McHenry County Blog

From Lakewood’s Police Chief Lawrence Howell:

The accident occurred at the north end of the intersection of Routes 57 and 176.

“Last night at approximately 8:53pm a fatal accident occurred at the north intersection of Rt. 47 and Rt. 176.

“The Lakewood Police Department assisted by McHenry County Sheriff  Department, Lakewood Fire Department, and the McHenry County Coroners Office responded.

“The accident occurred when a north bound Rt. 47 Jeep Liberty driven by William A. Cizek Jr. age 49 of 1101 N. Hart Ave. Harvard, Il. attempted to turned left on Rt. 176 into the path of a south bound Rt. 47 Suzuki motorcycle driven by Christopher J. Ludovice age 54 of 1280 Victoria Ln. Elgin, Il.

“The motorcycle struck the Jeep Liberty and the driver Mr. Ludovice and is passenger his 16 year old daughter where thrown from the motorcycle.

“Mr. Ludovice died of his injuries and his daughter is in critical condition at Centegra Memorial Hospital.

“Neither motorcycle occupants were wearing helmets and alcohol is not suspected at this time.

“The driver of the Jeep, Mr. Cizek, was cited for making an improper left turn.

“We are being assisted by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department with an accident reconstruction.”

State Rep. Mike Tryon, Governor Pat Quinn and McHenry County Board Chairman pose at the Rt 47 Tollway interchange ground breaking.

A press release from State Rep. Mike Tryon:

State Rep. Mike Tryon Joins Governor Quinn for I-90-Route 47 Full Interchange Ground Breaking

HUNTLEY…..State Representative Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) joined Governor Pat Quinn in Huntley on Monday for the official ground breaking for the long-awaited full interchange at Interstate I-90 and Route 47.

Tryon, a long-time proponent of the project, said he was pleased to see the project finally getting underway.

“The construction of a full-access interchange at I-90 and Route 47 in Huntley is an issue I have been working on since I became a State Representative in 2004,” Tryon said. “Today is a great day for the Village of Huntley, and also for McHenry and Kane Counties.”

The estimated cost for the interchange is $69 million, and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will pay half of the costs. McHenry County, Kane County and the Village of Huntley will split the bill for the remaining costs.

IDOT predicts a summer of 2013 completion date for the project.

The project will include the construction of six new ramps with all-electronic toll plazas, construction of a new seven-lane bridge carrying Route 47 over Interstate I-90, and many traffic signal and lighting improvements.

“Making this project a reality really was a team effort,” said Tryon. “Officials from the Village of Huntley, from McHenry and Kane Counties, and from IDOT are all to be commended on the work that led to today’s groundbreaking.”

Today, the intersection offers only a partial interchange, with ramp access for motorists traveling to and from the east on I-90 only.

According to Tryon, at least one lane in each direction of moving traffic will remain open throughout the period of construction.

“This interchange project will have a tremendous impact on the economic development of the Route 47 corridor through Huntley,” said Tryon.

“With full access in both directions, Huntley is going to become a much sought-after location for businesses, restaurants and all kinds of economic activity.”

The Chicago Tribune wrote a major article about the Federal Highway Administration’s shifting of money from the Prairie Pathway to improving Route 47.

When I first heard of about the Prairie Parkway, I figured it was being built for land speculators.

After all, there was little traffic from I-80 to I-90.

And beyond, according to one McHenry County Board District 2 candidate’s answer to a Northwest Herald questionnaire shortly after the new interstate idea was surfaced by U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

Can’t imagine what someone had in mind for the open spaces in District 6?

Think of a four-lane highway running up from the Northwest Tollway to the Wisconsin Interstate north of Richmond.

We should all know by now that four-lane highways bring growth. That’s because people can get farther faster.

So, some folks in McHenry County were planning to replace western McHenry County corn and soy bean fields with fields of housing.

Fortunately, we in McHenry County dodged that bullet.

But the threat to western Kane County remained until this past week when the Federal Highway Administration turned thumbs down on a reduced Prairie Pathway that would have run from I-80 to I-88.

There still leaves the north-south traffic on Route 47

That’s the road I took to Springfield during the 1970′s, so I know it well.

As growth pushed westward, Route 47 got more and more crowded.

Now, the FHA proposes widening Route 47 from I-80 to I-88.

Shame the Feds didn’t decide to widen Route 47 all the way north to I-90 (Huntley), but I think the alternative makes sense.

When the billion dollar cost of the Prairie Parkway was announced, my immediate thought was that immense improvements could be made on Route 47 for that amount of money.

Let me add my congratulations to Jan Strasma, one of the spark plugs behind the Citizens Against the Sprawlway.

The Chicago Tribune’s Jon Hilkevitch’s comprehensive article can be found here.

The web site of the folks who beat the Spralway is here.

The invitation said the Huntley Area Tea Party Income Tax Day demonstration on Saturday afternoon would be cancelled if it rained.

American Flag totting McHenry County Board member Diane Evertsen attended the Huntley Area Tea Party rally.

But the temperature was perfect with a beautiful breeze to keep the flags fluttering.

Congressman Joe Walsh greets Huntley Area Tea Party Income Tax Day demonstrators Saturday.

Congressman Joe Walsh headlined the event, bringing his new Walshmobile to be christened with supporters’ signatures.

The Joe Walshmobile arrives at Sun City.

Huntley, it should be noted is not in the new 8th Congressional District

Huntley Area Tea Party demonstrators on Route 47 Saturday.

It’s in the 14th District where Walsh lives and in which he was running against fellow freshman Randy Hultgren for a while.

"There was great interaction between himself and the people," the Friend of McHenry County Blog who took most of these photos reported. It looks as if McHenry County Board member Diane Evertsen is asking a serious question.

So it’s doubtful Walsh made contact with many 2012 general election voters.

Continuing the tradition of signing a vehicle started two years ago with a horse trailer, a Huntley Tea Party demonstrator affixes the first signature.

If, however, he is laying the groundwork for the 2014 race against U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, he was presenting himself again to one of the highest turnout parts of Illinois, Del Webb’s Sun City seniors.

"We are better than Washington, D.C." begins this sign in the middle of the back of the Walshmobile. Click to enlarge.

“Five ‘progressive’ infiltrators showed up with their anti-Walsh signs.” one person told me.

Weekly meeting with Congressional constituents leads the list from this sign on the Walshmobile. It contains,"It's time to end career politicians!"

“The male group leader was asked what he does for a living,” the message continued.

"It's time to repeal Obamacare" leads a list of platform statements from Joe Walsh on his Walshmobile.

“He said he’s a retired teacher.”

A message from the Huntley Police Department:

Huntley Police Department reports an increase in Deer related accidents on Rt 47. Please be cautious and alert while driving on Rt 47

The Huntley Police Department is reminding motorist to be more alert and cautious while driving on Rt 47 as there has been an increase in Deer related crashes in the first two weeks of November.

The department has handled 4 Deer related crashes on Rt 47 from November 6th to November 9th.

There has been a total of 9 Deer related crashes in the Huntley area so far in November.

A press release from the Woodstock Police Department:

FATAL ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

Woodstock, IL – On Monday August 22, 2011 at 8:34 AM the Woodstock Police Department and the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded to the area just West of Route 47 on Route 14 in reference to an I.D.O.T. maintenance employee being struck by a vehicle.

Upon arrival officers found that the I.D.O.T. employee, identified as Ryan J. Nichols from Kenosha, WI had been struck by a vehicle in traffic which resulted with fatal injuries.

Preliminary investigation determined that a Mercury Grand Marquis driven by 67 year old James J. Berles of Woodstock had been traveling West bound on Route 14, when in the area just west of Route 47, struck Ryan M. Nichols.

Due to the injuries Mr. Nichols sustained he was transported to the Woodstock Centegra Hospital by the Woodstock Fire Rescue District where he was subsequently pronounced deceased.

The Woodstock Police Department is continuing with the investigation and charges are pending.

And, here’s his press release explaining why:

Rep. Manzullo: Route 47 Widening to Five Lanes through Huntley on Schedule to Open in Late 2011 Congressman joins state, local officials in celebrating vital road project

[HUNTLEY] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today said the vital Route 47 widening project through Huntley has reached the halfway point and is on schedule to open with five lanes in November 2011.

Don Manzullo

Manzullo, who secured $6.7 million in federal funds for the project several years ago, joined local and state officials this afternoon at a news conference to celebrate the 2.5-mile widening project through downtown Huntley. The two-lane road is being expanded to five lanes (two lanes in each direction with a middle turn lane) from Reed to Kreutzer roads in Huntley.

Manzullo praised state Rep. Mike Tryon (R-CL) and state Sen. Pam Althoff (R-McHenry) for their successful efforts last year to obtain significant state funding in the Illinois capital bill for the Route 47 project. Manzullo also secured $19 million for the Western Bypass of Routes 31 and 62 in Algonquin and $7 million to widen Rakow Road to six lanes from Ackman Road to Pyott Road and to four lanes from Pyott Road to Route 31.

Manzullo has also been working with local and state officials to convince the Governor to allow an Amtrak station in McHenry County along the new line that will run from Chicago to Rockford to Dubuque, Iowa.

“Finally, relief is at hand for motorists who have suffered for years with horrendous traffic congestion in downtown Huntley. And next year, more relief will be on the way for motorists in southeast McHenry County when work begins on the Western Bypass project in Algonquin and the Rakow Road widening project in Crystal Lake and Lake in the Hills,” Manzullo said. “Transportation funding has always been and will continue to be my priority for McHenry County.”

The detour route.

People who take Route 47 into McHenry County are going to have problems getting home as early as they usually do on Friday night.

And getting to work on Monday morning will be a hassle, too.

There certainly will be a need to allow more time to get to the Tollway that morning.

The Route 47 railroad grade crossing at night.

The railroad grade crossing is being re-configured and that means a detour.

Here’s the notice from the Village of Huntley:

Traffic Advisory:Rt 47 will be closed at the railroad crossing from Friday October 8th at 2:00pm to Monday October 11

The Union Pacific Railroad will CLOSE Route 47 in Huntley at the railroad crossing to all traffic on Friday October 8th at 2:00 PM and will reopen Route 47 by 12:00 PM on Monday October 11th. Northbound and southbound Route 47 traffic will be detoured around the Route 47 rail crossing.  Expect delays.

Originally, the McHenry County SportsPlex was announced as being north of Pleasant Valley Road facing Route 47. No more. As you can see, it is now south of the current Pleasant Valley Road with that road relocated to face Route 176 before it joins Route 47 and jogs north. Click to enlarge.

The unveiling of the the McHenry County SportsPlex details will start at Lakewood’s Red Tail Golf Course Club House at six Tuesday night.

The entrance to the SportsPlex.

Before the night is over, I’d give odds the deal, complete with so far unrevealed “development incentives,” will be approved, will be approved.

That’s when the following will occur:

“Public Hearing: Consideration and Recommendation for Map Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance of the Village of Lakewood to have the premises described hereafter zoned as AG Agricultural and B-2 General Business, respectively, consistent with the above-referenced Special Use Permit and Development Plan.”

Maybe you can figure out what that means, but I can’t.

You can see where the SportsPlex will be located in relationship to Pleasant Valley Road in this illustration. Most is south; a little on the western edge is north. Click to enlage this or any other image.

Then, at 7 PM, what appears to be the most momentous village board meeting since Turnberry was annexed in order to allow the developer to avoid school and park district impact fees, the village board appears poised to annex more land and provide economic incentives to developers of the proposed McHenry County SportsPlex.

There will be a public hearing first on the

“Proposed Annexation and Development Incentive Agreement,”

as the agenda puts it.

I couldn’t find the “incentives” being offered the SportsPlex promoters on the the village web site.  Village officials sent this explanation in mid-July.  It mentions a flyer that many residents received earlier.

Here’s what seems relevant from Tuesday night’s agenda:

Public Hearing:

Here's the western part of the proposed SportsPlex. Click to enlarge.

Proposed Annexation and Development Incentive Agreement with the Village of Lakewood,

• Patricia M. LeClair as Trustee under provisions of a Trustee Agreement dated July 9, 2008 and known as Patricia LeClair Revocable Trust,
• Napier Partners, L.P., and
• Donald A. Swanson, Owners, and
• McHenry County Sportplex, LLC, Petitioner

The eastern part of the SportPlex can be seen here. Click to enlarge.

The Public Hearing includes hearings on and will include the following
matters:

• The Approval of the above Annexation and Development Incentive
• Agreement (“Agreement”),
• the Approval of the Annexation of the Parcels Subject to the Agreement,
• the Re-Zoning of the parcels subject to the Agreement,
• the Approval of a Special Use Permit for Planned Development of parcels subject to the Agreement,
• the Approval of a Preliminary Plat for the parcels subject to the Agreements and
• the Approval of an Agreement to the Comprehensive Plan for the Village of Lakewood concerning the parcels Subject to the Agreement

There will be a playground and splash pads, plus a comfort station.

Motion to Approve Ordinance 2010-(64) – An Ordinance Approving an Amendment to the Village of Lakewood Comprehensive Plan

A "Miracle Field," which I believe it designed to allow special needs children to play ball is one of the features. There are also extreme sports venues, e.g., a BMX track and an obstacle course.

Motion to Approve Ordinance 2010-(65) – An Ordinance Authorizing Execution of an Annexation and Development Incentive Agreement Between the Village of Lakewood,

• Napier Partners, LP;
• Patricia M. LeClair Revocable Trust;
• Donald Swanson; and
• McHenry County Sportplex, LLC

Here's a better view of four baseball fields that will back up to each other.

Motion to Approve Ordinance 2010-(66) – An Ordinance Annexing the Napier and LeClair Properties Commonly Known as 12317 and 12512 Pleasant Valley Road to the Village of Lakewood

A gas station is planned for the new southwest corner of Pleasant Valley Road and Route 47. Retail is seen on the northside.

Motion to Approve Ordinance 2010-(67) -An Ordinance Zoning 12317 and 12512 Pleasant Valley Road as AG Agriculture District and 11717 Pleasant Valley Road as B-2 General Business District (Napier Partners, LP; Patricia M. LeClair Revocable Trust; and Donald Swanson Properties)

Motion to Approve Ordinance 2010-(68) – An Ordinance Issuing a Special Use Permit for Planned Unit Development for Property Commonly known as 12317, 12512, and 11717 Pleasant Valley Road (Napier Partners, LP; Patricia M. LeClair Revocable Trust and Donald Swanson Properties)

Motion to Approve Ordinance 2010-(69) – An Ordinance Approving the Preliminary Plan for the Napier Partners, LP; Patricia M. LeClair Revocable Trust; and Donald Swanson Properties

With everything scheduled to happen in one night and no documents on the village web site, there does not appear to be a desire to have reasoned discussion by the public on this biggest “deal” in Lakewood history.

This reminds me too much of the Jimmy Carter “Trust me” approach to his presidential election.

= = = = =

Previous articles that might be of interest:

$18 Million Federal Stimulus Request for $40 Million Route 47 & 176 Lakewood Recreational Complex on County Board Finance Committee’s Agenda Tuesday

Concept Drawings of the Proposed McHenry County Sportsplex in Lakewood

May Letter Outlines $5 Million in Direct and Indirect Lakewood Financial Assistance to Sportsplex Developer Lou Tenore

So, You Want to Know More about the Lakewood SportsPlex?

Lakewood Village President Erin Smith Endorses Ken Koehler for County Board

First Electric Newspaper Finds Potential Snag in Lakewood SportsPlex

Chicagoland Foreign Investment Group Sends SportsPlex Investment Letter

Investment Bank Announces Commitment to SportsPlex, If

Thoughts on “Money in the Bank”

Lakewood SportsPlex Proposal Getting Curiouser and Curiouser

Lakewood Gains New Economic Development Tool

Lakewood Seeks to Annex 540 Acres, including Route 176 & 47 Golf Courses & SportsPlex Site

Judge Michael Caldwell Gives Lakewood Green Light to Grow to Route 176

Former Village President, Republican Activist Win Lakewood Trustee Spots

Big Zoning Doings in Lakewood Tuesday Night

Lakewood Annexes Past Route 47 Up to Route 176

Village of Lakewood Summer Newsletter, Anti-SportsPlex Flyer Arrive

Capitol Fax Blog reports from a union press release that

“the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 and the Laborers’ District Council of Chicago & Vicinity reached a tentative three-year agreement with the Chicago Area Independent Contractors Association (CAICA), one of the four major employer associations that bargain on behalf of construction contractors in the Chicago metropolitan area.”

Strikers on Route 47 in Huntley.

I wonder if the employers working on Route 47 are included.

Strikers sit in the shade across from the Route 47 Woodstock Courthouse at Mary Endres Elementary School.

Similarly, I wonder if the ones striking at the Woodstock District 200 school complex across from the courthouse work for one of the firms that has settled.