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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 Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Clown Car, Data Center, Deception, Ethics, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Lennie, One Barrington Hills, OP/Ed, Plan Commission, Plum Farm development, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Simple Minds, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Village Board, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Government, Village President on June 12, 2026| Leave a Comment »

A list of Barrington Hills trustees who currently follow The Barrington Hills Observer posts on Facebook.

On Saturday, May 23rd, around 7:30 AM, we posted, “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” shortly after we received a copy of a notice sign posted on Old Sutton Road. That post was sent to all subscribers of this publication’s website and all those following our Facebook page, including those Trustees pictured above.

Subsequent to our posting of the Hoffman Estates Plum Farms notice, we followed up with subtle hints to our Board of Trustees (BOT) to take action, including:

Shortly after the Hoffman Estates Plum Farms meeting ended on June 3rd, CBS News reported, “Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project.” The next day, the Daily Herald reported, “Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center,” and residents were quick to react to the news commenting:

  • “NOT A SINGLE MEMBER OF THE BARRINGTON HILLS BOARD OF TRUSTEES WAS THERE THAT I SAW. WOW!!!!!”
  • “Where was the leadership from Barrington Hills? No one from the Board was there. Paula (McCombie)and the numerous South Barrington Trustees were there and stayed for the entire meeting. Grateful for their support.”

We also posted, “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie shares an update on Hoffman Estates/Plum Farms Plan Commission meeting,” last Friday, June 5th, but outside of the hearing notice posted on the Village Facebook page, residents heard absolutely nothing from our elected trustees.

Then on Monday, June 8th, our Village posted, “UPDATE: HOFFMAN ESTATES PLUM FARMS REZONING REQUEST” on their Facebook page (See “Village Board once again tests our tolerance for fabrications (BS)”) that included a letter from Brian Cecola that was clearly backdated to June 2nd, since:

  • No one is copied on the letter. That is unheard of considering the number of interested parties in the matter.
  • No one read the letter aloud at the Hoffman Estates Plum Farms hearing.
  • The letter would have been “shouted out” via social media and a press release June 2nd given the embarrassing position Cecola put himself in when he fronted a, “110 Acre AI data center campus pitched to Village Board,” next to Pond Gate last December that he caught Hell for.

It is well known that Mr. Cecola is not the sharpest tack in the box. However, he can be smart from time to time.  This is not one of those times and he has insulted the intelligence of residents and his peers.

As for not one member of our Board of Trustees attending the well-publicized Plum Farms hearing, shame on them. There is no excuse.

But to a person, BOT members will whine, “But the Director of Administration (Anna Paul) went to the meeting.” The problem is she is not an elected official of the Village of Barrington Hills. They need to be reminded she has no standing to act on behalf of the Village of Barrington Hills, nor does she present herself that way. The BOT, unfortunately, seems to conveniently forget this.

This Board must show up and speak their mind at the next Plum Farms meeting which may be July 6th. Not to do so would likely decimate any remaining credibility they may have among many residents.

Related: “Village Board once again tests our tolerance for fabrications (BS),” “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),” “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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‘Twenty years to grow and 20 minutes to cut down’: Barrington streetscape improvements irk some

Posted in Audubon Society, Daily Caller, Fools and their money, FUBAR, Politics, Tree Preservation Ordinance on June 10, 2026| Leave a Comment »

A picture of the corner of Cook and Station streets shows a tree that was recently taken down as part of the Barrington streetscape improvements. | Courtesy of Bill Hartman

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

The owner and manager of a downtown Barrington building are upset that a mature tree was cut down during the village’s streetscape improvements around Cook Street Plaza.

Holly McClintock, who owns the plaza near Cook and Station streets, and Kristin Beecher, who manages it and lives above Cook Street Coffee, which is part of the development, confronted the village board Monday, as did another concerned resident, Bill Hartman.

Beecher and McClintock said the village the tree, located on the east side of Cook Street Coffee at Cook and Station streets, could stay.

“We were told the tree would stay,” Beecher said. “Twenty years to grow and 20 minutes to cut down.”

Beecher said she was told May 15 the tree needed to come down, but she scheduled a meeting with village officials the next business day to discuss it. Before the meeting could be held, she said, a crew cut it down. She said a street superintend

The corner of Cook and Station streets, the former location of a tree recently removed as part of ongoing streetscape improvements. | Steve Zalusky/szalusky@dailyherald.com

In its place the village is building a seat wall where downtown visitors can sit. Beecher is concerned new trees will struggle to grow within the four-foot-deep fixture.

Article continues here.

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Plan Commission Special Meeting tonight

Posted in Agendas, Land Use, Plan Commission, Property Taxes, Public Hearing, Real Estate, Village Attorney, Village Director of Administration on May 28, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Village Plan Commission will hold a special meeting this evening at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

PUBLIC HEARING

  • Approval of a Final Plat of Subdivision Filed by the Owner of 60 Spring Creek Road, Consolidating Property Commonly Known as 60 Spring Creek Road and 56 Ridge Road Into One Single Lot, PINs 20-29-400-006, 20-29-400-007, and 20-29-400-017 (Application documentation found here)
  • Approval of a Final Plat of Subdivision Filed by the Owner of 21 Peraino Circle, Consolidating Property Commonly Known as 19 and 21 Peraino Circle Into One Single Lot, PINs 13-33-301-024 and 13-33-301-016. (Application documentation found here)

PUBLIC MEETING

  • [Vote] Approval of a Final Plat of Subdivision Filed by the Owner of 60 Spring Creek Road Consolidating Property Commonly Known as 60 Spring Creek Road and 56 Ridge Road Into One Single Lot, PINs 20-29-400-006, 20-29 400-007, and 20-29-400-017
  • [Vote] Approval of a Final Plat of Subdivision Filed by the Owner of 21 Peraino Circle, Consolidating Property Commonly Known as 19 and 21 Peraino Circle Into One Single Lot, PINs 13-33-301-024 and 13-33-301-016

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

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Why McHenry County officials could ask voters for home rule powers

Posted in Cost of Living, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Ethics, Fat Bastard, Girlie man, Immigration, Land Use, Plan Commission, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Privacy, Real Estate, Shaw Local, Springfield, Unions, Zoning Board on May 27, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Claire O’Brien | Shaw Media

As McHenry County officials express frustration at state legislation that they say erodes local control, they’re considering asking voters for permission to become home rule.

Home rule is a classification that allows a local government to enact laws as it sees fit, as long as they’re not in conflict with state laws. That includes more leeway to impose fees, restrictions and taxes.

Though some municipalities in McHenry County have home rule powers, Cook County is the only county in Illinois with such powers.

In recent years, solar farms have been a source of frustration for McHenry County officials because state law has limited the county’s ability to regulate such facilities.

Now, officials at the county and in several municipalities have expressed frustration over the proposed BUILD Act — Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker’s plan that would limit local authority on what types of housing structures can be built on land zoned for residential.

So McHenry County officials are considering asking voters to weigh in on a home-rule request during the November election.

Article continues here.

Related: “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie provides an update of Pritzker’s proposed BUILD Act,” “Village of Barrington President shares perspectives on Pritzker’s BUILD plans,” “(Ignoring public opinion) Pritzker says of BUILD Plan for homes would not cost taxpayers,” “Gov. JB Pritzker’s ambitious housing plan for Illinois: More four-flats, looser rules,” “Pritzker to propose statewide zoning laws to spur homebuilding, limit local control,” “McLaughlin’s press conference video recording regarding Pritzker’s proposed municipal zoning powers grab posted,” “‘It’s just a bad idea’: Suburban officials oppose Pritzker’s plan to reduce local control over residential It’s just zoning”

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Village Board of Trustees meet Tuesday

Posted in Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Board of Health, Building Department, Clown Car, Conflict of interest, Data Center, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Economy, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, Finance Committee, Folds of Honor, Fox River Valley Hunt, FRVPC, Insurance Committee, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Lennie, Massbach Hounds, Minutes, One Barrington Hills, Organizations, Plan Commission, Plum Farm development, Police Pension Board, Police Reports, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Resident Spotlights, Riding Club Commission, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Roads & Bridges Committee, The Land We Love Run, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Tree Preservation Ordinance, Unions, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President, Village Treasurer, Yabba Dabba Doo, Zoning Board on May 17, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

  • [Vote] Board of Health Appointment:
    Frank Konicek – Chairman, one-year term
  • [Vote] Riding Club Commission Appointments:
    Elaine Ramesh – Chairman & Member, each a one-year term
    Mary Beth Holsteen – Member, one-year term
    Susan Helenowski – Member, one-year term
    Vicki Kelly – Member, one-year term
  • [Vote] Plan Commission Appointments:
    Matthew Vondra – Chairman, one-year term & Member, 3-year term
    Christopher Geier – Member, three-year term
    Brent Burval – New Nominee* for Member, three-year term
  • [Vote] Zoning Board of Appeals Appointments:
    Gina Koertner – Member, five-year term
    John Gigerich – Member, five-year term
  • [Vote] Police Pension Board Trustees Appointments:
    Christopher Krzysko, Two-year term
    George Panos, Two-year term
  • Register Now: Land We Love Run 5K/10K Celebrating America250 on June 28, 2026

A copy of their agenda, including info on listening to the meeting, can be viewed and downloaded here.

*No bio provided

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Plan Commission Special Public Meeting May 28: Lot Consolidation #2

Posted in County, Lake, Land Use, Plan Commission on May 8, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Before the Plan Commission
Village of Barrington Hills
Plat of Subdivision – Lot Consolidation

Notice is hereby given that a Public Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. by the Plan Commission of the Village of Barrington Hills at the Barrington Hills Village Hall, 112 Algonquin Road, Barrington Hills, IL, concerning an Application filed by the owner of 19 & 21 Peraino Circle, Barrington Hills, IL to request approval of a final plat of subdivision consolidating Lots 8 and 21 of the Subdivision of Barrington Ridge in Barrington Hills, IL to create a single lot. Affected properties are identified by PIN 13-33-301-024-0000 and 13-33-301-016-0000.

A copy of the application and proposed plat for lot consolidation is available for examination in the office of the Village Clerk at the Village Hall, by appointment, during hours of operation. Any interested party will be given an opportunity to provide comment. Written comments on the application for lot consolidation, which will be provided to the members of the Plan Commission, will be accepted in the Office of the Village Clerk through 3:00 PM, May 27, 2026.

By: Village Clerk
Village of Barrington Hills
Clerk@vbhil.gov
112 Algonquin Road
Barrington Hills, IL 60010

Source

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Plan Commission Special Public Meeting May 28: Lot Consolidation #1

Posted in County, Land Use, McHenry, Plan Commission on May 8, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Before the Plan Commission
Village of Barrington Hills
Plat of Subdivision – Lot Consolidation

Notice is hereby given that a Public Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. by the Plan Commission of the Village of Barrington Hills at the Barrington Hills Village Hall, 112 Algonquin Road, Barrington Hills, IL, concerning an Application filed by the owner of 60 Spring Creek Road, Barrington Hills, IL to request approval of a final plat of subdivision consolidating property commonly known as 56 Ridge Road and 60 Spring Creek Road in Barrington Hills, IL to create a single lot. Affected properties are identified by PIN 20-29-400-006, 20-29-400-007, and 20-29-400-017.

A copy of the application and proposed plat for lot consolidation is available for examination in the office of the Village Clerk at the Village Hall, by appointment, during hours of operation. Any interested party will be given an opportunity to provide comment. Written comments on the application for lot consolidation, which will be provided to the members of the Plan Commission, will be accepted in the Office of the Village Clerk through 3:00 PM, May 27, 2026.

By: Village Clerk
Village of Barrington Hills
Clerk@vbhil.gov
112 Algonquin Road
Barrington Hills, IL 60010

Source

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Once ornamental, now invasive: That beautiful spring tree in your yard is now illegal in Illinois

Posted in Tree Preservation Ordinance on May 2, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Jill Rebuck

Every April, a different kind of blizzard sweeps across Chicago-area neighborhoods. White blossoms line parkways in Naperville, commercial strips in Schaumburg, and front yards in Arlington Heights. It’s one of the most recognizable signs of spring and as of last fall, officially an invasive weed in Illinois.

But the beautiful Callery pear turned out to be an environmental Trojan horse. Also sold as Bradford pear, it has quickly become a nuisance. As of October 2025, it has been added to Illinois’ Exotic Weed Act, making it illegal to buy, sell, distribute, or plant in the state. Nurseries have been given a grace period to phase out existing stock, with the full sales ban taking effect Jan. 1, 2028.

Don’t worry. If you have a pear in the ground, you aren’t required to remove it. But this is a good time to take stock and assess what’s next.

How a ‘perfect’ tree became a problem

“The Bradford pear was the perfect tree on paper,” says Pat Etherington, certified arborist with The Davey Tree Expert Company in Lake Bluff. “It grew fast, looked great in spring, and handled tough urban conditions. For decades, it seemed like a win all around.”

The problem took decades to surface. The Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) was believed to be sterile, but as different Callery pear varieties were planted across neighborhoods, they began cross-pollinating. The resulting offspring are thorny and spread aggressively via birds carrying seeds into roadsides, prairies, and forest edges.

Now, those same qualities that made them attractive to landscapers are what make them so effective as invaders. They are aggressive, hard to remove, and displacing and harming native plants and animals. The Morton Arboretum in Lisle has documented Callery pear spreading throughout the region and noted that its thorny thickets crowd out native species.

The stakes go well beyond one tree. “People tend to think of a tree in their yard as just their tree,” says Etherington. “But invasive species don’t respect property lines. What spreads from your yard into a nearby forest preserve is a community problem.”

Illinois joins a national wave

Illinois is not alone. Ohio became the first state in the country to ban the sale of Callery pear trees in 2018. South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Minnesota, followed with their own bans. And as of January 2026, New Jersey has also banned the sale of these trees. The message from state governments across the country is consistent: the era of planting these trees is over.

What homeowners should do

For Illinois residents, the first step is simply knowing what’s in your yard. If you have a flowering pear tree, have a certified arborist assess its age and condition. Callery pears are notoriously prone to splitting, especially in ice storms or high winds. Planning a native replacement now means your landscape is ready when the time comes.

If invasive seedlings have already appeared on your property, look for thorny saplings with glossy, oval leaves along fence lines or naturalized areas, act quickly. Detecting invaders early and responding rapidly is essential to limiting their spread and the costs of managing them.

Learn which invasive species are present in your area and what local resources are available for management.

The good news: the visual appeal of the Bradford pear is achievable with native alternatives that support local wildlife. Etherington recommends several options for the Chicago-area landscape:

Article continues here.

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Village Board of Trustees meet tonight

Posted in Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Board of Health, Building Department, Clown Car, ePacket Agendas, Equestrian Commission, Ethics, Finance Committee, Financial Reports, Insurance Committee, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Little Duck Butt, Minutes, OMA, Pension Funding, Plan Commission, Police Pension Board, Police Reports, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Road construction, Roads & Bridges Committee, Taxes, The Land We Love Run, Tree Preservation Ordinance, Unions, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President, Village Treasurer, Yabba Dabba Doo, Zoning Board on April 27, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting this evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

A copy of their agenda, including info on listening to the meeting, can be viewed and downloaded 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 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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