McHenry County Blog

The McHenry County Board meeting debate Tuesday was extraordinary in its lack of focus on the gambling issue.

Algonquin’s Marc Munaretto put it best, asking why two resolutions, one to hold an advisory referendum on the issue and the other to ban video slot machines in unincorporated areas had gotten out of the License and Liquor Committee.

I wasn’t at the committee meeting when that happened, but someone who was told me that Barb Wheeler had made a motion to recommend a resolution banning video gambling and it almost failed for lack of a second.

The majority of the committee pretty obviously wanted a vote on the referendum resolution first, although Mary McCann may have changed her mind, because she voted against holding an advisory referendum.

The committee being a collegial group, however, both resolutions were forwarded to the county board.

A vote on the referendum question was scheduled for Tuesday; the one on the outright ban at a later meeting.

This did not please Wheeler, who tried to change the agenda so the ban could be voted upon Tuesday.

Clearly Wheeler is against this extension of gambling and was satisfied that her vote would represent her constituency.

It is much less clear how her colleagues would have voted today or will vote in a month.

If any of the opponents have taken the kind of tallies I used to take on the House floor in Springfield before one of my important bills, they have not shared that with me.

With many of the members up for re-election, going to a referendum could be considered a cop-out, that is, a way to avoid making a potentially dangerous political decision before the Feb. 2nd primary election.

Others believe with Mary Donner:

“I truly believe in my heart this belongs on a referendum first.

“I want to know what the voters in McHenry County feel about this.”

More tomorrow.

Pete Gonigam of the First Electric Newspaper got Marc Munaretto to talk to him about the $66,000 commission paid him by Grafton Township when Supervisor John Rossi and the trustees sold the Grafton Hall to the Grafton Township Road District.

Prior to publishing the list of who got what out of the aborted deal, McHenry County Blog left repeated phone and email messages Munaretto asking for an explanation.  There was no reply.

Gonigam refers to the deal as “a transaction so apparently simple it would almost amount to a bookkeeping entry.”

Munaretto said that he found a $1.1 million offer, but a higher offer came through.

The township board, however, sold the property to the road district for $611,000.

As Gonigam puts it,

“How $611,000 trumped a $1.1 million offer is part of what makes trying to unravel the Grafton Township controversy something like trying to sort out a plate of spaghetti.”

And, so far this information has not been published by either of the daily Heralds.

Very interesting.

Both the lack of coverage…

and the deal.

After the McHenry County Board’s Finance Committee meeting, Chairman Marc Munaretto answered some questions. One of them concerned how the allocation of Federal Stimulus Bonds for McHenry County was $27.5 million, but that there were about to be $33 million in requests.

Since the Woodstock baseball stadium request was for $15 million, that means the other potential request would be $18 million.  Unless multiple requests are in the pipeline.

I pointed out that manufacturing plants have a higher multiplier effect than retail. Or a baseball stadium. With the latter two, there is only so much money in a community to be spent on things and on recreation.

“We’re out beating the bushes right now (for other applicants),” Munaretto commented.

He listed and defended three loan potentials:

• Manufacturing
• Construction
• Tourism

Commenting on the $33 million in potential bond requests versus the $27.5 million in authorization, Munaretto observed, “We don’t have to fulfill the request,” meaning, I took it, that the entire request for any project would not have to be approved by the county board.

In any event, the mystery may be solved about a major part of the mystery $18 million.

Read this statement from the Erin Smith, Village President of Lakewood:

September 24, 2009

“Since there have recently been reports in the local media about potential development plans in the Village of Lakewood, I thought it would be appropriate and in the best interests of the residents of our community to provide accurate information regarding this development activity,” said President Erin Smith.  

“We are currently working with a developer who is interested in building a mixed use project within the Village of Lakewood’s Planning Area, near the intersection of Illinois Route 47 and Illinois Route 176.  

“This Planning Area is the result of signed Boundary Agreements with all of our neighboring communities,” she explained, “and has allowed for an orderly and purposeful attitude toward our planning and discussions with developers.” 

This general area is designated for commercial development within the Village of Lakewood’s Comprehensive Plan and is an area of  “regional commercial significance” within McHenry County’s proposed 2030 Land Use Plan.     

      

She further indicated that the first phase of the proposed development was a multi-use sports complex, including both indoor and outdoor facilities, with ancillary uses as a second phase.  

President Smith explained that one of the most appealing aspects of the concept is the sustainable, green development strategy that the developer has outlined.  

“We are both committed to the ideals of sustainable development,” said President Smith, “and believe that this concept provides the opportunity to create a strategic environmental plan that will incorporate best management practices and new technologies in all phases of the project and will solidify McHenry County’s reputation as a leader in environmental issues.”   

President Smith also noted that this development has strong potential in terms of job creation and overall economic impact to McHenry County.

She finished by saying,

“All of our discussions until this time have been conceptual, and the more detailed analysis is just underway. Any further specifics regarding the project are purely speculative at this time.”

“We expect to have more details available regarding the project within the next few weeks and eagerly anticipate sharing them with the community.”

“The sports complex is Lakewood is targeted for youth.

“It is not targeting a minor league baseball team.

“It should be a nice complement to the proposed Woodstock stadium.”

New ballgame in town?

IL 47 – Why in Lakewood?

I filed a Freedom of Information request with Grafton Township for the checks paid so far for the new township hall. That doesn’t include interest to Harris Bank on the debt certificates.

That’s the $3.5 million ($5 million+, if interest is included) financial transaction on which the Grafton Township Board voted 5-0 to settle up with the Harris Bank last night.

I received the list of expenditures before I went on vacation and will share them with you in descending order.

• Lake in the Hills – $99,429
• MJ Munaretto and Co – $66,000
• Lamp Inc – $57,930.61
• Matuszewich, Kelly LLP – $19,240
• Chapman and Cutler – $15,000
• Heritage Title – $3,386
• O’Brien Law Office – $2,200
• Thomson Surveying Ltd. – $2,000
• Ancel, Glink, Diamond – $1,150

McHenry County Board member Marc Munaretto lists MJ Munaretto and Company’s number as his office number in the McHenry County Year Book. Several weeks ago I emailed him asking,

“I’ve just gotten the Grafton Township Hall expenditures and am curious what services were supplied for (I meant “by”) M.J. Munaretto & Co., Inc. to get $66,000.”

I have received no answer from that email or the telephone call messages I left several weeks ago.

I sent another email late last night and left a message at his office this morning. If I get a reply, I shall share it with you.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office reports the company president’s name and address as

Thanks to the Northwest Herald for assigning Kevin Craver to cover the county board.

He writes today of the Finance Committee’s recommendation that the McHenry County Board vote to borrow $60 million on the Federal “come.”

All members voted to give themselves power to spend the $60 million.

Marc Munaretto is chairman of the Finance Committee, Lyn Orphal is vice chairman and the following are members:

Scott Breeden, John Hammerand, Tina Hill, Daniel P. Ryan, Mary Donner

Former McHenry County College Board member and bond counsel Tim Stratton told the committee that they is going to be “wide availability.”

President Barack Obama’s stimulus package is providing a stream of income (from borrowed billions need not be noted).

Guess the banks that got the billions still aren’t loaning to small business folks. I talked to a couple of CitiBank clients who had had their lines of credit cut, which would lead one to believe that the President’s plan is not working to these businessmen’s satisfaction.

First, McHenry County is going to become a “recovery zone.”

The county board just needs to pass a resolution.

The bonds will be highly taxed favored, won’t be counted against the county’s debt limit and, hey, we county taxpayers don’t have to worry if anyone defaults.

And, we Federal taxpayers, well, this is the year to switch your 401(k) retirement savings into a Roth IRA. (Of course, you’ll have to pay taxes on the money, but the tax rate has to be higher than it will be after the Democrats and President hike them to pay back the trillions they are borrowing.)

If you haven’t figured out I think this is a bad idea, you might want to read

The $60 million has to be out the door by the end of next year.

Although the Finance Committee will screen the public and business applicants, Munaretto said,

Maybe, but the committee surely sounds like the bankers who will make the decisions.

I hope they put in the contracts that no recipient, their officers or straw man or woman is allowed to make campaign contributions to themselves or anyone they hint could “use some help.”

The McHenry County Mental Health Board and the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation appeared in support of borrowing the money.

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Click to enlarge the 1934 Chicago Tribune cartoon.

“Traditional” might be the best way to describe literature being rolled out by the Algonquin Township candidates at the Crystal Lake Expo this weekend.

It’s pretty much a straight name ID piece with a group photo of all the candidates on the front and head shots and names on the back.

No reason offered to vote for the candidates unless the words

• Experience
• Integrity
  
• Dedication

and the phrase

Local Government Service at the Lowest Possible Cost

motivates you to vote Republican.

Two of the candidates, Linda Lance and Lowell Cutsforth were manning the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee’s booth at the Crystal Lake Expo.

Each of them had signs.

The other two candidates, Joe Powalowski and Neils Sorensen, did not.

All are incumbent Algonquin Township Trustees.

Click to enlarge the images.

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For those of you who don’t know much about townships, they perform three basic functions: assessing, road maintenance in unincorporated areas and hand out local welfare, called General Assistance. Crystal Lake is in four townships. The two major ones are Algonquin and Nunda. The horizontal dividing line is Crystal Lake Avenue. The western part of Crystal Lake (west of our home in Lakewood on Meridian Street, in fact, is Grafton Township. The far Northwestern corner is in Woodstock-dominated Dorr Township.)

The red ink keeps oozing out, according to a Daily Herald article by the Daily Herald’s Chuck Keeshan

Finance Committee Chairman Marc Munaretto talks of “good structural changes” since Cary-based Revere Healthcare was hired in October 2007 to managed the Valley Hi nursing home.

But it still lost $183,000 a month.

$2.2 million in 2008.

Revere predicts the facility will never stop bleeding.

Improvement is hard to notice. The Northwest Herald headline below shows a $2 million loss in 2006.

Perhaps last year’s loss is a lower percentage of the nursing home’s budget.

McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin said the loss would have been more without Revere’s management.

The county makes up the difference from a referendum passed tax, which collects $6 million a year.

The red ink keeps oozing out, according to a Daily Herald article by the Daily Herald’s Chuck Keeshan

Finance Committee Chairman Marc Munaretto talks of “good structural changes” since Cary-based Revere Healthcare was hired in October 2007 to managed the Valley Hi nursing home.

But it still lost $183,000 a month.

$2.2 million in 2008.

Revere predicts the facility will never stop bleeding.

Improvement is hard to notice. The Northwest Herald headline below shows a $2 million loss in 2006.

Perhaps last year’s loss is a lower percentage of the nursing home’s budget.

McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin said the loss would have been more without Revere’s management.

The county makes up the difference from a referendum passed tax, which collects $6 million a year.

Raising $5,743 for his re-election campaign to the McHenry County Board, Algonquin’s Marc Munaretto spent about $1,000 less.

Contributors included

• $500 – Alliance Contractors, Woodstock
• $500 – Zanck, Coen & Wright, Crystal Lake
• $200 – Dan Shea, Fox River Grove
• $500 – RFP Photography, McHenry
• $350 – Ottesen, Britz Keith et al, Wheaton
• $200 – Lamar Cos., Janesville, Wis.
• $250 – Civiltek Engineering, Crystal Lake
• $250 – Madsen, Sugden, Gottemoller, Crystal Lake
• $993 – M. J. Munaretto & Co., Inc., Crystal Lake
• $500 – Realtors Political Action Committee, Springfield
• $500 – Grant Shumway, http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2007/10/who-says-expert-cant-be-from-home.html Algonquin
• $400 – Liberty Outdoor Advertising (in-kind contribution of advertising)

Expenditures include

• $3,576 – CLGraphics for printing and mailing
• $180 – Verity Three, McHenry, web hosting

Munaretto has $1,843 left as of the first of the year.

Raising $5,743 for his re-election campaign to the McHenry County Board, Algonquin’s Marc Munaretto spent about $1,000 less.

Contributors included

• $500 – Alliance Contractors, Woodstock
• $500 – Zanck, Coen & Wright, Crystal Lake
• $200 – Dan Shea, Fox River Grove
• $500 – RFP Photography, McHenry
• $350 – Ottesen, Britz Keith et al, Wheaton
• $200 – Lamar Cos., Janesville, Wis.
• $250 – Civiltek Engineering, Crystal Lake
• $250 – Madsen, Sugden, Gottemoller, Crystal Lake
• $993 – M. J. Munaretto & Co., Inc., Crystal Lake
• $500 – Realtors Political Action Committee, Springfield
• $500 – Grant Shumway, http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2007/10/who-says-expert-cant-be-from-home.html Algonquin
• $400 – Liberty Outdoor Advertising (in-kind contribution of advertising)

Expenditures include

• $3,576 – CLGraphics for printing and mailing
• $180 – Verity Three, McHenry, web hosting

Munaretto has $1,843 left as of the first of the year.