As bond analyst Steve Willson has pointed out, in his industry those doing business with a government are banned from future business for two years if they make political contribution related to the entity. No such prohibition exists for builders, … Continue reading
Tonight at its 7:30 meting at City Hall, the Crystal Lake City Council will consider whether to allow new Library supporters a second chance to obtain a majority in favor of borrowing $30.1 million. In the November election, the vote … Continue reading
The following letter from bond analyst Steve Willson, was published originally in the Northwest Herald. It is re-published below with permission from the author: Questionable Contributions Editor: Many years ago it was common for investment banks to contribute to local … Continue reading
The filings for office in the City of Crystal Lake include the three incumbents and two newcomers. Incumebents for City Council are Ralph Dawson Haig Halelblian Cameron Hubbard Halelblian was apppointed to the post to replace Jeff Thorsen, who was … Continue reading
From a Friend of McHenry County Blog who was at the Crystal Lake City Council meeting Tuesday night: On balance, last night’s CL City Council meeting went well. We [library referendum opponents] had several public speakers during the public comment … Continue reading
Crystal Lake Library Director Kathryn Martens attended the CL Kiwanis Club luncheon Wednesday. Kiwanis has donated money to provide introduction bags to the moms of newborn babies. Besides that she showed us the various ways that an early novel were … Continue reading
People poo-pooed my suggestion a couple of years ago that the signs being passed out by the Crystal Lake Library were intended to support a property tax hike. But look what is popping up in the same yards as those … Continue reading
Richard Naponelli of 5612 Meadowbrook Lane in unincorporated Crystal Lake has written a check to the Crystal Lake Library YES Committee for $8,000. That’s enough for a mass mailing to Crystal Lake voters. The Committee is seeking favorable votes on … Continue reading
By a vote of 7-0, the Crystal Lake City Council agreed to place an advisory referendum about borrowing $30 million to build a new library on the General Election ballot this November. Information about the specifics can be found here. … Continue reading
The Crystal Lake City Council will be asked to put a November advisory referendum on the ballot at Tuesday night’s meeting. Careful readers will remember that the Crystal Lake Library have been holding meetings. The June meeting was billed as … Continue reading
So far, McHenry County Blog has looked at five portions of the Independence Day Parade: Jesse White Jack Franks Patrick Kenneally Democrats Republicans Let’s look at other things with a political tinge. The first I noticed was the squad car … Continue reading
The name of the alternative town in the 1946 movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” is Pottersville. That’s what happens if the evil banker Harry Potter rules without interference from the Savings and Loan character Jimmy Steward plays. Crystal Lake ended … Continue reading
The City of Crystal Lake won the tax protest case which argued that a majority of the city council was necessary to pass its taxing ordinance. At stake was $1.6 million in property taxes. Reversing McHenry County Circuit Judge Michael … Continue reading
Haig Haleblian, owner of Exceed Floor & Home has been nominated by Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley to success Jeff Thorsen on the Crystal Lake City Council. Thorsen resigned from the Council to take a seat on the McHenry County … Continue reading
It may not have been the intent to help Crystal Lake City Councilman Cameron Hubbard’s effort to gain a seat on the McHenry County Board, but Sunday’s front page photo of Hubbard in the Business section surely had that effect. … Continue reading
The Virginia Street Tax Increment Financing District is a public expenditure that keeps on giving feed stock for stories. First it was the absurd waste of money for four pillars to mark the edges of the district which provides the … Continue reading
At the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Town Hall Meeting with local governmental officials, Library Board President Terri Reece said that the Library is acquiring property north of the current building was being pursed. She added that a referendum to … Continue reading
Here is the state from Crystal Lake High School District 155 Board President Ted Wagner on the loss in the suit challenging their right to build the South High School bleachers: Regarding Illinois Supreme Court Ruling on Crystal Lake South … Continue reading
At the Crystal Lake Expo on Saturday, I talked with Crystal Lake Park District Executive Director Jason Herbster. Earlier, I reported that he told me that the tax bill for the park district would be up 4% this spring. Today, … Continue reading
Judge Michael Caldwell has issued a preliminary ruling that the City of Crystal Lake did not legally pass its tax levy in 2013 (for taxes that were paid in 2014). At issue was whether having only three of the seven … Continue reading
