McHenry County Blog

Below is the fall newsletter from Lakewood Village President Erin Smith:

For many of us, summer is a slower time of the year as we travel or enjoy local pursuits such as golf or boating. At the Village of Lakewood, however, it’s our busiest time of the year. And this summer was no exception.

New Home Construction

I am most pleased to report that we have seen an increase in the number of new single family homes being built in our community.

Four (4) new homes are currently under construction, and an additional three (3) new homes are currently under review and hope to break ground this fall.

This is a significant turn around from the past few years (during which no new homes were built) and bodes well for ongoing growth and development.

It is also consistent with a study reported in a May edition of the Chicago Tribune that indicates the Village of Lakewood is the only community in McHenry County to experience an increase in its property values during the past five (5) years.

Specifically, we have experienced an increase of 17.65% with a current median value of $353,250.

While the real estate market continues to be challenged, there has definitely been an uptick in new home construction and values, and this will benefit our entire community.

Lakewood Homes in Crystal Lake Service League Housewalk

Consistent with the beautiful and unique houses throughout our community, all of the homes showcased in the 2012 Crystal Lake Service League Housewalk are within the Village of Lakewood. It will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase our community. These include

• the Shade’s at 7307 Fairway Drive;
• the Dvorak’s at 6919 Inverway;
• the Olsen’s at 318 Hampshire Lane; and
• the Wencek’s at 6910 Cambria Cove.

New Centegra Hospital Approved

We have actively supported and closely monitored the status of the proposed new Centegra Hospital on Haligus Road in Huntley.

It recently received final approval and is expected to be completed in 2016.

Not only will this facility provide improved access to health care for our residents, but we are developing a strategy to aggressively market our residential developments to the physicians and staff members who will work at the new hospital.

El Café Open for Business

In the last newsletter, I was thrilled to report that El Café was preparing to open. It has now opened to much acclaim and success! The owners are actively listening to their patrons, and plans are underway to make minor modifications to the coffee shop that will allow them to serve fresh salads every day. If you have not yet had a chance, please stop by and support our newest business. As always, please contact me directly if you have a lead for a possible new business in our community.

Commercial Sign Standards

On August 28, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution requesting that McHenry County place a moratorium on the issuance of new permits for electronic billboards until it considers standards for such facilities.

This action was prompted by the pending application for an electronic billboard on Illinois Route 47 and north of Ballard Road.

This property is currently in unincorporated McHenry County but is surrounded by the Village of Lakewood.

Therefore, we are pursuing the forcible annexation of this area so that any development is consistent with our standards for this commercial corridor.

Lakewood Summer Festivals

It was a busy summer for festivals!

Celebrate Lakewood brought nearly 300 residents to see the renovations at the RedTail Golf Course clubhouse.

Our local businesses also had an opportunity to introduce themselves to our residents, and the highlight of the day was the landing of a “Flight for Life” helicopter.

Our thanks to the Economic Development and Golf Course Committees for all of their hard work to make this event a reality.

Shortly thereafter, Crosspoint Lutheran Church held its first Family Fest. Again, nearly 300 people enjoyed great food, music, and activities.

The summer ended with a bang as 585 runners and countless volunteers participated in the first annual Deep Dish Dash at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria. All of the funds raised will support Family Health Partnership Clinic’s breast cancer fund, which helps uninsured women in McHenry County have access to life saving screening, education, and care coordination.

Not only are these events an important component of building a sense of community, but they help to introduce visitors to our beautiful community.

The Lakewood Village Hall could morph into a restaurant overlooking Crystal Lake. It would be the only one.

Long-Term Plans for Village Hall

We have also had some very preliminary discussions with a consortium to begin to more thoughtfully and carefully consider

• the possible development of a restaurant on the current Village Hall site;
• the creation of a town center; and
• the construction of a municipal complex.

This process is completely exploratory at this time, and no commitments will be made without significant input from our residents.

A more formal presentation to gather additional information about the process is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, September 25.

2012 Roadway Program

Our 2012 roadway program is expected to begin in mid September and, as a reminder, it includes:

• South Shore Drive from Essex Lane to Meridian Street;
• the 200 blocks of Essex Lane,
• Oxford Lane,
• Cumberland Lane,
• Melrose Lane, and
• Meridian Street;

as well as localized patching and restriping throughout the Village.

Partridge/Braemar Water Main Replacement Project

The Board of Trustees also recently approved a $424,759 bid for the replacement of water mains, isolation valves, and fire hydrants on Partridge Lane and Braemar Circle.

This neighborhood routinely experiences water main breaks, and so we are pleased to finally be able to address this long-standing problem. A more detailed letter regarding the project will be mailed to the residents of this neighborhood in the near future.

And thank you for your very positive response to the letter that I sent earlier in the summer about the drought. We continue to be under a severe drought, and we are carefully monitoring our water supplies and treatment/storage facilities. Please exercise moderation in your water usage!

Crystal Lake has receded between Gate 3 and the outlet.

As fall begins, please be cautious on the roadways as children and buses travel back and forth to school.

Sincerely,

Erin

Village President

Summer 2012

As I sit to write this letter, it is a beautiful spring day and there is much to celebrate within the Village of Lakewood.

Lakewood Property Taxes

We recently received our property tax bills and, for many of us, the news was not good as our overall taxes increased. For nearly all of our residents, however, the portion of real estate taxes paid to the Village of Lakewood should have decreased.

This is a direct result of the final payment being made for the bond that was used to purchase RedTail Golf Club. That obligation has now been completed, and no additional taxes will be levied for RedTail Golf Club.

Electrical Aggregation

Unless you already have an alternate electrical supplier, you should have recently received an Opt Out letter from Direct Energy and the Northern Illinois Governmental Electric Aggregation Consortium (NIGEAC). NIGEAC is the intergovernmental consortium that was formed for the purpose of securing a lower rate for electricity for a number of McHenry County communities.

This process was made possible by the referendum that was passed in March, and I am proud to note that the referendum passed by a higher margin in the Village of Lakewood than in any other community in McHenry County. The rate secured from Direct Energy is $0.04169, which is less than half of the current rate from ComEd.

To date, we believe that it is the lowest rate in the state, and we estimate that the annual savings for our residents will be between $300 and $350.

Unless you opt out of the contract with Direct Energy, you will automatically be enrolled and will begin seeing the new rate on your ComEd bill as early as June. ComEd will continue as our service provider, maintaining the infrastructure that provides the electricity, but purchasing the supply of electricity from Direct Energy.

Garbage and Recycling Services

We also recently extended our existing contract with MDC Environmental Services (our refuse hauler) for a period of six years. During the first year, there will be no rate increase. In the second and third years, the rate will simply be adjusted by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). In the fourth year, there will again be no rate increase. And in the fifth and sixth years, the rate will again be adjusted by the CPI. There will be very few changes in service. For those residents who have requested a cart for yard waste, MDC will provide a 95 gallon yard waste cart at an additional cost of $1.50/month. Any resident who chooses this option will still be entitled to the collection of four bags of yard waste at no additional cost. The fee for an additional garbage cart will be reduced from $2/month to $1.50/month. Please call Village Hall if you want to take advantage of either of these new service enhancements.

2012 – 2013 Budget

The Fiscal Year 2012 – 2013 budget which was adopted in April is balanced and includes numerous infrastructure improvements, including street repaving and water main replacement. It does not contemplate a rate increase for customers of Lakewood Utilities, and it is unknown at this time whether there will be a rate increase for East Sewer customers.

Residential Development

During the past few years of this economic downturn, there have been no new single family homes built in our community.

That trend has changed, however, and we have already issued two building permits for single family homes that are currently under construction. An additional two homes have been approved by the Architectural Review Committee, and several more are in various stages of design.

A new owner has purchased the vacant parcels in The Highlands at RedTail subdivision, and he intends to move forward immediately to complete the unfinished four-unit building. All of this is a very positive sign as both businesses and individuals are again choosing to make substantial investments in our community.

Future Commercial Development

Recently, the Village Board purchased the parcel of land located at the southwest corner of Route 47 and Pleasant Valley Road (just north of Crystal Woods Golf Course). This was a strategic investment for the purpose of maintaining control of future development at this intersection. We were able to secure the property for significantly less that its appraised value and the current leases on the property more than cover the cost of our 10-year loan. The funds needed to purchase the property will be taken from reserves, so residents will see no tax increase as a result of the purchase.

Summer Celebrations

While we continually strive to provide our residents with the highest level of services in the most cost effective manner possible, we also recognize that our quality of life is equally as important. There are several opportunities to participate in local activities this summer. Enclosed with this newsletter is a flyer inviting you to “Celebrate Lakewood” on June 10. Not only is it a chance to see the newly remodeled RedTail Clubhouse, but there will be free food, activities, and prizes!

Our first church, Crosspoint Lutheran, is sponsoring a Family Fest on Saturday, July 7 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. It will include outdoor games and rides, free food, and an 80’s band.

And as hard as it is to believe, Lou Malnati’s will be celebrating its 5th Anniversary in the Village of Lakewood. In order to commemorate this event, Lou’s is sponsoring a 5K run/walk in August as a fundraiser for breast cancer. Please plan to attend one or all of these events!

Lakewood Commons

El Café is expected to be open for business on or about the weekend of June 9! It’s a warm and inviting space, and I strongly encourage you to stop by and welcome the newest member of our growing business community. My husband and I plan to be there every weekend for our morning coffee run(s), so please stop by and let me know your thoughts about our Village.

As a part of our Looking Out for Lakewood campaign, please contact me if you know of an individual who might be interested in opening a business at Lakewood Commons. I am most often asked about a breakfast/lunch diner, general store, or spa. But, we would welcome new suggestions from residents!

My best wishes for a safe and fun filled summer!

Sincerely,

Erin

Village President

Lakewood Village President Erin Smith is not only endorsing McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, but she is supporting Donna Kurtz as well.

Two years ago Kurtz ran ahead of Koehler for the two positions on the fall ballot.

This time there are four to be selected for the General Election this fall.

Smith’s letter of endorsement for Kurtz follows:

I strongly encourage residents in County District 2 to vote for Donna Kurtz in the Republican Primary on March 20th.

Donna Kurtz is an experienced leader with a reputation for integrity, fiscal responsibility and protection of natural resources. She takes the time to fully investigate every issue, asks the tough questions and challenges any solution that is not in the best interests of McHenry County residents.

Donna worked to incorporate the Crystal Lake Watershed Ordinance into the County ordinances, which will help to protect the property values of residents near the lake by alleviating the threats of flooding and water damage. She has done extensive research in support of progressive water management policies, which will be very important in the coming years.
On Tuesday, March 20th (or early voting at Crystal Lake City Hall Feb. 27th – March 15th), please support Donna Kurtz for District 2 County Board Member.

Erin Smith
Lakewood Village President

Now I’ve gotten three pieces of political mail.

The only contests in my part of Lakewood and Crystal Lake are for President and McHenry County Board.

I received

• an introduction-fund raising pitch from our Congressman-to-be Peter Roskam,
• a piece from the Romney delegates (which featured State Treasurer Dan Rutherford prominently),
• a post card from County Board candidate Tom Wilbeck and, on the very same day,
• a letter from Lakewood’s Village President Erin Smith endorsing Ken Koehler.

In Smith’s letter, she says she has “worked closely with Koehler on a variety of issues that affect our quality of life in Lakewood.”

There are no specifics, but there could be, considering the cooperation at the County Board level in the granting of bonding authority to the developers of the McHenry County Sports Complex.

Interestingly, Smith refers to Koehler’s “detractors,” saying “his record of achievement over time has earned him widespread support across the collar county area.”

A copy of Koehler’s palm card, which you can see here, was enclosed.

Below are photos supplied by Ken Koehler’s re-election campaign.

For the second Thursday night in a row, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria was the site of a Republican event.  More sales tax revenue for my revenue-starved Village of Lakewood was one of my thoughts.

Last week, it was for State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay to meet local Republicans.

This week, it was McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz’ fund raiser.

Marvelous deep dish pizza, of course.

Good thing I skipped lunch.

There was a more than a touch of class in the classical guitarist who entertained the crowd.  His name is  David Daoui (815-337-8707).

Politics, of course enveloped the room.

Allies from political wars past sometimes sat together.

Others were seating by the luck of the draw, meeting new people.

Donna’s mother, former State Rep. Rosemary Kurtz, was helping do the essential funding raising tasks while her daughter was making the rounds.

Lakewood Village President Erin Smith brought her husband and parents, who raise her on Gate 14 in Lakewood. Former Village Trustee Black Hobson and his wife were also in attendance.

McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz has scheduled a fund raiser at Lou Malnati’s on Ackmann Road in Lakewood for Groundhog’s Day. That’s February 2nd, the day of the big blizzard last year.

The price is $25 per person and $40 a couple and the hours are 5:30-8:30.

Honored guests include Lakewood Village President Erin Smith and Crystal Lake City Councilman Ralph Dawson.

Lakewood Village President Erin Smith sent out the following letter to her constituents in the fall village newsletter.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

As we bid a fond farewell to summer, it’s appropriate to review what was accomplished during the past three (3) months and what we can look forward to in the coming months.

As is typical in the Midwest, summer was filled with construction projects and other work on infrastructure.

Notable among these were

• the construction of bicycle lanes along Huntley Road, from West Beach to Chicago Avenue,
• the repaving of RedTail Drive and Loch Glen Drive,
• the construction of our new water tower on Turnberry Trail and
• work on the East Side Storm Sewer.

Huntley Road Bike Path

This project has been a long standing priority of our Comprehensive Plan and Parks and Recreation Committee. Given its cost, we were able to proceed with the project because staff secured a federal grant that paid for eighty percent (80%) of the construction. It has been a difficult and lengthy process for the residents impacted by the construction, and we give our sincere thanks and appreciation for their patience throughout this process.

RedTail and Loch Glen Drive

Both residents and golfers are pleased to experience the repaving of RedTail Drive. This portion of our roadway program was paid for with a $200,000 grant secured for the Village of Lakewood by State Representative Michael Tryon, and we thank him for his efforts on our behalf. With revenues from our General Fund, we were also able to repave Loch Glen Drive and make several roadway repairs throughout the community. We receive a lot of complaints about the gravel that is “kicked up” at busy intersections, and it is a maintenance problem for our residents and Public Works crew. Therefore, we took advantage of this year’s roadway program to install cobblestone returns at the intersection of RedTail Drive/Loch Glen Drive/Bardwell Lane. Please take a look and let us know what you think as we contemplate whether to continue this program at other key intersections.

Water Tower

We have also nearly completed the construction of our new water tower on Turnberry Trail, and it is expected to go online shortly, at which time the old water tower will be removed. In terms of branding our community, a strategic decision was made by the Board of Trustees to position the writing so that it is visible as you approach the Village of Lakewood from the north and south. The lettering is most visible from Turnberry and RedTail golf courses, where visitors will see that they are in the Village of Lakewood.

East Side Storm Water

In our ongoing efforts to address the issue of storm water on the East Side of the Village, our Public Works Department recently completed a project to clean and televise one-half of the Broadway storm sewer outfall pipe. This project was completed at a cost of approximately $17,150 and verified our concern that substantial repair and replacement of the storm sewer will be needed. We will include revenues in the budget for the next fiscal year that will allow us to complete the second half of the cleaning/televising project in order to assess the full extent of the work needed and begin to develop a plan for funding the repairs.

Other Summer News

In addition to our infrastructure improvements, we had another safe recreational season on Crystal Lake, and we extend our thanks to the Police Department for its consistently strong enforcement in this area. I am also very pleased to report that RedTail Golf Course has had a strong year to date. Revenues are greater than last year, and the volunteer program that was instituted for starters and rangers has helped to decrease expenditures. The golf season is not yet over, so take advantage of some great fall rates to help insure that RedTail Golf Course has a great year!

Economic Development Update

Looking forward, we continue to place economic development as our number one priority. Toward this end, we have hired Dobbe Marketing & PR to help our community develop a strong and consistent message to attract businesses. A Focus Group was held with local businesses and residents in July, and the results of that meeting will be shared with the Board of Trustees at the meeting on September 13. Primary topics will include:

How to best take advantage of the contacts of our residents to attract the types of businesses identified as priorities. You are our best resource!

How to partner with the developer of Lakewood Commons to fill the center, including the remaining vacant parcel.

Whether the current site of Village Hall can or should have an alternative use, such as a restaurant.

Whether it is viable to develop a town center and, if so, where?

I encourage you to participate in these discussions and provide your feedback to any of our elected officials.

Also in July, the Board approved a 6-month extension of the preliminary agreement with the developer of the sports complex. Financing has not yet been secured, but some indication of progress was presented.

Our Board was split on the decision to extend the agreement.

I voted to extend the agreement because other surrounding communities have automatically extended existing agreements to support businesses in this difficult economy and I believe we need to show an equal level of support.

Input from our Focus Group, which reinforced that the sports complex is consistent with our vision, also influenced my vote.

Through the first three months of our current fiscal year, I am also pleased to report that our sales tax revenues have increased by nearly $6,400 over this same time period last year. This increase is most directly attributable to the four (4) new businesses that were annexed last summer, and we believe that we will continue to experience increased growth in revenues from these businesses.

In fact, The Gardens of Woodstock recently become a member of the McHenry County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and motor coach tours are already making regular stops for lunch and shopping. As we seek new businesses, our most effective testimonials are our existing businesses, and it benefits all of us to support them.

New Entryway Signs

In the upcoming months, you will also see three (3) new entryway signs installed as one of the recommendations from the Parks and Recreation Committee, which is interested in establishing a Garden Club to help landscape these and other public areas in the community.

We are also exploring the possibility of working with neighboring communities to bid for the purchase of electricity for our residents. Harvard and Fox River Grove recently completed this process and had great success with overall savings for their residents of between ten (10) to fifteen (15) percent on the electric bills.

Such a process requires the passage of a referendum by our residents, and we have set a tentative goal of placing such a referendum on the March 2012 ballot. Any resident who did not want to participate in the program could simply “opt out” and continue to purchase their electricity from Commonwealth Edison. Again, we would be interested in hearing your thoughts about the program. Our goal would simply be to save our residents money in these difficult economic times.

In addition to soliciting your input on a number of issues, I am always available for a Pizza with the President and welcome your invitation.

Sincerely,

Erin

Lakewood Village President Erin Smith had to cast a tie-breaking vote for ordinances giving McHenry County SportsPlex developers an additional six-months to meet their end of the deal struck with Lakewood.

A year ago the vote was unanimous.

In the meantime, village elections turned out an appointed trustee who supported the decision and replaced her with businessman Jeff Iden.

He and another new trustee, Gary Sexton, who ran unopposed, were joined by re-elected Ken Santowski in voting “No.”

After three Smith loyalists, John Burton, Carl Davis (by phone) and Gene Furey voted “Yes,” Smith, who had previously expressed her continuing support for the project, broke the tie.

Smith introduced the agenda item by telling the audience that the only issue was whether an extension should be approved. She said that other questions about the deal approved a year ago (without pre-meeting details of the deal being made public) could not be re-opened unless the SportsPlex developers changed their end of the deal.

Nearby residents outside Lakewood’s village limits had questions to ask and statements to make.

The questions generally were not answered and Smith cautioned that derogatory remarks might be better left unsaid.

“You need to be very careful about your comments,” were Smith’s exact words.

Initially only twenty minutes were allowed for public input, but Smith allowed four speakers after that deadline passed.

More Lakewood residents spoke up than at the original meeting. My guess is that the Sunday front page coverage by the Northwest Herald was the stimulus.

Tom Carroll of Richmond Lane reported that this was his first meeting in thirty years of living in Lakewood. He wondered how the project was “in keeping with our community view,” as the village web site proclaimed.

“Where did you get the idea that anyone wants a sports complex?” he asked.

Smith replied that the proposed development was consistent with “our comprehensive plan.”

“I don’t think the community supports this sports complex. I may be a year late, but I hope you’ll take (my views into consideration).

A resident living on Broadway weighed in with a negative comment.

Kathy Barton of Meridian Street offered her opinion:

“I don’t think you should extend this.”

“When are you going to run for office next?” asked Lake Avenue resident John O’Brien.

Three of those casting the “Yes” votes, including Village President Smith and Trustees John Burton and Gene Fuery are up for election in 2013.

SportsPlex opponents passed out court papers documenting financial problems reported in the First Electric Newspaper the morning of the board meeting.

Unincorporated SportsPlex neighbor Al Stenstrom presented an unredacted copy of a project feasibility study provided by the Upper Illinois River Development Authority after being told to do so by the Public Access Counselor of the Illinois Attorney General.

He suggested that the board had never looked at it–the McHenry County Board (didn’t look at it either).

Fellow unincorporated neighbor Larry Larsen pointed out that the SportsPlex would “pay only $350 per year in taxes for the first five years while Lakewood will be kicking in $5 million.”

“I was dumbfounded at the amateurish (nature of the feasibility study),” former Ameritech Director of Long-Range Planning Joseph Daleiden started his critique.

Among other complaints were inadequate marketing data, incorrect census data, comparisons with other sports complexes with profit and loss data showed all were losing money, the 750,000 estimate of visitors for soccer was way too high, plus errors or simple addition.

He suggested government officials “be very, very suspicious” of developers trying to gain public subsidies.

“Are people behind risking their own money?” Deleiden said was a relevant question. Would they share in the profits and taken management fees?

Finally, “If banks don’t want any part of it…”

Jack Porter, who drew up the conceptual plans took the floor after the public comment period.

“I can’t offer you any guarantees that we can get this done. We’re looking at private equity opportunities. Right now, we can’t really disclose what we are doing. We do need more time.”

Trustee Sexson, newly-elected, asked what proportion of the $12 million in upfront money needed had been gathered–”half three-fourths, ten percent?”

Developer Len Tenore mentioned potential investors in Romania and Taiwan.

“We’ve got $35 million from a bond house,” which he said we “can’t reveal.”

Trustee Ken Santowski remembered he had “sat here a year ago and struggled with this.”

Reiterating the “tax free bonds, then taxable bonds, then private funds, then equity…We as a board have supported you guys blindly for 362 days.”

Santowski referred to the results obtained by the Algonquin Village Board on “Tyvek Towers” when the village “slapped their (the owner’s) head. They were laying bricks the next day.”

Smith asked Tenore for other progress that had been made.

“Number one, there’s not a lot of development going on, period.

“Everyone is reluctant to be first in line.

“The first half has to buy the land and do the engineering.

“We’ve been let down by the EB-5 program.

“After that we decided to look for outside investors.

“We had a lot of people give us verbals. Some more than that,” Tenore said.

“Do you come to us with an empty check book?” Santowski asked.

“There has been investment made of approximately $1/2 million,” Tenore replied.

“I have a hard time thinking a bond firm would (fund this),” Trustee Sexton said.

Tenore revealed that the feasibility study being discussed was one from 2008, which had been superseded by one by CH Johnson.

He also revealed that the original bond firm of Stern Brothers was no long involved. William Blair was identified.

‘I’m for extending this,” Trustee Furey said. “The bond market is going to dictate whether this goes ahead or not. Six months is not a long time. (Then) the Village Board will look hard at it.

“It’s a tough economy,” Trustee Sexton observed. “I don’t know if six months is going to turn the ship around. I don’t know if I want to set you guys up for failure.”

He suggested renegotiating the deal, that the project might have to be done in stages.

“We were very generous.”

Trustee John Burton asked Tenore if there were any changes.

“Trustee Sexton is correct. We have to do it in stages,” he said. “The back portion” would be done later.

Burton described the development as “unique. I think it could draw a very valuable group of people the the village..

“I would fully support bringing sewer and water to that intersection.”

He also noted that extensions were being granted in neighboring communities.

“I support reducing the tax burden to the community with sales tax (revenue from the project),” Burton added.

Via phone, Trustee Davis asked if “different investors” were being approached.

Tenore replied that foreign investors were being followed up.

“I think it is clear to me that the developer has at least some hope of getting financing. in light of the current and possibility of new investors, I think we should allow a six-month delay.

“This is the least worst situation.”

He praised the “wholesome recreation and exercise.”

Prior to the vote, President Smith gave her reasons for supporting the extension.

“I believe this is the best use of the intersection. I don’t want that intersection to look like every other intersection.

“We don’t have another project of this magnitude at that location.

“Other communities–like Crystal Lake–have extended all project six months.

“I am concerned the message we would send about business friendliness, (if we didn’t grant the extension),” she said.

This letter went out to Lakewood residents from Lakewood Village President Erin Smith toward the end of June:

From the President –

The summer is traditionally a busy time as we begin our construction season.

Projects that will be visible to you this summer include

• painting the water tower on Turnberry Trail;
• repaving RedTail Drive, Loch Glen Drive, and Loch Glen Court;
• roadway patching and repairs throughout the community; and
• construction of the bicycle path along Huntley Road.

The number and scope of capital projects within the Village of Lakewood this year are a reflection of the conservative budgeting practices enacted by the staff and Board of Trustees over the past decade.

These decisions have allowed us to secure a AAA bond rating; to maintain Public Safety and Public Works services; and to invest in critical infrastructure.

There has been a great deal of attention in the local press about property taxes, and there are three (3) important points that I want to make:

The property tax levy process is mandated to us by Illinois State Statutes, and crucial decisions about the value of your property are made by the local Township Assessor’s Office and other local governmental agencies.

It is the responsibility of each homeowner to appeal the assessment (value) of his home if he believes that it is inaccurate.

The percentage of your property tax bill that is paid directly to the Village of Lakewood each year is roughly twelve percent (12%). This amount does not cover the cost of the most basic public safety services of Police and Fire.

In December of each year, the Village of Lakewood makes a decision about the amount of property taxes to be levied for our General Fund purposes. We make every attempt to include new properties into this amount. For the current year, the total overall property tax levied specifically for the Village of Lakewood increased by approximately $75,000. However, there are more new properties or more “units” to pay this tax, so the burden is spaced over a greater number of taxpayers.

We randomly selected three actual tax bills to review and, based on this analysis, the average property tax paid to the Village of Lakewood decreased nominally from $1,691 in 2009 to $1,689 in 2010.

And the good news is that this is the last year that property taxes will be levied for the golf course bond, so each homeowner within our community should experience a notable decrease in the amount of property taxes paid to the Village of Lakewood next year.

As a part of our long term economic strategy, our primary goal is to strengthen our business community so that we can ultimately lessen our dependence on property tax revenues.

Toward this end, we have engaged the services of a marketing consultant with
the specific goal of developing a communications strategy for economic development. We are also working with the Economic Development Committee to identify a breakfast/lunch restaurant for the vacant lot at RedTail Drive and Ackman Road. Please call me directly if you have a personal contact in this industry!

The developer of the sports complex continues to try and finalize the financing of the project and to secure the land. Our agreement with the developer is valid for one year, so we will have a resolution to this matter by the end of July.

In regards to our litigation with the City of Crystal Lake about the payment for fire protection services, you may have read that Judge Meyer ruled in favor of the City of Crystal Lake’s Motion for Summary Judgment. We are understandably disappointed and believe that there are some key issues of fact that may have not been considered, so we have filed a Motion to Reconsider. The hearing on this request is scheduled for July 28, and we will endeavor to keep you apprised of the status of this disagreement.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the transition that occurred on our Board of Trustees in May. We now welcome Trustee Jeff Iden and Trustee Gary Sexson II to the Board of Trustees and look forward to their input and efforts as we continue to address our long term vision for insuring that the Village of Lakewood remains the premier community in which to live in McHenry County.

We also thank Julie Richardson for her many years of dedicated service to the Village of Lakewood.

Many of the positive steps taken in the past few years in terms of planning and development are the direct result of her vision for our community.

 

Blake Hobson was also willing to step forward and serve during a crucial phase in our history, and his professional relationships throughout the community were invaluable as we worked to advance our strategic vision.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments about what is happening in our community.

Regards.

Erin