The “Stop Longmeadow Tollbridge” group sent out the following email yesterday with directions on how citizens can voice their opposition to Senate Bill 1518, which seeks to bypass the eminent domain process, and allow Kane County to “quick take” possession of properties that they need for the project. This action particularly impacts the Barrington Hills who live along Autumn Trail. A Hearing on the bill is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday March 14th.
In addition, village residents can contact their State Senator Dan McConchie by phone at 224-662-4544 or by email at dan@senatormcconchie.com
“Please help us stop the legislation allowing Kane County to take individual’s property in a “quick take” for the Longmeadow Toll Bridge boondoggle. Any Illinois resident age 18 or older can submit a “witness slip.” It only takes 3 minutes. Follow the steps below for each “witness slip.”
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT:
Oppose this legislation to stop Kane County from taking individual’s property for the Longmeadow toll bridge and road.
TO FILE A WITNESS SLIP:
Click on this link
Click link. Fill Title as OPPONENT OF Quick-Take Bill for Longmeadow Parkway & Corridor SB1518.
Identification Section: Fill out the identification section with your information. For the Firm/business or agency and Title fields, write self.
Representation section: If you are not authorized to appear on behalf of any group, fill in NA or self.
In the Position section select OPPONENT.
Complete the Testimony section. Check the “Record of Appearance Only” box. This will allow your position on the piece of legislation known without having to physically appear.
During the hearing, the chairman or chairwoman will read how many people support and oppose a piece of legislation.
Type in what is displayed in the CAPTCHA box.
Click in the box next to “I Agree to the ILGA Terms of Agreement.”
Click Create (SLIP).
Thank you!
Another action you can take to Stop Longmeadow is attending the Kane County Board meeting, Tuesday, March 14th, 9:45 a.m. in Geneva, 719 S. Batavia Avenue and speak out or show support for those asking the board to stop wasting money on this harmful boondoggle. Their agenda contains an item to spend an additional 13 million dollars on phase two of the Longmeadow toll bridge.”
An addition slip opposing SB 1066 needs to be filled out as well. They have esciliated this to the Executive Committee and we need to object there as well.
Please goto: http://my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/Create/103268?committeeHearingId=14456&LegislationId=103268&SCommittees3%2F17%2F2017-page=1&committeeid=0&chamber=S&nodays=7&_=1489185129175&GridCurrentCommittees-page=18
My thanks to all for their support.
Contact their state senator Dan McConchie….
Observer you need to do your homework. The Autumn Trail part of BH is not in Senator McConchie’s district. It’s in Senator Cristina Castro’s district.
More games?
The Observer never said that Autumn Trail was located in McConchie’s district. We stated “In addition, village residents can contact their State Senator Dan McConchie by phone at 224-662-4544 or by email at dan@senatormcconchie.com ”
You are correct that most of the Kane County portion of Barrington Hills is represented by Sen. Cristina Castro of Elgin. She can be reached by phone at 847-214-8864 or by fax at 847-214-8867. Her website does not list a direct email address, but a contact form can be submitted at http://www.senatorcristinacastro.com/contact-us
So Truth – Are you a supporter of this project? Will it be a boon for Barrington Hills residents or a burden?
Here’s an exchange from Senator McConchie’s Facebook page on the topic of Longmeadow Parkway.
“Please cut spending Senator by opposing the very unnecessary Longmeadow Parkway project. The toll bridge project running through Kane County and dumping into Cook County is over budget and proposed to run directly along the path of the 90 tollway – seems to be even more senseless considering the investment made on 90 interchanges and improvements. The addition of Longmeadow Parkway and its toll bridge is a horrifying waste of roadway improvement tax dollars. Please keep your word to cut spending in our broken state!”
Senator Dan McConchie replied “Thank you Wendy for your message. Actually, there is no question before the legislature as to whether to allow the road project itself to continue. The only question before us is whether an alternate eminent domain process should be allowed to proceed or not. If we vote yes, the process will be completed in less than a year. If we vote no, the normal process currently utilized by Kane County will continue and take an estimated 21 months to complete. As this is essentially a local-federal project with funding already secured, there is nothing to my knowledge that the legislature will be considering that will in any way change the ultimate fate of the roadway.
Like · Reply · March 11 at 8:23am”
THANKS SENATOR McCONCHIE. Thanks for nothing!
I just like the facts accurately reported. Trying to include Senator McConchie is nothing more than sour grapes from McLaughlin. And you know it. How you doin Mr Knight? Or is this Steiper? Lol.
Senator McConchie is being honest – LP is a done deal in Kane County. There is nothing he can do – my words not his. And as previously stated LP isn’t even in his district. Might as well ask John McCain why he doesn’t oppose LP. What do you expect him to do? Giving people false hope that this can be stopped is not the right thing to do. The Senator is not grandstanding like McLaughlin. Which is what you are doing – trying to put the Senator in a bad light. Sour grapes again and again.
Senator McConchie is doing nothing to look after the interests of his constituents. His district includes almost 5 miles of Route 62 leading up to LMP and all our local roads that connect to 62 are going to feel the impact of Longmeadow when traffic backs up. Barrington Hills is relying on their reps in Springfield to help stop LMP or at least delay it.
You may think he’s being “honest” but he offers no support to us, even in principle. He will be voting on the bill and if he doesn’t vote no, it will be obvious that he’s not looking out for us.
Either you stand for something or you lay down for anything.
So are all the McHenry County politicians driving this thing in Kane County doing a better job for their constituents than Senator McConchie is for us? Or, do they not know it’s outside their district? I thought we were electing a lion – oops. If you were ever wondering what buyers remorse is, look no further.
Friends and Neighbors,
As your elected McHenry County board member I would like to clarify a few things.
#1 I have consistently been against the Longmeadow Parkways boondoggle. Career politicians are always pushing grand transportation plans without looking at all of relevant factors – especially when it comes to the environment and personal liberties (using eminent domain).
#2 As far as Kane County is concerned – it is a done deal like someone mentioned above. They will be ramming this down our throats. However, this has not, to my knowledge, come up in McHenry County yet. Some of you have reached out to me personally to keep me informed on this issue and for that – I thank you. Your elected representatives are only as good as the information they have… which leads me to number 3.
#3 Senator Dan McConchie is a good man. I encourage all of you to reach out to him. Sometimes we do not get the answers we want to hear but the one thing I do know about Dan is that he will tell you the truth and the reality of the situation – the political landscape.
I have personally reached out to Senator McConchie and I have confirmed what Gallo has posted above. This is an eminent domain issue presented before the senate. Whether Senator McConchie, you, or I, are sitting in the seat there will be no vote to “stop” the Long Meadow Parkway. The real issue here is do you support eminent domain.
For me, and as I see it, the Long Meadow Parkway is an unmitigated environmental disaster in the name of “progress” and a political pork project. We live in Barrington Hills (and McHenry County) for our open spaces and quiet living. We treasure our waterways and the sensitive lands that surround them. The Long Meadow Parkway does nothing to preserve the character of our community and moreover, utilizes eminent domain to deprive people of their legally acquired property.
If any of you have any questions you can always call me at (850)866-0155 or email me at andrew@andrewgasser.com.
Be Blessed,
Andrew
Not a good time to be bothering Illinois State Legislators McChonchie and McSweeney as they, like so many other state elected officials, are too busy right now working with IL State Governor and Speaker on much needed state pension reform, out of control spending and borrowing.
But . . . . .Trustee, Fritz Gohl at VBH BOT meeting (not too long ago) stated on the record that former VBH President and U.S. Congressional “wanna be” and Algonquin Mayor made a deal outside of public view some years ago regarding the dissection of VBH into North and South side along Algonquin Road via LMP. I believe BHO in a prior blog referenced Trustee Gohl’s unsolicted and most surprising remarks on this subject matter.
To get more details about this “bargain”, VBH residents should ask Trustee Gohl at the next VBH BOT meeting or maybe while he is canvassing VBH during this busy election season knocking on doors botching his pre-rehearsed lines given to him by current “SOS” candidates intended to denigrate VBH Pres. McLaughlin through means of misinformation, obfuscations and outright prevarications.
Better yet, ask the “Silent One” (at one of her coffees, while on the equestrian trail or when she is jogging with her dog) about this bargain having admitted representing VBH on the LMP project and Kane County 2040 plan.
Be sure to ask Fritz and the Silent One how the former Duda Property figured into this bargain; if at all?
Oh what a web they have woven . . .
Are the actions of Abboud and Ramesh and Gohl legal? Can they be prosecuted? If so we need to set an example. I am tired of having my rights traded away!
Print and frame my response
Possibly for the first time I agree with David Stieper. Put the blame where it should be – former administration who sold all the peasants out. And all those who knew and remained silent.
Not a good time to be “bothering” one of our Duly Elected Representatives? Whether this thing can be stopped or delayed is entirely important to many, many citizens both of McHenry County and of course also to Kane county (who will be paying the bills for this for a very long time whether it’s finished or not). Anyone who says it is a “Done Deal” is trying to dissuade you from trying to stop it. It is as many have stated here, and in various other forums – this is a “DEAL” made behind closed doors with window dressing public meetings to discourage citizens from opposing and almost never addressing the legitimate concerns of the greater whole community. Those who “Know Better” have wanted a project like this for many years and they found a mechanism and they have used various stratagems to move it forward, but there are winds now blowing against them and the storm is rising.
If a politician wants to find ways to oppose a project they can find ways to fight, slow or reverse previous legislative actions. To wit VBH BOT and Dundee Twshp resolutions declaring opposition. With new candidates running and new mixes of boards, etc – who knows what can happen with a renewed connection to the Almost 8000 Dundee Twshp voters who oppose this project which bulldozes through their community.
BTW – ILDOT is already measuring and marking up rt 62 for widening to four lanes as we speak. – BEWARE.
Please stop acting like your opinion is the only one – I guess you feel giving false hope and jerking people around is justifiable? How you conclude the statement ‘anyone who says it is a done deal is trying to dissuade you from trying to stop this…’. Lol VBH is that conclusion straight from your crystal ball? My statement is meant to address one thing and one thing only – the truth. I said nothing about giving up or dissuading anything It is meant as an honest assessment based upon past outcomes and facts.
Perhaps those who own the properties associated with the eminent domain should give consideration to the option of selling their property in order to regain some of what they stand to lose rather than lose everything. I’m not saying what they should or shouldn’t do. I am saying they deserve to know their chances of success – it is their financial stake. Not yours.
Everyone is entitled to the truth. My heart cries for what they are going through.