Posted in Agendas, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, BraveHearts, Cell Towers, Fox River Valley Hunt, FRVPC, FUBAR, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Land Use, LeCompte/Anderson Commercial Horse boarding amendment, Longmeadow Parkway, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Riding Center Advisory Committee, Riding Club of BH, The Other Half, Transparency, Unions on May 3, 2022| Leave a Comment »
The Advisory Committee to the Barrington Hills Park District Board meets this evening at 7:00 PM. Some of the topics on their agenda include:
A copy on the agenda can be viewed here. Residents are invited to participate via Zoom, and the instructions can be found here.
Posted in Commercial Horse Boarding, Finance Committee, FOIA, Fox River Valley Hunt, FRVPC, Guest Essay, Land Use, LeCompte/Anderson Commercial Horse boarding amendment, Legal Expenses, Plan Commission, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Riding Club of BH, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Village Government on February 22, 2022| 2 Comments »
Earlier today we published the agenda (seen here) for tonight’s Board of Trustees meeting. We included links to both the approved 2021 Appropriations, and the proposed 2022 Appropriations, and a longtime subscriber shared the following:
“Of the total decrease in Legal Expense ($948,937), decrease in Litigation, Planning/Zoning and FOIA expense ($446,000) represents 56.3 % of the total decrease.
Unless one examines the budget items in detail, one might conclude that the current administration is doing a pretty good job of managing the finances of the Village. That would be an incorrect assumption. It hides other areas of the budget (such as Permit Administration) where improper management may be concluded.
It should also be noted that much of the huge legal expense incurred in recent years revolves around the desires of one resident to impose a huge commercial horse boarding operation on residents, in effect having residents subsidizing equestrian amenities and lifestyle to non-residents by giving access to the Equestrian Trail System.”
Related: “Village Board of Trustees meets tonight“
Posted in 220, Animal Welfare, Audio Recordings, Barrington Hills Park District, Cook, Countryside Elementary School, County, Deception, Entertainment, ePacket Agendas, Financial Reports, Fox River Valley Hunt, FRVPC, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Illinois State Board of Elections, LeCompte/Anderson Commercial Horse boarding amendment, Lighting Ordinance, Plan Commission, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Riding Club of BH, Roads & Bridges Committee, School Districts, Unions, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village Government, Village President, Zoning Board on January 23, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Our Village Board of Trustees meets tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM. Some of the topics on their agenda include:
A copy of their agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.
Posted in Agendas, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Deception, Equestrian Commission, Ethics, Fox River Valley Hunt, FRVPC, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, LeCompte/Anderson Commercial Horse boarding amendment, Massbach Hounds, Politics, Property Taxes, Riding Club of BH, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Unions, Village Government, Well Water Quality on September 10, 2021| 3 Comments »
The Riding Club of Barrington Hills (RCBH) recently released their September, 2021 newsletter. One of the sections provides an “update” on the August meeting of the Village Equestrian Commission regarding, Equestrian Trail Licenses:
“The Equestrian Commission met on the 19th of August to discuss the continued need for the Equestrian Trail Licenses issued by the Village for the purpose of riding on the Village deeded easement trails.
By Ordinance in June in 2005, certain trails traversing private land in the Village exist as easements recorded in favor of the Village. The easements are generally in and around the newer subdivisions in the Village where the Village and the Equestrian Commission worked successfully with developers subdividing tracts of land to protect the continuity of the trail network and to maintain the unique character of the Village. Easement trails are maintained by the RCBH. As set forth in Title 6 and Section 8-5 of the Village Code, equestrian use of easement trails is allowed solely by licenses issued by the Village of Barrington Hills.
There is an ongoing discussion with a need for further information. As soon as the Equestrian Commission has that information a date will be determined for the next meeting.”
In other words, they’d rather not reveal anything that was discussed. No surprise.
A copy of the RCBH newsletter can be viewed and downloaded here.
Posted in Agendas, Animal Welfare, Commercial Horse Boarding, Deception, Equestrian Commission, Ethics, Fox River Valley Hunt, FPDCC, FRVPC, FUBAR, Horizon Farm, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, LeCompte/Anderson Commercial Horse boarding amendment, Politics, Riding Club of BH on June 7, 2021| Leave a Comment »
The Equestrian Commission meets this evening for the first time in a year at 6:30 PM. The agenda the commission submitted (and NO, we are NOT kidding) is as follows:
Click here to view and download the agenda as submitted.
Posted in Commercial Horse Boarding, Elections 2013, Ethics, IAA, Land Use, LeCompte/Anderson Commercial Horse boarding amendment, News Media, Pension Funding, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Topics Of Interest, Village Board, Village Code, Village President, Well Water Quality on April 24, 2021| 1 Comment »
Editorial note: Monday’s monthly Village Board of Trustees meeting will be the last regular one for President Pro-Tem Colleen Konicek Hannigan and President Martin McLaughlin. Here’s what the Daily Herald wrote when the two first won office eight years ago:
Barrington Hills Village President-elect Martin McLaughlin looks over results Tuesday at his election night party with Trustee-elect Colleen Konicek Hannigan. Both won election and will be sworn into office next month. (John Starks | Staff Photographer)
A day after his upset victory over two-term Barrington Hills Village President Robert Abboud, president-elect Martin McLaughlin said his intentions remain the same as during his campaign — to return the village to the normal business of providing services cost-effectively.
McLaughlin said he’d considered divisive debates over outdoor lighting regulations and commercial horse boarding to be manufactured and unnecessary, and believes voters ultimately agreed.
“There were a lot of exhausted, weary residents who were just looking for someone to represent them,” McLaughlin said. “We need someone to actively heal the divisions. I don’t think we need to do anything great here. We just need a deep breath.”
McLaughlin said he never considered the race to be personal and hopes he can turn to Abboud as a resource in the future.
Given the perceived strength of Abboud’s campaign, McLaughlin said he never counted on more than being a messenger.
“I thought I would define issues,” McLaughlin said. “The outcome was a pleasant surprise.”
While McLaughlin would like to give the village a fresh start, he realizes there’s few times when that’s entirely possible. The village remains in the midst of addressing important issues such as the proposed Insurance Auto Auction site in neighboring East Dundee, the long lingering lawsuit over covenants governing the Sears property in Hoffman Estates and mediated negotiations toward a police contract.
McLaughlin believes the fact East Dundee voters also elected a new village president — Lael Miller — provides opportunity for a fresh start for talks about the auto auction proposal, which he considers a threat to the aquifer Barrington Hills residents use.
McLaughlin disagreed with his predecessor’s aggressive approach to East Dundee.
“Shaking hands isn’t a bad way to start, instead of shaking fists,” McLaughlin said.
He also hopes to reach a settlement on the Sears lawsuit and examine the police department’s pension system, which broke away from the state’s several years ago.
Senior Village Trustee Fritz Gohl, who won re-election Tuesday, said he’s keeping an open mind on working with the new president, whom he’s not yet met.
McLaughlin will be joined on the board by two new trustees, Gohl’s running mate, Michael Harrington, and McLaughlin’s running mate, Colleen Konicek Hannigan. Though he’s unfamiliar with McLaughlin, Gohl knows Konicek Hannigan very well.
“I know where she’s coming from because she’s a Barrington Hills lifer like me,” he said.
Having worked with both Abboud and the late Jim Kempe, Gohl said he knows the approach to the village president job has a lot to do with each president’s personality. He agrees with McLaughlin’s assessment that new leadership in East Dundee offers new opportunities for negotiation over Insurance Auto Auction.
Gohl is less certain McLaughlin will find any obvious places to cut the village budget short of laying off workers, and said he welcomes professional insight of the new president and Harrington on managing the village’s police pension fund.
More challenging will be the village’s change of leadership in the midst of police contract talks, Gohl said. The new contract will be one of many areas in which the new president will likely experience a baptism by fire.
“It’ll be interesting to see what happens,” he added. “He’ll be learning as he goes.”
Posted in 2021 Elections, Barrington Hills Park District, Deception, Ethics, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Illinois State Board of Elections, Land Use, LeCompte/Anderson Commercial Horse boarding amendment, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Taxes, Transparency, Uncategorized, VBHPD, Village Board, Village Code, Village Government, Village President on April 7, 2021| 1 Comment »
As previously reported, Brian Cecola has likely won the race for Village President (See “Cecola headed for victory in Barrington Hills president race”).
Here are the unofficial results for Village Board of Trustees:
County totals are seen below:
Cook County
Kane County
Lake County
McHenry County
Posted in 2021 Elections, Barrington Hills Park District, Commercial Horse Boarding, Conflict of interest, Cook, County, Deception, FPDCC, Horizon Farm, LeCompte/Anderson Commercial Horse boarding amendment, One Barrington Hills, Politics, Property Taxes, Village Board, Village Code, Village President, Your Barrington Hills on April 2, 2021| 4 Comments »
Spring just sprung, and many find ourselves in the biennial rite of Village elections season. It is recognizable from campaign signs dotting the countryside to complete strangers ringing the door or gate bell of our five-acre sanctuaries from masked humanity saying, “Howdy Neighbor,” causing you to wonder what unannounced circumstances you’re in for.
For the uninitiated, it will be an opportunity to meet a neighbor. For others it represents something akin to an unsolicited sales pitch trying to convince you to vote a certain way. If it’s the latter, you’re likely encountering a “special interest club” member.
Some of these club members can be the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Others, however, might say anything to sway your vote, and we’ve heard a lot of the classics. Either way, these club members manage to get eighty to ninety percent of their membership roster to the polls; thus, the reason for our request for all residents to take the time to vote. Here are our reasons:
Currently, the special interest club is fronting four of their Cook County members as candidates who would represent a majority of seats on our Village Board of Trustees. We believe it important the county be mentioned since most of their interests in running is county centric, such as the revival of commercial horse boarding conflict and wanting to have more control of the Forest Preserve of Cook County’s Horizon Farms on top of the extensive trail system.
Leading this group is the current president of the Barrington Hills Park District who is running for Village President. Transparency is not in his vocabulary, nor is fiscal responsibility or expense reduction. In fact, our Park District has seen a 17% increase in levies under his watch, and three month ago he asked what the legal limit was for raising the 2021 levy prior to the required formal hearing – and he then approved that maximum raise.
Contrast that with the repeated seven levy decreases we’ve experienced along with many other financial benefits our village has experienced in eight years. Benefits such as lower taxes, vastly improved roads, legal expenses that are a small fraction of what they were under the prior village president, just to name a few.
The way to continue the positive progress Barrington Hills has benefited from is to elect candidates with the values instilled by Martin McLaughlin and Colleen KonicekHannigan when they first took office eight years ago.
To accomplish that, all residents reading this need to make every effort possible to vote. We’re confident Brian Cecola is up for the challenge to serve as President as are David Riff, Tom Strauss and Laura Ekstrom to serve as Trustees. They not only have our endorsement, but also the endorsements of those with the highest regard of most residents; Marty McLaughlin and Colleen Konicek Hannigan.
So yes, if you want to continue the positive momentum we’ve enjoyed for eight years, please take the time to vote!
Early voting times and locations can be found here.
Posted in 2021 Elections, 220, Barrington Area Library, Barrington Hills Park District, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Deception, District 220 referendum, Ethics, His Master's Voice, Illinois State Board of Elections, Land Use, League of Women Voters, LeCompte/Anderson Commercial Horse boarding amendment, One Barrington Hills, OP/Ed, Pension Funding, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Riding Club of BH, School Districts, Village Board, Village Code, Village Government, Village President, Your Barrington Hills on March 26, 2021| Leave a Comment »
There are a number of exceptionally qualified candidates running for office in the upcoming Consolidated Elections April 6th.
Following is a summary of candidates running for various offices in the order they appear on the ballots for those offices. The Observer has noted those candidates we endorse with a check mark.
Early voting is available to registered voters now through Election Day.
Posted in 2021 Elections, Barrington Hills Park District, Conflict of interest, Deception, Ethics, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Illinois State Board of Elections, LeCompte/Anderson Commercial Horse boarding amendment, OP/Ed, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Riding Club of BH, Transparency, Village Government on March 19, 2021| 10 Comments »
Political committees must abide by Illinois State Board of Elections transparency rules.
Earlier this week, we posted some helpful reminders to area political candidates of their campaign reporting responsibilities with the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE). This will be our second (in what may become a series) posting of helpful hints on campaign transparency due to one (apparent) repeat offender.
The ISBE rules clearly state:
“Any committee that makes an expenditure for any kind of communication directed at voters and mentioning the name of a candidate in the next upcoming election must ensure that the communication clearly identifies the committee as having paid for it. This applies to any committee that pays for any part of the advertisement, including its production and distribution.”
Well, residents are now receiving a mailing from a candidate committee (a portion pictured below) that does not appear to adhere to these rules. We previously noted that this candidate’s campaign committee signs display no state mandated committee identification either.
A campaign mailers sent to residents recently does not disclose the campaign committee that paid for it.
Common sense dictates that if one is running for elected office that every opportunity for campaign advertising with the candidate’s name on it would be maximized, especially when it comes to taking credit for who paid for it (at least one would think that).
This particular candidate, however, either fancies himself as a rebel, or perhaps isn’t taking this election as seriously as he should considering the high office he’s seeking. Another possibility is much more troubling, however, and that is he may not wish to disclose who is actually paying for his advertisements.
 | Steph Wess on Just When You Thought It Could… |
 | The native on $30 million being invested in… |
 | Barrington Hills Obs… on North Barrington estate sale t… |
 | William Springer on North Barrington estate sale t… |
 | Gregory Leifel on Starbucks in Cary becomes firs… |
 | Thomas Paine on Barrington resident calls for… |
 | nancyhennellycomcast… on Barrington resident calls for… |
