McHenry County Blog

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.”

For the last two years, that is, the first two years of McHenry County Blog’s existence, there’s been an article about the “Most” this and the “Most” that. This is a bit late, but I hope you enjoy it.

If you want to compare my “Mostests,” here is 2005’s and 2006’s.

McHenry County College Trustees Donna Kurtz and Scott Summers.

After voting with a unanimous majority and without any public discussion to build an addition, including a minor league baseball stadium, to McHenry County College, Kurtz and Summers told of their change of mind at the most dramatic time—right before the Crystal Lake City Council was to vote on the necessary rezoning. They had expressed their qualms before , but it took real courage to express them while their colleagues were sitting in the audience fervently hoping for a favorable outcome.

Jeff Thorsen, Brett Hopkins and Ralph Dawson.

The three Crystal Lake City Councilmen provided the three votes necessary to defeat the rezoning.

The entire Crystal Lake City Planning and Zoning Commission.

This may be a mis-ranking since without the courage of these officials—all appointed by Crystal Lake Aaron Shepley, who strongly favors construction of the baseball stadium—the others listed as more courageous might not have had the courage to take the stands they did.

In any event, without the commissioners’ votes of disapproval, http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2007/09/mcc-baseball-stadium-idea-strikes-out.html a supermajority of 5 votes would not have been required by the city council and the rezoning would have been approved.

Those commissioners are Chairman Tom Hayden and Commissioners Jim Batastini, Angel Collins, Vincent Esposito, Jeff Greenman, James Jouron, Carolyn Schofield, Allan Skluzacek,

Minor league baseball team and stadium promoter Pete Heitman.

Without risking much of his own money and refusing to identify his investors, Heitman asked McHenry County College taxpayers to guarantee repayment of the money borrowed to finance the stadium and the interest. Virtually no profit was project for the first five years.

EquityOne’s Mark Houser.

Houser, who showed up with Heitman at a private MCC meeting , both being identified as from EquityOne Sports, got a $400,000 no-bid contract “to oversee and coordinate the development, construction, operation, and marketing processes for the Health, Wellness, and Athletic Complex.” That was on top of his $70,000 no-bid contract. In that $70,000 September 28, 2006, contract the college board gave Houser this right:

” At the completion of the feasibility study and independent review, if the College elects to proceed with the project, the College will contract with EquityOne or it’s (sic) assigns to develop the project on the College’s behalf.”

Richard Starr, the man from Economic Research Associates who was in charge of writing the devastating critique of Equity One’s Mark Houser’s rosy analysis of Pete Heitman’s revenue projections.

After the rezoning was rejected by the Crystal Lake City Council, Starr gave a sales pitch to the McHenry County College Board. He argued ERA could put together a successful public-private partnership. The implication that Houser’s firm had failed to do so.

In this photo he points to the MCC Mission Statement. Click on the photo and see if you can find the word “entertainment.”

Former teacher Geraldine Cowlin generously pledged significant money for scholarships for county high school graduates who could not afford to attend McHenry County College. She decided that the effort to put a baseball stadium on campus was not true to the college’s educational mission and withdrew her $1 million pledge. The stadium’s original cost was $10 million (plus interest, of course). Cowlin showed that continued pursuit of stadium approval would have a significant tangible cost.

Without a doubt, Erv LeCoque. This former MCC board member used his behind the scenes persuasive skills on everyone he thought might be able to derail the baseball stadium. He had been attending Crystal Lake zoning and council meetings on the subject, but his opposition was made public at a meeting of opponents by the Northwest Herald.

The former CEO of Aptar also delivered his neighbor Geraldine Cowlin’s message to the MCC Board.

“There’s a pony in this pile of horseshit somewhere.”

Retired investment banker Barry Glasgow gets credit for this zinger. He asked so many penetrating questions at this first meeting of the McHenry County College Board he had ever attended.

If you read the article explaining Barry Glasgow’s comments to the MCC Board, you would never recognize them from the official minutes of the meeting:

“Mr. Glasgow spoke about the need for a nursing program.”

It was if he said nothing unfavorable about the baseball stadium proposal.

Not to worry. The board majority has since decided not to include any of the content of those who speak in public session. Their names will be listed, however.

Huntley School District 158 School Board President‘s characterization of fellow board members Aileen Seedorf and Larry Snow as “terrorists running roughshod over the rest of us.”

Prairie Grove Grade School District 46.

Without a warning to yours truly, the board called police to evict yours truly for taking pictures through an open Venetian blind and laughing as now Board President Charlotte Kremer yanked them shut.

The McHenry County Board.

It proposed banning flash cameras and banishing cameramen to the back corners of its dimly lit room. Those proposed rule changes brought quite a bit of local newspaper coverage.

Reporters who gave the most fits to local school boards and administers.

The Daily Herald’s Jeff Gaunt was named here last year and, even though he has moved on to bedevil the Elgin School District, he continued to give fits to Districts 300 and 158 until his transfer.

David Fitzgerald, reporter for the Northwest Herald, obtained significant respect for his probe of District 300’s secret meeting minutes. Other coverage revealed details I’ll bet the District 300 board members wished had not been printed.

Gaunt was replaced by Jameel Naqvi, who gave District 158 more of a benefit of the doubt than its administrators and board members probably deserve. But, he learned quickly. I don’t think the District 158 ruling clique is wishing that Gaunt were back, but I’ll bet they can’t wait for Naqvi to be replaced. He’s getting quite dangerous.

Pioneer Press’ Pete Gonigam is playing the same role at McHenry County College.

Certainly having citizen-inquirer Aileen Seedorf run first in the Huntley School Board election was a surprise.

The upset victories of home school dad John Ryan and Monica Clark in District 300 certainly qualify as surprising.

In McHenry Grade School District 15, home school dad John O’Neill won election, even though the establishment used his family’s decision to save the school district money against him.

The Rockford Cherry Vale Mall Black Muslin terrorist story strikes me as a harbinger of things that might come. This American had previously lived with another with terrorist tendencies. What if this is just the first Black Muslim to turn terrorist? That might be important. I did not see what this guy actually said anywhere but on McHenry County Blog.

The McHenry County Republican Cat Tax

Rosemary Kurtz and the man she defeated in the 2002 GOP primary election, Cal Skinner. The two joined together to fight the MCC baseball stadium.

The Economics Research Associates’ devastating criticism of Mark Houser’s Equity One “evaluation” of his buddy Pete Heitman’s baseball stadium revenues for MCC.

Carol Marin, who still has not acknowledged that her good buddy Joe Cari, a prominent Democratic Party fund raiser, did not deserve the praise she gave him two days before he was indicted.

For the last two years, that is, the first two years of McHenry County Blog’s existence, there’s been an article about the “Most” this and the “Most” that. This is a bit late, but I hope you enjoy it.

If you want to compare my “Mostests,” here is 2005’s and 2006’s.

McHenry County College Trustees Donna Kurtz and Scott Summers.

After voting with a unanimous majority and without any public discussion to build an addition, including a minor league baseball stadium, to McHenry County College, Kurtz and Summers told of their change of mind at the most dramatic time—right before the Crystal Lake City Council was to vote on the necessary rezoning. They had expressed their qualms before , but it took real courage to express them while their colleagues were sitting in the audience fervently hoping for a favorable outcome.

Jeff Thorsen, Brett Hopkins and Ralph Dawson.

The three Crystal Lake City Councilmen provided the three votes necessary to defeat the rezoning.

The entire Crystal Lake City Planning and Zoning Commission.

This may be a mis-ranking since without the courage of these officials—all appointed by Crystal Lake Aaron Shepley, who strongly favors construction of the baseball stadium—the others listed as more courageous might not have had the courage to take the stands they did.

In any event, without the commissioners’ votes of disapproval, http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2007/09/mcc-baseball-stadium-idea-strikes-out.html a supermajority of 5 votes would not have been required by the city council and the rezoning would have been approved.

Those commissioners are Chairman Tom Hayden and Commissioners Jim Batastini, Angel Collins, Vincent Esposito, Jeff Greenman, James Jouron, Carolyn Schofield, Allan Skluzacek,

Minor league baseball team and stadium promoter Pete Heitman.

Without risking much of his own money and refusing to identify his investors, Heitman asked McHenry County College taxpayers to guarantee repayment of the money borrowed to finance the stadium and the interest. Virtually no profit was project for the first five years.

EquityOne’s Mark Houser.

Houser, who showed up with Heitman at a private MCC meeting , both being identified as from EquityOne Sports, got a $400,000 no-bid contract “to oversee and coordinate the development, construction, operation, and marketing processes for the Health, Wellness, and Athletic Complex.” That was on top of his $70,000 no-bid contract. In that $70,000 September 28, 2006, contract the college board gave Houser this right:

” At the completion of the feasibility study and independent review, if the College elects to proceed with the project, the College will contract with EquityOne or it’s (sic) assigns to develop the project on the College’s behalf.”

Richard Starr, the man from Economic Research Associates who was in charge of writing the devastating critique of Equity One’s Mark Houser’s rosy analysis of Pete Heitman’s revenue projections.

After the rezoning was rejected by the Crystal Lake City Council, Starr gave a sales pitch to the McHenry County College Board. He argued ERA could put together a successful public-private partnership. The implication that Houser’s firm had failed to do so.

In this photo he points to the MCC Mission Statement. Click on the photo and see if you can find the word “entertainment.”

Former teacher Geraldine Cowlin generously pledged significant money for scholarships for county high school graduates who could not afford to attend McHenry County College. She decided that the effort to put a baseball stadium on campus was not true to the college’s educational mission and withdrew her $1 million pledge. The stadium’s original cost was $10 million (plus interest, of course). Cowlin showed that continued pursuit of stadium approval would have a significant tangible cost.

Without a doubt, Erv LeCoque. This former MCC board member used his behind the scenes persuasive skills on everyone he thought might be able to derail the baseball stadium. He had been attending Crystal Lake zoning and council meetings on the subject, but his opposition was made public at a meeting of opponents by the Northwest Herald.

The former CEO of Aptar also delivered his neighbor Geraldine Cowlin’s message to the MCC Board.

“There’s a pony in this pile of horseshit somewhere.”

Retired investment banker Barry Glasgow gets credit for this zinger. He asked so many penetrating questions at this first meeting of the McHenry County College Board he had ever attended.

If you read the article explaining Barry Glasgow’s comments to the MCC Board, you would never recognize them from the official minutes of the meeting:

“Mr. Glasgow spoke about the need for a nursing program.”

It was if he said nothing unfavorable about the baseball stadium proposal.

Not to worry. The board majority has since decided not to include any of the content of those who speak in public session. Their names will be listed, however.

Huntley School District 158 School Board President‘s characterization of fellow board members Aileen Seedorf and Larry Snow as “terrorists running roughshod over the rest of us.”

Prairie Grove Grade School District 46.

Without a warning to yours truly, the board called police to evict yours truly for taking pictures through an open Venetian blind and laughing as now Board President Charlotte Kremer yanked them shut.

The McHenry County Board.

It proposed banning flash cameras and banishing cameramen to the back corners of its dimly lit room. Those proposed rule changes brought quite a bit of local newspaper coverage.

Reporters who gave the most fits to local school boards and administers.

The Daily Herald’s Jeff Gaunt was named here last year and, even though he has moved on to bedevil the Elgin School District, he continued to give fits to Districts 300 and 158 until his transfer.

David Fitzgerald, reporter for the Northwest Herald, obtained significant respect for his probe of District 300’s secret meeting minutes. Other coverage revealed details I’ll bet the District 300 board members wished had not been printed.

Gaunt was replaced by Jameel Naqvi, who gave District 158 more of a benefit of the doubt than its administrators and board members probably deserve. But, he learned quickly. I don’t think the District 158 ruling clique is wishing that Gaunt were back, but I’ll bet they can’t wait for Naqvi to be replaced. He’s getting quite dangerous.

Pioneer Press’ Pete Gonigam is playing the same role at McHenry County College.

Certainly having citizen-inquirer Aileen Seedorf run first in the Huntley School Board election was a surprise.

The upset victories of home school dad John Ryan and Monica Clark in District 300 certainly qualify as surprising.

In McHenry Grade School District 15, home school dad John O’Neill won election, even though the establishment used his family’s decision to save the school district money against him.

The Rockford Cherry Vale Mall Black Muslin terrorist story strikes me as a harbinger of things that might come. This American had previously lived with another with terrorist tendencies. What if this is just the first Black Muslim to turn terrorist? That might be important. I did not see what this guy actually said anywhere but on McHenry County Blog.

The McHenry County Republican Cat Tax

Rosemary Kurtz and the man she defeated in the 2002 GOP primary election, Cal Skinner. The two joined together to fight the MCC baseball stadium.

The Economics Research Associates’ devastating criticism of Mark Houser’s Equity One “evaluation” of his buddy Pete Heitman’s baseball stadium revenues for MCC.

Carol Marin, who still has not acknowledged that her good buddy Joe Cari, a prominent Democratic Party fund raiser, did not deserve the praise she gave him two days before he was indicted.