The Travis Mills Foundation potentially locating a facility in McHenry has stirred up controversy that reached McHenry County Blog’s inbox.
After reading the email exchanges–shared widely–it seems Tony Esposito and Sue Lambrakis have been in contact with the Travis Mills Foundation concerning the possible locating of a second facility in McHenry, but have not been pleased with McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett’s role.
The emails below show a “failure to communicate,” to put it in “Cool Hand Luke” terms.
If anyone would like to add to the discussion, please email me at calskinner2@gmail.com. Your name will not be used unless you wish it to be.
From McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett:
Good Morning:
I am hearing some crazy rumors spreading once again. I am sorry but the BS that comes from this little community is starting to get on my nerves. I would like to set a few things straight.
I approached Jim Schmidt on Aug 18th with no response and also this Wednseday via text with once again no response. I will tell you he was caught off guard with the backdoor way this went down not knowing he wasn’t dealing with right people at the city.
My guess Tony screwed this deal by not being forthcoming with the process as well as getting other veteran organizations to post false information about attending a meeting that wasn’t on the agenda. I left Jim a voicemail twice as well with no response. The ball is in his court and I will not be pushing him any harder than I am.
Also I would like to clear up that staff or I have NOT met with any developers about the wastewater treatment site and as I mentioned before it will be coming to a public meeting if they decide to have interest.
Also there are rumors about section 8 going here. Are you kidding me? I would never allow that in the first place. Wasting everyones time while getting residents or neighbors nervous by telling lies is outragous.
Thank you,
Wayne Jett
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Tony Esposito sent the above email under the following:
When citizens of a community act to help injured Veterans and their families locally and nationally and they are repeatedly attacked with false personal accusations and character besiegement by the Mayor of McHenry, this behavior needs to be exposed because it displays a lack of character and decency on the part of that elected official.
This behavior also shows a failure to respect his commitment to serve all of the taxpaying citizens of McHenry including all Veterans and their families. And for those that decide to support this type of conduct, that is truly shameful and it speaks clearly about your character.
He described Jett’s behavior as “just another example of Wayne Jett’s attempt to block and silence into submission the freedom of speech of those that disagree with him. I live in this “little community” and I for one will not be silent nor will I submit.”
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Not sure of the timing, but this was written by Sue Lambrakis and Tony Esposito to Jett
The Travis Mills Foundation would provide employment opportunities for Veterans and non-Veterans while elevating the reputation of McHenry to a national scale creating vast business opportunities.
They also have their own plans to secure funding without demanding land grants, incentives and funds from the TIF for the next 15 years unlike what was requested by Shodeen in 2024 with the intent to build 496 apartments at that same site. (Northwest Herald Article written by Janelle Walker, June 15, 2025).
No matter the effort it takes, ensuring that the Travis Mills Foundation makes a presentation to the McHenry City Council will propel the undeniable momentum that already exists. The only question is whether you have the will to make it happen instead of making excuses?
Citizens are calling you out to do the right thing and it is clear you can’t handle that.
The question is whether you will have the courage and decency to do what is right even though it wasn’t your idea, the idea of any McHenry staff member or any politician?
Over 8 years as Mayor of Mchenry and this idea never occurred to you or a staff member.
The fact is that it was the idea of Sue Lambrakis, a citizen of McHenry who loves this City and its Veteran Heritage.
Your admiration for longtime McHenry resident, John Smith has been made clear publicly several times.
Take a message from his playbook, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” John Smith. We all live in what you have termed a “little community.” And if takes this “little community” to “get on your nerves” to do what’s right then that’s what this email is meant to do.
And, enough with the personal insults hurled at Sue and I (“Tony”).
We are just two McHenry residents that didn’t need to ask for permission from anyone including you to hold a private event at our home on July 14 just to show the Travis Mills Foundation how perfect McHenry is for their second retreat and for inviting whomever we chose to support them.
Get over it! You’re the Mayor of McHenry. It’s time you start acting like it.
JIim Shubert, Chairman of the Board of The Travis Mills Foundstion was planning on speaking before the McHenry City Council on Monday August 4 but decided not to speak only after you spoke to him on July 31.
He even agreed to meet with you on August 4 before his presentation.
If you had made him and the Travis Mills Foundation feel welcome, Jim Shubert would have kept his plan to travel to McHenry and he would have spoken to the McHenry City Council on August 4. You could have added his presentation to the Agenda for August 4 so he could express his admiration for and interest in McHenry on behalf of The Travis Mills Foundation.
You could have also simply welcomed him to speak during the Public Comment portion of the Agenda for August 4. That would have been an act of decency and respect for Jim Shubert, The Travis Mills Foundation and the living legacy of Army Staff Sergeant, Travis Mills. Neither opportunity occurred on August 4 and neither opportunity has yet to occur for The Travis Mills Foundation. The only person that bears responsibility for that is you. The obvious fact is that you are the Mayor of McHenry and you could make it happen if you truly wanted to help all of our Veterans locally and nationally and their families.
As for your repeated insults against myself and my fiancé, Sue Lambrakis, they are tired and petty and not emblematic of the respect that the Office of Mayor of Mchenry deserves.
Furthermore, your constant and continued criticism of the “process” on how the Travis Mills Foundation became interested in building a retreat for Veteran’s and their families at the retired Waste Water Treatment Plant was and is unfounded, blatantly moot and is now designed to deflect from how you have lacked the sincere enthusiasm for anyone from The Travis Mills Foundation to speak openly about their interest in McHenry.
Sue and I were in contact with Jim Shubert three times just in September so to use your own words, it’s clear Sue and I are not the ones “screwing this deal.”
The opportunity is here right now so we should all be thankful that this amazing organization is still interested in McHenry instead of several other locations across the country that are currently being offered to them.
Saadly, it appears you have also lost sight of the basic fundamental of representative government.
Countless citizens agree with me yet they won’t say this publicly but I will.
You work for us, the Citizens of McHenry!
We don’t work for you so if you continue to handle ideas and opinions that are contrary to yours with personal attacks against the residents of McHenry that disagree with you or when you choose to hurl insults and vitriolic rhetoric at taxpaying citizens that question your motives instead of engaging in personal dialogue, it’s time for you to retire as Mayor of McHenry.
Your obligation as a public servant is to all of us, “We the People!” This is an obligation that extends to even those that don’t agree with you. “We the People” are not obligated to serve you or agree with you on anything.
Not once have I received a personal invitation from you for dialogue about the Travis Mills Foundation and their interest in building their second Veteran’s Retreat at the retired Waste Water Treatment Plant located in McHenry approximately 300’ from our townhome.
What I have received are sophomoric emails and we all deserve better from the person elected as Mayor of the City of McHenry.
Finally, when you do travel to Maine accepting the open invitation from Jim Shubert, the Chairman of the Board of the Travis Mills Foundation to be a guest at their retreat in Maine, remember, Jim’s name is “Jim Shubert” not Jim Schmidt. That might help.
Your efforts so far have been abysmal and they don’t exemplify a true desire to do what is best for our Veterans, injured Veterans and their families locally and across this country, and the citizens of McHenry. That could all change if you found the courage in your heart to care enough to do what is right.
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From Mayor Jett:
IIf any of you would like the truth of what has transpired with the Travis Mills Foundation please reach out.
This narrative sent by Mr. Esposito is just a small portion of what has happened.
Also for him to make this sound as if I am not supportive of veterans and their families is ridiculous and honestly doesn’t surprise me by his tactics.
I have offered to fly out to Maine on my own dime to meet with the organization multiple times with no response.
C# 8155293447
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John Smith added the following:
Since my name has been mentioned in this email, I will make a couple of very simple statements.
1. I personally am a very strong financial supporter of “Tunnels to Towers” and “Wounded Warriors”. I have done many other things in the community to support veterans and first responders. I would hope no one would ever dare question my support of veterans and first responders.
2. As a lifelong Professional Civil Engineer that has been heavily involved with city planning, I personally know that the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) property is an extremely difficult and expensive piece of property to develop. Why is the Travis Mills foundation tied to the WWTP property? I would think there would be many locations in the city that would be more economically feasible and provide more acreage. Has the Travis Mills foundation indicated that they would not come to McHenry unless they could be on the WWTP property?
3. From my experience working with or within approximately hundred’s of municipalities or governmental agencies over the years, I would have the Travis Mills foundation schedule a meeting with the city to address their interest. This should’ve been done from day one.
Thank you.
John J. Smith
3338 Waukegan Rd.
McHenry, IL. 60050
815-236-3700
