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Darby Hills Appointed as New State Senator for Illinois’ 26th Senate District

Posted in Appointments, Clown Car, Contests, Dumb and Dumber, Elections, Ethics, FUBAR, Goat Rodeo, Mad Cows, New Normal?, Politics, Press Release, Resident Spotlights, SNAFU, The Chicago Way, Village Board, Village Government, WTF on February 15, 2025| 3 Comments »

Darby Hills

BARRINGTON HILLS, IL – Darby Hills, 49, a dedicated advocate for children and families, has been selected as the new State Senator for Illinois’ 26th Senate District.

A trustee on the Barrington Hills Village Board and founder of Barrington Children’s Charity, Hills has spent years fighting for children in need, ensuring they have the support and resources to thrive.

“I am honored to serve as the next State Senator for the 26th District.

“This isn’t just about policy for me—it’s personal.

“I know firsthand the impact a little support can have on a child’s future, and I’m eager to bring that perspective to Springfield,” said Hills.

“Whether it’s fighting for families, keeping taxes low, or ensuring government remains accountable, I will work every day to make a real difference.

“This community has given me so much, and I’m committed to being a strong voice for it in Springfield.”

Through Barrington Children’s Charity, Hills has led an all-volunteer effort that provides meals to 525 children each week across Barrington-area school districts.

Her passion for helping those less fortunate stems from her own experience growing up in a low-income household with a single mother, receiving the same kind of hand-up she now works to give others.

As a trustee on the Barrington Hills Village Board, Hills has been a strong advocate for keeping taxes low, responsible budgeting, and accountable government.

She has worked to rein in wasteful spending, protect taxpayers, and ensure local government serves residents efficiently.

Her leadership reflects a commitment to good governance—principles she will continue to champion in Springfield.

She will also fight to create a pro-business environment that supports local job creators and strengthens Illinois’ economy.

A former Cook County prosecutor and an attorney by trade, Hills has built a career rooted in service.

In addition to her legal and charitable work, she is a wife and mother of three, bringing both professional expertise and personal experience to the issues affecting families.

“Darby’s dedication to children and families, along with her experience as a prosecutor and local leader, make her an invaluable addition to our team,” said Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove).

“She brings a deeply personal perspective to the fight for Illinois’ most vulnerable children—one that will drive real change in Springfield.

“I look forward to working alongside her as she advocates for pro-growth policies to lift up Illinois families and businesses.”

– From the Illinois Senate Republican Victory Fund

Editorial note: This is NO JOKE, but it’s understandable if some are laughing. You CANNOT make this (stuff) up!

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Editorial: Want a low-stress job with lots of time off? The state of Illinois says it wants to recruit YOU!

Posted in BOHICA, Chicago Tribune, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Economy, Education, FUBAR, Look For The Union Label, New Normal?, OP/Ed, Pension Funding, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Taxes, The Chicago Way, Unions, Village Director of Administration, WTF on January 31, 2025| Leave a Comment »

People walk the halls Jan. 8, 2025, at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield. | Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

The state of Illinois is seeking employees who don’t want a 40-hour workweek.

A cringey commercial you may have seen recently boasts that working for the state can mean five weeks off in your first year on the job, with flexible hours, a hybrid setup and good work-life balance, all while enjoying a 37.5-hour workweek.

This sounds like a sweet deal. Also one unavailable in most other full-time careers.

We know of course that some state workers toil long and hard at their jobs. Still, the state’s clueless ad leans into the worst critiques and caricatures of government work, maybe in an effort to appeal to a post-COVID-19 workforce that resents being called back to the office.

“What do you want from your career?” asks a voice at the start of the commercial. The faux potential recruits don’t then talk about their ambition or their desire to serve or to make Illinois better.

They talk about how much time off they want. Seriously? That’s the message?

We don’t take issue with people earning fair wages, getting breaks and having good benefits, but the commercial is tone-deaf. And it’s hard not to be miffed when you consider how state worker benefits compare with those the people paying taxes are getting.

An open administrative role for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity pays up to $126,000 per year, and an open nurse position posted online in Elgin pays up to $102,000. State workers also retire with better benefits than the average Illinoisan. The maximum annual Social Security benefit for those in the private sector retiring at 62 for 2023 was just $30,864, while the average starting pension for career workers participating in the State Employees’ Retirement System is $52,920 (many state workers also get Social Security for private work, and some have retired as early as 55).

Read more here.

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Barrington Area Council of Governments meets tonight

Posted in 220, BACOG, Barrington Hills Park District, BCFPD, Clown Car, Deception, Ethics, FUBAR, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Look For The Union Label, Mad Cows, Meeting Minutes, OP/Ed, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, School Districts, SNAFU, South Barrington, Taxes, TRAC, Transparency, Village Government, Village President on January 28, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG) is scheduled to have multiple meetings today beginning at 5:30 PM at the Village of Barrington Hills, 112 Algonquin Road. Those meetings include:

  • 5:30 – Connectivity
  • 6:30 – Legislative
  • 7:00 – Executive Board

As expected, no meeting agendas are posted by BACOG.  Further, BACOG has ceased posting minutes from their meetings, and they now appear to have removed all previously posted minutes from their website, which now states:

“Copies of approved minutes for BACOG committee and executive board meetings are available upon request. Please submit requests by email to bacog@bacog.org.”

We’ve long questioned the need for BACOG. This is the latest example of why.

It appears BACOG now makes the Barrington Hills Park District/Riding Club and the Barrington Countrywide Fire Protection District seem transparent by comparison, and that’s truly disappointing.

Related: “Anybody heard from BACOG lately?,” “Fuhgeddaboudit,” “Barrington Area Council of Governments meets today”

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Police, school investigating after fake school cancelation email sent to parents in Barrington

Posted in 220, Barrington High School, FUBAR, School Districts on January 26, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By Sam Borcia |Lake & McHenry County Scanner

Police and school officials are investigating after a fake email was sent out to parents claiming class was canceled at schools in the Barrington area due to weather.

The Barrington School District 220 sent out an email to parents on Monday saying that in-person classes would be held on Tuesday, January 21, despite the severe cold weather.

Around 10:15 p.m. that evening, parents received another email saying, “Attention Barrington Parents, This is an update to our email from earlier today: Barrington 220 will now be closed Tuesday, January 21st due to cold weather conditions. Enjoy the day off and stay warm!”

The email was listed as being sent by Barrington School District 220.

The district then sent out an email to parents saying that the email about schools being closed, which was sent out to “many Barrington 220 families,” was false and that schools would indeed remain open on Tuesday.

The school district said the fake email was sent by someone posing as the district; however, the district later canceled in-person classes on Tuesday morning.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Craig Winkelman sent a letter to the school community about the situation.

“I sincerely apologize for the delayed delivery of our district communications this morning, and acknowledge the inconvenience caused by the decision to shift to e-learning,” Winkelman said.

“We fell short of our own expectations in this instance, and are examining our procedures to ensure future communications are distributed in a timely and effective manner,” Winkelman said.

More here.

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Voting now open through Feb. 14 for new Illinois state flag

Posted in FUBAR, Politics, Springfield on January 10, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square

Illinoisans can now start choosing which new state flag they prefer, and it could be the current flag, one of two other previous state flags, or one of 10 finalists.

The current Illinois flag has been around since 1970. The recently enacted Illinois Flag Commission took nearly 5,000 submissions for a new flag and narrowed them down to 10 prospects.

Last month, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said people can begin voting for a new flag in January.

“I appreciate the creativity and passion reflected in the submissions and while the members of the flag commission have selected their top 10, you’ll now have an opportunity to vote for your favorite as well,” Giannoulias said.

Friday, polling was opened at ILSOS.gov/stateflag. Voting is open through Feb. 14. 
More here.

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These offbeat, intriguing laws will hit Illinois’ books in 2025

Posted in FUBAR, Politics, Springfield, Topics Of Interest on December 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Illinois US state law, legal system and justice concept with a 3D rendering of a gavel on Illinoisan flag.

NBC Chicago

There are plenty of new Illinois laws that will impact residents in 2025, but there are some bills hitting the books that you may not expect.

Technology took center stage on several pieces of legislation. A new bill, HB 4875, makes it illegal to create digital replicas of individuals via generative Artificial Intelligence without the person’s consent for commercial purposes.

Virtual currencies like Bitcoin are also now accounted for under the state’s laws concerning unclaimed property thanks to SB 3343, which allows the state treasurer to pay custodial fees for the currency and specific types of securities.

Motorcyclists will be happy to know that under the terms of HB 4966 a large selection of new specialty license plates, including organ donor awareness plates, pet-friendly plates, and support our troops plates, will now be available for their rides.

Numerous laws impacting consumers will also go into effect. SB 2625 impacts retailers who sell alcoholic products, as those beverages that are “hard” versions of typically non-alcoholic offerings can not be positioned near their non-alcoholic counterparts.

If you go to a concert or sporting event at a venue that holds at least 3,500 people, you’ll also notice that the venue will be required to offer the opportunity to compost organic waste and to collect recyclable materials, thanks to the provisions of SB 2876.

Here are some other interesting laws hitting the books in 2025:

HB 0307 – Athletes in Illinois can now earn NIL compensation directly from universities, and media and residents will be prohibited from obtaining information on how much athletes make in private deals.

HB 1742 – Allows the Regional Transportation Authority to donate locomotives and other equipment to museums and not-for-profit corporations.

HB 4255 – Tow trucks can use green flashing lights while at emergency scenes.

HB 4351 – Cook County residents can hire private process servers rather than being legally required to use sheriff’s deputies for that purpose.

HB 5488 – Illinois will establish a task force aimed at creating a legacy tree recognition program.

HB 5640 – Adds the U.S. Space Force to any reference to the armed forces or armed services of the United States within Illinois laws.

SB 0331 – Requires public universities and community colleges to pay employees their regular pay if campus is closed due to a winter weather emergency.

SB 2747 – Changes the Illinois Exotic Weeds Act, requiring the Department of Natural Resources to maintain a list of exotic weeds, and to allow it to issue permits to buy, sell, or distribute the plants.

SB 3173 – Counties can lease, license or grant access to infrastructure like fiber optic cables to public or private entities if it helps expedite the delivery of broadband service.

SB 3407 – Makes changes pertaining to deer meat processing to expand the availability of charitable donations.

SB 3592 – Demands increased transparency in the sale of local media outlets, and creates a journalism scholarship program through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Source

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Our Atrium: the heart of nowhere

Posted in District 220 referendum, Elections, FUBAR, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Topics Of Interest, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on October 19, 2024| 1 Comment »

The downstairs atrium finished construction last December. Students are free to use the downstairs atrium as an extension of the cafeteria, and students are required to scan in with their IDs. | Photo by Emily Won, ‘24

By Emily Won, Editor-in-Chief • THE ROUNDUP
Published February 23, 2024

On my first day of senior year, I was warmly welcomed by Principal Steve McWilliams, pep rallies and Pepper Construction. For the next four months of my first semester, I grew accustomed to the mysterious glass walls of the culinary kitchen, the ghost of the Quiet Commons and the not-so-central atrium.

My peers and I were promised exciting new changes from a hefty referendum. Yet, these promises severely lacked substance.

Since last spring, and a $147 million referendum later, the vast promises of new athletic fields, high-tech kitchens and excellent Bronco Blast PR have created insurmountable “hype” regarding these renovations. Despite having to leave my house 15 minutes early just to combat traffic every day for the past six months, I, alongside my peers, would continue to remind myself that these renovations would all be worth it in a couple more weeks.

Wrong.

Unless you’re new to the district, you probably remember the Commons. The Commons was the nucleus of our school — lying in the center of our bustling hallways and always housing a conglomeration of chattering students. Sitting in the Commons was a coveted privilege, and one that holds valuable memories for many students.

The new culinary kitchens are added in place of most of what was the Commons. Students who sit in the Commons are in front of the culinary classes and volume levels are monitored by administration. | Photo by Emily Won, ‘24

Sure, it was loud, messy and crowded; but it was ours, and we all loved it regardless. Today, the “Commons” houses six small tables, 18 seats, and a convenient view of the culinary kitchen. In a survey with 124 students, less than 15% of students actually use the Culinary Kitchens with more than 40% of students who are unsatisfied with the kitchen renovations. The kitchens needed a makeover, but that never meant we should replace them with the Commons and pacify our social-needs with “the Atrium.”

First off, the Atrium is a misnomer. Physically, it is nowhere near the heart of the school; culturally, it holds nowhere near the sentimental value of what the Commons used to boast. The Atrium was a coveted promise, but after we went “all-in,” with millions of dollars in the referendum, the least our school could’ve done is gone “all-out.” Yet, it’s safe to say we’re disappointed, according to a survey of 124 students. Over 50% of students barely or never use the Atrium. Furthermore, in the same survey, only 30% of students report being “satisfied” to “very satisfied.”

The dedication of our administration and the efforts behind massive renovations should never go unnoticed; the power of our community to implement large-scale construction projects is a feat in itself. While the overwhelming majority of students reported being “satisfied” and “very satisfied” with the outdoor parking and athletic renovations, only 30% of students reported feeling satisfied with the indoor renovations. When we see a lack of satisfaction and engagement from the student body regarding these renovations, it is clear there is a lack of transparency, and involvement- or both- between students and administrators.

Despite the promises of a Referendum Advisory Committee outlined within Blueprint 220, it is surprising that students are not included in joining such a group. Albeit we are infamous for our frequent Infinite Campus surveys, it’s unsurprising to see how little initiative our school has taken to gauge student feedback with these changes. Ideally, new construction should benefit students, not just impact them. Decisions should never be made behind closed doors, but by doing so, we take away the plurality of a school community. With active student groups such as Student Council, class boards and even The RoundUp ourselves, the voices of students should ultimately be the ones who play a considerable role in the making of our school. In the environment that we — the students — learn, engage and succeed in, we should see the product of our voices in the environment we thrive in.

Editorial note: We thought it important to share this with our readers prior to their voting on the latest 220 Referendum for some perspectives. Our gratitude to D220 Insider for pointing this article out in their recent editorial, and of course, the author of the commentary above, Emily Won.

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Park District/Riding Club Elections “Public Notice”

Posted in Algonquin Rd, Animal Welfare, Appointments, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Commercial Horse Boarding, Community Alerts, Contests, Countryside Elementary School, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Don't Change Barrington Hills, Dumb and Dumber, Elections, Entertainment, Equestrian Commission, FPDCC, FUBAR, Goat Rodeo, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Illinois State Board of Elections, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Massbach Hounds, Organizations, Perjury, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, Riding Center Advisory Committee, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Save 5 Acres, SOS Party, The Other Half, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Unions, Well Water Quality, Your Barrington Hills on October 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

What follows was recently posted to the Barrington Hills Park District/Riding Club website (NOT emailed to district notice subscribers nor posted in the Daily Herald Classifieds):

“PUBLIC NOTICE

To The Residents Of The Barrington Hills Park District Cook, Lake and McHenry (But not Kane?) Counties, Illinois

Elections will be held to fill the following offices at the:

Consolidated election to be held April 1, 2025.

Park District Commissioner: Number of positions (2); .4-year term.

Candidates must file their certificates of nomination with the Barrington Hills Park District
designated representative (?).

Filing Period:

The filing of nomination petitions will be accepted at 361 Bateman Road, Barrington Hills IL 60010, in the Riding Center’s Meeting Room, November 12th through Monday November 18th at the following times:

Monday, November 12, 9AM-3 PM 

Tuesday, November 13, through Friday, November 15 Filing By Appointment Only.

Monday, November 18, 2024  10AM-5PM 

Petitions may be filed in person by the candidate or a representative, or by mail to: Barrington Hills Park District, 364 Bateman Road, Barrington Hills, IL 60010.

Nomination papers received in the mail before the first day of filing period will be returned to the sender as not filed.  Candidate document and filing information is available on the web: www.elections.il”

The posting can be found here.

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Barrington Hills Park District (RCBH) “Efficiency Act” & Board Meeting tonight

Posted in Agendas, Algonquin Rd, Animal Welfare, Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Bicyclists, Big Brother, BraveHearts, Cell Towers, Clown Car, Commercial Horse Boarding, Countryside Elementary School, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Don't Change Barrington Hills, Elections, Financial Statements, FPDCC, FRVPC, FUBAR, Fundraisers, Goat Rodeo, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Immigration, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Disconnection, Lighting Ordinance, Mad Cows, Mówimy po polsku, Open Meetings Act, Perjury, Politics, Privacy, Public Safety, Real Estate, Riding Center Advisory Committee, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Save 5 Acres, Taxes, The Other Half, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Unions, VBHPD, Well Water Quality, Your Barrington Hills on October 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The Barrington Hills Park District/Riding Club of Barrington Hills will be holding an Efficiency Act Meeting beginning at  6:00 PM followed by the Park Board Meeting (though only one agenda is posted?). Some topics on their agenda include:

  • Efficiency Report Review (not posted)
  • Approval of the September 2024 Park Board Meeting Minutes (not posted)
  • Approval of the September 2024 Park District Financials (not posted)
  • Advisory Committee Report (not posted)
  • Winter Indoor Riding Schedule (not posted)
  • Security Considerations for the Riding Center, IAPD Grant (not posted)
  • Project Requests* (not posted)
  • Administrator’s Report (you guessed it, not posted)

A copy of their agenda can be viewed here. Instructions for accessing the meeting remotely can be found here.

* “The Barrington Hills Park District is taking requests”

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Special Zoning Board of Appeals meeting scheduled Tuesday

Posted in Animal Welfare, BOHICA, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), ePacket agendas, FUBAR, Goat Rodeo, Going green, Land Use, New Normal?, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Hearing, Public Safety, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, Taxes, TMI, Topics Of Interest, Village Attorney, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Government, Well Water Quality, WTF, Zoning Board on August 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

You TOO could have (or live next to) a property like this one soon if “Agritourism” Special Use is allowed. Learn how in the Zoning Board’s agenda.

Our Zoning Board of Appeals will be holding a special meeting tomorrow evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

Public hearing

  • Text Amendment to Section 5-5-3(A) Special Uses, R1 District of the Zoning Ordinance to include in the list of Special Uses, Agritourism, filed by Chris Yamamoto

Public meeting

  • [Vote] Text Amendment to Section 5-5-3(A) Special Uses, R1 District of the Zoning Ordinance to include in the list of Special Uses, Agritourism, filed by Chris Yamamoto
  • Code Modification Discussion – Renewable Energy

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

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