Mark Twain once wrote, “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” Twain was right, but in our case its half way or more around our Village.
Ever since an appellate court recently denied a request to reconsider their March 28 decision on a matter between two neighbors regarding one particular horse boarding business in the Village, unnecessary fear and propaganda has been spread throughout our community.
Past and present elected Village officials, and some in local social riding clubs, apparently have been working feverishly to hoodwink those who board horses into believing that the possible fate of this one large boarding operation will force their operations to close.
One thing for sure is they’ve certainly caused a lot of noise lately.
The owner of the boarding operation involved in the private litigation recently implied in a letter that Village President or Board refused to take action on changing our zoning to his benefit. A newly circulated online petition on the other hand states it was our equestrian-dominated Zoning Board which “refuses to amend its zoning code to allow boarding.” Next thing you know our Police Pension Board will be roped into this unnecessary campaign of fear mongering.
Even the social media cloud is buzzing with wild speculation that the Village wants to outlaw even the keeping of personal horses. Commenters are questioning why and what will Barrington Hills do to augment the alleged significant tax revenues that will be lost from the boarding operations, tack shops, feed stores, restaurants and gas stations which are patronized by boarders.
Clearly, these individuals are very unfamiliar with our community and are not aware that the village receives no taxes from any boarding facilities.
It’s a shame that so much needless effort and emotion is being devoted to a non-issue, and that fabrications of reality is now being spread purely for political gain. Horse boarding and training have been and are now allowed under our Home Occupation Ordinance within reasonable neighborly limitations.
Our Zoning Board, whose May meeting was held despite an apparent violation of adequate notice, is currently accepting the input of residents toward goal of amending our code as it relates to boarding. They will be reviewing this and other matters at their next meeting on June 16th, but we believe this is just going through the motions.
Drafting of the horse boarding text amendment desired by some (or perhaps just one) began shortly after the March 28 appellate court ruling. It’s likely been proofed and edited by handful of “interested parties” already, but the lawful process which needs to be followed will take months, and some apparently cannot wait that long since the courts won’t wait.
The absolute shame of this whole nasty and ultimately costly situation is that it could have been averted.
Trustee Messer, the loudest of the Save 5 Acres Trustees at recent Village Board meetings on this matter, committed along with his running mates in their 2011 campaign that “We think the village should determine how both backyard boarding and large scale boarding should be regulated.”
Over three years have passed since that commitment with the trustees taking no action on boarding, and now, quite suddenly, boarding is the most immediate and important matter to be addressed in our Village.
Sorry to inform you, Trustee Messer, but lack of fulfillment of a campaign promise on your part should not, and will not, create an emergency on any board or residents’ part, so please do your best to curtail any fear and smear campaign within your power, and please let any properly considered text amendment process to our code take its course to what we expect to be the likely predetermined outcome.
– The Observer
Every resident of BH supports equestrian activity and small scale horse boarding. Even large scale horse boarding is acceptable to most provided neighbor interests are protected through special use permits and proper enforcement. It would be helpful if those operations were legally operating paying appropriate taxes and use permits to the Village. Our trails use private properties. Acceptable restrictions for use by local residents or proper management of permits is required for the protection of home owners.
Our zoning is residential and allows for home occupation business, including horse boarding, within the acceptable standards of neighborhoods. The Observer is doing an admirable job of keeping the public informed of the truth and exposing those that are fighting for extreme special interests spreading lies and fear. Oakwood Farms would have existed today if they had only followed current code process. However, they chose to do whatever they wanted and the Courts exposed the crime. The Village could have managed this to a satisfactory conclusion years ago. However, corrupt special interest cronyism was practiced which has now backfired.
The Observer accurately points out that this issue could be addressed by a commission of a group with the balanced interests of the Community at heart. The call by the ZBA for groups to come up with plans for the June meeting is simply a cover for the extremes to protect Oakwood Farms with abuses of the Open Meetings Act. Ironically, this issue does not need dramatic change to our current code, but must be managed with a balanced view.
We have a lovely and unique community and should be promoting it together. We’ll all benefit from increased property values if others see our community as harmonious for equestrian, residential and agricultural in an open spaces environment free of commercialism. Let’s work together.
Richard
Reading the ‘petition’ made me sick. Leave it to the riding club to twist what is really being stated by the village. No one, and I mean no one – is trying to cease horse boarding in Barrington Hills. This is all a big lie drummed up by little bobby abboud and his satanic 5. The riding club is foolish to follow his demented dreams. Have you thought about what you have actually done silly club members? That being the fact that you have gotten away with not paying taxes on your ‘home occupation of horse boarding’ for years. But that is soon to come to an end – foolish foolish people. And you were stupid enough to put a petition online! Big brother aka the IRS is watching and soon ALL of you will have to pay taxes on your illegal paltry gains as ALL income is supposed to be claimed. And you can thank abboud and messer for this – no one else. As the saying goes – you can’t fix stupid.
I find it ironic that the people who are jumping up and down saying horse boarding is illegal are Riding Club members and residents who don’t own or ride horses see absolutely no problem. Am I missing something here or is this just about Oakwood and nothing more?
Never mind since the answer is blatantly obvious. Based on the small mindedness behind all of this we’ll likely see signs along our roads soon with more absurd propaganda.
Too bad Abboud can’t seem to rest when the village is at peace as it has been since the last election and he has to stir the pot to get neighbors against neighbors one more time. This isn’t what people moved here for and that’s why he’s not in office anymore, but apparently he still doesn’t realize that.
“satanic five”……….I love it!
It seems this hurry-up push by Messer and Freeman to change the Village code on Horse Boarding isn’t so much about Horse Boarding but rather having the code changed as quickly as possible so the lawsuit against LeCompte be possibly declared “moot”. The suit alleges that undisclosed campaign donations were made by LeCompte to Messer, Selman and Meroni, possibly resulting in Abboud issuing the “Schuman Letter”, which proclaimed that the LeCompte boarding business was OK under the “Home Occupation” part of the zoning code. I guess if the suit proceeds, Messer, Meroni and Selman, along with Abboud and others, might have to answer to the allegations in court, which they may wish to avoid like the Equine Herpes Virus.
Carlos, you nailed it!
Changing the Village code now does not impact the lawsuit with Oakwood. That has been made clear several times during Village meetings. I believe LeCompte’s donations also included Stieper so that would make him one of the satanic 5??
DEAR 1830
Stieper properly and legally reported the contributions which he received to the proper authorities.
He handled it by the book. He did not deposit the campaign funds into his personal account like the others did. He was honest and truthful, unlike his peers on the board.
That is why the others are on, or were on, probation with the SBOE.
Make sure you know the facts that you are pontificating about, before running your mouth and maliciously attempting to destroy someone’s reputation!
jone can see there is no tolerance for free thought here when it does not ‘comport’ with The Observer’s view. OK Stieper… whatever just asked the question. I know this will not get posted, but you will see it. So sad, this is not an objective source of information and alternate views are not tolerated and individuals having them are attacked. And as for attempting to ruin someone’s reputation, the Oberserver is King on that. Kettle calling pot black..
According to Oakwood’s website they’re open for business as usual and advertising a variety of boarding and training offerings: http://www.oakwoodfarmsofbarringtonllc.com
Can you imagine how much the village is losing on sales taxes alone?
You know the IRS is watching this like a hawk!
He has so many enemy’s that someone will drop a dime on him.
I WISH EVERYONE COULD GET ALONG… LIKE IN THE OLDEN DAYS.
*** I know it is better for residents to know the guidelines. I know the more rules and regulations and government then the less freedom and happiness.
But hate for others to suffer consequences when politics and policies change every term as the years go by.
WE PAY OUTRAGEOUS TAXES AND GET LITTLE FOR IT. Yes, I like the space. but for the amount paid we get nothing like the towns nearby, with public works, curbs, sewers and electric for city street lights. And most people here get snow plowed piled into driveways, having to shovel out in in the winter.
*** We have acres and acres of land to have space to raise all kinds of animals and gardens or keep it for wildlife and conservation.
Most large properties are zoned Residential R-1, even though most do not change it to Agriculture for raising animals of any type of scale. If you are feeding and caring for it you are raising it as it grows and matures, even if you are or are not breeding.
*** THERE IS NO HORSE -OR- DOG LIMIT IN THE VILLAGE. I know many that show, board, raise and sell their horses and dogs. That is why I moved here, cause I thought it would be a wonderful place. I know some top dog breeders are here. Many are “AKC Breeders of Merit” like myself.
Some wonderful people have dedicated themselves to their animals and try to have champion bloodlines and have pride in what they raise. Some are just hobby people that have them for their kids to play with. Nothing wrong with that.
*** NOWDAYS….Many people sit on pins and needles in fear that their neighbor(s) will turn on them one day and say it bothered them years ago, and then the judge fines a daily fine for every day going back several years, even if their was no ticket issued for some violation. So a person could correct the issue right away or make sure to make it better and resolve the situation.
But nowdays…. everything offends everyone. 🙁
Impossible to be politically correct, cause it will piss someone off.
Have to cater to those with the biggest egos and the biggest mouths.
Remember in the days, when parents said… 1. Mind your own business,
2. Be kind to others, and 3. Work together with team work spirit.
Nowdays I can’t even say Merry Christmas to wish someone Happy Holiday.
And I hate to say….. common sense is NOT so common anymore.
Come one people, let’s work together and help each other, instead of tear apart each other for the sake of the feeling of combat and conquer. 🙁
You my dear, are a dreamer.
In the words of the immortal Rodney King, “can’t we all get along?”
It is okay Beth. 🙂 No harm meant to anyone in this reply.
I do admit to being a dreamer and our hopes get crushed to smithereens.
But living in BH makes me think of this song all the time.
My ordeal was the same time that Susan Boyle sang this song.
————
“I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high and life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I prayed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted
But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hopes apart
And they turn your dreams to shame…”
————–
PS. The neighbor apologized to me on 10/01/2012 at 6pm
and said she would do anything possible to make it right,
but nothing has been changed to make things better.
To think that this issue can be rectified by asking everyone to ‘work together’ is illogical. There will be no ‘kumbayah’ moment here in the hills. There is too much damage already done and ‘starting over’ is just another way of diminishing the the feelings of those wronged. There needs to be accountability – which I have not seen one molecule of …
The first finger should be pointed at those that continually stir the pot, refuse to equally enforce our ordinances (which are more than adequate), and digress to backhanded tactics and gossip. If our ordinances were enforced from the beginning – no one would be in the place we are in now.
To move forward – one must first address the past.
Make what right Michele???