Algonquin Township Board Cuts Gasser Legal Expenses from $250,000 to $150,000

When the budget for the Algonquin Township Road District was considered by the Township Board on Monday night, the Board voted 4-1 to reduce the line item for legal fees from $250,000 to $150,000. Trustee David Chapman made the reduction … Continue reading

Schofield Gets Township Supervisors’ Nod

A press release from McHenry County Board member Carolyn Schofield: Carolyn Schofield Earns Unanimous Endorsement of McHenry County’s 17 Township Supervisors McHENRY COUNTY, IL. Carolyn Schofield, Republican Candidate for Illinois’ 66th Legislative House District, announced today that she has received … Continue reading

McSweeney Passes Township Tax Freeze

A press release from State Rep. David McSweeney: House Agrees Illinois Needs McSweeney’s Property Tax Relief Bill Springfield, IL…. The Illinois House of Representatives today approved Rep. David McSweeney’s (R-Barrington Hills) legislation to provide property tax relief for Illinois residents. The … Continue reading

Kankakee County Township Supervisor Indicted

A press release from the U.S. Attorney in Springfield: FORMER ACTING PEMBROKE TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING TOWNSHIP ACCOUNTS Springfield, Ill. – A federal grand jury today returned an indictment that charges Leon Eddie Mondy, former acting Pembroke Township Supervisor, with … Continue reading

No Agreement Yet on Free Mediation Offer for Grafton Township by Attorney Robert Hanlon

Woodstock attorney Robert T. Hanlon was in courthouse this past Wednesday to offer his services pro bono to mediate differences between the Township Trustees and the Supervisor. There were court appearances in the Separation of Powers case that Supervisor Moore … Continue reading

Algonquin Township GOP to Hold Primary Election to Select Next Year’s Township Candidates

Since the 1973 fiasco of a caucus conducted by the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee, McHenry County largest township has allowed voters to decide who GOP candidates for township office shall be. That was the year that first-term Assessor Forrest … Continue reading

Linda Moore Decides Not to Appeal Second Separation of Powers Decision

The litigation concerning who has what power in Grafton Township has been long and expensive, but also interesting.  I’ve discussed how it involves the pitting of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of local government with Linda Moore’s attorney John … Continue reading

Grafton Township Hires Lawyer*, Proposes Counteroffer of $120,000+ on Sale of Haligus Road Lot

The Grafton Township Board wasn’t unanimous in its decisions Thursday night, but there was enough cooperation to pass two motions concerning the potential sale of the Haligus Road property purchased by the previous Board where a new township hall was … Continue reading

Grafton Township Suit’s May 4th Transcript

McHenry County Blog has obtained a copy of the transcript of the May 4th court hearing in the separation of powers suit brought by Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore last spring after the Township Trustees tried to strip her of … Continue reading

Charges and Counter Charges to Highlight Grafton Township’s Annual Town Meeting Tonight

All townships will hold annual meetings tonight were everyday voters have have much say as elected township officials. The only one sure to have fireworks is at the Huntley High School, where not one, but two meetings will be held. … Continue reading

For Grafton Township Junkies Only

If you are really, really interested in what happened in Judge Michael Caldwell’s courtroom on February 24, 2010, here’s where you can read the transcript that hasn’t already been posted on McHenry County Blog this week. There were a couple … Continue reading

Judge Caldwell’s Feb 24th Grafton Township Suit Concluding Comments – Part 4 – Trustee-Initiated Transcript, Video, Copying To Be Paid, No Internet Access to Financial Records OKed

Continuing with Judge Michael Caldwell’s comments, today we look at three expenditures which the Township Trustees ordered and for which Supervisor Linda Moore was withholding payment when the judge ruled were legitimate. They are payments for transcripts videoing of meetings … Continue reading

Judge Caldwell’s Feb 24th Grafton Township Suit Concluding Comments – Part 3 – Pre-Annual Town Meeting Mailing to Sun City Not Approved

McHenry County Blog has been posting conclusions of Judge Michael Caldwell concerning whether and from where Grafton Township bills should be paid. We have looked at bills relating to the construction of a new township hall, the forensic examination of … Continue reading

Grafton Township Trustees Outspend Supervisor 4 to 1

With Judge Michael Caldwell’s decision on the Grafton Township separate of power suit due to be announced Monday morning, it seems appropriate to take a look at what the dispute has cost Grafton Township taxpayers in legal fees. Ancel Glink, … Continue reading

Linda Moore’s Separation of Powers Suit Brief Filed

Now both sides in the Grafton Township Separation of Powers suit have filed their briefs. Moore’s attorney, Rockford-based attorney John Nelson, gave his 7-page argument to the McHenry County Circuit Clerk Thursday. Ancel Glink, the township trustees’ multi-lawyer firm, filed … Continue reading

Contract Power in Grafton Township

“Who can obligate the township?“ is one of the key questions in the Grafton Township separation of powers lawsuit that Supervisor Linda Moore filed against the four Township Trustees and Ancel Glink partner Keri-Lyn Krafthefer. Supervisor Linda Moore has refused … Continue reading

Comparing Grafton and Nunda Townships – Part 2

This is the second half of an article in which Grafton and Nunda Townships are compared as seen through the eyes of courtroom testimony before Judge Michael Caldwell in the Grafton Township separation of powers case. Speaking later of finances, … Continue reading

Politicians Who Can’t Say, “No”… or “Yes”

I spent another tiring day in Judge Michael T. Caldwell’s McHenry County courtroom today watching (more listening to) more witnesses in the Grafton Township separation of powers trial. I didn’t have time to write anything about last Thursday’s morning session. … Continue reading

Grafton Township Administrator Pam Fender Contract Proposes 10 Months Severance Pay

From the last Grafton Township Annual Meeting, it was obvious that Huntley Village Trustee Pam Fender was a political ally of the returning Township Trustees, Rob LaPorta, Betty Zirk and Barb Murphy. She was standing and voting with them during … Continue reading

Grafton Township Board Appoints Lakewood’s Harriet Ford Clerk

The Huntley-centric Grafton Township Board reached out to the northeast corner of the township to select a Lakewood woman as township clerk. On a 5-0 vote, the board voted for Harriet Ford. Ford edged out Kristy Borchart and Joan Citro, … Continue reading