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
Category Archives: SportsPlex
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The debate continues between Lakewood bond analyst Steve Willson and commenter Ted Hill. Here Willson replies to the argument made Friday by Hill: Ted, when you say, “the impact will be negligible or zero to D200″, I must disagree. Look … Continue reading
Ted Smith has more the say in his interchange with Steve Willson about the value of the Lakewood Tax Increment Financing District and the proposed SportsPlex: Steve: I appreciate your cogent response. There are few homes in the TIF district … Continue reading
Steve Willson replied to Ted Smith’s reply to Wilson’s critique of the Lakewood Tax Increment Financing District and SportsPlex yesterday. Here is Wilson’s reply: Ted, I appreciate it that you would write and challenge me on my reasoning. With regard … Continue reading
Reader Ted Smith replies to Steve Willson’s Part 1 critique of Lakewood’s Tax Increment Financing District and SportsPlex proposals: Steve, you are obviously an intelligent and passionate person. But I do find flaw in at least part of your reasoning: … Continue reading
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
This is part two of bond analyst Steve Willson’s reasons for opposing the Lakewood Tax Increment Financing District. My second objection: the MISUSE of TIFs — how they are abused in practice. TIFs are supposed to be used only in … Continue reading
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
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
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
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
In the letter that Lakewood Village Trustee Gary Sexson mailed on behalf of his candidacy this week, he wrote, “The Sportsplex development is currently a dead issue with no vote on the Board planned.” At the last meeting I attended a … Continue reading
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