McHenry County Blog

Northwest Herald Makes Me an Offer I Can’t Refuse

Posted on 03/22/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 22, 2009

I don’t know if this is a blatant admission that subscriptions are tanking or not, but the Northwest Herald had an offer at the Crystal Lake Expo that I couldn’t pass up.

I looked at the display, heard the young pitch woman say, “Subscribe to the Northwest Herald for $1 for six months” and asked,

“A dollar a month for six months?”

That I could have passed up.

“No, $1 for six months.”

I haven’t subscribed in a decade.

Now, I’m back for six months.

Maybe more, if the price doesn’t increase.

I don’t know how the Herald will get away with selling its subscriptions so cheaply. I thought that the Audit Bureau of Circulations only allowed its members to cut is subscription rates by 50%.

A half a penny an issue somehow seems to be a bit more of a discount than that, although it may approximate the marginal cost of printing an extra copy of the paper. But the paper will obviously lose money on delivering them. Maybe the Herald plans to make money on inserts.

Anyway, rush on over to the Expo and subscribe to the Herald.

I don’t know of any other local business desperate enough to discount its product by that much.

If they make the offer at other Expos, by all means sign up.

A (Mainly) Political Tour of the Crystal Lake Expo

Posted on 03/22/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 22, 2009

My friend Pete Castillo and I decided to take in the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo Saturday.

Greeting folks was John Pletz of ServiceMaster by Peltz (815-455-John).

He was standing there next to former Chamber Executive Director John Blazier, whom I jokingly suggested didn’t know how to retire.

We decided to go against the flow.

Hey. Don’t be surprised. That’s the story of my life.

First we found Congressman Don Manzullo’s booth.

Next was Crystal Lake City Council candidate Kay Stanish. She was the only one of the eight city council candidates who popped for one of the rather expensive booths.

Moving right along, we found the three-spaced booth for the City of Crystal Lake.

No politicians there, though. Not Mayor Aaron Shepley. No one from the city council. Just civil servants.

Nicely designed.

Around the corner was the joint booth for State Rep. Mike Tryon and State Senator Pam Althoff. Manning it was John Jung and Tina Hill, Tryon’s administrative assistant.

Look what I found at the booth.

A hand out with disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich’s name on it. (Click to enlarge any photo.)

Not to worry. There was also a pamphlet about re-cycling.

The next display that had political overtones was that of the Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting Services. Not a political arm of the pro-life movement, but worth taking a photo of. An attempt was made to recruit me for the Walk for Life. I replied that I would cover it if it were in my neighborhood again, but was told this year it will be in Grayslake. Bummer.

No sign of the McHenry County Citizens for Choice, the local pro-abortion group. I guess having won the national election, they see little need to recruit more supporters.

McHenry County College’s booth was next. People were recruiting students. Here you see one high school girl with her father. The man is telling them ab out McHenry County College Promise. Free tuition for high school graduates who can maintain a C+ average and do 16 hours of community service a semester, starting this September.

The tuition will be paid by donations, although students are required to apply for government scholarships and grants.

Next you see the winner of “Most Innovative Raffle Container.”

It’s a heating vent.

And for such incredible innovation, McHenry Heating and Air Conditioning gets a free plug.

As we rounded the corner, there was the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee spot.

Talking with constituents and potential constituents were, from left to right, Nunda Township trustee candidate Lee Jennings, Algonquin Township Trustee Linda Lance (facing left) and, back to the camera, Algonquin Township Trustee Lowell Cutsforth.

Out in the hall toward the Expo entrance was the Crystal Lake Park District booth.

Ann Viger was spinning the Re-ycling Wheel. Wherever it stopped, contestants had to tell whether the waste product could be used by the park district. I didn’t stay long enough to find out, but I think the answer was “Yes” for all of the choices. Winners get a buy one, get one free entrance fee to the miniature golf course at Lippold Park.

Two women were manning McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s booth right at the entrance. They were having fun when I told this photo.

And we were back to where John Pletz was standing.

Algonquin Township Rolls Out Literature

Posted on 03/22/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 22, 2009

“Traditional” might be the best way to describe literature being rolled out by the Algonquin Township candidates at the Crystal Lake Expo this weekend.

It’s pretty much a straight name ID piece with a group photo of all the candidates on the front and head shots and names on the back.

No reason offered to vote for the candidates unless the words

Experience
Integrity
Dedication

and the phrase

Local Government Service at the Lowest Possible Cost

motivates you to vote Republican.

Two of the candidates, Linda Lance and Lowell Cutsforth were manning the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee’s booth at the Crystal Lake Expo.

Each of them had signs.

The other two candidates, Joe Powalowski and Neils Sorensen, did not.

All are incumbent Algonquin Township Trustees.

Click to enlarge the images.

= = = = =
For those of you who don’t know much about townships, they perform three basic functions: assessing, road maintenance in unincorporated areas and hand out local welfare, called General Assistance. Crystal Lake is in four townships. The two major ones are Algonquin and Nunda. The horizontal dividing line is Crystal Lake Avenue. The western part of Crystal Lake (west of our home in Lakewood on Meridian Street, in fact, is Grafton Township. The far Northwestern corner is in Woodstock-dominated Dorr Township.)

Hannah Just Misses Jesus’ Turning Over Temple Tables – Part 4

Posted on 03/22/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 22, 2009

“This is the fourth week that poor child has been searching,” explained Renee Schulz, author and director of last week’s sketch about Hannah’s quest for the meaning of life.

“In her first attempt, during a one and one-half day fast in which she got “really hungry,” she encountered Jesus in the wilderness at the end of his 40-day fast. Of course, she didn’t know whom she was talking to.

Next, she traveled to Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth to talk to his friends and neighbors.

Bethany was next. Hannah crashed a party celebrating Lazarus’ rising from the dead.

Last Sunday at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, she was in Jerusalem, having just missed in her fourth attempt to find Jesus.

He has just driven the money changer out of the Temple after becoming enraged at the desecration of His Father’s house.

The place was a mess.

Relatives of the stall keepers are cleaning up when Hannah arrives.

But first Pastor Heath set the stage.

“Sometimes God has to do something to shake our foundations…You know God has to knock us upside down…to get out attention.

“Maybe you need to get a little deeper to see who this Jesus really is.”

Hannah talks with some of the girls doing the clean-up.

“I think Jesus was just trying to tell us something,“ she says.

“Maybe he just has a bad fig,” a girl replies.

“I’ve been searching for Jesus for three years,” Hannah inserts.

Hannah is pleased with Jesus’s display of anger.

“So, what’s with the anger?” she asks. “Now he’s starting to look like a king. I like it…

“You two are probably too busy googling over some Peter, Paul or Andrew,” Hannah observes in typical anachronistic manner, using a modern broom to do some kung fu kingly moves before she is warned that they could get her kicked out of the Temple.

Deliverer of the serious message of the day, Rebekah, played magnificently by Suuann Fraser, asks,

Did you see him look at me?…He looked right through me.

While Rebekah is being reflective, her husband Benjamin, a stall keeper played by Brad Meador, is reflecting, too:

A day’s wages lost!

Conversing with Rebekah, Hannah says, “I’m very happy for you.”

“I feel like I could be a new woman,” Rebekah muses… “somehow I don’t feel trapped anymore.

“I feel like it opened a doorway for me to know God.

“Is it possible?

“Could God want to know someone like me?”

“I guess I’ve been tying to find a savior on my own terms,” Hannah realizes.

Then, Hannah sings a song from Nichole Nordema’s album “Brave”:

What if there’s more?

The first verse proposes that Jesus

was just another nice guy…What if He takes His place

In history with all the prophets

And the kings who taught us love

And came in peace,

But then the story ends?

The first part of the chorus delivers the message,

But what if you’re wrong?

What if there’s more?

Sunday, March 25, 2007, you can take the next step with Hannah as she tries to discover “if there is more.”

The service will be held at 11 AM at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake. It is located at the intersection of Crystal Lake and Dole Avenues, both of which intersect Route 14 at traffic signals. Crystal Lake Avenue also crosses Route 31 east of town.

= = = = =

Renee Schulz is in the photo on the top right.

In the top picture of the play, you can see Gabby Sexson on the left and Courtney Wilnewic on the right.

Pastor Heath is next, on the right hand side of the page.

Hannah is again played by first year Cary-Grove High School teacher Logan Fraser. the first shot of her has her holding a broom above her head right after the stall keeper tells her if she didn’t behave she might get kicked out of the Temple.

Fraser co-stars with her real life mother-in-law, Suanne Fraser, who plays Rebekah.

Rebecca’s “husband” Benjamin, the stall keeper, is Brad Meador.

The three girls are played by Courtney Wilnewic, Gabby Sexson and Jenni Meador.

Jenni Meador, Rebekah’s daughter is seen comforting her daughter below the credit line, as is Logan Fraser singing, “What if,” in front of what was on the projection screens during the skit.

All photographs can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Message of the Day – A Decal

Posted on 03/22/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 22, 2009

Today’s “Message of the Day” is a rear window decal.

It is a representation of Durer’s Praying Hands etching.

I first saw them in my grandmother Addie Skinner’s home in Crumpton, Maryland.

She had what I remember as a glass representation.

I last saw them on her coffee table in a senior citizens housing complex in Sudlersville, MD, when I interviewed her.

She was 95 years old.

After her husband Roy died, I noticed that her return address appeared as “Addie Watling-Skinner.” It had never been hyphenated before.

When she died I convinced the family that her name should be hyphenated on her tomb stone.

So, when you see the hyphen in the little cemetery in Crumpton, Maryland, and wonder why, that’s the reason.

Jeff Thorsen Comments on Pending City Budget

Posted on 03/22/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 22, 2009

McHenry County Blog received the following from Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen, who is running for reelection. He, like others, have had trouble posting comments for well over a year…ever since Google “improved” the Blogger host that I use.

Below I have turned his comment into an article. Other council candidates who wish to comment are welcome to do so. Just email what you want people to read to the email address way, way down on the right hand side of the page.

I can’t post a public comment on your site for some reason.

Anyway, the real news about the (Crystal Lake city) budget occurred last year when the Home Rule Sales Tax was passed.

Mr. (Mike) Shorten’s concerns would be valid if by approving this budget we were committed to the 31 million he is referring to.

I can tell you that what is in the budget is not yet approved.

Once it is approved, the items are budgeted pending approval of each individual item as they come before the council in there own due time. T

The budget process is a 0 sum game.

The expectation of revenue (real) has to bury itself in the phantom expenditures allocated in the budget.

Remember I did not approve the 2008- 2009 budget. I voted no.

I did not approve the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax. I voted no. (Two articles are relevant: Mayor Aaron Shepley’s reasons for voting “Yes;” city council member’s reasons for voting “Yes.”)

I have not had the opportunity to vote on this budget.

I can tell you that there was a budget workshop open to, and published to, the public and many attended. Carolyn Schofield was there. You may want to ask her if she felt there were some kind of shenanigans going on there.

Take any budget and compare it to its corresponding year’s audit….what do you find?

We are usually pretty close on the estimate of revenue and have not done many of the projects whose cost helps us achieve a balanced budget as predicted at the beginning of the fiscal year.

This has traditionally left us in the black and the excess revenue flows directly to the general fund.

The trick then is that the same project is returned to a future budget and expected to be funded through that budget….i.e. not allocation carry over.

The rest of the ranting I hear regarding this issue seems to spew from Chicken Little.

If we are going to the public on these issues we owe them the facts and not any fiction!

Bottom line is that the Capital expenditures budget appears to be relying on the TIF’s for their respective bonding repayment sources. NOT the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax.

Believe me when I tell you I am not defending the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax, here. I do not see a corresponding allocation in the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax fund. What I do see are the expenditures that may occur this year that will be repaid to the general fund by the bonding of the TIF’s when and if they can produce enough increment to bond.

The fact that the budget has a special section regarding the H(ome)R(ule) sales tax is both helpful and somewhat misleading. It is helpful to know the extraordinary expenditures for the coming fiscal year are covered by the H(ome) R(ule) tax.

But the reality is the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax fund is an unrestricted component of the general fund.

The money spent or expected to be spent on any TIF will be repaid if and when we go to bond on each project.

Because of the current economy, now is a great time to bond because money is cheap. We have to be able to take advantage of that should the conditions dictate.

I do not see it as a mandate to spend 31 million.

I believe Mr. Shorten’s position on this is similar to crying “Fire” in a crowded theater. I would love the opportunity to debate him publicly on this matter, or to talk to him privately if he so chooses.

You know what I am telling you is honest, Cal. You have been in these trenches.

Jeff Thorsen

= = = = =
Crystal Lake City Council challenger Mike Shorten is seen in the top photo. In the middle is a picture of Councilman Jeff Thorsen the night he voted against increasing the Crystal Lake city sales tax 75%. (You can read his comments that night here.) At the bottom is a photo of Jeff Thorsen (on the right), Kay Stanish (in the middle) and Mike Shorten (on the left) taken prior to the McHenry County League of Women Voters Candidates’ Night last Thursday. (The linked article is the most complete you will find.)

Revolt of the "Serfs" in Island Lake

Posted on 03/22/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 22, 2009

Looks like there is a campaign in Island Lake.

How dare they?

This is the town that Mayor Tom Hyde, under arrest, runs with an iron hand, isn’t it?

No pig farm is going to get in the way of his making a deal with a developer, right?

The invitation to a “Meet and Greet” shows that.

The folks on this slate of “fed ups” are holding an event this afternoon from 2-5 at which citizens can meet and get to know them. It’s at 3D-Sideouts. You can see some of them above. The photo was taken at the end of last April.

I don’t know if the challengers are Republicans, but Hyde’s folks are dominated by Democrats, one of whom, Rich Garling, even ran for state representative against Republican Mark Beaubien.

You can see some of the candidates above in this mini-rally in support of arrested tee shirt wearing Vietnam Veteran Greg Kachka, who is now running for village trustee.

A second candidate for trustee include Laurie Rabattini, who runs the blog

“What’s Happening in Island Lake?”

The third is Dwaine Schaal, about whom I know nothing.

Running for mayor is John Ponio, who has been part of the “loyal opposition” to Hyde’s group.

Mary Jo Martin is the slate’s candidate for village clerk.

= = = = =
Greg Kachka can be seen to the left; John Ponio to the right.

The Pat Quinn of the Dan Walker Days – Part 1 – Primary Campaign

Posted on 03/22/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 22, 2009

In their biography of former Governor “Dan Walker, the Glory and the Tragedy,” Taylor Pensoneau and Bob Ellis, write of the role of Pat Quinn in the 1972 primary election campaign.

Quinn first appears in a couple of sentences about the primary election on page 139 of the biography:

“Populous Madison County obviously posed special problems for the Walker campaign in regard to organizing and other tasks.

“Consequently, several weeks before the primary, a 23-year old Chicagoan who had become a top troubleshooter for the campaign, Patrick Quinn, was dispatched to Madison.

“Almost overnight, the tireless Quinn pulled off a headquarters opening and galvanized scores of impressionable college students to go to bat for Walker.”

Tomorrow – What Quinn Did in College?

= = = = =
The photo of Patrick Quinn was taken right after he was sworn in as Governor of Illinois, replacing impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Jeff Thorsen Comments on Pending City Budget, Reasons for Voting Against 75% City Sales Tax Hike

Posted on 03/21/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 21, 2009

I can’t post a public comment on your site for some reason.

Anyway, the real news about the (Crystal Lake city) budget occurred last year when the Home Rule Sales Tax was passed.

Mr (Mike) Shorten’s concerns would be valid if by approving this budget we were committed to the 31 million he is referring to.

I can tell you that what is in the budget is not yet approved.

Once it is approved, the items are budgeted pending approval of each individual item as they come before the council in there own due time. T

The budget process is a 0 sum game.

The expectation of revenue (real) has to bury itself in the phantom expenditures allocated in the budget.

Remember I did not approve the 2008- 2009 budget. I voted no.

I did not approve the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax. I voted no. (Two articles are relevant:

Mayor Aaron Shepley’s reasons for voting “Yes;”

City Council member’s reasons for voting “Yes.”)

I have not had the opportunity to vote on this budget.

Take any budget and compare it to its corresponding year’s audit….what do you find?

We are usually pretty close on the estimate of revenue and have not done many of the projects whose cost helps us achieve a balanced budget as predicted at the beginning of the fiscal year.

This has traditionally left us in the black and the excess revenue flows directly to the general fund.

(How much revenue does a tax district need in reserve? An answer in this article.)

The trick then is that the same project is returned to a future budget and expected to be funded through that budget….i.e. not allocation carry over.

The rest of the ranting I hear regarding this issue seems to spew from Chicken Little.

If we are going to the public on these issues we owe them the facts and not any fiction!

Bottom line is that the Capital expenditures budget appears to be relying on the TIF’s for their respective bonding repayment sources. NOT the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax.

But the reality is the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax fund is an unrestricted component of the general fund.

The money spent or expected to be spent on any TIF will be repaid if and when we go to bond on each project.

Because of the current economy, now is a great time to bond because money is cheap. We have to be able to take advantage of that should the conditions dictate.

I do not see it as a mandate to spend 31 million.

You know what I am telling you is honest, Cal. You have been in these trenches.

Jeff Thorsen

Another New Idea from District 300’s Youngest School Board Candidate

Posted on 03/21/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 21, 2009

Here’s something I haven’t heard of before.

Robert Lee, the youngest one running for the Carpentersville District 300
school board proposes a new recognition possibility for students.

Read about his idea for a “Certified Diploma” below:

ROBERT LEE PROPOSES DISTRICT 300 CREATE A CERTIFIED DIPLOMA PROGRAM

EAST DUNDEE – Robert Lee proposed the creation of a Certified Diploma Program, highlighting its emphasis on a community based education that includes academics, community service, and social development.

“Our communities center themselves around schools. Having three high schools in District 300, with roughly 6,000 students combined, offers us an opportunity to both prepare them for future success after District 300, as well as prepare younger students for their success in District 300,” Lee said.

“Schools and communities are inseparable. We should develop an education which expands the scope of learning to accommodate that reality.”

Lee said the Certified Diploma Program would be an option students can use to receive a higher tier diploma from District 300 by focusing on four components.

Students who

average a 3.0 GPA,

complete ten hours of community service during each academic year of high school attendance,

provide a personal statement of their educational experience, and

receive two letters of recommendation from mentors in the community

will be eligible for a Certified Diploma.

“Schools cannot expect to educate students in an environment completely separated from that which exists outside the school.

“This Certified Diploma Program will not only teach students the important academic lessons they must learn, but also the cognitive and social abilities necessary to put academic learning to good use.

“Academic and professional studies show how community based learning is integral in today’s modern world.”

Lee emphasized the benefits of collaborating with multiple community entities to help implement this program. Further, he pointed out the emphasis on the student’s responsibility in completing the requirements will take minimal resources and not distract from the classroom environment.

“Over time, this program will become self perpetuating. As older students interact with younger ones in various activities, they help to build an ethic of community the younger students take with them as they grow. In the long run, this program will build a better community within our schools and in the surrounding neighborhoods.

“Everyone in our community has a reason to care about District 300. It’s time District 300 start to help build communities that believe that.”

Nunda Township Democrats Popping Up Green

Posted on 03/21/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 21, 2009

I don’t know why the yard signs are green, but with the ground brown, they should show up to most folks.

Nunda Township Democratic Party candidates Patrick Murfin and Meredith Reid Sarkees are beginning to post signs for their Nunda Township Trustee challenge to Republican dominance.

McHenry County Democratic Central Committee Chair Kathy Bergan Schmidt upset incumbent Republican Nick Provenzano in the Nunda Township-dominated District 3 McHenry County Board race last November.

I think the sign is difficult to read, but, as with most signs, once one has figured one out, one know the next one that looks like it is the same.

Message of the Day – A Wave

Posted on 03/21/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 21, 2009

The State Journal-Register’s cartoonist Christ Britt has penned an empathetic cartoon concerning Governor Pat Quinn’s income tax hike efforts.

It is not demeaning like Chicago Sun-Times’ editorial cartoonist Jack Higgins’.

This cartoon has a big wave about to crash on Quinn, why is holding an umbrella labeled “TAXES” above his head.

Not only is Quinn about to be inundated, but the sand castle that he has just built with his bucket will be washed away.

The wave is labeled “DEFICIT.”

It seems to me that the sand castles should be labeled “ILLINOIS ECONOMY.”

What do you think business will do when they figure out that 9.7% of their income will be extracted by state taxes?

Will they want to move here?

Only Iowa at 12%, Minnesota at 9.8%, Pennsylvania at 9.99%, and DC at 9.975% have higher tax rates for business.

If you owned a business that did not have to be in Illinois, would you stay?

Elgin Teachers Say, “Show Us the Money”

Posted on 03/21/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 21, 2009

Elgin’s school district has a new superintendent named Jose Torres.

Elgin’s Courier-News had some headline fun Friday by entitling it’s page 2 article.

NO WAY, JOSE

Unit District 46 has budget problems next year.

So Torres sent an email to teacher union leaders asking “if teachers would consider not taking their scheduled raises next school year.”

That would have saved about $10 million.

“That could have prevented more teacher positions from getting axed and potentially save the district millions of dollars,” the district spokesman said.

The headline summarizes the union reply:

“The union rejected the idea, and the school board Monday night gave formal approval to laying off more than 400 district staff members,” the article reports. 350 were teachers.

A Chicago Tribune article headline says 348.

“Our negotiated agreements and increased insurance costs will result in an estimated $17 million in salaries and benefits,” Torres told the Tribune. “Unfortunately, our revenue picture is bleak, and we do not expect any significant increases.”

“We have a contract and we’ll be back at the bargaining table in 13 months,” Elgin Teachers Association President Tim Davis told the Courier-News.

The January, 2008, three-year contract calls for raises based on the CPI, “ranging from 2.5% and 3.8%,” not including step and lane increases. Those are based on number of years worked and graduation education credits.

The increase in the Consumer Price Index this past year was one-tenth of one percent.

Crystal Lake City Council Candidate Mike Shorten Expands on What He Found in Next Year’s City Budget

Posted on 03/21/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 21, 2009

I got a fact-filled email from Crystal Lake City Council candidate Mike Shorten yesterday.

He talks about the “doubling the city’s debt load” in the proposed budget.

And, he is the first candidate I have heard mention this:

“If I am elected, I will support regression or removal of the Home Rule Sales Tax, provided that we continue on an adequate pace to continue to cover the costs of our core obligations.”

Since I have not seen Shorten’s information elsewhere, I share it with you below:

“I wanted to add to my point last night (at the McHenry County League of Women Voters city council candidates’ night) about the about the capital construction projects and the bonds that are included in Crystal Lakes 2009-2010 budget.

“In fact the budget proposes issuing $31 million in bonds to be repaid from the proceeds of the .75% Home Rule Sales Tax that was approved last year. The $31 million in bonds is proposed to fund the following four projects:

Vulcan Lakes- $16 million

Virginia Street Corridor- $4 million

Union Pacific Railroad relocation- $ 8 million

Senior Center- $3 million

“You will note that of the 4 projects listed above, 3 reside within TIF districts.

“The question begs, why aren’t the bonds being issued against future TIF income?

“I pulled out my copies of all three TIF Plans that I pulled off of the city’s website and re-read each of them and there two concepts spelled out in all of the documents that are striking to me; TIF funds are suppose to pay for the projects, but ultimately “Funds necessary to pay for redevelopment project costs may be derived from a number of authorized sources” including municipal sales taxes.

“Additionally the TIF programs spell out that the “Redevelopment Land Use Plan shall serve as a guideline for the Project Area” and “should not be rigidly interpreted”.

“I will grant that the amounts budgeted above are only a portion of the revenues that the TIF districts are projected to generate during their lifetimes, and that ultimately there will be additional opportunities for the city to bond against the TIF to pay for other redevelopment costs, however at the surface it appears to me that the TIF is an easy way for a municipality or other government body to say that they have a plan, a way to pay for it and are moving forward.

“I think that doubling the city’s debt load in one year against the Home Rule Tax, when 90% of that debt could be borrowed against future TIF revenue is irresponsible.

“While I agree that the Home Rule Tax passed and implemented last year by itself has minimal effect on the average shoppers pocketbook, what is rarely acknowledged (at any level of government) is that one entity’s tax may be insubstantial, the combined effect of all of our taxing bodies increasing their impact upon our pocketbooks is becoming crushing.

“I believe it is intellectually dishonest for city leadership to say that theses TIF projects are paid for without additional taxes, when in fact they are not.

“I could stand behind the Home Rule Tax if it was necessary to fund the core obligations of the city, but it is not.

“If I am elected, I will support regression or removal of the Home Rule Sales Tax, provided that we continue on an adequate pace to continue to cover the costs of our core obligations.

“In addition as a funding source for the TIF area bonds for years to come, the city has also proposed that the Home Rule Sales Tax Fund will pay for the following in 2009-2010:

Economic development- $275,000

Flooding Control- $352,000

Road Resurfacing- $53,000

Vulcan Lakes Construction- $1.2 million

Vulcan Lakes Operations- $158,000

Senior Center- $240,000

Virginia St. Corridor- $269,000

“It’s worth noting that the public hearing on the budget won’t take place until the next council meeting, April 7th.

“Which is election day.

“After the polls have closed.”

= = = = =
Crystal Lake City Council candidate Mike Shorten can be seen at the microphone and standing with fellow candidate Kay Stanish before Thursday night’s Candidates’ Forum.

Robo Call about Manzullo

Posted on 03/21/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 21, 2009

It is no surprise to any political figure that if one waits for local newspapers to tell constituents what one want them to hear, one will wait for a very long time, if not forever.

No more will papers print press releases from politicians.

They may not even think the subject an elected official thinks is important merits an inch of space.

Here at McHenry County Blog, we are happy to print politicians’ press releases. I can assure you they are read, not only the day they are printed, but previously published press releases are regularly accessed by our 2,000+ daily readers.

So, McHenry County Blog is something of a historical document for what elected officials and those seeking election want (and sometimes don’t want) people to read.

Friday, I thought 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo tried a new technique to contact constituents.

A friend told me he got a robo-call from Manzullo. It was about AIG.

That made sense to me, since I had received a press release on the subject from him.

That press release was about how he was doing in Thursday’s meeting of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets.

I was told that the woman who recorded the message talked too fast and that the message came at the wrong time of day for the person who told me about it.

I asked Manzullo’s press secretary for the text and was told that it wasn’t his, that he doesn’t do robo calls.

So, I guess it must have been from the Democrats, trying to discredit the congressman.

Manzullo Introduces $5,000 Vehicle Voucher Bill

Posted on 03/20/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 20, 2009

16th District Congressman Don Manzullo has introduced legislation that will provide a $5,000 Federal subsidy for new cars purchased during the first six months after its passage.

You may remember that the Chrysler auto plant is in his district in Belvidere.

Manzullo Introduces $5,000 Vehicle Voucher Bill
to Bolster Auto Sales, Put Americans Back to Work

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL) today introduced legislation to give Americans a $5,000 voucher to purchase a new vehicle, stimulating our struggling automobile manufacturing industry and putting millions of Americans back to work.
The New Automobile Voucher Act of 2009 (HR 1606) would provide a one-time, $5,000 electronic voucher from the U.S. Treasury at the point of sale of a new vehicle.

After 6 months, the voucher would drop to $2,500 and would expire on Jan. 1, 2011, or until the $75 billion authorized funding is exhausted. The voucher could only be used on vehicles valued at under $50,000 and could be combined with existing tax incentives for new vehicle purchases.

The automobile industry and its suppliers account for 13 million American jobs, 20 percent of all U.S. retail sales, and billions of dollars in state and local sales taxes. The drop in U.S. vehicle sales from 16 million in 2007 to 13 million in 2008 to a projected 8 million in 2009 has been one of the leading causes of America’s economic downturn and huge job losses.

“We will not have a lasting economic recovery unless we revive our struggling motor vehicle industry, which employs 13 million Americans and is the largest manufacturing sector in the United States,” Manzullo said. “This legislation will give Americans the incentives and the confidence they need to start buying vehicles again, which will bolster automobile manufacturing and sales, put millions of Americans back to work, and restore the tax revenues our state and local government need to continue providing services to the people.”

Lake in the Hills Campaign Signs

Posted on 03/20/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 20, 2009

I didn’t know there was a contest for Lake in the Hills village board, but these three candidates apparently want to let people know they are on the ballot.

“Plaza” refers to Village President Ed Plaza.

Village Trustee Steve Harlfinger is the “Harlfinder.”

The “Huckins” is Trustee Bob Huckins.

The signs were found on Randall Road in front of Lowe’s.

Click to enlarge the image.

Message of the Day – A Button

Posted on 03/20/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 20, 2009

At the League of Women Voters of McHenry County candidates forum at McHenry County College last night I saw MCC board candidate Ron Parrish wearing this button.

It says,

ASK ME
ABOUT THE
PROMISE

Parish is Chairperson of the MCC Promise, which, starting next fall, pays tuition for district high school graduates in return for 16 hours of community service and a C+ average.

In the MCC portion of the night, he revealed that the community college has 1,350 applicants this year, compared with 565, this time last year.

Parrish said $3.5 million had been raised so far.

Contributions are voluntary, of course, so much better than their being extracted involuntarily via a higher MCC tax rate.

Have you made your contribution yet?

It’s great that some of our prosperous residents have donated $1 million, but smaller donations are needed to.

And, it doesn’t matter how small.

Give the college a call (815-455-3700) and make a pledge. It’s tax deductible.

The Quest for What the Proposed 1,500 Foot Broadcast Tower Might Look Like

Posted on 03/20/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 20, 2009

This is the picture that BMB Communications Management showed the McHenry County College Board when it made its pitch for the tallest structure in Illinois—a free standing broadcast tower.

It almost disappears into the sky, doesn’t it?

Pardon me, if I don’t think the real thing will be so unintrusive.

Here is what the tower engineer came up with.

And, here’s what popped into my email box yesterday.

Frankly, I cannot believe the college trustees did not insist on a realistic representation of this tower.

I trust the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission will do better.

What I really want to see is a video presentation of something similar, even if smaller.

In the “Believe It or Not” Category

Posted on 03/20/2009 by Cal SkinnerMarch 20, 2009

One of the states mega-taxeating advocates State Senator and Rev. James Meeks thinks a 50% income tax is not high enough.

That’s what Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown reported yesterday.

How does Brown feel?

Here’s the end of his column:

“…I support his overall goal. If we’re going to raise the income tax, this is the time to deal with education funding, too.

“There are more legislators than you might expect who are willing to raise taxes, even in this economy, but if they’re going to take the political hit, they’re only going to do it once, and they’re going to want to have something more to show for it than getting the state’s bills paid more quickly.”