The Barrington Hills Park District recently added a revised 2016 form for applying for tax rebates from the district to their website, however new rules regarding the maximum amount available to households will apply.
According to the district website, “You may be rebated for no more than 90 percent of your pro-rated tax amount for the Park District or $70; whichever is the lesser amount, per calendar year, per family. This reimbursement may be used to cover the cost difference between any in-district and out-of-district rate charged for participation in another Park District’s program.”
The website states 2016 rebate requests must be submitted by January 31, 2016, however the rebate form indicates a deadline of December 31st of this year. We’re guessing the form is correct, however those interested in taking advantage of the rebate are advised to contact the district for clarification.
A copy of the new rebate form can be viewed and downloaded here.
The park district can keep my $70.
We need a thriving and balanced Park District that will serve all of our residents’ interests and attract people to want to live in Barrington Hills, not use us as a cheap dumping ground for out of district residents” horse manure.
You want to ride and save money? Live in a less expensive neighboring community, board your horses in BH and pay no fees to use our horse trails on public and private property. Trouble is, it’s backfiring as demonstrated by depressed property values and a glut of homes for sale in BH.
There appears to be no requirements for out of district residents. It is perfectly normal to collect out of district usage fees. Pay to ride our trails and use our facilities, and properly register. Sure hope we have insurance and disclaimers in place that properly protects our Village.
We need a radical change in BH and for every resident, equestrian and non-equestrian, to work toward restoring our community to one where people want to live and are willing to pay for our unique open spaces heritage. Extreme horse and political interests are serving the needs of a constituent group and not overall best interests of Barrington Hills.
The Park District does not represent the varied interests of residents. Check out the Nature Center section of the park district site. Last update on the nature section is March 4, 2012
http://www.bhillsparkd.org/natureprogram.htm
Our Board of Trustees should “invite” our Park District to present to the public their plans and provide a question and answer forum. Attending park district meetings is not a welcoming atmosphere for non-equestrians.
Dear Reader,
I attend the PD Board meetings regularly and they allow for more interaction than a BOT meeting by the public. They have been working very hard to address user fees, policy and safety measures for residents versus non- residence. It is a very difficult process since a great percentage of space behind our “park district” riding center is Forest Preserve which is open to the public.
I also know that they have been working on updating the web page. I am sure they would welcome any suggestions you had.
2016 is a new year where I hope the past can be learned from and the future represents a community that has learned to work together quietly into resolution. Our town needs to be more than an image of serenity — the people of Barrington Hills need to be the serenity, we need to remove ourselves from the negative headlines. If we are in the headlines, let them read about the giving strengths of our village and its’ residents via charity or preservation of our open spaces.
The rest of the solution is reduction of taxes …. a issue that plagues many. With the proper individual in place we have begun this progress and I am hopeful we will see growth again in our property values.
Hope you will consider coming to future meetings.
The image most residents have of the park district is inextricably locked to that of the Riding Club, and they don’t seem to mind this. Since the Riding Club has purposefully divided this community politically over the last decade, then you can understand why a lot of people show disdain for the park district and many consider it to be deserved.
They cater only to the Riding and Pony Clubs and could care less about the majority of residents who get nothing in return for their property tax dollars spent at the riding center, which is really what the district is all about.
The issue of insurance is important. If you have a riding trail on your property it would be prudent to contact your H.O. insurance broker to confirm you have coverage for equestrian invitees. Riding club often states it has insurance but to my knowedge they have never made terms and limits of coverage for private property owners public.
While chance of “occurrence” involving a horse on private residential trail is remote, depending on the nature of the “occurrence” it can be financially devastating. I have investigated the issue, and I for one would never allow a private equestrial trail on my property, not because I dislike horses but because potential liability is simply too great!
Had ZBA and BOT properly deliberated the issue of commercial horse boarding, insurance with minimal limits might have been discussed and included as a requirement to operate these businesses. With Anderson II, VBH no longer has only a private riding trail but a commercial trail.
I arrived home one day to find a resident rider – off her horse and obviously struggling with it. She asked me to help as her horse was ‘freaking out over my chickens’. Afterwards it was my husbands decision to close the trail for fear of a lawsuit. This alone was the reason the trails on my property were closed – not because I do not like horses or whatever other fabricated story is being told by members of the BHRC.
Soon after I informed the BHRC of the closure I received a phone call from a representative who told me they indeed did have insurance. So tell me who is lying?
I think the best thing for you to do is go to the source. The RCBH is a private club, therefore public records might not be available to all individuals. If you are a landowner on a trail system you should feel comfortable to come to a meeting or contact the President or Vice President of the club for clarification as this is the only way you will be able to answer your questions.
The very same club that organized and distributed petitions requesting that the American flag NOT be lowered in honor of my husband when he was killed in Afghanistan?
i am quite aware of the ‘source’.
I cannot forgive this club for the unmitigated disrespect shown to one of our fallen heroes. I think a public apology is in order post haste!
The riding club of Barrington Hills is a ghost of the past.
They have destroyed themselves with their elitist attitudes and pseudo intellectual members.
To turn their backs on a home town hero, spells the disgraceful end of what little respect they had garnered in past years.
Grey poupon anyone?