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Archive for the ‘Village Government’ Category

Former CEO accused of stealing $1.8M from relative allowed access to funds to pay lawyer

Posted in Crime, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Uncategorized on November 29, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Douglas R. Boncosky

Douglas R. Boncosky

By Amanda Marrazzo | Shaw Local News Network

A former business owner who authorities allege stole more than $1.8 million from an elderly relative in Cary was granted access Monday to just enough funds to pay for an attorney.

Douglas R. Boncosky, 54, of Barrington, has been charged with two Class X felonies of aggravated identity theft against a person older than 60, as well as theft of more than $1 million, McHenry County court records show.

He also was charged with financial exploitation of a person over 60 years old and forgery, according to the court documents.

Prosecutors filed a motion asking that Boncosky’s assets be frozen up to $1.8 million, roughly the amount he is accused of stealing. Defense attorney Matthew Haiduk asked that Boncosky, who was denied representation by the public defender’s office, have access to enough funds to cover his private attorney’s fees.

In response, McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis entered an agreed order that Boncosky’s PNC bank account be used solely to pay his attorney fees. Accounts in Boncosky’s name at Chase and Bank of America are “frozen until further order of the court,” Davis wrote.

Boncosky also filed a handwritten notice of appeal regarding a judge’s order entered Oct. 31, the day after his arrest, to keep him detained pretrial in the McHenry County jail.

Read more here.

Related: “Barrington man charged with stealing $1.9 million from elderly woman in Cary over span of 4 years”

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Barrington 220 says students outperform more than 90% of students across the state

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Deception, District 220 referendum, Ethics, His Master's Voice, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

illinois-report-card

“At the Nov. 21 Barrington 220 Board of Education meeting, the Board heard an update from district leaders about Barrington 220’s annual report card, which is assembled by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The report card reflects data from the 2022-23 school year in areas of student achievement, growth, attendance, indicators of college and career readiness, as well as school climate and culture. During the 2022-23 school year, Barrington 220 students performed better than more than 90% of students across the state.

Illinois has five summative designations for schools: Exemplary, Commendable, Targeted, Comprehensive, and Intensive. All Barrington 220 schools received either exemplary or commendable status, and it is important to note that the schools that received commendable designations are very close to earning exemplary.

One area of focus for the district is improving student attendance, which weighs heavily on a school’s summative designation status. Chronic absenteeism has increased in Barrington 220 and across the state since the pandemic. In addition, the district is focusing on how it can accelerate growth for all students through rigorous academic opportunities. Click here to listen to the presentation.”

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District 220 Board approves estimated 2023 tax levy

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, District 220 referendum, Ethics, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »

TAX-LEVY _1_

“At the Nov. 21 Board meeting, the Board heard a presentation about the tentative 2023 tax levy, which is the first step in the process to establish a final levy of property taxes to support the district in 2024. Barrington 220 collects property taxes from Kane, Lake, Cook, and McHenry Counties, and property taxes account for approximately 80% of the district’s annual operating revenues.

If approved, the district expects to receive an overall levy increase of 5.5% compared to last year, however, it is requesting a 6.3% increase in the event new construction is larger than expected.

This is inclusive of capped funds and debt service obligations. Based on projections, the total expected tax revenue to be collected in 2024 is $158,062,300. The next step in the tax levy approval process is a public hearing set for the Dec. 5 Board meeting. The Board is anticipated to approve the final tax levy on Dec. 19.

As part of the tentative levy, the Board will not issue Debt Service Extension Base (DSEB) this year. This will save local taxpayers approximately $2.5 million. Click here to listen to the presentation.”

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Riding Club of Barrington Hills Bridle Path Rules Certification

Posted in Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, BraveHearts, Entertainment, Equestrian Commission, Ethics, Fox River Valley Hunt, FPDCC, FRVPC, Horizon Farm, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Organizations, Public Safety, Riding Center Advisory Committee, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Unions, Village Code on November 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »

RCBH

“RCBH BRIDLE PATH ETIQUETTE AND RULES

The bridle paths include both public trails on county-owned property and private trails in Barrington Hills. Over 150 miles of these paths are maintained by the Riding Club of Barrington Hills. Everyone with a Forest Preserve of Cook County tag for their horse and license for the rider can take advantage of the public trails maintained by the Riding Club of Barrington Hills in the Cook County Forest Preserves. Trails located outside the Forest Preserve are for the exclusive use of Riding Club of Barrington Hills members and guests by stipulation of the land owners where these trails are located.

RCBH TRAILS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY – When the Riding Club of Barrington Hills (RCBH) was established in 1937, an informal agreement was entered into by neighbors, whereby mounted members of the Riding Club could traverse the landowners’ properties on horseback. Almost 80 years later, that relationship still exists. Our relationship, by its very nature, is a delicate one, we therefore ask you to follow the bridle path rules, to ensure that our system will continue to be viable.

  1. Riders must be current RCBH members in order to ride on the private trails, however RCBH members may bring a guest when they ride. The host club member is responsible for ensuring that their guest has signed the required waiver form before riding. Waiver can be found in the directory and is also available on our website https://ridingclubofbarringtonhills.org/online-waiver/
  2. Follow the RCBH bridle path markers, always stay on marked trail, be respectful of the trails and don’t ride if conditions would cause damage or leave hoof prints on the lawn. Don’t litter and where possible consider picking up manure after you ride.
  3. Current RCBH bridle tags must be displayed at all times when riding on private trails.
  4. Private bridle trails are for mounted riders only, no dogs, motorized vehicles or pedestrians allowed.
  5. If you open a gate, close it.
  6. Private trails are walk only.

RCBH TRAILS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY

The Riding Club of Barrington Hills maintains 65+ miles of trails within the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC) properties. These are multi-use trails. Riding on FPDCC trails is by permit only: to obtain these permits, please go to their website at https://fpdcc.com/things-to-do/equestrian/. Rules for riding in the FPDCC are available on their website at https://fpdcc.com/about/rules-regulations/.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO CLEAR A PATH YOURSELF, PLEASE REPORT BLOCKED TRAIL TO THE TRAIL REP IN YOUR SECTOR.

TRAIL REPS ARE LISTED IN THE RCBH DIRECTORY AND ON OUR WEBSITE UNDER TRAILS.

The Sponsor certifies that the Applicant has adequate knowledge of the RCBH Bridle Path Rules to join the Club by entering information below and clicking [Submit]“

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Professor raises concerns over the effect AI could have on 2024 elections

Posted in Deception, Elections, Ethics, Politics, Topics Of Interest on November 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »

AI Elections

The OpenAI logo is seen on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen displaying output from ChatGPT, March 21, 2023. |Michael Dwyer / AP Photo

By Kevin Bessler | The Center Square

A University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy professor is waving a red flag on the impact that artificial intelligence could have on next year’s elections.

Ethan Bueno de Mesquita has written a white paper which he said provides an overview of the potential impact of generative AI on the electoral process. The paper offers specific recommendations for voters, journalists, civil society, tech leaders and other stakeholders to help manage the risks and capitalize on the promise of AI for electoral democracy in the hope of fostering a more productive public discussion of these issues.

“The No. 1 issue that we need to be thinking about are the ways in which AI is going to matter for elections and the ways it poses risks of degrading the information environment for voters,” Bueno de Mesquita said.

The Federal Election Commission has been investigating the possibility of regulating AI-generated images known as “deepfakes” in political ads ahead of next year’s elections.

The Biden administration recently issued an executive order on AI that “will develop effective labeling and content provenance mechanisms, so that Americans are able to determine when content is generated using AI and when it is not.”

Bueno de Mesquita said that misinformation or a “deepfake” close to election day could be damaging “if such a thing gets released and gets released widely on social media or traditional media very close to the election when there is not enough time for responsible actors to figure out what’s true and what’s false and help voters sort through that information.”

More here.

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District 220 Board of Education meets at an earlier time tonight

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Barrington High School, Board of Education, District 220 referendum, Ethics, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Topics Of Interest, Unions, Video Streaming, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »

220 Admin

The District 220 Board of Education meets this evening at 5:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. Topics on their agenda include:

  • Consideration to Approve Changes to 2024-25 Academic Calendar
  • Consideration to Approve Audit Report
  • Consideration to Approve Summer Capital BHS Roofing Bid Award
  • Consideration to Approve Summer Capital District Paving Bid Award
  • Consideration to Approve Summer Capital District Rejuvenation Bid Award
  • Consideration to Determine Estimated Property Tax Levy
  • Consideration to Approve Barrington Transportation Company Contract
  • Illinois Report Card Update/State Assessment Presentation
  • Fine, Visual, and Performing Arts Discussion, and
  • First Reading of Board Policy

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

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Special Barrington Countryside Fire District Board meeting tonight

Posted in Agendas, BCFPD, Jewel-Osco, Pension Funding, Property Taxes, Topics Of Interest, VBHPD on November 20, 2023| Leave a Comment »

BCFPD

The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District (BCFPD) Board of Trustees has two meetings scheduled tonight beginning at 6:00 PM at 22222 N. Pepper Road in Lake Barrington. The first is a special meeting, and a copy of their agenda can be found here.

The second is their regular monthly meeting beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

  • Promotions Of Battalion Chief Erik Mandel, Captain Timothy Buhler, Captain Timothy Christenberry and Lieutenant Matthew Campbell
  • 2023 Tax Levy Discussion and Determination
  • Discussion On Entering into Memorandum of Understanding with The Long Grove Fire Protection District Regarding Utilization of a District Tender
  • Pierce/MacQueen Warranty Extension Proposal for E5
  • Presentation Of BCFPD Artifacts by Retired Assistant Chief Lenn Grant, and
  • Ambulance Bill

A copy of that agenda can be found here.

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District 220 requests participation in a survey

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, BOHICA, Deception, District 220 referendum, Ethics, Look For The Union Label, OP/Ed, Politics, Resident Surveys, School Districts, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

220 Survey

“In June 2023 the Barrington 220 Board of Education approved the district’s new strategic plan, Framework 220. The plan consists of six strategic priorities. One of the priorities is Community Partnerships & Communication.

Please take our 3-minute external communications survey.”

Their survey link can be found here.

Editorial note: When completing the survey, it appeared many of the questions are crafted to assist District 220 in preparing for their November, 2024 Referendum campaign strategies.

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It took 18 years to sell this Barrington Hills house

Posted in Mac's Property Management, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, Topics Of Interest on November 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Otis Road 2018

This photo shows the house in a 2018 real estate listing. When the house sold this week, agents removed photos from the present-day listings. | Credit: Re/Max of Barrington, 2018

By Dennis Rodkin | Crain’s Chicago Business

A house in Barrington Hills sold 18 years, four months and five days after it first went up for sale.

The property, a six-bedroom house on about 21 acres on Otis Road, sold for just over $2.38 million on Wednesday. The sellers, identified in Cook County public records as William and Colleen Noyes, first put it up for sale July 11, 2005, asking $6.6 million.

The property had not been on the market the entire time but jumped on and off the market over the years. It was actively listed for all but about 26 months of the 18 years, real estate records show.

The sellers could not be reached for comment. John Morrison, one of two @properties Christie’s International Real Estate agents who represented the sellers, said he could not comment before he got permission from the owners. Erin Vondra, the WDH Real Estate agent who represented the buyers, did not respond to a request for comment. The buyers are not yet identified in public records.

The original portion of the house, built in 1910 and seen in this article about the property’s history, was nice but relatively modest, built on a hilltop by Chicagoan John V. Walker as a country getaway.

Walker later sold it to Bill and Frances “Bunny” Horne. Bill Horne was a lifelong friend of Ernest Hemingway. Colleen and William Noyes bought the house from Horne in 1993 and, according to the article, “embarked on extensive renovations and improvements to the landmark, expanding the small farmhouse into a graceful 8,000-square-foot estate home with a Nantucket vibe.”

Read more here.

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Barrington School District 220 could ask taxpayers for $50M by referendum to pay for arts space at Barrington High School

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Barrington High School, Board of Education, BOHICA, Deception, Ethics, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Topics Of Interest, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 16, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Plan B

By Elizabeth Owens-Schiele | Pioneer Press

A referendum advisory committee is being formed by Barrington School District 220 to explore a potential $50 million referendum, money to help pay for a new fine arts center at Barrington High School.

At the Nov. 7 board meeting, school board members discussed options they plan to charge the committee with as committee members meet with community stakeholders. Details of options for new fine, visual and performing arts spaces are expected to be fine-tuned by board members at the Nov. 21 board meetings and ones in December.

The committee is expected to begin outreach in January and make recommendations to the board in March, as the district plans for a Nov. 5, 2024 referendum on the ballot, officials explained.

The ultimate hope is to create new spaces for high school students in the fine, visual and performing arts.

“We see the benefits of having those spaces, educationally and for extra curriculars. There’s a lot of value,” BHS Principal Steve McWilliams said to the board during the a presentation at the Nov. 7 meeting. “It’s their niche, it’s what makes high school special.”

Board member Leah Collister-Lazzari suggested the district conduct more research on the timing of the referendum and the landscape for referendum support.

More here.

Related: “220 Board plans to form referendum advisory committee to gain fine, visual & performing arts feedback,” “District 220 Board plans to seek community feedback about new fine, visual & performing arts spaces at BHS.”

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