McHenry County Blog

A missive from Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore.  I wonder if it will get more than the 50 comments on the previous post about her.

Dear Grafton Township Residents,

The deadline for filing an appeal of the assessed value of your home is December 10th. Please call the county assessor’s office 1-815-334-4290 if you have not received a letter with your properties assessed value.

EQUALIZATION

How do the county assessor and the Illinois Department of Revenue determine the equalization value for your assessed property value?

In Grafton Township this year the multiplier for all property is over 9%.

This fact is not true for any other township in McHenry County.

It is determined by:

• The Illinois Department of Revenue looks at the sales that have occurred (2009-2011) and compares the assessments on that property – it is a measure of assessment valuation quality.
• Two levels of equalization are done each year in McHenry County, first by the county assessor and then by the Illinois Department of Revenue as required by law.
• The goal is for every township to have the level of assessment at 33.3%.
• The Illinois Department of Revenue checks to see that after the Board of Review action that the county has the appropriate level of assessment for equity across county borders.

The 9% equalization has been interpreted by the state and county to mean that the assessed value for all properties, on the average, is too low in Grafton Township.

As a result of this, the township office has been very busy with residents seeking to appeal the assessed value of their property.

RTA PRESENTATION ON CTA, PACE, and METRA PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

RTA will be giving a free class on using public transportation. They will discuss reading train and bus schedules and maps. I have always been a bit unnerved by travelling into the city by train or bus. If you are like me and would like to learn more about how the bus and trains work, plan to join us. They will also discuss senior discounts, fares, and the Ride Free program. On Wednesday, December 5th at 5pm this class will be held at the American Community Bank. Please call 847-669-3328 to reserve a seat.

I hope everyone is keeping warm now that the temperatures are dipping into the teens. If you know of someone in financial difficulty, please have them give the township office a call. We can help with General Assistance and Emergency Assistance Programs. We also have lots of warm coats for all ages and a food pantry to help someone who cannot afford to buy groceries.

December 4 Senior Bingo

Grafton Township will be holding a festive Bingo event, Christmas entertainment will be sponsored by Sunrise Assisted Living and Northwest Home, Health, and Rehab sponsors lunch. Join us December 5 starting at 11 am at Huntley American Legion, 11712 Coral St., Huntley, Tuesday.

Coat Drive

As the weather cools, some people who can’t afford a winter coat are going to find a need for them. Grafton Township Supervisor, Linda Moore wants to help. If you have an extra gently used or new coat or two, please bring them into the Grafton Township office or place them in our collection boxes.
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Senior Services Calendar

The Crystal Lake Senior Services Associates has released their December 2012 Calendar.
Click here to view the December Calendar

Presentations on Using Accessible CTA, Pace and Metra Public Transportation

Accessible CTA, Metra and Pace buses and trains are easy to use and the RTA would love to show you how! It is important that people with disabilities and seniors stay informed about public transportation options in order to get to appointments, maintain social connections, and enjoy independent travel. Mark your calendars for December 5th.
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Grafton Township
Supervisor Linda Moore
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Click below to download information about our Senior Bus

Senior Bus Flyer
Grafton Senior Bus Registration Form

Contact Information
13904 Harmony Road, Huntley IL 60142 lindamooregt@gmail.com
Phone number: 1-847-630-6325
Paid for by Committee to Elect Linda Moore

The McHenry County Board vote was 15-8 to extend the date to December 31st for the McHenry County SportsPlex, which will be straddle Pleasant Valley Road on land that is to be annexed to Lakewood once the developers buy it.

According to County Board Chairman Ken Koehler’s count, ninety-two people signed in to speak against the SportsPlex, the only stimulus loan for which there was audience participation. Three supported it on the sign-in sheet.

The comment period was dominated by opponents to the Lakewood development. All were from the neighborhood, although one woman was from two miles west on Pleasant Valley Road.

But, first Lakewood Village President Erin Smith got to make her pitch.

“We are pretty far along in this process.

“There are ongoing discussions about traffic,” she explained. “ I spent almost three hours with 100 residents (one recent night).

“I understand the residents do not want development in their areas,” she continued, but explained that the use is “consistent with the 2020 plan,” plus existing boundary agreements.

Of all the possible uses of the property, Smith argued that this “has the most gentle impact to surrounding neighbors.”

She noted that the SportsPlex proposal is “not only promises to increase jobs, it is required for the private funding, private equity with no taxpayer dollars at risk.”

Bob Saiz led off the opposition.

“I highly doubt the economic benefit.”

Charles Russell was next.

After noting that not much about the SportsPlex is on the the Village of Lakewood’s web site, he pointed to its “Frequent Asked Questions” web site page.

“The Village of Lakewood admitted they have no answer to the questions.”

Jim Vaccaro spoke of a letter from Al Stenstrom that had been sent to all county board members.

“This has so many holes in it that it could be referred to as a ‘Swiss cheese’ project.”

Referring to the EB-5 investments to be made by foreign investors seeking a faster path to citizenship, Vaccaro observed,

“If (the jobs don’t show up), the developer keeps the money and the (visitors) go home.”

Sharon Bills, who has two special needs children, expressed her concern about the increase in traffic of over 1000 vehicles.

“I had a brother who was hit (by a car),” she explained.

“My concern’s that it has encroached into a residential area.” She characterized it as “a hodgepodge development in three sections,” while asking for disapproval of the bond extension.

“I represent a large number of registered voters,” letter writer Al Stenstrom said to County Board members.

He pointed to the 110 people in the board room and said twice as many could not make it to today’s meeting.

Then he asked,

“Who does not feel that this can succeed?”

Most of the people in the audience raised their hands.

Len Tripoli also referred to Lakewood’s Frequently Asked Questions, which he pointed out said the Lakewood proposal cannot be compared with the sports complexes in Orland Park, Barrington and Libertyville.

He pointed out that the McHenry County SportsPlex will own their own teams.

He contended “independent research into attendance and job creation has not been done.”

Light pollution was the topic of Steve Lynn.

“We’re going to be sitting on our decks looking at that great glow in the sky.”

Joe Villarrealo moved from Schaumburg to get away from congestion.

“I’m afraid we’re going to end up like Schaumburg,” he said. “I want serenity.”

He added, “They say they’re going to bring in teams. It’ll have nothing to do with our kids.”

Villarrealo added that he had checked with Huntley and Crystal Lake.

“Crystal Lake doesn’t want it built.”

He said Crystal Lake had 8 empty soccer fields.

“We don’t need another 20-some fields unless they’re going to bring in teams from the outside.

“It’s total overkill, like going after an ant with a bazooka.

“I believe Lakewood is getting bad information. Lakewood’s trying to get revenue out of this and it’s going to end up costing them.”

Lindy Sander is the neighbor who lives two miles west of the proposed facility.

“The $18 million question is, ‘Is this proposal realistic?’

“We fully realized a long time ago that that corner is going to be developed.”

She then asked for a show of hands of those supporting development of what is the intersection of two state highways. About half raised their hands, she reported.

“To stretch this another mile down Pleasant Valley Road and down Hamilton is not in the best interests of the residents.

‘”It is the McHenry County Board’s job to protect (the county’s ambiance), the country living we fight for.”

Kathy Francis was next.

She was “concerned about the funding model.”

She supported development at the corner, but warned that the environmental damage “will be irreversible.”

People “know they can’t get home at night. Please let us delay the vote,” she requested.

“How many signatures would you need on a petition to show the majority of citizens don’t want this SportsPlex?” she asked, but Koehler indicated she should not expect an answer during comment time, that it was not a debate.

The comments had reached the thirty minute time allowed by the Rules, so the Chairman asked if there were a motion to extend it. There was and it passed on a voice vote.

Next up by Keith Kamper, a 19-year resident.

He argued there were “far too many questions to go forward on this thing.”

Kamper then cited statistics form Barrington’s, Libertyville’s and Orland Park’s sports complexes.

He pointed to “16 full-time jobs in the three sportsplexes.”

Next in line was former Lakewood Village President Julie Richardson, recently appointed as a village trustee.

She pointed out that the board was “not here to consider the merits. We have jumped through every hoop we possibly could.”

What was being considered by the board was “exactly the same as when yo approve it.

“We really believe this will be an environmental showcase.

“We have the chance to improve greatly the traffic flow in this county.”

“Put yourself in our shoes,” Keri Decard pleaded.

“How would you feel?

“Don’t do to us what you would not do to yourself.”

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Tomorrow – What the County Board members said during debate.