McHenry County Blog

Chemtool, which is now headquartered in Ridgfield, wants to expand in neighboring Boone County near another unincorporated town, Garden Prairie.

For those who have driven to Rockford on Route 20, it is right past the McHenry-Boone County line.

As we were driving through town last week, I noticed an anti-Chemtool yard sign.

This was in a front yard.

There were two more, Jim Athans told me, but they were on his property, so he took them down.

Those are usually signs of grass roots campaigns.

There was another such sign past the church on one of those interchangeable letter signs.

The Rockford Register-Star has been covering the issue.

Last Thursday, it reported that zoning for the 500-person plant and headquarters had been put off until April 24th.

So, what’s the problem?

Similar to the problem that Chemtool had when it applied to the McHenry County Board to build in Ridgefield, which is in the watershed of Crystal Lake.

According to the Boone County Soil and Water Conservation District,

The area has highly permeable soils and is considered high risk for contamination if a spill were to occur,

according to reporter Kevin Haas.

I remember my father’s having opposed the Ridgefield Chemtool zoning for reasons similar to those been by opponents in Boone County.

His side lost and Jim Athans’ Chemtool, which makes industrial lubricants, went on to become one of the most successful companies in McHenry County.

Adding to the concern in Bonus Township is the location of Kishwaukee Elementary School right across the road from the 160-acre Chemtool site.

According to a March 21st story,

Herb Walberg, Bonus Township Supervisor, said that many who were concerned with contamination were “chasing the ghost of innuendo.”

I checked with the Water Division of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and was told,

Chemtool has never received a violation notice,

by Sharon Dowson, Manager of the Records Unit.

There are links to more stories embedded in the Rockford Register-Star.

Tomorrow: The zoning race.

Labels: Bonus Township, Boone County, Chemtool, Garden Prairie, Herb Walberg, Illinois EPA, Jim Athans, Ridgfield