McHenry County Blog

With Township Supervisor Linda Moore in Texas for her daughter’s college graduation and Rob LaPorta also absent, the meeting was relatively short and peaceful.

No one raised his voice or went off on a rant. Trustee Gerry McMahon even sat facing the audience.

Unlike the outgoing McHenry County College Board, the old Township Board, chaired Thursday by Barbara Murphy, spent much of the meeting deferring to their successors, referring several times to newly-elected Independent Supervisor Jim Kearns, who was sitting in the back row.

The Road District’s budget, for example, was not passed, even though that was the wish of outgoing Road Commissioner Jack Freund.

“The new Board comes in on the 20th,” Trustee Betty Zirk, the only member of the Board to seek and win re-election.

When it came time for to consider the bills, Zirk had a list of those to exclude. They included

• $2,644.68 charged to a BMO Harris credit card (postage, telephone, equipment maintenance, travel expenses, etc.)
• $864.20 for J.A. Jetchmark, Ltd.
• $475 for McHenry County Council of Governments dues
• $295.60 for printing to Total Point of Video, Inc.
• $24,162.50 billed for legal fees by Moore attorney John Nelson
• $39,007.89 billed for legal services from March, 2012, through March, 2013, by Moore attorney Ottosen Britz Kelly Cooper Gilbert & DiNilf

The Trustees’ law firm, Ancel Glink, however, was paid $5,747.48.

“In order to meet the payroll next week, I don’t think we can pay any bills,” Zirk said.

Zirk also mentioned that Township Road Commissioner was owed $7,161.20 to cover health insurance for his wife.

“He could get it cheaper by getting it through his wife’s than through the Township,” she explained.

The motion approving the bills noted that they would be paid when money was available.

As outgoing Township Assessor Bill Ottley was leaving after the bills were approved, he was thanked for his service for the last four years. The sparse audience applauded.

Ottley reminded them that he would be around through December, when his term expires.

“And you, too, Jack,” one of the Trustees added.

Zirk then talked about how audit expenses should be allocated. She suggested Public Assistance pay 5% and the Road District 35%.

Freund objected to the number she suggested, saying, “I’ll pay 25% like I’ve always been paying.”

Trustee Gerry McMahon suggest a compromised of 28%. Freund did not agree.

After some discussion, Zirk suggested asking the auditor how much time he spent on the Road District budget and the matter was deferred.

As the meeting was drawing to a close, Murphy said,

“There’s a part of me that is worry for the way things ended up. I regret that.”

A letter from the forensic auditor was read in which he detailed Moore’s refusal to sign the engagement letter and a payment until ordered by Judge

He also said he was unable to obtain original copies of the warrant lists.

Township Clerk Harriot Ford pointed out the documents were on the web site.

“I look forward to things moving on a real positive way,” she said shortly before the meeting adjourned.

Also in the audience was newly-elected Township Assessor Al Zielinski.

With Independents and Democrats running against Republican Township candidates, I was interested in who got contributions from McHenry County Republican Party Chairman and State Rep. Mike Tryon.

The answer is two Grafton Township Republican candidates, one before the primary election and one after:

• $400 – 1/29/2013 – Citizens to Elect Tom Poznanski. Poznanski is the Grafton Township Republican Central Committee Chairman. He ran successfully for Grafton Township Road Commissioner.
• $250 – 3/13/2013 – Pam Fender Campaign Committee. Fender won the three-way GOP primary election for Grafton Township Supervisor, but lost the general election to Independent Jim Kearns.

Other contributions went to

• State Senator Pam Althoff – $163.43 – 3-17-13
• Dundee Township Republican Central Committee – $160 – 1-23-13
• Elgin Township Republican Central Committee – $250 – 2-12-13
• Crystal Lake City Council candidate Cameron Hubbard – $500 – 2-22-13
• McHenry County Board member Ken Koehler – $500 – 2-25 & 3-20-13
• McHenry County Republican Central Committee – $900 – 2-22-13
• Patriots United – $500 – 1-29-13
• Allen Skillicorn – $250 – 3-13-13.  Skillicorn serves on the East Dundee Village Board.

An additional $575 was contributed to unnamed candidates.

Tryon brought in a bit over $11,000 and spent almost $17,000.

The big money came from the following, most donated on March 13, 2013

• Ameren, St. Louis, MO -$1,000 – 3-13-13
• Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois PAC, Springfield – $1,000 – 3/13/13
• AT&T, Aurora – $1,000 – 3-13-13
• CAR of Illinois, Springfield – $250 – 3/13/13
• CHEM-PAC, Des Plaines – $750 – 3/13/13
• Comcast Financial Agency Corporation, Philadelphia, PA -$1,000 – 3/13/13
• Committee to re-elect State Representative Brent Hassert, Romeroville – $200 – 3/13/13
• Foresight Energy Services, St. Louis, MO – $250 – 3/13/13
• Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA – $500 – 3/29/13
• Illinois Bank Pac, Springfield – $500 – 3/13/13
• Illinois Optometric Association PAC, Springfield – $500 – 3/13/13
• Matthew O’Shea Consulting, Inc., Crest Hill- $250 – 3/13/13
• Medimune Biologies, Gaithersburg, MD – $250 – 3/29/13
• Midwest Generation, Santa Ana, CA – $500 – 3/13/13
• Neil Francis Flynn, Attorney, Springfield – $250 – 3/13/13
• Realtor Political Action Committee, Springfield- $350 – 3/13/13
• Sorling, Northrup, Hanna, Cullen & Cochran, LTD, Springfield – $500 – 3/13/13
• TRK PAC Midwest Truckers Association Inc., Springfield – $500 – 3/13/13

Another $711 came from Michael and Cathy Tryon as a “rent reimbursement.”

Expenditures that were itemized follow:

• 1776 Restaurant for meetings – $423.05 – 1/23/13
• Apoyan Rug Company, Harvard for new office carpeting – $1,850 – 1-22-13
• Cheryl L. Meyer Consulting Services, Inc. for campaign consulting – $675 – 2/22/13
• Creager Press Inc., Schaumburg, for printing – $469.62 – 3/27/13
• D’Andrea Banquets & Conference Center for fundraising deposit – $400 – 2/26/13
• Fast Forward Marketing, Crystal Lake, for social media consulting – $360 – 2/22/13
• Furniture for All, Algonquin, for new office – $346 – 1/23/13
• Huntley Raiders Lacrosse Club for sponsorship – $500 – 2/25/13
• Joan M. Etten, LLC., Park Ridge, for fundraiser postcards – $368 -3/13/13
• Joan M. Etten, LLC., Park Ridge, for fundraising supplies (leis) – $35 – 3-13-13
• Joan M. Etten, LLC., Park Ridge, for consulting – $1,000 – 3/13/1
• Moscardelli Moving & Storage, Inc., Springfield for moving- $343 – 2/22/13
• Near North Village, Springfield, for 2 months’ rent – $825 – 2/1/13
• No Kane County Chamber for Expo booth – $225 – 2/22/13
• Office Depot, Crystal Lake, Postage – $530.77 – 3/27/13
• Office Max, Crystal Lake, office supplies – $14.51
• Ross Isaac Restaurant, Springfield, Inauguration dinner – $367.10 – 2/23/13
• Jean Schober, McHenry, for campaign filing – $195 – 1/21/13
• Target, Crystal Lake, for office equipment – $760.84 – 1/10/13
• United States Postal Service for postage – $92 – 2/20/13
• United States Postal Service for postage – $90 – 1/10/13
• United States Postal Service for postage – $184 – 3/13/13
• Yacht Club At Sister Bay, Sister Bay, WI, for staff event – 466.20 – 1/10/13

Tryon had $18,149.79 remaining in his campaign fund as of the end of March.

He started 2013 with $24,015.67

The fractured Republican Party in Grafton Township manged to elect its Chairman Tom Poznanski Road Commissioner and Al Zielinski Assessor, but failed to get enough votes to put three-way GOP primary winner Pam Fender in office.

Independent Jim Kearns got 67 more votes than Fender. There are absentee and early votes outstanding, so this margin could narrow, but will be unlikely to be overcome.

For Township Assessor, Independent Terra Jensen gave Republican nominee Al Zielinski a run for his money, but, with the same caveat about additional votes that will show up, the Lakewood resident beat the Restore Grafton Township candidate by 224.

Independent Tim Hoeft was trailing by 213 votes prior to the addition of early and absentee ballots.

And finally, for Grafton Township Trustee, newly-elected Supervisor Kearns obtained a working majority.

Winning were

• former Crystal Lake Mayor Bob Wagner
• incumbent Trustee Betty Zirk (the only incumbent to run for re-election)
• Dan Ziller, Jr., in his second attempt (the last one being a write-in); a member of the Restore Grafton Township slate
• Joe Holtorf, member of the Restore Grafton Township slate

Running against the Republican candidate for Grafton Township Road Commissioner, Tom Poznanski, is Independent Tim Hoeft.

Hoeft is part of the Restore Grafton Township slate of Independents.

Although I have heard nothing from Poznanski (but would be willing to publish his literature and any mailings he has made), Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen has sent the following endorsement of his opponent Hoeft:

“Tim Hoeft is a well qualified candidate for township road commissioner in Grafton.

“I have had the opportunity to meet with him often over the past few months and I know he is a very competent and resourceful man. His credentials are extensive.

“He knows what needs to be done in the field, but he also has a firm grasp of what it takes to run the office as well.

“Tim is community oriented and serious about the duty to Grafton Township residents.

“That is why I will vote for Tim Hoeft on April 9, 2013.

The final sentence, of course, indicates that Thorsen lives in the Grafton Township part of Crystal Lake.”

The group of Independent candidates grouped under label “Restore Grafton Township” invite the public to meet them at the Boulder Ridge Country Club this Thursday night from 7-9.

If you live in Grafton Township, you might see the following as Independent candidate for Highway Commissioner Tim Hoeft conducts his campaign:

Both Grafton and Nunda Townships had vibrant contests for Road Commissioner.

In Grafton Township Road District employee Tom Poznanski, who is the Township’s Republican Party Chairman, won a convincing battle with Robert Dvorak.

In Nunda Township the race was close.

Really close.

Two challengers with extensive experience in private enterprise faced off against incumbent Road Commissioner Don Kopsell.

Both beat him convincingly.

Both “Iron Mike” Lesperance and Rob Parrish beat the incumbent convincingly.

But Lesperance edged Parrish out by four votes.

Somehow I posted the wrong court order from Judge Thomas Meyer in the litigation between Grafton Township Road Commissioner Jack Freund and Supervisor Linda Moore.

I have take that one down and put up the one I thought I was writing about.

An email from Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore about mediation being order between her and Road Commissioner Jack Freund:

“Please find attached to this email, the court order, granting my petition which requests that the Highway Commissioner Jack Freund and I enter mediation to resolve the suit filed by the Highway Commissioner.

“My earlier attempts to enter mediation with an attorney offering to mediate at no charge and without a court order were not accepted by Mr. Freund and his attorneys.”

“The court order reads:

“This cause coming on Defendants Motion to Refer to Mediation, the court being duly advised, IT IS ORDERED:

1. The Motion is Granted. The parties are ordered to attend mediation, with mediator C. Ellis, if possible.
2. Defendant granted to 10/25/12 for responsive pleading.
3. Case set for 12/14/12 at 9:00 am for further status.

“Prepared by Hoppa”

Attached was a court order signed by Associate Judge Thomas Meyer:

One could note that the mediator names, Case Ellis, is not the one who volunteered to do it for free, Rob Hanlon.

A press release from Tom Poznanski:

Tom Poznanski Announces His Candidacy for Grafton Township Road Commissioner Makes Fiscal Responsibility, Responsibility to Taxpayers Top Priorities

Lake in the Hills, IL – In the upcoming 2013 Republican primary election, Tom Poznanski has announced his candidacy to run for Grafton Township Road Commissioner.

Poznanski has worked as a Road District Highway Technician for the past eight years, serving directly under the current Highway Commissioner, Jack Freund, who is retiring at the end of this term. Poznanski brings experience and a desire to serve his community to the table.

“I am proud to endorse Tom Poznanski as the next Road Commissioner as I retire after eight years on the job. Tom has the experience, the knowhow, to be an effective servant to the people of Grafton Township. I have full confidence in him.” said Jack Freund.

Poznanski adds, “I want to continue Jack’s tradition of being fiscally responsible with the taxpayer’s money while ensuring that services provided by the Road District serve the needs of all Grafton Township citizens in a timely and professional manner.”

Poznanski says that with more than 30 years experience as a certified mechanic and over 20 years experience driving and handling all sizes of trucks, he brings a “from the ground up” wealth of knowledge to the job. “In order to be an effective leader I believe it is important to know all aspects of every job at the Road District. I bring the experience and the knowledge, and a wish to serve Grafton Township, the community I love and have been part of for more than 15 years.” Poznanski said.

About Tom

Tom and his wife Vicky live in Lake in the Hills where they raised a son and a daughter. Their son, Staff Sergeant Anthony Poznanski, a career United States Marine who served a tour of duty in Iraq, was a chief drill instructor, and currently serves in the Marine Air Wing in South Carolina, is now 28, married, and has two sons of his own. Their daughter, Lisa, has a son as well, is a State Certified Surgical Technician and a CNA, and is pursuing a RN degree. Tom has been a member of The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corp for more than 20 years and is a current member of the Huntley Lions Club. He has been a Grafton Township Precinct Committeeman for twelve years, and has served as the Grafton Township Republican Central Committee Chairman for the past six years.

In a motion filed in McHenry County Circuit Court Friday, Grafton Township Road Commissioner Jack Freund seeks the removal of Supervisor Linda Moore from office for failure to carry out her duties as Supervisor as well as Treasurer of the Road District.

The pleading argues that the statutes do not give the Supervisor “unilateral power, or ‘veto power’ to refuse to pay township bills” approved by the Township Board.

Not paying all the approved bills, characterized as “duties” of the Supervisor “shall” result in disqualification to serve in the office.

A series of invoices, some large, some small, are listed which have been approved by the Township Board, but not paid by Supervisor Moore.

$56,588.33 in all.

$24,450 was recently offered and deposited, but the Road Commissioner’s lawyer argues that did not cover the amount owed.

Besides being forced to pay the money owed and kicked out of office, the court document asks that Moore be prohibited from holding the office in the future, plus be fined and made to pay Freund’s attorney’s fees.

With regard to her role as Treasurer of the Road District, Freund argues that Moore didn’t pay bills he authorized and charged the Road District for items not approved by him, such as, charges for the bookkeeping Quickbooks program.

The suit requests a permanent injunction to keep Moore from taking money from the Road District checking account for Quickbooks and other payments unauthorized by the Freund.

In response, Moore said,

Linda Moore

“This is just another delay tactic.

“He had filed his complaint over a year ago and has refused all attempts of mediation or other despite resolution.

“There is nothing that is new or of substance, again, just another delay tactic which is a waste of tax payer’s money.

“In response to our motion for court ordered mediation, they have asked for two weeks to file a response and we will again be in court on October 11th

“Commissioner Freund is complaining that I am not following the instructions of his daughter, Jenny Moore, whom he has hired as his clerk.

“The road commissioner received the $24,000 check in April, but has refused to deposit it as of this date.

“He has failed to provide proof that he has personally incurred any expense for his wife’s insurance and yet demands that he be paid personally for this expense.

“He also refuses to sign his wife up for the township insurance provider.”