McHenry County Blog

Carolyn Schofield

At election night’s Crystal Lake City Council meeting, City Councilwoman Carolyn Schofield, elected last year, took the lead in getting a resolution on the agenda at tomorrow night’s meeting asking for recognition of the city’s Watershed Ordinance by county government.

You may remember that both Ellen Brady Mueller and Donna Kurtz made something of that issue during their campaigns for a District 2 slot on the fall county board ballot.

From a resident of the watershed’s perspective, it is so, so difficult to understand that the McHenry County Board has thus far not figured out how important protection of our lake’s watershed is to local residents.

You would think they might have figured that out when a citizen uprising killed the minor league baseball stadium at McHenry County College.

After all, half (that’s right, half) of the entire county board represents parts of Crystal Lake. With all residents of the Crystal Lake Park District having access to the lake, how can one explain why the board has not taken action already.

Ellen Brady Mueller

Donna Kurtz

My prediction is the resolution will pass without dissent Tuesday.

If that doesn’t convince the county board to follow the not-as-strict-as-it-could-be watershed protection ordinance, the next step, it would seem to me would be to invite those twelve county board members to a meeting of the city council.

Who are they?

District 2

• McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler (R)
• McHenry County Board Vice Chairman Jim Heisler (R)
• Lyn Orphal (Lost the primary to Donna Kurtz) Both R’s.
• Former Lakewood Village President and Crystal Lake Park Board President Scott Breeden (R)

Crystal Lake Avenue is the dividing line between District 2 and District 3.

District 3

• Barbara Wheeler (R)
• Kathy Bergan Schmidt (D)
• Ed Dvorak (retiring) (R)
• Mary Donner (R)

District 5

• Tina Hill (R)
• Virginia Peschke (R)
• Jim Kennedy (D)
• Paula Yensen (D)

District 5 comes into the Crystal Lake area from the Northwest (Ridgefield) and the Southeast.

So, what’s the resolution ask for?

“That the Mayor and City Council request the Regional Planning Commission include the Crystal Lake watershed and its regulations in the list of watersheds that exist within McHenry County in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan document.”

The resolution points out that the lake’s watershed is 6.39 square miles of which 3.69 square miles are within the City of Crystal Lake.

Today District 2 candidate Ken Koehler, McHenry County Board Chairman, sent out a postcard, complete with a real stamp, bragging about “being a reasonable voice for you on the McHenry County Board…Over the last nine years.”

The headline over a photo of an unfrozen Crystal Lake asks,

“What has Ken Koehler Done for You Lately?”

The answers?

• Championed low county taxes
• Secured over $500,000 to protect groundwater
• Worked with the conservation district to protect additional open space
• Improved traffic safety and efficiency
• Secured $82 million in State and Federal funds for the Western Bypass

As I was knocking on doors in my Algonquin Township Precinct 7 neighborhood I saw someone had distributed

Protecting our
Crystal Lake
Watershed

door hangers.

The Clear
Choice
for Our
Community

That’s the message on front with Kurtz standing in front of water. I don’t recognize where, maybe Dog Lake on the North Shore.

On the back is a “Dear friends and neighbors” note from Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen

It reads,

“A half century’s effort resulted in best management practices adopted by Crystal Lake protecting the lake’s watershed. Not only are these practices essential to the continued health of the lake, they also protect property surrounding the lake. Trouble, is, most of the watershed is governed by the County and not subject to these practices. The county ignores them.

“The County Board apparently remains blissfully ignorant of the sensitivity of watershed development. Where has our representation been on this issue? It is time for some new direction. It has to come from District 2.

“I witnessed Donna Kurtz stand up to protect our watershed when it was not easy task doing so. Her actions were politically risky, selfless, but most of all, righteous.

“We need representation free of conflicts or personal gain. Someone willing to stand up and fight to protect our lake, our homes, and our neighborhoods. Donna Kurtz is our best hope for County Board in District 2.

“Please vote for Donna Kurtz on Feb. 2nd.

“Jeffrey T. Thorsen”

= = = = =
Click to enlarge any image.

So, who do you think has done more to protect the watershed of Crystal Lake?

McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler (R-Crystal Lake) talking to McHenry County Young Republicans at 1776.

When I saw the envelope with Lakewood Village President Erin Smith’s name and office on it and no return address, I was surprised.

Still, I live in Lakewood, I figured she might be writing the community about the SportsPlex about which I have severe qualms. So far, no written explanation of what is planned has been mailed to residents, although the winter newsletter was in the mail when I went to the early December board meeting to inquire how the village could afford to subsidize the developer to the tune of a million dollars.

Lakewood residents have good reason to be leery when a village board gets big ideas that cost money.

After all, I and other Lakewood residents ended up paying hundreds of dollars per year to pay off the Red Tail Golf Course bonds that the village board had promised me, former village Trustee Roger Reid and attorney Jim Bishop the golf course would never “cost me a dime.” (Lakewood residents will still be paying for those bonds this year because the golf course does not make enough money to pay for operating expenses and its “mortgage.”)

When I opened the envelope, it was information about the proposed Route 47 and 176 sports complex development.

But not how it would affect Lakewood residents.

Rather, it was about the village president’s support of McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler’s re-election.

Lakewood Village President is seen talking to constituents in a crowded Meridian Street home.

Village President Smith bases her endorsement on her interaction with Koehler on SportsPlex matters:

“He has provided his support as we meet with the Illinois Department of Transportation, along with state and federal legislators regarding this strategic development.

“We have a long way to go before we’re ready to approve development at this intersection, and I am confident that Ken Koehler will support our efforts every step of the way.”

Crystal Lake City Councilwoman and District 2 county board candidate Ellen Brady Mueller speaking to Patriots United candidates' forum.

Smith goes on to point out that Koehler knows

“the importance of intergovernmental
agreements and cooperation,”

but last Wednesday night at the Young Republican’s 1776 candidates’ forum, Koehler opponent Ellen Brady Mueller took the county board to task for not requiring development on Crystal Lake’s watershed to meet the standards of Crystal Lake’s Watershed Ordinance.

In the proposed 2030 Plan, which Smith praises in the endorsement letter, the county does not propose to let Crystal Lake’s well-researched lake watershed protection rules to take precedent.

So, when Smith praises Koehler for his protection of “open space, groundwater and historic areas,” I must admit the groundwater protection part so far seems to have missed the Crystal Lake watershed, the protection of which is so important to the 420 homes in my Country Club Additions subdivision (located between the lake and the Crystal Lake Country Club).

I figure if one is going to promise to protect groundwater, one should start where one lives and that’s Crystal Lake in Koehler’s case.

The Crystal Lake area has half the 24 county board members representing parts of it.  Districts 2, 3 and 5 ought to be watching out for the interests of Crystal Lake.

So, when you see one of those 12 county board members, ask them why the 2030 Plan ignores the protection of Crystal Lake.

And, as I read the map, it appears that Smith lives in District 5, rather than Koehler’s District 2.

The letter from Smith does not say who paid for it.  When I called her, she verified that  she wrote the letter, but, when asked if she paid for it, said

“I did not.”

The problem for whoever mailed it, if that “whoever” is a political action committee, is that  state election disclosure law says it has “to be identified by the payor.”

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.”

After having been public in a Northwest Herald story on August 5th–a mere nine days ago–Metra’s board is scheduled to purchase 17 acres in Ridgefield for $1.5 million from a trust half-owned by McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler today.

The preliminary concept plan, however, was completed on January 5, 2009.

No public hearings about the suitability of this major traffic generator have been or will be held by Metra, according to an aide to Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano.

The purchase document states,

although former McHenry County College President Walt Packard told the MCC Board on the night it paid $67,000 per acre for 57 acres across the road from the railroad tracks that

“the property was perfectly sited to take advantage of a future Ridgefield Metra station maybe 20 years away.”

There will be 757 parking spots on the Crystal Lake watershed property.

The purchase is contingent on

• funding availability
• an annexation agreement with Crystal Lake
• approval of various permits and
• Crystal Lake’s agreement to operate and maintain the facilities.

Among other conditions are that

• Crystal Lake will not require Metra to “extend the City’s water and sewer systems to the Property”
• an “authorized and executed intergovernmental recapture agreement by and among the Purchaser, the City of Crystal Lake and McHenry County which may be expended by the Purchaser for improvements which benefit other properties, whether they develop in the City of Crystal Lake or within the jurisdiction of McHenry County, which is in form and substance acceptable to Purchaser in its sole discretion”

According to the documents being considered,

“Metra board member and former State Senator Jack Schaffer informed Metra personnel that Liberty Outdoor Advertising, a company Director Schaffer has an interest in, has a small sign structure on the property through a long standing Agreement. Subsequent to any closing, however, Meta will require the sign to be removed promptly, usually within 30 days depending upon weather conditions.”

Metra wants the deal closed in 120 days, but is willing to wait longer.

The seller and buyer “represents and warrants to Purchaser that the only real estate broker utilized by the Seller and Beneficiaries is Mike Deacon in connection with the purchase and sale of the Property to whom Seller and Beneficiaries have agreed to pay a commission.” The layout seen above is contained on an earlier page.

Among the attached exhibits is a blank page for “Preliminary Concept Plan.”

= = = = =
If the train station is built, it would be visible across the tracks next to the barbed wire fence. Click to enlarge the image.

I’ve posted about the proposed Ridgefield Metra station before in

Alexander Lumber’s Move to Ridgefield, Proposed Metra Station Implications

Musings on the Proposed Ridgefield Metra Station

I noticed an ad in the Northwest Herald on Tuesday. It appeared to be about 60% of page 5A, the front section.

Ridgefield businessman Craig Steagall has begun a campaign to stop the proposed building of a Metra station on Country Club Road in unincorporated Ridgefield. He admits he has a competing site on the Route 14 (other) side of the tracks (which he circles in yellow on the area map he publishes). He contends that it would be a more appropriate location.

Then I found Steagall’s web site devoted entirely to this public issue:

The top of his front page, next to the photo I’ve enlarged above (all images can be further enlarged by clicking on them), has this text:

“This image shows two sites Metra evaluated for its third train station in Crystal Lake. The blue line indicates the railroad tracks. As you can see, the yellow circle routes traffic through existing, high volume arteries like Route 14 and Ridgefield Road.

“The red site forces traffic onto streets such as Country Club Road, Hillside, and Oak Street. Traffic coming from Route 14 will be routed through downtown Ridgefield, requiring road easements, turn lanes, and most likely the bulldozing of property.”

Next, the web site lays out background information:

“Background:

“Metra has considered as many as 3 different Crystal Lake properties for a third commuter rail station. Property owned by McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler is the apparent choice of Metra. This property is adjacent to 84 Lumber Company. The City of Crystal Lake appears to be working in cooperation with Metra and Ken Koehler, with the intention of annexing the property.

“I was engaged in negotiations with Metra as the owner of one of the three potential Metra sites. I operate a business off of Ridgefield Road, one that sends out 10 to 12 semis a day and 15 to 20 semis inbound per day. A company policy has been in effect since my operation moved to Ridgefield in 1994 that NO company trucks are to use Country Club Road, Hillside or Oak Street. Those roads are not intended, nor were they built for, truck traffic.

“One might conclude that this ad is sour grapes, however, it is much more. Country Club Road is an ill-suited location for a Metra station. This newspaper communication aims to focus attention on the matter, and below I highlight issues that I believe reflect a pattern of questionable activities.”

Below, Steagall shows the routes to what he calls “Ken Koehler’s property?”:

He asks if the intersection, with the distance between the buildings in Ridgefield being only 65.5 feet, is safe for commuter traffic. He compares the road to Alden Road, on which the county wants thirty foot easements.

He provides an enlarged photo of Downtown Ridgefield with distances marked off:

Next come questions for Metra:

“Questions for Metra:

“Orest Chryniwsky, Senior Real Estate and Development Specialist at Metra, when you asked me the question

‘do you have a way of handling Ken Koehler?’

What exactly did you mean? Please explain why a potential seller of land would need a way to handle Ken Koehler. Does Metra have any agenda other than doing the proper due diligence in selecting the best location for the third Crystal Lake rail station? Is Metra receiving pressure from any other source?”

He asks a series of questions, which I have separated for easier reading:

• “Why is Metra pursuing a Crystal Lake water shed study on the proposed Metra sight? 84 Lumber was built and developed without a watershed study.
• “Metra has an obligation to the communities that they serve to put Metra in the best location to service the population. Did the dangerous location get trumped by the County Board Chairman’s desire to sell his property?
• “Metra, who has performed your traffic studies? The same firm that did 84 Lumber? “Did the traffic study highlight the DANGER to the intersection of Ridgefield Road and Country Club? You can’t turn a semi onto either of the roads without using the entire oncoming traffic lane. A semi cannot turn onto Country Club Road off Ridgefield Road if the train crossing gates come down.
• “Hasn’t the County had enough tragedy at poorly designed rail crossings?”

I presume he is referring to the Fox River Grove school bus-train crash in the last question.

Below is the following traffic study proposal:

“I propose AT MY EXPENSE an independent traffic consultant and a live re-enactment of three semis at the intersection of Country Club Road and Ridgefield Road. Let’s invite the Crystal Lake City Council and McHenry County Board to this live demonstration and see if they agree that this is DANGEROUS. We might be able to get the National Transportation Safety Board to attend. Metra, will you honor the boundary agreement with the city of Crystal Lake? Apparently the property for 84 Lumber was bought / sold without even a courtesy advisement to the City of Crystal Lake. Do you want any public input? Why not let the public voice their opinions?”

The web site has questions for Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley, too:

“Questions for Mayor Shepley:

“Mayor-have you ever ridden your bike down Oak, to Hillside to Country Club- in route to a fine day of peddling in the countryside? With easement expansion, will there be room for a bike path? So much for the McHenry County Scenic Drive sign program.”

There are also questions aimed at Country Club Road and Bull Valley residents (again separated them to make them easier to read):

“Questions for Country Club Road Residents / Bull Valley Residents / Ridgefield Road Merchants

• “Do you like 84 Lumber?
• “Were you surprised by its development?
• “How excited will you be when Metra adds trains and traffic 24/7?
• “Ridgefield Merchants are you ready for new roads in downtown Ridgefield?
• “If the roads are going to be safe for the METRA TRAFFIC (drive down Pingree to see your future), then might the downtown cease to exist?
• “Is Metra widening the rail crossing to accommodate turn lanes? You can’t widen between the few buildings that exist in downtown Ridgefield without bulldozing first.”

Steagall’s web site moves on to questions for Hillside Drive, Oak Street, Covered Bridge Trails and Manor Hills residents:

“Questions for Hillside/Oak Street-Covered Bridge-Manor Hills:

“Oak Street and Hillside will become major arteries for traffic traveling to the new Metra Station. Is this the future you want for your road? The County believes they need to widen Alden Road an extra 30 feet on each side. Doesn’t Hillside and Oak Street handle more traffic now than Alden Road? Do you want your future to be a major artery to a train station? Drive down Pingree Road to see what your future is.”

Finally, there are questions for Ken Koehler:

Questions for Ken Koehler:

“84 Lumber was under contract on Ridgefield Road for 6 plus months with Craig Steagall and another partner. I asked Ed Dvorak to set up a meeting with you in your capacity as a County Board member, to learn what could be done to deal with the onerous requirements the county was making for Ridgefield Road. Within weeks 84 Lumber was under contract with you for your nearby property? How did that happen, Ken, without even a telephone call? Did the Director of Economic Development really just call 84 out of the blue saying she knew of a great property for a lumberyard?”

At the bottom of his message, Steagall has ten photographs of the Ridgefield area with statements and questions superimposed. Click to enlarge the images and you can read the text.

Want to comment on Steagall’s web site? He already has some here. Four of them–Nancy Jung, Jeremy Mahnke, John Shulfer and Patrick Kulisek–even seem to be real names.

Here’s the email address: metraquestions@gmail.com

Somehow I missed this change in one of my local ordinances.

Lakewood has banned fertilizers containing phosphorus.

Good for Lakewood!

That’s an element that Crystal Lake has somehow managed to avoid becoming more polluted with, hearings on the McHenry County College baseball stadium zoning request revealed. Something about the elements in the gravel through which water is filtered on the way to the lake binding to the phosphorus. The “experts” were not completely clear as to the reason, just that that potential pollutant has not increased in the last twenty years.

Pretty amazing considering the Chem Lawn, etc., businesses have grown so much over the last two decades.

In November, Crystal Lake banned the use of phosphorus in new developments on the watershed.

That was not as courageous as the action taken by the Lakewood Village Board.

Crystal Lake has many, many homes in the watershed of Crystal Lake where there are no restrictions on the application of fertilizer containing phosphorus.

Since I haven’t used fertilizers for years (it just encourages the grass to grow and you know who mows the lawn), having missed the new ordinance made no difference to me.

Somehow I missed this change in one of my local ordinances.

Lakewood has banned fertilizers containing phosphorus.

Good for Lakewood!

That’s an element that Crystal Lake has somehow managed to avoid becoming more polluted with, hearings on the McHenry County College baseball stadium zoning request revealed. Something about the elements in the gravel through which water is filtered on the way to the lake binding to the phosphorus. The “experts” were not completely clear as to the reason, just that that potential pollutant has not increased in the last twenty years.

Pretty amazing considering the Chem Lawn, etc., businesses have grown so much over the last two decades.

In November, Crystal Lake banned the use of phosphorus in new developments on the watershed.

That was not as courageous as the action taken by the Lakewood Village Board.

Crystal Lake has many, many homes in the watershed of Crystal Lake where there are no restrictions on the application of fertilizer containing phosphorus.

Since I haven’t used fertilizers for years (it just encourages the grass to grow and you know who mows the lawn), having missed the new ordinance made no difference to me.

Long-time columnist for the Northwest Herald and predecessor papers Don Peasley revealed a bit over a week ago that

“The fair board is a participant in developing a multi-purpose events facility in cooperation with a proposed minor league baseball stadium under leadership of the McHenry County Community Foundation.

“Foundation staff members are evaluating 200-acre sites in the general area of McHenry County College or perhaps south of Woodstock.”

Just thought you might be interested.

Perhaps that is what McHenry County College Board members Scott Summers and George Lowe were pointing to on this map, the night the board decided to hide behind plastic curtains. And illegally kick members of the public out. You know, the one MCC won’t tell how much money was paid to lawyers when McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi filed suit charging the college with violating the Open Meetings Act.

A better view of the map can be seen below. Ironically, in both photos board member George Lowe’s head can be seen.

Long-time columnist for the Northwest Herald and predecessor papers Don Peasley revealed a bit over a week ago that

“The fair board is a participant in developing a multi-purpose events facility in cooperation with a proposed minor league baseball stadium under leadership of the McHenry County Community Foundation.

“Foundation staff members are evaluating 200-acre sites in the general area of McHenry County College or perhaps south of Woodstock.”

Just thought you might be interested.

Perhaps that is what McHenry County College Board members Scott Summers and George Lowe were pointing to on this map, the night the board decided to hide behind plastic curtains. And illegally kick members of the public out. You know, the one MCC won’t tell how much money was paid to lawyers when McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi filed suit charging the college with violating the Open Meetings Act.

A better view of the map can be seen below. Ironically, in both photos board member George Lowe’s head can be seen.