Meeting Agendas for Tuesday, April 16, 2019

The meeting agenda (packets) for three Tuesday night meetings (Liquor Commission, Committee of the Whole and Board Meeting) have been posted on the Village website. https://www.algonquin.org/eg…/documents/1555089931_62826.pdf
The Committee of the Whole includes one agenda item - Animal Control Services with Kane County. https://www.algonquin.org/egov/documents/1555090078_5848.pdf Village Board members will be voting on special event permits; ordinance changes, resolutions for fleet agreement; road patchwork; and amending Chapter 43.30 Sales of Tobacco.https://www.algonquin.org/egov/documents/1555095241_7351.pdf Meetings are all open to the public. Interested parties who wish to make public comments should register prior to the start of the meeting. All meetings are at 2200 Harnish Drive.

Planning & Zoning Meeting, Apr. 8, 2019 - Algonquin Colosseum

There is a colossal development, Algonquin Colosseum, (mixed use residential and commercial behind Westfield Community School) that will be discussed at the Planning & Zoning meeting on Mon., April 8 at 7:30 p.m., 2200 Harnish Drive. The petitioner is requesting rezoning of a parcel (R1 to R5 multi-family townhome/apartment); annexation of a parcel; preliminary Plat; and PUD plan. Approx. 100 acres at Longmeadow Parkway and Randall Road. Public meeting, please attend. Interested parties may sign up to make comments (comment signup paper on table in back of board room).

https://www.algonquin.org/egov/documents/1554490841_12059.pdf

New Village Contract with Groot - Starts Sept. 2, 2019 (Lower Rates)

The new Village contract with Groot starts September 2, 2019 - Sticker rates will drop 14 percent from $3.50/sticker to $3.00/sticker. Refuse cart rates will decrease 22 percent from $24.00/month to $18.80/month. No change to curbside recycling, document shredding event, spring cleanup, and curbside electronics recycling. Visit www.algonquin.org/groot for more information on garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection service.

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Algonquin Rocks

Have you heard of Algonquin Rocks? The group's purpose is to "spread joy, kindness, and a sense of community through creativity and was inspired by the various "Rocks" Facebook Groups . The goal is to paint rocks and then hide them in various locations to bring joy to the finder." Check out Algonquin Rocks' Facebook page for additional information and guidelines. I found this cute unicorn last week and it brightened my day.

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Status - Communication and Government Transparency

In my campaign for Trustee, I stated that communication with residents and government transparency are two areas that I wanted to improve upon in Algonquin. Here is a status of my latest efforts. At this week’s Committee of the Whole meeting, I asked the board to consider posting meeting audio tapes to the Village website, along with the meeting minutes. (Written meeting minutes are paraphrased and include: the date, time, and meeting place; whether members were present or absent; whether members were physically or electronically present; and a “summary of discussion on all matters proposed, deliberated, or decided, and a record of any votes taken.” 5 ILCS 120/ 2.06(a)(3).)

My goal was to give residents another way to find out what is taking place at Village Hall at a time convenient for them. It could also provide greater transparency in our decision making process. The meetings are already being taped so the Village wouldn’t be incurring any additional expense. Seems straightforward, right? My request was not well received. A couple board members reacted as if it was a personal attack. I was told that there was ample room, 100+ seats in the meeting room for residents to attend. I was also informed that residents don’t attend the meetings because the Village is running well. Another board member stated that the audio tapes would be used out of context in social media for political campaigns. Interesting remark, considering the board member usually runs unopposed in elections.  Many local and county governments post audio and even videotapes of their meetings online. Why not Algonquin?

I have been successful in one aspect, so far, in my quest to improve communication and transparency. For the first time ever, residents were informed that the Village had various volunteer commission positions available. The information was posted on the Village website, news release, email, Facebook, etc . . . Thank you to the many residents that submitted applications for consideration.

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Fiber Optic Cables for an Empty Field? $203,000+

Should taxpayers pay for the installation and maintenance of fiber optic cables for an empty field? ($203,000 plus $250/month maintenance fees) Take a look around at the empty office buildings/warehouses from Arlington Heights/Rolling Meadows area heading west near I-90. Some of these buildings have been empty for years. According to the State of Illinois Economic Forecast, February 2016, "Office-using industry growth in Illinois has slipped further behind that of the nation." Projected growth in this area is based on hopes and dreams. Residents are taxed enough.

http://www.dailyherald.com/art…/20161011/business/161019738/

http://cgfa.ilga.gov/Upload/2016MoodysEconomyILforecast.pdf

Downtown Algonquin/ Riverside Plaza

Riverside Plaza (previously Tyvek Tower) in downtown Algonquin isn't fully occupied almost 10 years after it was started. Do you think the Village should spend $6.3 million next year on improvements to the downtown area? According to a Daily Herald article, "the village last year decided to move forward with a $30 million downtown facelift phased in over several years." How about looking at lower cost options? Try to reinvent the area not replace. Put planterns up; temporary bike lanes to test usage; and displays in vacant windows. Draw people to the downtown by having car shows, flea market, and pop up stores in vacant locations. 
 The current village board will be voting on the budget on April 4.

East Dundee has the right idea on drawing people to the downtown area.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/…/ct-ecn-east-dundee-events-s…

 

Proposed Longmeadow Parkway Toll Road

After taking a walk along Longmeadow Parkway today, I’m disgusted by the decimation of the mature trees behind homes. Kane County’s contractors have cut down a large number of trees and bushes that would separate homeowners from the proposed 4-lane roadway. I’m especially disgusted that the current Village of Algonquin board has encouraged and allowed this destruction to take place. The current Algonquin board hasn’t reached out to homeowners’ associations or residents along Longmeadow to lessen the impact of this toll road on our community. Yes, I’m calling it a toll road. According to dictionary.com a toll road is defined as “a road or highway on which a toll is exacted.”

Many elected officials have stated the main purpose of this roadway is to reduce congestion. Kane County Division of Transportation’s commissioned traffic studies show it won’t help. It will put more traffic on the already congested Randall Road; more traffic through neighborhoods; and avert traffic from east Algonquin Road businesses.

This toll road is for developers at taxpayers’ expense. According to public records, Kane County will likely be pursuing general obligation bonds that are backed by taxpayers. If tolls don’t cover costs, taxpayers will. If and when development comes, it will put a strain on current police, fire and public works resources. More services, more tax money. This 4-lane roadway designed for 45/50 mph traffic, including the largest class of semi-trailer trucks, will dissect neighborhoods so children will no longer be able to walk to school safely. This increases busing costs that will be eventually passed on to taxpayers.

I’ve talked to many residents along the Longmeadow Parkway corridor and heard their personal stories.  Some homeowners have unanswered questions, such as: Why did the Village of Algonquin allow their homes to be built so close to a “planned” 4-lane major roadway? Why was the area along Longmeadow zoned residential and not commercial? Why weren’t there signs in place stating future transportation corridor? All great questions but no answers from elected officials.

I’ve lived in Algonquin for 20 years and truly care about our community. Please consider voting for me on April 4. I’ll represent all of Algonquin’s residents.

 

Why are local elections important?

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Historically, more voters exercise their right to vote in the Presidential election than a local election. Educator Patrick O'Connor wrote a column for the Huffington Post on the topic. Here is an excerpt, "Since these local campaigns are kind of low key, voters somehow get the impression these elections aren’t all that important — but nothing could be further from the truth. Positions on the school board, zoning commission and library board shape the quality of life and future direction of our towns — the places where we live our lives — in ways that are vastly more direct than the federal government. Obamacare certainly touches everyone’s life, but the impact of putting a cocktail lounge next to the high school is more direct, and maybe even more important.

Somehow, voters don’t see it that way, which is why over 50 percent of registered voters will turn out for a presidential election, but the turnout in a local election is usually less than 10 percent. In many cases, it can be as low as three percent. "