Area Missed by High Speed Rail

Monday Rockford-area (and McHenry County) 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo tried to get President Barack Obama and his Peoria-based Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to allocate some high speed rail money to a Chicago route that would include Winnebago County.

No success on that pitch, though.

Look at the map on the front page of the Chicago Tribune today. (Click to enlarge.)

Madison is relatively close to Rockford, but the route is from Chicago to Milwaukee to Madison.

Wisconsin wins big in this derby.

Illinois doesn’t do poorly, at least for those who want to go between Springfield and Springfield.

The route goes all the way to St. Louis, but I have a hard time relating to the part south of Springfield.

The summary about a high speed train trip to St. Louis says it will take 3 hours and 49 minutes to get from Chicago to St. Louis.

No ticket price is suggested in the article.

It says a car trip is now 4 hours, 52 minutes.

But for those of us in the far Northwest ‘burbs, it would take at least and hour and half to get to Union Station in Chicago.

So, 5 hours and 20 minutes for me to get to St. Louis.

Versus 4 hours and 52 minutes by car.

More relaxing, of course.

Kind of tough to read in a car…unless one can convince one’s spouse to drive…as I always try to do.

It takes me four hours to drive to Springfield and about another 1 and a half to get to St. Louis.

So, would McHenry County residents take high speed rail to St. Louis.

Not very likely.

In the end mode of transportation comes down to a cost-benefit analysis.

An alternative has to be as convenient and comparably priced.

Ignored even though our citizens voted for Obama.

Oh, well.

That’s the way it goes.

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The Amtrak train you see is rocking through Downtown Springfield, Illinois, on some of the worst track imaginable.

2006 Prediction Larry Snow’s Future

No, I’m not going to attempt that.

But I am going to encourage you to read the bottom of the following. It was posted over two years ago after a confrontation over ACT performance by Huntley High School students.

9/15/6 – Different people on different web sites read my Wednesday article on the ACT confrontation between Huntley School District 158 board member Larry Snow and Huntley High School principal Dave Johnson.

Bruno Behrend (Extreme Wisdom) read it on Illinois Review and decided to reply to someone identified as NW Suburbs. Below is the exchange so far:

NW Burbs

This is North West suburbs. Where are you?

Posted by: Truthful James | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 02:22 PM
= = = = =
I’m working, where are you Untruthful?

Cal, don’t let Bruno see this … it might shatter his carefully constructed house of canards when it comes to education.

This is democracy at work. Good for Mr. Snow. Give people facts (not distortions of facts) and let them decide — rather than some nebulous, ill-defined ‘charter management group’.

Posted by: NW burbs | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 03:15 PM
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PS – by definition and by law, all the members of every school board are taxpayers (citizens, residents, constituents) of that very school district.

Under Bruno’s plans, that would no longer necessarily hold true.

Posted by: NW burbs | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 03:26 PM
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NW,

Of course, most reading Cal’s post realize that the saga of Mr. Snow proves my point elegantly.

1. His acendency to the board did nothing to prevent the other 6 rubber-stamp board members from showering their unemployed collegue with a $101,000/yr district pork position.

2. In exchange for his efforts at reform, he has been attacked and ridiculed.

3. His focus on curriculum, though laudable, will amount to exactly nothing, as the impervious education industry will continue to foist some substandard contentless drivel on the district.

4. When re-election time rolls around, Mr. Snow will be forced to decide whether he wants to engage in a grueling battle with a well-funded Industry drone in the hopes that he can spend another 4 years of 6-1 or 5-2 votes against an ossified and corrupt cadre of tax-eating pigs.

5. In the unlikely event that Mr. Snow could recruit 3 more like him, and in the even more unlikely event that they could all get elected, the new “reform board” would find that the “education industry” is well-prepared to prevent any real reform or spending restraint, based upon the massive weight of teacher’s union contracts, State mandates, and the eventual community pressure (sobbing soccer moms).

It wouldn’t take long for one of the board to capitulate, join forces with the corrupt industry (possibly sweetened by the chance to eat at the $101,000/yr. pig trough).
____
Not having met Mr. Snow, but knowing of him through acquaintences, I’m guessing he may take a dim view of my scenario above.

The fact remains that I’ve spoken with 5 separate IL “conservatives” who have sat on (or are sitting on) boards in attempts to improve schools.

I’ve considered running for boards myself, and determined that it is a waste of time and effort. The system is corrupt beyond repair, and the fake “district” model is specifically designed to create the appearance and pretense of control.

I have the utmost respect for Mr. Snow. But the corrupt system will likely chew him up and spit him out in due course, and the bureaucracy will remain in the over-funded, under-performing state that it fight so hard to remain in.
____
Under my plan, we would fund children, not corrupt bureaucracies. This puts fear into the heart of people who feed off this system, leading them to disparage any idea that would lead to real reform.

How does it feel to be standing next to George Wallace (circa 1950s) doing his work for him, NW? Is it worth the money?

Posted by: Bruno | Friday, September 15, 2006 at 09:08 AM

A Letter from Libertarian Party Chair Dave Brady and More Crystal Lake TEA Party Pictures

Illinois and McHenry County Libertarian Party Chair Dave Brady, who lives in Wonder Lake, sent the following press release about the Crystal Lake TEA Party. (All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.)

Let us just say that the Crystal Lake Tea Party was an overwhelming success. This event had 550 people stretched down route 14 making their corporate voice heard loud and clear.

It started at 11:45 and ended at 1:15 and we were met by WIND radio broadcasting from our location for a about 30 minutes. (This is WIND Senior Marketing Consultant Chuck Barham. In the background, you can see former State Senator Jack Schaffer and McHenry County Republican Central Committee Treasurer Fred Wickham.)

The focus on this rally hovered around the oppressive tax the federal and state governments impose us it’s citizens, while bloating the size and scope of government with no shame or apology.

While there the Norwest Herald tracked me down and in addition to the above quotes they also got the admonitions to move this focus and purpose to the ballot box and show our elected officials we are done with this abusive tax system.

As a pleasant surprise I fielded a phone call from USA Today or US News and World Report (it was so noisy it was hard to tell) telling me that heard that the LP Illinois came up with the concept, and even though others may have high-jacked it from us how I feel about the event.

I told him plainly that high jacked or not was not important. the important thing is that people came together with a solid purpose to tell our government leaders that we have had it with their oppressive and abusive tax policies, and again, the increase of size and scope of government.

The tea party concept is the outcome of their own actions.

And not to be forgotten, I gave credit to

  • Mike Folgelsanger,
  • Josh Hanson,
  • Chris Jenner,
  • John Kramer &
  • Kent McMIllan

for their hard work.

See Libertarians give credit when credit is due for hard work, unlike other groups stepping on each other claiming credit for personal glory.

If I missed anyone I apologize.

Thank you Jim Young and Bill Baruth for being there with me.

Those of you who couldn’t be there remember you are doing a good job as well at your work place supporting a struggling economy.

Thanks All.

Dave Brady
Chair, LP Illinois
Chair, LP McHenry

Other stories you might find of interest:

Noon TEA Party Biggest Demonstration in McHenry County History at Route 14 and Main Street

Algonquin Area Residents TEA Party on Route 62

TEA Party Moving Down to Cary

Obama Supporters Object to My Sense of Humor

Why Townships Don’t Just Reduce the Amount They Tax?

After the Grafton Township meeting, Township Assessor Bill Ottley came over and asked why I cared about the proposed Town Hall.

After all, I don’t live in Grafton Township. (We live right on the Algonquin-Grafton Township line. Appropriately, it is called “Meridian Street.”)

He told me the township board did not need a referendum to borrow the month.

Frankly, that would not surprise me.

My Algonquin Township added onto its Route 14 building without referendum approval.

Somehow I missed that in all the state representative business of the time.

I told Ottley that non-referendum borrowing to buy Lakewood’s golf course (Red Tail) had cost me $500 a year for the better part of the 1990’s and that’s why I was such a strong supporter of the Tax Cap and holding referendums when local governments borrow large sums of money.

He explained to me that the cost would amount to about $7 a year per household.

I was willing to grant him whatever figure he came up with.

He is a finance guy, after all.

He said it wouldn’t raise taxes.

There I interjected that, while financing a new township building and garage might not raise tax bills from where they are not, if the new building were not constructed, township taxes could be reduced by $7 (or whatever the figure is) a year.

That’s when I got the answer to the question in this article’s headline.

Ottley told me if the township ever asked for less than it was getting, it could never get it back.

I pointed out that it could, if a referendum could be passed.

He suggested that—passage of a township tax hike referendum—was unlikely to occur.

He is probably correct.

Much of the opposition to the $3.5 million (plus over $1.5 million in interest) Grafton Township office complex and garage is based on opposition to township government’s very existence.

Few would argue with a straight face that township supervisors should be paid what they earn.

I was reminded to write this story by Brian Slupski’s Northwest Herald story on the failure of the Dorr Township electors to approve the purchase of land for a new town hall at its annual town meeting.

Here’s a clue that fits into Ottley’s revelation:

“(Dorr Township) had set aside about $2 million for the project in the township fund and about $750,000 in the highway district’s road fund.”

That brought about an

“Ah ha!”

moment.

I don’t know the size of the Woodstock-based township’s town fund, but, if someone looked, he or she might conclude that a $2 million surplus is hard to justify.

But just as with Grafton Township, if Dorr Township asked for less money than the maximum it is allowed to collect under the Tax Cap law, it would then end up with a lower base for the next year’s request.

That would result in less money every year thereafter.

Downsizing government is pretty much against all the laws of political nature, of course.

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Grafton Township Assessor Bill Ottley is seen addressing the April 14, 2009, Annual Town Meeting. The Town Meeting photo shows the current township trustees voting to continue with the new town hall building project.

Huntley School Board President Shawn Green Tells of District Opposition to HB 2354

I’m trying to catch up with stories that deserve coverage. (I never will, but I’m trying.)

Here’s an email from Shawn Green, President of Huntley School District 158’s School Board.

He tells of the district’s opposition to House Bill 2354, the pro-abortion bill that had so much bad content that it even attracted the attention of the Huntley School district.

Read why below:

“You and I obviously have different views on the positive vs. negative impact some of my fellow board members have had.

“Putting that aside, I want to extend my gratitude for your efforts in shedding light on HB 2354.

“Because of the provisions in the bill that attempt to radically alter the School Code, I drafted a resolution for our BOE to take a public stance against it. It passed the committee level without objection and is up for formal approval on this month’s consent agenda. Here’s the resolution:

“The Board of Education for Consolidated School District #158 opposes HB 2354.

“We believe the provisions in this bill amending the School Code by removing the teaching of ‘sexual abstinence until marriage,’ and adding the requirement for school districts to provide ‘comprehensive sexual health education’ are wholly inappropriate.

“These requirements take critical local control authority away from school districts, and the District 158 Board of Education strongly encourages our legislators to vote against passage of this bill.”

Thankfully HB2354 is shelved for now, but we all know the liberals will try and bring it back as soon as they can.

Thanks again for the position you’ve taken on this and don’t hesitate to contact me regarding this or any other issue.

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The photo of Huntley School Board President Shawn Green was taken at the Crystal Lake TEA Party on April 15th, of which he wrote in a comment to the Northwest Herald story that he counted over 300 in attendance at 12:30.

Stories of possible interest:

3-28-9 Demonstration in Front of Jack Franks’ Woodstock Office

3-31-9 The Cardinal Weighs In On House Bill 2354

3-31-9
HB 2354 Video Shows Disappointment, Pleas for Changing of Mind and Promises of Opposition

4-4-9
Who Signed the NW Herald Ad Urging State Reps. Jack Franks and Mark Beaubien to Vote Against House Bill 2354?

4-4-9 Illinois FOCA Aborted

4-7-9 Franks, Beaubien Retreat

4-14-9 Rockford Bishop Thomas Doran’s Role in the Defeat of House Bill 2354

Manzullo Announces Merchant Marine Academy Appointment

In the aftermath of the Easter rescue of Merchant Marine Captain Richard Phillips, 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo has appointed Crystal Laker Christopher Benard to the Kings Point U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Here is Manzullo’s press release:

CL Central High School Student Appointed to United States Merchant Marine Academy

[CRYSTAL LAKE] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) today announced that Christopher Benard of Crystal Lake, Illinois, has received an appointment to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY.

Christopher will graduate in June 2009 from Crystal Lake Central High School in Crystal Lake. Christopher is an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America.

He is also a member of the Peer Ministry Team at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Crystal Lake, where he assumed a leadership role planning and implementing retreats for the youth group.

At Central, Christopher is a member of the Wrestling Team and past member of the Football Team. Christopher is the son of Tony and Cindy Benard of Crystal Lake.

Melissa Bean Earmark Requests

It’s long, but I thought you might be interested in what 8th District Democrat is asking be included in next year’s congressional budget. I have included the whole district so that you can get an idea of how McHenry County fares at this stage in the budgetary process.

Below are Congresswoman Melissa Bean’s (IL-08) funding requests for FY2010. As part of her commitment to increase transparency in government, Congresswoman Bean in previous years has posted a list of all funding secured in appropriations bills. This year, Congresswoman Bean is posting a list of all funding requests, earlier in the Appropriations process. The projects and amounts requested do not guarantee funding. After requesting priority projects, the House Appropriations Committee considers requests from all Members of the House and decides which projects get funding and at what levels. Therefore, the list of funding requests below cannot be accurately used for a year-to-year comparison against previous lists.

Click here to read more about changes to the federal funding process

Note: Requests are listed by bill and in alphabetical order.

Commerce, Justice and Science
Law Enforcement Advocacy Partnership (LEAP)

  • Recipient: Turning Point, Inc., located at P.O. Box 723, Woodstock, Illinois 60019

  • Description: $300,000 through the Department of Justice’s Juvenile Justice account to the LEAP program to support the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) at the local level. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars because LEAP is a collaboration between 15 police departments, the State’s Attorney and Turning Point that provides crisis intervention, emergency shelter, overnight and daily orders of protection, domestic violence training for police, and advocacy in court for domestic violence victims.

Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS)

  • Recipient: Glencoe Police Department on behalf of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS), located at 675 Village Court, Glencoe, Illinois 60022

  • Description: In conjunction with other Members, $200,000 through the Department of Justice’s COPS Account for the expansion of NIPAS. NIPAS, a private non-profit mutual aid organization, is responsible for law enforcement coverage of 68 member towns with a total population of approximately 1.8 million residents in northern Illinois. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars because NIPAS serves as a model mutual-aid system for police departments nationwide. Ensuring that they have the atmospheric detection equipment they need will allow them to better combat the effects of hazardous crime sites, improve response time, and save millions of taxpayer dollars through the combining of resources.

Public Safety Communication (McHenry County, IL)

  • Recipient: McHenry County, located at 2200 North Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, IL 60098

  • Description: $400,000 through the Department of Justice’s COPS Law Enforcement Technology and Interoperable Communications account to McHenry County, IL to improve communication in areas at risk for both manmade and natural disasters, and as a means to protect data exchange between various local entities. McHenry County is in the process of bringing in new computer technology to the Courts, State’s Attorney, Public Defender, Sheriff’s Office and Jail. This technology upgrade is a critical step toward integrating the County’s criminal justice information system, but it will not complete the project. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars to complete the interface between law enforcement and the court system, thereby allowing McHenry County to completely utilize the benefits of fully integrated criminal justice system. McHenry County received $94,000 in federal support in FY2008, and has committed over $3,000,000 of its own funding to the Integrated Justice Project.

Defense
Large Aircraft Podded Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) Guardian Pod for the KC-135

  • Recipient: Northrop Grumman Corporation (Defensive Systems Division), located at 600 Hicks Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

  • Description: $4,495,000 from Air Force Procurement (P-1 Line #:050) for the LAIRCM Guardian Pod for the KC-135 aircraft deployed in support of ongoing operations that have inadequate protection against an Infrared Missile threat. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars to procure and install the Guardian AN/AAQ-24 (V) LAIRCM system on the AFRC KC-135 aircraft.

Ultra-Wide Coverage VIS/NIR Sensor for Force Protection

  • Recipient: Goodrich ISR Systems Barrington, located at 550 West Northwest Hwy, Barrington, IL 60010

  • Description: $2,850,000 from Navy, Research and Development, RDT&E, Force Protection Advanced Technology (Line 16, PE# 0603123N) for the Ultra-Wide Coverage VIS/NIR Sensor for Force Protection. This is for developing, integrating and demonstrating a new visible/near infrared sensor that would be used for airborne persistence surveillance. The advanced sensor technologies will be incorporated to include high resolution, high quantum efficiency, very large format visible / near IR detectors coupled with high fidelity, geo-spatially accurate optics. These technologies will be integrated into a comprehensive surveillance system suitable for manned, or unmanned, and long endurance missions.

Wide Area Sensor for Force Protection (Targeting)

  • Recipient: Goodrich ISR Systems Barrington, located at 550 West Northwest Hwy, Barrington, IL 60010

  • Description: $2,050,000 from Navy, Research and Development, RDT&E, Force Protection Advanced Technology (Line 16, PE# 0603123N) for the Wide Area Sensor for Force Protection (Targeting). This is for developing the wide area sensor program to build a deployable day/night, wide-area, persistent surveillance system to provide real-time surveillance for combat troops in theater. These technologies will be integrated into a comprehensive surveillance system suitable for manned, or unmanned, and long endurance missions.

Energy and Water
Lake County Wetland Preservation and Restoration Plan

  • Recipient: Lake County, located at 18 North County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085

  • Description: $200,000 in the Army Corps of Engineers Planning Assistance to States account to prepare a countywide plan to identify key wetlands. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because these wetlands will be preserved and restored to reduce flood damages, improve water quality, and protect high quality natural resources. The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission projects a 63 percent increase in population in the Des Plaines River watershed from 1990 to 2030. Already, Lake County has lost over 42 percent (38,000 acres) of its wetlands since settlement. Therefore, the plan promulgation process will: (1) examine the County’s remaining wetland resources and their potential flood damage reduction, water quality functions, and natural resource value, (2) use County database information to identify areas that continue to experience flood damages, (3) identify those wetlands that should be preserved or restored, and (4) develop a prioritized list of these resources that can be used by SMC, other agencies, and local groups to implement projects.

McCook and Thornton Reservoirs

  • Recipient: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, located at 100 East Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60611

  • Description: In conjunction with other members, $5,000,000 in the Army Corps of Engineers General Construction account for the McCook and Thornton Reservoirs construction project authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1988. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because completing the McCook and Thornton Reservoirs and bringing them fully on-line is crucial to local communities, the health of Lake Michigan and its tributaries, and to the economic development of the region. Without timely completion of the project, communities will face decreased drinking water allocations, significant decreases in water quality and thousands of homes will be vulnerable to flooding. In fact, at any one time, over 550,000 homes are subject to flooding with annual damages sustained exceeding $150 million.

Financial Services
Harper College Northwest Suburban Small Business Incubator

  • Recipient: Harper College, located at 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine, Illinois 60067

  • Description: $150,000 through the Small Business Administration’s Salaries and Expenses Account for Harper College’s Northwest Suburban Small Business Incubator, which will provide vital assistance to local entrepreneurs who are starting new small businesses. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because r50esources will be allocated to provide support services such as legal, accounting and business counseling professionals to allow entrepreneurs to concentrate on growth and lay a foundation for a successful start-up. This project will also create at least 30 individual incubators in addition to common areas needed to support individual businesses.

Interior and Environment
Hunterville Subdivision Sanitary Sewer Project (McHenry, IL)

  • Recipient: City of McHenry, located at 333 S. Green Street McHenry, IL 60050

  • Description: $150,000 in the EPA’s STAG account to provide sewer and water lines to Hunterville Park. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because at present time, the 62 households in the Hunterville subdivision utilize septic systems that routinely fail and contaminate the Fox River. This project would extend city sewer and water service to Hunterville, which is pitched toward the Fox River, preventing the contamination currently resulting from the subdivision’s reliance on outdated septic systems.

Village of Johnsburg Wastewater Treatment Facility

  • Recipient: Village of Johnsburg, located at 1515 Channel Beach Drive, Johnsburg, IL 60050

  • Description: $500,000 through the EPA’s STAG account for Village of Johnsburg to assist with the construction of a centralized wastewater treatment and collection system. This funding would compliment $462,200 that was received in The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because an estimated 300,000,000 gallons of raw or partially treated wastewater that is being discharged from failed or failing septic tanks into the Fox River each year. In addition to being one of the nation’s most popular recreational waterways, the Fox River is the primary source of drinking water for some 200,000 people. Improving the quality of its water will also complement ongoing efforts to clean up and restore the ecosystem of the Illinois River, into which the Fox River flows.

Village of Spring Grove Water Main Extension

  • Recipient: Village of Spring Grove, located at 7401 Meyer Road, Spring Grove, IL 60081

  • Description: $150,000 in the EPA’s STAG account to expand the sewer and water main through the town of Spring Grove, which is 95% comprised of septic systems that are adjacent to a high value aquatic resource. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because he septic systems in this area are failing and even with temporary repairs, they can’t keep up with current and proposed infrastructure in the area. The biggest impact the water main extension would have is on the local elementary school, which is in dire need of expansion but can’t proceed without access to the water main. The extension will also increase the number of users on the municipal system and add to the number of hydrants available to a commercial area.

Water’s Edge Waldorf School, (Wauconda, IL)

  • Recipient: Water’s Edge School, located at 150 East Bonner Road, Wauconda, IL 60084

  • Description: $11,000 in the EPA’s STAG account to provide clean drinking water to the children at Water’s Edge Waldorf Elementary School. Water’s Edge School is located 400 yards from the Wauconda Sand & Gravel Superfund site. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the school currently draws its drinking water from a groundwater aquifer contaminated with vinyl chloride. Like $750,000 received four years ago to aide nearby homes, this grant will be used to remove the school from this potentially contaminated water supply and instead hook up to a clean, permanent supply of municipal drinking water.

Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital

  • Recipient: Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, located at 450 West Highway, Barrington, IL 60010

  • Description: $72,500 through the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Account for the Breast Cancer Center at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital. This funding is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars because it will support the development of a centralized digital mammography reading station at the Breast Care Center “headquarters” on the Advocate Good Shepherd campus, so the hospital’s radiologists have the equipment and capacity they need to read and interpret a rapidly growing volume of screening and diagnostic mammograms.

Children’s Memorial Hospital Intensive Care Unit Facilities

  • Recipient: Children’s Memorial Hospital, located at 2300 Children’s Plaza, Chicago, IL 60614-3394

  • Description: $500,000, in conjunction with other Members, through the Department of Health and Human Services HRSA Health Facilities Account to help build a new hospital. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars because construction of a new hospital will allow Children’s Memorial to continue providing all children in our region with access to the best minds in pediatric medicine and science and the most advanced cures, treatments and technology in a family-centered environment.

F.A.S.T. Solutions Initiative

  • Recipient: McHenry County, located at 2200 North Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, IL 60098

  • Description: $250,000 through the Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FISPE), or the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Training and Employment Services to fund the F.A.S.T Solutions Initiative. This program is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars because it will provide flexible and sustainable workforce training in a “boot camp” format which is designed to provide intensive, short-term occupational training in specific fields identified by employers through their participation on the McHenry County Workforce Investment Board (WIB).

Specialty Care and Diagnostic Testing (Lake County, IL)

  • Recipient: Lake County, located at 18 North County Street, 9th Floor, Waukegan, IL 60085

  • Description: $500,000 through the Department of Health and Human Services HRSA Account to assist Lake County’s two safety net providers – HealthReach and LDHD/CHC. Providing this assistance is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars because it helps prevent patients from deteriorating to the point that they must receive care in local hospital emergency rooms, which is more costly, and facilitates access to diagnostic services such as x-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs, CT scans, biopsies, cardiac stress test and referrals to specialists.

Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Illinois Route 120 Corridor (Lake County, IL)

  • Recipient: Lake County, located at 18 North County Street, 9th Floor, Waukegan, IL 60085

  • Description: $1,000,000 from the Transportation, Community and System Preservation (TCSP) account in the FY10 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) budget for phase one engineering of a freeway section of the Illinois Route 120 corridor between U.S. Route 12 and Illinois Route 131. This funding would compliment $975,000 that was received in The Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, and the $980,000 that was received in The Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act for this project. East-west travel across Lake County continues to become more congested as the county grows. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because creating the Illinois Route 120 Corridor will be a coordinated effort including several local municipalities, Lake County, and the state of Illinois in order to reduce congestion and increase traffic flow.

Meacham Road Tollway Access Ramps (Schaumburg, IL)

  • Recipient: Village of Schaumburg, located at 101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg, IL 60193

  • Description: $500,000 from the Transportation, Community and System Preservation (TCSP) account in the FY10 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) budget for phase one engineering of a west-bound off ramp at Meacham Road from U.S. Interstate 90. This funding would compliment $475,000 that was received in The Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 for this project. The Village of Schaumburg is the largest center of economic development in the State of Illinois outside the City of Chicago, generating nearly $3 billion in retail sales each year. More than 5,000 businesses take pride in their Schaumburg address and Woodfield Mall has been named the Illinois Number One Tourist Attraction. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the Village has worked closely with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, and the adjacent municipalities on developing this plan, which has broad community support.

Metra Commuter Rail System Development of the Suburban Transit Access Route Line (Northeastern, IL)

  • Recipient: Metra Commuter Rail, located at 547 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60661

  • Description: In conjunction with other Members of the Illinois Delegation an appropriation of $5 million from the Section 5309 New Start funds in the FY09 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) budget for the Metra Suburban Transit Access Route Line (STAR). This funding would complement the $13,227,500 that was received in FY08 and FY09 for this project. This essential funding would be used by Metra for preliminary engineering and environmental assessment work for the STAR Line. This forward-looking suburb to suburb commuter rail line, which was authorized under SAFETEA-LU, would continue this initiative that will link more than 100 communities and their rail lines in the Chicagoland region. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because this project is vital to the region in terms of alleviating traffic congestion, providing new commuting opportunities, and linking communities and places of business with new service promoting additional economic development.

Metra Commuter Rail System Expansions and Upgrades to the Union Pacific Northwest Line (Northeastern, IL)

  • Recipient: Metra Commuter Rail, located at 547 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60661

  • Description: $5 million from the Section 5309 New Start Funds in the FY09 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) budget for the Metra Union Pacific NorthWest (UP-NW) Line. This funding would complement the $13,227,500 that was received in FY08 and FY09 for this project. This funding for a vital commuter rail line authorized under SAFETEA-LU would be used by Metra for preliminary engineering on the UP-NW line. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because these improvements will provide an essential upgrade to Metra’s second busiest line that will include a new station, an extension of track, new facilities, and enhanced overall service.

Miller Road Widening (McHenry County, IL)

  • Recipient: McHenry County Department of Transportation, located at 2200 North Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, IL 60098

  • Description: $500,000 from the Transportation, Community and System Preservation (TCSP) account in the FY10 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) budget to widen Miller Road from Illinois Route 31 to River Road. This funding would compliment $6,839,000 that was received in SAFETEA-LU and The Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 for improvements to Miller Road. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because by widening Miller Road from Routes 31 to River Road in McHenry, Illinois to four lanes, existing and projected traffic demands would be met well into the future for this heavily traveled north-south thoroughfare in eastern McHenry County.

Obama Supporters Object to My Sense of Humor

Yesterday there were four Barack Obama supporters among the hundreds who showed up to the TEA Parties in Crystal Lake and Cary.

The two standing on the traffic island at the main corner in Cary were proud members of the IBEW. I observed,

“There were two misplaced Obama supporters standing on the traffic island next to the railroad crossing. They were electricians whom I suppose were not working on tax payment day.”

Regular reader and commenter Rusrus quoted that part of the article in his comment, the rest of which follows:

“As opposed to the hundreds of Obama non-supporters who were working on tax payment day? I’m sorry, I don’t really get your Obama/working reference. Are you inferring that Obama supporters out protesting on a weekday are NOT working, but others out protesting on a weekday ARE working?

“Or is this just another ham-handed attempt at your anti-Democratic humor?

“I’m sure the teabaggers have a better idea, right? Oh, no taxes? What a good idea – we can pay the bills of the country with racist epithets.”

As I mentioned in my reply to his comment, humor apparently doesn’t work in blogging anymore than it did when I was in elective office.

A second commenter, “Joe,” agreed with Rusrus:

“Yeah Cal I must concur- Not only is the ‘not working’ jab hypocritical it makes no sense- none of these people are working. And you catch yourself in a lie- didn’t an earlier ‘invitation’ say that everyone was welcome? So what made these two misplaced?”

There were two other Obama supporters (seen above) at the Crystal Lake rally, but they couldn’t stick around after putting up the two signs downstream (seen below) from the hundreds of demonstrators.

One says,

Republicans must
think Americans
are stupid!

The other focuses on FOX News, surely the more effective critic of the Obama Administration:

FOX NEWS must
think Americans
are stupid!

I suspect that the Libertarians present would have insulted by being left out, if they had seen the sign.

The two said they had to get back to work. Perhaps that is what triggered my comment on the two Obama supporters in Cary. There was a stack of the signs in the back of their vehicle.

I asked if they minded my taking their picture for McHenry County Blog and they said I could, asking if they could provide a comment. You see it below:

Above you can see what they wrote. The commenter did say I might have to check out the spelling of “duoshe.” Spell check tells me he is correct.

Checking further, I find the question,

“Do you mean douche bag?”

Here is the message these Team Obama members wanted you to read:

“I came to see tea bags, but all I saw was duoshe bags!

“Team Obama”

I am perplexed at this end of Rusus’ comment:

“I’m sure the teabaggers have a better idea, right? Oh, no taxes? What a good idea – we can pay the bills of the country with racist epithets.”

The guy on Route 14 waving at the camera above certainly appears to be Latino. (Click to enlarge any photo.)

And I know the guy holding the little sign in Algonquin is Latino. He’s Pete Castillo and used to be my legislative assistant.

That is an official TEA Party sign he is holding

I suspect that the man of color holding this sign below might take offense.


The homemade stenciled, multi-colored sign says,

TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY
TRUTH IN SPENDING
787 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET
WASN’T EVEN READ
MORE TRUTH?
OUR CONSTITUTION WAS OFF’D
YEP SHOT IN THE HEAD
LIMITED CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT
LOWER TAXES

This color blind guy is not even going to try to reproduce the colors on his sign. Note the pistol next to the line “YEP SHOT IN THE HEAD.”

The first stories on McHenry County’s three TEA Parties can be found at the links below:

Noon TEA Party Biggest Demonstration in McHenry County History at Route 14 and Main Street

Algonquin Area Residents TEA Party on Route 62

TEA Party Moving Down to Cary

TEA Party Moving Down to Cary

When my son and I got to Cary we discovered people who had been at the Crystal Lake demonstration, 550 strong according to Libertarian Party Chair Dave Brady of Wonder Lake.

This was the third McHenry County TEA Party I visited April 15th. The second was on Route 62 in Algonquin.

We parked at Kelli’s Cuckoo’s Nest across from the Metra station. She offered free pizza to protesters. (All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.)

When I recognized some protest signs and asked what had happened in Crystal Lake, I was told that the Crystal Lake Police closed down the demonstration at one.

Apparently, Crystal Lake requires a permit and an insurance policy if more than 50 people are going to demonstrate and organizer Jim Thompson said his demonstration would be from noon to one.

So, a number of people just drove down the road to Cary.

There Cary Coffee Shop proprietor John Bobrytzke didn’t contact city government.

His location, across Main Street from the train station, didn’t attract many demonstrators. That was because people figured out that more motorists could see their signs from Route 14.

But Bobrytzke is the reason the demonstrators were there.

He stepped out in front and the rest of us followed him to bring the message to homebound commuters in Cary.

And, it’s a superb location for a protest, because not only motorists, but those taking the train could see their signs.

I’m sure the Metra engineers were not blowing their horns because of the signs, but, then again, I don’t ever remember hearing a train horn blast in Cary before.

Again, big trucks blowing their air horns brought a thrill to my body. Above you see a Crystal Lake-based W. Smith Cartage gasoline truck “blowing”around the corner past the old village hall.

Sometimes when the trucks and cars were not blowing their horns enough for one sign carrier, she pulled out a tiny air horn to make some noise.

Not that it was silent for long stretches.

This man was the chief horn honking cheer leader. He was so persistent.

And, when the folks on the street couldn’t get a honk, there were people like this lady with open windows giving the sign holders a “thumbs up.”

How far did people come?

This man, a sign shop owner from West Frankfort, IL, came up to Palatine to help out a buddy and they both came up to Cary for the demonstration.

I found an anti-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin sign in Cary.

Every once in a while another horn-blaring semi would breeze through town. Here’s one from Custom Companies.

As in Crystal Lake, a police presence was evident. In Cary, they weren’t in cars. They were standing in full view of the demonstrators. Pretty easy duty.

“Term Limits” were the answer to one man.

Another man had the simple message of

NO
MORE
TAXES

A bit longer, but quite understandable message was

ENOUGH IS
ENOUGH
DAMN IT

Her friend’s says

CONGRE$$
YOU’RE
FIRED!!!

One of the woman who drove down from the Crystal Lake event was pro-life leader Irene Napier. Her sign said,

To Steal From One
Person Is Theft
To Steal From Many
Is Taxation

Next to her on the Southeast corner of the intersection I saw the above.

There was one of the few non-homemade signs nearby.

A family of four was on the north side of the street. Two flag wavers and two sign carriers.

They could see this scene across the street if they looked. I like the sign held by the little girl saying,

I’m a kid.
Don’t Spend
My Money
Before I Earn
It!

A longer view of that side of the street showed this.

It was crowded in front of the little park with a pond next to the old Cary Village Hall.

There were two misplaced Obama supporters standing on the traffic island next to the railroad crossing. They were electricians whom I suppose were not working on tax payment day.

Algonquin Area Residents TEA Party on Route 62

Those who went to Algonquin to protest being “Taxes Enough Already” were pretty much gone when my friend Pete Castillo and I arrived after taking part in the record-breaking demonstration in Crystal Lake.

Fortunately, Algonquin’s Stan Gladbach sent me some photos he took at the Algonquin Road protest site.

We did see these folks leaving.

You can see signs saying

  • Don’t Mortgage My CHILD’s Future
  • Obamaconomics, Chains You Can Believe In
  • Say “NO” to Socialism
  • NO USSA
I took the photo above because the gravel truck’s horn was blaring as it went east on Route 62.

Gladbach got a couple of shots with the unfinished Riverside Condos in the background.

Here’s another one, a bit closer to the action.

I really like the composition of this shot of protesters shot through the Cornish Park arch.

Here you see a man who usually photographs life much wilder than this flag and tea bag carrying dog and his master getting in some practice on a different venue.

Don’t you love the message on the “TARP” sign?

TARP=
Taxpayers
Again
Raped

by
Politicians

I’m TEAD’D
Taxed
Enough
Already

reads the sign in front of what was left of the Algonquin TEA Party at about 1 PM.

I found one of the few signs that were produced by the national TEA Party organizers in Algonquin…plus an ordinary tea bag.

But, as I mentioned above, what I saw was the tail end of the demonstration. Above is what its peak looked like.

Here’s another truck whose driver was laying on his horn while driving past.

I couldn’t figure the initials on this sign out until the man carrying it told me the “BHO” stood for President Barack Obama’s initials. Funny how newspapers don’t use his initials. Remember “JFK” and “LBJ?”

Here are some women who are about ready to wrap up their demonstrating against taxes they think are so high.

Don’t you love this flag covered protester carrying a sign that says,

Give Me
Liberty
Not Debt

Here are some folks who were posing for my camera.

Here are some more people about to finish up their public service for the day.

The Cary Route 14 demonstration will be the next one covered.

Other stories you might find of interest:

Noon TEA Party Biggest Demonstration in McHenry County History at Route 14 and Main Street

TEA Party Moving Down to Cary

Obama Supporters Object to My Sense of Humor

Noon TEA Party Biggest Demonstration in McHenry County History at Route 14 and Main Street

The Crystal Lake spin-off of the national TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party movement initiated by Crystal Lake Republican precinct committeeman Jim Thompson (seen passing out tea bags to the right), exceeded his expectation of 50 demonstrators by eleven times, according to Illinois and McHenry County Libertarian Party Chair Dave Brady of Wonder Lake.

Brady counted 550 protesters.

This will be the first of a lot of posts about the TEA Parties in McHenry County.

There were so, so many good homemade signs.

I’ll keep running pictures over the next I don’t know how many days until I get them all posted.

Peaceable assembly.

Promised in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

But the Crystal Lake Police were out in force.

I can only begin to wonder why, because the location was suggested by the CL Police Chief to organizer Thompson.

The Crystal Lake protest got recognition on WIND-AM as Chuck Barham, Senior Marketing Consultant, was in the area.

In keeping with the national focus of the TEA Party movement, President Barack Obama was criticized.

It wasn’t just the national tax hikers who were catching heat. Newly-minted Democratic Party Governor Pat Quinn’s proposed 50% income tax hike stimulated some signs, too.

Lots of cars honked.

But it was most exciting when big trucks drove by with horns blasting. Above you seen the front end of a yellow Safety-Kleen truck filling the intersection with noise.

More later. Click to enlarge the photos.

Other stories that might be of interest:

Algonquin Area Residents TEA Party on Route 62

TEA Party Moving Down to Cary

Obama Supporters Object to My Sense of Humor

Free Pizza with Your TEA Party Anyone?

Cary’s Kelli’s Cuckoo’s Nest across Route 14 from the train station has an offer you might find hard to resist.

Turning the TEA Party movement into a business promotion, owner Kelli is offering free pizza from 4-6 this afternoon.

Her establishment is conveniently located across the tracks from John Babrytzke’s coffee shop—the Cary Coffee Station-which previously announced a TEA Party from 3-6. (Click to enlarge.)

There are two earlier opportunities to show one’s displeasure of taxes on this April 15th federal and state income tax day deadline:

At noon at the Home State Bank corner of Route 14 and Main Street in Crystal Lake, people will meet for a demonstration. Suggested parking is a longish walk from the old Walmart parking lot. Alternatively, one might park in front of Toys R Us.

At noon at 101 S Harrison St–1 block from Rt 31 & Rt 62 intersection at Cornish Park by the Fox River–under the clock tower across from Port Edward’s Restaurant. Parking is available on on South Harrison across from park.

Here’s the Cuckoo’s Nest email:

Please come and join us in standing up against over taxation at all levels of government.

This is a grass roots tax protest organized against unbridled big government gross expansion.

The main TEA Party web site is here.

Feel free to bring posters & signs.

We will have $1 Draughts all day and night and Free Pizza 4-6pm.

(Also, Cary-based John Bobrytzke is holding a TEA Party at his coffee shop from 3-6 on April 15th. It is located at 7 W. Main Street, south of the tracks right across from the train station. We will walk over there with our signs.)

Sign Ideas….

“Free thinkers for a free market”

“Spare us Your ‘Change’”

“Bailouts, Stimulus, and Pork. Oh My!”

“Party Like it’s 1773”

“The Answer to 2009 is 1776”

“Don’t Stimulate: Liberate”

“Paying My Mortgage, and Yours Too”

“Don’t Tread on Me”

“Keep Your Bailout; I’ll Keep My Freedom”

Love you all!

Kelli

More sign ideas can be found here.

Budgeting Padding for Huntley School District 158

The Huntley School District 158 has a new controller and he is a CPA.

That’s short for Certified Public Accountant.

His name is Mark Altmayer.

It probably didn’t hurt that two members of the current board— Tony Quagliano and Kevin Gentry—are also CPA’s.

It’s my experience that people doing the hiring feel most comfortable with employees with similar educations or job experience.

But, having prepared budgets for the United States Bureau of the Budget under the Lyndon Johnson administration, and served on the Legislative Audit Commission and Illinois House Appropriations Committees, I’ve a little experience in that field myself.

I know padding when I see and it surely looks like Larry Snow has found some that is hard to explain.

In last year’s budget there was $30,000 for consulting services for the Fiscal Office. Last year District 158 seemed to have revolving chief fiscal officers. Money was needed to pay these folks.

It isn’t needed now that Altmayer is on the payroll.

But, it’s still there and Larry Snow, not taking a defeated candidates typical “slacking off while on the way out of office” attitude, found the blatant padding of Altmayer’s budget.

Superintendent John Burkey, who is ultimately responsible for the budget presented, didn’t catch it either.

So, not only was the second version of the budget fatally incomplete because it had no ending balance or deficit, as the case might be, it was padded in places that Snow found.

Burkey characterized the budget as “tight.”

Anyone could have predicted such tightness after the huge salary increases (over 18% over three years) granted teachers. Huge in comparison to the one-tenth of one percent increase in the Cost of Living this past year.

So, with a “tight” budget, wouldn’t you think the budget guy and those reviewing his work would put those green eyes hades and search for unneeded expenditures?

Snow pointed out some interesting discrepancies that needed correcting.

Among the most “flagrant foul” (to borrow a basketball term) items was budgeting (page 21) for $30,000 for consulting services for the Fiscal Office.

Snow had questioned this item among others by email prior to last Thursday’s meeting. Neither Burkey nor Altmayer responded to Snow’s question on this one, so he asked about it at the public meeting.

Snow’s instincts were right.

This was money budgeted in the prior fiscal year to pay for an Interim Chief Financial Officer and the new controller carried it over. Maybe he was trying to pad his own budget. He surely should have known that his payroll check took the place of that.

Burkey admitted at the meeting that’s what the money was for and shouldn’t be in next year’s budget. It will be interesting to see if it is taken out or left in.

This discovery also should lead an oversight group like the school board to look for other padding in the administrative budget.

But, considering their disdain of Snow, I somehow doubt it will.

While he probably should have been campaigning, Snow questioned other items.

Both ahead of time and at the meeting he couldn’t get answers.

Administrators budgeted less money for reading specialists at two schools, but couldn’t tell Snow what their personnel plans were that reflected the reductions.

Snow asked for clarification to an emailed reply he said he didn’t understand. Burkey said he didn’t understand the answer either.

No one had an answer.

Which leads to an obvious question:

Who is inserting the numbers into Huntley’s line item budget?

Snow pointed out how District telephone expense is once again being over-budgeted.

Padding the budget in this account is apparently an annual event for district administrators.

Snow got “carefully review” into board policy concerning the documents submitted to the board. That change was stimulated when former finance guy Stan Hall submitted budgets whose numbers went up and down like a yo-yo.

And, guess what else is missing from the budget.

Salary hikes for administrators.

Maybe that was why the budget padding Snow discovered – and maybe other unnecessary planned expenditures – were included in the budget.

Grafton Township Electors Vote “No” Before They Vote “Yes” on New Township Hall

No one ever said that Democracy was supposed to be neat and tidy and Tuesday night’s annual Grafton Town meeting certainly was messy.

The Huntley Police were in an adjacent parking lot just in case there was more trouble than the Town Moderator could handle.

The small parking lot was quickly filled, so people parked along neighboring roads and parking lots. Note the township’s senior van unloading electors.

They walked to the township garage under rolling clouds near sunset.

There were lines outside the township garage as people waited to verify their residency.

The meeting was standing room only.

There were only 103 chairs. Clerk Dina Frigo prepared 75 copies of the minutes and the agenda. Frigo is seen on the left counting votes for the meeting moderator.

McHenry County Board member Scott Breeden, who previously served as Lakewood Village President and President of the Crystal Lake Park Board, beat out Lake in the Hills Trustee Steven Harlfinger 78-46.

Clerk Frigo sworn Breeden in.

Then, the fun began.

The minutes were read in full. Frigo apparently had not posted draft minutes of last April’s town meeting on the township web site, but agreed to do so this year within two weeks after complaints on lack of transparency on the part of township officials.

Last year’s moderator Terry Hoeft asked that they be corrected to read that a Planning and Visioning Committee be appointed and convened “prior to construction.”

The committee was never appointed by the township board.

Dan Ziller, Sr., then moved that all electors “have a right to speak and vote on every item on the agenda. The motion passed.

Don Glogovsky, a running mate to newly-elected Township Supervisor Linda Moore who came in sixth out of six candidates, made a motion that “the public be informed of all costs involved before any decision is made by the board.”

The motion passed.

Jerry Berquist objected strenuously to not knowing the public had a right to vote at the town meeting.

“I’ve lived here ten years and didn’t know that,” he said, explaining he would have urged his neighbors to attend had he know.

He referred to “a certain group,” who had urged people to attend the meeting. He supported the new building, so I guess he was talking about the opponents.

At that point Huntley’s Randall Hart moved to adjourn the meeting. That motion failed.

Then, it was on to item G on the agenda on a motion:

Should Grafton Township construct an office building on real estate purchased by the township on Haligus road in Lake in the Hills, Illinois?

Don Bond started off the discussion by pointing out that in addition to the $3.5 million that township officials always said the new building would cost, there was interest to be paid. He calculated it to be $1.9 million, bringing the cost to $5.4 million.

Township Trustee Betty Zirk then took the floor in front of the proposed building’s floor plan and rendition.

She began by explaining that the meeting had to be held in the township garage because the Huntley Park District “make us quit at 9 o’clock.”

“The park district told me we could stay as long as we needed to,” Dan Ziller, Jr., interjected.

“The bids are out and it’s coming in $200,000 less than the $3.5 million,” she explained.

She pointed out that “half of that garage we’re going to put the food pantry in.

She revealed they had already spent $99,600 on purchasing the land from the Village of Lake in the Hills.

“Wasn’t it supposed to be donated?” someone asked.

Zirk told the audience that LITH trustees didn’t think it was “fair to their people” to give away the land, so the township bought it.

As a trade-off the village trustees agreed to limit fees to $12,500 for sewer.

Dan Ziller, Jr., then pointed out that the land contract had a clause allowing the township to return the land and get its money back.

Bond then expressed his frustration that Zirk had not mentioned the interest on the $3.35 million that had been borrowed.

“They don’t want to talk about what the interest is,” he said.

“What are you going to do if you don’t build this building?” a woman asked.

Dan Bristol Shaw observed that the board got permission in 2006.

“You should have been there two years ago!”

A lady read part of the statutes that said before townships could issue bonds the public had to approve them at a referendum (60ILCS1/140-5).

“We’re not talking about a bond,” Gerry McMahon, the running mate of Linda Moore who won the Republican nomination by beating out incumbent Lois Brothers, said in rebuttal.

“You can either have a referendum upfront or one in reverse,” incoming Township Supervisor Linda Moore said.

Then came the vote. First those in favor of approving building a new town hall.

Next, those opposed.

There seemed to be some confusion at the head table.

“It’s very close,” Moderator Breeden announced.

The “No” votes were counted again.

And, maybe again.

Finally, Breeden announced,

“It’s exactly the same.”

The vote was 70-70.

People wondered why the “No” votes were counted more than one time, but the “Yes” votes only once.

“When we counted the ‘Yes’ votes, we both agreed. When we counted the ‘No’ votes, we didn’t agree, so we counted until we did,” Breeden explained.

Since tie votes fail, Breeden declared the motion lost.

Let’s look at the language again:

Should Grafton Township construct an office building on real estate purchased by the township on Haligus road in Lake in the Hills, Illinois?

Don Glogovsky then moved that the issue be put on the ballot.

Agreeing with Trustee Betty Zirk, Breeden pointed out that such a question could be discussed but not voted upon, because it was not on the agenda.

Then, it was on to the second major question:

Should Grafton Township enter into construction contracts for the construction of a Town Hall on Haligus Road in Lake in the Hills?

This motion passed 70-64.

Some of the opponents had obviously left after the first vote.

“How are we going to spend money on a building we haven’t approved?”one woman asked.

“It sounds like we’re going to have to depend on this tremendous board,” Breeden said pointing to his right where the incumbent trustees were standing.

Crystal Lake’s Peter Hoffmann, sitting across the aisle from me, took an active part in the meeting.

When the discussion got to rescinding the contracts that had already been let, it was revealed that they amounted to $285,000.

“We can cut out losses,” Hoffmann said. “If we rescind these contracts, we can stop squandering money.

“If we defeat the contracts we’ll be cutting back at the cost of (maybe) $5 million.”

The motion to kill the contracts was defeated 72-61.

After that the meeting seemed to lose steam. It was about ten.

Motions about how much money should be spent and whether the township should rent space to the Grafton Township Food Pantry were tabled without strenuous objection.

The meeting was adjourned.

As I left the garage, the township’s senior bus was loading up the votes that allowed supporters of the new township hall to tie the first vote and carry the day on the others.

More Tom Hanahan Rememorances, This Time from his Republican State Senator, Jack Schaffer

when I saw the Chicago Tribune editorial on McHenry County’s former Democratic State Representative Tom Hanahan, I sent his and my former State Senator Jack Schaffer an email asking for his memories. It gave me two of the five belly laughs that everyone should have every day to keep healthy. It follows:

Sorry Cal, I don’t check my emails as often as I should.

I did have an opportunity to talk to Tommy about a week before he died. While you could tell the disease was getting to him, you could also tell that the old Tommy was still there. You are right, I do have a lot of memories of Tommy.

In 1974 when the RTA was being created, I was a little curious as to what Tom was going to do about it because the labor unions were very much for the new unit of government and Tom was first and foremost a labor guy.

He must have convinced his leaders that he had to oppose it or he wouldn’t be back (a very accurate perception), which led to a very unusual election in that primary with the four of us; Tommy, you, Bruce and I out stomping against the RTA.

I recall one meeting in Crystal Lake (at the Nature Center) at which all 4 of us took different approaches as to why the RTA was evil – Tommy said it was bad for working men and women. As the meeting broke up a proponent for the RTA, who I knew, thought the four of us had covered every negative angle he could think of against the RTA.

The crowd was so hostile, I felt the need to walk the proponent back to his car. And as you know, 90%+ of the voters voted no with the largest primary turnout in history.

Another time, Tom and I were working on a piece of legislation to give homeowners property tax breaks if they improve their homes, or put an addition on.

I got wind, through a friend in the Dept. of Rev., that the Dept. was about to adopt rules that would require three inspections to qualify for the exemption.

I got hold of Tommy and we both went to see the Director of the Dept of Rev. I don’t recall that I got 5 words in during the meeting but Tom did such a war dance on his desk and threatened him and his descendents…the rule came out with a simple procedure.

During the RTA fights, we came up with the idea to send Gov. Walker petitions signed by people in the area opposing the RTA.

The problem was Tom got along with the democratic Governor Walker no doubt about as well as Jack Franks did with democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich…probably for some of the same reasons.

Governor Walker indicated he’d be happy to meet with me but refused to meet with Tom.

So we issued press release saying that opposition in McHenry County was bipartisan and if the Governor wouldn’t meet with Tommy then I wouldn’t meet with him either.

You’ve already talked about Tommy’s famous/infamous (choose your own word) opposition to the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment), but one of the things that I do definitely remember the time during candidates nights when the speeches and Q & A were over;

  • you would be in the corner talking about property tax assessment,
  • Bruce in another corner discussing creeping socialism,
  • I would be talking with a group about Mental Health and the state budget, and
  • Tommy would be in the front of the room talking to every good looking woman there about the ERA with a huge grin on his face.

It’s almost impossible today to explain the cumulative voting system that allowed for a minority party member in every district, and while the system certainly had its flaws, we did see some incredible individuals elected because of it.

And Tommy Hanahan was one of those.

About the only thing Tommy and I had in common was the same constituency and because of that we worked together fairly well.

I doubt we’ll see his likes again.

Thanks for letting me share some of my thoughts with you (it’s more than the local paper did!!!!!)!

The pamphlet printed on my father’s offset printing machines–180,000, maybe more–can be seen interspersed throughout the article. The little kNOw RTA clip-on button, front and back, is also shown.

Other stories about Tom Hanahan:

Johnsburg Democratic Party State Rep. Tom Hanahan Dies – Part 1

Johnsburg Democratic Party State Rep. Tom Hanahan Dies – Part 2

More Memories on McHenry County’s State Rep. Tom Hanahan


Jeff Ladd Calls for RTA Tax Hike


The Wiring of Rep. Pete Pappas

United States Marshal Standing Trial in Chicago for Cooperating with the Mob

What happens when one of the good guys turns?

If the U.S. Attorney in Chicago’s allegations are correct about U.S. Marshal John Thomas Ambrose, he was connected with the mob.

You see this week’s Chicago Sun-Times article above.

That happened in Boston when FBI Agent John J. Connolly warned the mob
that the FBI intended to question Boston financier John B. “Callahan who could implicate them in another slaying,” according to The Boston Globe on January 25, 2008.

A bit more of the article:

“Connolly, who retired from the FBI in 1990, is accused of plotting with longtime informants James ‘Whitey” Bulger and Stephen ‘The Rifleman” Flemmi to kill Boston financier John B. Callahan in 1982.”

In Chicago, the government alleges that Ambrose, referred to as “the Babysitter,” was now-convicted mobster Michael Marcello’s inside source of information about the investigation in which Nicholas Calabrese, a made member of the Chicago Outfit, was the source. Calabrese was in the Witness Protection Program and Ambrose was charged with protecting him.

Read the whole press release about the criminal complaint against U.S. Marshal John Ambrose here.