Reports of the demise of the LeCompte Kalaway Cup have been greatly exaggerated, and have been done so without any background and substantiation. This has become the hallmark practice we’ve come to expect from the SOS candidates and their committee who spin fables for their political benefit.
At Monday night’s Zoning Board meeting, John Rosene, President of the BH Polo Club and SOS Party committeeman, requested an early renewal, with additional terms, of the five-year special use permit allowing his club to conduct the Kalaway Cup (now the LeCompte Kalaway Cup). One of the additional terms he requested was perpetuity of the new special use permit. The current permit runs until December.
Following his prepared presentation, Rosene was asked how much insurance his club carries for the event (which can draw up to 2,000 spectators), and if the Village was named as insured under that policy. Considering that taxpayers are still paying off a loan in incurred by the Village resulting from an unrelated accident years ago involving one of our police officers, this is a legitimate question that needed to be answered.
Rosene either could not, or would not answer the question with any certainty. Since this is an important piece of information for the Zoning Board to consider before voting, members David Stieper and Dan Wolfgram voted to postpone action on Rosene’s application.
There was also discussion of the length of the permit, with the Polo Club originally requesting it be issued in perpetuity, rather than the current five period – which would essentially negate the Village’s ability to review the event’s impact on the neighborhood.
Not surprisingly, in another block vote we’ve come to expect from the ZBA, members Clark Benkendorf, Kurt Anderson and chair Judy Freeman voted against postponement. (It should be noted that Karen Rosene, ZBA member and wife of the Polo President, had recused herself from the vote, and member Chambers was absent from the meeting.)
Soon after, Freeman called for a vote, and the three members who voted against postponement voted in favor of special use permit issuance, and two members who wanted clarification on insurance and other matters voted against. Freeman seemingly believed the motion had passed, but a majority of the total Zoning Board membership (4 of 7 members), not that of the quorum present, is required to approve such measures.
Now the SOS Party spin-doctors are busy spreading a vicious smear campaign against two members of the Zoning Board claiming they are pawns of President McLaughlin “killed” the Kalaway Cup. They also malign the One Barrington Hills candidates (who all also happen to be Riding Club members or staunch supporters), insinuating that they will act to destroy the equestrian community if they are elected.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The Village Board meets on March 30th, and a vote of five Board members can override the Zoning Board vote. It just so happens we have five elected officials who vote in blocks, so in less than two weeks, Mr. Rosene will provide them with the insurance information, and SOS candidates Patty Meroni and Karen Selman will then proclaim they saved the polo event as they ride off on their unicorns.
Our most recent editorial was titled “Loud noises won’t silence the facts” for good reason. SOS’ attempt to create a crisis out of nothing simply reinforces their low esteem for the intelligence of residents and furthers their mission to obfuscate facts from voters in order to get elected.
– The Observer
No one could make this crap up. If it were not so serious for us residents it would be laughable.
The timing of Rosene’s request for renewal is highly suspect so close to the election. Adding to that he’s part of the SOS spin team, so it’s likely this whole thing was contrived for campaign purposes based on what I’ve witnessed in recent campaigns.
I don’t think we’ll be able to eradicate such negative campaigning until people realize a few members of the Riding Club are taking dues paying members for a ride for the political gain of the same few. Maybe the best way to show them our dissatisfaction is not to renew our memberships which are up pretty soon.
Re: Polo Article
I am not a Riding Club member but Brian Cecola and Bryan Croll are members.
I would like to repost my comments made yesterday on the SOS Facebook site that were taken down immediately in response to the Kalaway Cup vote.
“I have always advocated, supported and even coordinated advertising donation requests for the Kalaway Cup on behalf of the Stephenson family through Barrington Saddlery as John Rosene knows very well since I have been his main contact for many years. …(I responded to another post which does not matter here)..I was not at the meeting last night and yet I am being accused of something I have nothing to do with. I also called John last week when I heard these rumors and have not heard back from him”
Thank you for posting to this. Michelle Nagy Maison, One Barrington Hills
On my way to work this morning I noticed that our One Barrington Hills sign was removed from our front yard and our neighbor’s sign was gone as well. Coincidentally, this was the same time many SOS a/k/a “Save 5 Acres” (Meroni, Selman and the other one) signs were exhibited on Braeburn Road.
Two things came to mind when I saw this. The first, is Dan Lundmark visiting VBH and second, does SOS no longer stand for [S]pend [O]ur [S]avings but rather [S]teal [O]ur [S]igns.
Another VBH election with the [S]ame [O]le [S]tuff.
Seems Mr. John Rosene continues to prefer prevarication over facts in his campaign writings. His timing of the “Polo Special Use Amendment” is an indicator of how desperate and pathetic his SOS candidates have become to follow his advice.
A headline on the SOS website proclaims “Kalaway Cup Polo Event Killed in Barrington Hills” and the “death” is layed at the feet of David Stieper, the arch enemy of all that is good and beautiful in the Village, the one lurking about in a “Hoodie” ready to destroy the Village, as so tastefully presented in a flyer prepared by Mr. Rosene in the last VBH election.
One only needs to listen to the tapes of the hearing when they are published in the next few days to fully appreciate the depth of his outright lies. As to Mr. Drury and Mr. Reich being against the “Kallaway Cup”, I suggest a reading of their communications on the subject to the ZBA (see pages 64 – 67 of the E Packet: http://www.barringtonhills-il.gov/archive/zoning/2015/agenda/3_ZBA_packet.pdf). Their words are exactly opposite of John Rosene’s misguided and untruthful assertions.
It is interesting that ZBA Chairman Judy Freeman once again relinquished control of the gavel to Mr. LeCompte and Mr. Rosene, as they were allowed to ramble on about their personal issues with Mr. Drury and Mr. Reich, although none had relevance on a land use issue before the ZBA and should have been stopped. Not unexpected, however, as Chairman Judy only gavels down those not in sync with her complicity. Apparently, Judy does not appreciate the lawful roll of a ZBA Chairman, and has yet to learn the code (takes 4 votes to approve a special use petition, under any conditions).
Mr. Stieper called for a continuance of the petition to a date following the September Kalaway matches, time to answer serious questions of Insurance and perhaps allowing time for the special use requirement of the event to be legislated to a simple administrative permit process, as previously addressed by Trustee Gohl.
That wouldn’t make good copy now, would it Mr. John Rosene? Your childish politicking is apparent to all, and the SOS Candidates who go along with you certainly are not deserving of a vote by any resident in the Village of Barrington Hills. If anything, you, Mr. John Rosene, are the one who may have killed “The Kalaway Cup”!
A. Our roads are a dangerous mess with potholes and the lack of cash to fix them. Why? The mismanagement of funds by the past BOT & Administration.
B. Our village is being sued. Why? The shenanigans of 5 Trustees and a ZBA that doesn’t even know how many votes they need to pass a code.
C. Our residential property values tanked in 2008 and are not rising as they should. Why? Horsing around with residential zoning makes current home owners and buyers queasy about stability and rising taxes.
And now the Kalaway Kup is at risk “this summer” because the Special Use Permit for it expires in December? Such big political theater for such a small little village.
The SOS needs to win at all cost. If this election is lost, these bad actors will have to answer some tough questions in dispositions.
Brace yourself as we head closer to election day because their desperation will become more blatant.