McHenry County Blog

The Cary Gravel Pit opponents have come up with another video, “Welcome to Cary.”

It’s to the right on top of the blog, “Stop the Quarry in Cary”, as of Tuesday when this was written.

The video looks like a Chamber of Commerce production until it gets to the line,

“And Cary also has beautiful gravel pits.”

This is a video that Cary developers and others wanting to attract people to Cary should do everything they can to get removed from the internet.

It’s a “hit ‘em in the pocketbook” video. It reminds me of the 2000 Saturday picket signs telling people driving on Algonquin Road near some model homes that high power lines were going to go behind the homes they were looking at. I’m pretty sure the developer joined their cause.

If it stays on the internet, it will be out there greeting those thinking of moving to Cary.

I doubt many people who look at it would give Cary a second thought.

Not only is the Meyer Material pit shown, but so are gravel trucks.

Next there is a hilarious series of interviews of people who say they have moved to Cary because of the gravel pits.

A father relates why his family moved to Cary:

“We moved to Cary because it was the best place to raise our kids. It has a small town atmosphere and great schools..but, most of all, it has gravel pits.”

A little tyke in one of those little red and yellow cars wearing a mask can be seen on the sidewalk.

“I love gravel pits,” the little boy says.

“We’re so happy we moved to Cary so we could enjoy the gravel pits,” the wife of an older couple says. “It’s one of the reasons we came here. We heard how beautiful they were.”

“Yeah, we like the schools and the parks,” another man says, “but what really brought us here to Cary, honestly–the gravel pits. They are gorgeous. I just can’t imagine Cary without them. And you know what, I heard at one time Cary didn’t allow gravel pits. Can you believe it? A town without gravel pits?” He then greets a neighbor wearing a mask.

“Really, it’s the gravel pits that give Cary a sense of community. I don’t know where we’d be without them.”

‘I love drawing in the dust,” another little boy tells his mother, who points out that crayons are expensive, while dust is free.

“I just love making dust angels…all year long,” another little girl explains.

“I love this pit. It’s just like my own personal Grand Canyon,” the final man adds before he has a coughing fit. “It’s the reason I moved here,” he says before urging others to Cary.

Here’s the concluding description of the Village of Cary:

A small, dusty, loud community in suburban Chicago. A Main Street Gravel Pit USA Community.

And the next line is too funny:

Cary is owned and operated by Meyer Material Company,

which is owned and operated by Aggregate Industries,

which is owned and operated by Holcim, Ltd.

After that is read comes a cough and then two more, plus a little girl saying, “I like gravel pits,” before she coughs.

The original video, which I have praised as the best zoning opposition video I have ever seen, has been viewed 557 times. Click on “See the Movie” near the top right of the screen. The first video is the second on Google’s list of videos.

I wonder when the Daily Herald, the Northwest Herald or the Chicago Tribune will notice the videos. They certainly are an innovation in McHenry County politics.

The group has has also been doing its homework on the pollution violations of Meyer Materials Swiss-based owner, Holcim, Ltd.. Take a look at EPA Violations by owners of Meyer Material Co.

There is also an estimate of the Cary subdivisions that will be affected by the doubling the size of Meyer Materials’ gravel pit.

The next meeting will be Thursday night at 7:30 at the Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake. I’d be there, but there is a McHenry Marlins swim meet. If anyone wants to take and email me some photos, I’ll be happy to put them up on McHenry County Blog.

All the images come from the second video, except the Google video search for “Cary, Illinois.” All can be enlarged by clicking on them.

The Cary Gravel Pit opponents have come up with another video, “Welcome to Cary.”

It’s to the right on top of the blog, “Stop the Quarry in Cary”, as of Tuesday when this was written.

The video looks like a Chamber of Commerce production until it gets to the line,

“And Cary also has beautiful gravel pits.”

This is a video that Cary developers and others wanting to attract people to Cary should do everything they can to get removed from the internet.

It’s a “hit ‘em in the pocketbook” video. It reminds me of the 2000 Saturday picket signs telling people driving on Algonquin Road near some model homes that high power lines were going to go behind the homes they were looking at. I’m pretty sure the developer joined their cause.

If it stays on the internet, it will be out there greeting those thinking of moving to Cary.

I doubt many people who look at it would give Cary a second thought.

Not only is the Meyer Material pit shown, but so are gravel trucks.

Next there is a hilarious series of interviews of people who say they have moved to Cary because of the gravel pits.

A father relates why his family moved to Cary:

“We moved to Cary because it was the best place to raise our kids. It has a small town atmosphere and great schools..but, most of all, it has gravel pits.”

A little tyke in one of those little red and yellow cars wearing a mask can be seen on the sidewalk.

“I love gravel pits,” the little boy says.

“We’re so happy we moved to Cary so we could enjoy the gravel pits,” the wife of an older couple says. “It’s one of the reasons we came here. We heard how beautiful they were.”

“Yeah, we like the schools and the parks,” another man says, “but what really brought us here to Cary, honestly–the gravel pits. They are gorgeous. I just can’t imagine Cary without them. And you know what, I heard at one time Cary didn’t allow gravel pits. Can you believe it? A town without gravel pits?” He then greets a neighbor wearing a mask.

“Really, it’s the gravel pits that give Cary a sense of community. I don’t know where we’d be without them.”

‘I love drawing in the dust,” another little boy tells his mother, who points out that crayons are expensive, while dust is free.

“I just love making dust angels…all year long,” another little girl explains.

“I love this pit. It’s just like my own personal Grand Canyon,” the final man adds before he has a coughing fit. “It’s the reason I moved here,” he says before urging others to Cary.

Here’s the concluding description of the Village of Cary:

A small, dusty, loud community in suburban Chicago. A Main Street Gravel Pit USA Community.

And the next line is too funny:

Cary is owned and operated by Meyer Material Company,

which is owned and operated by Aggregate Industries,

which is owned and operated by Holcim, Ltd.

After that is read comes a cough and then two more, plus a little girl saying, “I like gravel pits,” before she coughs.

The original video, which I have praised as the best zoning opposition video I have ever seen, has been viewed 557 times. Click on “See the Movie” near the top right of the screen. The first video is the second on Google’s list of videos.

I wonder when the Daily Herald, the Northwest Herald or the Chicago Tribune will notice the videos. They certainly are an innovation in McHenry County politics.

The group has has also been doing its homework on the pollution violations of Meyer Materials Swiss-based owner, Holcim, Ltd.. Take a look at EPA Violations by owners of Meyer Material Co.

There is also an estimate of the Cary subdivisions that will be affected by the doubling the size of Meyer Materials’ gravel pit.

The next meeting will be Thursday night at 7:30 at the Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake. I’d be there, but there is a McHenry Marlins swim meet. If anyone wants to take and email me some photos, I’ll be happy to put them up on McHenry County Blog.

All the images come from the second video, except the Google video search for “Cary, Illinois.” All can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Enter into the land of internet communication on a local zoning issue by clicking on

“Stop the Quarry in Cary.”

The latest entry was June 7th, five days ago.

It is entitled,

NIMBY….not quite

and has two hostile comments from those who think Cary should take the $250,000 per year from Meyer Material.

Earlier, on June 2nd, a posting includes a documentary link:

Cary, Illinois: A Gravel Pit Community?

This is a first class production, which I believe will become the template for future McHenry County zoning fights. Anyone interested in local political issues needs to see what can be done on the internet.

(When I wrote this article at 4 PM Monday afternoon, 128 people had viewed the mini-documentary. In contrast, McHenry County Blog’s posting of Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley’s comments on how condemnation would not be used [ha-ha] on YouTube, posted January 17th, has been viewed 335 times.)

It includes information on the danger of dust, even dust particles too small to see, other places a gravel pit might be approved in Cary, plus information about the date of the next Cary Village Board meeting.

May 26th, this was published:

The GRAVEL PIT–What it Means for Cary

In the comment section, it is revealed that Meyer Material is now owned by a Swiss firm, Holcim Ltd. Marengo’s Paveloc Industries is under the same ownership.

A commenter named James says he thinks the village is leaning against zoning the pit. That would be a switch from earlier indications.

The same day, the group posted a leaflet that opponents could download:

OUR FIRST FLYER–DOWNLOAD IT NOW!

May 25th, the web site was launched:

Cary Election’s Over – We’re Going to Dig a Gravel Pit Behind Your Home

More Recent Cary Action on Meyer Materials Proposed Grave Pit

Cary Gravel Pit Deal Seems to Have Been Cut

Enter into the land of internet communication on a local zoning issue by clicking on

“Stop the Quarry in Cary.”

The latest entry was June 7th, five days ago.

It is entitled,

NIMBY….not quite

and has two hostile comments from those who think Cary should take the $250,000 per year from Meyer Material.

Earlier, on June 2nd, a posting includes a documentary link:

Cary, Illinois: A Gravel Pit Community?

This is a first class production, which I believe will become the template for future McHenry County zoning fights. Anyone interested in local political issues needs to see what can be done on the internet.

(When I wrote this article at 4 PM Monday afternoon, 128 people had viewed the mini-documentary. In contrast, McHenry County Blog’s posting of Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley’s comments on how condemnation would not be used [ha-ha] on YouTube, posted January 17th, has been viewed 335 times.)

It includes information on the danger of dust, even dust particles too small to see, other places a gravel pit might be approved in Cary, plus information about the date of the next Cary Village Board meeting.

May 26th, this was published:

The GRAVEL PIT–What it Means for Cary

In the comment section, it is revealed that Meyer Material is now owned by a Swiss firm, Holcim Ltd. Marengo’s Paveloc Industries is under the same ownership.

A commenter named James says he thinks the village is leaning against zoning the pit. That would be a switch from earlier indications.

The same day, the group posted a leaflet that opponents could download:

OUR FIRST FLYER–DOWNLOAD IT NOW!

May 25th, the web site was launched:

Cary Election’s Over – We’re Going to Dig a Gravel Pit Behind Your Home

More Recent Cary Action on Meyer Materials Proposed Grave Pit

Cary Gravel Pit Deal Seems to Have Been Cut