Lakewood TIF Review Meeting

Lakewood Village Trustee Paul Serwatka tells what happened at the recent Tax Increment Financing District meeting, required by law. Reporting On The Lakewood TIF Review Board Meeting A quick update regarding the January 26, 2017 Lakewood TIF Joint Review Board … Continue reading

Lakewood TIF Joint Review Board Meeting on Rt. 47-Rt. 176 Intersection Improvement Thursday After Next

A message from future Lakewood Village President Paul Serwatka: Follow-Up on TIF District/Sportsplex Following up on recent developments with the TIF District/Sportsplex that I wrote about in my January 1st newsletter, I wanted to share with you what I have … Continue reading

Lakewood Illinois Sportsplex Grant Strong Objections from Local Community

After reading that the Lakewood SportsPlex people are seeking financing from the United States Department of Agriculture for a newly-revisioned version being called a “Community Center,” Woodstock School District 200 candidate sent the following email to Department officials: To: samuel.rikkers … Continue reading

Is Lakewood SportsPlex Still in Play?

Lakewood Village Trustee and future Village President Paul Serwatka received the following information and Lakewood’s contraversial SportsPlex from a friend. Note that it is now being called a “Community Center” as well as a SportsPlex. “Community Center is a word … Continue reading

Lakewood TIF Timeline

Rural Woodstock resident Susan Handelsman offer the following summary of Lakewood’s Tax Increment Financing District: Lakewood TIF Timeline: 1.Late 2014-Early 2015; Lakewood announced plans for, and voted into existence, a 600+ acre tif district which would include a Sportsplex on … Continue reading

Lakewood Hot Button Issues Update

Been wondering what’s up with the proposed Lakewood SportsPlex, the Tax Increment Financing District and the restaurant which the Village announced it wanted to replace the current lakefront Village Hall. I filed a Freedom of Information request a couple of … Continue reading

Looking at Lakewood TIF and SportsPlex Documents

I picked up a pile of paper two weeks ago at my Lakewood Village Hall. It took hours to flip through. Twice. I can’t tell you I fully understand what was provided and I have no idea what was not … Continue reading

Serwatka Responds to Board “Everything’s Fine” Comments

An email from newly-elected Lakewood Village Trustee Paul Serwatka: The Northwest Herald released an article yesterday, giving a glimpse of the battle that lies ahead. Residents have responded, describing some board members’ responses as “obtuse,” “pig-headed” and “narcissistic”… One thing … Continue reading

Decrying Lack of Municipal Competition, Especially in Lakewood

Lakewood policy wonk Steve Willson took fingers to keys, writing the following lament about the lack of candidates in most municipal elections and, especially, his own Village of Lakewood. I am disappointed in how many local races are not contested, … Continue reading

NWH Columnist More Than a Little Skeptical about Lakewood’s TIF District

Sunday Northwest Herald columnist Kevin Craver weighed in on the proposed Lakewood Tax Increment Financing District (due to be passed this Tuesday night at a 7 PM meeting being held at Turnberry Country Club). Of interest to some will be … Continue reading

Being Transparent Doesn’t Molify Potential Lakewood SportsPlex Neighbors

Lakewood’s Village Board brought those proposing to build the Chicagoland SportsPlex to face the public Tuesday night, one week before zoning of it is to be considered. The main concern of those in Colleens Cote, who have a Huntley postal … Continue reading

Mark Comments on Lakewood’s Proposed TIF District

A commenter named Mark provides the following information on the proposed Lakewood Tax Increment Financing District.  (A meeting will be held at the Turnberry Country Club at 7 PM on the next two Tuesdays to discuss the SportsPlex proposed for … Continue reading

U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, Critic of McHenry County Board’s Lakewood SportsPlex Stimulus Loan, Retiring

The United States Senator who put the McHenry County Board’s Stimulus loan for the McHenry County SportPlex on the national map in his 2010 Wastebook has announced he is retiring at the end of the year. That’s what the National … Continue reading

West Dundee Ice Rink Non-Profit had “No Skin in the Game,” Will MCC Health Club Operator?

The Illinois Finance Authority sold tax exempt bonds for the Leaf’s Hockey Club in West Dundee in 2007. Almost $20 million worth “with no equity at risk,” reports Crane’s Chicago Business. In this case, the bondholders are left holding the … Continue reading

Erin Smith Endorses Ken Koehler for McHenry County Board

Now I’ve gotten three pieces of political mail. The only contests in my part of Lakewood and Crystal Lake are for President and McHenry County Board. I received an introduction-fund raising pitch from our Congressman-to-be Peter Roskam, a piece from … Continue reading