After hearing about the pressure Cary has put on property owners in the Route 14 Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District to sell their businesses to a certain favored developer, why should I be surprised that one day after the village board elections that Fox Trails homeowners backing up to the farmland to their west?
But I am.
You can see the letter to the right. Click on it, if you want to enlarge the image.
Dated just one day after the election in which three of the four on the incumbent slate were re-elected comes a letter from the risk manager of Meyer Material Company.
“We would be more than happy to entertain any questions that you might have regarding the re-zoning of this property,” writes risk manager Randi Willi.
What the letter does not explicitly state, but minutes from the Village of Cary going back at least to February 7, 2006, (go almost the bottom of the document; way down to page 11) make pretty clear is that the village board is ready and willing to trade $250,000 a year for ten years or more, plus sales tax from a Route 31 commercial development, for cooperating with Meyer Material in surrounding still more of this area with still another gravel pit.
Those wanting details should file a Freedom of Information request for the “project proposal binder” mentioned in those minutes. If you have any trouble, I’ll put you in touch with the right person at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. My number is in the phone book.
And, the village board got to talk to Meyer Material’s president, Steve Warnke, not its risk manager.
The minutes state that Mayor (sic, he’s a village president, not a mayor) Lamal “asked the Board for their comments.”
Trustee Hill noted that she did not have any comments at this time. Trustee Kierna noted that he did not have any comments at this time. Trustee Adams asked how the donation amount was figured….Trustee Barnes noted that she did not have any comments at this time.
Trustee Van Oost asked how the Village would be compensated if the agreement went over the ten year period…(and noted) she would request a penalty if fee in addition for anything over ten years.
Trustee McNamee asked how they proposed to secure the site and protect the surrounding neighbors. (He also asked for an independent engineering firm to review the proposal.)
Trustee McNamee also asked how the noise issues would be addressed. She pointed out that there is no access to the Chally Property from the Fox Trails Subdivision, as shown on the plans.
Mr. Warnke pointed out that there would be an intergovernmental agreement that the Village would also own the lake and the savannas (the Village would also own the previously mined property in Algonquin, adjacent to the Chally Property).
Trustee Barnes expressed her concerns for the neighbors and requested more detailed information on issues that would affect the neighbors.
Trustee Adams noted that he concurs with trustee McNamee’s request to get an outside source for engineering service review.
Trustee Van Oost (agreed with the two and) she also wants to add a disincentive to the length of mining operations….
Trustee McNamee said she wants the area closest to the residential area mined first opposed to the proposed steps as outlined on the presented plans.
Trustee Barnes noted this would be a great to look at and a lot to consider….
Trustee McNamee asked if the project can be done in six years (rather) than in ten years…
Mayor Lamal noted that if there is an agreement for this project, the Board will proceed with further discussion.
More tomorrow.
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Thanks to Cary Area Citizens for Responsible Government for providing the map, plus pointing McHenry County Blog to the minutes.