McHenry County Blog

A press release from Congressman Peter Roskam:

Peter Roskam

Roskam Statement on Three Year Anniversary of Failed Stimulus Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06) issued the following statement on the eve of the three year anniversary of President Obama’s “stimulus” becoming law.

“Three years ago President Obama promised Americans 3.5 million jobs and unemployment under 8% if they just supported his nearly trillion dollar ‘stimulus’ plan.

“In the time since,

• Americans have endured crushing job losses,
• 36 straight months of unemployment above 8%, and
• trillions more in debt.

“And yet, astonishingly, the White House still refuses to pivot from trying to

• borrow,
• tax, and
• spend

our way into prosperity. Americans have fundamentally rejected this debt-end approach.

“With unemployment still above 8% in February 2012, it’s time the White House embraced pro-growth private sector solutions that will remove barriers to job creation and jump-start our economy.

“Businesses large and small need certainty and predictability to grow.

“That’s why our economy needs fundamental tax reform – as opposed to the constant threat of tax hikes, commonsense regulations that stop Washington bureaucrats from unilaterally devastating sectors of our economy, an energy policy that reduces American’s energy bills and our dependence on foreign energy, and a smart healthcare policy that actually reduces health costs.”

Finance Committee members considering award of Stimulus Bond authority. Seen from left to right are Tina Hill, John Hammerand, Dan Ryan and Lyn Orphal. Chairman Marc Munaretto is to Orphal's left.

The McHenry County Board’s Finance Committee decided to award millions of dollars of Federal Stimulus Bond authority on a “first come, first served” basis.

The first two private entities in line were sports related.

One was Mark Houser’s EquityOne’s baseball stadium, to be located in Woodstock after the McHenry County College Board’s efforts to provide taxpayer-backed bonds failed.

The second was a new proposal for a McHenry County SportsPlex located in Lakewood.

Both received support from the municipalities in question.

But, in taking a “first come, first served” approach, along with the attendant publicity, the county board was telling other potential job creators they need not apply.

The SportsPlex' field layout. Click to enlarge.

Last Friday Lakewood Village President Erin Smith issued a press release announcing that the financing could not be obtained in time to meet the December 31st deadline imposed by Federal law.

And, so, McHenry County lost the opportunity to see the money used for job creation.

While the SportsPlex did not drop out early enough to allow the subsidized interest loans to be re-directed, the baseball stadium did.

Sage Products, a provide job creator, got money to put on a addition.

One can only wonder if there were other successful manufacturers in McHenry County who were deterred from applying by the “First come, first served” loan allocation approach.

Representation of the SportsPlex entrance across from where Rt. 176 meets Rt. 47 from the east.

A press release has arrived from Lakewood Village President Erin Smith about the financing of the McHenry County SportsPlex, which the village approved for the west side of Route 47 opposite the south leg of Route 176. Here it is:

Village President, Erin Smith, made the following statement regarding the Sports Complex proposed for development on the west side of Route 47, just south of Route 176:

“The Village of Lakewood was informed yesterday that the sale of bonds required to finance the Sports Complex will not be completed by the December 31st deadline as required for Recovery Zone financing.

Erin Smith seen making her pitch for approval to the McHenr6 County Board.

“Missing this deadline means the project forfeits eligibility for $18M in tax-advantaged Recovery Zone Bonds.

“These bonds were first approved by the McHenry County Board and then transferred to the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority (UIRVDA).

“This news is disappointing, but does not mean that the project will not proceed.

“Andrew Hamilton, Executive Director of UIRVDA, reaffirmed UIRVDA’s continued support of the project today. UIRVDA has the authority to issue taxable bonds which could replace the Recovery Zone portion of financing.

“A representative from Stern Brothers, the firm responsible for the sale of the bonds, indicated they have identified investors interested in purchasing the bonds, but the terms and conditions of the sale could not be finalized by December 31st.

“I am proud of the way our Village Board and Village Staff have supported this project and grateful for the support we have received from elected officials at the County, State and Federal levels.

“There is risk associated with any commercial development and, recognizing this risk, the Village Board has not committed any tax dollars from Lakewood or McHenry County residents.

“We will meet with the development team after the holiday to assess the impact
of the delay in financing.

“Lakewood remains strongly committed to commercial development along the Route 47 corridor and we are hopeful that the Sports Complex will be an integral part of our plan.

“We are also confident that other suitable projects will come forward as the intersection of two major State highways makes this one of the most desirable development locations in the County.”

Yesterday, we saw the first part of Lakewood Village Trustee Ken Sankowski’s report on the November 9th village board meeting.  He covered the tax levy and the dam in Turnberry.

In today’s installment, he covers the SportsPlex and stimulus bonds.

SportsPlex Utility Considerations

Extending the utilities out to Route 47 was a unique topic.

Even though the village recently annexed residential properties and several established businesses they (currently) do not have to hook into our water and sewer system if they choose not to.

So right now the only entity that would hook into any water and sewer system would be the sports complex and associated businesses.

The ultimate question is will or can those users generate enough revenue to pay for the water and sewer system?

Several options were presented ranging from just over $1M to over $7M. The options will be discussed further over the next few board meetings.

I am a little concerned that if the sportsplex does not meet anticipated revenues then the user fees the village collects will not be enough to cover the debt.

If this happens then the public would be impacted, by having to cover the debt.

Stimulus Bond Consideration

Lastly, there was a motion on the consent agenda to approve the bond flow through from the McHenry County Board.

The sportsplex needs to have 2 sets of different bonds in order to help pay for their project.

One set of bonds is taxed while the other is tax exempt.

McHenry County Board decided to hand over their authority to UIRVDA (Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority).

While this may seem just a bureaucratic shuffle of paperwork, the way it was presented did not seem to sit well with me and at least one resident in attendance.

I asked for this matter to be removed from the consent agenda for 2 reasons.

1. The first one was so that Trustee Blake Hobson (the McHenry County UIRVDA representative) could explain to the audience the reason for this motion.
2. The other reason was that I was not confident that neither the residents of Lakewood nor the surrounding community knew that this matter was about the sportsplex.

Village Trustees Ken Santowski and Blake Hobson.

The wording on the agenda mentioned a “commercial project” but not the sportsplex. This motion only dealt with the sportsplex bonds. I questioned why it was listed this way and was told it was because that was the way it was copied off the resolution. That same resolution was written by our village and attorney. As you know I am all for transparency and feel that this was not properly presented to allow the public closer scrutiny if they so desired.

I voted against the resolution but it passed anyway.

Originally I was in full support of the sportsplex.

I wanted to give “the team” full board support to get this project off the ground even though I did not (nor did a lot of other people) believe the fiscal projections they gave to us and the public.

But lately I have begun to question the validity of this project. Several member of the McHenry county board also have had their own reservations based on their recent votes concerning the project

Since this project is a “new” vision for Lakewood, McHenry County, Route 47 and several surrounding subdivisions, I had hoped that there would have been more open dialogue between affected residents and the sportsplex people.

Perhaps there was and they were required not to talk. As a private business enterprise they do not have to allow me or anyone access to their own internal processes, negotiations or finances.

I am not a development expert, nor do I claim to know the inner workings of their private enterprise.

It is just my opinion that the sportsplex people could have and should now do a better job with communication.

My hope is that the Sports Complex is built, all issues are remedied, the neighbors are happy and the revenues are exactly what they predict.

More tomorrow.

Ken Santowski

Lakewood Village Trustee Ken Santowski writes up his thoughts on village board meetings and shares them with constituents who are interested.

His thoughts on the last village board meeting follow:

Board update from November 9th, 2010

The meeting this week was about several key issues. The meeting covered

• Bonds for “a construction project” in Lakewood,
• repairs to the dam,
• utilities out to Route 47 and
• the estimated Tax levy.

Sometimes when I am preparing for these meetings I simply open up the top of my skull, pull out what little brains I have left, fill back up with oatmeal and pretend to know that I know what the heck I am doing.

Tax Levy Considerations

Let’s start with the easy one; the tax levy.

As we all know even in death, we are responsible for taxes. The EAV (equalized assessed value) of the village is not known until March of 2011.

But the estimated tax must be decided prior to that date. So, the village has to provide the county an EAV not to exceed 105% of the previous year.

With the annexations and a few homes built this past year, the village has experienced a growth in its total value, but is expected to experience a 7-10% DECREASE in the EAV, but an inflow of about $25,000 due to the new properties.

Confused yet?

I have been a part of these proceedings for the last 4 years and only have just started to understand those numbers.

Special Service Area Considerations  – Dam Repairs

Along with the tax levy, we had a discussion about the Special Service Areas (SSA’s).

As in the past, SSA#1 has had the most discussion. If you are not sure if you are in an SSA, check your tax bill and look in the line items. SSA#1 covers the lakes area.

Last year the levy for SSA#1 (in Turnberry) as $142,000 which included about $27,000 to buy the Weedo Boat and trailer.

Last year I imagined that this year’s levy would be about $115,000 which included money for dam repairs and lake maintenance, but excluded the money spent for the boat.

The Lakes committee recommended $105,000, staff wanted $125,000.

Several board members want to raise the levy back up to $140,000.

I do not agree with them.

Their justification is that the difference between the $105,000 and the $140,000.00 is only a few dollars.

My question is how many times can we continue to force open our wallets for a few dollars?

Sooner or later, the wallet is empty.

Recently the board had allocated money to get an inspection of the dam, spillway and pad.

t this point the “pad” took front attention.

Two alternatives were presented.

• Replacement at a cost of $145,000 or
• repairs for $113,000.

One resident questioned whether either was needed at this point since the spillway and pad are only utilized during heavy rain events. Also he was concerned about the economic impact to residents who would be paying for it. Further discussion to take place during budget talks.

More tomorrow.

The following press release has been received from 8th District Republican candidate for Congress Joe Walsh:

JOE WALSH COMMENTS ON FAILURE OF STIMULUS BILL,

CALLS ON A NEW DIRECTION FOR THE AMERICAN ECONOMY

(Grayslake, IL) - Critics of President Obama’s nearly $1 trillion stimulus program have pointed out that the stimulus has failed to create jobs while wasting taxpayer money. A new analysis of stimulus spending in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District supports that criticism.

According to the Obama Administration’s “Recovery.gov” website, during the past 18 months the stimulus bill has spent more than $226 million in the 8th district to fund 244 projects, while only creating 169.46 jobs.

Joe Walsh, the Republican nominee for the 8th district, commented,

Joe Walsh

“If you do the math, you see that the Administration has spent more than $1.3 million per stimulus job!  While American families and small businesses are struggling and making tough choices, Washington is wasting their money.

“The stimulus has failed. According to the Obama Administration, this bill created fewer than 10 jobs per month in our district – 80% of those were government jobs. Sadly, this stimulus is a bailout for state and local government that was never designed to help the private sector grow the economy and create jobs.”

Joe Walsh’s opponent, Rep. Melissa Bean, voted for the stimulus bill.

Melissa Bean

In a February 13, 2009 press release, Rep. Bean promised the stimulus bill would create jobs, saying:

“This bold action is necessary to preserve and create jobs and spending.”

Bean stated taxpayer money would be spent in the right place, saying the bill “puts money where it matters.” In a January 28, 2009 press release, Bean touted the recovery.gov website, saying it constituted a new measure “of accountability and transparency [to] track every dollar of spending….”

Walsh commented on Bean’s empty promises,

“Melissa Bean promised the stimulus bill would create jobs. It didn’t. She promised our money would be well spent. It wasn’t.

“My campaign represents the voices of millions of Americans who believe we need new leadership in Washington.  With the support of the people of the 8th district, we are going to win this campaign.  When we do, we can begin to enact policies to promote private sector job creation – instead of pumping millions of taxpayer dollars into more government jobs.”

Independence Hall

You will remember that details about the McHenry County SportsPlex have been dribbling out a little bit at a time. Some residents have been upset enough to distribute a broadside, which I publishes here. (We found it after coming back from a visit to Independence Hall in Philadelphia and Thomas Jefferson’s plantation of Monticello. What appropriate timing.)

This sign says, "NO! Lakewood Sportsplex on Pleasant Valley," was found on the way home from Woodstock. Originally, the SportsPlex was planned to be directly south of the intersection of the north leg of Route 176 and Route 47. Now it is one road to the west.

I noticed that signs have been prepared as well, but I have only seen this one on Route 47.

As one who has watched public police roll-outs for decades, it seems to me the village should have been done two newsletters ago.

So far, no mention of the SportsPlex has been made in any official publication to residents/taxpayers. Really strange.

I’ll be reading this explanation of the Village official’s viewpoint as I am posting it this Monday morning.

Before I start, I can tell you I want to know who has how much money invested in the SportsPlex and ownership interest in this project, if any of my money as a Lakewood property owner is at risk.  [I've now read the part where the financing for the golf course that cost residents $500 a year for the better part of a decade is said to be nothing like that of the SportsPlex.]

The county board didn’t care to make that public, if anyone knows, even though the Federal stimulus package is involved.

I do not want Lakewood to end up owning a huge building, if the promoters are unsuccessful, so if that is part of the backup plan, something like a demolition bond ought to be included.

First is a cover letter from Village President Erin Smith, who now has enough allies on the board to do anything she can convince them of.

July 14, 2010

Dear Residents:

Erin Smith

During the past several months, there has been some discussion about a sports complex within the vicinity of Illinois Routes 47 and 176.

This includes land that was recently annexed into our community. While no formal proposal has yet been submitted, the Board of Trustees and I believe it is now appropriate to address some of the most frequently asked questions we’ve heard.

I have enclosed a document that provides a summary of the most frequently asked questions. As new questions are received, we will update this document and post an updated version on our Village website at: http://village.lakewood.il.us

We anticipate that the sports complex will be considered at our meeting on July 27, beginning at 6:00 p.m. [no location indicated, but the golf course club house where regular meetings are held, it seems to me, is way too small], and I urge residents to attend the meeting and learn more about this proposal. As always, I encourage you to contact me directly at erin.smith.lakewood@gmail.com or (815) 356-8005 with any questions or concerns regarding this matter.

Sincerely,

Erin Smith, President
Village of Lakewood

Lakewood Sports Complex Frequently Asked Questions

Updated Last on July 9, 2010

This is a drawing of what motorists on Route 47 were going to see if the SportsPlex had been built on the Swanson farm.

1. What is the sports complex and where will it be located?

While no formal submittal has yet been made, we believe that the sports complex will include about 160 acres of land that consists primarily of outdoor sports fields for baseball, softball, and soccer. There will also be an indoor facility of approximately 125,000 to 150,000 square feet. It will include basketball and volleyball courts as well as a restaurant and retail space.

There is also a five (5) acre outlot that is proposed to be developed as a gas station/retail complex.

The exact location of the complex has not been finalized, but it will likely be located on the west side of Route 47, south of the northwest leg of Route 176. The gas station and retail complex will likely be closest to Route 47, with sports fields extending west along Pleasant Valley Road. More information regarding the land and location of buildings and fields will not be available until we see the first formal proposal for a planned unit development (PUD).

2. Will my taxes be raised if the sports complex fails?

It is essential for our residents to understand that the Village of Lakewood will have no responsibility or liability for payments if the sports complex fails.

While references are being made to the Sears Centre or Libertyville Sports Complex, these comparisons are not relevant.

In both of these instances, the facilities were financed using General Obligation or Alternate Revenue Bonds, which require that property taxes are pledged as a revenue source if the enterprise revenues do not cover the debt payment.

This financing model has never been considered for the proposed sports complex in our community. The sports complex financing is entirely private.

3. Is it possible that our taxes will be raised as they were to pay for RedTail Golf Course?

In order to maintain open space and support property values throughout the community, the Village of Lakewood made a decision to purchase and operate RedTail Golf Course using Alternate Revenue Bonds. As the owner, the community is ultimately responsible for the payment of debt if the operating profit cannot cover this obligation. The final payment for RedTail Golf Course will be made in 2011. As stated earlier, the Village of Lakewood will not own, operate, or be responsible for any payment relative to the proposed sports complex.

4. Will there be any economic incentives for the developer?

As all of our residents know, residential and commercial development is at a virtual standstill throughout our country, and it requires creativity and partnerships in order for projects to move forward.

As is often the case when communities are negotiating with commercial developers, we are discussing both a waiver of certain fees we would normally charge for development and a formula for sharing revenues produced by the development.

These are revenues that would otherwise not be available for our community, including:

• sales taxes,
• parking fees,
• entertainment taxes, etc.

We are also willing to partner with the developer to seek grant funding for infrastructure or unique environmental aspects of the project.

No cash contribution from the Village of Lakewood is being considered.

5. Are there any other risks to the Village of Lakewood related to this project?

The Village Staff has and will continue to invest a significant amount of time and resources to supporting the development phase of this project. There is certainly an opportunity cost associated with this time investment, as residents may find that there are days when there is a delay in responding to non-urgent resident requests. We believe that this time investment is worthwhile in the end, as commercial development at this major intersection is essential to maintaining essential services and public infrastructure without a future increase in property taxes.

A second risk is that the project will fail, leaving a vacant building and land behind. This is land that could easily be redeveloped by another land owner in the future. We believe this is an unlikely scenario, as the business plan for the sports complex has been vetted by several independent consultants and financial institutions, including Stern Brothers.

6. Did McHenry County contribute $15 million in financing to this project?

McHenry County received $27.5 million in federal bonding authority for private projects under the $789 billion American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

The bonds are meant to encourage lending for shove-ready projects by giving investors a 45 percent refund of the federal taxes payable on them.

The McHenry County Board chose to dedicate $18 million of its allocation for this project.

Private investors will choose of their own volition to purchase these bonds, and McHenry County will have no obligation or responsibility for repayment.

7. Has there been an investment of foreign funds into this project?

Another funding source will come from a federal financing program called employment based fifth preference, or EB-5.

The program, created in 1990, offers permanent resident status to foreign investors who fund businesses that create or save jobs.

It is simply a unique investment tool that the developers have identified to help fund their project, and the use of EB-5 funds for this project has no bearing on the deliberations by the Village of Lakewood.

8. What benefit is there for the Village of Lakewood?

The recent annexation of about 565 acres of land was consistent with our boundary agreements with neighboring communities, our Comprehensive Plan, and our Facility Planning Area.

It brought four (4) existing businesses into our community and will help to grow and diversify our limited sales tax base.

The proposed sports complex is also consistent with these underlying documents and has the potential to significantly increase our General Fund revenues. It is also likely that ancillary projects (i.e. restaurants and retail) will develop to support the sports complex.

Finally, the proposed sports complex will be built incorporating best environmental management practices and provide a template for sustainable development within our community.

The handout we found when we returned from our East Coast vacation. Click to enlarge or on the link at the top of the article to read what it says.

Not only will it generate new sources of revenue which are essential to our long term sustainability, but it does so by creating a destination that is consistent with our vision for our community.

9. How can I learn more about the proposal?

We anticipate that the proposal will be considered at our meeting on July 27, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

10. Should I be concerned with the statements that were included on a flyer that was placed in my mailbox recently?

Since the flyer was sent anonymously, it’s not possible for us to follow up with the person(s) who have expressed these concerns. Nor is it possible to understand the basis of their misinformation.

= = = = =

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

And, this isn’t an April Fool’s Day story. Rather it is a press release from the McHenry County Transportation Department:

Highway improvements scheduled by the McHenry County Transportation Department this year. (Click to enlarge.)

The McHenry County Division of Transportation is proud to announce the 2010 interactive construction map at  mchenrycountydot.org.

The key to map.

This map will allow the public user to see at a glance all of the County construction project locations, as well as more detailed project information on any particular project. This can be done by clicking on the identify (i) icon and then clicking on the highlighted portion of the roadway. If more detailed information is desired, contact information is included for your use. This map was produced through the assistance of the County’s Geographical Information System (GIS) Department.

Construction Projects

Kishwaukee Valley Road Bridge Replacement

This project will replace the bridge originally constructed in 1953 with a two-span prestressed concrete 36-inch deep I-beam bridge, with a poured in-place 8-inch thick concrete deck, spanning 123-feet in length. It includes approach pavement, milling and resurfacing, shoulder widening and guardrail placement.

Kishwaukee Valley Road was closed to thru traffic starting on February 1, 2010 between Hughes Road and Menge Road. Access up to the bridge is maintained for local traffic only. A marked detour is provided using Hughes Road, U.S. Route 14, Dunham Road and Menge Road. (click here for the detour map).

This project is scheduled to be completed approximately June 12, 2010.

Alden Road Bridge Replacement and Roadway Improvements

This project will replace the existing bridge built in 1939, with a 58-foot long by 40-foot wide, single-span poured in-place concrete bridge deck, on seven, 36-inch deep precast prestressed concrete I-beams.

This project also includes complete pavement and drainage feature reconstruction from about 600 feet south of Illinois Route 173 to about 1,800 feet north of Illinois route 173. Driveways and sidewalks within the project limits will be replaced and a new drainage system will be installed throughout. Along with the new pavement, curb & gutter will be provided to improve drainage. Two special Stormwater Treatment Structures will be installed before stormwater enters the creek to protect water quality.

The Project will be built using stage construction (one side at a time) and will require a temporary traffic signal to limit the bridge to one-way traffic for the duration of the project. Two-way traffic will be maintained on the roadway portion using temporary pavement.

Work on the project started approximately February 22, 2010 and the project has an October 31, 2010 completion date.

Virginia Road Reconstruction

This project will reconstruct Virginia Road between Rakow Road and Illinois Route 31, with the exception of the new pavement recently constructed in connection with the Waste Transfer Facility, and the intersection at Illinois Route 31, which will be done as a separate future project.

This project will be constructed using Stage construction, maintaining one–way traffic southeast bound only (Rakow Road to Illinois Route 31) for the duration of the construction. Northwest bound traffic will be detoured on Illinois Route 31 to the north and then west on Rakow Road back to Virginia Road.

The contractor plans to start work around April 19, 2010 and the project completion date is July 2, 2010.

Walkup Road Widening, Resurfacing and Shared-use Path Construction

This project will provide pavement widening to extend the three-lane section of pavement from Dvorak Drive through Crystal Springs Road, add traffic signals at Pleasant Hill Road, Edgewood Road and Crystal Springs Road, add right and left turn lanes at intersections, and resurface the roadway in this area. In addition, a shared-use path will be constructed between Veteran Acres Park and Pleasant Hill Road on the east side of the roadway to enhance safety for pedestrians and bicyclists in the area.

Beginning in December 2009, public utility relocation work was started with the intent to move existing utilities out of conflict with the new roadway, path and storm sewers prior to construction to avoid delays. The contractor is expected to start construction around May 1, 2010 and project completion is expected in the summer of 2011.

Two-way traffic will be maintained throughout utilizing stage construction with daily or periodic lane closures as required using flaggers. This work will create delays and traffic disruption at times.

Federal Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ) funds will pay for 80% of the design and construction of this project and the 20% local match will use McHenry County Division of Transportation funds.

A project website (www.walkuproad.info) will be available to ask questions, get project updates, and obtain project information.

Rakow Road Widening, Relocation & Reconstruction

This project is currently in the Land Acquisition and Final Design stages. A summer 2010 letting is desired but is dependent upon the completion of the needed right-of-way purchases. It is anticipated that two construction seasons will be necessary to complete this project which is estimated to cost approximately 30 million dollars.

This project will relocate Rakow Road to the east of it’s current alignment starting at McHenry Avenue to soften the curve to the north and east.

It will also provide three thru-lanes of traffic in each direction from Ackman Road to Pyott Road, and dual left-turn lanes at Ackman Road, McHenry Avenue, Pyott Road, Pingree Road and Illinois Route 31.

Two thru-lanes in each direction will be constructed from Pyott Road to Illinois Route 31, and a pedestrian/bike path bridge will be constructed over Rakow Road for the McHenry County Conservation District’s Prairie Trail Path. Public Utility coordination is currently underway.

A project website will be available in the future to ask questions, get project updates, and obtain project information.

Pavement Preservation Projects

County Paving (Milling and Resurfacing) Project

This project includes milling and resurfacing on various County Highways as highlighted on the map in green. The project includes milling to a depth of 3.75” and patching any deteriorated pavement as needed. Then priming and placing a 2.25” lift of Binder Course followed by a 1.5” lift of Surface Course. Shoulder gravel will be added and thermoplastic pavement markings will be placed. The milled pavement material (RAP) is all recycled and re-used as aggregates in the new Hot Mix Asphalt.

The roads to be resurfaced under this project include:

• Nelson and Deep Cut Roads between U.S. Route 14 and Charles/Alden Road
• Hartland Road from U.S. Route 14 to Nelson Road
• Hobe Road from South Street to Kishwaukee Valley Road
• River Road between Illinois Route 176 and Lily Lake Road
• Ramer Road from Oak Grove Road to Lawrence Road
• Oak Grove Road from Illinois Route 173 to Ramer Road
• Charles Road, a short repair section just west of Illinois Route 47

This project will resurface 20 lane miles of roadway at a bid cost of $2,560,270.95.

Work on this project is expected to start about May 31, 2010 and has a contract completion date of August 6, 2010. The impact to traffic will be daily lane closures in the immediate work area using flaggers to control one-way traffic thru the work zone. These temporary lane closures will take place throughout the various stages of the project and should generally minimize delays to a short duration.

Chapel Hill Road Resurfacing (ARRA Project)

These signs will pop up on Chapel Hill Road. This one is on Route 14 in Crystal Lake near The Freeze.

This project is funded through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will mill and resurface four sections of Chapel Hill Road that fall between previous intersection improvements. The actual project length is a total of approximately 1.9 miles between Miller Road and Johnsburg Road at a bid cost of $568,605.96.

Work on this project is expected to start around June 1, 2010 and has a 25 working day duration or five to six weeks to complete. This work will essentially be the same as described above for milling and resurfacing in terms of work methods and traffic impacts.

Crack Sealing Contract

This project includes routing and sealing cracks in the pavement using a hot applied rubberized filler material. This work is done to extend the life of newer pavements by minimizing the water intrusion into the pavement and base material, thus lessening the severity of the effects of freeze-thaw cycles.

Crack sealing will be done on the following roads in 2010:

• Kishwaukee Valley Road from the west County Line to U.S. Route 14
• Vermont Road between Garden Valley Road and Kishwaukee Valley Road
• Coral Road from Illinois Route 23 to South Union Road
• Hunter Road from County Line Road to White Oaks Road
• White Oaks Road between Illinois Route 173 and Hunter Road

If quantity remains in the contract after completion of those routes, Genoa Road and Harmony Road east of U.S. Route 20 will be treated to the extent possible.

This contract will crack seal about 42 lane miles of County Highways at a total bid cost of $125,211.06. The impact to traffic will be daily lane closures in the immediate work area using flaggers to control one-way traffic thru the moving work zone, and traffic delays should be minimal.

Microsurfacing Project

The 2010 project is still under development as the McHenry County Division of Transportation is working to create new mix designs using a more durable aggregate material than what is currently readily available locally. The project is anticipated to be ready for bidding in May with construction taking place later in the summer.

The road planned for this year is Charles Road from Nelson Road to Illinois Route 120. This includes about 8 lane miles of roadway at an estimated cost of $250,000. The 2009 microsurfacing project was not completed last year, but should be completed by the contractor in May, which includes work on Roberts Road and Altenberg Road.

The traffic impact of the microsurfacing work is more severe than paving due to the fact that the cure time of the microsurface material ranges from 30 to 90 minutes. Traffic must be kept off of the material during this time, creating long stretches of single-lane closures for the duration of curing time. Efforts will be made to minimize delays but due to the nature of the work, delays encountered could be significant.

Website Updates

Please visit our website at www.mchenrycountydot.org for periodic updates and for newly launched project specific websites.

Remember – Please drive safely in construction zones and watch out for workers!!

Erin Smith at a Country Club Additions "Pizza with the President" meeting

Dear Neighbors,

I would like to take this opportunity to provide a series of brief updates to you regarding items that have been addressed during recent Board Meetings and other topics where I have received questions or comments from residents.  As always, I welcome and encourage your participation at Board Meetings and your input and feedback through phone conversations and email.

Committees

I am so proud of the work we already see coming out of the new resident committees we formed this year:

The Economic Development Committee is planning a Farmers’ Market and working diligently to get a unique zip code for Lakewood.

The Parks and Recreation Committee is planning fund raising events that will pay for new entrance signs for our Village and contribute additional money toward bike paths along Huntley and Lakewood Roads.  The first event is a “Dine and Donate” at our very own Lou Malnati’s on Monday, May 17.  Additional information will be forthcoming, please save the date.

The Redtail Golf Committee is constructing the business case for a clubhouse.  We look forward to recommendations from this Committee in the spring.

Finally, the SSA 1 Lakes Committee has led fundraising efforts and applied for grants that have already provided new fish shelters and fish restocking, as well as education for residents about how to keep the lakes healthy.

Economic Development

Interest in the remaining locations at Lakewood Commons remains high even in this challenging economy, and we expect one or two new businesses to open in the very near future.

The success of Lou Malnati’s is apparent from the parking lot.  My family regularly enjoys both pizza and salad takeout from Malnati’s.  Their family size salads are the best “on the way home from work” dinner I have found.

My son is a student at the Illinois Martial Arts Academy next to Malnati’s.  The birthday party package they provided was one of the best I’ve seen.

Finally, feedback regarding Leix Dental has been extremely positive.  Dr. Leix‘s reputation for innovation and customer service is well-deserved.

Progress regarding development at Route 47 and Route 176 continues, although there are numerous steps that are still necessary before the Village of Lakewood will even begin the process of considering a formal application for development.  Numerous opportunities for public review and comment will be available prior to Board action.

Finally, many residents have inquired about the status of Turnberry County Club.  Please be assured that we are actively engaged with the bank to support the transition in ownership and, until such time, to make certain that the property is maintained in an acceptable manner.  It is also important to note that the covenants require that this golf course remains a private golf course and any change would require a 2/3 vote from these residents.

East Side Water and Sewer Projects

Crew lining the sanitary sewers in the eastern part of Lakewood served by the Crystal Lake Sewage Treatment Plant to prevent infiltration into the pipes laid during the 1930's under the Works Progress Administration. There are no storm sewers.

On the east side of Lakewood, our efforts have been directed towards completing the sanitary sewer relining system rehabilitation project which will reduce inflow and infiltration.  This will ultimately reduce the chance of sewerage backing up into homes.  The final phase of this project was anticipated to cost $310,000, but bids came in at approximately 50% of the projected cost.

The award of an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 grant and a zero percent interest loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency allowed the project to move forward and construction should be complete by late spring.  As a reminder, wastewater treatment for the majority of the east side residents is provided by the City of Crystal Lake.

West Side Water and Sewer Projects

Lakewood Sewer Plant whose financing is in jeopardy because of the slow down in the building of new homes and their expected tap on fees.

Lakewood Utilities, the west side’s water and sewer service operated by the Village, has seen an unprecedented drop in tap on fee revenues due to the lack of new home starts in the past two years.  Therefore, the tap on fee revenues that were expected to fund the bond payments for the wastewater treatment plant have not materialized.

West side users of Lakewood Utilities, such as my family, have to cover any shortfall in revenues through increased water and sewer rates.  During the last two years, the Village utilized reserves to maintain these rates at current levels.  With those reserves now depleted, a new approach was needed.

Our Finance Director, Carole Robertson, has proposed a solution which allows us to meet our bond obligations, minimize rate increases, and replace the aging water tower on Turnberry Trail.  The proposal includes refinancing the wastewater treatment system bonds to lengthen the repayment term and issuing Build America Bonds for a new water tower.  This proposal takes advantage of the historically low interest rates, the competitive construction bid environment, the advantages of Build America Bonds, and decreased bond issuance costs by issuing the bonds at the same time.

Current projections indicate that this approach will save the users more than $500,000 over the next few years, while minimizing rate increases. We have directed staff to begin the bond issuance process and to include financing the construction of a new water tower.

Pedestrian Path

While not yet formalized, we also have reason to believe that our grant request for a pedestrian path along Huntley Road will be approved.  If approved, 70% of the project will be funded through federal dollars.

Pizza with the President

The next Pizza with the President will occur at the Annual Meeting of the Turnberry Property Owners Association (TPA) on Sunday, March 21, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at RedTail Golf Club.  As always, pizza will be provided by Lakewood’s own Lou Malnati’s.

Sincerely,

Erin

Alice in Wonderland

Read this article on The First Electric Newspaper about the unsavory background of one of the McHenry County SportsPlex’ consultants.

The publication reports SportsPlex supporters introduced “Terry Gaouette, Vice President of Administration and Business Consulting Services for H&K Sports Fields, Egg Harbor, WI, as a consultant.”

Further, that he was “Chief Financial Officer of the Milwaukee Public Museum and indicted on four felony counts in 2007 for draining money from the museum’s endowment funds to cover its declining operations and hiding it.”

The museum had to be bailed out by county government to keep it from going under.

Marc Munaretto

Also of interest was McHenry County Board Finance and Audit Committee Chairman Marc Munaretto:

“I understood him to represent himself as the consultant for (McHenry County Sportsplex’s) business plan. I thought he was a paid consultant that helped develop the application.”

Munaretto told reporter Pete Gonigam it wasn’t his committee’s job to “drill down that far.”

The committee has also not “drilled down” far enough to even reveal to fellow county board members and the public who owns how much of the project.

Read the whole story.

It’s getting curiouser and curiouser.