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

Part 2 – Willson on Lakewood SportsPlex & TIF Documents

Today we continue with bond analyst Steve Willson’s commentary on the documents produced by the Village of Lakewood pursuant to my Freedom of Information Act request concerning the SportsPlex and Tax Increment Financing District: Notes on the Lakewood TIF FOIA … Continue reading

Part 5 – Looking at Lakewood TIF and SportsPlex Documents

We have now reached the 24th of March, two weeks before the April 7th Lakewood Village Board election in which write-in challenger Paul Serwatka was campaigning on opposition to the SportsPlex and the recently established Tax Increment Financing District. We … Continue reading

Part 1 – 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

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

Slot Machine Win for Rural Bar Owners, Electronic Billboards Delayed Again

Two issues were considered for the second time at Tuesday night’s: slot machines at bars and restaurants in unincorporated McHenry County electronic billboards outside of municipalities Also called video poker machines, the electronic devices will be allowed after a 15-9 … Continue reading

Lakewood Approves McHenry County SportsPlex

The Lakewood village board unanimously approved economic incentive and annexation ordinances that allow the $40 million, 165 acre McHenry County SportsPlex to proceed. The result is three happy guys, Lou Tenor, EnRico Heirman and Jack Porter, plus a plethora of … Continue reading

Lakewood Gains New Economic Development Tool

Pete Gonigam’s First Electric Newspaper reported it first, but he didn’t have the map you see below. What you see in orange is the new area within McHenry County designated by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development as … Continue reading

Women Continue to Rule Lakewood

The outgoing Lakewood Village President is Julie Richardson. You see her above (second from the left). Sitting to her right is Julie Hansen, the village clerk. To her left is Village Administrator Catherine Peterson and Village Attorney Richard Flood. For … Continue reading

Lakewood and McHenry County Highway Folks Honored at Defenders’ Annual Meeting

For banning phosphate fertilizer, the Village of Lakewood won the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County Theta Award last night at McHenry’s Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. Accepting the award on behalf of Village President Julie Richardson was Village Administrator … Continue reading