County Board Candidate Craig Steagall Focuses on Tighter Ethics Rules

The man who has taken on Ken Koehler‘s sale of the old Flowerwood nursery property on County Club Road to Metra for a commuter rail passenger station–and I mean really taken him on–is calling for other county board members and … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Council Tells Metra OK for Ridgefield Station…IF

And the “IF” was in capital letters. Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano returned to his home town city council for a second time seeking permission to proceed with plans seeking approval for a new commuter train station in Ridgefield next … Continue reading

Manzullo, Shepley, Schaffer and Pagano Attend Pingree Road Metra Parking Lot Opening; Completion of Pingree Road Improvement Also Celebrated

The following press released was received from the office of 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan): Rep. Manzullo: Transportation Improvements Great News for Motorists, Commuters in CL [CRYSTAL LAKE] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) joined several local officials in Crystal Lake … Continue reading

Scott Summers, Former MCC Board President, Reflects on a Metra Commuter Station Near the College

Former McHenry County College Trustee Scott Summers has written about the Ridgefield train station that Metra has proposed. His essay follows: A Metra station at Ridgefield: Making a Good Thing Better by Scott Summers Much has been said of Metra’s … Continue reading

Crystal Lake City Council Rejects Metra’s Choice for Traffic Engineer

Traffic will be a major sticking point on Metra’s proposed Ridgefield commuter station the same was it was for the baseball stadium proposed for McHenry County College. The Crystal Lake City Council unanimously approved Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller’s motion to … Continue reading

Metra Tries to Quell Ridgefield Land Purchase Firestrom

Look what just popped into my email inbox: Frequently Asked Questions aboutthe Ridgefield Metra parking lot purchase ten days ago. You will notice that no mention is made of McHenry County College in the FAQ’s below: I am in receipt … Continue reading

Metra Not Fast with Freedom of Information Requests about Ridgefield Station

I emailed a Freedom of Information request to Metra yesterday, asking for “the memo that led to the elimination of the site nearest to Lily Pond Road.” Pretty specific, wouldn’t you say? Here’s the reply: “On August 18, 2009, we … Continue reading

Metra Scheduled to Approve Former Flowerwood Land for Station in Ridgefield This Morning

After having been public in a Northwest Herald story on August 5th–a mere nine days ago–Metra’s board is scheduled to purchase 17 acres in Ridgefield for $1.5 million from a trust half-owned by McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler today. … Continue reading

Musings on the Proposed Ridgefield Metra Station

More than one person has reacted to Metra’s proposal to build a train station about as far from McHenry County College as is possible. Below I share some thoughts that have come from readers: I am becoming concerned about the … Continue reading

Alexander Lumber’s Move to Ridgefield, Proposed Metra Station Implications

When I was posting about the 400th day of Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley’s 75% city sales tax increase, I was fantasizing that Alexander Lumber was moving to the unincorporated Ridgefield location of the old 84 Lumber property in order … Continue reading