McHenry County Blog

McHenry County Board member Ersel Schuster talked faster than I could take notes during the debate over whether Cathy Ferguson should be appointed to the McHenry County 708 Mental Health Board. I asked her for a copy of her comments on Chairwoman Tina Hill’s selection. It appears below:

“I chose not to speak up regarding the prior 708 appointment for many reasons. In any event… NOT because there was some dastardly conspiracy regarding that recommendation… but, because I did not wish to offend or embarrass anyone.

“Today, having closely watched the contortions of the re-assignment question and having taken a long hard look at what has transpired around the 708 Board appointment process… I have concluded that:

“First, to our appointment procedures… having worked well in the past, they have enabled us to effectively deal with the process as it was intended.

“Second, in my time on the board, the 5 prior county board chairmen/women I’ve served under… were able to oversee the appointment process without resorting to strange interpretations of the board rules, parsing words or reading in language that is not there;

“Third, the Public Health & Human Services Committee, following these time-honored procedures, did propose another, well qualified, candidate with the very credentials many of us have called for…

Tina Hill

“Chair Hill and member Gottemollar have been quoted in the media as having called for appointing a candidate with the financial background and management skills… yet, Chair Hill, you chose to pull rank and refused to bring forward the committee’s recommended candidate…

“With that I would like to remind my colleagues that our chairperson is 1 of 24… and as such, has no more power than we give her.

“Therefore, be aware that your vote on this question has greater consequences than a simple vote for-or-against a candidate.

“Fourth, while the candidate before us this evening has an excellent resume and references indicating years of service in the field of drug intervention / counseling, those are not the in depth qualifications we need on the 708 board at this time.

“Your candidate lacks your stated qualifications.

“To my fellow board members who want simply to make this controversy go away… I remind you that our role is to select the best qualified persons for the boards, commissions and committees where we are charged with oversight.

“If you really do want the issues swirling around the 708 to go away… you need to appoint people who are qualified to do the job once appointed.

“Going-along-to-get along does not respect, or serve, the taxpayers we represent.

“Please vote no to the questions before us. Not because this is a bad person, but because maintaining order on this board is paramount!”

The 708 Board meets this afternoon at its building in Crystal Lake at 620 Dakota Street at 5:15 for a committee meeting to be followed at 6 by a Board meeting.

As more sources of news show up in McHenry County, it might be interesting for folks to compare coverage of public events.

Take last Tuesday’s McHenry County Board meeting for example.

McHenry County Blog, the Northwest Herald’s Keven Craver, The First Electric Newspaper’s Pete Gonigan and Andrew Gasser’s Blog concentrated on Chairwoman Tina Hill’s controversial nomination of Cathy Ferguson to the 708 Board and her dropping of an attempt to replace Sandy Salgado with Bob Martens on Donna Kurtz’ Public Health and Human Services Committee:

• Cathy Ferguson Approved for 708 Board on 16-8 County Board Vote, Hill Reverses Course on Pulling Sandy Salgado Off Public Health Committee
• Ferguson appointed to fill vacancy on Mental Health Board
• County Board OK’s Hill Pick As She Withdraws Another
• Salgado Remains – Ferguson to 708 Board

Woodstock Advocate’s Gus Philpott concentrated on the Ferguson nomination:

• Committee qualification – “lovely”

Republican Precinct Committeeman and Algonquin Township Trustee Larry Emery, on the other hand, posted his notes. They give a more complete version of what happened than any of the other sources.

• McHenry County Board Meeting 052113-Larry’s notes

So for this particular meeting, you can compare six viewpoints (and make no mistake that what a writer includes in his or her articles demonstrates at minimum what the writer thought was most important about a meeting or event).

McHenry County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill got her way on who will be appointed to the McHenry County 708 Mental Health Board Tuesday night.

But she backed away from dumping Sandy Salgado from the Public Health and Human Services Committee and replacing her with fellow District 4 Board member Bob Martens.

At the beginning of the meeting, Hill gave her version of what happened leading up to the public controversy on which her opponents framed the issue because none of Hill’s supporters explained on the Board floor why they rejected the Committee’s recommendation.

The vote was 16-8 for Ferguson, about the same as the 18-6 vote Hill enjoyed when her coalition defeated the nomination of former McHenry County College Board President Scott Summers two weeks ago.

Hill explained that she started to get questions about what the Committee was doing, about the 4-3 vote and the Executive Session [for discussing the qualities of the nominees].

When the Committee nomination failed 18-6, Hill said she knew that had to do something.  Those are not her exact words, but I believe them to be a fair representation of what she said.

Because she moved immediately after the vote two weeks ago to assert the power given her by State law to make the nomination herself, however, it was obvious that the move was previously planned and not a reaction to the vote.

There was lots of talk about conspiracy, with those who voted with Hill two weeks ago denying it and Mike Walkup wondering if a cover-up were occurring.   He said that was the public perception.

“If we’re not,we’re doing a pretty good job of [making it look like one is],” he said.

Walkup also said that he had heard that Hill had met with Interim 708 Board Executive Director Todd Schroll.

“If conversations like that can happen, that’s a really big problem…having the person [being hired helping pick the person who will pick the Executive Director].

Walkup told of other counties that have “a boss system.”

“We’re now sliding in the direction toward a boss system.”

He and others argued that financial acumen was what was needed now on the 708 Board. while supporters of Ferguson praised her knowledge of the care giving side of mental health services.

Hill said she had called Salgado and “offered her an apology.”

“I never thought there was a conflict-of- interest,” Hill asserted, although Northwest Herald reporter Kevin Craver reported that having Salgado employed by as agency (Pioneer Center) which got money from the 708 Board was “the epitome of conflict of interest.”

“I meant the appearance of impropriety,” Hill said Tuesday night.

“I agree with the State’s Attorney there is no conflict of interest.”

Later in the meeting Diane Evertson seemed to startle Hill when she inquired if Hill might have a conflict-of-interest.

“You mean that my son receives services [from Pioneer Center]?”

“That’s the exact question that we have with Ms. Salgado and Jim Heisler.”  [Heisler's wife works for Pioneer Center.]

Assistant State’s Attorney Donna Kelly was asked for her opinion.

“That’s the first I’ve heard of this,” she replied from the audience.

Hill seemed incredulous, asking how one could “construe that Cathy would do my bidding.”

“You recommend a candidate who funnels money to an organization where your son receives services,” Evertson replied.

“Don’t you see a conflict?”

“No,” Hill replied.

Those supporting Hill’s nomination for Crystal Lake City Councilwoman Cathy Ferguson follow:

• Michele Aavang
• Sue Drafkorn
• Joe Gottemoller
• Jim Heisler
• Tina Hill
• John Jung
• Ken Koehler
• Bob Martens
• Mary McCann
• Mary McClellan
• Anna May Miller
• Bob Nowak
• Nick Provenzano
• Sandy Salgado
• Carolyn Schofield
• Paula Yensen

Those not supporting Ferguson’s nomination were

• Yvonne Barnes
• Nick Chirikos
• Diane Evertseon
• John Hammerand
• Donna Kurtz
• Ersel Schuster
• Mike Skala
• Mike Walkup

Moving out of the Hill coalition of two weeks ago were Yvonne Barnes, Ersel Schuster and Mike Skala.

Moving into it by supporting Ferguson was Sandra Salgado.

Generally the Northwest Herald is quite protective of establishment figures in McHenry County.

But Sunday’s editorial calls out McHenry County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill out in no uncertain terms for her 708 Board nomination bypass of the Public Health and Human Resources Committee.

The editorial says she comes off “as heavy-handed and power hungry, and the move raises questions about her motivations.”

And the NWH advises members to vote against Cathy Ferguson, Hill’s choice to fill a vacancy on the McHenry County Mental Health Board, because of Hill’s circumvention of the committee process.

With regard to Hill’s intention of replacing Pioneer Center Sandy Salgado with former Family Services Executive Director Bob Martens, the editorial writers conclude,

“If Salgado’s representation on the Public Health and Human Services Committee is a conflict, certainly Martens’ is as well.”

Tonight’s “Best Show in Town” begins at 7 in Woodstock’s McHenry County Administrative Center.

Next Tuesday night at 7 PM, the following appointments will be considered by the McHenry County Board.

McHENRY COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH

• Sally A. Biere through 06/30/2015

VALLEY HI OPERATING BOARD

• Lynn M. Ryan through 06/30/2015
  Peter D. Michling through 06/30/2015
  James P. Kennedy through 06/30/2015

McHENRY COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY

• Cathryn Perfetti through 06/30/2018
• Keith A. Leathers through 06/01/2018

CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AGENCY FOR PLANNING

• Carolyn D. Schofield, 07/01/2013 to 07/01/2017

McHENRY COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD

• Cathy A. Ferguson through 01/01/2015  (See separate story here.)

Below you will see McHenry County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill’s letter to Board members about her recommendation of Crystal Lake City Councilwoman Cathy Ferguson to the 708 Mental Health Board.

The County Board’s Public Health & Human Resources Committee, chaired by Donna Kurtz, voted to recommend Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen, but, immediately thereafter Hill said that she would not put Thorsen’s to a vote before the County Board.

Thorsen is a finance guy.

He is a banker who has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

Ferguson is a counselor who handles drug abuse, among other problems.

She talked a little about that when she voiced her opposition to decriminalizing marijuana in Crystal Lake (giving tickets where the city would get the money, rather than running criminal cases through the court system in which the city does not benefit financially.)

She said she thought the issue was important because marijuana was a gateway drug.

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.

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.”

OK. You got me.

It’s July 3rd.

And it wasn’t sweltering hot.  I found the shade most of the hour and a half 90-something entry parade.

The biggest political entry was Congressman Joe Walsh’s.

He followed Congressman Don Manzullo and his wife Freda, who rode in a convertible.

Between them was McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren.  If one did not recognize the Sheriff, one would not have known that he was in the parade.

Last year at parades there were Sheriff’s Department motorcyclists, a snow mobile, a community service vehicle, plus a convertible with identification signs on the sides in which the Sheriff rode.

There was an unmarked gray car that followed with a female officer. I’m not familiar enough with the patch she wore to know if she’s a Sheriff’s Deputy.

Can’t do a story without mentioning the Grand Marshall. After all she is the mother of McHenry County Board member Jim Heisler and Nunda Township Supervisor John Heisler.

Next came the Crystal Lake Lions huge flag. I only wish I had had a higher vantage point.

JA Frate’s Fallen Heroes semi-trailer paid appropriate honor to those who have defended our freedom.

Then the banner of Congressman Joe Walsh came down the hill.

A man with a bull horn said patriotic things.

Next came Congressman Walsh.  He was greeting people along the parade route, the only politician besides McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi to do so.

What you see below was not an isolated occurrence.  A number of people made the effort to reach out to Congressman Walsh.

Parents seemed please that Walsh did not ignore the future voters.

Marching music was playing from Joe Walsh’s parade vehicle and a line of girls were marching to its beat.

Walsh saw them and stepped over to clap in time with them.

The Congressman who has had his 8th District reapportioned out from under him did not ignore the ladies of voting age.

Some women were as enthusiastic to see him as the men above.

A blue-shirted lady nearby was not to be outdone. She also grasped Walsh’s hands and told him something.

Walsh was not the only member of the family greeting voters.

His wife Helene was pressing the flesh, too.

The truck from which the sound was coming contained that part of a mariachi band that needed a stable platform.

Ever since I heard my first mariachi band in the 1960′s, I always wished I had enough money to hire them for parades.  He hired the Ranchitos.  I hope he does it for every parade.

But that wasn’t all I noticed in the Joe Walsh contingent.

One of the rejected applicants to replace State Rep. Mark Beaubien, Nick Sauer, introduced himself. Since I didn’t have a picture of him, you can bet I pushed the button.

The Barrington School Board member was waving an American Flag at the end of the Walsh group.

I also spotted past Crystal Lake City Council candidate Mike Shorten.  He is now a  Nunda Township precinct committeeman.

The next political entry was a bicycle ridden by a man displaying signs for McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz. (She tells me she and her mother, former State Rep. Rosemary Kurtz, were in the parade, but my eyes must have been elsewhere.)

The only County Board member I saw at the parade was Nunda Township’s District 3 member Mary Donner.

Looking very much as if he will be a candidate in the 2012 elections was McHenry County State’s attorney Lou Bianchi.

The political entry was the PTLAG contingent.

The acronym is short for “Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.”  The group is a member of the coalition that convinced the Illinois General Assembly to enact the civil union legislation that took effect June 1st.

The next political group was the Jesse White Tumblers.

Before you get all bent out of shape, do remember that Secretary of State Jesse White did accompany his tumblers in one 4th of July Parade.

Coming near the end of the parade were the McHenry County Young Republicans.

McHenry County State Rep. and GOP Chairman Mike Tryon walked with the Young Republicans.

While State Rep. Mike Tryon marched with the Young Republicans, I didn’t see State Sen. Pam Althoff.

If newly picked State Rep. Kent Gaffney was in the contingent, I did not recognize him.

His new district will contain more votes in McHenry County than anywhere else.  About a third of Crystal Lake is in it.

A surprise addition was West Dundee Village Trustee Allen Skillicorn.

As I look at the contents of the photos, I see a delightful tee shirt.

It says,

“Honk if you hate red light cameras.“

That is relevant to McHenry County because Democrat Jack Franks was one of the sponsors of the bill to legalize this form of highway robbery.

And, although it has no political implications, the South Shore Drill Team brought up the rear of the parade.

The team was worth waiting for.

Almost forgot Crystal Lake’s politicians.

Mayor Aaron Shepley was not present, but City Clerk Nick Kachiroubas was.

So were two of the three women on the City Council, Ellen Brady Mueller and Cathy Ferguson.

And, finally, Councilman Ralph Dawson was seated comfortably in the back of a pickup truck.

Front page news on both of Chicago’s papers today was the Cook County Board’s vote to phase out its hefty sales tax under the now out-of-office Todd Stroger.

The Crystal Lake City Council’s March, 2008, 75% city sales tax increase went into effect the same day as Cook County’s, July 1, 2008.

But there has been no pressure to repeal it.

Unlike in Cook County, there was no local Chicago Tribune beating the drums for repeal. The Northwest Herald did not even run a story the day the tax took effect

And it certainly did not run a campaign similar to the Tribune’s in which every day readers were reminded of the tax hike.

Those on the council who voted to impose the 75% city sales tax have no opposition this year.

Mayor Aaron Shepley has no opponent.

I am sure he has concluded that people in Crystal Lake just don’t care. A justifiable political conclusion.

All who voted for the tax were Republicans, but the Democrats in Crystal Lake are so weak they put up no opposition in the non-partisan election.

What a wedge issue they would have had.

It still bothers me that financing Vulcan Lakes was used as an excuse for imposing the tax. The same reason was used to impose a Tax Increment Financing district on much of the Route 14 area now virtually vacant, plus Vulcan Lakes.

It also bothers me that there was only one week’s notice.  Municipal officials around here don’t want a lot of public input on major decisions and giving virtually no notice certainly encourages lack of citizen participation.

There was an alternative way to finance development of Vulcan Lake, but it would have allowed anyone living in Crystal Lake to use the resulting recreation area.

Some Crystal Lake leaders apparently didn’t want outsiders to be able to enjoy the amenities–regardless of the lower taxes that would have been imposed on Crystal Lake residents and others shopping in Crystal Lake–if the McHenry County Conservation District had paid for the improvements with already existing taxes.

= = = = =

Besides Mayor Aaron Shepley, the other council members who voted to raise Crystal Lake’s city sales tax 75% are seen above.  Top row:  former Councilman Dave Goss and current Council members Ralph Dawson and Ellen Brady-Mueller.  Second row: Kathy Ferguson and Brett Hopkins.