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District 220 Board of Education meets tonight

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, DARCHED, Deception, Elections, His Master's Voice, Illinois State Board of Elections, League of Women Voters, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, TMI, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on March 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »

220 AdminThe District 220 Board of Education meets this evening at 7:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. Some of the topics on the agenda include:

  • Second Reading of Board Policy
  • Consideration to Approve Addendum to Barrington Youth Baseball/Softball Contract
  • 2023-24 Instructional Materials Report
  • Consideration to Approve Resolution Authorizing Partial Settlement of Vaping Litigation
  • Consideration to Approve the Resolution and Sales Contract for Sale of 310 E. James Street, Barrington.
  • Consideration to Approve Organizational Board Meeting on May 1, 2023, and
  • Consideration to approve the terms of Dr. Hunt’s resignation as set forth in his resignation letter.

A copy of the agenda can be viewed here. The meeting will be live streamed on the district YouTube channel.

Related: “The District 220 Policy Committee has a lot on their plate tomorrow,” “Who’s minding Leah and Barry’s campaign finances,” “What 220 voters need to know continued, including our recommendations,” “What 220 voters need to know,” “220 Parents call BS!”

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Correction: Barrington approves plan to redevelop downtown ‘Golden Triangle’

Posted in 220, BACOG, DARCHED, Deception, EJ&E/Canadian National, METRA, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, TRAC, Traffic, Transparency on March 1, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Darch Triangle

Barrington village trustees unanimously approved plans Monday to redevelop the 6.2-acre Golden Triangle site downtown with a four-story building that will includes homes, retail space and a restaurant. (Courtesy of the Village of Barrington)

A proposal for a mixed-use development in downtown Barrington’s 6.2-acre Golden Triangle area passed its final test this week.

Barrington village board members unanimously approved the development at 200-300 N. Hough St. Monday, clearing the way for a four-story building on the former Market Center and Volvo dealership property.

The building will contain 125 residential units and 12,000 square feet of commercial restaurant/retail space. The proposal also calls for 37 “car condominiums.”

Developer and Barrington resident Joe Taylor said he plans to operate a full-service restaurant on the property that will not replicate what already exists downtown Barrington.

Read more here.

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‘It really is about the training’: Barrington leaders say they’re prepared for train derailment

Posted in DARCHED, Deception, EJ&E/Canadian National, Elections, Ethics, METRA, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Transparency, Unions on March 1, 2023| Leave a Comment »

CN overhead

A Canadian National train passes through the crossing on Route 59 between Northwest Highway and Hough Street in Barrington. The recent derailment of a train with hazardous chemicals in Ohio has led to questions about how a similar event would be addressed in Barrington. (Daily Herald file photo)

Since the Canadian National Railway acquired the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway in 2009, Barrington has raised concerns about the volume of freight train traffic it’s caused and delays at rail crossings.

Now, in the wake of the fiery derailment of a 50-car train in East Palestine, Ohio, Barrington residents are asking what would happen if a similar disaster happened here.

“We have a lot of freight traffic, especially on the Canadian National,” Village President Karen Darch said during Monday’s village board meeting. “And I just want to say to the folks who are listening that that’s something that’s been top of mind, especially since CN purchased the former EJ&E years ago.”

She said the village’s firefighters and first responders have received training on hazardous material emergencies, and the town’s emergency operations plan addresses scenarios involving releases of hazardous materials.

The Barrington Area Council of Governments also has conducted a hazardous materials tabletop exercise, Darch said.

Communities along freight rail paths, the railroads and federal regulators should learn from the information gathered by the National Transportation Safety Board on the Ohio derailment, which will lead to better standards, she added.

Darch also urged residents to provide the village with contact information, so officials can get in touch if an evacuation is needed.

Read more here.

We’ll reserve comment except to note that the Village of Barrington is poised to vote on approving: “Luxury apartments, restaurants. What Barrington might do with its ‘Golden Triangle’.”

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Daily Herald opinion: Happy to see at least some affordable housing in dramatic new proposals

Posted in 220, DARCHED, Deception, Ethics, METRA, OP/Ed, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Taxes, Traffic on February 22, 2023| 2 Comments »

Golden

Barrington’s plan commission recommended a proposal for a four-story, mixed-use building in a part of the village’s downtown known as the “Golden Triangle.” The plan calls for 125 apartments, space for retail or restaurant uses and storage for high-end and classic cars. (Courtesy of Barrington)

We’re noticing a bunch of dramatic new multifamily housing proposals in some well-known spots in the suburbs this year. We’re impressed with much of it and especially pleased to see that at least a little of the planned housing is affordable housing.

This month the Barrington Plan Commission heard and supported a proposal for a new mixed-use development that includes luxury apartments and storage for high-end and classic cars in the village’s “Golden Triangle,” replacing the former Market Center building and a former Volvo dealership. The CEO of the development company said the project will include “an integrated lobby, just like a boutique hotel.” Barrington has been looking to redevelop the site since the 1990s.

Head south down Barrington Road to Hoffman Estates, where the village has seen a wave of proposals that could bring as many as 2,700 multifamily housing units. That includes the 296-unit Seasons at Hoffman Estates apartment complex at the southeast corner of Higgins Road and Moon Lake Boulevard, now being built; 164 high-end townhouses approved as part of larger housing plans at Bell Works, on the former AT&T campus, with 300 apartments given preliminary approval; and 600 luxury apartments proposed for the long-vacant former Menards site in Barrington Square.

While affordable housing isn’t a feature in the Barrington or Hoffman Estates developments – though the $1,700 to $2,500 a month rents included in the Barrington Square plan at least are closer to average — it is a feature elsewhere.

Read more here.

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Barrington trustees vote to spend $70,000 on license plate reading cameras

Posted in Big Brother, DARCHED, Topics Of Interest on February 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Flock Group Inc

Make sure you smile when driving through Barrington.

Barrington village board members this week voted in favor of installing license plate reading cameras at 12 locations in town.

Trustees at Monday’s meeting, without discussion, agreed to sign a two-year, $70,250 contract with Atlanta-based Flock Group Inc. for the cameras, which are solar-powered, motion-activated and work in all weather conditions.

The cameras will take snapshots of passing vehicles to capture their make and model, license plate information and any unusual or unique features.

More here.

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Luxury apartments, restaurants. What Barrington might do with its ‘Golden Triangle’

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, BOHICA, DARCHED, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on February 15, 2023| 1 Comment »

Golden

Barrington’s plan commission on Tuesday recommended a proposal for a four-story, mixed-use building in a part of the village’s downtown known as the “Golden Triangle.” The plan calls for 125 apartments, space for retail or restaurant uses and storage for high-end and classic cars. (Courtesy of Barrington)

Barrington officials believe a new mixed-use development that includes luxury apartments, restaurants and storage for high-end and classic cars offers a golden opportunity to redevelop the village’s “Golden Triangle.”

Barrington resident Joe Taylor, CEO of Compasspoint Development, is proposing a four-story mixed-use building at has plans for 200-300 Hough Street in the village’s downtown. The plan includes 125 apartments, 12,000 square feet of restaurant/retail space, and 37 car condominiums.

It means a complete overhaul of the 6.2-acre site, with the installation of utilities, parking, landscaping, lighting, signage, walkways, bicycle parking and a pedestrian esplanade along Hough Street.

After a positive recommendation Tuesday from the village’s plan commission, the plan heads to the village board for possible final approval.

Jennifer Tennant, Barrington’s assistant director of development services, said the project meets the planning goals and objectives of the village’s comprehensive plan.

“This has been a redevelopment site for the village since the early 90s,” she told the commission.

The site includes all the remaining property in the Golden Triangle area south of Liberty Street, which encompasses the former Market Center building and a former Volvo dealership.

Read more here.

Editorial note: Earlier today we updated plans at the Bell Works Chicagoland “metroburb” in Hoffman Estates to build 164 townhomes within District 220 boundaries. There are also plans to add 361 apartments.

Adding 125 apartments to the “Golden (Seigle’s) Triangle” in Barrington would represent a total of 650 housing units withing District 220 borders.

We all witnessed enrollment declining in District 220 for years except recently.  However, our property taxes did not go down.  These housing units will obviously bring an significant influx of students and likely a significant increase our taxes.

Related: “Hoffman Estates project reaches for a Lincoln Park vibe”

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Barrington School District 220 set to ask taxpayers to dig a little deeper with increased tax levy

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, BOHICA, DARCHED, Elections, His Master's Voice, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on December 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »

220 Admin

The Barrington School District 220 board was poised to vote at its Dec. 20 meeting on a 6.6% increase in the tax levy for 2022 to support operating revenues and construction overruns.

SD220 spokeswoman Samantha Scheinman said the district expects to receive a 5.6% tax levy increase over the current year but is requesting a 6.6% increase, in the event new construction costs are larger than expected.

Based upon projections, the total expected tax revenue to be approved this calendar year but collected in 2023, excluding bond and interest, will be $140 million, according to board information.

SD220 spans four counties and collects property taxes from each: Cook, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties. The property taxes account for an estimated 81% of the district’s operating revenues.

Scheinman said the board will not issue the debt service extension base this year due to high inflation impacting taxpayers, which is expected to save local taxpayers approximately $2.4 million, collectively, she said.

At the Dec. 6 school board meeting, the board approved the purchase of property at 1525 S. Grove Ave. to accommodate growing enrollment in the Barrington Transition Program. The program works with students on life skills after high school graduation.

“As we looked at enrollment and needs, we see a significant increase in enrollment over the next four years with those students, and they’re already at maximum capacity of space,” Superintendent Robert Hunt said during the meeting. “The unit next to them opened up. Dr. Bein secured a good price for that so we can move forward with the expansion of that program due to enrollment. It has a lot of room for us to prepare for enrollment.”

Currently, the Barrington Transition Program serves 16 students in a space with a five-year lease that started in May 2019. The current space, also at 1525 S. Grove Ave., is 1,658 square feet. According to data provided by Scheinman, enrollment is expected to increase to 20 students during the 2023-2024 school year and up to 26 students for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Read more here.

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McLaughlin Denounces 4.90% Local Tax Levies

Posted in DARCHED, Deception, Politics, Press Release, Property Taxes, Resident Spotlights, Springfield, Taxes on December 15, 2022| 4 Comments »

MM State House

Martin McLaughlin, 52nd House District State Representative

For Immediate Release December 15, 2022
Contact: Martin McLaughlin @ (217) 782-0583
Email: mclaughlin@ilhousegop.org 

State Representative Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) released the following statement after finding that numerous local taxing bodies in communities across the 52nd House District are requesting 4.90% increased tax levies.

“Bah 4.90%; Humbug! Taxpayers should prepare for a big lump of coal in our stockings this year courtesy of our local elected and appointed officials… 4.90% tax increase. What is the magic behind this number?

“Why are so many elected bodies across my district asking for a 4.90% increase in their tax levies?  School districts, fire districts, villages, libraries, community colleges, townships, and many other taxing bodies all together make up our property tax bills and each one is asking for the exact same increase.

“Just an unlucky coincidence?

“Nope! If they ask for 1/10 of a percent more – or 5.00% – they have to officially announce it to the public and ask the public for a referendum regarding what they plan on doing with their money.  Asking for more than 4.90% would put the spending increases on the front page of every newspaper and the taxpayers might actually know what’s going on. 

“Some of these taxing bodies already carry 24 months of cash reserves and many of our local bodies just issued referendums asking our taxpayers to shoulder hundreds of millions of dollars for construction projects.

“This situation is more laughable when many of these elected and appointed officials run on fiscal responsibility, transparency, and controlled spending.  As an elected official myself who actually reduced my village’s levy seven times in a row by over 25%, I know how difficult it is to restrict spending and control budgets.  It can be done, but only when you decide to run bloated governments like a business accountable to the owners … the taxpayers.

“The annual desire of so many of our taxing bodies continually increasing our property taxes makes me want to send each of them a small piece of coal for their stockings this year, or maybe a carbon tax debit instead? If we keep taxing residents out of their homes and our state, the Cratchit family and Tiny Tim will soon be renting a U-Haul and heading out of the State of Illinois.  out sooner rather than later.”

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Related: “Barrington’s $46.1 million budget: Water rate hike, lots of infrastructure improvements (increases levy 4.9%)”

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Barrington’s $46.1 million budget: Water rate hike, lots of infrastructure improvements

Posted in DARCHED, Politics, Property Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Unions on December 15, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Barrington Village HallBarrington passed its 2023 budget this week and while residents will be paying a bit more for water and sewer, they will be seeing extensive public improvements.

Trustees on Monday approved a $46.1 million budget that includes $18.9 million for the general fund, which finances public safety and public works, and $14.2 million for the water and sewer fund.

The budget also includes an 8% hike in the charges for water and sewer consumption, which will go up by $1.12 per 1,000 gallons, bringing in an additional $389,000 in revenue to the water and sewer fund. That will help offset the cost of water delivery and treatment.

The village will be asking more from taxpayers as well. The village’s operating levy is going up 4.9% to $3.7 million.

Read more here.

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“Nightmare on Main Street” Holiday Edition continues this morning

Posted in Community Alerts, DARCHED, Traffic on December 7, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Rail Repair

The Village of Barrington issued their latest Main Street traffic alert yesterday:

“On Wednesday, December 7, 2022 starting at 9:00 AM, the Union Pacific Railroad will be repairing a portion of their rail crossing at Main Street. While the road will remain open during this work, with flaggers on-site to direct traffic around lane closures, it will impact travel times.

Please anticipate delays and plan accordingly. This maintenance work should be completed by the end of day on Wednesday. More comprehensive repairs to this crossing are currently planned to take place in the spring.”

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