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Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 4)

Posted in AI, Audio Recordings, Clown Car, Comprehensive Plan, Crime, Data Center, Deception, Dumb and Dumber, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, FOIA, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Disconnection, Land Use, Lennie, New Normal?, Newsletter, OMA, One Barrington Hills, OP/Ed, Open Meetings Act, Perjury, Plan Commission, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Simple Minds, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Transcripts, Transparency, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Government, Village President, Zoning Board on April 3, 2026| 3 Comments »

Village of Barrington Hills board members (l-r) JC Clarke, Laura AB Ekstrom, Brian Cecola, Marsha McClary, David Riff and Jessica Hoffmann. Not pictured: Thomas Strauss.

Our Village Board of Trustees met Monday evening. This marked the third meeting since their December 2025 meeting when residents were blindsided to learn, “110 Acre AI data center campus pitched to Village Board.”

The first speaker Monday night expressed their continued dissatisfaction with the Board as follows:

“All right. Good evening. My name is Aaron Becker. By now you probably know who I am.

I’m speaking tonight in regards to the Village attorney’s letter in response to my questions from January 27th,and I’ve got a couple other comments as well.

I really appreciate the Village responding in righting to my quick response. However, I ask respectfully and directly why several of my explicit questions and requests were not answered at all. They were just omitted, so… .

The response explains why it believes its past actions were lawful, but it does not confirm whether any of the safeguards I requested would be implemented. My question tonight is simple: was the omission intentional?

In the Village Summer 2021 newsletter, residents were told by Trustee Ekstrom, she’s not here today, and I’m going to quote her, ‘Most residents know that they can attend the Village Board meetings, many may not realize that committee and commission meetings are also open to the public. Our Village is a community above all else and having input from our residents reflected in our decision making is not only welcome but encouraged.’

I’ll say this much, I genuinely appreciate that perspective and I believe her. With that in mind, here’s some feedback:

Please confirm that all off-record communications with Brennan Development Group will stop.

Please stop project specific merit discussions absent of formal filings.

Please confirm that unsupported tax claims will not be repeated by the Village without substantiation.

Please confirm that records will be preserved.

Please do everything in your power to maintain true independence of the Plan Commission.

I’d also like the Board to reflect on some of the statements Board of Trustees members have made in the past. In the same Summer 2021 newsletter, residents were told by Trustee Strauss that quote, ‘We live in a special community, and the Board is committed to maintaining our heritage.’

And Trustee Riff said, ‘I would like to make certain that we remain focused on the budget, protect our residential zoning rights (or rather zoning laws), and ensure that our community remains safe and secure for all residents.’

So those are strong words. And they matter. So I’ll ask each of you as Trustee members, do you believe that based on all of the emails we have now seen and read that you have honored those commitments? That you are protecting our residential zoning rights. And that you are maintaining our heritage as a Village.

I’ll be honest, I don’t. I read all the emails. I don’t believe it.

You have to go to bed at night. You have to look yourself in the mirror and say that you believe you’ve protected the residential zoning rights with your actions and your words.

My wife spoke last month about actions and words and holding people accountable when their actions and words don’t align. And that’s what we’re here doing asking of our leaders for continuity between their actions and their words.

That’s all I’m asking. When you say you’re going to do something, follow through and do it. Please.

So, to summarize, respond to the five requests I had in the letter either acknowledging you made a mistake and how you’re going to fix it, or that you made no mistake.

Either way we deserve clarity we deserve responses to those.

That’s my comment. Thank you very much.”

The audio recordings from the March 30, 2026, Board of Trustees meeting can be found here.

Related: “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Follow-up),” “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 3),” “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 2),” “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 1),” “110 Acre AI data center campus pitched to Village Board”

 

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Village Board of Trustees meet tonight

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Board of Health, Building Department, Clown Car, Conflict of interest, Deception, Dumb and Dumber, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, Financial Reports, Heritage and Environs Committee, Insurance Committee, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Legal Expenses, Lennie, Minutes, One Barrington Hills, Overhead, Plan Commission, Police Pension Board, Politics, Property Taxes, Riding Club Commission, Roads & Bridges Committee, Save 5 Acres, Simple Minds, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President, Village Treasurer, Zoning Board on March 30, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting this evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

  • [Vote] Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of Notice of Award for the 2026 Road Program Project by the Village of Barrington Hills, Illinois Resolution 26 –
  • [Vote] Ordinance Approving a Final Plat of Subdivision For the Acorn Corner Subdivision – 11 & 12 Rock Ridge Road Ordinance 26 –
  • [Vote] Resolution of the Village of Barrington Hills in Support of Municipal Housing Authority Resolution 26 –
  • Register Now: Land We Love Run 5k/10k Celebrating America250 on June 28 2026

A copy of their agenda, including info on listening to the meeting, can be viewed and downloaded here.

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Roads & Bridges Committee meets this afternoon

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Deception, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, One Barrington Hills, Open Meetings Act, Overhead, Property Taxes, Road construction, Roads & Bridges Committee, Robert’s Rules of Order, Simple Minds, Taxes, Transparency, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village Government, WTF on March 19, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Village Roads & Bridges Committee meets this afternoon at 4 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

  • [Vote] Road Program 2026 Recommendation (Left blank)
  • River/Algonquin Road Curve

A copy of the full posted agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

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Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Follow-up)

Posted in Agendas, AI, Audio Recordings, Clown Car, Data Center, Deception, Dumb and Dumber, Ethics, FOIA, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Disconnection, Minutes, Newsletter, OMA, One Barrington Hills, OP/Ed, Open Meetings Act, Plan Commission, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Simple Minds, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Transcripts, Transparency, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Government, Village President, Zoning Board on March 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »

There was no mention of the data center discussions which began in October in President Cecola’s quarterly Village Newsletter distributed last week. So much for transparency.

Last week we published a series of editorials to enlighten residents on the, “110 Acre AI data center campus pitched to Village Board.” We referenced Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) records we obtained, and several people have asked if they might obtain a copy.

Those records we were provided, edited only to eliminate redundancy such as multiple copies of the “Data Center Overview,” can be found here.

Related: “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 3),” “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 2),” “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 1),” “7 things to know about Illinois data centers,” “Data Center group concerned over pause,” “110 Acre AI data center campus pitched to Village Board”

 

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Village Board of Trustees meet Monday

Posted in Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Barbarian Migrants in Busses at the Gate, Better Government Association, Board of Health, Building Department, Dumb and Dumber, ePacket Agendas, Equestrian Commission, Ethics, Finance Committee, Financial Reports, FOIA, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Insurance Committee, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Legal Expenses, Minutes, OMA, One Barrington Hills, Pension Funding, Plan Commission, Police Pension Board, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Riding Club Commission, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Road construction, Roads & Bridges Committee, Taxes, TMI, Traffic, Transparency, Unions, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village Government, Village Treasurer, Zoning Board on December 14, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting tomorrow evening beginning at 6:30 PM. A copy of their agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

 

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Statement on the Appointment of Darby Hills to the Illinois State Senate

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Barrington Hills Country Club, Board of Elections, Clown Car, Deception, Dinky, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Ethics, Illinois State Board of Elections, Mad Cows, One Barrington Hills, Perjury, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, RINO, SNAFU, Springfield, The Other Half, Transparency, Village Board, Zoning Board on June 10, 2025| 1 Comment »

For those confused about the recent appointment of Darby Hills to the Illinois State Senate, let’s clarify the facts and the legal process unfolding in McHenry County.

The judge in this case was asked to rule on two critical issues. First, whether the Lake County Republican Chairman could retroactively remedy the fact that Ms. Hills was not a Republican after McConchie‘s retirement. Brin appointed Hills as a republican precinct committeeperson —something both she and the chairman acknowledged needed to be done to remedy this deficit. The court allowed the chairman to appoint Ms. Hills as a precinct committeeperson weeks after Senator McConchie vacated his seat, arguably ignoring the statutes requirements and effectively temporarily enabling the appointment.

The second, and more consequential issue—the heart of the lawsuit—is whether Ms. Hills was a Republican at the time of the vacancy. Rather than interpret the relevant statute, requiring a nominee have valid Republican credentials the judge declined to rule on that core question. The case is now on appeal, and the Appellate Court will be asked to determine whether state law was properly followed and whether Hills was legally eligible for appointment under party rules and Illinois statutes.

Regardless of how one defines “Republican,” Ms. Hills’ voting record in Springfield speaks volumes. In just a short time, she has cast key votes that are out of step with Republican principles—votes that were anti-Second Amendment, pro-DEI mandates, anti-business, and in lockstep with teachers’ union interests.

The outcome of this legal appeal will be watched closely. If the Appellate Court finds that Ms. Hills was ineligible for appointment, it raises serious questions:

  • Will she be allowed to retain her Senate seat?
  • Will her votes be invalidated?
  • Will she be required to return taxpayer funds paid in salary during her disputed tenure?

Of course, there remains a straightforward path to public office: campaign, knock on doors, earn support, and win an election—both in a Republican primary and a general contest. But for now, it seems, Ms. Hills has taken a shortcut, bypassing voters in favor of backroom maneuvering.

Observers, constituents, and constitutional conservatives across the state will be following this case closely—not only for what it reveals about one Senate seat, but for what it says about process, transparency, the integrity of some in the Republican party and our electoral system.

Related: “Residents deserve full disclosure – an update,” “Residents deserve full disclosure,” “’No more dog and pony shows, please!’” “Gun rights advocacy group expresses displeasure with terms like ‘RINO, Backstabbing Traitor’ and ‘Botox Queen’ describing a senator’s vote on Senate Bill 8,” “Darby Hills Sworn In to Represent Illinois’ 26th Senate District,” “Darby Hills chosen — again — to succeed Dan McConchie in state Senate,” “’The Fix’ is in?,” “Darby Hills’ appointment to state Senate on hold as Republicans reopen applications for McConchie’s seat,” “26th Legislative District Committee meeting cancelled,” “State Senator seat at any price?,” ”26th Legislative District Committee meeting tomorrow,” “Do Over Scheduled for Meeting to Replace State Senator Dan McConchie,” “Restraining order sought to block 26th Senate appointment amid legal fight,” “Lawsuit challenges legality of GOP appointment to 26th State Senate seat,” “McConchie’s would-be successor isn’t a Republican and can’t serve, lawsuit alleges,” “Darby Hills Appointed as New State Senator for Illinois’ 26th Senate District”

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“No more dog and pony shows, please!”

Posted in Appointments, Deception, Elections, Ethics, One Barrington Hills, OP/Ed, Politics, Resident Spotlights, Springfield, Transparency, Village Board on May 9, 2025| 1 Comment »

Darby Hills, who self-identifies as an Illinois State Senator, has been actively engaging in self-promotion by frequently posing for photographs with various individuals and attributing accomplishments to herself whenever possible. Her goal? Legitimizing her appointment allegedly secured through political maneuvering in a backroom deal involving Lake County Republican Chairman Keith Brin, State of Illinois Republican Chairwoman Kathy Salvi, State Senate Minority Leader John Curran and Colin Corbett of Core Strategies (Political Consulting Services). The role of State Senator, however, requires far more than social media savvy, manicured nails and high heels. It demands the ability to read legislation critically, recognize manipulation, and resist emotional, progressive driven agendas.

Hills has already proven to be out of step with core Republican values. She was one of only two Senators to vote for a bill that infringed on Second Amendment rights, and, just last week, she was the ONLY senator to support a packaging bill that would harm small, independent businesses. Both pieces of legislation were cloaked in emotional appeal, with kernels of truth, but ultimately representing incremental steps toward eroding individual freedoms and undermining local entrepreneurs. Hills should have known better! Obviously, she’s completely inexperienced and worse, doesn’t understand that to hold her seat she must uphold the principles of the Republican Party.

What Hills doesn’t want anyone in our community or at large to know is that there will be a bench trial on May 20th before Illinois 22nd Circuit Court Judge Kevin G. Costello in McHenry County, which will determine whether Hills was even qualified to be appointed as a Republican back in February. If the court finds she did not meet statutory requirements as of February 2nd, the date Senator McConchie vacated his seat, she could be removed from office. The bad news for Hills is that the Judge has taken the case and has found that she only potentially became qualified on February 18th, thus signalling a high probability she will lose this case.

Documents obtained by The Observer show that Hills herself raised red flags on her application for the five decision-makers regarding her Republican credentials—concerns that were ignored. In his interview, State Representative Martin McLaughlin even warned the committee that one of the four finalists was unqualified. Nonetheless, Keith Brin, with his weighted majority vote, pushed Hills through. Brin, who is Core Strategies’ legal counsel and law partner with liberal State Senator Robert Martwick, voted twice for Hills to ensure she filled the seat.

According to state law, there are four ways to qualify as a Republican appointee. Hills met none. In a last-minute maneuver, Brin scrambled to have her appointed as a precinct committeeperson—not in her own area, because she couldn’t qualify in Cuba Township to be one, but rather in Ela Township, on February 18th, two weeks after McConchie vacated the seat. That timeline is central to the legal challenge now facing her.

Why was Hills rushed into the office? Senate Republican Leader John Curran backed her for two reasons: she is pliable and promised financial support. But local residents are waking up to the reality that Hills does not embody Republican or conservative values, and even more concerning, they are now learning about the heavy-handed, insider tactics that led to her appointment.

She may present herself as a polished, primped, pedigreed Lady Poodle at events and photo ops suited for the elite circles of Barrington Hills, but the 26th District isn’t quite ready for The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show! Out here, coifed but unqualified won’t win many hearts or votes.

Related: “Gun rights advocacy group expresses displeasure with terms like ‘RINO, Backstabbing Traitor’ and ‘Botox Queen’ describing a senator’s vote on Senate Bill 8,” “Darby Hills Sworn In to Represent Illinois’ 26th Senate District,” “Darby Hills chosen — again — to succeed Dan McConchie in state Senate,” “’The Fix’ is in?,” “Darby Hills’ appointment to state Senate on hold as Republicans reopen applications for McConchie’s seat,” “26th Legislative District Committee meeting cancelled,” “State Senator seat at any price?,” ”26th Legislative District Committee meeting tomorrow,” “Do Over Scheduled for Meeting to Replace State Senator Dan McConchie,” “Restraining order sought to block 26th Senate appointment amid legal fight,” “Lawsuit challenges legality of GOP appointment to 26th State Senate seat,” “McConchie’s would-be successor isn’t a Republican and can’t serve, lawsuit alleges,” “Darby Hills Appointed as New State Senator for Illinois’ 26th Senate District”

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Roads & Bridges Committee meets today

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Elections, Entertainment, FUBAR, Illinois State Board of Elections, Mac's Property Management, One Barrington Hills, Politics, Property Taxes, Riding Club Commission, Road construction, Roads & Bridges Committee, TMI, Traffic, Village Clerk, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President on March 6, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The Village Roads & Bridges Committee meets this afternoon at 4 PM. Some of the topics on the agenda include:

A copy of the agenda can be viewed here.

*Note the Village Engineer’s memo recommending seasonal road closure is addressed to the Village President with copies to the Director of Administration and Village Clerk, but not the Roads & Bridges Chair. Additionally, the Road Program 2025 Recommendation memo is addressed to the Director of Administration only. Ouch.

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Restraining order sought to block 26th Senate appointment amid legal fight

Posted in Appointments, Dinky, One Barrington Hills, Politics, Springfield, Village Board, Village Government on February 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Darby Hills

By Russell Lissau | Daily Herald

A request for a temporary restraining order seeking to prevent Barrington Hills Trustee Darby Hills from being sworn in as the next state senator for the 26th District was filed Wednesday.

It’s the latest salvo in an Algonquin woman’s campaign to stop Hills’ appointment to the seat that was held by Republican Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods until Feb. 2.

The request was filed Wednesday morning in McHenry County court, records indicate. Judge Kevin G. Costello will rule on the matter.

More here.

Related: “Lawsuit challenges legality of GOP appointment to 26th State Senate seat,” “McConchie’s would-be successor isn’t a Republican and can’t serve, lawsuit alleges,” “Darby Hills Appointed as New State Senator for Illinois’ 26th Senate District”

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Lawsuit challenges legality of GOP appointment to 26th State Senate seat

Posted in Appointments, Clown Car, Deception, Dinky, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Ethics, One Barrington Hills, Politics, Springfield, Village Board, Village Government on February 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Darby Hills | Village of Barrington Hills photo

By Bill Dwyer for Chronicle Media

The petals seem to have already wilted on newly appointed GOP 26th State Senate hopeful Darby Hills’ Valentine’s Day roses.

Hills, the Barrington Hills village trustee who on Feb. 14 was selected to replace Dan McConchie after his Feb. 2 resignation, has still not been sworn in as of Feb. 19. A lawsuit filed Feb. 18 in McHenry County Circuit Court argues her appointment was illegal under Illinois law.

The lawsuit, filed by southern Illinois attorney Thomas DeVore, with Algonquin resident Brittany Colatorti as plaintiff, names the Republican legislative committee for the 26th Senate District and Hills as defendants. It seeks a declaratory judgment voiding Hills’ selection.

In a nutshell, DeVore and Colatorti argue that, Hills has not shown herself to be an actual Republican, as required by law, and that the committee that selected her did not legally exist and did not inform the public of its intentions as legally required.

DeVore and Colatorti argued that the law exists to protect Republicans “from having their party infiltrated by a pseudo-Republican,” and that Hills “has never engaged in any behavior which would have put the public on notice that she is a Republican.

Hills was selected from a four-person field that also included current 52nd District State Rep. Martin McLaughlin of Barrington Hills, Ela Township Trustee Tosi Ufodike of Hawthorn Woods; and Long Grove Trustee Chris Borawski.

The selection committee, which interviewed candidates at the Palatine Township Republican Organization offices Feb. 14, included Lake County GOP Chair Keith Brin, McHenry County GOP Chair Jeff Thorsen; Kane County GOP Chair Andro Lerario; Palatine Township Supervisor Andy-John Kalkounos; and Barrington Township GOP Chair Peter Kopsaftis.

Read more here.

Related: “McConchie’s would-be successor isn’t a Republican and can’t serve, lawsuit alleges,” “Darby Hills Appointed as New State Senator for Illinois’ 26th Senate District”

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