Letters

4/1/09

Dear Lucy,
I have to commend you on the fact that you stated in the Ela Township News that you actually SAVED to build this structure and stay on a budget.  Good Grief, do you realize how unusual this is??  NO government office does these things anymore.  Therefore I thought you needed to be told how totally unusual it is for ANY government to actually save for something, instead of just raising taxes, as the town I live in wants to do.

Our village president here could learn quite a few things about budgeting and waiting instead of instant gratification, as illustrated by the hated Vehe Farm in Deer Park, where I live.  This structure was overhauled and worked on over budget and over the objections of us citizens.  Now we are stuck with it. 

It gives me great satisfaction to be able to actually send a government official a POSITIVE email instead of constantly complaining about raising taxes and spending money THEY DON'T HAVE just so some "trustees" can have a nice view out their back yards.
I will tell as many of my friends as I can about this fact, as how many government buildings actually stay on budget AND have no mortgage, simply from saving and planning?  Congratulations again for a job very well done.

Connie Pohlman
201 Wicker Dr.
Deer Park

2/8/09, Nitpicking shouldn't decide who wins: full story

Al and Deborah Barry, 2/3/09, published 2/8/09, full story

Heard it through the grapevine

Monday, Feb. 2. No surprises here. We would expect nothing less in Deer Park: There are (allegedly) more objections to candidates’ petitions than there are candidates—two for president and six for trustee. That inspired 14 formal objections, to be heard in a few days by the Election Board.

For those who couldn’t care less about procedure, that board is comprised of (the incumbent) President, the longest-serving trustee and the village clerk, who serves at the pleasure of the president. Not their fault; it’s code.

And this is the code that tries men’s souls, not to mention the voters and the fourth estate.

Look, even if President Scott Gifford were not running, the process (as prescribed) cannot fail to be biased—and we do not impute that Scott and the clerk can’t be fair.

They can. But conceivably, “the loyal opposition” could be bumped from the ballot, leaving Scott and his running mates unopposed. Or worse: Scott alone survives the objects, runs unaccompanied and unopposed and, upon “winning,” names three trustees to serve with him.

Scott, this your chance. Toss out all objections, and let the campaign proceed, full throttle, with two candidates for each position. Identify every objection for what it is, a form without substance, and let the vine bear its fruit, the voice of the electorate.

Anything else, and you might win the argument but lose the case, strangling your own legacy as the electoral process is poisoned.

Deborah and Al Barry, 847-867-1867

Deborah Barry, 08/12/08, Pioneer Press

Can you say, “arms length”?

Deer Park President Scott Gifford says that he expects Jim Peterson’s “final accounting” on the Vehe Barn project to be available at the Aug. 18 board meeting.

Jim Peterson is a principal in the architectural firm that designed the Barn and Project Architect overseeing the work—and now, auditing his own record-keeping.

That’s just Standard Operating Procedure in Deer Park. Gifford says the village permits the project architects to keep construction documents, and he says it’s perfectly legal.

But I think it’s improper. And, as the Pioneer Press discovered, it’s hard to make a Freedom of Information Act request for documents that aren’t in the municipality’s possession. It’s also a problem for sitting trustees who voted “Yes” on many payments without complete documentation.

But it’s all “among friends.” Peterson is a member of the Vehe Foundation Board, which manages the property development. Two village trustees also sit on the foundation board, thereby making foundation requests with one hand, and approving them with the other. They even approved the recent Vehe management contract between the village and foundation (both sides represented by the Village attorney).

The contract includes a sweeping indemnification clause that covers their own hard-working “seats.”

Gifford says the contract was intended to protect the foundation from “frivlous lawsuits.” Who’s going to sue a tiny, special interest group? We should be looking for deeper pockets.

By my calculations, someone owes Deer Park around a million bucks on that Barn. And that ain’t hay.

Deborah Barry, 06/27/08, Pioneer Press

Barn Fee-asco

Deer Park Village Attorney Paul Keller thinks it’s time for a final accounting of the Vehe Barn development. At the June board meeting, Keller listed total cost, cost overruns, items in original R&W Clarke contract but NOT done, rework of items in Clarke contract but done badly and cost of items not part of original Clarke contract.

Keller anticipates a lawsuit, but the bonding company isn’t licensed in Illinois, Clarke may be bankrupt and the board approved a sweeping indemnification (written by Keller’s firm and on file at Village Hall) of anyone involved in the project. At least, that’s how I read it.

Whatever pockets there might have been are now empty or sewed up tight.

Still, a full accounting would a long way to restore resident’s confidence in this board. So what were they thinking, to suggest that the Project Manager—a principal in the Barn’s architectural firm—could prepare this review? Assuming the PM did everything professionally possible to make a success of the project, the honor system extends only so far.

Even more, it appears the PM expects to charge a fee for his review. Isn’t this part of the original scope of his responsibilities?

Trustee Bob Kellermann, a professional CPA, has offered to match payments to invoices and contracts to liens and waivers—on his own time, at his own expense.

President Gifford, can you say “checks and balances”?

Deborah Barry, 847-867-1867, 412 Bramble Lane, Deer Park, IL

Richard Chay, 06/12/08, Pioneer Press

"Free speech stifled in Deer Park  At every monthly Village Board meeting, Deer Park President Scott Gifford reads a statement at the start of the public comments portion of the meeting. The statement is a warning to village residents about what Mr. Gifford will allow them to say while addressing the board. Not one other village president in any of the nine neighboring communities reads such a warning to residents. Why does Mr. Gifford do it?" Full story

Richard Chay, 06/09/08, Daily Herald

For many months, questions about the costs and payments for the Vehe Farm Barn have gone unanswered. Trustee Bob Kellermann, a professional accountant and 33-year village resident, has raised the questions. Over the months, Mr. Kellermann has repeatedly asked to review invoices, wavers of liens and other contractor documents. Under the leadership of Deer Park President Scott Gifford, the board has spent $800,000 more than the $1.2 million paid to the original contractor. Much of that money went to rework. All of that money has been spent on just the interior of the barn! Full Story

Deborah Barry, by email to Scott Gifford, Jim Connors and Bob Kellermann, 5/21/08--no response from Gifford

Dear President Gifford,

As a citizen of this community, I am writing to tell you that I was quite simply appalled at the way Paul Keller spoke to Bob Kellermann in the public meeting Monday evening. Keller was clearly baiting Bob, to what end I do not know. Then for Mr. Keller to question whether Bob has some kind of “disorder” goes way beyond the limits of even a spirited public discourse.

Trustee Kellermann was elected by the residents of this village; Attorney Keller is a vendor. Some of us wonder why Mr. Keller would speak at a public meeting at all, except to answer questions of municipal law.

But for you, as our President, to sit by while Trustee Kellermann is publicly dressed down by a paid consultant is unacceptable. I am equally surprised that the rest of the trustees sat by silently while this occurred, and ask that our administrator share this letter with all our elected officials.

I am sure you are well aware that many people are frustrated by the lack of accountability or even a final accounting on Vehe development expenses. But it is clear to anyone who wants to hear it that all Trustee Kellermann is asking for is copies of invoices and waivers, so that he can—on his own time and using his professional expertise—ascertain that no duplicate payments were made. His request carries the authority of an elected public official. Both his request and his public position must be duly respected.

Trustee Kellermann is owed a public apology, and you, President Gifford, should apply the same standards to public speech from either side of the dais.

I will await your response. Thank you.

Deborah Barry, submitted to Pioneer Press, 04/28/08, unpublished

After waiting 20 years, the families in the Old Farm area will have their empty park upgraded. Located at the far north end of Deer Park, there is no safe way to walk or bike from that subdivision to any other playground.

I congratulate the board of trustees on a decision difficult to make in a deficit budget (Lake Zurich Courier, April 24, 2008). Although Deer Park residents throughout the village have substantial property damage due to neglected drainage repairs, this playground is important.

Here’s why: It’s a lesson in citizen action. It took a group of young parents, 50 some signatures on a petition and continued appearances at board meetings to get the play equipment approved.

Trustee Maureen Pratscher, who voted yes on the park, wondered if this could set a precedent of residents’ requests influencing board actions. Yes, it can!

What if more than “the usual suspects” had complained while almost $4,000,000 in public funds spilled onto the Vehe property?

Times are changing: The defeat of the sales tax referendum, the elimination of public spending on further Vehe development, increased transparency in fiscal matters—well, at least translucency—all are, we believe, the result of more voices at board meetings.

Deer Park Neighbors just celebrated our second anniversary. We have worked to change the local mind set from resignation and fear of retaliation to self-determination. It’s been a bumpy ride, but together, we are stronger.

Connie Pohlman, 4/14/08, quoted with permission

Mr. Gifford,

I had to wait this long just to calm down enough to be able to write this, as your latest newsletter absolutely incensed me.

First of all, what gives you the right to think that it is ok to vent your editorial anger on us residents who resoundingly defeated your attempts to marginalize the huge revenue generator, Deer Park Town Center, by increasing sales tax like every other ordinary village is doing?  Scolding on the newsletter is beneath contempt.  Yet you insist on trying to drive away business with your constant chant that most of the consumers come from outside Deer Park.  BAD argument with no logical conclusions, other than you're admitting it's a bad idea.  DPTC is my primary source of shopping.  Sorry, you lose.

Maybe the fact that you say the revenues "doesn't come close to funding necessary road and drainage work" just might be due to the other fact that your glorious Vehe Farm took precedence over these primary needs.  I don't recall Vehe Farm trumping road and drainage work.  You need to get your priorities in order.  This is why Deer Park Neighbors was created, Mr. Gifford.  Please GET WITH THE PROGRAM.

And why, if you insist on using the newsletter as a forum for your prodding us residents to accept this ridiculous non-revenue generating monstrosity you covet, the Farm, did this thing take on a life of its own without really getting a resounding backing by all us taxpayers FIRST?  When, exactly, did we vote on resurrecting this dump, anyway?  

Next, how DARE you insult DP taxpayers by threatening to impose a real estate tax because we defeated your thinly veiled attempt to finance Vehe Farm?  This is outrageous and you need to know that we will not let you get away with this bullying.  

I won't even get into the fiasco you have on your hands with the original contractor screwing up the drainage on that infernal Farm.  You guys are amazing.  Bureaucracy at its finest.  Just keep on fleecing the taxpayers.  We don't get enough of this from the Feds.  

How much are we going to have to shell out for your part time "Maintenance Coordinator" for this stupid barn?  It never ends!  How many roads can we repair with this salary?  How many roads can we repair with your lawsuit against the first contractor?  Good Grief, you are ready for Washington DC.  Your spending knows no bounds.  FIND SOME PLEASE because we are MAD AS HELL and NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE>  Yes I'm yelling at you because YOU ARE NOT LISTENING TO THE MAJORITY. Should we rename this The Monument to Myself: Vehe Farm?  Village Non-Trusting Trustees is more like it.

Please tell us how much revenue this idiotic barn has generated since you have "rented" it out?  You say two weddings and some other silly events.  BIG DEAL!  I expect you to take up a full time revenue stream since you spent most of DP's taxes to glorify your backyards.  I think the suggestion of a full time Day Care Center, named after Vehe Farm would delight the former owner of this property.  Let's do it!

Sincerely,
Connie Pohlman
Deer Park

Rita Finley, arrived 3/16/08

You may have recieved today's email from the Barrington Coalition asking everyone to 1) contact Senator Durbin and your congressional representative  and 2)activate other elected officials and other impacted communities (e.g, any on the line not listed below or those indirectly impacted such as Cary, Crystal Lake, St. Charles etc.)

Regarding Senator Durbin- He's dealing with a ton of issues and an upcoming election- we want the EJ&E to stay top of mind. It's super easy to contact him and won't take you long:

1) go to:    http://durbin.senate.gov/

2) On the bottom right of his website see "Recent A/V Clips" watch or listen to his comments on the EJ&E railway. Please do asap as I don't know how long he'll keep it there!  You'll notice at the ending he states the meeting with Hunter Harrison left 2 of the major issues unresolved  and he ends it with that.  WHAT WILL HE DO NEXT???

3) Go to the top left & see envelope icon "CONTACT Dick Durbin" and you can simply send him an email. ( In the drop down menu for subject pick "transportation".)

For example, in my email to him I thanked him for his increasing concern for the residents and communities that will be negatively impacted by the CN aquisition. I asked him to continue to fight hard for us and to continue to press CN to pay for all mitigation (vs. the American taxpayer). I also stated I was concerned with the environmental impact to our water supply given most of Lake County along the EJ&E has well water and any hazardous material spill could be particularly damaging.

From my research, I think Senator Durbin has finally come forward on this issue but he is balancing the needs of Chicago (Mayor Daily machine) with our concerns. I think he wants it go thru but with mitigation to keep us happy. Please consider having all your neighbors, concerned friends&family, and kids of voting age email him regarding the Ej&E issue--if he doesn't hear from all of us this issue will just get lost in the shuffle.     

Thanks, Rita

Connie Pohlman, arrived 3/3/08

To Scott Gifford,

Cook County just increased their tax base to 10-1/4%, a brilliant move to punish the Democratic base, poor people. Great idea! Let's make the poor pay more taxes. These people are, for the most part, stuck in this quagmire and cannot just go to another county to avoid paying, like you and I can.

Do you see why this is such a bad idea? They are going to alienate, punish and force those who are able to buy from the collar counties. Does anyone on the city council have a functioning brain? What do they think will happen?

I just heard on WIND AM560 today that someone who called in told them he is on the border of Lake and Cook counties, and from now on will go to Deer Park Town Center for his purchases. Now, just think what would have happened if your tax increase had been passed? I wish I could make you see that tax revenues always INCREASE when taxes are LOW. The opposite is true.

Thank the voters for voting down this idiotic and debilitating tax increase. Please don't try to pass it next time. You will alienate your voting base if you do.

-Connie Pohlman
Deer Park

From Stop the Canadian National Purchase of EJ&E Tracks

New Quiet Zone on Tracks from Bartlett to Barrington
Posted: 19 Feb 2008 08:35 PM CST
Beginning on February 15, 2008 at 12:01 pm, the EJ&E train tracks from Barrington to Bartlett have a "no horn" zone. It has taken 2 years for the quiet zone to pass in this area. It's great news for residents with homes close to the crossings and the tracks. The quiet zone is in effective from Main Street in Barrington to West Bartlett Road in Bartlett.

The residents in my neighborhood are thrilled. No more horns honking during the night. We can enjoy the peaceful quiet from the forest preserve now. The no horn zone was possible because the gates already had the necessary safety features and there were already raised medians at the crossings.

This is the same stretch of EJ&E tracks that Canadian National wants to purchase. If they succeed, an additional 20 or so trains per day would be added to these tracks. Residents from Bartlett to Barrington and beyond continue their opposition to the acquisition.

Don't forget to voice your opinion! Leave a comment and be heard!

Bruce Sauer, President, North Barrington, 2/18/08  

Member, Coalition of Barrington Communities Against CN Rail CongestionCoalition Responds to Hunter Harrison
Monday, February 18, 2008

In response to the February 13th article in the Chicago Tribune, Coalition leader Bruce Sauer responded to CN CEO Hunter Harrison's claims that the region is "selfish" for opposing the proposed acquisition of the EJ by CN.  We don't know if his letter will be published, so we thought we'd share it directly with other opponents.

In response to the February 13th article, Canadian National officials willing to share rail crossing costs if deal approved.

The article quoted Canadian National (CN) CEO Hunter Harrison as willing to pay their “fair share” of mitigation expenses. What exactly does that mean?

If this acquisition is approved it will have a detrimental impact to dozens of communities including increased congestion, negative environmental impacts, decrease in property values, loss of business and most importantly- jeopardizing public safety. While CN likes to boast that many communities will benefit by seeing a decrease in train traffic -- the fact is the same amount of freight will be back on those lines in less than three years as other railroads fill that vacated capacity.  

CN plans to pay $300 million dollars to purchase EJ pending approval from the Surface Transportation Board. In the article Harrison says when referring to paying for needed grade separations that the “bulk of the cost would have to come from the federal and state governments.” Why is a foreign company pledging our federal and state tax payer dollars to pay for mitigation expenses that they will cause? Are American citizens supposed to fund a welfare system for foreign companies?

CN is choosing to engage in this acquisition because it stands to make millions of dollars -- so much, in fact that the $300 million cost of the transaction with U.S. Steel will be paid for in one operating year just by projected increased revenues alone! In contrast, they would like to have American taxpayers foot the bill for infrastructure improvements for years to come.   

If this travesty of a deal can’t be stopped because there are no American laws that can protect American communities from foreign corporate interests, then CN should pay for the total cost of building infrastructure that will help to ease the economic, environmental, safety and traffic concerns of impacted communities. Here’s what this boils down to. A Canadian-based company wants to continue making record profits at the expense of local communities and they want us to pay for it?  

Hunter Harrison, what are you thinking?  

Bruce Sauer
President, North Barrington
Member, Coalition of Barrington Communities Against CN Rail Congestion

Al Barry, on Canadian National Rail issue, submitted to STB

On the surface this CNR system of shipping goods to the US seems to be a good thing overall, but that is what they want us to believe. The increase of twenty trains through a town in Barrington area, Illinois, blocking four intersections at a time is just the beginning of the railway volume. When the CNR really gets rolling how many trains will there be; 50,
100, or more?

Why should CNR greatly benefit financially at the expense of the WE taxpayers.

Why not have CNR confess now on their future business projections (train volume) by penalizing them $1,000,000 for every train over 20 per day. This will help pay for the infrastructure that the tax payers in Illinois will have to fund to rebuild there towns, hospitals, police and fire stations, overpasses and underpasses.

With this in play, maybe CNR will offer to lay new tracks around high density towns to avoid the penalty.

Al Barry, President
Barry Technical Sales, Inc.
www.barrytechsales.com

From FightRailCongestion.com

CN CEO TELLS CHICAGO TRIBUNE THAT AMERICAN TAXPAYERS NEED TO FOOT THE BILL FOR MAKING HIS ACQUISITION OF THE EJ&E WORK!

For months the Barrington Communities Against CN Rail Congestion Coalition has been at the forefront of letting people know that CN has not been up front as it tries to sell the idea that its planned acquisition of the EJ&E will relieve freight congestion from Chicago's central core without the need for public funding. We've argued that with 134 grade-level crossings on the line from Waukegan to Gary it was inevitable that CN wouldn't plan to foot the bill for the needed grade separations that make this plan viable in the impacted communities. Today˙s article from the Chicago Tribune finally has CN on the record as agreeing with our assertion:

Canadian National Railway officials on Tuesda y acknowledged there are "three or four" points on the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern rail line that runs through Chicago's outlying suburbs where constructing overpasses or underpasses would be warranted, and that the railroad would pay its "fair share" to build them if its plan to buy the EJ&E is approved.

But officials would not specify crossings or indicate exactly how much the CN would be willing to pay to construct grade separations, which they said could cost as much as $100 million each.

The railroad itself would have no authority to build them, and the bulk of the cost would have to come from the federal and state governments, Canadian National President E. Hunter Harrison said at a meeting with the Tribune editorial board.

SO, IN PLAIN ENGLISH CN IS TELLING US THAT AMERICAN TAXPAYERS NEED TO FOOT THE BILL FOR BUILDING THE GRADE SEPARATION INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL ENABLE THIS FOREIGN CORPORATION WITH $2 BILLION IN ANNUAL PROFITS TO COMPLETE THIS DEAL! We wonder where all this funding is going to come from because it doesn't look like they are printing dollars in Springfield or Washington DC. At what point does the cost and public safety burden to American taxpayers outweigh the need to get a container of shampoo from China into our stores 24 hours faster?

Our federal and state elected officials need to tell CN that we're not in the business of providing corporate welfare to foreign companies. As State Representative Ed Sullivan said so eloquently in Lake Zurich on Monday night, "I'm all for pro-business, but at what cost?"

Go to www.fightrailcongestion.com to read the full Chicago Tribune article and find out how you can contact your elected officials.

Connie Pohlman, arrived 2/6/08

To Deer Park Officials,

I was quite ecstatic to see this tax hike fail, as it surely should have.

Why did we get in our mail yesterday yet another "notice" on why we needed to vote YES on this stupid tax hike?  This is wasted tax money, as you mentioned in this flyer the long past 1/28 meeting.  It looked as tho you were desperate to convince us dumb taxpayers to vote yes.  Well it didn't work.  

Can we depend on you to not force this on us yet another time, and yet more and more times, when in fact the People of Deer Park have spoken.  If not, when are you going to get this on the ballot again?  Doubtless you would try for the off season, like you just did yesterday, hoping few will show up, as you know the heaviest turn out is in November.

Again, I want to emphasize that you wouldn't need this tax hike if you would have used the funds you already had for road repair instead of WASTING THIS MONEY ON THE BLOVIATED AND TOTALLY USELESS VEHE FARM.  This "farm," if that important, should have been financed by OUTSIDE FUNDS and not by US.

Us taxpayers are TIRED OF PAYING FOR YOUR EXCESSES.

The People Have Spoken.  Please WAKE UP and smell your DEFEAT.

-Connie Pohlman, Deer Park Taxpayer and Deer Park Mall Frequent Spender(that's MORE than one $500 visit per month, take note)

New Mailing from Richard Chay to his neighbors, landed 1/31/08

Email Editorial from Jill Stubenvoll, received 1/26/08, with permission to post.

Hi, I am a 6 year resident of Deer Park and drive by the Vehe “project” almost every day.  I have only recently attended one Village Meeting to get a feel for what is going on around here and wonder, who does the board think they are kidding?  BEFORE reading any of the information on your website or speaking with one of the trustees who ran for office, I, a mere resident with eyes, could see that the Vehe project was amiss.   Workers would be on site one day, not again for several weeks, the project seemingly going on forever, etc…   Whether the Board ever “chooses” to provide an actual tally for the gross misspending/overspending of public funds or admits to their open checkbook mindset in relation to the Vehe Farm, it is obvious to the general public that this project was/is out of control. Perception is everything.   They should stop now,  make sure it is a functional building and table further frivolous spending until more pertinent and immediate village issues have been addressed and funded, such as Roads & Drainage.  

What is your take on the Sales Tax question?  I would like to add more money to the coffers, but not if the cash will be emptied to pay for past Vehe transgressions.   Can the watchdog approach be functional with this board and “make” them actually use the money for roads?

Secondly, I was at the November meeting and was shocked to hear president Gifford table the Village’s involvement in the fight against the CN expansion.   Do they not think the CN rail will impact the village?  Merely as a BACOG member, they should join the fight.   Have there been any further discussions about Deer Park possibly adding its name to the list of effected municipalities ?

Please look for me at future meetings, And for Subscriber membership!

Thank you for your website and village minutes.  I wish the board members would read them and get their head …   on straight.

Jill Stubenvoll, Deer Park

Deborah and Al Barry, Letter submitted to all papers, Daily Herald Published: 1/28/2008 12:03 AM

To the editor: It takes a village to stop special interest public spending in Deer Park. The few of us who regularly speak out at board meetings cannot do it alone. Believe us, we've tried.

The trustees just approved a new five-year "stewardship" contract for the Vehe Farm Foundation. In it, anyone and everyone, past, present and future associated with the foundation is indemnified, as long as they didn't believe what they were doing was criminal and believed they were acting in the best interests of the foundation.

That's right, the best interests of the foundation. Not the village or residents--the best interests of the foundation. Under their stewardship, the Barn is $600,000 over budget.

Our village and the foundation have the same attorney. Maybe that's proper, strictly speaking, but it's just too cozy for our comfort.

President Gifford says no funds were "diverted" from roads to Vehe. He's right. This board and previous ones simply failed to fund the roads program instead of Vehe.

The referendum directs spending on "public infrastructure, SUCH AS street and drainage improvements." It should have read "LIMITED TO street and drainage improvements." Public infrastructure could include new plans at Vehe. Or some new special interest project. We just don't have confidence in the current board's majority.

Vote NO on the sales tax. Once we get a new board and a new president in 2009, then we can reconsider.

Al and Deborah Barry, Deer Park

CN Rail/Vehe, Jill Stubenvoll, Deer Park, rec'd 1/26/08

Hi, I am a 6 year resident of Deer Park and drive by the Vehe “project” almost every day. I have only recently attended one Village Meeting to get a feel for what is going on around here and wonder, who does the board think they are kidding?  BEFORE reading any of the information on your website or speaking with one of the trustees who ran for office, I, a mere resident with eyes, could see that the Vehe project was amiss. Workers would be on site one day, not again for several weeks, the project seemingly going on forever, etc… Whether the Board ever “chooses” to provide an actual tally for the gross misspending / overspending of public funds or admits to their open checkbook mindset in relation to the Vehe Farm, it is obvious to the general public that this project was/is out of control. Perception is everything. They should stop now, make sure it is a functional building and table further frivolous spending until more pertinent and immediate village issues have been addressed and funded, such as Roads & Drainage.

What is your take on the Sales Tax question? I would like to add more money to the coffers, but not if the cash will be emptied to pay for past Vehe transgressions. Can the watchdog approach be functional with this board and “make” them actually use the money for roads?

Secondly, I was at the November meeting and was shocked to hear president Gifford table the Village’s involvement in the fight against the CN expansion. Do they not think the CN rail will impact the village?  Merely as a BACOG member, they should join the fight. Have there been any further discussions about Deer Park possibly adding its name to the list of effected municipalities?

Please look for me at future meetings, And for Subscriber membership!

Thank you for your website and village minutes.  I wish the board members would read them and get their head …   on straight.

Jill Stubenvoll , Deer Park

Still time for fiscal responsibility

The Lake Zurich Courier’s wonderful Top 10 News Stories of 2007 counted the Vehe Farm Project as number five. (Can a two-year late project be “news”?) But the photo caption, “The newly completed and functional Vehe Farm building…”, begs objection. We have not yet had word that the Barn is, even now, done. As to functionality, there are no big-ticket rental events on the calendar.

Those “small tasks” on the pinch-hitting contractor’s punch list amounted to approximately $600,000 on what was to be a $1.1 million interior renovation. To call that merely “over budget” disregards the public whose public funds paid for this behemoth.

Defenders of Vehe say, what’s done is done, let’s all move on.

Ah, if only we could! In a stunning move, the village board agreed to extend the Vehe Farm Foundation’s management of the project for five years. The rationale? That the helpful volunteers save the village a lot of money. As my late mother would have said, “Please, don’t help!”

There is still time: When the contract comes to a vote in January, trustees should vote no. The legal fees for an aborted contract are affordable; the foundation’s continued guidance is not.

Professionalize the Barn. Bring in a special events corporation to rent, supply and maintain it. The village would take an honorable cut, and the rest of us could, at last, move on.

That’s the kind of fiscal leadership we need to see before voting yes on a new sales tax referendum.

Deborah Barry, Deer Park

Vehe Foundation should be history

Richard Chay’s letter on Vehe Farm Foundation highlighted that organization’s utter lack of transparency despite its feeding at the public trough.

Equally disturbing is its chutzpah. The foundation wants the Village of Deer Park to allow it to do additional “visioning” for the “municipal campus.” I don’t think we can afford their pipe dreams.

The foundation bungled the infamous barn’s interior renovations. Capital equipment was installed but already out of warranty before the long-delayed barn even opened. Their promised fundraising never happened; they haven’t even finished a brochure. No one’s renting the barn for the holidays. Spending continues (close to $400,000 in the last two months alone), and still no itemized accounting of what Vehe really cost. And a final blow: their latest OSLAD grant application will not succeed.

At the November village meeting, a trustee asked how many people regularly participate in the foundation’s work. The answer: “Five or six.” That’s right. Only five or six.  This foundation is the poster child for “Special Interests.”

It’s time to say no to further public funding. Tell the foundation, “You dream it, YOU build it—and pay for it, too.” Or disband it, and create an advisory committee akin to the ZBA or Plan Commission, as Trustee Rotter so reasonably suggests.

Once the foundation has gone the way of all bad management, our village leaders should envision a balanced budget and a fair distribution of resources for all of Deer Park.

Deborah Barry, Deer Park, 847-867-1867

Vehe Inside Out

The Daily Herald’s September 30 story, “Restored barn celebrates Deer Park history,” reported that President Gifford said  “it cost about $175 per square foot to restore the three-story 6,542-square-foot barn, or about $1.15 million.”

That's only on the inside. Outside, the exterior of the barn was substantially reconstructed, plus various property improvements and technology infrastructure, not to mention myriad legal and engineering fees.

Per square foot, not one cent was invested in a modern, comfortable work environment for our professional staff.

Last April’s candidates for village trustee estimated total Vehe costs between $3.2 and $3.9 million. Six months later, “final number are still being tallied.”

Grants, donations, volunteering—all contributed to the property. But far more village dollars that should have been spent on roads and drainage went to Vehe. Meanwhile, the Vehe Foundaion has yet to launch a genuine village-wide fundraising effort and just lowered its rental fees. The foundation “manages” the property, but the village coffers cough up the cash. Can the foundation provide its own maintenance, much less a return on investment?

The 50^th anniversary celebration was lively; then the vendors and entertainers pulled up their tent stakes and departed. What realistic use will the “multipurpose center for our community” have? Residents should judge for themselves, because—rough guess—it cost each of you over $1,200. So far.

Come inside. Public Comments start at 7 pm, Oct. 15, at the village board meeting and at the village’s first Public Forum on Oct. 18.

Deborah and Al Barry, Deer Park, 847-867-1867

Deer Park lacking sense of priorities

To the editor: At the Deer Park Village Board meeting on Sept. 17, three trustees voted against granting permission for the Vehe Farm Foundation to erect a 25-foot windmill on village property. Unfortunately, President Gifford cast the deciding vote to approve it. What was he thinking?

The windmill is a frivolous idea and a waste of money. At a time when the Vehe barn construction project is over budget and still incomplete after nearly three years of rehab, President Gifford voted to erect a useless windmill at Vehe Farm.

President Gifford should have recognized his personal responsibility to the residents of Deer Park by focusing the attention of the Vehe Farm Foundation on repairing the run down corncrib and tractor shed. Many buildings at Vehe Farm need immediate attention.

Village funds were diverted to Vehe Farm from other line items on the budget. Most Deer Park residents know first hand that the road repair program has fallen far behind schedule over the past few years. The rain last month also demonstrated just how neglected drainage improvements have been in the village.

Deer Park does not have the money for required maintenance. The financial future in Deer Park has gotten so bleak that the board of trustees has started the process of placing a tax referendum on the February 2008 ballot.

The new windmill at Vehe Farm may be a pleasant sight for a few families who live in Hamilton Estates. Most of the residents of Deer Park will see it as a towering reminder of the repairs and maintenance they were denied over the past few years. The board's vote to approve a useless windmill at Vehe Farm sends an inappropriate message about our financial priorities in Deer Park.

The board should reconsider this decision at the next meeting.

Richard F. Chay, Deer Park

Deer Park Vehe Barn Parking Lot Resurfacing

At the Deer Park village board meeting Monday night, trustees voted to spend $41,631 to resurface the parking lot and road for the Deer Park Vehe Barn. This amount is $17,000 over the authorized village budget. Trustee David
Kizior, Finance Commissioner, said, "that amount is insignificant."

I applaud the village’s effort to get the Deer Park Vehe Barn project completed so that the entire barn can finally open for commercial use. But it is too bad that this resurfacing of the barn parking lot and road comes at the expense of residential roads. Spending was rejected for the balance of the year for significant crack filling or overlayment in the Rue Vallee, Deer Valley, or Hamilton Estates sub-divisions.

Residents in those sub-divisions will have to continue to hear the thump, thump of their car tires over their crumbling roads.

Just my opinion.

Signed,
Richard F. Chay, Deer Park Village Resident
408 Bramble Lane, Deer Park, IL 60010
847 550-9105

MEMO TO BOARD presented by former Village Administrator Kari Diesen-Dahl, long-time resident of Deer Park and employee of the village for 19 years.

PROPSED SUBDIVISION at 21624 Rainbow Road. UPDATE POSTED 7/13/08 to a report from Teri Masino, an adjacent resident. See also a letter to trustees from Joseph O'Keefe.

Public Comments

Public Comments, Deborah Barry, 5/19/08

I stand before this board today to ask a question that is on the minds of many, many residents—not just those you see in this room.

Is this board at all serious about marketing the Vehe Barn to potential users?

I don’t see anything on the agenda as far as actually spending the $5,000 that was put in the current fiscal year budget. When will that amount of money be put before this board for a vote to spend it?

I have been volunteering my time—as has Trustee Pratscher—to complete the marketing brochure, my understanding is that there is an immediate need for only 250 copies. Assuming an outstanding response of 10% to these brochures, that’s only 25 potential renters. Maybe two or three of those would follow through. Not going to get us very far in underwriting the close to $70,000 it costs to have this building simply sitting here.

I’ll continue to donate my services in 2008—here’s a copy of an original logo I’ve developed--and we’ll finish up the brochure in the next few days. But this board needs to put marketing dollars on the agenda for the June meeting, because the season is quickly passing, and we need to reach thousands and thousands of potential renters, not just a mere 250.

The suggestion was put before this board several months ago that Concorde Banquets be contacted, as they are looking for an outdoor venue for their warm-weather events. This board could partner with Concorde on a long-term lease, with an arrangement to hold the building open on Mondays for village meetings, HOA meetings, etc. We talked to one of the owners at last week’s Kildeer village meeting.  And guess what, he said he was interested to see the place.

So who will follow up?

In the meantime, when an organization asks us for a donation, instead of simply saying no, offer them the use of the Barn for an event of theirs. That relieves us of the cash donation, and more important, exposes the Barn to ever wider audiences.

We heard mention of $25,000 in additional lighting—and we all know how dark this property is. Good lighting, especially entrance lighting, would be much more important to this property than a windmill, and this board should ask the foundation to make that expense a goal of its fund-raising. And while they are at it, put back the circle driveway. The safety arguments for its removal were foundless, and a circular drive is no less authentic than are freight elevators and flush toilets.

I have one other subject to ask this board to put on the June agenda. New business.

 We at Deer Park Neighbors are very aware that some of the greatest interest in the community is coming from our young families. Yet they are the least able to attend a 7 pm meeting—although you can see some try!

 New business is provided for in our municipal code at the end of the meeting agenda, and by having it then and reopening public comments at that time—as does Kildeer and other villages—you would show that you are sincerely interested to hear what your residents have to say.

 In this way, young parents could feed, bathe and tuck in their kids, then one parent could baby-sit while the other comes here to the Barn to participate in village business.

Public Comments, Deborah Barry, 3/17/08, at the VODP BOT Meeting

Last month, when neighbors heard that the meeting went about five hours, they were shocked and surprised.  But of course, many of these people have never been to a public meeting, so they don’t understand the important work done here.

 And I have to say, I was somewhat impressed last month that this board engaged with the residents of Deer Park Place. At least, at last, you engaged. We can always count on Trustee Pratscher to worry about the bottom line, but Maureen, in the future, when people are standing before you with their largest investment crumbling before their eyes—well, maybe that is not the moment to ask if the village could get sued. I know you mean well. But, really.

 As to the resolution before you tonight to release the letter of credit and create a bond: I heard all the arguments, and Attorney Keller told you you cannot fail to agree, nevertheless, I have to ask. How many of you trustees has ever been inside a unit at Deer Park Place?

 OK. President Gifford, have you ever been inside an occupied unit?

 You’re gonna do what you’re gonna do, but I’m ashamed of these homes. Pretty on the outside, and a disaster on the inside.

 Does that sound familiar? If not, look around you. Just look around.

 Another thing at last week’s meeting was pretty unusual. Pat Winkelman took her turn at public comments to directly address Richard Chay, Al Barry and then Trustee Kellermann. How dare she ask an elected official about his personal vote in the ballot box? And how dare anyone from Vehe Foundation ask where roads money is coming from.

 We all know where all the money went. The bumpy road before us was engineered by the Vehe Foundation. And please, don’t tell us, only the board acted. You may want to distance yourself from that—there’s an election next year.

 Which one of your trustees will take a real stand, and being the process to END public spending on Vehe property development. Not one penny for development. Maintenance, you are pretty well stuck.

 Which of you will stop the further development using public funds?

 Well, Deer Park Neighbors is completely comfortable to be the first to ask for just that. Not one more cent of public money on development.

Public Comments, Deborah Barry, 2/19/2008, at the VODP BOT Meeting

I am Deborah Barry, 412 Bramble Lane and Secretary of Deer Park Neighbors. Yesterday, this nation celebrated President’s Day. While it was a great opportunity to buy a mattress or automobile, I hope that we all can reflect on the meaning of leadership. I like to do a bit of that tonight.

Even in this very small village, even in your modest way, President Gifford, you have many opportunities to lead your constituents. Frankly, I think you are missing some of those opportunities.

Take for example the residents of Deer Park Place. These people are suffering, emotionally and financially, from a project completed in this village. While you have listened patiently, you have not taken a leadership position. Instead, the last time these residents appeared, you commented words to this effect. “It was built to code.”

Not good enough sir, not nearly good enough. I can tell you that I have visited that subdivision a number of times, and I find the situation to be reprehensible. But that’s just my consumer opinion.

You, sir, are a construction professional. How many times have you visited this subdivision? How many homes have you been in and inspected for yourself? Your insight would have been most valuable to these residents. You and Bill Holmes together could have avoided this disaster. “Built to code” just doesn’t cut it. This village should stand for quality. You can do better.

I am also concerned that Deer Park is almost invisible in the Canadian National matter. I did see you at last Monday’s Open House, and Trustee Rotter was also there. I know there was another village meeting. But I did not see anyone else from our village. Other communities were represented by elected officials and staff. They had position papers, and maps and business cards and made every effort to embrace the concerned residents and business owners.

I just didn’t see that from you. This issue is perhaps the greatest threat to face this region, and certainly, Deer Park can ill afford to have this village split even more between the east and west. I’m glad to see this on your agenda, at last. Last, but better than never.

Don’t you think that the $600 mailing on the referendum could have provided some updates on Canadian National? An opportunity wasted. Certainly Susan is doing a great job with the web site and her email blasts, but you, President Gifford, can do more.

Deer Park Neighbors has been conducting video interviews. They are linked from our web site and available at YouTube by searching on “deer park neighbors.” I invite you to watch these interviews and see what you can do, as our leader, to bring more information to your constituents. And you are welcome to link to our Canandian National page.

Another example would be our Emergency Management program. You have chosen not to appoint a coordinator; as far as I know you are still the “acting coordinator.”

And yet, almost 7 years after 9/11, this village has no program, the staff has no special training that I am aware of (other than the defibrillator), the web site has no page on emergency procedures. You are busy man running a full-time business, but this village needs disaster procedures and resident training. Not only is the possibility of hazardous materials spilling in this community greater than ever, especially if the Canadian National, we have serious concerns about flooding, power outages, epidemics of various kinds of flu not to mention the dreadful possibility of terrorist activities.

Finally, you have not appointed an ethics officer. The attorney has said that none is required, but certainly it is not prohibited. I am confident that an ethics officer, even one appointed by you, could have provided some balance, especially when this board and the Vehe foundation agreed to dual representation. With an ethics officer, I doubt that we would be faced with that dreadful, one-sided Vehe management contract.

Set the bar higher than “good enough.” You can do better.

Doing nothing is not good enough. And while we often hear that “we’re working on that, you just don’t know about it,” or “let’s discuss this further off line,” that’s not good enough, either.

We are looking to you to provide the leadership incumbent upon your office. We deserve better. You can do better.

Thank you.

Public Comments, Deborah Barry, Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Going to Village Hall to read tonight’s agenda packet was like watching a really, really bad movie—that you’ve already seen. You know the ending, but you have to sit through it.

Scene: This board voting approving six figures for Pepper Construction. I am very afraid that that remaining “punch list,” too, will end up costing tens of thousands. So don’t waive the lien just yet. What a shame this board approved a no-bid contract. What a shame your project manager shrugged his shoulders instead of telling you to pull Clark’s contract.

Scene: This board approving still more payments to HPZS. Why does that firm get to bill all over again? Shame on all the board members for permitting the mingling and muddling of vendors, consultants, volunteers and advisers. The roles are so indistinguishable—it’s like Jerry Lewis playing multiple roles in a slap stick. Except this isn’t funny. And shame on trustees and foundation members for saying that Jim Peterson is “unpaid.” 

Scene: This board renewing a contract with Vehe Farm Foundation. First, it’s obvious, this is too important to be done with two trustees absent. If you have a drop of integrity among you—you must table this discussion. There’s no emergency. The trees will continue to grow, the butterflies will flutter, the bluebirds will fledge, the garlic mustard will invade.

Scene: Vehe people can’t sleep, knowing that their contract with the village is about to end. Dramatic pause! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you could actually DO NOTHING, and the contractual arrangement simply ends. Everyone takes a deep breath. A full accounting of the project to date is made. No one has to do a complete 180, the way Trustee Kizior did, between his “let’s finish this job, no matter what it costs and no matter who pays for it” and his “wait a minute, this is a train, and there’s no end.” Most important, you can give Yvonne the opportunity see just how rentable this albatross might be. You could, actually, dodge this particular bullet.

Scene: President Gifford pleads for the village to come together and embrace this amazing historical—no, commercial—no, I mean quasi-historical—but take down the ladder because of liability--oh, how about weddings? Bar mitzvahs? Wakes!!!--no, just a place for meetings so we don’t have to deal with mosquitos. Cut! Have you ever heard of of OFF? I costs less than $250+ dollars a square foot.

Here’s a deleted scene: Someone on this board points out that the $250 per square foot is for the INSIDE ONLY of this building.

Scene: You trustees actually read this draft contract, and you confer with your personal attorneys. Dual representation is never a good idea. And a contract must have consideration ON BOTH SIDES. But I’ll bet both side’s attorney is being paid by public funds!

Scene: This board takes a giant step back and looks at the stars in this movie, the foundation people. Because Vehe is taking a giant step back. Not their job. Not their responsibility. Not their problem. And they have a contract to prove it.

Scene: A windmill. It’s not really a windmill, it’s really a time machine. The windmill is going to turn back the hands of time to a moment before anything has been done, and indemnify anyone and everyone, male or female, their heirs and assigns, in perpetuity backwards and forwards. I didn’t finish law school, but I’m pretty sure you cannot contract away your liability. And I challenge any one of you to point out any clause that protects the village, much less the residents.

Fade to red, the bottom line on this project.

Scene: Meanwhile, back at the farm, the trustees are rubbing their hands greedily over a proposed sales tax. Too bad, a recession is brewing. You can’t tax your way out of a recession. Recession makes consumers squeeze every dollar ‘til George Washington screams…and consumers are more than happy to shop across the street even to save a just quarter of a percent.

In brief, President Gifford. You say funds were never diverted from roads to Vehe. I think that scene was written to make Vehe your political legacy. I suggest you should be very careful what you wish for. You just might get it.

Public Comments, 1/22/08, Vehe Farm Foundation Contract

Richard Chay, 408 Bramble Lane

Just my opinion.

My comments are about the Vehe Farm contract

1) The contract has attachments from the Vehe Farm Foundation that could have only been prepared by them.   And so it looks like the contract is theirs

The contract appears to be so one sided in favor of the Vehe Farm Foundation, its past, present, and future board members that I would like Attorney Keller to comment on it during the meeting.   

2) Village Trustees Pratscher and Thrun are also Vehe Farm Foundation board members.

Since they serve on both boards they have loyalties to both organizations.

They were sworn to uphold the constitution of the United States and Illinois in their service as village trustees.

The question I have is this…

Is there a conflict of interest when Trustee Thrun and Pratscher serve on both the Deer Park village board of trustees and the Vehe Farm Foundation? 

Especially as it relates to voting on a Vehe Farm Foundation contract that has pecuniary interests in it

Again, according to the dictionary. pecuniary means monetary rewards.

The contract in your packet does in fact have monetary rewards. 

Paragraph 4 says:  …“shall be indemnified by the village against any expenses (including attorneys fees) judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connections with such action suit or proceeding.” 

Dictionary definition of indemnify is “to make compensation to… for incurred hurt, loss, or damage”

Continuing, “the Village hereby releases the Foundation its officers, directors and members from any claim of loss…”

Those release and indemnification statements sure seem to have monetary rewards, i.e., compensation, that benefit sitting Trustees Thrun and Pratscher from a pecuniary standpoint. 

This contract has monetary rewards that benefit sitting Trustees Thrun and Pratscher.

How can they vote on this contract in the village’s interest when they are sitting trustees of the Vehe Farm foundation and there is pecuniary interest language in the contract?

As sworn trustees of the Village of Deer Park, they should recuse themselves from the vote on this contract. 

The Deer Park Village board of trustees has already received a legal opinion this matter.

I am citing the Deer Park village board of trustee’s minutes of the January 20^th, 2003.  Page 2, last paragraph. 

After a vote was taken on the January 2003 Vehe Farm Foundation plan, the results show that village trustees Dowell and Werch abstained.

Following that the minutes say, “Attorney Hargadon noted that board members seated on the Foundation do not need to abstain.”  “No conflict of interest given no pecuniary interest.”

The contract before you has pecuniary interest in it benefiting Trustees Thrun and Pratscher.  Given that fact, they should recuse themselves if and when the contract comes for a vote.

3) As to the terms of the contract…

The largest paragraph in the contract is the release and indemnification section I just referred to.  It is four times larger than any other paragraph.  This contract is for the next five years.  Yet the language in this section language looks back in its coverage. 

It really raises a huge red flag. 

Do we suspect that the board of trustees of the Vehe Farm Foundation acted improperly in the past? 

If so, what do you think they did wrong? 

Are they responsible for some problem here on the farm? 

Just my opinion.

Richard Chay, 408 Bramble Lane