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Archive for December, 2013

2013 Year in Review

Posted in Audio Recordings, Board of Health, Communications Committee, Elections 2013, Finance Committee, FOIA, IAA, Land Use, Legal Committee, OMA, OP/Ed, Plan Commission, Politics, Riding Club Commission, Taxes, VBHPD, Village Board, Village Government on December 31, 2013| Leave a Comment »

2013ReviewInPics

The Observer takes a look back at the year gone by and presents our most frequently read editorials and news stories for 2013.  Click on any title to read or revisit stories from this past year.

Editorials:

It’s morning again

In May, the Observer anticipated the swearing-in of newly elected Village President Martin McLaughlin, and presented readers with a message of healing and reconciliation.

September Board recordings released and our observations

This was our most commented story of the year, and focused on the efforts of Trustee Patty Meroni to block the Inaugural Hills are Alive Fall Heritage Festival.

Time to step aside

This editorial from August discussed the ongoing difficulties that Village Board member Karen Selman seems to have with her duties chairing the Finance Committee.

The IAA Battle: Why it was over before it began

After East Dundee approved the proposed IAA auto auction facility in July, the Observer reflected upon a multitude of reasons that Bob Abboud’s strategy was doomed to fail.

It’s all about the money

This editorial, leading up to the April Village Election, highlighted the financial issues which faced the Village, including exorbitant legal spending and high FOIA costs.

McLaughlin for Village President, Konicek Hannigan and Stieper for Trustee

This opinion piece featured The Observer’s endorsements for Village Board seats in the April 9 election. 

News Stories:

McLaughlin Looks Ahead to Barrington Hills Presidency

The day after Martin J. McLaughlin’s surprise election victory over incumbent Robert G. Abboud, the Daily Herald interviewed the President-Elect, and discussed the challenges which lay ahead.

2013 Survey Report

As was the case in 2012, the compilation of the results of this year’s annual resident survey was one of the Observer’s top five stories of the year.

Hills are Alive Heritage Festival draws big crowd

The first-ever Hills Are Alive Fall Heritage Festival drew a large crowd of over 800 residents, who enjoyed many activities at the Barrington Hills Park District Riding Center.

AG’s office reviews ex-mayor’s Barrington Hills appointments

Shortly before leaving office, and with little if any prior notice, the former Village President made over thirty nominations or renominations to nearly every Village non-elected board, commission and committee. 

Ex-Barrington Hills mayor admits talking to ComEd about auto auction plan

Former Village President Robert Abboud admitted in July that he had contacted ComEd president and CEO Anne Pramaggiore and had urged her to deny Insurance Auto Auctions’ request to allow access to their East Dundee business using a ComEd easement.


2014 New Year

Once again, we at The Observer would like to express our heartfelt thanks to our readers and subscribers.  We wish you all           

Happy New Year!

–     The Observer

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District 220 receives 11-acre site near Barrington High School

Posted in 220, Land Use, Resident Spotlights, School Districts on December 31, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Barrington Unit District 220 board members Tuesday morning voted to accept an 11.25-acre undeveloped site across Hart Road from Barrington High School from a private donor for a purpose yet to be decided.

The donation was made by Tom Wamberg on behalf of his family, including his wife, former District 220 board member Dede Wamberg.  The land lies along the western edge of Hart Road, just south of the Barrington Corporate Center.

Read more here.  To download a PDF copy of the local area map of the property released by District 220, click here.

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Barrington fire district, village department fail to reach mutual aid deal

Posted in BCFPD, Public Safety, Taxes on December 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »

BCFPD Barrington SplitThe Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District announced Friday that it will assist the village of Barrington’s Fire Department through the regional response program, but said it is no longer seeking an automatic mutual aid pact with the village.

Reporting that negotiations are at a stalemate, district officials said they will rely on aid agreements with other neighboring agencies when independent fire operations begin Jan. 1.

Read more here.

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November 21 Village Board meeting minutes posted

Posted in Longmeadow Parkway, Minutes, Pension Funding, Road construction, Taxes, Village Board on December 29, 2013| Leave a Comment »

A copy of the approved November 21 Village Board meeting minutes can be downloaded here.

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Stories of the year in Northwest Cook County

Posted in BCFPD, Cook, Elections 2013 on December 27, 2013| 2 Comments »

Today’s issue of the Daily Herald contains an article recounting significant events that took place in northwest Cook County suburbs in 2013 from their perspective.  When it came to the April 9 election in Barrington Hills, this is what they wrote:

“And in Barrington Hills, two-term village President Robert Abboud apparently wore out his welcome with voters and was defeated by Martin McLaughlin.  ‘The electorate was looking for some change and I’m sure Mr. McLaughlin will bring it,’ Abboud said.”

The Daily Herald also provides their thoughts on the “divorce” between Barrington and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District.  The full article can be viewed here.

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December 19 Village Board meeting recordings released

Posted in Audio Recordings, Kane, Land Use, Longmeadow Parkway, Pension Funding, Road construction, Taxes, Village Board on December 27, 2013| 5 Comments »

The Village has released edited audio recordings from the December 19 Village Board meeting.  To access the menu of the meeting’s topical audio recording segments, click here.

longMeadowBridgeResidents who will be affected by the proposed Longmeadow Parkway project, or anyone who lives off of Algonquin Rd., should listen to the Longmeadow Parkway update report from Trustee Meroni which can be accessed here.

Next month, The Observer will be providing an in-depth look at this critical roadway issue facing local residents and our Village.

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Update: Body found in forest preserve ID’d as missing Wauconda man

Posted in Cook, FPDCC, FPDCC on December 26, 2013| Leave a Comment »

The body found Christmas Day in a forest preserve in Barrington Hills has been identified as a missing Wauconda man, police said Thursday.

Robert Hovinen, 38, of 25220 Ivanhoe Road, Wauconda, was found in Spring Creek Valley Forest Preserve near 361 Bateman Road in Barrington Hills, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

More from the Barrington Courier here.

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Man Found Dead In Barrington Hills Forest Preserve

Posted in Barrington Hills Park District, Cook, FPDCC, VBHPD on December 26, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Authorities are conducting a death investigation after a body was found in a forest preserve in northwest suburban Barrington Hills on Christmas Day.

An unidentified man thought to be in his 30’s was found dead in Spring Creek Valley Forest Preserve near 361 Bateman Rd. in Barrington Hills, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Read more here.

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Stop and Feel the Wonder

Posted in OP/Ed on December 24, 2013| 1 Comment »

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This time of year, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the annual frenzy of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, door buster sales, and expedited shipping.  There are end-of-year work deadlines to meet, airline flights to schedule, Christmas cookies to bake, and school concerts and office parties to attend.  Mix in sore throats, sniffling noses, traffic snarls, winter storm warnings and black ice, and it might seem as though you have the perfect recipe for a holiday headache.

That’s why it is so important to stop and feel the wonder of the season.  Look all around and drink it in with all of your senses. There is the special soft glow of lights on the tree, the cat pawing at a low hanging ornament, the whistling winds outside and the sight of crisscrossing deer tracks in the snow.  The kids making a mess of the kitchen as they build a gingerbread house.  The family dog dozing by the fire. The crimson bows, the smell of evergreen boughs.  The warmth of family, the laughter of friends.  Remembering those who are gone.  Missing those who couldn’t be here.  The soaring voices of the church choir. The wide smiles on Christmas morning.

These are the simple joys. This is what makes memories.

Merry Christmas from the Observer!

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2013 Shining Star Award: Martin J. McLaughlin

Posted in 220, BH Polo Club, Citizens for Conservation, Elections 2013, FRVPC, IAA, Land Use, OP/Ed, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Sears, Spring Creek Watershed, Taxes, VBHPD, Well Water Quality on December 23, 2013| 6 Comments »

2013shiningIt is with great pleasure that we announce our choice for the 2013 Shining Star Award.  Our congratulations go to Village President Martin J. McLaughlin.

Clearly this year, as with last year, there were many outstanding candidates submitted to The Observer for consideration.  Everyone nominated shared a common goal of bettering our community and/or our Village government through their time and dedication.

A year ago, if you knew who Martin McLaughlin was, chances are you had children in any one of three District 220 schools.  A devoted father of five daughters, Marty has been very active in school activities ranging from coaching school athletic teams to the mundane, yet necessary at times, carpooling of kids to and from school.

If you did not know Marty a year ago, you were in the majority since about two-thirds of Barrington Hills households do not have school age children.  Needless to say, this situation dramatically changed since then when the April 9, 2013, election results were reported – an outcome that likely stunned many in the Village, and possibly even the unpretentious McLaughlin who won in all four counties in Barrington Hills.

Once sworn into office, it quickly became evident that Marty didn’t shy away from problem issues, both recent and longstanding, within and without our Village that needed immediate attention.  Some, particularly the planned Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA) facility proposed in East Dundee and the protracted police union legal battle, were in complete diplomatic disrepair.

Though it was clear the IAA development was a foregone conclusion, Marty still chose to represent the interests of the Pond Gate subdivision residents and the Village by immersing himself in the issues and fashioning some mitigating solutions.  We understand Marty continues to meet with IAA representatives and East Dundee officials toward goals benefiting all parties and protecting Village residents.

The most recent Village Newsletter provides an excellent overview of the situation we faced with our sworn police officers who unionized in 2010.  President McLaughlin can only be described as “politic” in his message to residents, but the fact is our Village was wasting hundreds of thousands of our tax dollars before he finally put an end to it.

Another longstanding and costly legal battle with Sears also drew his attention due to the vast amounts spent.  South Barrington, a codefendant in the case, has also incurred significant legal fees in the case.  Yet in more than ten years of fighting in the courts, neither village government had met to discuss a strategy toward common goals toward resolution.

On June 10 of this year – less than two months into his first term in office – Marty arranged a joint meeting of the Barrington Hills and South Barrington village boards.  While this may not be considered a breakthrough idea, it demonstrated a genuine theme of collaboration that Marty has brought to how our Village government should run.

The best example of Marty’s collaborative acumen was the first annual “The Hills Are Alive Fall Heritage Fest” held last October.  Months in the making, he enlisted funding assistance from vendors serving the Village to cover expenses.  Some supportive Trustees also chipped in some personal funds to help the cause.

He also involved the Barrington Hills Park District early on, as well as organizations throughout Barrington Hills from the equestrian clubs to local restaurants to conservation organizations.  Many residents also volunteered their time to oversee many activities during the fest.

Despite some rather dogmatic questioning from the board and even an eleventh hour thirty line item FOIA request submitted by a local curmudgeon, Marty’s course never swayed in accomplishing his goal of providing a fun-filled venue for residents to gather and interact.  In the end, some eight hundred residents attended the fest throughout a sunny day on October 10, 2013.  His perseverance paid off, and residents appreciated having a gathering that provided attractions for all ages.

These are just some of the highlights of what Marty has accomplished in only eight months in office.  His demonstrated hands-on leadership on tough issues combined with his cooperative approach to most all aspects of Village government are why we once again congratulate him on this award.

–     The Observer

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