McHenry County Blog

A commenter under the Daily Herald story suggested the

“Woodstock Groundhogs."

I remember Woodstock from Peanuts.

Could it be called the

“Woodstock Woodstocks?”

That probably would require payment of a licensing fee. My guess is that the team owners would prefer a one-time design fee.

Another Daily Herald reader suggested the

“Woodstock Woodies.”

See, without my pocket being picked by McHenry County College, I'm getting into a minor league baseball team.

Imagine that.

McHenry County College had agreed to let the Northwest Herald run a contest. I'll bet they are allowed to do it for the Woodstock team, too. Maybe the team can even make money by charging the NW Herald for the privilege.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, McHenry County College, Northwest Herald, Peanuts, Woodstock

It won't be on watershed of Crystal Lake watershed at McHenry County College.

But it will be just up the road across Route 12, north of Centegra's Woodstock hospital.


It will include a minor baseball stadium.

But, it will not it will not cost county taxpayers any money.

And, it won't be just for baseball. Being promoted are lacrosse, soccer, football, concerts, trade shows, antique shows, car shows and festivals.

And the same guys who fleeced McHenry County College taxpayers are apparently among the driving forces behind the proposal.


Mark Houser and Pete Heitman building a sports facility without a public subsidy.

The 250-acre site will preserve 53 acres of wetlands and 22 acres of oak savannah, seen to the right of the stadium. Click to enlarge.

The area is also being held out as a possible new home for the McHenry County Fair. More specifically, most of the land between the railroad track, Lily Pond Road, where I lived for a while, and Route 14.

The site is also being promoted as a place for not-for-profits and service agencies to locate.

Victor Narusis has been the glue that has put this idea together for the McHenry County Community Foundation. When he told me at the Pro-Life Pig Roast at the end of June that he had several million dollars committed and that there would be no tax dollars involved, I wished him luck.

“We are proud to present this project with no request for public funding,” Narusis said (with my piecing together parts of two sentences from the press release.)

He said the site selected “rose to the top of the list” because it is “located in the central part of the county and along a regional traffic corridor” providing “convenient access for all county residents.”

The sports stadium will sit 6,500 or 10,000 with lawn seating.

The land is being donated and graded by Rick Zirk of Woodstock's Merryman Enterprises. After site preparation, the remaining land will be made available to the Foundation and the McHenry County Fair Board.

“This approach supports smart land use, economic resource planning, wise budget practices and would provide numerous resources with the many benefits of tourism,” McHenry County Community Foundation Board Chairman Mark Ehlert.

You can read the MCCF press release here.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Equity One, Mark Ehlert, Mark Houser, McHenry County Community Foundation, Pete Heitman, Vic Narusis, Woodstock

Driving by the location proposed by the McHenry County College Board for a minor league baseball stadium after talking to the woman who withdrew her generous offer to contribute to a scholarship fund to pay tuition cost of any MCC high school, prompted me to stop and take this photo.

The ground would have been broken and construction begun, had not the citizen army arisen with rhetorical pitchforks last year and stormed the educational citadel intent upon becoming a sports venue.

"It was just dumb," we agreed.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, MCC, McHenry County College

There are two items that might be of interest to McHenry County leaders still pursuing a baseball stadium.

First, most Frontier Baseball League teams had fewer fans per game this past summer than previously.

Even though ten of eleven had more home games, six of eleven still saw a decrease in total attendance.

Take a look at the attendance figures below:


Of the 3 teams that saw an increase in average attendance,
River City is still down 43% from its all-time attendance high (185,333 in 2004)
Kalamazoo is still down 39% from its all-time attendance high (135,654 in 2004).

The relevance to McHenry County is seen when one sees the attendance projections in ERA's report of baseball stadium promoter Pete Heitman's proposal:

+10% year 2
+6.1% year 3
+5.7% year 4
+5.4% year 5

On a more optimistic note for a project that I've been told that will be privately financed, Bloomington-Normal's WJVC radio reported Friday that financing for the one to be built at Heartland Community College was proceeding well.

Eight of fourteen stadium suites have been sold and four major sponsors secured.

The $11.5 million stadium is expected to be completed by March 2010.

McHenry County College made a run at constructing a taxpayer-financed baseball stadium, but ran into too much opposition.

The McHenry County Community Foundation has been actively investigating the privately-financed option.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Frontier Baseball League, Heartland Community College, McHenry County College, Normal, Pete Heitman

Long-time columnist for the Northwest Herald and predecessor papers Don Peasley revealed a bit over a week ago that

“The fair board is a participant in developing a multi-purpose events facility in cooperation with a proposed minor league baseball stadium under leadership of the McHenry County Community Foundation.

“Foundation staff members are evaluating 200-acre sites in the general area of McHenry County College or perhaps south of Woodstock.”

Just thought you might be interested.

Perhaps that is what McHenry County College Board members Scott Summers and George Lowe were pointing to on this map, the night the board decided to hide behind plastic curtains. And illegally kick members of the public out. You know, the one MCC won't tell how much money was paid to lawyers when McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi filed suit charging the college with violating the Open Meetings Act.

A better view of the map can be seen below. Ironically, in both photos board member George Lowe's head can be seen.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Crystal Lake Watershed, Don Peasley, George Lowe, MCC, McHenry County College, McHenry County Community Foundation, Scott Summers

I thought the following, sent out by the McHenry County Community Foundation, might be of interest:

A steering committee was created to provide additional channels of communications throughout the County; and a work group naturally formed with interested professionals able to move the process in a more expedited fashion. Such professionals include public and private land owners, investors, land planners, developers, business leaders and representatives from two groups that would be considered the anchors in a multi-phased development of the venue: the McHenry County Fair and McHenry County Baseball.

The process continues into summer 2008 with the highest priority being to locate land for the first phase. The McHenry County Community Foundation will continue to facilitate the process. This involves further involvement of interested parties through a thorough evaluation process and networking relatable resources. And unique to other participants, MCCF will continue to educate the County about the Foundation’s special role: the means to leverage financial support and grow investments through the creation of a legacy endowment to provide funds for the venue from creation through years of maintenance support.

Planning Team

Mike Baumstark, Cornerstone
Dick Crone, McHenry County Fair Board
Mark Ehlert, McHenry County Community Foundation
Kate Halma, McHenry County Community Foundation
EnRico Heirman, Continental Amateur Baseball Association (CABA)
Pete Heitman, McHenry County Baseball
Victor Narusis, McHenry County Community Foundation
Barbara Wheeler, McHenry County Board

Labels: Barb Wheeler, Baseball Stadium, CABA, Dick Crone, EnRico Heirman, Kate Halma, Mark Ehlert, McHenry County Fair, Mike Baumstark, Minor League Baseball, Pete Heitman, Victor Narusis, Wheeler

You can't tell me that the Northwest Herald's Chris Kurg doesn't have a sense of humor.

In his Sunday column, he tells of an encounter with a bat.

No. This isn't a Dracula story. Nothing about Ivan, the Impaler.

But, after telling his bat story, he drops this gem:

"Kind of got me thinking ... McHenry County Rabid Bats. That would make a cool name for a minor-league baseball team.

"You know, if we had a minor-league baseball team."

For the record, Keely Cat and I think the


would be an excellent name for a minor league baseball team.

Or, maybe I should say "would have made an excellent name" had McHenry County College been able to pull off a baseball stadium the way Heartland Community College has.

Bats, after all, only come out at night and that's when the MCC board held its secret meetings.

Bats like to hide and the MCC board certainly hid a lot with the $400,000 it paid baseball promoter Pete Heitman's buddy Mark Houser.

The work product the college provided me gives no indication of $400,000 of value received.

I'm waiting for the day that the Northwest Herald will announce that for a multi-million payment a minor league baseball stadium will become its namesake.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Chris Krug, Mark Houser, MCC, McHenry County College, Pete Heitman, Rabit Bat

Tucked away on the last page of the Crystal Lake Council minutes for May 6, 2008, is the report of a 4-3 vote to re- appoint Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Tom Hayden and outspoken member Jim Batastini.

The council members voting against the two were Ellen Brady Mueller, Cathy Ferguson and Dave Goss.

The council members voting in support of reappointment were Ralph Dawson, Jeff Thorsen, Brett Hopkins.

Breaking the tie was Mayor Aaron Shepley.

Hayden is a former city councilman. Batastini ran for city council against Mueller and Ferguson last time around. The two women and Goss supported bringing a minor league baseball stadium to McHenry County College.

Dawson, Thorsen and Hopkins were on the opposite side of the MCC re-zoning issue, supporting the Planning and Zoning Commission's unanimous vote to oppose allowing a baseball stadium at MCC. By their vote, the three voting for re-appointment killed the proposal because the Planning and Zoning Commission's vote triggered an extraordinary majority vote requirement.

Shepley, of course, led city efforts to bring a minor league baseball team to McHenry County College.

Labels: Aaron Shepley, Baseball Stadium, Brett Hopkins, Cathy Ferguson, Dave Goss, Ellen Brady Mueller, Jeff Thorsen, Jim batastini, McHenry County College, Ralph Dawson, Tom Hayden

The Chicago Tribune ran an article on Thursday about Waukegan's city council having “authorized staff to explore” a “proposal to build a minor-league baseball stadium downtown.”

At first I thought it might be Libertyville's Pete Heitman search east, as well as west in McHenry County.

I was told that Heitman was one of the losing baseball promoters for the Heartland Community College supplied site in Normal, Illinois, so he obviously is not wedded to McHenry County.

But, the article by Ralph Zahorik says,

“...the company would pay for the ballpark's construction, the mayor said.”

Somehow that does not sound like Heitman.

He told the Northwest Herald:

“The team would seek some financial help from its home community and county,”

reporter Tom Musik quoted Heitman indirectly.

And in a direct quote,

“... we’ve just got to find somebody who’s going to help out. We need a little bit of help, obviously, because we can’t do it all ourselves.”

Heitman wanted McHenry County College taxpayers to take all the risk on his MCC proposal.

But, McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler promised no tax dollars would be spent on a baseball stadium or convention center at the McHenry County Council of Governments meeting.

Ballball Digest ran an article on Waukegan, too.

I found this sentence of interest:

“We know groups regularly pop up to bring baseball to the greater Chicago area, but let's be honest: none of the Chicago-area minor-league teams, either independent or affiliated, are setting the world on fine; Kane County does well, but the Northern League and Frontier League teams in the area only do OK and have faced some serious issues in recent years.“

Don't you wonder whether the McHenry County Community Foundation board has signed an agreement with Heitman similar to the one that McHenry County College President Walt Packard signed with Heitman buddy Mark Houser in September of 2006?

I still think the people wanting a baseball stadium should seek competitive proposals.

I offered some other advice in this article, which I hope will be read by anyone trying to build a baseball stadium in McHenry County:


And, such folks should not forget that private money has already stepped forward to build a baseball stadium in Harvard. (You can see what it would like like above.) One of the promoters even graduated from Crystal Lake Central High School.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Harvard, Mark Houser, McHenry County Community Foundation, Pete Heitman

While McHenry County College tried to convince local taxpayers that Pete Heitman's baseball stadium would pay for itself and even subsidize construction of other facilities, no one who looked at the deal was convinced.

The 20-year bonds were to be repaid by taxpayers, if the team went belly up.

That's not what is happening in McLean County.

True, the city of Normal is ponying up “a $1.5 million, 1,000 space parking lot,” according to Pantagraph reporter Mary Ann Ford.

You will remember that the City of Crystal Lake was not willing to pop for a dime of the cost of the MCC baseball stadium infrastructure improvements, even though Mayor Aaron Shepley led the cheer leading after the stadium proposal's existence was revealed to the public on McHenry County Blog.

The junior college in the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area—Heartland Community College—is contributing “a long-term land lease for $1 a year and contribute $3.5 million to the project.“

The college was planning on spending about that much anyway on a new sports complex.

But the rest of the $12 million stadium is going to be


Let me repeat that fact.


by bid winner Mike Veeck's investment group.

There were two other bidders, including, I've been told a Pete Heitman group.

You can pretty much bet that Heitman wanted a bigger subsidy.

Heitman is the baseball promoter that the McHenry County Community Foundation has hooked up with.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Heartland Community College, McHenry County College, Mike Veeck, Pete Heitman

Stuck down by the McHenry County College Board after months of public outcry, the idea of a minor league baseball stadium reappeared last night at the Woodstock Country Club at the McHenry County Council of Governments meeting.

Kate Halma, the woman who coordinates the McHenry County Community Foundation presented what she called “a concept plan” of a multi-purpose event venue.

The 200-250 acres could include

• a minor league baseball stadium,
• an exposition or convention center the size of a Home Depot (138,000 square feet),
• the county fair, complete with horse and people track with two soccer fields inside, livestock buildings, room for a carnival, sheep on site,
• RV camping,
• two 16,000 square foot museums, mentioned were

a children's museum and

a fire protection museum,

• an administrative building with offices for not-for-profit organizations.

Maybe I missed something.

I sketched what I saw on the screen, having been asked not to take pictures at the meeting. I have requested a copy from Halma of what all in the room saw on the screen and will be happy to share it with you when she sends it. If she sends it, I won't inflict my "artwork" on you.

No location has been selected.

The people listed on the steering committee are

• Mark Baumstark of Cornerstone (Architects?),
• Dick Crone from the McHenry County Fair Board,
• Mark Ehlert, McHenry County Community Foundation,

• Enrico Heirman, Continental Amateur Baseball Association (CABA),
• Pete Heitman, “Minor League Baseball,”
• Victor Narusis, McHenry County Community Foundation, and
• Barbara Wheeler, McHenry County Board.

Halma said that Narusis had asked “these community leaders to come together and dream big.”

She said that Randy Donnelly and his brother had “talked about antique expositions.”

The Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair, held at the Dole Mansion last year, “is ready to leave McHenry County.”

“We consider the minor league baseball stadium and the county fair the two (anchors),” Halma said.

She hopes it will support “various interest groups” and there will be space for hotels, restaurants and other related businesses.

“We welcome your input,” she told the elected officials.

McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler said the effort “started off 7-8 months ago.”

Speaking of the junior college baseball stadium proposal, he said, “It was a good idea. It may not have been a perfect idea.”

An admirer of Walt Disney, Koehler suggested that if he could create Disney World “in Florida swamplands, why can't we” do something like this?

He emphasized that what had been presented was “a concept plan only.”

“Certainly, there are many places in McHenry County that could support this,” he pointed out, saying that McHenry County Board member Wheeler was a key player.

Pointing to how Heirman had brought CABA (the Continental Amateur Baseball Association) to Crystal Lake, Koehler said, ”We have the opportunity to bring semi-pro people (here), soccer tournaments, a lot of things that go out of our county.

“I hope you get as excited about this as we are.”

Then, Koehler stressed,
“Two years from now we can be going to a grand opening.

“Maybe even semi-pro football.

“Anybody that has any ideas about land (get in touch).”

Probably tomorrow: Some cautionary thoughts for the Foundation.

= = = = =
The top head shot is of baseball promoter Pete Heitman, who, I'm told, most recently made a failing bid to be the Frontier League minor league baseball team ownership group selected by Heartland Community College in the Bloomington-Normal area. Bill Veeck's son Mike's group was selected instead. McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler is seen in the lower photograph.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Kate Halma, Ken Koehler, McHenry County College, McHenry County Community Foundation, McHenry County Convention Center, McHenry County Fair, Pete Heitman

Even though Chris Krug told me at the McHenry County Economic Development Commission dinner that the baseball stadium at McHenry County College was dead before the board had taken the vote, he seems as hung up about the loss as I am that it was ever proposed.

His Sunday column talked about how he wished he could head over the MCC to the “ Cranks, Crabs, Curmudgeons and Naysayers Field” to see the McHenry County Krugs play this past weekend.

Now, Krug argues we should have a stadium in order to save the gasoline it would take to drive to Geneva to see the Kane County Cougars.

He does end his column with humor I can appreciate:

“So thanks again, Cranks, Crabs, Curmudgeons and Naysayers for all you do to keep McHenry County thriving in all those vivid shades of black and white.

“Maybe I’ll just break out the Speedo, head over to Vulcan Lakes, and then play a little pick-up water polo.

“Oh, wait a second.“

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Chris Krug, McHenry County College, Northwest Herald

There have been hours and hours of secret meetings by the McHenry County College Board about easements.

So far, not one sentence about the substance of the broadcast tower proposal in public, as far as I know.

The only clue of what is at stake has appeared on McHenry County Blog.

That resulted in my pictures before MCC President Walt Packard used the American flag to block me from taking more photographs of John McQuire's power point presentation of his broadcast tower proposal.

The board was apparently discussing easements.

Significant ones, if my non-MCC source is correct about the project's size.

On the original agenda for Thursday night's board meeting was “Easement Access, Report #08-111.”

But it was not up for discussion.

It was on the consent agenda.

Obviously, no public involvement wanted.

Sort of like the baseball stadium and its give away of the college property on which it would sit.

One night when the board went into secret session, by chance I offered a suggestion for future leases.

Knowing that the college board failed to ask for those who would benefit from Peter Heitman's baseball stadium scheme, I suggested that future leasing beneficiaries be put on the public record. This would require period certifications for changes of those benefiting, of course.

This is not a huge leap from current state law under which people selling property to governments have to identify everyone who stands to benefit from the sale.

So, I was anxious to see what the leasing policy would be.

But, it wasn't in the board packet.

Late Tuesday afternoon, I called the college and asked where it was.

About five a return call told that the item had been withdrawn from the agenda.

Indeed, it has a line drawn through it now.

So, just what is the college board up to in secret now?

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Broadcast Tower, Lease, MCC, McHenry County College, Walt Packard

Comparing the deal being negotiated by Heartland Community College in the Bloomington-Normal part of Illinois, it certainly looks like it.

Randy Reinhardt of the Bloomington Pantagraph writes that Mike Veeck's Frontier League team is recommended for the nod.

OK.

Same league.

A deal with a junior college.

What was the offer?

The stadium in the heart of Illinois will cost $12 million.

MCC's was pegged at $10 million, maybe more, but that's the figure the Crystal Lake college started with.

3,000 to 3,500 chair-back seats in Normal. 2,000 more possible in picnic area.

3,000 bleacher seats were proposed for MCC's.

“Heartland would contribute $3.5 million it already has set aside for athletic facilities, and Veeck’s ownership team would pay for the rest. The town of Normal would contribute sales tax rebates and infrastructure costs,”

the article says.

I don't remember the Crystal Lake City Council's being willing to contribute anything.

Of course, we don't know how the baseball promoter will come up with his money. Maybe his arrangement with Heartland will be as flaky as the one agreed upon by the McHenry County College Board.

But, maybe there will be a stop-loss of $3.5 million, that is, maybe the college board will be smart enough to make Veeck's company pay for anything over that amount.

The college was planning to spend $3.5 million on a new stadium anyway.

We'll see.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Heartland Community College, MCC, McHenry County College, Mike Veeck

Yesterday, I told you I would share the questions that Round Lake Mayor and Democratic Party state senate candidate Bill Gentes put forth while considering whether a minor league baseball stadium would be an asset for his town.

Mark Houser and Pete Heitman approached him with the idea.

I thought folks in Huntley, McHenry, Woodstock (plus whatever town whose leader is too shy to admit talks with Heitman) might like to ask their councilmen, alderman or trustees what answers they have gotten to them.

Gentes put a poll on his blog and found 78% of those responding favored building a ballpark. 133 voted.

Here are the questions from his blog, which is called “Blogging Mayor of Round Lake!”

1.How much economic benefit does a minor league team bring to a municipality?

2.What are the costs of building a stadium?

3.What kind of stadium would be appropriate for the area?

4.How would we attract a team if we got past the first two questions and what would be the form of agreement it would take?

“Question's 1 and 2 (I have put them in bold face type and enlarged them) on the post were not able to be answered so we moved on,”

Gentes emailed me.

These questions were posted February 28, 2007. There is an earlier on dated January 28, 2007.

Does that time frame ring a bell with anyone but me?

Mark Houser signed a contract to do a “feasibility study for the development of baseball stadium/indoor sports center complex on the McHenry County College campus” on September 27, 2007.

On March 12, 2008, McHenry County Blog revealed the baseball stadium was on the footprint of the Health, Wellness and Athletic Center displayed in the MCC library. The next day, the Northwest Herald ran a front page story with Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley praising it the idea to the skies.

On March 20, 2008, the two, plus Frontier League Commissioner Bill Lee, were making their pitch behind closed doors to the MCC Board.

Does it seem strange to anyone that Round Lake's mayor would make the possibility of a baseball stadium public on his blog and solicit taxpayer opinion and publish internet comments below his articles, while our junior college board would not even print accurate content from those who took the time to come to its meeting and make a public, in person comment?

Here's the most negative comment found below the mayor's first article: “I say "no" to a baseball team, since there is the very real danger of the taxpayers end up getting stuck with the bill for these kind of projects.

And if a Village offers special tax incentives to a team, again, we get little return, and more congestion, traffic, etc. “

In any event, Heitman and Houser were making their pitch to Round Lake the same time they were after the taxpayers of McHenry County College to finance their deal.

There are some English words for such behavior, not all of which can be used in polite company.

= = = = =
The photo is of baseball promoter Pete Heitman.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Bill Gentes, Mark Houser, MCC, McHenry County College, Pete Heitman

Can't you just hear minor league baseball stadium promoter Pete Heitman saying that?

Heitman is on a search for his Holy Grail—a minor league baseball stadium that he and his mysterious investors won't have to pay for.

This Black Knight has had one arm hacked off in his efforts to storm McHenry County College treasury.

The peasants got angry.

Pitchforks.

Torches.

You know the routine.

Still, it wasn't a total loss.

Heitman's buddy Mark Houser made off with checks for tens of thousands of dollars.

But the Black Knight has another arm left.

Plus two legs and a body.

Plenty of more profit motive fight left in his black heart of hearts.

“Just have to find the right public treasury,” the Black Knight thinks.

“One with feeble guardians.”

And, now the Northwest Herald's Tom Musik reports Heitman is approaching other castle treasure chests.

A half a dozen, most in McHenry County, but two in Lake, according to the article.

I wonder if one is near a prospective pig farm in Island Lake.

No.

The prospective pig farm has a vigorous defender. He has a finger gun, too.

Maybe it's Round Lake, I thought.

Mayor Bill Gentes, who is running for the 26th state senate district, has a site on which he wanted Advocate to construct a hospital. I thought it might work. Instead they looked seriously at one near downtown.

But it didn't work out.

When I asked, here is what Gentes said,

"We talked to those guys about 2-3 years ago and decided it made no sense for us."

He said he had written about it on his blog.

As reported before, Huntley, Woodstock and McHenry are interested and one whose leaders want to discuss disbursement of the coin of the realm with the Black Knight in the dark.

“The team would seek some financial help from its home community and county,” Musik quotes Heitman indirectly.

And in a direct quote, “... we’ve just got to find somebody who’s going to help out. We need a little bit of help, obviously, because we can’t do it all ourselves.”

Is it possible county board members could be so audacious as to support such a proposal with McHenry County Democrats preparing the ladders to storm the excellent paying Round Table's gates?

The Northwest Herald has already indicated it thinks county financial support is a good idea.

Could the Republican Party be ready to cede the role of fiscal conservative to that the party it has painted as the B-I-G SPENDERS?

McHenry Mayor Sue Low and Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager are quoted in the article, which says Heitman wants a four-lane highway.

Don't we all?

Maybe that puts Huntley in the lead. It already has a four-lane road.

But, then again, so does McHenry.

Tomorrow, the questions Round Lake Mayor Bill Gentes asked of Heitman and the ones Heitman could not answer satisfactorily.

= = = = =
Holy Grail modification of Monty Python movie scene compliments of Heck of a Guy blogger Allan Showalter.

Labels: 26th District, Baseball Stadium, Bill Gentes, Black Knight, Brian Sager, Huntley, Mark Houser, MCC, McHenry, McHenry County Board, McHenry County College, Pete Heitman, Sue Low, Woodstock

Bids.

McHenry County residents never heard that word in connection with the minor league baseball stadium that McHenry County College's board of trustees tried to foist on us taxpayers.

But that word is in the first sentence of Bloomington Pantagraph reporter Randy Reinhardt's article about Tuesday's Heartland Community College board meeting.

Consultant Mike Thiessen says they came in “right at the sweet spot.”

How refreshing that a junior college minor league baseball stadium consultant might be looking out for the best interests of the college, rather than looking out for the best interests of his buddy, a baseball promoter.

There are three stadium bids to seat 3,500 to 4,500 (expansion possibilities to 6,000) costing $10 to 11.5 million.

College President Jon Astroth says the $1.7 million Heartland had intended to spend on its own sports facility could be used to subsidize the minor league effort. Or, even more, since the college stadium came in at $3.3 million—way, way over the expected price.

"Visible stunned," is the way Peoria Journal-Star reporter Steve Stein put it.

And if it costs more?

"They have no place to pass the cost to. It's a private entity. And there will be opportunity for the town to contribute," said Alan Sender, Baseball Committee Chairman, according to Peoria's WEEK-TV.

Unlike the MCC situation in which college board members would have had us taxpayers holding the bag.

The bids are connected to the Frontier and Northern Leagues.

Illinois State University is building a 1,000 seat stadium for $3 million, the article says.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Frontier Baseball League, Heartland Community College, Jon Astroth, Mike Thiessen, Northern League

That's what Pioneer Press' Algonquin Countryside and Cary-Grove News headlined it editorial last Thursday.

“College officials clearly overreacted in their zeal to keep information under wraps,” is one line of the opinion piece.

Literally “under wraps,” yellow plastic here, to be specific, as you can see from the photo I took that night before we were unceremoniously escorted out of the building under threat of being charged with trespassing.

The editorial goes on to point out that this was not the first time McHenry County College has kept things secret that they should not have. It points to the feasibility study that was released in November eight months after (McHenry County Blog's) revelation of the proposed baseball stadium.

And, then, the feasibility study had the most important parts cross through with thick black lines.

My March, 2007, story was six months after I can find the first paper trail for the baseball stadium.

I would point out that these masters and mistresses of mystery are currently hiding what they are doing with John McGuire concerning a lease and a broadcast tower.

It was my taking photos of information being presented inside the room that set MCC President Walt Packard into using first his body and, then, our American flag as drapery over the window to hide what was going on inside.

= = = = =
You can enlarge any of the images. The head behind the American flag is that of MCC President Walt Packard. The head in front of the power point slide is also Packard's.

Labels: Algonquin Countryside, Baseball Stadium, MCC, McHenry County College, Open Meetings Act, Walt Packard

Heartland Community College President Jon Astrorth does his MCC President Walt Packard imitation at next Tuesday night's board meeting, according to the Bloomington Pantograph.

That's the day when the board is predicted to decide whether to move forward with a minor league baseball team or not.

The story by Randy Reinhardt says the college will have proposals in hand.

Well, imagine that.

More than one proposal is being allowed consideration.

Guess that won't be a imitation of how Packard froze out all competitors to Pete Heitman and his secret band of rich investors.

The article has this revealing part:

“Heartland would contribute money it had earmarked for its own complex and the town will be involved in infrastructure financing. But ownership groups have been made aware of the limit to which their efforts will be subsidized (emphasis added).

“'Some have been less than enthusiastic (about that),' said Astroth. 'But more than one serious group is pursuing it under the guidelines we set out with very limited funding.'”

And the McLean County stadium would have to be more versatile than the McHenry County Board required of its stadium developer from what Heartland President Astroth told the Pantagraph:

“We have said in meetings this has got to be multi-sport for us. If (after the construction of a stadium) we would still have to have a soccer field, a practice soccer field and a softball field, that doesn’t get us very far."

The evaluator, the MCC counterpart of Mark Houser, if you will, on the project is Mike Thiessen.

Competition is waning on the part of the American Association, leaving bidders from the Frontier League and the Northern League.

Isn't it interesting that Heartland Community College is allowing competition, but McHenry County College would not?

Labels: Americian Association, Baseball Stadium, Frontier Baseball League, Heartland Community College, Mark Houser, McHenry County College, Mike Thiessen, Northern League, Pete Heitman, Walt Packard

The last time I heard the word “bury” used in the same sentence as “stadium,” I think it had to do with Jimmy Hoffa's body.

That was speculation, of course.

I am sure that the only shovels that the McHenry County Board members thought about when they approved the minor league baseball stadium a year ago were those for the groundbreaking ceremony.

Not ones to bury their minor league field of dreams.

McHenry County College Board report #08-83 is fact. It's even posted ahead of time on the college web site.

Listed on the consent calendar, the recommendation from MCC President Walt Packard says,

Termination of Health, Wellness, and Athletic Complex (HWAC) and Stadium Project (emphasis added)

Information:

At the April, 2007 Regular Board Meeting, the Board approved the construction of a $26,000,000 Health, Wellness, and Athletic Complex (HWAC) and stadium, and a “License Agreement for Baseball Stadium,” pending successful completion of authorizations, Planned Unit Development (PUD) approval, zoning from the City of Crystal Lake, and approval from the Illinois Community College Board. The “License Agreement for Baseball Stadium” dated May 24, 2007, was contingent upon zoning approval by the City of Crystal Lake and construction of a stadium by MCC.

At the October 16, 2007, Crystal Lake City Council meeting, the college's zoning petition for the HWAC and baseball stadium was denied.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that the Board of Trustees terminates the HWAC and stadium project, as approved in Board Report #07-48, and declares the “License Agreement for Baseball Stadium” null and void with the other party, McHenry/Lake Professional Baseball Group, LLC. This should in no way be interpreted as terminating the Health, Wellness, and Athletic Complex (HWAC) as identified in 2004Master Plan.

Walter J. Packard
President

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Illustration from Allan Showalter of "Heck of a Guy" blog.

The picture is of Pete Heitman, the only member of the LCC ever identified to the public.

Labels: Allan Showalter, Baseball Stadium, MCC, McHenry County College, Pete Heitman, Walt Packard

Mike Thiessen is the deal maker for Heartland Community College's minor league baseball stadium in Normal, Illinois.

This started out as a “we investors will pay for the stadium” deal, but you can imagine what is happening with public money there.

Hey, if you don't ask, you won't get, right?

“We’re starting to see who has got what interest and what they are willing to bite off in terms of their financial commitment,” Thiessen told Bloomington Pantagraph reporter Randy Reinhardt.

Three leagues are bellying up the bar for this one.

Of course, there's the only one that the McHenry County College board deemed important enough to talk to. That's the Frontier League, for those of you with short memories.

In addition, the Northern League and American Association are interested.

At least the Heartland board is willing to listen to competing offers. MCC President Walt Packard was unwilling to do that.

And the college's president, Jon Astroth, wants the board to decide at its May 6th meeting.

There does not allow a whole lot of public discussion.

Here's a gem from Thiessen about using taxpayer dollars:

”Thiessen called negotiations 'non traditional' because the Town of Normal and Heartland have said the ownership group would have to foot the majority of the expense involved with building a stadium and fielding a team.”

Want to bet that those with a beneficial interest in the baseball team won't be made public?

That's a bad template from McHenry County College that I'll bet catches hold.

While those holding a beneficial interest in land being sold to a public body must all be identified, those signing a lease with a junior college do not have to make public their investors.

They should and can be forced to by a college board, should the board have public disclosure as one of it operating tenants.

McHenry County College does not. All of the investors, except Frontier League baseball promoter Pete Heitman, remain unknown in the Crystal Lake proposal.

In other news, McHenry County College President Packard announced last month that the board would kill its baseball stadium proposal at next Thursday's meetings. Too much public opposition.
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The elevation of a baseball stadium comes from drawings Mark Houser's Equity One. The firm received a no-bid contract to do a feasibility study, which was severely panned by Economics Research Associates, the firm that grew out of people who designed Disneyland and went on to design the other Disney theme parks. Then, the MCC asked for a re-do. The MCC board even gave Houser the authority to pick the vendors to do the work on the stadium. That was a way to hide what vendors were getting how many tax dollars. Not a lot of baseball stadium transparency in McHenry County for the $10 million, plus interest, that Heitman and Houser wanted the taxpayers to guarantee. A Northwest Herald columnist comments on the risk to taxpayers. But, no referendum needed. MCC planned to sell debt certificates. Who's stuck if the minor league baseball flops? The taxpayers, of course. Or the students with higher tuition. Houser is on the left, Heitman on the right.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Equity One, Heartland Community College, Jon Astroth, Mark Houser, MCC, McHenry County College, Mike Thiessen, Pete Heitman, Walt Packard

“OK.

“I'm not playing fair.

“I know I'm handsome.

“I know you are an attorney, but sometimes even lawyers sometimes take courses in economics.

“You know Cat Dad majored in economics before he got his master's degree in public administration, right?

“He tells me that when you raise prices, sales decrease...whatever that means.

“Cat Dad says your 75% sales tax increase will discourage people from shopping in Crystal Lake.

“I'm hoping you took economics and will remember what was taught.

“And, if not, maybe you can spare the time to take a course at McHenry County College.

“I know you know where it is, because you spoke to at least one class while you were promoting the minor league baseball stadium

“Cat Dad told me he read about it in the bathroom. It was in "The Flush," posted right above the urinals.

“That's where that the same place that campus security guy told Cat Dad he had to leave the building before the MCC meeting was over.

“Cat Dad says you never do that at City Hall, by the way.”

Labels: 75% Sales Tax Hike, Aaron Shepley, Baseball Stadium, Crystal Lake, Keely, MCC, McHenry County College

In honor of former State Rep. Rosemary Kurtz' call for the McHenry County College Board to hold more open meetings, the Message of the Day today is a graphic created by Crystal Lake Heck of a Guy blogger Allan Showalter.

I asked him if he could use his image manipulation skills (well, I didn't quite put it in those terms) to create a melting MCC baseball stadium.

Showalter told me the words of MacArthur Park kept running through his mind:

MacArthur Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!

I was thinking of the Wicked Witch of the West melting into the floor, but Showalter's vision works well.

Labels: Allan Showalter, Baseball Stadium, Heck of a Guy, MCC, McHenry County College

At last Thursday's meeting of the McHenry County College Board, former State Representative Rosemary Kurtz addressed the board during the brief time allowed for public comments.

I included some of what she said, but asked her if she would send me the entire text. She has and it can be read below.

You can see why newly elected student trustee Tom Kendzie was so impressed with what she said.

Good Evening.

There's a wise saying that makes me think of Erv LeCoque, your former Board Trustee and Foundation member.