McHenry County Blog

The rumor mill says that Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley now favors the Viking Dodge site for a pool and community center, so perhaps this graphic by “Heck of a Guy” Crystal Lake blogger Allan Showalter of its fiery demise was in error.

I would say, favors it “again,” but Shepley was not specific as to the location when he spoke  to Crystal Lake seniors January almost a year ago.

Then, Shepley told the seniors that one of the sites was nearby. He was standing in the Senior Services building next to City Hall on Woodstock Street.

“The park district is looking at one near where you are sitting,” Shepley said.

He talked specifically about the old Oak Manufacturing building, where I had my last legislative office.

“The site (the park district is looking most closely at) is a building that is already in place,” the Mayor continued.

“If a pre-existing building, it takes less work (than new construction),” he continued.

I didn’t speculate about Viking Dodge being the location, but in February, the rumor mill was throwing off information pointing in that direction.

That turned out, of course, to be Viking Dodge.

And the Crystal Lake Park District voted to pay $6.3 million for it.

Although, through a Freedom of Information Act request, I discovered Oak Manufacturing’s old facility was in play.

Shepley predicted it would be open within two years after passage of the referendum necessary to finance it–2012.

The city council turned against Viking Dodge in September, primarily for traffic congestion reasons.

Even with an eventual new entrance on Ridgefield Road.  That’s the black line above.

Now the grapevine is saying that the YMCA had decided not to proceed with a new swimming pool, which would have been privately financed, because of the litigation resulting from the deaths of Chicago high schoolers in the. paddle boat accident.

So, I tried to check out the rumor.

I emailed Shepley at his city council address.

It’s been a while since I asked. Certainly time for Shepley to have replied.

Without confirmation the rumor remains a rumor.

Let me know if you can confirm it.

During the Crystal Lake City Council’s send off of the Crystal Lake Park District’s proposal to purchase Viking Dodge, this little thought entered my mind.  For the article about the council meeting, see

Crystal Lake City Council Lights Park District Viking Funeral Pyre

Since no purchase of property was being contemplated, I could probably obtain the appraisals of the sites being considered besides Viking Dodge.

I filed my little Freedom of Information form (literally half the size of every other governmental entity) and was provided with appraisals for the following locations:

• Oak Manufacturing (at least that’s what I’ll always call it), the old manufacturing building at the southeast corner of East Crystal Lake Avenue and Main Street
• Parts of the Immanuel Lutheran Church property between Crystal Lake Central High School and the shopping center with the Jewel grocery store
• Viking Dodge

For the life of me, I don’t know why the three locations could have not been made public from the day Viking Dodge was selected.

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Graphics by Alan Showalter, creator of One Heck of a Guy blog.

It was a “Not in My Back Yard” kind of night at Crystal Lake City Hall last night.

Not only was the Crystal Lake Park District Viking Dodge site nixed by a 6-0 vote, but a private recreational activity, miniature stock car racing run by HobbyTown, USA, did, too. (Cathy Ferguson did not attend the meeting.)

Traffic ended up being the downfall of the Crystal Lake Park District’s attempt to put offices and recreational facilities where Viking Dodge used to be.

From the beginning, when McHenry County Blog broke the story on February 12, 2009, I couldn’t see how people living down Route 14 would be able to make a left turn from Route 176 onto 14 safely.  If you click to enlarge the map above, you can seen how IDOT wants to bring Ridgefield Road into Route 14 at a “T” and how residents of Andrea and The Breakers Chinese restaurant would have a somewhat better (but not much better) shot at getting out onto Route 14.  The park district proposed making the current Viking Dodge parking lot a right in and right out only entrance and exit.

Even though the park district

• backed off from sending any traffic east through residential streets after being rejected by the city council last month, 
• sought to have most traffic enter at the eastern edge of the property on Route 176, and 
• proposed moving traffic onto Route 14 near the funeral home, 
• with eventual plans for an exit on Ridgefield Road,

its proposal did not pass muster.

Mayor Aaron Shepley took the lead in both zoning discussions.  In both, the goals of the petitioners were lauded, but the location criticized.

Noise KO’ed  HobbyTown.  The site selected was next to JA Frate.  There is a berm behind the trucking company.  There was room for one behind the proposed outdoor track as well, but the council was unwilling to take the chance that it would diminish the noise from the race cars enough to satisfy neighbors.

Cardiff Drive residents even presented a video with the buzzing noise of the cars being tested in back of what used to by Crystal Auto Body.  It’s a deep lot, but needing to get all but one vote provided impossible.  After all, the Republican precinct committeeman for the neighborhood, Ellen Brady-Mueller, sits on the city council.  The mother with two autistic sons whom she home schools certainly tugged at hearts.

Even though the park board is back to square one with the council’s “Do Not Pass Go” decision, others are talking of expanding the Crystal Lake YMCA facility with a much upgraded pool.  Whether such a facility would be totally privately financed or a combination of private-public financing remains to be seen.

This is the important part of the Crystal Lake Park Board meeting tonight.

After discussing the Crystal Lake City Council’s rejection of the park district’s proposed community center site, they came back into open session and adjourned.

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The picture is what spectators could see through the glass walls of the closed door meeting.

Looks as if Viking Dodge decided to sell its property to the Crystal Lake Park District at the right time.

It’s on Chrysler’s list to close.

Big doings at the park board Thursday night.

Lincoln’s Birthday, McHenry County Blog reported Viking Dodge was topping the rumor mill for a location for a Crystal Lake Park District Community Center and Sports Complex.

“It’s more than a community center,” Park Board President Mike Zellman stressed.

Well, we didn’t call it that big name two weeks ago, but Thursday’s press release does.

And the potential price–$6.2 million–reported a few days later was virtually spot on.

The number in the contract is $6.29 million.

What would the park district get for that money?

A fairly new 44,000 square foot building on 26.9 acres.

18 acres out back are vacant, zoned agricultural, but already in the Crystal Lake city limits.

It could be used for “additional ball fields, courts and open space,” the district’s press release explained.

Is it a good deal?

In comparison to the vacant property which is a little smaller on the Southwest corner of Routes 14 and 176, it is.

Several decades ago talked about as a site for a Holidome, that vacant site is a bit smaller, but about the same price. And the water table cannot be far beneath its surface.

Financing will come from non-referendum “Alternative Revenue Bonds.”

While the press release says,

“The Park District will not be increasing taxes to acquire the property or to adapt the building for the anticipated uses in Phase 1,”

I suspect what is meant is that the tax rate will not go up. Certainly, if the money were not borrowed, the tax rate would decrease because fewer tax dollars would be required.

The board plans to pay for renovation through the sale of property, for example, the current Downtown administration building and parking lot to the east between the Dean law office and the health food store would be on the block.

The sale of other properties is also a possibility. One being considered is over 3 acres. It would require referendum approval because of its size.

And, the $3 million the city council promised for a senior center is a possibility, too.

City officials “have been outstanding from the beginning,” park district Director Kirk Reimer said.

“We’ve talked to the mayor (Aaron Shepley). He knows about it.

Last week city traffic consultant Gary Overbay and City Engineer Victor Ramirez spoke behind closed doors with the park board a week ago.

Overbay “presented us with a number of great options,” park board President Mike Zellman said.

Among them was apparently access to Route 14 through the old outdoor antique farm across from Flowerwood or the empty property north of it nearing The Breakers restaurant (from which it is very hard to exit, if one wants to return to Crystal Lake).

The pending reconfiguration of the Route 14-Route 176 intersection also provides some possibilities for innovative design.

Now, getting into and out of the Viking Dodge location would be a problem with the two state highways the way they exist now.

The district has 120 days, even 150 days to perform due diligence on the property.

Consultants will look at environmental, engineering, watershed, traffic, site design and water table aspects, among others.

Reimer said the depth of the water table is most important. If it were only three feet below the surface, I gathered that would be a deal breaker.

If everything works out, the district is looking at taking ownership in the middle of this summer. Remodeling will then commence.

The immediate uses would be for a Senior Center, Administrative Offices and Recreational Program Spaces, along with Equipment Maintenance Areas.

“This property gives us a lot of options,” Zellman said. “Our ultimate goal is a sports complex and pool.”

Six of the thirteen vehicle repair lifts will be left when Viking vacates the property. Some will be used to repair park district trucks and cars, while the unneeded ones will be sold off.

The thought arises that it is close enough to McHenry County College that auto mechanics students might make use of it in down time.

And the ultimate goal, a Crystal Lake Park District Community Center and Sports Complex?

It would have to go to the voters for the $30, $40, $50 million that would be needed.

Part of that cost might defrayed by allowing commercial properties near Route 176 where part of the parking lot is now.

Voting in favor of the proposal were Eric Anderson, Angel Collins, Richard Sexton, Jerry Sullivan, Mike Walkup and Mike Zellman.

Candy Reedy did not attend the meeting.

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Mayor Aaron Shepley is seen telling Crystal Lake seniors that he favors combining a senior center with a park district community center.

The Crystal Lake Park Board met behind closed doors Thursday night.

Before adjourning, the board made no decision regarding a location for the long talked about community center.

Through Freedom of Information requests, however, McHenry County Blog has learned that two of the properties being considered.

One, previously revealed, is Viking Dodge on Route 176 on the northern edge of town.

The other is the old Oak Manufacturing building at East Crystal Lake Avenue and South Main Street.

Out of contention is the old Cub Food store, which backs up to Vulcan Lakes.

Attending the meeting until nearly the end was Crystal Lake City Engineer Victor Ramirez and traffic engineer Gary Overbay. (Overbay is on the left; Ramirez on the right.)

One could imagine Overbay and Ramirez trying to figure out a way to get traffic into and out of the Viking Dodge property.

Perhaps Ramirez’ knowledge about water mains was also tapped, considering a pool is contemplated.

Present for the entire meeting was real estate broker Mike Deacon.

As you can see, board members continued their discussion after the meeting adjourned at about 10:10 PM. Here you see Richard Sexton, on the left, talking to Mike Walkup, while Angel Collins converses with Candy Reedy (back to camera).

The Crystal Lake Park Board met behind closed doors Thursday night.

Before adjourning, the board made no decision regarding a location for the long talked about community center.

Through Freedom of Information requests, however, McHenry County Blog has learned that two of the properties being considered.

One, previously revealed, is Viking Dodge on Route 176 on the northern edge of town.

The other is the old Oak Manufacturing building at East Crystal Lake Avenue and South Main Street.

Out of contention is the old Cub Food store, which backs up to Vulcan Lakes.

Attending the meeting until nearly the end was Crystal Lake City Engineer Victor Ramirez and traffic engineer Gary Overbay. (Overbay is on the left; Ramirez on the right.)

One could imagine Overbay and Ramirez trying to figure out a way to get traffic into and out of the Viking Dodge property.

Perhaps Ramirez’ knowledge about water mains was also tapped, considering a pool is contemplated.

Present for the entire meeting was real estate broker Mike Deacon.

As you can see, board members continued their discussion after the meeting adjourned at about 10:10 PM. Here you see Richard Sexton, on the left, talking to Mike Walkup, while Angel Collins converses with Candy Reedy (back to camera).

Since publishing the response to my Freedom of Information request about whether Viking Dodge was in play with the Crystal Lake Park District, the grapevine has been active.

One person said the park district had agreed to purchase the property for $6.2 million.

If true, I wonder when the taxpaying public will be let in on the deal.

So, how would the park district pay for Viking Dodge, which has a newly constructed building?

There’s the $3 million pledged to a senior center by the Crystal Lake City Council when it hiked the city sales tax by 75%.

In his talk to Crystal Lake’s senior citizens, Mayor Aaron Shepley said he favored putting the $3 million into a park district community center, rather than in a free-standing building.

Cash could be obtained by bonding future proceeds from the 75% sale tax hike.

Where might the park district get additional funding?

Board members have said all along that they are willing to sell currently owned buildings, including the former savings & loan building that is now administrative offices. It also owns the parking lot between Ed Dean’s law office building and the health food store.

So, who would buy it?

Maybe the city, McHenry County Blog’s version of “Deep Throat” suggests.

You see the city wants to build a parking garage for Downtown Shoppers.

The city could cut a deal with both Dean and the park district and put a pretty fair sized parking deck there.

And where would the city get that money?

According to Stimulus Watch, Crystal Lake is asking for $11.5 million for that 416 car parking deck.

That might be worth $1 to 1.25 million, one real estate person suggested. The park district paid $500,000 for in in 1992.

That’s still not a bit over $6 million, but it’s getting closer.

And, the park district does have non-referendum bonding authority.

In 2008, the Crystal Lake Park District issued $376,880 General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds and $1,500,000 General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source).

If all my assumptions fell into place and the park district could issue another $1.8 million without a referendum, that would put its available money at upwards of $6 million.

That would not remodel the building and put in a swimming pool, however.

That would require a referendum.

And where would Viking Dodge go?

The rumor mill says it would relocated to the old Conlon-Collins, more recently Extreme Ford location on Route 14.

If so, that pretty much blows the city council’s Tax Increment Financing concept of a retail center oriented toward Vulcan Lakes.

Since publishing the response to my Freedom of Information request about whether Viking Dodge was in play with the Crystal Lake Park District, the grapevine has been active.

One person said the park district had agreed to purchase the property for $6.2 million.

If true, I wonder when the taxpaying public will be let in on the deal.

So, how would the park district pay for Viking Dodge, which has a newly constructed building?

There’s the $3 million pledged to a senior center by the Crystal Lake City Council when it hiked the city sales tax by 75%.

In his talk to Crystal Lake’s senior citizens, Mayor Aaron Shepley said he favored putting the $3 million into a park district community center, rather than in a free-standing building.

Cash could be obtained by bonding future proceeds from the 75% sale tax hike.

Where might the park district get additional funding?

Board members have said all along that they are willing to sell currently owned buildings, including the former savings & loan building that is now administrative offices. It also owns the parking lot between Ed Dean’s law office building and the health food store.

So, who would buy it?

Maybe the city, McHenry County Blog’s version of “Deep Throat” suggests.

You see the city wants to build a parking garage for Downtown Shoppers.

The city could cut a deal with both Dean and the park district and put a pretty fair sized parking deck there.

And where would the city get that money?

According to Stimulus Watch, Crystal Lake is asking for $11.5 million for that 416 car parking deck.

That might be worth $1 to 1.25 million, one real estate person suggested. The park district paid $500,000 for in in 1992.

That’s still not a bit over $6 million, but it’s getting closer.

And, the park district does have non-referendum bonding authority.

In 2008, the Crystal Lake Park District issued $376,880 General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds and $1,500,000 General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source).

If all my assumptions fell into place and the park district could issue another $1.8 million without a referendum, that would put its available money at upwards of $6 million.

That would not remodel the building and put in a swimming pool, however.

That would require a referendum.

And where would Viking Dodge go?

The rumor mill says it would relocated to the old Conlon-Collins, more recently Extreme Ford location on Route 14.

If so, that pretty much blows the city council’s Tax Increment Financing concept of a retail center oriented toward Vulcan Lakes.