WFRD growing - out of bounds?

Be sure to read Cal Skinner's article this morning about the Woodstock Fire Rescue District. You'll find it at www.mchenrycountyblog.com/ You may have to scroll down for it. The headline is "Lakewood moving fire protection from private company to Woodstock Fire Protection (sic) District".

I first thought, knowing a little of the history about the relationship of the Village of Lakewood to the City of Crystal Lake in past years regarding timely payment of charges for fire protection and rescue services, was "How much does Lakewood owe Crystal Lake, if anything, right now and how is Crystal Lake going to collect it?"

A while back I think Crystal Lake accepted $15,000 in payment, rather than fighting for the entire $150,000 that had been billed. That was a great deal for Lakewood and a lousy deal for Crystal Lake taxpayers.

Woodstock Fire Rescue District is funded by District taxpayers. Are the taxpayers going to okay this empire-building deal? What part, if any, of Lakewood is within the boundaries of WFRD? Can WFRD legally contract services to be provided out of its district?

If WFRD builds its empire, expanding its union ranks, and then Lakewood bails, what will WFRD get stuck with? How will it cover that contingency?

Although it is a public body, WFRD seems to be a rather "tight" organization, perhaps like Dorr Township was before residents began asking questions and probing actions. Does any member of the public attend WFRD monthly meetings? The November meeting will be November 18, 2010, 7:00PM, at Fire Station #1, 435 East Judd St., Woodstock.

For meeting dates and locations, look under "Board of Trustees" on www.wfrd.org/

Will WFRD cancel any contract if the Village of Lakewood commences a slow-pay program on its financial obligation? What about all those "extra" union firefighters who will want to be paid, whether Lakewood pays or not? WFRD taxpayers will end up on the hook.

Re-naming Vulcan Lakes

As Crystal Lake wrestles with the “right” name for Vulcan Lakes, consider this. Should the new name of Vulcan Lakes be The George C. Wells Water Center?

Within the last 20 years one man has stood out as guardian of Crystal Lake’s namesake, Crystal Lake. I wonder just how many residents of the City of Crystal Lake itself or of the area around the Lake and the City know the recent history of efforts to save the pristine glacial lake for which the City is named.

Is it important to care about Crystal Lake? At one time, it was reportedly possible to read the front page of a Chicago newspaper behind a 400 lb. block of ice from Crystal Lake. And I don’t mean by sitting behind the block and holding the newspaper. I mean, reading the newspaper through the block of ice.

Do you think that is the case today? Can you even see your hand in front of your face underwater in Crystal Lake?

On a recent trip, I met a former Mayor of Crystal Lake, George C. Wells. George lives in Flat Rock, North Carolina, and I’ll suggest that he qualifies as a lake expert. George has 53 three-ring binders of the 3” type, jammed with documentation of his effort to preserve Crystal Lake as a recreational lake for the thousands of people who enjoy the lake.

For some interesting reading, I commend his book to you. George wrote It’s Like That Everywhere, George and published it in 2007. The first portion of his book tells about his early life on a Farina, Illinois, farm in southern Illinois, his education at the University of Illinois, his first career as a USAF fighter pilot, second career as a pilot with American Airlines, and his “education” in McHenry County politics during his stint as Mayor of Crystal Lake.

George gets into the politics of the management of Crystal Lake, which lies in both Crystal Lake and Lakewood. The powerboating faction of Lakewood residents is, in George’s opinion and supported by documentation, destroying the life of the Lake.

The story is best told by George himself. You can get your own copy of his book directly from George for $20.00 plus $3.00 mailing cost. Contact George at gcwells@mchsi.com. Order your own copy and let him know how you would like it inscribed.

Count on losing some sleep. When you start reading it, you’ll want to keep on readng. Then you will want to get involved and take steps now to restore the ecological life of Crystal Lake.

Is there a handful of young people and politically-seasoned people who will step up now and continue the battle that George waged against the powerboaters? It will literally be a case of beating down a small but powerful opposition, including their attorneys.

If you live in Crystal Lake and are planning to stay in Crystal Lake, now is the time. Read George’s book. Then do your own homework, form your organization, and plan how thousands of residents of Crystal Lake and of the Crystal Lake Park District are going to wrest control of lake usage from a very small number of Lakewood powerboaters and return it to the pristine quality of years past.

To the right is George in front of his Flat Rock home on a foggy morning.

Miranda Rights - Your Rights!

Everyone should read and save the article from this morning's Northwest Herald on Page 3C - about a suspect, Dustin Goy, who signed a paper waiving his Miranda Rights after a Crystal Lake Police detective allegedly told him that he was not waiving his rights by signing.

What are your rights, if you are accused of a crime?

The U.S. Supreme Court said, "...The person in custody must, prior to interrogation, be clearly informed that he or she has the right to remain silent, and that anything the person says may be used against that person in court; the person must be clearly informed that he or she has the right to consult with an attorney and to have that attorney present during questioning, and that, if he or she is indigent, an attorney will be provided at no cost to represent him or her."

Pretty clear; right?

The police receive extensive training in administering the Miranda Rights. They also are trying to get an accused to talk, so it's a fine line they must walk.

It's interesting that the article does not name the Crystal Lake detective. Why not?

Kids are taught early that the police are our friends and that, if they are in trouble, they should find a police officer, who will protect them.

Somewhere along the way, every person should be taught that there may be circumstances when the police will not be your friends. Was Goy's case one of those times?

Judge Sharon Prather will issue her ruling on September 3. It might be interesting to be there and hear how she views the detective's effort to get Goy to talk about what had happened, while at the same time apparently telling him that he was not waiving his rights and saying, "You just need to sign this and talk to us."

If you ever find yourself in police custody and believe you are being accused of a crime, READ the form. Don't rely on verbal explanations from any officer. And call your attorney. Tell the officer, politely, that you'll be very happy to talk with him and answer his questions - after your attorney arrives and if your attorney tells you that it is okay to answer them.