their interest.”

In one of the first county board fund raisers of the year, McHenry County College Board member Donna Kurtz gathered supporters at The Cottage at the corner of Crystal Lake Avenue and Brink Street Thursday night.

Kurtz is running to replace either incumbent County Board Chairman Ken Koehler or member Lyn Orphal in the early February Republican primary election.

Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen introduced the candidate.

“I am very, very, very enthusiastic supporter of Donna Kurtz,” he said. “We need someone with her honesty and integrity in county board government.”

Kurtz said she was inspired by her mother former State Rep. Rosemary Kurtz’ concern for environmental protection and former State Rep. Cal Skinner’s fiscal conservativeness. Rep. Kurtz defeated Rep. Skinner in the 2000 GOP primary election.

Former State Reps. Rosemary Kurtz and Cal Skinner, plus McHenry County College Board member and County Board candidate Donna Kurtz. (Jeff Thorsen commented that this should be sent to Ripley's Believe It or Not.)

“As many of you know, the world goes full circle.”

Kurtz said she running for the board of directors of a $260 million organization, McHenry County government.

Reflecting on her service on the McHenry County College Board, Kurtz said it had taught her this lesson:

“You gotta do your own research. Everyone’s got their own agenda.”

She didn’t say she was reflecting on her support of building a minor league baseball stadium on college property and, then, changing her mind with the announcement being at the Crystal Lake City Council meeting the night re-zoning was being discussed, but that might be a good guess.

“My courage was driven by my thought I couldn’t stand not to do the right thing,” she stated.

Besides Thorsen, City Council members Carolyn Schofield and Brett Hopkins were in attendance, as were park board members Mike Walkup and Richard Sexton.

McHenry County Recorder of Deeds Phyllis Walters, who actually lives in District 2 in the tiny bit of Algonquin in the district was also in attendance, as was Nunda Township Supervisor John Heisler.

Members of A-LAW, the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water were in attendance. The group recently proposed strict potential conflict disclosure rules for county elected and appointed officials.  The Alden Road Alliance was also represented. District 3 county board candidate Craig Steagall, who actively opposes the location of the proposed Ridgefield Metra station on Country Club Road, also was present.

Touchdown Sponsor

• Tamara Kurtz

Field Goal Sponsors

• Erv & Louise Lecoque
• Dr. Robert & Carol Minkus

Safety Sponsors

• Jeannine Thoms
• Connie Zukowski
• Scott Summers
• Jewel Hahn
• Jill Hartman

Extra Point Sponsors

• Keith & Marge Nygren
• Phyllis Walters
• Bill & Alice Howenstine
• James & Diane Gesler
• Lou Ann & Jerome Majewski
• Jean Plews
• Patricia Floeter
• Brett & Tina Hopkins

Traffic will be a major sticking point on Metra’s proposed Ridgefield commuter station the same was it was for the baseball stadium proposed for McHenry County College.

The Crystal Lake City Council unanimously approved Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller’s motion to reject SEC, which used to be called Smith Engineering, as the firm to provide the traffic study for the Ridgefield station which Metra wants annexed into the city.

Council members decided they would rather have one of their already authorized consultants do the study.

Metra preferred SEC because it had been contracted to do a study for a future Lily Pond Road site called East Woodstock, as well as for Ridgefield.

Questions about traffic arose from all quarters.

Carolyn Schofield: “My main concerns will be traffic and the watershed.”

Brett Hopkins: “I’m concerned about traffic”

Jeff Thorsen concurred, “You’re engineer hasn’t addressed the western development we know is going to come…I’d rather go with our pool of traffic consultants. I’m already looking at two studies that are pretty opposite.”

Thorsen also made the same pitch he made in the baseball stadium traffic discussion–that Briarwood and Route 176 be included.  He pointed out that there had been another accident there earlier in the day.

Kathy Ferguson:  “I have some concerns about traffic. You’re going to change the whole tone and tenor of that area.”

Ferguson also told of driving to the courthouse on Country Club Road for jury duty. She commented negatively on the current danger at the curve.

“The line of sight when you’re coming around those corners has to be addressed.”

During extended public comment by Craig Steagall, the owner of land Metra considered buying across the tracks from that which is half-owned by McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, he bent his arms to demonstrate the intersection problem in Downtown Ridgefield.

Mueller talking about traffic: “I don’t know how to make it work without moving the houses that are out there…I myself cannot support having a traffic consultant not going through the normal process.”

Mayor Aaron Shepley empathized with Metra: “It would be awfully difficult to change (horses in midstream).”

Ralph Dawson took a different approach: “What are we going to get out of it? How long will (it take for) my police cars have to be dispatched out there? Why do we want to annex it? We’re already stretched out. I have a county police department that is more than adequate to police that station.”

Metra attorney Joe Gottemoller explained that he thought Crystal Lake wanted to annex the entire watershed of Crystal Lake. The station is within that watershed.

Mayor Shepley summed up the reason for annexing the property: “With an annexation into Crystal Lake you have a greater control on what the project will look like,” adding the city would have more influence over the traffic problems.”

His conclusion: “The deal breaker here—it’s all about the traffic.”

Shepley specifically mentioned the inadequate Ridgefield railroad crossing.

Both Mueller and Steagall are candidates for a Republican nomination for the McHenry County Board, Mueller in District 2 and Steagall in District 3.

Two years ago a Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commissioner ousted Howie Christensen from his city council seat.

Yesterday another Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commissioner defeated incumbent Dave Goss.

When swearing in time comes, Carolyn Schofield will join her former commissioner colleague Brett Hopkins in the council chambers.

This is the second time for this engineer’s name has been on the council ballot.

She ran two years ago and placed sixth out of six candidates.

Schofield ran first, undoubtedly aided by her being first on the ballot and her being a woman.

Second place went to incumbent Jeff Thorsen, while incumbent Ralph Dawson took third.

Goss, who placed fourth, was partially responsible for his loss in that he chose to file in the middle of the week, rather than at the beginning or at the end of filing.

That resulted in a less than ideal ballot position of fifth out of eight for Goss.

He got only 55% of Dawson’s votes.

The top three candidates on the ballot won. I’ve been calling them, perhaps incorrectly, the anti-McHenry County College baseball stadium slate.

Of course, part of Goss’ loss might be attributed to his having voted for the 75% city sales tax increase. But, so did Dawson.

The other five candidates received the indicated votes:

• Kay Stanish – 647
• Mike Shorten – 474
• Sal DiBenedetto – 414
• David Bradford – 399

Now, to the losers, I would suggest you take heart. Re-read the paragraph that says the top vote getter in 2009 was the lowest vote getter two years ago.

If you are a man, you can’t change your gender and get the five percentage point advantage that I am sure exists in this area, but you could get lucky and obtain first ballot position like Schofield did.

And you could be as determined to win as she was.

= = = = =
The winners appear from highest vote on down. Carolyn Schofield is on top, Jeff Thorsen second and Ralph Dawson third.

Tucked away on the last page of the Crystal Lake Council minutes for May 6, 2008, is the report of a 4-3 vote to re- appoint Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Tom Hayden and outspoken member Jim Batastini.

The council members voting against the two were Ellen Brady Mueller, Cathy Ferguson and Dave Goss.

The council members voting in support of reappointment were Ralph Dawson, Jeff Thorsen, Brett Hopkins.

Breaking the tie was Mayor Aaron Shepley.

Hayden is a former city councilman. Batastini ran for city council against Mueller and Ferguson last time around. The two women and Goss supported bringing a minor league baseball stadium to McHenry County College.

Dawson, Thorsen and Hopkins were on the opposite side of the MCC re-zoning issue, supporting the Planning and Zoning Commission’s unanimous vote to oppose allowing a baseball stadium at MCC. By their vote, the three voting for re-appointment killed the proposal because the Planning and Zoning Commission’s vote triggered an extraordinary majority vote requirement.

Shepley, of course, led city efforts to bring a minor league baseball team to McHenry County College.

Tucked away on the last page of the Crystal Lake Council minutes for May 6, 2008, is the report of a 4-3 vote to re- appoint Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Tom Hayden and outspoken member Jim Batastini.

The council members voting against the two were Ellen Brady Mueller, Cathy Ferguson and Dave Goss.

The council members voting in support of reappointment were Ralph Dawson, Jeff Thorsen, Brett Hopkins.

Breaking the tie was Mayor Aaron Shepley.

Hayden is a former city councilman. Batastini ran for city council against Mueller and Ferguson last time around. The two women and Goss supported bringing a minor league baseball stadium to McHenry County College.

Dawson, Thorsen and Hopkins were on the opposite side of the MCC re-zoning issue, supporting the Planning and Zoning Commission’s unanimous vote to oppose allowing a baseball stadium at MCC. By their vote, the three voting for re-appointment killed the proposal because the Planning and Zoning Commission’s vote triggered an extraordinary majority vote requirement.

Shepley, of course, led city efforts to bring a minor league baseball team to McHenry County College.

Yesterday, I wrote about the 75% sales tax hike that the Crystal Lake City Council passed Tuesday night after giving the public only one week’s notice.

You may have missed the article because at midnight Tuesday night, I posted it under the “Message of the Day” for Tuesday, rather than under Wednesday’s (ALAS). It focuses on Mayor Aaron Shepley’s summation of the case for making Crystal Lake’s sales tax rate as high as Algonquin’s.

Today, I’ll lay out what those who voted “Yes” said.

It didn’t take a lot of time, so I was furiously taking notes and didn’t get many photos.

First up was Ralph Dawson.

“This is going to be tough selling this to the public,” Dawson said. “Yes, it is.

“(We) don’t want to ‘fall behind’ on roads.

“What will this do to Crystal Lake? People want a quality of life,” he continued.

“If we can improve our police department…

“The railroad tracks are stopping all development on Main Street.

“Vulcan Lakes. That has been a buzz word. They want Vulcan Lakes as recreation..

“Our lake (Crystal Lake) has become very restrictive. It is at its maximum,” Dawson said, pointing out that many people could make use of Vulcan Lake.

“It’s going to cost us a lot of money.

“Everything in this tells you to say, ‘No.’

“I have to support this to keep this city where it is right now. It’s a great city,” he concluded.

Seat mate Ellen Brady Mueller was second at bat.

Referring to the Vulcan Lakes development, she said, “There is no other way to pay for it.

“If truly it (low) sales taxes (encouraged people) to (come to) town, all the business would be in Crystal Lake,” she continued.

Mueller pointed out that two years ago Algonquin had increased its sales tax to the level in the motion being considered and “they continue to develop. So, I think this is a much better alternative than raising the (property) tax.”

Next, Dave Goss was short and sweet:

”Look forward five years and see what will be requested, the amount of money we’re going to have to put into infrastructure.

“I expect to be able to all of that with the sales tax.”

Cathy Ferguson spoke after Jeff Thorsen’s negative comments.

“No decision has come (harder) for this council. (It’s) different when (you) look at…things as a whole.

“We had a strategic planning meeting. It took a long time for that plan to reach fruition.”

She went on to explain what the council had “explored.”

“We did have discussions with the Conservation District about Vulcan and they turned us down.”

(I have to say that I never got wind that the city was talking to MCCD. )

Ferguson went on to talk about “private-public partnerships.”

“People are saying why should government subsidize private business.

“I think we need this tax to keep moving. We need to keep our amenities so people will continue to want to live in Crystal Lake.

“I am reluctantly, but I am in agreement with this proposal,” she concluded.

Brett Hopkins, the newest member, was last to speak before Mayor Aaron Shepley (whose comments appeared in yesterday’s story).

He keyed in on three topics:

1- Public safety,

2- Roads and infrastructure, and

3- Economic Development.

I caught part of a thought only about the Tax Increment Financing districts: “I think if we took the TIF money…”

“Maybe part of the problem is that we’ve been doing nothing.

“(Time to) take some of that money and invest it in Crystal Lake.”

Hopkins reported getting several quite hostile emails.

“You have every right to be angry at me personally,” he said. “Don’t be angry at the merchants in Crystal Lake.”

Next up was Shepley, who started off by saying,

“Don’t take all that on yourself”

to Hopkins.

= = = = =
The city council members who supported the tax increase are seen on top of the article. On the first line are Dave Goss, Ellen Brady Mueller and Ralph Dawson. Below them are Brett Hopkins and Cathy Ferguson.

One of the sales tax hike justification slides about Vulcan Lakes is shown at the top of Ellen Brady Mueller comments.

There is a map of the McHenry County Conservation District’s sites above Ferguson’s comment about Crystal Lake’s having approached the MCCD. You will note there is nothing but a bike trail in or near Crystal Lake. Read about the $90,000 that Crystal Lake got from the $68.5 million bond issue of the early 2000’s. Ask them how much of the $73 million bond issue passed last year will make it to Crystal Lake Grade School District 47 territory.

Yesterday, I wrote about the 75% sales tax hike that the Crystal Lake City Council passed Tuesday night after giving the public only one week’s notice.

You may have missed the article because at midnight Tuesday night, I posted it under the “Message of the Day” for Tuesday, rather than under Wednesday’s (ALAS). It focuses on Mayor Aaron Shepley’s summation of the case for making Crystal Lake’s sales tax rate as high as Algonquin’s.

Today, I’ll lay out what those who voted “Yes” said.

It didn’t take a lot of time, so I was furiously taking notes and didn’t get many photos.

First up was Ralph Dawson.

“This is going to be tough selling this to the public,” Dawson said. “Yes, it is.

“(We) don’t want to ‘fall behind’ on roads.

“What will this do to Crystal Lake? People want a quality of life,” he continued.

“If we can improve our police department…

“The railroad tracks are stopping all development on Main Street.

“Vulcan Lakes. That has been a buzz word. They want Vulcan Lakes as recreation..

“Our lake (Crystal Lake) has become very restrictive. It is at its maximum,” Dawson said, pointing out that many people could make use of Vulcan Lake.

“It’s going to cost us a lot of money.

“Everything in this tells you to say, ‘No.’

“I have to support this to keep this city where it is right now. It’s a great city,” he concluded.

Seat mate Ellen Brady Mueller was second at bat.

Referring to the Vulcan Lakes development, she said, “There is no other way to pay for it.

“If truly it (low) sales taxes (encouraged people) to (come to) town, all the business would be in Crystal Lake,” she continued.

Mueller pointed out that two years ago Algonquin had increased its sales tax to the level in the motion being considered and “they continue to develop. So, I think this is a much better alternative than raising the (property) tax.”

Next, Dave Goss was short and sweet:

”Look forward five years and see what will be requested, the amount of money we’re going to have to put into infrastructure.

“I expect to be able to all of that with the sales tax.”

Cathy Ferguson spoke after Jeff Thorsen’s negative comments.

“No decision has come (harder) for this council. (It’s) different when (you) look at…things as a whole.

“We had a strategic planning meeting. It took a long time for that plan to reach fruition.”

She went on to explain what the council had “explored.”

“We did have discussions with the Conservation District about Vulcan and they turned us down.”

(I have to say that I never got wind that the city was talking to MCCD. )

Ferguson went on to talk about “private-public partnerships.”

“People are saying why should government subsidize private business.

“I think we need this tax to keep moving. We need to keep our amenities so people will continue to want to live in Crystal Lake.

“I am reluctantly, but I am in agreement with this proposal,” she concluded.

Brett Hopkins, the newest member, was last to speak before Mayor Aaron Shepley (whose comments appeared in yesterday’s story).

He keyed in on three topics:

1- Public safety,

2- Roads and infrastructure, and

3- Economic Development.

I caught part of a thought only about the Tax Increment Financing districts: “I think if we took the TIF money…”

“Maybe part of the problem is that we’ve been doing nothing.

“(Time to) take some of that money and invest it in Crystal Lake.”

Hopkins reported getting several quite hostile emails.

“You have every right to be angry at me personally,” he said. “Don’t be angry at the merchants in Crystal Lake.”

Next up was Shepley, who started off by saying,

“Don’t take all that on yourself”

to Hopkins.

= = = = =
The city council members who supported the tax increase are seen on top of the article. On the first line are Dave Goss, Ellen Brady Mueller and Ralph Dawson. Below them are Brett Hopkins and Cathy Ferguson.

One of the sales tax hike justification slides about Vulcan Lakes is shown at the top of Ellen Brady Mueller comments.

There is a map of the McHenry County Conservation District’s sites above Ferguson’s comment about Crystal Lake’s having approached the MCCD. You will note there is nothing but a bike trail in or near Crystal Lake. Read about the $90,000 that Crystal Lake got from the $68.5 million bond issue of the early 2000’s. Ask them how much of the $73 million bond issue passed last year will make it to Crystal Lake Grade School District 47 territory.

Nothing new about the Crystal Lake Park District wanting a vote on the Crystal Lake Lake Safety Committee.

Board President Mike
Zellman appeared at the Crystal Lake City Council meeting on Tuesday with the request that discussions begin on the topic of making the two-member board a three-member board.

After Councilman Ralph Dawson said, “I see no problem,” Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller cut right to the heart of the matter:

“I am opposed.

“I think the agreement works fine.

“There was a time when the park district had control and it didn’t work.

“It’s working.

“The thought is the park district conspiracy theory is to remove the power boats from the lake.”

”Ive heard that,” Zellman observed.

“It’s true,” Mueller shot back.

“There were buoys in the middle of the lake,” she remembered.

“I whole heartedly agree with what you are requesting,” Dave Goss said.

“I think the flooding and the agreement to shut down the lake shows it’s not working. The lake is park district property. (The park district police police) every piece of property except this.

“We were in high school,” Brett Hopkins pointed out in reference to the time when buoys divided the Crystal Lake side of the lake from the majority of the usable part of the lake, which is located within the Village of Lakewood’s boundaries.

“For me, I think it would be prudent to discuss it,” he continued.

“I’m not opposed to discussion,” Cathy Ferguson said. “I am opposed to making you part of the agreement. I believe the City of Crystal Lake and the Village of Lakewood have rights vested by matter of ordinance.

Councilman Jeff Thorsen said he was “not opposed to discussing (the issue),” that it “may call for a seat at the table.

“We have been operating on a very fragile day time (use) of the lake. We don’t want to upset that. I think it’s almost counter intuitive to cut any of (the the three out),” he added.

“I don’t think there is a person in Crystal Lake that wants to get back…to the feud,” Mayor Aaron Shepley said. “I think a lot of the issues at the time were personality driven.

“I believe they have a right to be a part of that lake safety agreement.”

Then, Shepley tried to dispel the long-standing fear of Country Club Property Owners Association residents in both Crystal Lake and Lakewood that the Crystal Lake City Council and the park district would gang up on Lakewood to the detriment of the people who have paid big money to live where they can dock or anchor their boats on Crystal Lake.

The thinking is that since the vast majority of Crystal Lake residents are not boat owners and rarely use the lake that an “envy” factor might lead to banning boats, as previous park boards favored in the 1970’s.

If you sense my family has a stake in the issue, you are correct. My parents moved us to Crystal Lake in 1958 in order to be able to have a motor boat on the lake.

“It could cut against us,” Shepley said.

“It can’t be a bad thing to have to have them at the table,” he continued.

“I am deeply disappointed at the way the lake safety ordinance has been enforced,” he said pointing to “160 warning tickets,” including ones for reckless operation of a watercraft.

“Do you want to ban power boats?” someone asked.

“That has never once been discussed,” Zellman replied.

“You don’t say things like that out loud,” Mueller interjected.

“It makes sense to have three parties on the committee,” Zellman continued.

“Has there been discussion of limiting (power boats),” Ferguson asked.

“One commissioner may have discussed limiting,” Zellman replied.

Referring to the institution of a no wake rule during August’s high water period, she askld, “If you were part of that agreement, how would that have changed that?“

She pointed out that there would have had to been three meetings, instead of two.

“They were driving water from the streets back into the lake,” Zellman said.

“Are you talking about what we (the city) was doing?” Mueller asked.

“That may have been illegal,” Thorsen added. “As far as no wake, we’ve addressed that already.”

“We did it,” Mueller agreed.

In what could only be interpreted as a veiled threat of a law suit from the park district, if it didn’t get its way on this issue, Shepley said, “Or the park district would have to evaluate their options.”

Remember, earlier in the meeting Shepley, an attorney, said he thought the park district had a right to be on the lake safety agreement board.

Commenting on Lakewood’s pivotal role, Shepley added, “If they’re not willing to sit down, I don’t know where we go.”

Nothing new about the Crystal Lake Park District wanting a vote on the Crystal Lake Lake Safety Committee.

Board President Mike
Zellman appeared at the Crystal Lake City Council meeting on Tuesday with the request that discussions begin on the topic of making the two-member board a three-member board.

After Councilman Ralph Dawson said, “I see no problem,” Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller cut right to the heart of the matter:

“I am opposed.

“I think the agreement works fine.

“There was a time when the park district had control and it didn’t work.

“It’s working.

“The thought is the park district conspiracy theory is to remove the power boats from the lake.”

”Ive heard that,” Zellman observed.

“It’s true,” Mueller shot back.

“There were buoys in the middle of the lake,” she remembered.

“I whole heartedly agree with what you are requesting,” Dave Goss said.

“I think the flooding and the agreement to shut down the lake shows it’s not working. The lake is park district property. (The park district police police) every piece of property except this.

“We were in high school,” Brett Hopkins pointed out in reference to the time when buoys divided the Crystal Lake side of the lake from the majority of the usable part of the lake, which is located within the Village of Lakewood’s boundaries.

“For me, I think it would be prudent to discuss it,” he continued.

“I’m not opposed to discussion,” Cathy Ferguson said. “I am opposed to making you part of the agreement. I believe the City of Crystal Lake and the Village of Lakewood have rights vested by matter of ordinance.

Councilman Jeff Thorsen said he was “not opposed to discussing (the issue),” that it “may call for a seat at the table.

“We have been operating on a very fragile day time (use) of the lake. We don’t want to upset that. I think it’s almost counter intuitive to cut any of (the the three out),” he added.

“I don’t think there is a person in Crystal Lake that wants to get back…to the feud,” Mayor Aaron Shepley said. “I think a lot of the issues at the time were personality driven.

“I believe they have a right to be a part of that lake safety agreement.”

Then, Shepley tried to dispel the long-standing fear of Country Club Property Owners Association residents in both Crystal Lake and Lakewood that the Crystal Lake City Council and the park district would gang up on Lakewood to the detriment of the people who have paid big money to live where they can dock or anchor their boats on Crystal Lake.

The thinking is that since the vast majority of Crystal Lake residents are not boat owners and rarely use the lake that an “envy” factor might lead to banning boats, as previous park boards favored in the 1970’s.

If you sense my family has a stake in the issue, you are correct. My parents moved us to Crystal Lake in 1958 in order to be able to have a motor boat on the lake.

“It could cut against us,” Shepley said.

“It can’t be a bad thing to have to have them at the table,” he continued.

“I am deeply disappointed at the way the lake safety ordinance has been enforced,” he said pointing to “160 warning tickets,” including ones for reckless operation of a watercraft.

“Do you want to ban power boats?” someone asked.

“That has never once been discussed,” Zellman replied.

“You don’t say things like that out loud,” Mueller interjected.

“It makes sense to have three parties on the committee,” Zellman continued.

“Has there been discussion of limiting (power boats),” Ferguson asked.

“One commissioner may have discussed limiting,” Zellman replied.

Referring to the institution of a no wake rule during August’s high water period, she askld, “If you were part of that agreement, how would that have changed that?“

She pointed out that there would have had to been three meetings, instead of two.

“They were driving water from the streets back into the lake,” Zellman said.

“Are you talking about what we (the city) was doing?” Mueller asked.

“That may have been illegal,” Thorsen added. “As far as no wake, we’ve addressed that already.”

“We did it,” Mueller agreed.

In what could only be interpreted as a veiled threat of a law suit from the park district, if it didn’t get its way on this issue, Shepley said, “Or the park district would have to evaluate their options.”

Remember, earlier in the meeting Shepley, an attorney, said he thought the park district had a right to be on the lake safety agreement board.

Commenting on Lakewood’s pivotal role, Shepley added, “If they’re not willing to sit down, I don’t know where we go.”