After Withdrawing from Lakewood Village President Race, Santowski Files as Write-In

Lakewood was the write-in sensation two years ago, when Paul Serwatka ran first as a write-in in his race for Village Trustee. He campaigned against the Tax Increment Financing District and the SportsPlex at the southern intersection of Routes 47 … Continue reading

Erin Smith Appointing Jason McMahon to Fill Ken Santowski Village Board Spot Without Asking Residents If They Would Like To Serve

In Lakewood Village President Erin Smith’s winter newsletter she announced that she would be recommending that Jason McMahon take retiring Village Trustee Ken Santowski’s spot. Since there is over two years left on Santowski’s term, I figured that she would … Continue reading

Ken Santowski Submits Letter Withdrawing from Lakewood Village President Race

Lakewood Village Trustee Ken Santowski suddenly resigned from his position. Now Santowski has submitted a letter saying that he is not running for Village President. Accompanying the letter was this message from Village Administrator Shannon Andrews: “While we have received … Continue reading

Lakewood Tax-Fighter Team Files Petition

From Lakewood Trustee Paul Serwatka: The Lakewood Tax-Fighter Team is Officially Filed! Well, The Lakewood Tax-Fighter Team has officially filed, as of yesterday morning, to be on the ballot for the April 4th Consolidated Election! I would like to extend … Continue reading

Lakewood Decides to Keep 24-Hour Police Coverage

What happened at the last Lakewood Village from Lakewood Trustee Paul Serwatka:In follow up to yesterday’s village board meeting, Report on Village Board Meeting I wanted to give a quick report on the deliberations over “Agenda Item #7”.  This was … Continue reading

Defenders Offer Recycling for Campaign Signs

Barb Day is Chairman of the Waste Reduction Committee, one of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County (better known as The Defenders) committees. One of our Board Members, Ken Santowski, is collecting political signs after the election and sending them … Continue reading

Sparse Pol Turnout at LITH Parade

I noticed my camera’s battery was low when I got it out before the Lake in the Hills parade. Catching my attention were the two Algonquin Township Senior Buses ferrying people from one end of the parade to the other … Continue reading

Santowski Reports on Lakewood SSA Meeting

In times past Lakewood Village Trustee Ken Santowski sent monthly emails explaining what happened at that month’s meetings. For at least this month, he has decided to continue the practice. (Would that more local officials would take the time to … 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 7 – Looking at Lakewood TIF and SportsPlex Document

This is the 7th and last installment of my analysis of the documents produced by Lakewood Village Clerk Jan Hansen in reply to my Freedom of Information Act request concerning SportsPlex information since that January day when there was a … Continue reading

Part 6 – Looking at Lakewood TIF and SportsPlex Documents

We are now on the sixth installment of my examination of Freedom of Information Request production from the Village of Lakewood. On April 1st I got wind of a letter that Trustee Gary Sexson sent to some Lakewood residents in … Continue reading

Part 4 – Looking at Lakewood TIF and SportsPlex Documents

Below is the fourth section of my look at documents provided under the Freedom of Information Act by the Village of Lakewood: A Feb.18th email from Karen Walker, whom I believe is involved in the financing end of the SportsPlex, … Continue reading

Part 3 – Looking at Lakewood TIF and SportsPlex Documents

This is the third installment of what I found looking through mainly emails on Lakewood’s proposed SportsPlex and its Tax Increment Financing District: The 19th of March, Trustee Ken Santowski sent Village administrators another email in which he expressed concerns … Continue reading