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Archive for March, 2019

Protect Our Library — Re-Elect Clifford, Carr and Pintozzi

Posted in 2019 Elections, Guest Essay, Letters to the Editor on March 30, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Barrington Hills Neighbors and Library Supporters –

I have been a Library Trustee for the Barrington Public Library District was nearly 20 years. During that timeframe, I have been proud of the quality library services that we have delivered to the Barrington community in our 72-square mile library district.

Last April, I had to make a difficult decision regarding a request from the Village of Barrington to purchase a substantial portion of our library property to re-direct Lake Zurich Road through the library parking lot to our traffic light. While I have the utmost respect for our Village and understand the dilemma the train traffic on Northwest Highway has created, I could not in good conscience make a decision at that time to irreversibly sell the property and sacrifice the future financial integrity of the library.

A full explanation of my decision can be reviewed in the attached PowerPoint presentation (seen here) I made at the Board meeting in April, where three of my fellow Library Trustees agreed to cease negotiations to sell the land. Now, two challengers are running for three of the open Library Trustee seats, seeking to unseat the three incumbents – including me – with an effort to swing the vote to sell the library property.

I am asking you to vote on April 2nd for Carrie Carr, Barbara Pintozzi and me – the three incumbents, all of whom voted to not sell the library property – to Protect Our Library. The attached flyer gives more background on our candidacy. Note that Daily Herald – after a group interview of all five candidates – endorsed all three incumbents for re-election. You can read the Daily Herald’s endorsement here.

You can read more about our campaign at our website seen here.

Thank you for your consideration of our re-election, and please feel free to contact me with any thoughts you have on the library or the decision on last year’s property issue.

Carolyn Welch Clifford

cclifford@ottosenbritz.com

 

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Should voters approve Barrington District 220’s proposal to borrow $185 million? You decide.

Posted in 2019 Elections, 220, Board of Education, District 220 referendum, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts on March 29, 2019| 3 Comments »

C.U.S.D.  220 placed on the April 2nd ballot a $185 million referendum proposal

Representatives of the district have recently conducted information sessions in person or via social media, and we at The Observer have concerns as follows:

  • 220 wants to borrow $185 Million: That’s just shy of $13 million per school, not for any new construction, but just upgrades and maintenance to existing facilities.
  • $60 Million for maintenance alone: 220 proposes to spend a third of the money to be borrowed on heating, air conditioning, plumbing and window repairs or replacement, as well as new roofing. 220 admittedly deferred maintenance over the last 10 to 20 years to the extent that one must ask, “how are some of the buildings are still operating?”
  • The 220 Advisory Committee recommended a lower amount:   220 solicited advisory input from, “…more than 50 community organizations.” Apparently the Board felt such a large and diverse group (a list of the participants can be seen here) would presumably approve the desired referendum amount the Board of Education members wanted ($185 million), but went on to overrule the $158 million amount recommended by the Committee.
  • Pepper Construction provided 220 with budgetary guidance: Rather than insulting the intelligence of our readers by expounding on our obvious concerns on this point, we’ll move on….
  • Turnover on the Board of Education: Three spots are open in this election and a new Board President will be installed. With the many line items on the $185M wish list, we wonder if new members will be completely on board with the expenditures.

Speaking of 220’s wish list, a line item listing of all plans with budget amounts can be viewed here. We wonder, given that kitchen remodeling is included in their expansive list, does that include new kitchen sinks for $185 million?

The big question is, “will the tax weary voters in Barrington Hills approve 220’s proposed referendum?” Some have their doubts, but ultimately it is up to our readers to decide though their votes.

Please take the few minutes it takes to exercise your right to vote. Whichever side the referendum finally lands, at least you will have the peace of mind that comes with having voiced your opinion at the Ballot Box! 

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McLaughlin: Haven’t taken public stance on District 220 referendum

Posted in 2019 Trustee Elections, 220, Board of Education, District 220 referendum, Letters to the Editor, News Media, School Districts, Village Board, Village Government on March 27, 2019| 9 Comments »

This is in response to the letter to the editor you published recently from retired public school teacher and former Barrington Hills village trustee Karen Selman.

I would like to correct the record. Ms. Selman’s inclusion of me and my family members in a letter to the editor is inappropriate, wrong and uninformed.

First, I have five incredible daughters, not two. The first four have attended TCU, Villanova, USC and yes, Northwestern due to their determination and hard work. My wife deserves all the credit, for her dedication working with our children on rigorous nightly homework routines over many years.

Interestingly, each of my children and many others in our great schools were able to succeed during a period without this proposed referendum.

I have not publicly stated a position in opposition or in favor of the District 220 referendum.

I was, however, part of the District 220 Referendum Advisory Committee, which — after more than 500 hours of volunteer community input — gave direction to the school board for the lowest amount presented, $158 million, which was quickly amended to $185 million by the school board.

I have publicly endorsed Deb Buettner, Brian Cecola and Brian Croll for Barrington Hills Village Trustee in the upcoming election. Your publication also has endorsed these three qualified volunteers. Thank you in advance for accepting my corrections.

Martin J. McLaughlin

Barrington Hills village president

The link to McLaughlin’s letter to the Daily Herald editor can be found here. The link to the former Trustee who McLaughlin refers to can be found here.

 

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County board denies plans to build fire station near two Barrington schools

Posted in 220, BCFPD, Board of Education, School Districts, Traffic on March 26, 2019| Leave a Comment »

The Cook County Building and Zoning Committee has turned down a special use request from the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District to construct a fire station close to two Barrington public school buildings.

The decision was made at the committee’s March 20 meeting.

In Barrington School District 220, the Early Learning Center and Barrington Middle School — Prairie Campus, both at 40 E. Dundee Road, would be impacted by siren noise and added traffic, said Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, D-15th District.

The two schools are in Morrison’s district, and Wednesday’s vote was 0-14 against the fire district’s proposal, he said.

“We have children there 3 to 6 years old and many of them have sensory issues,” Morrison told Pioneer Press.

Read more here.

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Residents say CN’s plan to add a second track will cause noise and pollution

Posted in Cook, County, EJ&E/Canadian National, Hoffman Estates, IDOT, Land Use, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest, TRAC on March 25, 2019| Leave a Comment »

The Canadian National Railroad is asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a permit to construct a 4.27-mile-long second track adjoining the existing mainline track between Hoffman Estates and Elgin. The new rails would run between Shoe Factory and Spaulding roads and west of Poplar Creek Forest Preserve.

CN said the new and existing tracks would create a 6-mile reliever allowing an “uninterrupted flow” of northbound and southbound freight trains.

“The project will enhance the safe and efficient flow of rail traffic including the Milwaukee District West Line of Metra,” CN spokesman Alexandre Boulé said. “Commuters should also see reduced delays at Shoe Factory Road.”

Metra officials could not confirm CN’s assertions.

The Army Corps is involved because CN’s plan to mitigate impacts to Poplar Creek and its tributaries, which connect to the Fox River downstream, requires government approval under the Clean Water Act.

Read more here.

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Endorsement for Barrington Hills Park Board: Iacovelli, Kelly

Posted in 2019 Elections, Barrington Hills Park District, Politics, Riding Club of Barrington Hills on March 23, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Four candidates are running for three 4-year terms on the Barrington Hills Park Board: Board President Dennis Kelly, Board Treasurer Gigi Iacovelli, Board Vice President Steve Allen and Deputy Village Clerk Robin Van Castle.

Kelly and Iacovelli have returned candidate bios and questionnaires for the public to review. The other two have not. We endorse Kelly and Iacovelli.

To read the Daily Herald endorsement, click here. .

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BACC to host public town hall forum

Posted in 220, Barrington Hills Park District, BCFPD, Press Release, School Districts, Village Government on March 22, 2019| Leave a Comment »

The Third Annual Public Town Hall Forum, featuring updates from local taxing bodies, will be held on at 8 a.m. April 24 at The Garlands of Barrington, 1000 Garlands Way., Barrington.

The event, hosted by The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, will provide updates on local public services in the Barrington area, as well as a Q&A session with forum speakers.

Invited speakers include representatives from the Barrington Area Library, Barrington Community School District 220, Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Park District, Barrington Township, Cuba Township, Harper College and South Barrington Park District.

The cost to attend the event is $35 per person, which includes a buffet breakfast. Registration and breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m. To register call (847) 381-2525 or visit the BACC website at www.BarringtonChamber.com.

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Active shooter drill Friday at Barrington High School

Posted in 220, Community Alerts, District 220 referendum, Politics, School Districts on March 21, 2019| Leave a Comment »

An active shooter drill, which will not involve students who are on spring break, is set from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, at Barrington High School, officials announced.

Barrington police and fire personnel will conduct the drill in conjunction with Barrington Area Unit District 220 employees. Officials said passers-by should not be alarmed if they see significant police and fire activity, including helicopters near and around Barrington High.

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Face of Barrington School District 220 board to change with 2 not seeking re-election, 4 newcomers in the race

Posted in 2019 Elections, 220, Agendas, Board of Education, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes on March 21, 2019| Leave a Comment »

The race for Barrington Community School District 220 Board of Education includes five contenders running for three available seats in the April 2 election, in addition to the referendum on the ballot that asks voters about a multi-million spending plan.

Angela Wilcox, who has been a board member since 2015, is the lone incumbent.

Board President Brian Battle decided not to run again, ending a stint on the board that began in 2003. He’s stepping down, he said, because he has met many of the goals that he set for himself throughout his tenure.

“We established solid financial footing for School District 220 and, when I got to the district, it was annually on the financial watch list of the Illinois State Board of Education,” Battle said in December when he announced he would not seek re-election

Read more here.

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Look inside this hilltop home designed by modernist architect Ed Dart

Posted in Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, Topics Of Interest on March 20, 2019| Leave a Comment »

The architect of Water Tower Place and many midcentury houses and churches designed this one in Barrington Hills with a vertical emphasis that complements the trees on the wooded site. 

A brick and glass modernist house in Barrington Hills designed in the mid-1960s by Ed Dart, one of Chicago’s great modernist architects, is on the market for the first time in more than 25 years.

Dart, whose best-known work is the soaring 74-story Water Tower Place, also emphasized the vertical element of this house on Brinker Road, letting it complement tall trees on the site. Both inside and out, he used Chicago common brick for an earthen connection.

The interior’s ample windows of glass and long catwalks on the second and third stories “give you sweeping views of the trees and the lake from any angle,” said Giacomo Antonini, who owns the 3,900-square-foot house on 6 acres.

“It still delights me,” 28 years after he bought the home with his now-deceased wife, he said.

Read more from Crain’s Chicago Business here.

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