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Darch, incumbent trustees and clerk form reelection slate in Barrington

Posted in 2021 Elections, BACOG, Politics, Taxes on November 17, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Barrington Village President Karen Darch

Barrington Village President Karen Darch, three incumbent village trustees and Village Clerk Tony Ciganek will run for reelection in the spring as part of a slate they’re calling “Barrington Forward.”

Darch, who is seeking her fifth term as the village’s top elected official, said in an announcement of the slate Tuesday that the group provides “strong, steady, and proven leadership” as Barrington continues to deal with fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re working proactively to support community efforts, help our local businesses survive, and maintain the village’s fiscal stability by remaining fiscally responsible,” she said. “Meanwhile, we’re keeping an eye on the future. Barrington was thriving before this pandemic, and the Barrington Forward team will ensure we continue this positive momentum.”

The slate’s trustee candidates are Todd Sholeen, who’s served on the board since 2015; Jennifer Wondrasek, who was elected in 2017 and is seeking a second term on the panel; and Mike Moran, who was appointed to the board last year when former Trustee Jeff Janssen resigned because he was moving out of state.

Ciganek will be seeking his second term as village clerk.

Read on here.

Related: “Barrington trustees agree to sales tax incentives for two high-end vehicle dealerships, bringing ‘economic rewards over time’”

“Barrington launching ‘Curious Questions with Karen Darch’ podcast”

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Barrington trustees agree to sales tax incentives for two high-end vehicle dealerships, bringing ‘economic rewards over time’

Posted in BACOG, Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, Politics, Taxes on November 3, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Barrington Village President Karen Darch

Barrington is offering a longtime car dealership an economic incentive so it can expand and stay in the village.

Motor Werks of Barrington and the village reached an agreement, approved by trustees at the Oct. 26 Village Board meeting that allows the dealership to share a percentage of sales tax over a 10-year term. The incentive establishes a base sales tax amount of $2.7 million, a figure derived from an average of sales taxes over several previous years, according to village documents.

Under the agreement, Motor Werks would receive 65% of all sales tax revenues above the base as incentive payments and the village would get 35%, officials said.

The dealership, which sells high-end brands like Porsche and BMW, has been dealing with inadequate parking for its inventory, traffic congestion around the service and wash bays, and an inability to relocate its Cadillac dealership onsite, village officials said. It plans to purchase the Barrington Woods office complex, at 18 E. Dundee Ave., for redevelopment. The dealership will add a parking structure, vehicle recondition center and move the Cadillac brand.

Village Manager Scott Anderson said Motor Werks has been an important business in the community, and it is in the village’s best interest to partner with them to provide economic support.

Read more here.

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Barrington officials: New rule for gas on trains has ‘quite acute’ potential for catastrophe

Posted in BACOG, EJ&E/Canadian National, Public Safety, Real Estate, TRAC on October 5, 2020| Leave a Comment »

A new federal rule allows liquefied natural gas to be transported by train across the U.S., sparking concerns from Barrington and other suburbs.

A new player, liquefied natural gas, has joined the list of hazardous materials cruising through Illinois by train — a move the federal government says is safe but raises fears of out-of-control fires and explosions for some suburbs.

This summer, the U.S. Department of Transportation authorized railroads to haul liquefied natural gas (LNG) across the country.

Prior to approval, more than 460 entities commented — mostly critically — on the plan, including Barrington, which is crisscrossed by the Union Pacific and Canadian National railroads.

The potential for a catastrophe “is quite acute,” village officials stated. “An uncontrolled LNG release involving fire stemming from a derailment scenario must burn itself out as there is no practical way to extinguish it.”

Federal officials are confident that upgraded DOT-113 tank cars with double shells and thick carbon steel can safely contain any spills.

New requirements, such as remote monitoring of tank car pressure, will “provide for the safe transportation of LNG by rail to more parts of the country where this energy source is needed,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao stated.

Read on here.

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Village publishes Summer newsletter

Posted in 2020 Elections, BACOG, Public Safety, Topics Of Interest, VBHPD, Village Government on August 30, 2020| Leave a Comment »

The 8th annual Hills Are Alive Fall Festival is three weeks from today

The Village mailed their Summer newsletter to residents earlier this month. Some of the topics covered included:

  • The upcoming Hills are Alive Fall Festival
  • Voting information and critical dates
  • BACOG’s annual well water testing event
  • Updates from the Police Department
  • Village roads speed limit enforcement
  • Words of prevention on theft or burglary, and
  • A pop Village knowledge quiz

If you did not receive your copy of the newsletter, you can find it here.

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Good questions deserve answers

Posted in BACOG, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order on June 26, 2020| 3 Comments »

Earlier this month hundreds of people gathered at an event at Citizens Park in Barrington (see “Hundreds gather in Barrington ‘to educate people’ on black lives”).

Last weekend we published, “Barrington cancels July 4th parade and fireworks while postponing other summer events,” and before we knew it, a reader posted a comment that was actually weighing on our minds:

“Curious as to why fireworks, parade and family fitness run, all Barrington traditions, are cancelled but BLM rally in Citizen Park allowed?”

Perhaps there was good reason for one or two event cancellations, but isn’t the 4th of July fireworks display just a peaceful gathering in a park-like setting at dusk?

If there’s some logic here, please share it or maybe someone should ask newly appointed BACOG chair Karen Darch.

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Karen Darch to chair BACOG for 2020-21 term

Posted in BACOG, South Barrington on June 25, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Barrington Village President Karen Darch

Officials from the Barrington Area Council of Governments have announced a new executive board leadership team for 2020-21.

Barrington Village President Karen Darch will serve as the group’s chair, with South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie as vice chair.

Barrington Township Supervisor Amy Nykaza served as board chair in 2019-20.

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Metra outlines plans as Chicago area begins to reopen

Posted in BACOG, METRA on May 28, 2020| Leave a Comment »

The Barrington METRA station appeared all but vacant this morning at 9:30 AM.

As Illinois and the Chicago region move toward establishing a “new normal” in the time of COVID-19, Metra is providing more details about the steps it is taking to ensure passengers will feel safe using its system.

“We know more than ever that passengers need to feel safe and confident using our service,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “We know more than ever the importance of providing a clean, hygienic experience on the platforms and on the trains. And we know more than ever the need to promote safe and healthy practices, such as social distancing and wearing face coverings.”

Social distancing/train schedules

Metra will provide an opportunity for responsible physical distancing on its trains as much as and as long as possible. In general, Metra will aim for trains that are no more than about half full: one passenger per two-seater on the lower level and one passenger per every other seat on the upper level. (There will be exceptions for families or others travelling together.)

Metra will continue to use the current alternate weekday schedules (view them here) at the start of June but is adding cars to trains to make sure there is plenty of room for passengers to spread out. It will add more cars as needed. If Metra suspects there is potential for a train to become more crowded, it will try to operate an unscheduled train behind that one to aid with serving awaiting passengers, or it will start to add more scheduled trains to the line. Metra will continue to add cars and trains as ridership and travel patterns dictate.

Read the complete METRA release here.

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BACOG’s letter to Governor Pritzker about Restore Illinois plan

Posted in BACOG, Meeting Minutes, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes on May 28, 2020| Leave a Comment »

“The members of the Barrington Area Council of Governments appreciate the efforts that have gone into developing the Restore Illinois plan. Our municipal and township governments have been compliant with the Executive Orders to keep residents safe during this COVID-19 public health situation. The Executive Board and membership have concerns, however, about provisions within the Restore Illinois plan and sent the following letter to Governor Pritzker for consideration.”

A copy of the BACOG members May 15th letter to Governor JB Pritzker can be viewed and downloaded here.

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Spring Fling Girls Night Out supports scholarship

Posted in BACOG on March 12, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Enjoy appetizers, pampering services, shopping, prizes and a raffle at Spring Fling Girls Night Out from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at McGonigal’s Pub in Barrington. Hosted by the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Biz Net, the event is a fundraiser for the chamber’s Lauren Brown Memorial Scholarship. Tickets are $30 and available at http://www.barringtonchamber.com.

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Biz Net will host a Spring Fling Girls Night Out from 5 to 7 PM Thursday, March 19, at McGonigal’s Pub, 105 S. Cook St., Barrington.

Cost is $30 per person, which includes complimentary appetizers, one drink ticket, mini-pampering services, free raffle ticket, shopping and prizes. Registration begins at 5 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at www.barringtonchamber.com.

The Women’s Biz Net Spring Fling Girls Night Out event is a fundraiser for the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce’s Lauren Brown Memorial Scholarship, named after the chamber’s former head of communications who passed away at the age of 29 from ovarian cancer.

Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce awards several scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,500 each year to Barrington area senior high school students who plan to attend a college, university or technical school following graduation.

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BACOG Turns 50

Posted in BACOG, Politics, Taxes on January 9, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Janet Agnoletti (pictured third from left at a 2017 Barrington area legislative breakfast) is the executive director of BACOG

The July/August 2017 issue of Quintessential Barrington featured the story of the Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG) which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. When it was formed in 1970, the villages that make up the Barrington area were relatively young in their organization. The exception was the Village of Barrington, incorporated in 1865, the landmark hub around which these newer communities gradually emerged. Barrington Hills and Deer Park incorporated in 1957; North Barrington, Lake Barrington, and South Barrington in 1959; and Tower Lakes in 1966.

While each village would develop its own character, its own sense of place, there was commonality that the location and natural resources of the entire area needed an organization to protect those resources, and provide strength in numbers to counter the pressures of burgeoning development in the northwestern suburbs.

Thus, nurtured into being by enlightened leadership from the Barrington Area Development Council, the Barrington Area Council of Governments met for the first time on April 25, 1970. The Executive Board consisted of the village presidents of the member villages. In 2004, the Council was joined by the supervisors of Barrington and Cuba Townships, representing those unincorporated areas still under county jurisdiction, and thus subject to possible incompatible development pressures.

Read the full Quintessential Barrington article here.

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