LITH Workers Agree to Give Back Raises

If there was a key to Lake in the Hills' 2010 austerity budget approved Thursday it may have been the wage freeze asked of the village's 33 Service Employees International members.  They had a 3 percent raise scheduled for the coming year but agreed to give it back last week.

"They understood what's happening to the community in this economy," said Village Administrator Gerald Sagona Friday.  "I have a great deal of respect for them to work with us to solve the financial problems of the village."

Still unanswered is how the agreement may effect negotiations with the village's two locals of the Metropolitan Alliance of Police.  Contracts for sworn officers and and civilian police employees ran out at the end of April and  new ones for about 40 non-supervisory personnel have been in negotiation ever since.

Besides wage freezes LITH's new budget calls for a ban on new hires, squeezing another year out of its auto fleet and cranking up local sales taxes to match Algonquin and Crystal Lake levels.  Even at that the general fund is expected to dip into "rainy day" reserves close to $400,000.

Real estate taxes are expected to increase about 3.5 cents per $100 next year.  Sagona reminded Trustees that's still almost 1/3 lower than the village's peak tax rate back in 1991.  That was a recession year, too.

Huntley Library Open House Packed

It was standing room only and not a lot of that Friday evening at the Huntley Area Public Library.  Dave Gutshall played holiday songs while Santa dandled a long line of youngsters on a red velveteen knee.

The library's new Director Patrick McDonald was at the door to greet guests.  He said the library's mobile addition was due to arrive onsite just after New Years Day.  "It's a BandAid solution," he said, "but it will help us keep up and deliver better service."

In the pic:  Guests at Friday's Huntley Library holiday open house could take home a surplus book.  Ten year-old Daniel Amin picked a mildly outdated tome of Guinness World Records

Young Democrats Schedule Meeting

Young Democrats of McHenry County will meet Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 pm at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake. The group said in a release this week that it now numbers 110 members and supporters.

YDMC president Ed Rotchford seemed to appeal to those living life on the edge. "After years of living in a Republican-dominated area, we all recognize that there are few outlets in McHenry County that promote progressive values, and fewer areas where we can talk about progressive values openly," he said in the release.

Local Sports

BOYS BASKETBALL
Wednesday
Huntley 78, Woodstock North 36
Friday
Cary-Grove 67, Woodstock North 32
Crystal Lake South 73, Woodstock 58
Prairie Ridge 52, Dundee-Crown 40
Johnsburg 61, Huntley 33
Grayslake Central 59, Jacobs 55

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
December 11
1756 HRS 3900 BLOCK OF WISTERIA CT. DOMESTIC BATTERY. SALEM, NEIL M., M/W 40 YEARS OF AGE, 3935 WISTERIA CT., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Domestic battery. TURNED OVER TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0006 HRS 220 N. RANDALL. (MORETTIS). AMBULANCE ASSIST. Female, 30 years of age, lost consciousness. Transported to St. Joseph Hospital
0855 HRS 0 BLOCK OF SUGAR CREEK CT. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Step-Mother vs Son. UNFOUNDED.
0900 HRS 00 BLOCK OF CLARK AVE. MISSING JUVENILE. Female, 15 years of age, left home yesterday afternoon. Entered into the Law Enforcement Agency Data System.
0903 HRS RAKOW RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
0912 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 51 years of age, fell in a hallway. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0957 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF SPRUCE ST. AMBULANCE ASSIST. Female, 85 years of age, with an injury to her foot.
1328 HRS RANDALL RD. & VILLAGE RD. INJURY ACCIDENT Two vehicles. No transport.
1348 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. AMBULANCE ASSIST. Male, 29 years of age, difficulty breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1810 HRS ACORN LN. & ACORN CT. ACCIDENT Two vehicles, property damage only.
2040 HRS 00 BLOCK OF GRANT AVE. AMBULANCE ASSIST. Female, 68 years of age, injury to head. Transported to Sherman Hospital.

Grafton Township Trustees Censure Supervisor

Grafton Township Trustees' resistance to Supervisor Linda Moore stepped up a notch Thursday as all four voted to censure her.  Censure carries no penalties but constitutes a formal reprimand.

Further complicating the near five-hour meeting , Pat Coen, Crystal Lake attorney for the township's Road District, told trustees that to carry out a resolution last month to take back ownership of the township offices they'd have to either call a special town meeting or wait for the regular one next year.

Trustee Rob Laporta said today a list of more than 30 trustees' complaints against the Supervisor came because "She continues to follow the Law by Linda Moore, not the law as it's written."

Complaints included charges Moore interfered with Trustees' mail, failed to pay bills approved by the Board, paid bills not approved by the Board and tried to sabotage the independent but still-entwined Grafton Township Food Pantry.

Coen said today that he could find no way to simply "unwind" or undo the Township's sale of its offices to the legally separate Road District since there had been a transfer of title.

"It's the same as what the court said with the lawsuit," said Highway Commissioner Jack Freund.  "We have to do it, too."

A McHenry County judge and the Second Appellate Distrct both ruled that building new Grafton Township offices on Haligus Road should have been submitted to a ballot by registered voters at a Township meeting.

The township earlier this year gave back a bank loan to build those offices and recently resolved to undo sale of the current offices which was another part of the project's financing.

The Board at Moore's urging also managed just under the statutory wire to pass Township and Road District real estate tax levies .  The nominal levies were $730,000 for roads and $999,000 for the township itself but the actual levies will depend on total township equalized assessed valuations which won't be known until much later.

Huntley Passes Tight Belt 2010 Budget

The Huntley Board of Trustees approved a new $18.67 million budget for 2010 Thursday. That was down 17 percent from 2009's budget but Village Manager Dave Johnson said, "The sky is not falling on Huntley."

Revenue, however, is falling in Huntley, according to the budget, mainly revenue from construction, or the lack thereof.  The village expects to end 2009 about $380,000 in the black.  Nevertheless, new housing has slowed to a trickle and commercial construction lags behind hopes. Six thousand newly state-certified Huntley residents merely offset a drop in income tax and motor fuel revenues in the economic downturn.

However, village practice has been to use construction revenue for bricks and mortar instead of day-to-day operations so the 2010 budget balances with some village belt tightening.

Trustee Harry Leopold said he saw an encouraging sign in Tuesday's announcement of the purchase of the Prime Outlets company, including their Huntley location, by Simon Property Group, Indianapolis, for $2.3 billion. "The fact a developer would invest that much money must indicate they expect good things in Huntley once the interchange is complete," he said.

Huntley Outlet mall is only one of the company's 22 locations, though, and Simon is only putting up about $560 million in real cash for all of them.  The rest involves Simon stock and assumption of a lot of debt.  In the commercial real estate downturn highly-leveraged Prime Outlets had already lost six malls in two mortgage defaults in the past year. With a deal for another troubled mall company reported in the works, the Prime Outlet purchase may be more an example of Simon bargain hunting.

On the good news side, Johnson said he projected the new Huntley WalMart would bring the village $200,000 in new sales tax revenue in the coming year.

Trustees also passed a tax real estate tax levy to help fund the new budget Thursday.  Finance Director Jennifer Chernak said by her best  estimate the village's tax rate would drop slightly from 4.13 cents per $100 to 4.09 cents. The requested numbers in Thursday's levy don't really count, she said.  The actual rate will depend on the size of the village's real estate tax base and that won't be known until next Spring.    

Hearts Of Gold Prepares For Saturday Distribution

About 20 students from Jacobs High School's Interact Club scurried through Algonquin's WalMart Thursday evening shopping for Giving Tree gifts for 20 in need families, part of the local Hearts of Gold charitable organization's Christmas drive.  Thursday's buys, past weeks' clothing and toy donations and food donations will be distributed Saturday by Hearts of Gold volunteers and Santa Claus.

Even as they prepared for Saturday's "Heart To Heart" climax event, volunteers said donations would be cheerfully accepted for the group's other activities, Tools For School next August and the Winter Coat project next October.  The number to call is 847-622-4423.

In the pic:  Hearts of Gold's Kathy Anderson hands out shopping lists Thursday at Algonquin's WalMart.  Purchases were made with cash donations to Hearts of Gold  and a $1500 grant from the store.

H1N1 Vaccine Supply Big Enough For General Shots

Centegra Health System will expand H1N1 flu vaccine eligibility from priority groups to everyone  Saturday, according to an announcement Thursday. McHenry County Department of Health will take the same step at its clinics starting next Tuesday.
So far shots have been restricted to groups most at risk thanks to limited availability. The logjam appears to have broken for the time being, however. The Illinois Department of Health reports about 700,000 doses of vaccine have been shipped to the state's non-Chicago locations this week.

Centregra spokeswoman Kim Kubiak said the unrestricted vaccinations would be available "while supplies last." They'll be at:

9 am to noon Saturday, Dec. 12 at all four Centegra sites including Huntley.
4:30 to 7:30 pm Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Crystal Lake and Huntley.
4:30 to 7:30 pm Thursday, Dec. 17 only at Woodstock and McHenry.
Noon to 4 pm Thursday, Dec. 17 at the Wellness Center in Prairie Lodge at Sun City, Huntley by appointment only. Call 847-515-2078 for that.

MCDH's clinic at Jacobs High School canceled Wednesday because of snow hasn't been reset. However, other clinics have been scheduled at Marian Central High School, Woodstock, Sunday; Johnsburg High School next Wednesday; MCDH Headquarters, Woodstock, Dec. 22 and Marian Central Again Dec. 29. The hotline number for an appointment is 815-334-2800.

Dave Tomlinson, Vice President of Operations for Centegra said, “Local supply of the H1N1 vaccine has now become greater than the current demand from the targeted population groups." He said that meant there was enough to start immunizing the general population.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
December 10
0934 HRS PYOTT RD. & WILLOW ST. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
0945 HRS 343 RANDALL RD. (STARBUCK’S). HIT & RUN. Parked vehicle was hit by an unknown vehicle this morning.
0946 HRS 1400 DEER CREEK LN. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 68 year old female fell and hurt both her knees. No transport.
1057 HRS PYOTT RD. & VIEWPOINT DR. ACCIDENT. Vehicle vs. fire hydrant. Property damage only.
1104 HRS 2265 ALGONQUIN RD. (THORNTON’S). ASSIST AMBULANCE 44 year old male lost consciousness. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1124 HRS 280 RANDALL RD. (ATHLETICO). FOUND PROPERTY. A license plate was found in the parking lot.
1618 HRS 0 BLOCK OF WRIGHT CT. DOMESTIC. Husband, wife and daughter. Verbal only. No priors.
1640 HRS INDIAN TRAIL & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1912 HRS 400 BLOCK OF GRACE DR. DOMESTIC. Husband vs. wife. Verbal only.
Algonquin
December 7
10:34am Owens, Marla C., DOB: 08/13/76, of 1109 Cherry Street, Lake in the Hills, was charged with DWLS and Suspended Registration.  She was taken into custody at Algonquin Road and Oakleaf Drive.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond, with a court date of 01/12/10, in McHenry County.
14:14pm Campos, John C., DOB: 01/28/91, of 208 Harrison Street, Carpentersville, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Alcohol by a Minor and Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor.  He was taken into custody at 105 Cherokee.  He was released on a Notice to Appear, with a court date of 01/27/10, in Algonquin.
16:46pm A fourteen-year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Criminal Damage to Property.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was referred to the Tri Area Peer Jury and then released into the custody of his parents.
18:46pm A sixteen-year-old female from Algonquin was charged with Battery.  She was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  She was referred to the Tri Area Peer Jury and then released into the custody of her parents.
20:08pm A fourteen-year-old male from Algonquin was charged with Criminal Defacement.  He was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  He was referred to the Tri Area Peer Jury and then released into the custody of his parents.
December 8
00:16am Rabideau, Peter G., DOB: 05/16/62, of 797 Spring Road, Elmhurst, was charged with Expired Registration and Improper Use of Registration.  He was also Wanted on a Warrant out of DuPage County for Failure to Appear on an Assault charge.  He was taken into custody in the 400 block of W. Algonquin Road.  He was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond, on the Algonquin charges, with a court date of 01/13/10, in McHenry County.  He was unable to post bond, on the DuPage County Warrant and was transported to the McHenry County Jail.
18:20pm Elizarraraz, Mayra, DOB: 09/22/84, of 440 Tulsa Avenue, Carpentersville, was charged with DWLS, No Proof of Insurance & Failure to Reduce Speed.  She was taken into custody at Route 62 near the Jewel access road.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond, with a court date of 01/13/10, in McHenry County.
December 9
11:39am A fifteen-year-old female from Lake in the Hills was charged with Theft Under $300.  She was taken into custody at Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive.  She was referred to the Tri Area Peer Jury and then released into the custody of her parents.
13:07pm Zepeda, Anjel M., DOB: 10/05/92, of 35W365 Crescent, West Dundee, was charged with Battery.  She was taken into custody at Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive.  She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 01/13/10, in McHenry County.
December 10
20:29pm Garcia, Rachel M., DOB: 07/08/83, of 2620 Pondview, Algonquin, was charged with Retail Theft.  She was taken into custody at Meijer’s, 400 S. Randall Road.  She was released after posting $100, with a court date of 01/13/10, in McHenry County.

Weather Hampers Town Hall Legislative Meeting In Huntley

Snow and driving wind may have contributed to the turnout of only a dozen residents Wednesday for a Town Hall Meeting in Huntley featuring area Republican legislators State Rep. Mike Tryon and State Sen. Pamela Althoff. Only a dozen appeared for the event which saw more than 100 attending last year.

The state's parlous financial state filled most of the meeting.  Tryon blamed deposed Governor Rod Blagojevitch for the most recent crisis but detailed budget gimmickry extending back to the Jim Edgar administration 10 years ago.

"How can a state with a balanced budget ammendment end up with a $10 billion deficit?" asked Tryon.  "For the past 10 years the state hasn't paid its bills," he said.  For budgetary purposes carryovers from previous years don't count in the current year's total.

Tryon claimed the overhang is so bad that tripling the state income tax to 9 percent wouldn't pay off the balance. "I believe we're going to be faced with the decision to restructure our spending," next year he said.

Althoff said she didn't think such restructuring would effect local road projects like Huntley's Route 47 widening or Algonquin's Western Bypass.  She was clearly peeved at last week's County Board decision to "opt out" of video gambling to pay for such work but said it probably wouldn't make much practical difference.  "It would take 20 percent of municipalities to opt out to do that," she said.  "We're only at about 10 percent now."

Tryon and Althoff will hold a similar Town Hall Meeting this evening at Crystal Lake's Municipal Complex this evening from 7 to 9 pm.

In the pic:  State Sen. Pamela Althoff puts some body English into her narration of Springfield follies as State Rep. Mike Tryon looks on.   

LITH Hearing Officer To Ponder "Development" V. "Restoration"

Whether Lake in the Hills environmentalist Al Wilson deserved a fine Thursday for beginning creekbank restoration at his home without a permit boiled down to whether a wall of biodegradable bags of dirt was "development". Administrative Hearing Officer Randal Baudin's answer was "I want to think about it."

LITH told Wilson a month ago to stop repairs to a landslip on a curve of Woods Creek because he didn't have a village permit for work in a floodplain. The village sought a fine for the alleged violation.

Wilson's contractor Brian Wilson (no relation) said before he began work he'd phoned the village Building Department and been told no permit was required.  He said he wasn't sure to whom he'd spoken. Neither, he said, did he have letters from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers saying he didn't need permits from them although now he wished he did.

The only firm conclusion reached Thursday was that whatever Wilson was doing he was, indeed, doing it within a FEMA flood plain.  Wilson's attorney at first claimed it wasn't but after a lot of paper-passing contractor Wilson admitted "I looked at the map wrong."

Homeowner Wilson managed to testify that his dirtbag wall was a replacement for a wall of railroad ties he contended village water operations washed out several years ago.

If Baudin decides Wilson's wall is "development" instead of "restoration" the fine could be as much as $750.  Wilson has said he's already spent that much in attorney's fees.  "The cost is immaterial," he said. "It needs to be done and it needs to be done right."

In the pic: LITH Administrative Hearings can be pretty informal.  Left to right, Hearing officer Randal Baudin pores over floodplain maps with Community Development Inspector Dave Seleck and Village Engineer Dave Van Camp while questioning environmentalist Al Wilson, contractor Brian Wilson and attorney Jason Roth.

Transparency Group To Reveal Membership

One question went unanswered at McHenry County's Management and Services Committee hearing on a proposed Conflicts of Interest Disclusure Ordinance earlier this week: Who is the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water to propose such a thing? The question was not a rhetorical one.

ALAW presented the County Board last week with a draft ordinance requiring broad financial interest disclosures for either most county officials or all county employees depending on which section you read.

District 4's Peter Merkel, McHenry, said, "You talk about transparency. I went on the (ALAW) website. There's no list of directors or officers. We're expected to provide all this transparency. It would be nice to know who they are."

ALAW is a self-described "grassroots" group organized in 1996 against McHenry County's stillborn 2020 Plan for development. It turned up again two years ago in the battle over a failed Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority to regulate water supplies in Boone, DeKalb and western McHenry County.

The only name on the group's latest filing this year with the Secretary of State is that of Woodstock attorney Emily Berendt who presented the disclosure ordinance to the board in the first place.

Published reports from two years ago mention only Berendt, Patricia Kennedy, described as president, chairwoman or spokesperson and ex-Chicago attorney Robert M. Perbohner. An "adhoc committee of concerned citizens" from 2006 on the ALAW website includes those names and, among others, Woodstock attorney Jane Collins and current County Board District 6 Member Ersel Schuster, Woodstock.

Berendt Thursday told FEN ALAW is "a fluid group" with 7 "core members" and 5 others who aren't as central. She said Shuster had dropped out of the group before running for her current board seat.

Berendt said she would post the names of ALAW members on the group's website except for two "silent members", one a government official and one a "prominent member of the community".

She said she saw no irony in withholding those names. "Were a private organization," she said. "We're not seeking public office."

Rakow Road Widening Money Scheduled

Congressman Don Manzullo (R)16 said Wednesday he'd secured another $750,000 to help fund the Rakow Road widening project to reduce traffic congestion in southeast McHenry County. The money's in the Omnibus Appropriations bill, which Congress is scheduled to approve in the next two weeks.

This is the third time Manzullo has obtained funds for the project. Four years ago Manzullo secured $5.72 million in the long-range federal transportation bill. He won another $570,000 inlast year's transporation bill.

The three mile-long project calls for widening two-lane Rakow Road to six lanes from Ackman Road to Pyott Road and to four lanes from Pyott Road to Route 31. Up to 40,000 motorists currently travel Rakow Road each day and up to 60,000 are expected to travel the road by 2030.

McHenry County Division of Transportation officials hoping to begin construction next year.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
December 9
0026 HRS 300 BLOCK OF RAMBLE RD. AMBULANCE ASSIST. 64 year old female having a diabetic problem. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
0432 HRS 1000 BLOCK OF NOELLE BEND. AMBULANCE ASSIST. 45 year old male experiencing a rapid heart rate and stomach pains. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
0525 HRS 2800 BLOCK OF BRISBANE DR. AMBULANCE ASSIST. 41 year old female experiencing abdominal pains. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.
0956 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HILLTOP DR. AMBULANCE ASSIST. 91 year old female injured her knee. Transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
1155 HRS 1293 INDUSTRIAL DR. (BULLDOG EXCAVATING). THEFT. A snowmobile was taken from the warehouse.
1201 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. ACCIDENT. A parked vehicle was hit by a snow plow overnight.
1306 HRS 8407 PYOTT RD. (LITH AIRPORT). ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. A storage unit was accidentally damaged by a snow plow.
1421 HRS ACORN LN. & RANDALL RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1546 HRS PYOTT RD. & OAK ST. ACCIDENT. 2 vehicles, property damage only.
1606 HRS CRYSTAL LAKE RD. & INDIAN TRAIL. ACCIDENT. 2 vehicles, property damage only.
1706 HRS 40 W ACORN LN. (KINDERCARE). HIT & RUN. Unknown offender struck a car in the parking lot.
1823 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Car vs. mailbox, property damage only.
1913 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. ACCIDENT. One vehicle vs. pole, property damage only.
2225 HRS 00 BLOCK OF DEER CREEK CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 2 year old male having a seizure. Transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital.

Proposed County Transparency Ordinance Gets Rocky Start

McHenry County ethical transparency ran headlong into questions of legality and clarity at the County Board's Management Services Committee meeting Tuesday.

The Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water submitted the unsolicited 7-page ordinance to the Board last week with the request that it be enacted before the Feb. 2 primary.  Spokeswoman Emily Berendt, a Woodstock attorney, said it would eliminate "the perception that public officials commonly violate the public trust". The proposed ordinance requires detailed financial disclosures by all county officeholders, officials, consultants and employees.

The first question, according to County Administrator Peter Austin, was whether the county even had the authority to enact the ordinance since it isn't a Home Rule entity.  State statues already require some disclosure he said but, "Are we going to be able to ask for more than the state has prescribed for us?"

Pointing to the ordinance's penalty for violation of loss of office, District 5's Tina Hill, Woodstock, said, "I don't know if we could even do that."

"I still don't get what this is supposed to cure or even document," Hill said. "Has there been something?"

District 4's Peter Merkel, McHenry, wondered if the ordinance's detail might not be burdensome.  "Is this going to be another obstacle to (citizens) to come forward to serve their community?" he asked.

"'Oh, by the way'," chimed in District 3's Kathleen Bergen-Schmidt, Woodstock, "'if you want to serve on our Podunk Committee bring your tax records.'"

"And it says 'employees'," she added.  "That's pretty broad.  There's an awful lot of county employees."

The ordinance seeks to expose hidden ties to businesses dealing with the county.  "I've done business with Carpet One," said District 5's Paula Yensen, Lake in the Hills.  "Carpet One is doing (Treasurer Bill) LeFew's office.  Am I supposed to disclose that?"

Eventually the committee decided there wasn't a lot of point to debating whether the measure made any sense if the county couldn't enact it anyway and District 2's Lynn Orphal, Crystal Lake, moved to have the State's Attorney vet the proposal to see if they could.

Even if the proposed ordinance gets by that review, enactment by the Primary seemed unlikely.  "This would have to be up for 30-day review," observed Bergen-Schmidt.  "This is too rushed."

The White Christmas Guy Didn't Sell Christmas Trees

Tuesday's snow wasn't much of an inducement to go shopping but Algonquin's Lions manned their Christmas Tree post at Algonquin State Bank, anyway.  "We had one guy drive by," said President Tim Toomey, "but I think he was going to the drive-through window."

Lions sell Christmas trees to support a number of vision related and other charitable activities throughout the year. "Most of our sales are on the weekends, anyway," said Toomey.

In the pic:  Algonquin Lions Tim Toomey and Wayne Meyer show off one of their lovely evergreens with free organic (so to speak) flocking Tuesday night.

County Claims No Dog In Mental Health Board Fight

The McHenry County Board Finance and Audit Committee revealed a schedule for the county's issuing $4 million in f federal stimulus bonds to build a controversial  addition to the Mental Health Board's headquarters in Crystal Lake but took no position on the building itself.

Committee chairman Marc Munaretto tried to steer discussion around "a big discourse about 'should they build it or shouldn't they build it' because they've already demonstrated they have the ability to borrow the money." The question, said Munaretto was whether the borrowing would appear on residents' tax bills in the line for McHenry County taxes or the line for the Mental Health Board's taxes.

Munaretto said that in the current financial market if money to build the Mental Health Board addition comes from stimulus bonds in the county's name, interest costs would be over $800,000 less than if the Mental Health Board got a regular bank loan on its own hook. "They are us," Munaretto said noting that while the Mental Health Board is a separate taxing body its boundaries are the same as those of the county itself.

The Mental Health Board claims it's outgrown its current offices and wants to build more space. Two of its client agencies oppose the plan charging the Board is empire-building.

The projected schedule on the advice of county bond counsel includes a County Board vote to authorize the bonds Feb. 4, an attempt to upgrade the county's bond rating for a lower interest rate Feb. 9 and an intergovernmental agreement between the county and the Mental Health Board to pay off the bonds March 16.

LITH Budget Hearing Draws No Residents

Other than the Lake in the Hills Board, no one showed up at the village's 2010 budget hearing Tuesday.  The village's proposed budget includes a hiring freeze, a salary freeze and a one-quarter percent sales tax increase.

Village President Ed Plaza said he wasn't surprised because residents weren't surprised. "It's endemic with what's going on around the country," Plaza said.

Plaza observed that the sales tax increase merely puts the village on par with Algonquin and Crystal Lake rates. "We're talking a penny on $4," said Plaza, adding that most of the receipts won't come from village residents, anyway. "Our largest sales tax machine is Costco," he said.  "Seventy percent of their purchasers don't live in Lake in the Hills.  Number two is Lowes.  More than half comes from contractors who don't live in Lake in the Hills."

After the (short) hearing Tuesday trustees placed the proposed budget on Thursday's full board agenda for adoption.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
December 08
2159 HRS 300 BLOCK OF TECUMSEH TRAIL. DOMESTIC BATTERY. SIMON, DAVID. M/W 41 YEARS OF AGE, 324 TECUMSEH TRAIL, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Domestic Battery, two counts. TRANSPORTED TO MCHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0136 HRS 1500 BLOCK OF MONROE ST. DOMESTIC BATTERY. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. Two priors. FAIL TO FILE.
0633 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & ANNANDALE RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
0721 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & HILLTOP DR. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
0725 HRS 00 BLOCK OF BARHARBOR CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 23 year old male has a cut on his foot. Transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
0804 HRS HERON CT. & HERON DR. FOUND PROPERTY. Red electric children’s mini-bike.
0840 HRS 260 RANDALL RD. (COSTCO GAS STATION). ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
0851 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & PYOTT RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
0851 HRS 00 BLOCK OF WANDER WAY. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1433 HRS 700 BLOCK OF JUNIPER LN. DOMESTIC Delayed from 120609. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. No priors.
1733 HRS 700 BLOCK OF JUNIPER LN. DOMESTIC Verbal only. Boyfriend vs. girlfriend. 5 priors.
1809 HRS 200 BLOCK OF COURSE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 70 year old male subject lost consciousness.  Transported to Northern Illinois Medical Center.
1839 HRS ACORN LN. & RANDALL RD. ACCIDENT. 3 vehicles. Property damage only.
1844 HRS 343 N RANDALL RD. ACCIDENT. One vehicle. Property damage only.
1855 HRS FRANK RD. & COYOTE LAKES CIRCLE. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1853 HRS HILLTOP DR. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1949 HRS WILLOW ST. & HURON TRAIL. ACCIDENT. Single vehicle. Property damage only.
Huntley
November 30
Brian W. Foote, age 21, of 630 S. Capital Lane, Iowa City, IA, was arrested for obstructing a Peace Officer and cited for expired driver’s license, uninsured motor vehicle, defective windshield, and loud muffler.  Mr. Foote posted bond and was released with a Kane County court date.
A male student at the high school was charged with disorderly conduct for making inappropriate, threatening statements towards a teacher.
A student at the high school reported that a cell phone was lost.
Cesar Chavez-Garcia, age 37, of 11330 Dean Street was arrested for no valid driver’s license and cited for expired registration.  Mr. Chavez-Garcia posted bond and was given court date of January 8, 2010.
Holly J. Carmel, age 40, of 9954 Cummings was arrested for battery to a Peace Officer, resisting a Peace Officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Ms. Carmel was transported to McHenry County jail.
December 1
Diane Madsen, age 41, of 1732 Raintree, Sycamore, was arrested for driving revoked and cited for no insurance and one headlight.  Ms. Madsen posted bond and was released.
A resident near 11600 Heritage reported criminal damage to property.  A string of Christmas lights was cut on the ground in front of the house.
December 2
Denessa V. Blair, age 35, of 8206 S. Kingston, Chicago, was arrested for driving while license suspended and cited for improper lane use and no insurance.  Ms. Blair posted bond and was released with a McHenry County Court date of January 15, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.
A male student at the high school was charged with battery.
A resident near 13800 Wilshire reported theft of several rings totaling $14,050.
December 3
A resident near Douglas and Phillip reported criminal damage to motor vehicle.
December 4
A resident near 11500 Douglas reported theft of a cell phone.
Stephen J. Miller, age 40, of 11517 Frederick Way was arrested for domestic Battery.  Mr. Miller was transported to McHenry County jail.

Riverside Square Conflict Looms In Algonquin

A battle between the Village of Algonquin and Amcore Bank, Rockford, seemed to be shaping up Monday as masons began pulling their bricks and scaffolding from the village's bankrupt Riverside Square.

Community Development Director Russ Farnum said it seemed unlikely Amcore, deed-holder to the project, would be able to meet an end-of-year deadline to clad the exterior of the eyesore.

"The clock's ticking," he said, "and it has been all summer.  It was a gorgeous summer for construction."

A spokesman for the Schaumburg contractor who asked not to be identified said his company had won an Amcore contract to finish Riverside Square's masonry work but that the bank had recently canceled the project.

Farnum said if the work isn't done soon the village would be faced with a limited number of options.  "We could issue citations for a number of building and safety violations," said Farnum.  "Or we could go to court to ask that the building be completed. Or torn down."

"We'd like to continue to work with Amcore," Farnum said.

Amcore's spokesman did not return a message seeking comment Monday.  Riverside Square's court-appointed receiver could not be reached.

In the pic:  Workmen began removing masonry and equipment from Algonquin's failed Riverside Square condominium and retail development Monday.

Sheriff Candidate To Ask For Special Prosecutor

McHenry County Republican Sheriff's candidate Zane Seipler said Monday he's hired a lawyer to prepare a request for a special prosecutor to investigate his charges of campaign irregularities against Sheriff Keith Nygren.

FEN confirmed Friday that the State Board of Elections has turned down Seipler's request to look into the allegations.  Counsel to whom the case had been assigned said Seipler's charges didn't fall within the statutory authority of the Board.  "This belongs to the local State's Attorney," he said.

That was the same conclusion reached by the Illinois Attorney General two weeks ago to whom Seipler had also complained.  Both were in conflict with a September letter from the McHenry County State's Attorney's office directing Seipler to the AG and the Election Board in the first place.

Seipler has charged that in an election two years ago Nygren allowed on-duty deputies to campaign on county property and that more recently deputies have been used as campaign delivery boys.

Seipler said he's frustrated to end up back where he started. "The things that I've seen and that I've found out about are far more serious and numerous than the allegations a special prosecutor is investigating right now about the State's Attorney," Seipler said.

Huntley Site Of National Commercial Shoot

A production crew outnumbered late shoppers Monday night as they filmed a national commercial at Huntley's WalMart.

About 50 cameramen, soundmen, gaffers and gofers thronged the store's aisles in the second day of shooting a commercial scheduled to air early next year.

Spokesmen said the Huntley location was chosen because of its proximity to Chicago's film production centers and because as one of the company's newest locations it represents what the mega-retailer would like all of its stores to be.

"There are only three stores like this in the whole state," said Huntley WalMart Co-Manager Gilberto Cruz.

In the pic:  Shooting "Mom" and "Dad" and "the kids" at Huntley's WalMart Monday was easy compared to staging their shopping cart. That took over an hour and half a dozen people.   

Snow And No On-Street Parking Forecast

A dusting of snow began this morning about 4 am as the leading edge of a big storm system reached the area. The storm's expected to dump 3 to 7 (or 2 to 12; the forecasts vary) inches of snow locally today and tomorrow.
With the area's first big snowfall forecast it's probably worth reminding motorists not to park on the streets. The guys driving the plows will say bad words if you do and the cops might give you a ticket.

In Algonquin there's no overnight parking from 2 to 5 am any time until next April. After a two inch snowfall there's no on-street parking at all until the streets are clear.

In Lake in the Hills, there's never any parking for more than 30 minutes between 2 and 6 am. In winter there's no on-street parking after an inch or more of snow until the plows are done.

Huntley bans any parking at all between 2 and 6 am and there's no on-street parking for 8 hours after a snowfall of 2 inches or more.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
December 07
1100 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF MONROE ST. NO VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. IXBA, MARTIN PAZ, M/W 45 YEARS OF AGE, 2080 ALGONQUIN RD., MOUNT PROSPECT.
CHARGES: No Valid Driver’s License, Disobeying a Traffic Control Device x2. RELEASED ON BOND.
1731 HRS 00 BLOCK OF DANBURY CT. WANTED ON WARRANT. DAVIS, CEDRIC O., M/B 48 YEARS OF AGE, 14 DANBURY CT., LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGES: Wanted on Warrant; Arlington Heights PD – Bond Forfeiture Warrant; Driving While License Suspended - Bond Amount; $3,000. D (10% applies). RELEASED ON BOND.
2341 HRS 100 BLOCK OF RANDALL RD. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE. HARRISON, CHAD A., M/W 24 YEARS OF AGE, 416 ST. JOHNS RD., WOODSTOCK. CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Failure to Wear a Seatbelt. RELEASED ON BOND.
0048 HRS 400 BLOCK OF MASON LN. DOMESTIC. Father vs. daughter. Verbal altercation. No priors.
1117 HRS 1400 BLOCK OF MONROE ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 55 year old male vomiting and experiencing abdominal pain. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1632 HRS OAKLEAF RD. & ALGONQUIN RD. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles, property damage only.
1726 HRS 00 BLOCK OF GRANT AVE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. 68 year old female collapsed, difficulty breathing. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
2352 HRS 4500 ALGONQUIN RD. (7ELEVEN). ASSIST OTHER AGENCY. Officer assisted the Secret Service for counterfeit currency. TURNED OVER TO THE SECRET SERVICE.

Local Sheriff's Substation Ready For Open

The new McHenry County Sheriff's Substation at Algonquin Township headquarters was getting finishing touches over the weekend in preparation for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House next week. The station will allow deputies faster response times to calls from the southeastern corner of the county.

The ribbon-cutting will at 11 am Dec. 16, followed by a Child Safety Seat Check. Free gunlocks will also be available.

County Animal Adoption Set For Saturday

Gee, with Christmas around the corner and all, don't let the kids see this:  The McHenry County Animal Welfare Coalition will have an adoption event Saturday and, ever-up-to-the-minute, there are pics of the doggies and kitties (and bunnies at Algonquin's No Splitting Hares) to peruse online. There are even little bios for the beasties.  

You can view Fido and Felix (and Harvey?) here:
http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/health/Pages/MCAWCAdoptable.aspx

Cats have been tested for FELV and FIV, vaccinated including rabies, dewormed, microchipped, spayed/neutered. Dogs over 5 months have been checked for canine heartworm, vaccinated including rabies, dewormed, microchipped, spayed/neutered.  That's why there's an adoption fee of $80.

The physical adoption evenT Saturday will be at Crystal Lake Plaza, 5593 Route 14, Crystal Lake, next to Big Lots and Dollar Tree.  For more information, call 815-459-6222  

In the pic: This is Ace, a Beagle at the McHenry County Animal Control and Adoption Center.  Look at that face.

A Night In Bethlehem Set Saturday, Huntley

Faith Community Church, Huntley, has something a little different set for Saturday. It's “A Night in Bethlehem”. Admission is free to experience and interact with an authentic Bethlehem marketplace, including a live nativity, toy shop, bakery, rope maker, spice shop, sandal maker and a traditional home. There's a Children’s Craft Fair scheduled, too. The event's from 2 to 7 pm at the church, 10547 Faiths Way.

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
December 06
1351 HRS ALGONQUIN RD. & WENTWORTH DR. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. CHEFF, BRYAN J., M/W 47 YEARS OF AGE, 9941 THORNTON WAY, HUNTLEY. CHARGE: Driving While License Suspended. RELEASED ON BOND.
2051 HRS 3300 BLOCK OF SANDSTONE CT. AGGRAVATED BATTERY TO A POLICE OFFICER. GRAMAROSSA, NORA M., F/W 48 YEARS OF AGE, 3341 SANDSTONE CT., LAKE IN THE HILLS. Charge: Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer. TRANSPORTED TO McHENRY COUNTY JAIL.
0031 HRS 3100 BLOCK OF MELBOURNE LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicle, property damage only.
0433 HRS 500 BLOCK OF CRYSTAL LAKE RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 36 years of age, having a seizure. Transported to St. Joseph Hospital.
0721 HRS 1200 BLOCK OF BIRCH ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 36 years of age, feeling cold and sweaty. No transport.
1005 HRS 500 BLOCK OF CRYSTAL LAKE RD. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 36 years of age, having a seizure. Transported to St. Joseph Hospital.
1028 HRS 00 BLOCK OF ELIZABETH CT. FOUND PROPERTY. A wallet. Returned to owner.
1035 HRS 3900 BLOCK OF SPRINGLAKE DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 55 years of age, having a seizure. No transport.
1142 HRS 200 BLOCK OF INDIAN TRAIL. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 59 years of age, low blood pressure. No transport.
1312 HRS RANDALL RD. & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1708 HRS 500 BLOCK OF BLACKHAWK DR. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 49 years of age, passing out, chest pain. Transport to Sherman Hospital
1900 HRS 1100 BLOCK OF HEARTLAND GATE. IDENTITY THEFT. Unauthorized subject used card to purchase items. PENDING INVESTIGATION
2048 HRS 400 BLOCK OF HARVEST GATE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female 5 years of age difficulty breathing, shaky and heart racing. Transport to St Joseph Hospital.
2149 HRS 100 BLOCK OF HAWTHORNE RD. DOMESTIC. Verbal between husband and wife. 2 priors.
2157 HRS 1101 W ALGONQUIN RD. (AMERICAN LEGION). HIT AND RUN. Vehicle hit in parking lot by unknown vehicle.
2232 HRS 2700 BLOCK OF CADBURY CIRCLE. DOMESTIC. Verbal between father and son. No priors.
Algonquin
December 4
11:51am O’Dell, Crystal L., DOB: 09/09/80, of 106 Woodland Court, Carpentersville, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License, No Seat Belt and No Proof of Insurance.  She was taken into custody at Washington and Main Streets.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond, with a court date of 01/06/09, in McHenry County.
12:40pm A fourteen-year-old female from Lake in the Hills was charged with Theft Under $300.  She was taken into custody at the Algonquin Police Department.  She was referred to the Tri Area Peer Jury and then released into the custody of her parents.
December 5
14:58pm Ramirez-Acosta, Yazmin A., DOB: 10/30/83, of 4203 Savoy Lane, McHenry, was charged with No Valid Driver’s License, Improper Lane Usage and No Proof of Insurance.  She was taken into custody at Randall Road and Harnish Drive.  She was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond, with a court date of 01/06/09, in McHenry County.
December 6
00:50am Korzec, Wojciech J., DOB: 10/24/91, of 3118 Deerpath Lane, Carpentersville, was charged with DUI, DUI Over and Speeding.  He was taken into custody at Dorchester Avenue and Dorchester Court.  He was released after posting $100 and his Illinois Driver’s License, with a court date of 01/13/09, in McHenry County.
16:51pm Woolsey, Peter M., DOB: 05/29/44, of 490 S. Annandale Lane, Lake in the Hills, was charged with DUI and Improper Lane Usage.  He was taken into custody at Wentworth and Bunker Hill drives.  He was released after posting $100 and his Illinois Driver’s License, with a court date of 01/20/09, in McHenry County.
18:23pm Lechner, Julie A., DOB: 06/03/80, of 5 Arrowhead Drive, Algonquin, was charged with DWLS.  She was also Wanted on a Warrant, out of McHenry County for Civil Contempt.  She was transported to McHenry County Jail, when unable to post bond.

It's Beginning To Look A LOT Like Christmas

Santa Claus came to Algonquin's Riverside Park to review kids' wish lists,












Lake In the Hills' Village Hall to turn on the Festival of Trees and










Huntley's Village Square to pose for pictures with the youngsters.









How can Santa be in three places at once? Supernatural ability. How can FEN be in three places almost at once? Practice.

H1N1 Falls Again But Scams Rise

This week's H1N1 flu report from  the Illinois Department of Health found only 186 new hospitalizations and 3 new deaths in the state in the week past.  Meanwhile about 400,000 vaccination doses were shipped out to non-Chicago areas and another 200,000 are reported to be somewhere in the pipeline.

A different danger from the flu epidemic surfaced this week, however,  the risk of identity theft.  IDPH reported a rash of Phishing emails have surfaced claiming to be from the Centers For Disease Contol. They demand recipients create  a "personal vaccination profile" which, naturally, includes enough info to hijack the registrant's identity.

Aside from the fact that CDC doesn't have a central vaccination registry and doesn't do email blasts in the first place, another clue is that the notice sounds as if it might have been written by, say,  a rich Nigerian prince.

Census To Test For Local Interviewers At Algonquin

Starting Monday the U.S. Census Bureau will begin testing applicants to be door-to-door interviewers for next year's census at Algonquin's Historic Village Hall.

The Bureau says "These short-term jobs offer good pay, flexible hours, paid training, and reimbursement for authorized work-related expenses, such as mileage incurred while conducting census work."

Besides qualifying on the two-to-three hour test, applicants need two forms of identification including a photo ID and have to pass a background check.  Most of the jobs require U.S. citizenship, a driver's license and use of a vehicle.  The Census Bureau is especially looking for people who are bilingual.

Application forms to become a census interviewer are at www.2010.census.gov (upper right where it says "job seekers").  The tests will be from 10 am to 1 pm Dec. 7, 9, 14, 16, 21 and 23 upstairs at Historic Village Hall, 2 S. Main, Algonquin.

In the pic: Census Interviewers use PDA's these days instead of old-fashioned paper as this stock photo shows.

LOCAL SPORTS

BASKETBALL

Saturday's results:

Johnsburg 69, Harvard 38
Marian Central 63, Crystal Lake Central 52
St. Charles East 51, Dundee-Crown 38
Wauconda 49, Woodstock 46
Prairie Ridge 61, Crystal Lake S. 47

Police Blotters

The filing of charges is not proof of guilt. A defendant charged is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake in the Hills
December 05
0133 HRS PYOTT RD. & OAK ST. DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED. GLANZ, ANGELA M., F/W 26 YEARS OF AGE, 12 JOSEPH CT., LAKE IN THE HILLS.
CHARGES: Driving While License Suspended, One Headlight. RELEASED ON BOND.
1034 HRS 1115 CRYSTAL LAKE RD. (LITH PD). CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. JUVENILE, F/W 13 YEARS OF AGE, LAKE IN THE HILLS. CHARGE: Criminal Damage to State Supported Property. TURNED OVER TO PARENTS.
0004 HRS 3800 BLOCK OF SONOMA CIRCLE MISSING JUVENILE. Female, 13 years of age, did not return home. Entered into LEADS.
0348 HRS 10 BLOCK OF GRANT AVE. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 68 years of age, having blood pressure problems. No transport.
1125 HRS 400 BLOCK OF PLUM ST. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Female, 90 years of age, injury to knee and finger. Transported to Sherman Hospital.
1340 HRS RANDALL RD & ACORN LN. ACCIDENT. Two vehicles. Property damage only.
1457 HRS 700 BLOCK OF WEDGEWOOD CIRCLE. CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. Three of four tires slashed on vehicle in driveway. TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS
1535 HRS 300 BLOCK OF PYOTT RD. INFORMATION FOR POLICE. Antique item taken from storage. Insurance report only
1703 HRS 00 BLOCK OF BONNIE CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE. Male, 9 months of age, choking. No transport.
2116 HRS 1300 BLOCK OF CUNAT CT. ASSIST AMBULANCE.  Male, 49 years of age, numbness in feet. Transported to Sherman Hospital.