McHenry County Blog

With three-fourths of the precincts reporting in the Village of Johnsburg, incumbent Mayor Ed Hettermann is leading his challenger Maggie Haney by 2-1, about a hundred votes.

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Added the day after the election:

Hettermann went on the win 896 to 427.

In the Trustees’ contest, Haney ally, incumbent Trustee Ron Zanko, ran fourth in a field of four with three to be elected.

Looks like a knock down, drag out fight in Johnsburg. I don’t follow local politics, but it is a sight to behold from afar.

Incumbent Village President Ed Hettermann is being challenged by Maggie Haney.

One of Hettermann’s supporters sent images of his signs:

On the other side, his favored candidates for Village Trustee are touted:

He also sent this photo of a Haney weekend handout under the flag of a mailbox:

Accompanying the photo was the following:

“Maggie Haney and Trustee Ron Zanko break Federal and Postal law by placing flyers on the mailboxes with no postage.

“This will be the second offense for Ron, since he also did this in 2009. Trustee Zanko should know better with being the… leader and chairperson for the Ordinance Committee.

“Please contact the Postmaster in McHenry at (815) 385-2108 to report this abuse if you received a flyer on your mailbox without a stamp.”

I can relate to this because in 1966 when I was running in a three-way primary for McHenry County Treasurer, I put my mimeographed literature in mailboxes in Wonder Lake.

Imagine my surprise when I got a bill from the Post Office. Besides having to pay it, I had no clue which houses now had not gotten my campaign piece.

Here’s Haney’s reaction to the mailbox criticism:

Maggie Haney

“I find it almost comical that the current administration is concerned about putting a flyer in a newspaper box or behind a flag.”Why don’t you ask Mr. Hettermann and his Village Clerk about denying me the right to be put in a lottery for the position on the ballot?

“Why did the Village Attorney have to contact the State Board of Elections?

“If I did something wrong I was not aware of it.

“It was my understanding that nothing could be put IN the mailbox.

“I receive literature all the time this way.

“Once again the Village picks and chooses which laws they abide.

“They don’t follow State Board of Election Laws, Open Meetings Acts, Illinois State Constitution, Freedom of Information or Citizens Participation Act.

“Give me a break!!

“Ask Trustee Ron Zanko and Trustee Rich Janusz what they have done to our signs during the night last night.

“How about trespassing on private property and petty theft.

“How about the Village President and Administrator signing checks without Board Approval.

“That is why Mr. Hettermann would not show up to the NWHerald Endorsement Interview and ‘Nixed’ a debate.  The people deserve to know what is really going on in Johnsburg.

“Only the Blogs are telling the truth.  The Northwest Herald would not print my last Press Release.”

I followed up on the invitation to ask Trustee Zanko about his yard signs and got this reply:

“When I left for work this morning, I noticed eight various campaign signs for Maggie, Mary Mahady and myself missing from my front yard and my neighbor across the street.

“In my yard, there was a Hettermann sign installed in their place.

“Since then, I have been informed by other residents of signs being missing on private properties and along roadways.

“I contacted Hettermann by e-mail and he disavows all knowledge. Attached is that e-mail.”

Ed Hettermann’s reply is below:

“I have no knowledge of anyone moving or stealing signs.”

I reached out for a copy of the newsletter and you can see it below:

It wasn’t just a Hettermann supporter calling out his opponent.

I got the following opinion piece from Charlene Bliss-Beyer, a supporter of Hane,y which doesn’t speak kindly of Hettermann:

MISTER HETTERMANN’S NEIGHBORHOOD

Friday, April 5th residents in Johnsburg received a Political Campaign piece from the Johnsburg First group headed by incumbent President Ed Hettermann.

It reminded me of a twisted version of the kids show aired on PBS called Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood that if played out in his favor on Election Day will have a devastating outcome for all Johnsburg residents.

When citizens exercise their Constitutional Rights to participate in the election process and face

• retaliation,
• threats, and
• thuggery

to deter the Liberty to support, express and eventually vote for certain candidates every Citizen must remain vigilant.

In Mister Hettermann’s Neighborhood that scenario is being played out.

In the little town of Johnsburg there is a wonderful history of lineages from certain families which adds to the character of this wonderfultown.

When a sense of entitlement appears and the “neighborly” history dictates that anyone outside of that specific group is a target for retaliation, threats and thuggery to maintain political control I believe that that Neighborhood must be stopped.

Elections normally comprise of

• debates,
• issues,
• platforms,
• literature, and then
• getting out the vote.

This campaign in Mister Hettermann’s Neighborhood has not followed that normal path.

I believe that path was avoided because of Grand Jury Subpoena(s) and an ACTIVE and ONGOING Criminal Investigation.

The laws in the State of Illinois as they relate to taxing bodies are not discretional, optional, selective or arbitrary.

They are mandates to protect the assets on behalf of all of the citizens.

Equally, the laws do not allow for Mister Hettermann’s Neighborhood to be exempt from the laws.

Segregation of Duties is not complicated but mandatory.

Years and years of accounting in Mister Hettermann’s Neighborly Administration ignored that law and one person

• collected,
• expended, and
• reported

all the funds.

This concept clearly outlined in Generally Accepted Accounting Standards not only was ignored, but the signer of the reports tendered on behalf of Mister Hettermann signed as a TREASURER when there was NO TREASURER in the Village of Johnsburg.

By the way, the “Treasurer wan bee” was the same person who had complete control of all of the money.

The mandate of Segregation of Duties for taxing bodies is to prevent fraud while protecting the assets.

To make it simple, think of an egg, it is one object, but it has 3 parts, the shell, the yolk, and the white.

Segregation of duties is the same!

When a taxing body is operating following the laws then at minimum 2 people have to be authorized to handle the money.

In the Village of Johnsburg, Mister Hettermann’s Neighborhood, for years and years this law was ignored placing serious risk to taxpayer money.

Mister Hettermann has EGG all over his face on this one.

When Mister Hettermann’s Neighborly Administration received FOIA requests with a theme of identifying the Segregation of Duties and Laws in the State of Illinois as they relate to municipal financing, reporting, and Public Documents, he did not like that uncomfortable realization.

Who would?

In his “Neighborly” world everything was fine, just like Mister Rogers neighborhood.

When the nightmare story unfolded in Dixon Illinois, questions were asked as to how millions of dollars had been stolen and nobody knew.

The answer is they had a similar Neighborly Administration.

Everyone knew the criminal who stole millions of dollars for years.

Knowing someone is one thing, allowing laws to be ignored as they relate to money is inexcusable.

The person who exposes the problem is not the problem.

If a taxing body, its elected officials and appointed officials have the privilege to serve the citizens of that taxing body, they
have an obligation to follow every law, every procedure as they relate to the money entrusted to them.

Fiduciary Responsibility and Fiscal Responsibility are not subject to Neighborly exemptions.

The State and Local Records Act identifies that every public document held within a taxing body are PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITIZENS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

The guardianship of those documents is only given to the elected officials for the term of their office.

Again, Mister Hettermann’s Neighborly Administration continues to struggle with releasing documents to not only the citizens but “certain” elected officials who are not part of his “Neighborhood”.

Poor record keeping confirmed by the Secretary of State’s Office appeared through the Citizen Investigation initiated by Maggie Haney.

Likewise, serious financial discrepancies also appeared through the Citizen Investigation initiated by Maggie Haney.

Confirming those is the GRAND JURY SUBPOENA(S) and the CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

Obviously she is not a part of Mister Hettermann’s Neighborhood so she not only is an outsider but she has now become an agitator.

Mister Hettermann’s Neighborhood even goes so far as to defame, lie, misrepresent his opponent and uses the Village of Johnsburg taxpayer website for email distribution, press releases and “reports” to continue the “Neighborly” business of Johnsburg.

Abuse of power in the name of a “Neighborly” atmosphere is unacceptable and must be stopped.

In this Political Piece that the residents of Johnsburg received Mister Hettermann is so bold to even put the Village of Johnsburg’s website on to further the abuse of power in his “Neighborly” Administration.

Johnsburg residents who fought so valiantly against the SSA project are now struggling financially with forced connection fees (In the thousands) as well as extra taxes.

Their “Neighborhood” is now also outside of the Hettermann Neighborly Administration because they dared to fight. Every Neighbor in Johnsburg should stand together with these neighbors and cry foul.

When Haney finally found Hettermann’s mandated Annual Treasurer Report(s) in the Newspaper (you know the one signed by the Treasurer from the VOJ who had no Treasurer, who had SOLE control of all the money) she was shocked to find that Hettermann’s Neighborly Administration had conveniently BORROWED 2 MILLION DOLLARS from the Water/Sewer Fund which is a restricted fund.

Do you think that borrowing money from a restricted fund is “Neighborly”? But you see when you are outside of Hettermann’s Neighborhood what is rightdoesn’t matter.

On Tuesday April 9th every voter in Johnsburg has a choice, to re-elect Mister Hettermann and his “Neighborly” Administration who are under a CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION who takes care of his little group of “Neighbors” or they can take a stand and elect an “Outsider” who truly is their “Neighbor” the one who dared to ask to see the proof of the Village of Johnsburg’s compliance with Illinois Laws.

I am a citizen in the State of Illinois, a former Mayor, a former Oath Keeper, who served my residents by following all of the laws protecting all of the assets while upholding the Constitution for all of the residents.

I am the sister of Maggie Haney and I support her for President of Johnsburg because I know that she too will take serious her Oath of Office.

I have seen her sacrifice and commitment to all of the Johnsburg residents in spite of the retaliation, defamation and lies and she will end this “Neighborly” Administration of abuse.

Is Mister Hettermann’s “Neighborly” Administration any different than the Dixon “Neighborly” Administration?

Charlene Bliss-Beyer

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One of Hettermanns’ supporters has sent the following letter when the Village accountant distributed after learning of Haney’s newsletter:

What follows is a press release from Johnsburg Village President candidate Marggy Haney.  She is running against incumbent Ed Hettermann.  You might find some of the numbered questions of interest.

ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS SILENCED AS PRESIDENT OF JOHNSBURG CANCELS VILLAGE BOARD MEETING 4-4-13

As the elected officials and citizens of Johnsburg face numerous questions about a “Criminal Investigation” and Grand Jury Subpoena(s) issued to Hettermann’s Administration, any opportunity to

• ask questions,
• seek information or
• hear progress

was shut as the Elected Officials received an email Tuesday night canceling the meeting.

Every year, according to the Illinois Open Meetings Act, every public body is required to post all the meetings they will be holding.

The purpose of these “Open” meetings is to allow Board deliberation, approval of expenditures (by the elected board of trustees), provide access to every citizen to freely participate, question, and speak during public discussion, and most importantly for the elected officials to act on behalf of their constituents in “Executive Session” to address serious matters if needed.

Numerous residents have expressed concerns after the Village of Johnsburg released information on their own website about the investigation and Grand Jury Subpoena(s).

Any opportunity for taxpayers to question or speak to the elected board of trustees and the President were “Canceled” as Hettermann slammed the door on the last scheduled Village Board Meeting before the election that was to be held tonight at 7:30 pm.

Attempts to hold a debate between the candidates running for President were “nixed” by Hettermann which slammed the door for residents to ask questions, hear both candidates’ platforms allowing them to make informed decisions before the election.

Mr. Hettermann also did not show up for the NWH Editorial Board meeting also skirting any possible questions by the news media.

The serious breach of the Illinois Open Meetings Act has been a reoccurring event, as Hettermann’s Administration has canceled 4 Meetings since October 2012.

How can any expenditure be made in the Village of Johnsburg without the elected officials approving the Disbursements?

Even if there were no other matters on the Agenda, isn’t approving the disbursements for expenditures important?

When is the Village Board of Johnsburg planning on approving the Budget for next year?

The fiscal year is coming to a close and this budget is vital if for no other reason, adopting the Budget should be a priority.

Recent information popped up on the Village of Johnsburg’s website,that all meetings were going to be videotaped and audio taped and then placed on the internet.

That was a great move at the end of Hettermann’s Administration to appear “Transparent,” but what good is the appearance of Transparency when he

• shuts the door
• cancels the meeting
• refuses to officiate over the last Village Board Meeting before the election

Residents of Johnsburg have raised serious questions about the Criminal Investigation and Grand Jury Subpoena(s).

Residents of Johnsburg who were planning on attending the April 4, 2013 meeting are shocked that once again they are being silenced, the issue is not being addressed, and no one is talking about it.

The Elected Officials who are elected to represent the citizens of Johnsburg cannot even request an “Executive Session” to discuss matters surrounding this serious situation with the “Appointed Officials” who are involved in the “Criminal Investigation” because the meeting has been canceled.

As of March 18th elected officials in the Village of Johnsburg have met with the Illinois State Police and this Criminal Investigation is Active and Ongoing.

As a citizen of the Village of Johnsburg I am appalled that this abuse of power is being played at this crucial time in our Village.

This “Code of Silence” is not Transparent, is not being Accountable, and is not GOOD GOVERNMENT!

Maybe the investigative reporters can ask the questions that the elected officials and the Citizens in Johnsburg wanted to ask but were denied by the cancellation of tonight’s meeting:

1. Why was the Village Board Meeting on April 4th really canceled?
2. Why wasn’t the Budget for 2013-2014 presented for approval?
3. How are any expenditures going to be made without the elected Village Boards’ Approval?
4. According to the article in the Northwest Herald on the 17th of March, information provided by 2 Attorneys on behalf of the Village of Johnsburg stated the Grand Jury and Criminal Investigation was over. If that was true, why did elected officials in the Village of Johnsburg meet with the Illinois State Police on March 18th?
5. What Administrative Action has been taken to ensure that any appointed official involved in the Criminal Investigation has been removed from office while pending the outcome of the Criminal Investigation?
6. Has the President of Johnsburg been questioned by the Illinois State Police and or the McHenry County State’s Attorney?
7. Who did approve the appointment of a second Attorney for the Village of Johnsburg and how are we paying for him?
8. Was there an Agenda posted for the April 4th Meeting?
9. Did any elected official request an Executive Session for the April 4th Meeting?
10. Was the April 4th Village Board Meeting canceled because Hettermann’s Administration knew that questions were going to be asked by elected officials and citizens about the Criminal Investigation and everything would be taped both audio and video and placed on the internet?

The April Fool’s Joke on all the residents was played out during this same week of cancelling the meeting.

On Monday April 1st at the Johnsburg Men’s Club, Hettermann participated in an “Open Forum” closed off to his opponent, Maggie Haney as well as the other Johnsburg Residents.

A very sad time for the Residents of Johnsburg.

Johnsburg Village President Maggie Haney has shared the images of her campaign to unseat incumbent Ed Hettermann.

The race is an interesting one because the McHenry County State’s Attorney has had the Grand Jury issue subpoenas for village documents and the Northwest Herald has refused to endorse either candidate.

Hettermann did not attend the paper’s endorsement interview, while Haney did.

(Does your favorite candidate have literature or signs he or she would like to share? The email address is on the left. I’ll do my best to get them up.)

Here’s Haney’s palm card:

Haney also sent the artwork for her signs.

A press release from Johnsburg Village President candidate Maggie Haney:

HANEY CALLS FOR A DEBATE IN JOHNSBURG

Maggie Haney, Candidate for President of Johnsburg, is calling for a debate between both candidates in the April 9, 2013 election. Haney has requested that her opponent participate in a debate allowing the residents of Johnsburg to ask questions, hear platforms, and get informed prior to the April 9, 2013 election.

Both Candidates for President of Johnsburg were scheduled to appear before the Northwest Herald Editorial Board on February 28, 2013.

Haney was disappointed that her opponent canceled since elections are a great opportunity for Citizens to express their concerns, present their issues and ideas and then decide which Candidate will represent their views prior to the election.

Maggie looks forward to a spirited debate with her opponent, since their first opportunity at the Northwest Herald was unsuccessful.

She is confident that her opponent will want to join her in addressing the voters and answer their questions in a public forum.

Haney hopes that her opponent will agree to a debate so that the Citizens in Johnsburg will have an opportunity to see both candidates face the issues allowing them to make an informed decision prior to the election on April 9, 2013.

Maggie has sent her request to the President of Johnsburg today, asking for a response by Friday March 22, 2013.

From Johnsburg Village President candidate Maggie Haney:

ST. PADDY’S DAY GRAND ILLUSION ABOUT GRAND JURY

A propaganda piece by 2 attorneys entitled, “Grand Jury: Deed Legitimate,” printed in the Northwest Herald on St. Paddy`s Day was a “St. Paddy’s Day Grand Illusion” no different than the “Pot of Gold” at the end of the rainbow.

Grand Juries are defined by statutes not illusions created by attorneys.

The St, Paddy’s Day Illusion appears to present a pot of gold for the Village of Johnsburg, that all is Well in the Land of Grand Jury’s Malarkey.

Attorneys do not begin or conclude Grand Juríes.

Here is a gold nugget to consider…why did the Village of Johnsburg appoint another attorney with Criminal experience in “White Collar Crime” and RICO?

With this type of “malarkey”  printed in the Northwest Herald, I will not be surprised if they also endorse the “Incumbent” President of Johnsburg, who pulled a NO SHOW for the Endorsement Meeting.

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Haney is running against incumbent Ed Hettermann.

Look at Johnsburg Trustee Ron Zanko’s take on Sunday’s Northwest Herald article about Maggie Haney, who is running for Village President against Ed Hettermann:

“Cal…….I saw your posting on the blog regarding Johnsburg.

“FYI What you’ve shown in the article is the Village home page for the website and not the newsletter as stated.

“The litigation was barely mentioned in the recently released spring news letter.

“Also, you misinterpreted the NWH Sunday headline like hundreds of other readers.

“The headline implies the Grand Jury found the deed legitimate.

“That is furthest from the truth. It is the Village saying: ‘Grand Jury: Deed Legitimate.’

“It’s the Village commenting on their own documents provided as the result of the subpoena.

“Once again, a poorly worded headline.

“The investigation is ongoing and the state police are still busy gathering evidence and interviewing individuals.

“Also, note in the NWH article that Michael Smoron commented on the litigation but, when it came to the investigation he was suddenly removed from the proceedings and replaced with Tony Sasson.

“Smoron is who was initially contacted by the state police in late November by phone.

“The police followed up with a letter to Zukowski, Rogers, Flood and McArdle to Michael Smoron’s attention.

“At that point, the stonewalling began with a response by letter from Tony Sasson instead of Smoron.”

Strange you would switch paddles in midstream as Smoron is the Village attorney who drafted all of the quick claim deeds to the parcel in question.

He was the one who would have had contact with all of the supposed heirs who signed over their rights to the parcel that was being litigated with the Haneys.

He would have been the one having firsthand knowledge as to how to contact those individuals on the deeds and that is what the state police wanted to know.

Instead, they had to issue a subpoena due to lack of cooperation from the Village and their attorney.

The entire process just stinks of impropriety.

Why not cooperate with the police to bring the investigation to a conclusion rather than drag out the investigation?

Only time will tell.

But meanwhile, they continue to stir the pot within the Village residents by painting Maggie Haney as the bad guy.

Fortunately, the feedback that I have received in walking the Village while campaigning is that the majority of the people I spoke with disapprove of the press release and found it inappropriate and distasteful.

Those wishing to contact Zanko can do so via the Johnsburg Village web site. His link goes directly to his personal email account.

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With regard to the Village Newsletter, I published a screen shot of what I saw when I clicked on the link provided by the Village in an email entitled, “Village Newsletter.”

I now see I should have clicked on the “Voice of Johnsburg” button on the left hand side.

I did so and found what you see below.  It appears to be a well-timed (for the upcoming April election) report from Village President Ed Hettermann.

It does have this information about litigation:

“Litigation concluded in a suit brought against the Village regarding the ownership of Maple Avenue with the judge finding in favor of the Village. The judge’s finding preserves the Village’s ownership of Maple Avenue, a public right of way.

“Litigation also concluded in a development related matter which the Village pursued to enforce obligations under an annexation agreement. The judge found in favor of the Village and directed the developer to fulfill its obligation under the annexation agreement.”

Not only has the Village of Johnsburg posted a press release on its web site but it featured that press release in its electronic newsletter distribution.

Maggie Haney, whose suit is featured at the top of the newsletter, is running against incumbent Ed Hettermann.

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Meanwhile, Sunday, the Northwest Herald ran a story saying that the McHenry County Grand Jury has found the Village’s deed to be legitimate.

A press release from Maggie Haney, who is running for Johnsburg Village President and who was attacked in a Village-paid press release:

HANEYS RESPOND TO VILLAGE OF JOHNSBURG’S MARCH 8, 2013 PRESS RELEASE POSTED ON TAX PAYER PAID WEBSITE

Frank and Margaret Haney have been Johnsburg residents for over 35 years, have raised their children, supported the schools, operated their business, and like every other resident paid their taxes.

Their history of Johnsburg supersedes the annexation by Sunnyside, and all the changes both good and bad that have occurred since the annexation.

On Friday March 8, 2013, the Haney’s were saddened but not surprised that the Administration from the Village of Johnsburg posted a defamatory and libelous press release, once again a clear misuse of the tax payers hard earned money, with no regard to truth, law, ethics or integrity.

As Benjamin Franklin said: Facts are stubborn things!

• Fact: The Haneys were in a property dispute with the Village of Johnsburg.
• Fact: The Haneys received an unfavorable ruling in the civil court in McHenry County in August 2012.
• Fact: The Haneys did send Freedom of Information requests to the Village of Johnsburg.
• Fact: The Village of Johnsburg’s responses to the FOIAS sent proved that the Village of Johnsburg was not following the Illinois laws governing municipalities as they refer to the duties, reporting and expenditures of tax payer money.
• Fact: During the litigation the Haneys exercised their Due Process Rights to initiate Discovery.
• Fact: The Haneys did uncover alleged forgery and perjury in the civil court proceeding.
• Fact: The Haneys did present their evidence to various Law Enforcement Agencies for Investigation, including but not limited to the Illinois State Police.
• Fact: The Attorney for the Village of Johnsburg did not file a Petition for Final Fees to re-coup the legal bills. The Attorney filed Sanctions in the Trial Court which included the FOIAS sent by the Haneys as citizens. In November 2012, the Sanctions were denied.
• Fact: The Citizen Participation Act protects citizens when exercising their right to participate in government.
• Fact: Grand Jury Subpoena(s) are not issued by litigants in Civil Court.
• Fact: Grand Jury Subpoena(s) are only issued in a Criminal Court proceeding or Criminal Investigation.
• Fact: The Haneys did not file in the appellate court.
• Fact: Transparency does not cost money. Refusal to comply with Freedom of Information requests does cost the tax payers money.
• Fact: Cooperating with law enforcement investigations does not cost tax payers money. Refusal to comply with law enforcement investigation does cost tax payers money.
• Fact: Cooperating with law enforcement investigations does not result in Grand Jury Subpoena(s). Not cooperating with law enforcement investigations does result in Grand Jury Subpoena(s).

Margaret Haney did decide to run for President of the Village of Johnsburg.

Her frustrating experience as a citizen in Johnsburg during the last few years fighting for

• Transparency
• Accountability
• Honesty in Government

branded her platform as she quickly heard that other residents in Johnsburg have faced similar circumstances. As a business woman, an “outsider” to politics, she is committed to getting back to basics and down to business. Maggie is dedicated to following all the laws set forth to protect all the assets within the Village while protecting all the property rights for all citizens in Johnsburg.

VOTERS IN JOHNSBURG HAVE A CLEAR CHOICE ON APRIL 9, 2013.

THEY CAN VOTE FOR THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION THAT IGNORES THE LAWS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS
AND IGNORES THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE RESULTING IN A SUBPOENA TO A GRAND JURY* OR THEY CAN VOTE FOR MAGGIE HANEY COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND OLD FASHIONED “GOOD GOVERNMENT.”

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT PAID FOR BY TAX PAYER MONEY

*Per the 3-8-13 Press Release by the Village of Johnsburg. FOIA sent requesting a copy of the Grand Jury Subpoena is being blocked by new appointed attorney for the Administration.

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The press release from the Village and what happened at Thursday night’s meeting can be found here.

Trustee Ron Zanko’s reaction to the Village press release can be found here.

Friday a press release arrived from the Village of Johnsburg which attacks Margaret Haney, who is running for Village President against the incumbent Ed Hettermann.

Subsequently, Johnsburg Village Trustee Ron Zanko sent the following communication:

Ron Zanko

“On Friday, March 8^th, the Village of Johnsburg posted a press release to the news media and its residents maliciously chastising a Johnsburg family.

“For the record, President [Ed] Hettermann confirmed having made a unilateral decision to post the press release without first consulting the Village Trustees.

“For those unaware, the wife of the family in question is Mr. Hettermann’s opponent in the upcoming spring election for Village President.

“Furthermore, the electronic media tools used in the posting are those belonging to the Village which are supported and paid for with taxpayer dollars.

“Conduct of this nature is reprehensible and to use the Villages assets to campaign under the guise of a Village press release is unacceptable.

“To Frank and Margaret Haney, I offer my personal sincere apology as your elected official and acknowledge your rights as residents to speak in a public forum and access documents that are part of the public record.

“I believe similar regrets will be forthcoming from other Board members.”