From one of its leaders, Colleen Kuraszek:

Tonight’s Town Hall had an audience of about 200+ and lasted approximately an hour.

Notables in attendance were District 6’s Pam Althoff and County Board Rep. Kelli Wegner.

Also in attendance were two tables of Jack Pease/Super Aggregates relatives and supporters.

Unfortunately, one pro-pit relative felt it necessary to be disruptful and confrontational, and refused to let the speakers present their message.

The meeting did provide answers for some and served as an exercise of “preaching to the choir”, as one would expect.

McHenry’s Ward 4 has the city’s only existing and running gravel pit.

A current neighbor of that pit was asked to speak and shared stories of

• asphalt smells,
• house vibrations, and
• having an $8,000 water filtration system installed in his home.

Wells running dry are a constant concern in his neighborhood.

Ward 4 Alderwoman Chris Bassi verbalized how it would be irresponsible for her to vote YES on the Pease pit.

The most eye opening event of the evening happened before the meeting.

Alderman Frank McClatchey and Bassi were directly asked if they or any other Council Members have received ANY information on gravel pits, their effects on groundwater, etc., leading up to the vote.

The answer was NO.

The McHenry City Council was presented 26 pages of background information when asked to vote on a Starbucks sign in town.

Mayor Jett was also personally presented with copies of a Natural Resources Information Report done on the parcel in question.

None of the information was forwarded to Council. 

In the words of Mr. Robert Beltran this evening, this feels like, “Devastation without representation.”