CL Gets $1.4 Million to Install Two Left-Turn Lanes on Virginia Street Road to Virginia Street

At the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Wednesday, the City of Crystal Lake received a $1.4 million grant to construct a second left-turn lane from Virginia Street Road to Virginia Street, otherwise known Route 14. That’s what McHenry County’s member … Continue reading

Replacements for Failed Virginia Street TIF District’s “Decorative” Street Lights Being Replaced Next Week

It was last April when I noticed that the decorative street lights financed by the Virginia Street Tax Increment Financing. Look at the ones you see in the photo below, taken on a good day in November, 2011. Then compare … Continue reading

Virginia Street TIF Trouble?

A year and a half ago in November of 2011, Crystal Lake city officials gathered in McCormick Park to dedicate the improvements along Virginia Street financed by that street’s Tax Increment Financing District. Among the improvements were low and high … Continue reading

Message of the Day – Fog

Saturday morning it was foggy. How foggy? Take a look at the water tower in McCormick Park next to the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Building. In the foreground you can see one of the ornamental street lights financed by … Continue reading

TIF Monument Advertisers Should Demand Money Back

These $16,000 Crystal Lake City Council-approved Tax Increment Financing District boundary markers were made for advertising. Unfortunately, the west wind-blown snow has obliterated the message of whomever is advertising today. The advertiser should ask for his or her money back. … Continue reading

A Way to Recoup the Costs of the Virginia Street TIF Monuments

Besides increasing parking fees and fining people $100 for speeding past a camera, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel has come up with an idea that might work in Crystal Lake. He suggests selling space on public places, such as bridge monuments. … Continue reading

Crystal Lake’s $64,000 Question

The new monuments marking the edges of the Virginia Street Tax Increment Financing District cost $16,000 each. There are lots of questions, one set of which begins with “Why?” Let me give you a sample: “Why were they thought necessary … Continue reading

Crystal Lake TIF Monuments Cost $16,000 Each – Cost Updated/Corrected Downward

The first one I saw was near Pizza Hut. What was it? It looked like it belonged in a cemetery. Friday, I learned city officials actually call them “monuments.” On the monuments is the Crystal Lake City emblem or symbol: … Continue reading

Ribbon Cutting on Virginia Street TIF Project

The expensive Tax Increment Financing District remake of Virginia Street from Kwik Kopy to the Pizza Hut is finished “on time and on budget,” Mayor Aaron Shepley told a group of contractors and local businessmen this morning on the northeast … Continue reading

Rollover Accident at Dole and Route 14 in Crystal Lake

The following information has been received from the Crystal Lake Police Department. Crystal Lake Traffic Crash January 30th, 2010 On Sunday, January 30th, 2011 at 4:45 PM, Crystal Lake Police and Crystal Lake Fire Departments responded to the intersection of … Continue reading