McHenry County Blog

Chemtool President Jim Athans drives Crystal Lake's Independence Day Grand Marshall Dorothy Heisler in Sunday's Parade.

McHenry County lost the big prize, first to Garden Prairie, then to the Rockford area, but Chemtool President Jim Athans told me Sunday that he plans to close his Elkhorn plant and move its operations to the Crystal Lake location.

There will be 100-150 jobs at the Crystal Lake facility on Ridgefield Road.

500-600 will be in the 180-acre Rockton location, where Beloit Corporation was located before it went under.

Athans described the site, located on the Rock River, as the garbage dump of the area.  He has done a lot of cleanup and renovation.

I suggested that his company must be THE success story for the Rockford area.

He didn’t disagree, pointing out that there were over 200 empty factory sites within ten miles of the tollway in the Winnebago County area.

I continue to lament that Crystal Lake and McHenry County economic development folks let Chemtool administrative and research facilities slip through their fingers.

There was so much sales tax anticipated by residents of Garden Prairie that residents briefly incorporated. I lost track of why Athans decided not to locate there, but after he did, the village government disappeared, too.

McHenry County used to have the Pure Oil Research Center where Crystal Lake Jewel and Hobby Lobby are now located and the Morton facility where Walmart now sits in Woodstock.

Compare the salaries and weep, McHenry County.

A lot has happened since McHenry County Blog last looked at Jim Athens’ relocation efforts for Chemtool.

The growing Crystal Lake lubricants company concluded that McHenry County was not the place to expand.

It gained zoning permission in Garden Prairie, but not without lots of opposition. My guess is that the prospect of much sales tax led local residents to incorporate the town.

Then, Athans showed an interest in Winnebago County near the Wisconsin state line. I didn’t follow it closely, but a TIF district was requested (despite his having told me he wasn’t looking for such a subsidy early on in his relocation search).

Chemtool won the sought after Tax Increment Financing district in Rockton. Again there was citizen controversy.

Now, the Rockford Register-Star’s “contract staff writer” Thomas V. Bona reports pickets have been posted because not all of the construction work is being performed by union employees.

Athens points out that he has done business with the Chicago-area concrete firm for four decades and it was cheapest by $70,000. The project, located where the Beloit Corporation used to be, is tagged at $30 million.

“When I go out for quotes, I really don’t ask if they’re union or nonunion,” Athens is quoted.

Continuing:

“Athans threatened to stop the project and move his company’s new corporate headquarters to a vacant building near Hammond, Ind.

“’There’s so many buildings out there, I could move in there tomorrow,’ he said. ‘I had my heart and soul in this place. … (But) I don’t have a tolerance for this kind of nonsense.’”

Accompanying the article is a photograph of “Trent Feurt, a Harvard resident and member of Operating Engineers Local 150.”

And, that’s not the only controversy facing Athens.

The Rockford paper reports that he is being sued by Island Lake’s Williamson Real Estate for a $390,000 commission on the $6.5 million property.

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Above you can see the current Chemtool facility in Crystal Lake, an anti-Chemtool sign on Route 20 in Garden Prairie and a relaxed Jim Athans driving the Crystal Lake Gala’s 2007 4th of July Parade Marshal Bob Blazier.

A lot has happened since McHenry County Blog last looked at Jim Athens’ relocation efforts for Chemtool.

The growing Crystal Lake lubricants company concluded that McHenry County was not the place to expand.

It gained zoning permission in Garden Prairie, but not without lots of opposition. My guess is that the prospect of much sales tax led local residents to incorporate the town.

Then, Athans showed an interest in Winnebago County near the Wisconsin state line. I didn’t follow it closely, but a TIF district was requested (despite his having told me he wasn’t looking for such a subsidy early on in his relocation search).

Chemtool won the sought after Tax Increment Financing district in Rockton. Again there was citizen controversy.

Now, the Rockford Register-Star’s “contract staff writer” Thomas V. Bona reports pickets have been posted because not all of the construction work is being performed by union employees.

Athens points out that he has done business with the Chicago-area concrete firm for four decades and it was cheapest by $70,000. The project, located where the Beloit Corporation used to be, is tagged at $30 million.

“When I go out for quotes, I really don’t ask if they’re union or nonunion,” Athens is quoted.

Continuing:

“Athans threatened to stop the project and move his company’s new corporate headquarters to a vacant building near Hammond, Ind.

“’There’s so many buildings out there, I could move in there tomorrow,’ he said. ‘I had my heart and soul in this place. … (But) I don’t have a tolerance for this kind of nonsense.’”

Accompanying the article is a photograph of “Trent Feurt, a Harvard resident and member of Operating Engineers Local 150.”

And, that’s not the only controversy facing Athens.

The Rockford paper reports that he is being sued by Island Lake’s Williamson Real Estate for a $390,000 commission on the $6.5 million property.

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Above you can see the current Chemtool facility in Crystal Lake, an anti-Chemtool sign on Route 20 in Garden Prairie and a relaxed Jim Athans driving the Crystal Lake Gala’s 2007 4th of July Parade Marshal Bob Blazier.

When Crystal Lake’s Chemtool decided to move its operation to Boone County’s Garden Prairie, McHenry County Blog took a look at how viable that Garden Prairie would be as a municipality.

The conclusion was that this area near the Boone-McHenry County line was more viable than its neighbor to the north, Capron

Now Rockford Register-Star reporter Kevin Haas writes area residents are planning to file for incorporation next month.

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The signs are from last spring. This Route 20 household was for the school tax hike and against Chemtool.

When Crystal Lake’s Chemtool decided to move its operation to Boone County’s Garden Prairie, McHenry County Blog took a look at how viable that Garden Prairie would be as a municipality.

The conclusion was that this area near the Boone-McHenry County line was more viable than its neighbor to the north, Capron

Now Rockford Register-Star reporter Kevin Haas writes area residents are planning to file for incorporation next month.

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The signs are from last spring. This Route 20 household was for the school tax hike and against Chemtool.

The Rockford Register-Star’s Kevin Haas continues to be the reporter to read if one wants to know what is happening to Crystal Lake’s Chemtool.

I had speculated that McHenry County still might pull off a retention of the Crystal Lake born and raised firm, but the Haas story yesterday seems to put that to rest.

“(Chemtool owner Jim Athans) plans to start construction late this year and continue into 2008,” (Growth Dimensions Executive Director Mark) Williams told him.

Apparently confirming the finality of the decision in the article were both McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler and McHenry County Economic Development Corporation President Chris Manheim.

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Chemtool President Jim Athans drives Crystal Lake 4th of July Parade Grand Marshall Bob Blasier and his wife. Athans has performed the chore for decades.

The Rockford Register-Star’s Kevin Haas continues to be the reporter to read if one wants to know what is happening to Crystal Lake’s Chemtool.

I had speculated that McHenry County still might pull off a retention of the Crystal Lake born and raised firm, but the Haas story yesterday seems to put that to rest.

“(Chemtool owner Jim Athans) plans to start construction late this year and continue into 2008,” (Growth Dimensions Executive Director Mark) Williams told him.

Apparently confirming the finality of the decision in the article were both McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler and McHenry County Economic Development Corporation President Chris Manheim.

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Chemtool President Jim Athans drives Crystal Lake 4th of July Parade Grand Marshall Bob Blasier and his wife. Athans has performed the chore for decades.

Just thought you might be interested on Rockford Register-Star reporter Kevin Hass’ take Saturday on the possibility of making Boone County’s Garden Prairie a village if Chemtool builds its facility there.

Haas covers past consideration and current desires.

Here is McHenry County Blog’s May 15th story.

Just thought you might be interested on Rockford Register-Star reporter Kevin Hass’ take Saturday on the possibility of making Boone County’s Garden Prairie a village if Chemtool builds its facility there.

Haas covers past consideration and current desires.

Here is McHenry County Blog’s May 15th story.

On Tuesday, Bill left this comment on the May 17th McHenry County Blog story entitled

Is McHenry County Still in the Race for Chemtool?

Cal–Growth Dimension for Boone County indicates that Mr. Athans has decided on Garden Prairie. See website –http://www.growthdimensions.org/newsdetails.asp?newsID=13

On Wednesday evening Bill had this update:

Cal–Growth Dimension took the news release off the net. It looks like ChemTool is running for whichever district gives it the best deal.