Part 6 – Looking at Lakewood TIF and SportsPlex Documents

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

Part 5 – Looking at Lakewood TIF and SportsPlex Documents

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

Part 4 – Looking at Lakewood TIF and SportsPlex Documents

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

Part 3 – Looking at Lakewood TIF and SportsPlex Documents

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

Part 2 – Looking at Lakewood TIF and SportsPlex Documents

Yesterday began an analysis of the results of Freedom of Information Act requests to the Village of Lakewood concerning documents about the proposed SportsPlex and the Tax Increment Financing District. Much information was not provided because it was in “draft” … Continue reading

Part 1 – Looking at Lakewood TIF and SportsPlex Documents

I picked up a pile of paper two weeks ago at my Lakewood Village Hall. It took hours to flip through. Twice. I can’t tell you I fully understand what was provided and I have no idea what was not … Continue reading

Looking at Lakewood TIF and SportsPlex Documents

I picked up a pile of paper two weeks ago at my Lakewood Village Hall. It took hours to flip through. Twice. I can’t tell you I fully understand what was provided and I have no idea what was not … Continue reading

Erin Smith’s Lakewood Letter

Four times a year, Lakewood Village President Erin Smith writes to her constituents. Here is the summer edition: Summer is finally upon us, and it presents numerous opportunities to take advantage of all of our outdoor activities – swimming, fishing, biking, … Continue reading

Part 3 – Reasons for Opposing the Lakewood TIF District

Lakewood resident Steve Willson took offense at Lakewood Village President Erin Smith’s comments about the lack of knowledge of those criticizing Lakewood’s Tax Increment Financing in a Northwest Herald article Saturday. My third objection: subsidizing a speculative project. If there … Continue reading

Part 1 – Reasons for Opposing the Lakewood TIF

The following was written by bond analyst Steve Willson, a resident of Lakewood and strong supporter of Paul Serwatka’s wildly successful candidacy for Village Trustee: It will be published in three parts concerning why he objects to the THEORY underlying … Continue reading

Serwatka Responds to Board “Everything’s Fine” Comments

An email from newly-elected Lakewood Village Trustee Paul Serwatka: The Northwest Herald released an article yesterday, giving a glimpse of the battle that lies ahead. Residents have responded, describing some board members’ responses as “obtuse,” “pig-headed” and “narcissistic”… One thing … Continue reading

Lakewood Final Results – Serwartka Beats Nearest Competitor More That 2-1

A story early last night reported the precinct results and showed the early voting returns. While the following graphic from the County Clerk’s Office doesn’t show the write-in vote in Paul Serwatka’s column, he was the only write-in candidate. The … Continue reading

Incumbent Lakewood Trustee Carl Davis Sends Letter

With this letter from Carl Davis all of the candidates for Lakewood Village Trustee have send information to voters of the approximately 4,000 person town. There are three incumbents on the ballot: Carl Davis Ken Santowski Gary Sexson Trying to … Continue reading

Debate on Lakewood TIF Intense

The comment section under articles about Lakewood’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District and Paul Serwatka’s write-in campaign aimed directly at it is being hotly debated on McHenry County Blog. Here is what appears under the article about Steve Wilson’s letter: … Continue reading