After Algonquin Township Road Commissioner finished his comments, Preston Rae, the Supervisor of the most sparsely-populated township in McHenry County spoke.
“No mater who we consolidate with, we lose our representation.”
Preston Rea
The Alden Township man told of how people communicated about township concerns at the Alden Quick Mart.
“If we consolidate, where’s that direct communication going to take place?
“We don’t waste people’s money.
Referring to the township consolidation proposals, Rea asked, “Where’s the meat?
“Nobody’s shown what’s the point of this thing.”
He concluded by saying, “You may look at this as low hanging fruit.”
Rea also joked about wanting to join with Algonquin Township.
The Wonder Center Subdivision Road Commissioner, Bernie Duddleston, pointed to the $8 million the County Board had just approved to upgrade non-dedicated unincorporated township roads.
“How do you expect the townships to consolidate when you’re giving us [more miles of roads to maintain].
Dunham Township Road Commissioner Dave Nolan testified that “different townships help us out.” I jotted down that he mentioned Greenwood Township.
In 2012 Nolan’s constituents passed a $1 million bond issue to pay for road improvements.
The “Yes” vote was 63%.
And, although I didn’t take notes on what I said that the meeting, let me try to put some of it down.
I compared what I have observed of zoning fights in the sparsely populated townships.
Often, County Board members from the densely-populated eastern parts of McHenry County impose their wishes over such local opposition.
The Township Consolidation Task Force seems to be bent on doing the same type of “bullying.”
Cal Skinner asking for anyone in a small township who favored consolidation to stand. No one did.
I asked for any of those in attendance who wanted to be consolidated with another township to stand.
No one stood.
At this point, let me point out that no hearings have been scheduled by the Task Force in the less populated townships.
It would seem appropriate to me that such hearings be held.
So far, during the two Woodstock meetings, not one single person from one of the smaller townships had said they want to be merged with a larger township.
All of the proponents have been from McHenry, Nunda and Algonquin Township, three of the four largest townships in McHenry County.
And the point of view of such people has been that township government should not exist.
That, of course, is a different subject from what the Task Force is discussing.
If voters in local townships favor consolidation, they will still end up with a township form of government.
= = = = =
Articles in the series:
- 8-13-15 No Cost-Benefit Analysis on Township Consolidation, Just Data Dump – Part 1
- 8-14-15 No Cost-Benefit Analysis on Township Consolidation, Just Data Dump – Part 2
- 8-15-15 No Cost-Benefit Analysis on Township Consolidation, Just Data Dump – Part 3
- 8-16-15 No Cost-Benefit Analysis on Township Consolidation, Just Data Dump – Part 4
Thanks for covering this in so much detail, Cal.
This may be another one of those ‘sounds good on paper…” proposals that lacks real benefit.
Economies of scale can be had through group negotiation.
Aside from that, I fail to see much in the way of real benefit, especially for those townships not already occupied by municipalities.
Cal has covered the no side of the dealy well with printing solid informed peoples comments, but not so much of the pro side of consolidation.
Is it possible there is not solid informed comments with numbers and facts from the pro side, just a few whining about certain personnel which he skimmed over?
Cal said: Where is the Beef first, our hero!