Should Woodstock follow Tollway?

In this morning's Northwest Herald was an article that the Illinois Tollway may begin hauling scofflaws into court over unpaid tolls. What do you risk, if you breeze past a $0.75 open-road tolling plaza without paying? It could cost you $70-100, and now you might to add the cost of dealing with it in court.

Should Woodstock follow the Tollway's plan?

On the "road" to improving your home in Woodstock, there are some nasty "toll plazas" that you must pass.

One involves applying for the necessary permits. Ka-ching.
Another involves coughing up substantial Impact Fees for adding bedrooms. KA-CHING.
Then you must have the electrical and plumbing work inspected.
Then you must get a new Certificate of Occupancy.
Your Permits will be reported to the Township Assessor, who very likely will not lower your assessed valuation after receiving them. Ka-ching.

Can a contractor work on a remodeling job without the necessary Permits posted on the site? What happens if he does?

Of course, you can try to fly under the radar and not trigger any steps in the process. How can you do that? You just don't tell the City that you are remodeling.

What are the financial penalties for that flight? Are there any penalties, once the City finds out that work was done without permits? What if you can make it all the way to the landing before somebody blows the whistle?

Now, what if somebody blows the whistle but no one listens? What then?

I emailed Mayor Sager on July 27 about just such a situation and asked him to call me. He hasn't.

I emailed Mayor Sager again on September 4 and asked him to let me know what the City is doing to collect the fees and the $7,-10,000 in Impact Fees. He has not acknowledged my email or responded.

On August 1 I hand-delivered a letter to City Hall, requesting an investigation. Today I learned the letter is "upstairs", but I wasn't able to learn what had transpired in the past five weeks.

I'm beginning to wonder just what must be done to get the City to meet its responsibilities on behalf of all residents.