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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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Mansion resembling a castle in Barrington Hills sells for $1.2M

Posted in Real Estate on March 30, 2026| 1 Comment »

A 10,000-square-foot mansion resembling a castle in Barrington Hills sold on March 9 for $1.2 million, $700,000 below its original asking price in 2023. (Algonquin Township Assessor)

By Bob Goldsborough | For the Chicago Tribune

A 10,000-square-foot mansion that looks like a castle set on 6 acres in Barrington Hills sold on March 9 for $1.2 million — $700,000 below its original asking price in 2023.

Built in 1975, the five-bedroom mansion was not originally designed to resemble a castle. The seller, heating and air conditioning company owner Ryan Gopin, made a variety of adjustments to the mansion after buying it in 2010 for $500,000, including adding turrets and battlements.

Listing agent Rob Morrison of Coldwell Banker told Elite Street that the home’s major selling point was “the uniqueness of it all,” including its location backing up to Spring Creek and then, on the other side of it, homes with acreage on Plum Tree Road.

“You don’t see a lot of castle motifs from the exterior as far as the front elevation,” Morrison said. “And then obviously its setting was quite unique as well. The majority of Barrington Hills is minimum 5-acre lots, but this property almost felt like it was overlooking a valley because there was nothing behind it.”

Article continues here.

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Cook County property taxes doubled the rate of inflation in past 30 years, Treasurer Maria Pappas study finds

Posted in 220, 300, BOHICA, Chicago Tribune, Cook, Cost of Living, County, Look For The Union Label, Overhead, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Taxes, Unions on March 30, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Rick Pearson | Chicago Tribune

Property taxes imposed by government bodies within Cook County’s borders have grown at twice the rate of inflation over the past three decades, outpacing wage growth and driving an affordability crisis, a study by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ office has found.

Pappas’ report, released Monday morning, condemns political leaders — many of them Democrats like herself — for exploiting loopholes in a state law designed to limit real estate tax increases. It calls on Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and the Democratic-led General Assembly to enact significant reforms and find ways for local taxing agencies to cut spending.

“Illinois in 2025 had the dubious distinction of having the highest residential property tax rate in the nation. Chicago has the highest commercial rate in the U.S.,” Pappas said in a statement accompanying the study. “It’s time for the governor, state lawmakers and local government leaders to come up with a reform plan that works for taxpayers.”

Pappas’ report, titled “How State Laws Failed to Stop Decades of Skyrocketing Property Taxes: A Case for Reform,” arrives as the Illinois Department of Revenue is completing its own study of the state’s property tax system, due at the end of July. But Pappas said in her report that it was time for politicians to act “rather than produce another report that gets put on a shelf to gather cobwebs.”

Her study also comes in an election year when high property taxes are sure to be a major campaign issue in Pritzker’s race for a third term versus Republican Darren Bailey, as well as other statewide and scores of state legislative races. But large-scale remedies, such as finding alternative sources of revenue like a general tax increase to offset property tax cuts, are less likely when lawmakers and Pritzker are seeking reelection — though political pressures are lessened after the November general election in a lame-duck session.

Pappas’ study found that taxing bodies within Cook County levied $19.2 billion in property taxes in 2024, up nearly 182% from the $6.8 billion in real estate taxes imposed in 1995. During that time, inflation rose by 91% and average wages increased by 161%, the report said.

“The annual increases in taxes are relentless, taking more and more money out of people’s pockets,” said Pappas, who has been treasurer since 1998 and who is seeking reelection in November while declaring her interest in a Chicago mayoral bid in 2027. “I see it every day in my office, with people wondering how they are going to pay their tax bills or even whether they can stay in their homes.”

Article continues here.

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District 220 Board of Education meets tonight

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Clown Car, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, His Master's Voice, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois State Board of Elections, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Look For The Union Label, Open Meetings Act, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, Video Streaming, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on March 16, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The District 220 Board of Education meet at a special time this evening at 6:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. Items on their agenda include:

  • FOIA Report
  • Revised Personnel Report
  • Consideration to Approve Action on Suspension Appeal for Student A
  • Consideration to Approve Custodial Contract
  • Consideration to Approve Bus Transportation Contract
  • Consideration to Approve Masonry and Roofing Bid

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

Related: “Candidate Erin Chan Ding’s opinion on Data Centers,” “Barrington area Democrats condemn Chan Ding mailers,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “School district’s parking plan defies logic,” “Zoning change defies village policy,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “Erin Chan Ding: The violations just keep piling up…,” “Erin Chan Ding starring in another episode of, ‘Rules For Thee But NOT For Me…’,”  “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency,” “yDing Politicking on School District Property,” “Dual School Board and State Rep Positions Legally Incompatible,” “D220 Abuses Taxpayer Funds in favor of Partisan Campaign,” “Ding In Her Own Words – CONFLICTED!,” “Ding Doubles Down,” “Ding’s D220 Deception,” “Chan Ding running in Democratic primary in 52nd,” “Three (3) Democratic candidates queued to run for the IL 52nd District House seat in 2026”

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Living Wright

Posted in Quintessential Barrington, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights on March 15, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Joyce and David McArdle were recognized for their restoration of the Louis B. Fredrick House with the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy Spirit Award

Fredrick House south view

Story By Lisa Stamos | Quintessential Barrington
Images By Linda M. Barrett Photography

Barrington Hills is home to one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s final privately-owned home commissions before his death in April 1959, and likely the only site there he visited in person. Affluent interior designer Louis B. Fredrick owned a 10-acre property west of the Village of Barrington for which Wright was hired. There was tension, as Fredrick rejected the first two house designs by Wright. Then America’s foremost architect was dropped, another architect hired, and then Wright was brought back to design and build the house, named after its first owner.

Wright’s organic approach to architectural design shifted to Usonian after his Prairie style and Japanese influences. Usonian principles feature integration into the land, use of natural materials, strong horizontal lines, and long bands of windows to capture changing light. His genius was the ability to study geological contours, vegetation, light, wind, and other elements and perfectly place the building so that it appears to grow from the site, rather than sit upon it.

The Fredrick House completion in 1957 is synonymous with the formation of the Village of Barrington Hills, which happened the same year. Both efforts recognize the importance of preserving natural settings and a reverence for the outdoors. Forward-thinking residents forming the 29-sq. mile Village of Barrington Hills incorporated with zoning that preserved open space and offered room for their equestrian and outdoor sporting lifestyles as the post-war rush to develop suburbs was underway.

A Heart for Preservation

Joyce and David McArdle met one summer while he was painting walls at his father’s Pheasant Run Resort. David grew up watching his father Edward’s vision prosper as the iconic destination in their hometown of St. Charles, Illinois. Joyce was a young teenager visiting the resort from Northwest Chicago. The rest is a family history of envisioning, developing, and preserving properties—both commercial, residential, and of note, Frank Lloyd Wright’s houses.

While dating, the couple often visited Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Oak Park and River Forest. Once married and ready to start a family, they learned that the 1901 Frank (F.B.) Henderson House was for sale in Elmhurst. Both being attorneys working for their property development firm, the two got to work restoring the home while there, from 1988 to 1994.

“In 1994, we commissioned E. Fay Jones to design and build a home for us. [Jones was a Wright protégé.] Since Fay did not design too many homes, we flew out to meet him in Arkansas. He was intrigued by the fact that we wanted to design and build a home with him after we lived in a Wright home. The home in Barrington Hills took two years to build, and we lived there for 20 years,” David said. Daughters Abigail and Amelia were raised there. The equestrian lifestyle influence evolved to developing Old Barrington Estates and successful equestrian professions for both women, who spend time in Wellington, Florida.

View the QB feature here or download a PDF copy 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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Candidate Erin Chan Ding’s opinion on Data Centers

Posted in 220, BACOG, Board of Education, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, League of Women Voters, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Springfield, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, Well Water Quality, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on March 11, 2026| 1 Comment »

Quote of Erin Chan Ding from League of Women Voters debate with Maria Peterson on February 14, 2026:

“Data Centers right now are obviously a huge issue, an electric issue, no pun intended, and we’ve heard communities speak out against their implementation because of some of the environmental costs. At the same time… you know, we are— our public, our children, they are already hooked on AI and artificial intelligence.

Data centers are going to be built, and if they’re not going to be built in Illinois, they’re going to be built in other states… Data Centers … are a huge water suck, but this problem has begun to be addressed through the use of gray water.

Data Centers provide huge property tax relief, potentially. So, I think we need to consider that as well… I’ve been endorsed by the AFL-CIO, which includes ironworkers and operating engineers, and these are hundreds of thousands of jobs…” ~ Erin Chan Ding

How many Data Centers is Erin Chan Ding proposing to build in our community if she thinks they would be providing “hundreds of thousands of jobs” for AFL – CIO workers?

Why is Erin Chan Ding willing to sell out our community for the “potential” for property tax relief when it is apparent that Pritzker, who Chan Ding is banking on getting campaign donations from, initiatives provide sales and use tax exemptions for Data Centers for up to 20 years?

How will she protect our aquifers? And why is she willing to destroy our tranquil environment for political gain?

We’ll pass on voting for Chan Ding and suggest you do the same!

Related: “Barrington area Democrats condemn Chan Ding mailers,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “School district’s parking plan defies logic,” “Zoning change defies village policy,” “District 220 Public Hearing December 16th re: ‘proposal to sell bonds of the District in an amount not to exceed $5,400,000’,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “Erin Chan Ding: The violations just keep piling up…,” “Erin Chan Ding starring in another episode of, ‘Rules For Thee But NOT For Me…’,”  “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency,” “Ding Politicking on School District Property,” “Dual School Board and State Rep Positions Legally Incompatible,” “D220 Abuses Taxpayer Funds in favor of Partisan Campaign,” “Ding In Her Own Words – CONFLICTED!,” “Ding Doubles Down,” “Ding’s D220 Deception,” “Chan Ding running in Democratic primary in 52nd,” “Three (3) Democratic candidates queued to run for the IL 52nd District House seat in 2026”

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Barrington Golden Triangle developers: Multifamily development can handle traffic

Posted in 220, Daily Herald, EJ&E/Canadian National, Land Use, METRA, Real Estate, School Districts, Transparency, U.S. Route 14 Underpass on March 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Rendering of The Residences at Liberty Commons | Courtesy of the Barrington Development Co.

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

Developers aiming to build a $100 million residential complex at Barrington’s Golden Triangle addressed village trustees’ concerns about traffic, while also emphasizing the need to fast-track the project.

The proposal for The Residences at Liberty Commons calls for 16 studio apartments, 119 one-bedroom, 66 two-bedroom, six three-bedroom and 16 townhouses (223 units).

Michael Fleck and Nick Marrocco of the Barrington Development Co. told trustees Monday they will have their traffic consultant, KLOA, conduct a full traffic study of the area, which is already clogged with traffic.

“I think our interests are definitely aligned here,” Fleck said. “We want to make sure that the development is good for Barrington, good for the residents and no further burden.”

Fleck said the overall conclusion of an initial study is the development, bounded by Liberty, Hough and the railroad tracks, will have a modest effect on the surrounding street network.

Fleck noted the development’s location is less than a half-mile from the Barrington Metra station.

Article continues here.

Related: “New residential development floated for Barrington’s Golden Triangle”

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Barrington Hills Park District (Riding Cult) meets tonight

Posted in Agendas, Algonquin Rd, Animal Welfare, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, BraveHearts, Commercial Horse Boarding, Cost of Living, Countryside Elementary School, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Fox River Valley Hunt, FPDCC, FRVPC, HARPS, Horizon Farm, Immigration, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Lighting Ordinance, Massbach Hounds, Overhead, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Riding Center Advisory Committee, Riding Club Commission, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Taxes, The Other Half, Transparency, Unions on March 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Barrington Hills Park District Board/Riding Cult of Barrington Hills will hold their monthly meeting this evening in person and via Zoom at 6:00 PM. Some topics on their agenda include:

  • Horse Statues
  • Park Board Advocacy Protocol

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

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Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 3)

Posted in AI, Audio Recordings, Data Center, Ethics, FOIA, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Disconnection, Land Use, Minutes, OMA, OP/Ed, Plan Commission, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Simple Minds, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Government, Village President, Zoning Board on March 6, 2026| 2 Comments »

Source: Brennan Investment Group December 15, 2025 presentation to the Barrington Hills Board of Trustees

Last month during the February 23rd Board of Trustees meeting, Trustees and attendees heard public comments from:

  • Carson Rice
  • Karen Trzaska
  • Julie Becker
  • Austin Becker, and
  • Aaron Becker

This marked the second Board meeting since the now infamous, “110 Acre AI data center campus pitched to Village Board,” was made public and residents were afforded an opportunity to share their thoughts. To follow are the Public Comments of one resident who spoke after having benefit of the review of records received from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for documents related to the Data Center pitch:

“I’m Karen Traska… It’s kind of good that I’m following him because I might have a few of your answers.

You know, before I came here, I was pretty mad. And now I’m standing in front of you guys and I’m sad. Like, I’m really sad.

Last time I was standing up here, we were talking about this data center that came out of nowhere, right? It just sort of popped up. They just showed up like 5 minutes before the meeting. It wasn’t on the agenda because, you know, they just kind of showed up, and, the last time I was here, I was also waiting for my FOIA request, and I got my FOIA request.

So turns out, October 8th, our Village Administrator, Anna Paul, put a meeting in the calendar with the Brennan Investment Group and what seems to be their attorneys for the data center. October 21st, you guys had the meeting with Brennan.

…November 10th, Brennan followed up with Anna to see what the feedback was. A week later, November 17th, Board of Trustee meeting. It wasn’t on the agenda. It wasn’t brought up.

December 15th, 2 months after the meeting, Board of Trustee meeting again. It wasn’t on the agenda, but now, as we all know, a 25-minute presentation discussion, but apparently not even some of the trustees knew about it until that moment. Community didn’t know about it. We couldn’t show up to listen or engage. It wasn’t until mid-January that word really gets out to the community.

All hell breaks loose, right? We’re all here at the meeting, January 26th. And President Cecola, Brian, you sat here and repeatedly stated that no one, no one on this Board wanted a data center, right? No one wanted it. And nobody raised their hand, contradicted him. No one said, well, actually, no, I did.

Well, Tuesday, December 16th, the day after the presentation with Brennan, Trustee Strauss, who’s not here unfortunately, to Wes Levy, the Village Treasurer, and Anna Paul, the Village Administrator.

Wes, nicely done last night. Can you ask Anna to share the information we received last night from Brennan Investment Group about a possible data center development?

Levy responds, hi, Trustee Strauss. Anna brought this one to my attention a couple weeks ago. I am sure there will be concessions and property tax forgiveness as part of a deal to bring them in, but if they do come, it will be significant revenue.

Then Strauss emails Cecola,

Brian, my opinion is we need to take this very seriously. Opportunities like this do not surface often. We would need to make certain we can lock up the project and the necessary requirements short-term and long-term, but based on the location, I believe the developer is for sure going to be very open to making concessions.

Same time, Trustee Hoffman was sending an article citing energy usage concerns. Thank you.

And Strauss replied with an article of his own regarding some small town in Quincy, Washington, and how they love the data center. He shared,

I have done a lot of research the last 2 days, and these centers are legit. Below is a small community and the impact that I sent to Brian yesterday. And it was all these statistics. To which then Trustee Clarke responded, Thanks. I agree with Trustee Strauss.

That’s just what was sent to me. There were 2 emails with a staff member and the attorney not sent to me, apparently due to some attorney-client privilege, which I don’t understand because I thought the village was the client, like the residents were the client, but maybe not. I will be asking about that later.

Allegedly, other conversations were had off record with more than just Strauss and Clarke being in favor of the data center. Allegedly, allegedly, allegedly.

I do want to thank Trustees Ekstrom and Hoffman, whether in emails that I received or in public meetings in front of all of us, or both, for standing up for our Village and its unique character, as well as for calling for transparency, not just in the community but within your own Board. I hope in the future we can go back to the transparency that we had with our previous Village President.

Again, this whole thing makes me really sad. So that’s all I have to say. Thank you.”

A transcript of comments from the February 23rd Board meeting can be found here, and the audio recordings of the entire meeting can be found here.

The Village posted the following after the February 2nd Special Plan Commission meeting was cancelled:

“Based on initial feedback, the developer for a possible data center in the Village of Barrington Hills has decided not to go forward with a presentation at the informational Plan Commission meeting.

At this time, the Village considers this matter closed and does not anticipate any further discussion.”

Few if any believe the matter to be closed.

As an aside, the Plan Commission last met on October 2nd, 2025, just six (6) days prior to the Brennan meeting being scheduled by the Village Administrator, per FOIA documents obtained. See Draft Minutes of the October 2, 2025, Meeting.

We thought the timing to be interesting. We also find it interesting that the FOIA records show no evidence of contact between the Village and Brennan Investment Group in advance of October 8th, 2025, when the Village scheduled the October 21st, 2025, meeting. Nothing. No emails with introductory materials, no emails confirming the meeting.

Editorial note: In “Part 1” of our series we neglected to include the “Data Center Overview” posted by the Village on January 16th, 2026. This has since been corrected.

Related: “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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