McHenry County Blog

Attorney David McArdle made his pitch, an affirmative rebuttal to Steward Diamond's memo, at the beginning of the meeting in which the votes were not in quesiton.

The senior partner turned out for his firm’s firing by four out of six Trustees in Island Lake Monday night.

The distinguished looking, white haired Stewart Diamond was in his unmarked seat next to the Village President’s seat early for the special board meeting called to switch law firms representing the village.

The word was that the minority of three opponents to Village President Debbie Herrmann had turned into a majority of four.

First came a public comment section presentation by Crystal Lake municipal attorney David McArdle.

Steward Diamond

He spoke in rebuttal to a memo that Ancel Glink had prepared for the Trustees.

It basically said the Village President was the one who appointed the Village Attorney,

Ancel Glink Senior Partner Diamond explained at length that the Village President appointed the Village Attorney and that had been done by Herrmann’s predecessor.

“That is not allowed under Illinois law…If it should pass, I would recommend that the Mayor should veto it…It’s simply not allowed by law…We are in place…What you have before you tonight is just a waste of taxpayers’ money…(You are) encroaching upon the statutory authority (of the Village President)…If you act on this, it will simply result in more legal fees. It is ill conceived, ill drafted and improper.”

He added that the trustees dissatisfied with Ancel Glink’s services could obtain separate legal counsel.

Donald Saville and Connie Mascillino faced off during the firing debate.

There was some sparring between Trustee Connie Masciillio, who said she had reviewed seven months of legal bills and found $19,000 our of $36,000 would have occurred regardless of what law firm represented Island Lake, and Donald Saville.

Lauie Rabattini made the motions to transfer legal work from Ancel Glink to Zukowski Rogers Flood and McArdle.

Trustee Laura Rabattini, the blogger (“What’s Happening in Island Lake” blog) who won election to the board two years ago, made several carefully drafted motions to dump Ancel Glink and retain Zukowski, Rogers, Flood and McArdle at the rate of $165 per hour.

Voting for the measures were

• Laura Rabattini
• John Ponio, who lost to Village President Herrmann two years ago
• Donna O’Malley
• Donald Saville

On the left hand side of the seating arrangement was new lawyer proponent Donald Saville and opponents Connie Mascillio & Donald Verciglio. Attorney Steward Diamond and Village President Debbie Herrman can be seen at the end of the row.

In opposition were Masciillio and Verciglio and, of course, Herrmann, but she did not cast a vote since hers would have not changed the outcome.

Looks like there is a campaign in Island Lake.

How dare they?

This is the town that Mayor Tom Hyde, under arrest, runs with an iron hand, isn’t it?

No pig farm is going to get in the way of his making a deal with a developer, right?

The invitation to a “Meet and Greet” shows that.

The folks on this slate of “fed ups” are holding an event this afternoon from 2-5 at which citizens can meet and get to know them. It’s at 3D-Sideouts. You can see some of them above. The photo was taken at the end of last April.

I don’t know if the challengers are Republicans, but Hyde’s folks are dominated by Democrats, one of whom, Rich Garling, even ran for state representative against Republican Mark Beaubien.

You can see some of the candidates above in this mini-rally in support of arrested tee shirt wearing Vietnam Veteran Greg Kachka, who is now running for village trustee.

A second candidate for trustee include Laurie Rabattini, who runs the blog

The third is Dwaine Schaal, about whom I know nothing.

Running for mayor is John Ponio, who has been part of the “loyal opposition” to Hyde’s group.

Mary Jo Martin is the slate’s candidate for village clerk.

= = = = =
Greg Kachka can be seen to the left; John Ponio to the right.

What started out being only covered by Laurie Rabattini ‘s “What’s Happening in Island Lake?” blog is gaining legs.

The Daily Herald ran an article on Wednesday.

Fox News sent out a camera crew on Wednesday night.

Today the Chicago Tribune ran a story and even quoted Rabattini, but didn’t mention her blog.

Pretty typical of the main stream media when they pick up a story from a blogger.

If you want more details that I picked up Wednesday from a phone call from Greg Kachka, you can find it here.

Both images can be enlarged by clicking on them.

What started out being only covered by Laurie Rabattini ‘s “What’s Happening in Island Lake?” blog is gaining legs.

The Daily Herald ran an article on Wednesday.

Fox News sent out a camera crew on Wednesday night.

Today the Chicago Tribune ran a story and even quoted Rabattini, but didn’t mention her blog.

Pretty typical of the main stream media when they pick up a story from a blogger.

If you want more details that I picked up Wednesday from a phone call from Greg Kachka, you can find it here.

Both images can be enlarged by clicking on them.

I haven’t seen the complaint against disabled Vietnam Veteran Greg Kachka made to the Island Lake Police Department, but reportedly it was stimulated by Village Trustee Debbie Herrmann and Clerk Christine Kaczmarek a month and a half ago.

Kachka had been critical of the village board.

Was the arrest for disorderly conduct retribution?

As my son says, “You’re not in my mind.”

But it certainly will have a chilling effect on free speech at village board meetings.

Wonder where the ACLU is when they could be useful.

Kachka called me this afternoon to tell me a Fox News crew would be coming out to do a story.

I decided to drive over.

But, before I went this is part of what Kachka told me.

“This Debbie Herrmann is really famous for making faces at people.”

Although he is Polish, Kachka said, “I talk with my hands. They’re saying I made my hand into a gun and I was shooting at (them).”

He explained that nothing was said at the meeting.

“It wasn’t until Monday, (March) 17th that he (a policeman) started an investigation.”

He came over and “I showed him my guns (and my) FOID card.

“I FOIed (filed a Freedom of Information request) for a copy of the report to Christie Kaczmarek. She denied it due to the privacy of the people accusing me. (So much) for my rights.”

He appealed to Village President Tom Hyde. No luck there either.

Kachka talked to a policeman the day before he was arrested and this is what he heard:

“The state’s attorney (Lake County’s) said we could arrest you on disorderly conduct. We could do it the easy way. You could come I with $75.”

Kachka said he wanted to talk to his lawyer first. The prepaid legal services folks told him had to be arrested before they could help him.

He finally called the Island Lake Police and said, “I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m not turning myself in.”

At this point in our conversation, his cell phone rang. It played the Marine hymn. You know, “From the halls of Montezuma…”

By then I was trying to produce a map to find his home.

When I arrived in Island Lake, there was a crowd in front and the Fox News crew was inside while Kachka was trying to find the part of the village meeting which had been called into question. The story I got was that the village officials thought he was pointing his had like kids do when they don’t have a gun. (Kids probably get sent home from school for that in some school districts, zero tolerance and such.)

They had probably picked up the story from the Daily Herald, which had a picture of Kachka wearing the offending tee shirt—the same one he wore when taken to jail to post $500 bond. So far, nothing in the Northwest Herald.

Fox reporter Darian Trotter and his crew had made the 2-hour trip out. I told him the second time it wouldn’t seem so long.

He interviewed police sergeant Anthony Sciarrone, who said the complaint was more about Kachka’s hand gesture than his tee shirt.

I wonder why it took so long for the powers that be in Island Lake to act on whatever fear that the complaining village officials supposedly perceived.

But remember, Island Lake has “friendly people.”

In the group shot on Greg Kachka’s flag bedecked front lawn are Laurie Rabattini, who has the “What’s happening in Island Lake?” blog, her finance, who was filming also, Rob Rekosiewicz, Tom Martin, a former trustee, Bob Wargaski pointing with his unloaded hand, Dave Labuz, and Teresa and Village Trustee John Ponio the current trustee, plus homeowner Kachka.

All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

I haven’t seen the complaint against disabled Vietnam Veteran Greg Kachka made to the Island Lake Police Department, but reportedly it was stimulated by Village Trustee Debbie Herrmann and Clerk Christine Kaczmarek a month and a half ago.

Kachka had been critical of the village board.

Was the arrest for disorderly conduct retribution?

As my son says, “You’re not in my mind.”

But it certainly will have a chilling effect on free speech at village board meetings.

Wonder where the ACLU is when they could be useful.

Kachka called me this afternoon to tell me a Fox News crew would be coming out to do a story.

I decided to drive over.

But, before I went this is part of what Kachka told me.

“This Debbie Herrmann is really famous for making faces at people.”

Although he is Polish, Kachka said, “I talk with my hands. They’re saying I made my hand into a gun and I was shooting at (them).”

He explained that nothing was said at the meeting.

“It wasn’t until Monday, (March) 17th that he (a policeman) started an investigation.”

He came over and “I showed him my guns (and my) FOID card.

“I FOIed (filed a Freedom of Information request) for a copy of the report to Christie Kaczmarek. She denied it due to the privacy of the people accusing me. (So much) for my rights.”

He appealed to Village President Tom Hyde. No luck there either.

Kachka talked to a policeman the day before he was arrested and this is what he heard:

“The state’s attorney (Lake County’s) said we could arrest you on disorderly conduct. We could do it the easy way. You could come I with $75.”

Kachka said he wanted to talk to his lawyer first. The prepaid legal services folks told him had to be arrested before they could help him.

He finally called the Island Lake Police and said, “I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m not turning myself in.”

At this point in our conversation, his cell phone rang. It played the Marine hymn. You know, “From the halls of Montezuma…”

By then I was trying to produce a map to find his home.

When I arrived in Island Lake, there was a crowd in front and the Fox News crew was inside while Kachka was trying to find the part of the village meeting which had been called into question. The story I got was that the village officials thought he was pointing his had like kids do when they don’t have a gun. (Kids probably get sent home from school for that in some school districts, zero tolerance and such.)

They had probably picked up the story from the Daily Herald, which had a picture of Kachka wearing the offending tee shirt—the same one he wore when taken to jail to post $500 bond. So far, nothing in the Northwest Herald.

Fox reporter Darian Trotter and his crew had made the 2-hour trip out. I told him the second time it wouldn’t seem so long.

He interviewed police sergeant Anthony Sciarrone, who said the complaint was more about Kachka’s hand gesture than his tee shirt.

I wonder why it took so long for the powers that be in Island Lake to act on whatever fear that the complaining village officials supposedly perceived.

But remember, Island Lake has “friendly people.”

In the group shot on Greg Kachka’s flag bedecked front lawn are Laurie Rabattini, who has the “What’s happening in Island Lake?” blog, her finance, who was filming also, Rob Rekosiewicz, Tom Martin, a former trustee, Bob Wargaski pointing with his unloaded hand, Dave Labuz, and Teresa and Village Trustee John Ponio the current trustee, plus homeowner Kachka.

All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.