McHenry County Blog

Blame the title of this little post on the snow at Veterans Acres. The kids are probably sliding and tubing down the hills as I type this.

Remember the Herculean back flip by Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley on using condemnation in the Tax Increment Financing districts?

I quoted his rhetoric two weeks ago.

Then, the Northwest Herald got this out the mayor:

I can say this. At no time has this city council considered…using our condemnation authority in any TIF we have contemplated. If property owners have that concern, they are false.

Well, now you don’t have to take my word for the most recent Shelpey assertion that Crystal Lake would not use condemnation on Vulcan Lakes TIF.

For those who want to hear Shepley’s words for themselves, here they are, spoken while Bill Cellini is making the pitch by the developers chosen by the city council, complete with the chuckles (maybe they would better be described as exhaling of air denoting humor).

For those who don’t want to watch the 30-second clip, here it is in black and white:

Cellini - I don’t believe that we can right out of the box say that’s something that could be acquired by our group, unless, of course, the city is interested in, in, in acquiring it.

Shepley - No, we already promised we would not use condemnation authority for this project, (chuckle) so, ah

Cellini - I don’t think you would have to use condemnation to probably (chuckle) buy it,

Shepley - Right.

Is McHenry County Blog justified in its coverage of this or not?