McHenry County Blog

This is the third installment of McHenry County Board candidates’ answers to the joint McHenry County Defenders and Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water’s county board answers to their questionnaire.

The topic today is the goals of the candidates.

Only five of the candidates answered today's question. Incumbent Sue Draffkorn declined to provide her vision of what she would accomplish during another four years on the county board.

Let's see what the five have to say about this open-ended question.

Please provide a personal statement about what you intend to accomplish, if elected to the County Board, and/or provide additional information regarding any of the "yes/no" answers given above.

Sue Draffkorn, D-4, Republican: Did not respond to this question.

Jeff Thirtyacre, D-4, Democrat: I would like to start by addressing our tax policy, then look into our education system to control the spending problem in some of the school districts. Look into the water problems in the county; stop illegal dumping of hazardous materials on property near our wetland and conservation districts; look into hazardous roads and intersections and quit kissing up to the rich people in Lake-In-The-Hills & Algonquin. There are other places that need attention. We need new business in McHenry County so taxpayers don't have to commute so far, generate jobs and fine companies with revolving door policies or set up credits for companies that supply benefits for their employees.


Virginia Peschke, D-5, Republican: I intend to continue working on the projects at hand: agricultural and open-space protection, conservation development initiatives, health and safety issues, including strategies to help citizens, particularly seniors retain home-ownership, disaster preparation for pandemics and other causes and improvement of public transit.

Ersel Schuster, D-6, Republican: My past work on this board included reduction of county government. I will continue that work when elected. Additionally, I will work to preserve and protect our agricultural land by working with fellow board members so they understand the many reasons for agreeing with that philosophy.

Harry Alten, Jr., D-6, Republican: I would try to develop allies on the board to come together with a comprehensive plan to preserve and protect our county and its natural resources. Also, we must manage growth responsibly.

Andrew “Drew” Georgi, Jr., D-6, Democrat: We need to plan our growth better that includes transportation, jobs, housing, and the effects of this growth on our county as a whole. We need to improve both our roads and public transportation. Bring in affordable housing that our people can buy. We need to bring in jobs that let our people both live and work within the county. We need to all of this and make sure we do not affect our environment in a negative w

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Andrew Georgi, Ersel Schuster, Harry Alten, Jeff Thirtyacre, McHenry County Board, Sue Draffkorn, Virginia Peschke

McHenry County is not destined to get water from Lake Michigan, so what county board members do on water policy is an important issue.

Some forces want to take water from the rural parts of the county (mainly District 6) and pipe it to areas that have grown or want to grow beyond their underlying aquifers ability to provide water. Carpentersville has actually investigated drilling a well in the Harvard area and piping it southeast.

The McHenry County Defenders and the Alliance for Land, Water and Agriculture (A-LAW) put together questions for county board candidates. So far, only six have responded. Maybe more will do so before the fall elections.

Here are the answers of four Republicans and two Democrats to the following questions:

By protecting agricultural lands and soil resources, groundwater and its natural recharge can also be protected. What will you do to provide that protection?

Sue Draffkorn, D-4, Republican: I would like to see developers take it upon themselves to create subdivision plats that protect our natural resources. McHenry County is developing a conservation design ordinance that will require developers to incorporate the preservation and protection of natural resources.

Jeff Thirtyacre, D-4, Democrat: We need a water filtration plant to collect rain water and filter it to have for when water is lacking so not to waste ground water quantities. And to aid in land preservation for farmers. Established water banks can take the overload when water levels are low.

Virginia Peschke, D-5, Republican: I am currently on the Agricultural Preservation Committee and a Board Member of The Land Conservancy (TLC). I have spoken with municipal leaders regarding inter-governmental agreements that facilitate transfer of development rights, yielding income to farmers while preserving ag use. The success of TLC is proof that farmers do want to preserve agriculture.

Ersel Schuster, D-6, Republican: I am convinced that we need an independent water authority in the areas where the greatest recharge of our groundwater occurs. I plan to help fellow board members see the wisdom in that concept and will work to secure their assistance to see that it happens while we can still realize the benefits of having done so.

Harry Alten, Jr., D-6, Republican: Again, we need a viable Agricultural Land preservation plan and hold to that commitment.

Andrew “Drew” Georgi, Jr., D-6, Democrat:
First we need to protect the water and make sure those that are contaminating it stop and clean it up. Second, we need to make sure that we do not let the existing water be over used by approving too many new building projects. And last we need to add reservoirs to both new building projects and to our conservation areas.

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Again, I unfortunately do not have Harry Alten's photograph. I should have also taken a picture of Jeff Thirtyacre looking left so the spacing would have been better.

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Andrew Georgi, Ersel Schuster, Harry Alten, Jeff Thirtyacre, McHenry County Board, Sue Draffkorn, Virginia Peschke, Water

Below are the answers to the A-LAW and McHenry County Defendeers' McHenry County Board questionnaire. Although the questions of the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water and the Defenders are good ones, only six of the candidates took the time to answer them.

A-LAW, you may remember proposed and campaign unsuccessfully for a water authority for the more unpopulated part of the county. The proposal covered much of county board District 6, where a number of the candidates providing answers seek to serve.

The McHenry County Defenders organization needs no introduction.

That's really a loss.

Perhaps this fall when it is Republicans versus Democrats more candidates will conclude that sharing their visions of McHenry County's future is in their best interest, not to mention the best interest of allowing a better informed electorate.

Below is the first installment:

How would you characterize the growth of McHenry County over the last 25 years and what trends do you see for the future? What concerns do you have? What would you like to see?

Sue Draffkorn, D-4, Republican:
It appears that municipalities and the county were not pro-active in regards to the growth that has occurred over the past 25 years. We are now dealing with crowded roads, crowded schools and housing that is becoming unaffordable. The state of Illinois has failed to help McHenry County with transportation and education expenses. We are a donor county; we do not receive the same considerations from the state as other counties. Our citizens pay more in taxes and get little in return. I would like to see more environmentally friendly subdivision ordinances that take into account groundwater and natural resources in McHenry County.

Jeff Thirtyacre, D-4, Democrat:
Growth in McHenry County has been moderate at most due to the lack of Public Transportation. The Southern part of McHenry has had a boom in growth while the rest has little to none. My concerns are that because of the growth levels, we are going to see problems with jobs being lost. Water supply will decline because new water protection plans haven't been developed. I would like to see development plans put into place. Including Business Promotions to get jobs to McHenry County.

Virginia Peschke, D-5, Republican:
Growth has been out-of-control for the last 20 years due to the lower purchase price of homes and lack of planning by County and municipalities. The County, even with limited power to control growth had neither the will, nor the expertise, to exercise leadership in promoting “smart growth” principles. It will take effort and public pressure to force elected officials to rein in growth and promote sensible, sustainable development. The growing shortage of water resources may be a wake-up call. I would like to see the public elect representatives who would protect the quality of life we enjoy in McHenry County.

Ersel Schuster, D-6, Republican:
For the most part, I see growth in McHenry County being openly encouraged by village and municipal governments. From all indications I believe that process will continue at break-neck-speed; far outstripping the necessary infrastructure and ability for residents to pay the costs associated with that development. Idealistically, I would like to see greater restraint on the part of county and municipal leaders in promoting growth and development. I would envision stricter zoning laws and adherence to those laws thus curbing out of control development the public can ill afford.

Harry Alten, Jr., D-6, Republican: Random. Sometimes leap frogging. Misuse of productive Ag land. I would like the purchase of development rights of Ag Land to sustain our Agricultural Industry in McHenry County.

Andrew “Drew” Georgi, Jr., D-6, Democrat:
Large growth of the population and expensive housing projects that our people can not afford with the jobs available inside our county causing them to work outside the county making our transportation system over burdened. We need to approve only housing projects that our people can afford, bring in more jobs to the county, improve both our roads by having bypasses around the congested areas and improve the public transportation system.

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Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of Harry Alten. And there are two stories today where he is featured.

Labels: A-LAW, Andrew Georgi, Ersel Schuster, Growth, Harry Alten, Jeff Thirtyacre, McHenry County Defenders, Sue Draffkorn, Virginia Peschke

Besides the Daily Herald, the Northwest Herald, the Chicago Tribune and the Woodstock Independent, the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water has prepared a questionnaire for McHenry County Board candidates to answer.

The questionnaire has a lot of thoughtful questions. It follows:

I. Land Use in the County:

A. How would you characterize the growth of McHenry County over the last 25 years and what trends do you see for the future? What concerns do you have? What would you like to see? (100-words)

B. For each question, select “yes” or “no.” Use the additional comment space at the end of this document to explain where necessary.

1. Do you agree with residents who said protecting open lands and agriculture were their priorities in the Imagine McHenry survey?	yes / no
2. Do you support permanent protection of agricultural land and the agricultural industry in the County?	yes / no
3. If elected, will you pledge to find funding sources for acquiring agricultural conservation easements (for which federal funds would supply 50%) within one year of taking office?	yes / no
4. Have you personally attended any of the Regional Planning Commission meetings or subcommittee meetings on the 2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan?	yes / no
5. According to a May 2006 Northwest Herald article “Since 1995, the County has overruled its land-use plan 78 per cent of the time when developers requested zoning changes inconsistent with the plan.” If elected, will you uphold the land use plan?

II. Water Policy:

A. By protecting agricultural lands and soil resources, groundwater and its natural recharge can also be protected. What will you do to provide that protection? (50 words)

B. For each question, select “yes” or “no.” Use the additional comment space at the end of this document to explain where necessary.

1. Do you support redistributing groundwater from water-rich areas to areas that have over drawn their groundwater?	yes / no
2. Would you oppose any land use change that would exceed a locally recharged aquifer’s capacity?	yes / no
3. Do you support indemnity to existing well owners who can document an adverse effect on their wells by new high-volume groundwater withdrawals in their vicinity?	yes / no
4. Do you support the 2006 County Board resolution requiring that a site’s aquifer sensitivity and recharge be assessed before approving any land use change for that location, and would you vote for it’s reproposal?	yes / no
5. In the past fifteen years, McHenry County has spent $1.6 million dollars on groundwater studies. If elected, will you pledge to use the recently earmarked federal $295,000 to protect local aquifer recharge by having the County contract with state and federal agencies to monitor aquifer levels and collect other current, hard data on the status of locally recharged aquifers.
6. If incumbent, did you vote for, or if non-incumbent would you vote for the Enbridge pumping station on Franklinville Road?	yes / no

III. Transparency:

A. If elected, whom do you define as your constituency and how will you communicate with your constituents to ensure your positions honestly represent them? (50 words)

B. What does the County get from its $147,590 contract (Dec 1, 2007 through Nov. 30, 2008) with the McHenry County Development Corporation and is it a good investment of taxpayer money? (50 words)

C. For each question, select “yes” or “no.” Use the additional comment space at the end of this document to explain where necessary.

1. If elected, would you support requiring all board members, other County officers and employees, and all their family members to disclose any financial or other interest in any real property in the County?	yes / no
2. Would you require that such interests, as stated above, disqualify any Board member from voting on any measure, including the comprehensive plan designations, relating to any such interests?	yes / no
3. Do you support the MCEDC using taxpayer funds to oppose or support citizens initiatives including lobbying the County Board?	yes / no

D. Do you have any relatives employed or under contract with McHenry County? If so, please list their names, relationship to you, and place of employment or nature of their business with the County. (no limit - if none, please write “None”)

Name	Relationship	Position or Nature of Business

IV. General:

A. What is your opinion on global climate disruption? (50 words)

B. For each question, select “yes” or “no.” Use the additional comment space at the end of this document to explain where necessary.

1. Would you support County Board actions and/or policies that would address global climate disruption?	yes / no
2. Would you initiate forming a new Board committee to address environmental issues?	yes / no

V. Comments:

Please provide a personal statement about what you intend to accomplish, if elected to the County Board,
and/or provide additional information regarding any of the “yes / no” answers given above. (100 words)

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Candidate Questionnnaire, McHenry County Board

For more information about this afternoon forum, click here.

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Environmenal Law and Policy Center, Friends of McHenry County College, McHenry County Defenders, Ricca Slone

If you are interested in the water problems McHenry County will surely face, this should be a forum you plan to attend.

Environmental Law & Policy Center

& McHenry County College

Present

What is Your Water IQ?

A Free Community Forum

DATE: November 17, 2007, 12:30-4:00 p.m.

PLACE: McHenry County College conference center

Building B – Parking Lot B

Engineering studies show that, unless McHenry residents conserve water, we could face water shortages within the next few years. We’re all in this together, and all our communities should work together to protect our water supply.

McHenry County College is hosting a free community forum on water for community residents, high school and college students.

We will:

• tell you what’s going on in the community to protect our water
• offer demonstrations and hands-on activities to show you where our water comes from and what we can do to help
  

• get your opinion about next steps to take using instant polling.

There will be a raffle of water-saving items, a special door prize, and refreshments. Presenters include local and regional experts, community groups, college faculty and student volunteers.

We hope to see you there!

What’s Your Water IQ?

Community Water Supply Forum

McHenry County College Conference Center

Saturday, November 17, 2007

12:30 – 1 p.m. Registration, raffle sign-up and displays

1:00-1:25 Welcome Dr. Walter Packard, President, McHenry County College

What’s Your Water IQ? Instant polling – audience participation

Ricca Slone, Environmental Law & Policy Center

1:25-2 p.m. Water Conservation Panel

Dennis Dreher, McHenry Plan Commission, moderator

Tim Loftus, Regional Water Supply Planning Group

Cassandra McKinney, McHenry County Water Resource Manager

Nancy Williamson, McHenry County Conservation District

Break Displays and refreshments

2:15 – 3 p.m. Break-out sessions

• Watershed protection: Lenore Beyer-Clow, Openlands; Cindy Skukrud, Sierra Club; Emily Berendt, A-LAW
• School curricula for studying water resource: Bill Donato, Woodstock High School; Katie Parkhurst, Algonquin
• Richmond water reuse ordinance: Karen Kabbes

3-3:40 p.m. Demonstrations and Powerpoints

· Environmental LawCenter: At-home water use

· McHenry County Defenders: Water conservation

· McHenry College faculty: Water testing, Enviroscape, groundwater model

3:45 – 4 p.m. What should McHenry County communities do to save water?

Instant polling – audience participation

Raffle winner announcement

Labels: A-LAW, Dennis Dreher, Environmenal Law and Policy Center, MCC, McHenry County, McHenry County College, McHenry County Defenders, Ricca Slone, Water

During the spring elections in the rural parts of McHenry, DeKalb and Boone Counties and a couple of cities in DeKalb, a McHenry County-based group called A-LAW pushed for the creation of a water authority.

The Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water was a real threat to developers and municipalities because the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority would have had the power to approve or disapprove larger wells.

The referendum was defeated handily, but A-LAW’s core of supporters has apparently retained its concern for water policy.

Pat Kennedy spoke on its behalf before Crystal Lake city officials on the watershed and McHenry County College’s proposal to cover up to 50% of its land with impervious material.

All of this leads me to the following press release from A-LAW:

Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water Objects to McHenry County Community College Expansion Plan

The Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water (A-LAW) objects to McHenry County Community College (MCC)’s Petition for Approval of Preliminary PUD and Special Use. If granted as proposed, it would have a deleterious effect on the quantity and quality of the area’s groundwater resources.

We object to MCC’s plan and requested relief from Crystal Lake’s watershed ordinance because it would allow coverage of over 50% of its present and future holdings with impervious surfaces (including a minor league baseball stadium with a 20 acre parking lot) without considering available viable alternatives.

The proposed site is within that part of the Crystal Lake Watershed in which impervious surface coverage should be held to 20% in order to protect the recharge of the aquifer that sustains Crystal Lake.

Granting an exception to this long established ordinance is unjustified and unnecessary. It would set a precedent for future land conversions along Route 14 that would adversely affect the area’s groundwater supplies.

A-LAW has extensively studied the effects of poor planning on the aquifers underlying the tri-county area of McHenry, Boone and DeKalb Counties, in particular land uses that have resulted in water shortages looming in the eastern half of McHenry County. Now is the time for developers to consider protection of the aquifers as an integral part of the planning process.

As you know, water sustainability is becoming a critical issue in Illinois, with political ramifications. This is a decision that will affect future generations.

A public educational institution like McHenry County Community College should be held to the highest standard of stewardship within the watershed.

We appeal to MCC to reconsider the long-term adverse consequences of their request and we urge both the Crystal Lake City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission to consider these consequences and deny the relief requested.

A letter of similar content was sent to the members of Crystal Lake’s Planning and Zoning Commission and read aloud by A-LAW President Pat Kennedy at Wednesday night’s meeting.

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The dripping faucet was A-LAW's symbol during the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority campaign. Although Crystal Lake was not included in the plan, you can see a bit A-LAW sign at the intersection of Routes 14 and 176 next to the Tweeter going out of business sign. I spotted it the weekend before the election.

Pat Kennedy is seen reading A-LAW's letter to the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission on September 5th.

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Crystal Lake, Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission, Crystal Lake Watershed

Immediately after the unsuccessful campaign by the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water (A-LAW) to create a Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority, the McHenry County Board hired Johnsburg resident Cassandra McKinney as Water Resource Manager.

To be successful, McKinney will have to be persuasive with the very people who financed and campaigned to defeat the water authority's creation.

It is unknown to what extent the newly hired McHenry County employee will be successful .

After all she must encouraging municipalities and developers to protect the groundwater needed by the families to which they seek to sell homes.

But, if Congressman Don Manzullo is able to convince U.S. Senate Democrats to retain his earmark, $300,000 more will be available for the effort.

The $300,000 of federal largess follows by two days Manzullo’s announcement of $250,000 in assistance for extending Algonquin Road through Huntley.

The press release follows:

Manzullo Secures $300,000 to Help McHenry County
Preserve Groundwater Supplies, Prevent Flooding

(CRYSTAL LAKE) Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today announced he has secured $300,000 in federal funds to help McHenry County officials ensure abundant and safe drinking water for residents and prevent damaging floods for generations to come.
The funding is included in the 2008 Energy & Water appropriations bill the U.S. House is scheduled to consider next week.

Following approval by the House, the funds must still be approved by the Senate and signed into law by the President. Manzullo will work with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama, both of Illinois, to make sure the funding is protected throughout the process.

Continued development has placed McHenry County's groundwater resources at risk of over-pumping and contamination. Depleted groundwater aquifers may also be contributing to a loss of wetlands and the degradation of surface waters. At the same time, this ongoing and future development poses significant challenges to stormwater drainage as the shrinking landscape loses the ability to absorb precipitation and the region faces continuing pressure to develop flood-prone areas.

The federal funds will be used to accelerate the implementation of McHenry County's Groundwater/Stormwater Protection program, which uniquely seeks to address stormwater drainage and detention, floodplain management, soil erosion and sedimentation control, stream and wetland protection, and groundwater resources in a single program.

The county recently hired a Water Resource Manager and is now working with other local governments to develop the multi-year Groundwater/Stormwater Protection program.

"McHenry County is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. The superior quality of life McHenry County offers is what lures thousands of new residents to the area each year. But it's also what has placed tremendous pressures on the county's groundwater resources and stormwater drainage capabilities," Manzullo said. "I sought and secured this federal funding because I know the county's ability to provide groundwater to its residents and prevent catastrophic floods is essential to McHenry County's future and the comfort of generations to come."

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Congressman Don Manzullo is show at his Western Bypass press conference in Algonquin.

The map is from the State Water Survey. It shows shallow well pumpage. Below it is the key to understanding what the various colors mean.

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Cassandra McKinney, Don Manzullo

Since I don't live in the area that voted on the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority I didn't get any of the opposition's mailings.

I heard about one from Joe Wiegand's Taxpayers Alliance of Northern Illinois and asked for a copy.

On the outside is the corn crib with the "NO WATER AUTHORITY" sign painted on its side. I've run that picture on McHenry County Blog. The text under the sign is

Most farmers agree,
bad deals come in a hurry.

Maybe that's an old agricultural saying, but I've never heard it before. There are a couple replications of his groups blue and white signs, too.

Inside this 4-page mailing are the


I hope I can give you an idea of the effect of the different sizes of type.

Then, there's what I assume is the same list of reasons that Wiegand handed out when he held his first round of press conferences.

Inside the message runs across two pages:


The 2-page spread has six maps.

With two of the maps one can look at aquifer lines for the Kishwaukee Valley with the boundaries of the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority proposed by A-LAW, the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water. The Authority boundaries run primarily along straight township lines (see map on the lower right), while, of course, the underground water supplies in the aqufer (see map with blue to the other's left) do not.

It argues with regional planning.

I would note that in the late 1960's I attended a Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission hearing at Woodstock's Opera House. That hearing lead to the finger plan of developing the six-county area.

Guess what?

If this plan to have growth follow the railroads out of Chicago had any effect, I can't imagine what that effect was.

So, please excuse me if I think public officials whose elections are largely financed by developers will act in my lifetime to manage out underground water resources.

The Illinois Economic & Fiscal Commission wrote a report on water resource management in the 1970's and recommended state legislation.

None passed.

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Joe Wiegand, T.A.N.I., Taxpayers Alliance of Northern Illinois

Almost 78% of the voters in McHenry, DeKalb and Boone Counties reject the creation of the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority.

The new unit of government, proposed by A-LAW, the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water, was soundly reject in each of the three counties where votes were cast.

In McHenry County it creation was rejected by a vote of 3,512 to 1,774. The 66% defeat marked the high water mark of the county election results.

The companion measure, which would allow the taxes to be levied, went down the drain 3,822 to 1,574.

In DeKalb County, the issue went down by an even larger margin—83%.

The vote for creation of the water authority lost by 8,813 to 2,139.

The tax side failed by more, just as in McHenry County: 8,964 to 1,923.

In Boone County the measure also lost by big margins. 81-19% (5,625 to 1,298) for its creation and 5,651 (83%) to 1,125 in favor of lifting the tax cap to allow an increase in the property tax.

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Boone County, DeKalb County, Joe Wiegand, Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority, McHenry County, Taxpayers Alliance of Northern Illinois

As their signs continue to disappear, at least one of A-LAW (Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water) Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority supporters has retained a sense of humor.

The email said,

"Receiving more reports of missing signs from supporters.

"Almost all gone in Dunham Township, other places stripped bare where there were several."

The first photo shows:

"Three KVWA signs are completely gone and two TANI signs are on the ground. No idea how what happened here. Corner of Bull Valley Rd. and Queen Anne Rd (top left)."

The second photo shows:

"Large KVWA sign that was here all week has gone missing. Corner of Country Club and Bull Valley Rd (top right)."

The third shot shows:

"Tire treads visible after I reset the signs back farther on Sunday. They had been run over. Corner of Fleming and Country Club."

Finally, the sense of humor comes through in the final photo:

"Guess we better hold on to what we have left."

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Citizens for the Formation of the Kishwaukee Water Authority, Taxpayers Alliance of Northern Illinois

One of the mailings from the Realtor-backed political action committee called “Citizens Against the Water Authority” is pretty much the same as what was in the Woodstock Independent.

It is headlined,

Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority

Property Rights vs. Government Control

To the left of a marked sample ballot is

The Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority is all about more government and nothing about property rights!

Then in reverse print comes an unattributed quote from an “Attorney for A-LAW, January 30, 2007, at the DeKalb County Courthouse.”

Property Owners Have No Rights

Needless to say, this quote is hotly contested by the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water.

The piece goes on to complain that the referendum will “create a whole new layer of government” and, then, quotes Ronald Reagan:

Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets.

This side concludes with a “Say NO”! Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority.

There is a web site address below: www.NoWaterAuthority.com between “Get the facts!” and “Vote NO!”

Enlarge the mailing by clicking on it and see if you can find the subliminal message.

It's in the same color as what's behind the Reagan's quote.

On the address side under a headline that reads, “Keep Northern Illinois Strong.” It is in light print over a series of farm photographs.

Beneath to the left of the address is

• Protect our Farms
• Defend Private Property
• Maintain our Water Rights
• Preserve Local Control
• Stop Property Tax Increases
• Conserve our Water

If the opponents had the money and the time for a rebuttal, I’m sure it would be fun to read, especially the part about the water authority law not permitting the authority to regulate agricultural water rights.

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Citizens Against Water Authority

This short press release arrived about election night arrangements for supporters of the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority:

Members of A-LAW and Citizens for Formation of KVWA and their supporters will gather at Donley’s Old West Steak House, Rt. 20 and Union Rd. in Union, Illinois, to await election returns, and will be available at the cell phone numbers listed below.

Complaints of missing signs continue to come in this morning from supporters who report that the signs were taken from their yards and other private property.

I also got this email from one of the leaders of the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water:

"I have received two pieces from Citizens Against (the Water Authority), and one from Taxpayer's Alliance.

"CAWA's are 6X9 glossy post cards. One is the "bait and switch" ad and the other one is pretty egregious in that it has a purported quote from "an A-LAW attorney" stating the "Property Owners Have No Rights." I have no idea where that quote even came from, but it is clearly out of context.

"The mailer from TANI is the same one Joe has used with the top ten reasons but it has been folded to mail and the old barn out on 176 has been added.

"I have had a few reports this morning from angry citizens saying their signs are gone.

"One said someone took their signs right off their private property and left a lot of blue signs along the road way.

"One said they observed a black truck pull up and take our signs away.

"On Sunday, I reset some of our signs that had been run over by a vehicle that had to travel off the road to get them. I could see the tire tracks."

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Citizens Against Water Authority, Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority, Taxpayers Alliance of Northern Illinois

With expenditures from the opponents to the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority being seen beyond signs, the following press release has been received from the Citizens for Formation of the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority and the Alliance For Land Agriculture and Water.

It expresses outrage at misrepresentations being made by the referendum's opponents. The opposition ad can be enlarged to reading size by clicking on the image. It was paid for by the Citizens Against Water Authority.

Citizens for Formation of the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority and the Alliance For Land Agriculture and Water issue the following warning: Don’t Be Misled.

Woodstock, IL, April 16, 2007. If a four color, half page ad, in the most recent edition of the Woodstock Independent is an indication of what $30,000 and a total lack of integrity can buy, we can expect to see this or similar ads in other publications today and tomorrow.

This is the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority (KVWA) opponents' last-ditch effort to weaken the resolve of our supportive constituency prior to the election on Tuesday.

This ad and their previous flyers and public presentations have knowingly provided misinformation and misrepresentations to scare citizens away from considering the water authority and its advantages

Last week one of water authority opponents’ highly respected spokesmen stated in a public forum that the water authority could zone farmers’ land.

A-LAW Director, Emily Berendt, reports,

“When I challenged him about the veracity of the information he was presenting, he admitted that he was only repeating what he was told.

“The truth is that a water authority cannot zone farmers’ lands. A water authority can only zone land the water authority itself owns as it would for a reservoir.

“This is one of the many scare tactics they are using. They recruited a trusting, well-intentioned, well-respected citizen and used him to promote an agenda of intentional half-truths and out of context statements in their own self interest.”

Another recent scare tactic is the attempt to pit county against county at the ballot box, by promoting their personal interpretation that the Water Authorities Act would allow more than one trustee from DeKalb County.

This will be the first water authority to encompass three counties and it is A-LAW’s position that this interpretation does not apply.

In any event, ALL trustees of the water authority will be held to an objective standard and are responsible to all the residents within the authority. There is no room for personal favors, political pressures or private interest buy-offs.

All decisions to permit or not permit must be made based on sound science, with input from experts, advisors and the public, and are subject to judicial review.

Again, the statute insures that there is at least one trustee from each county and we believe that balance would be maintained even if a Judge were to interpret the law differently.

Speculation by the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority opponents is intended to play to fears and paint a worst case scenario; assuming any additional trustees, above three, appointed would not adhere to their obligations as trustee for the entire water authority.

This also begs the question how anyone believes that in lieu of a water authority our local governments will voluntarily enter into intergovernmental agreements covering water usage. The amount of distrust displayed shows that a water authority is the only immediate route to protecting our water on a regional basis.

A-LAW President Patricia Kennedy says,

“We have answered all our opponents’ questions, countered all their arguments.

“This type of advertising represents their last desperate attempt to discredit the campaign for the Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority.

“It comes down to the simple fact that we are trying to save our water and they are trying to save their profits.

“We have taken great care to present the facts in our presentations, our literature and on our web site. We continue to urge citizens to self-educate, to explore the issue. The KVWA opponents are grasping at straws.”

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Citizens Against Water Authority, Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority

>Signs in favor of creation of a Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority in the western part of McHenry Count keep getting torn down, as you can see from the email below from a friend of McHenry County Blog:

Just to up date our report to you on the KVWA signs being taken. I just spoke with a neighbor.

Her daughter put out about 20 signs yesterday along Garden Valley Road and that general area.

An hour later they were all gone!

I forgot to ask if the mysterious "wind" had replaced them with blue and white Vote No signs.

I continue to get reports similar to this in many of the areas of the proposed KVWA area.

It seems a pretty low type of trick to me. The water authority idea must really be making a few deep-pocketed people nervous.

In a counter attack of sorts, proponents have put signs up in Crystal Lake on Routes 14 and 176.

I almost got a new, larger one designed to compete with the 4 by 8-foot signs of the Taxpayers Alliance of Northern Illinois.

Unfortunately, a Tweeter closing poster holder was standing in front of part of it.

This corner, by the way, is a location that former McHenry County College President Jim Davis told me that a citizens’ committee recommended the college be located. Davis told me it was a peat bog.

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Taxpayers Alliance of Northern Illinois

Here’s how the Rockford paper’s story framed the issue for its Boone and DeKalb County readers:

"Proponents of the proposed Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority say they simply want to protect water supplies. They say the authority wouldn’t use its power to approve new wells to stop development, if water is available.

"Opponents say the authority is a disguise to stop growth."

How different do you think that is from my original story on October 22nd.

You might be interested in reading the whole story, plus the comments about it.

Labels: A-LAW, Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water, Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority, Taxpayers Alliance of Northern Illinois

Robert Perbohner, a member of the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water offers a different interpretation to Northern Illinois Taxpayers Alliance spokesman Joe Wiegand’s take below:

While we appreciate Mr. Wiegand's taking the time out of his busy schedule opposing the water authority to provide his take on our successful informational meeting in Union, IL on April 9th, Mr. Wiegand clearly heard only himself speaking