Island Lake - dumb move

The Daily Herald reports today that the Village of Island Lake is going to send good money after bad in its efforts to collect on old Village-issued tickets. Would you believe they are going to try to collect on some tickets going back to 1991?

Anybody that pays one of those tickets when TekCollect comes calling ought to have his head examined. He should just tell them he doesn't have a clue what they are talking about. Trying to collect on a ticket that is 20 years old?

Can you imagine that laugh that a judge in McHenry County Circuit Court or in Lake County would have, if TekCollect and a Village attorney showed up to prosecute?

Any judge will laugh them right out of the court room. Maybe he'd even sanction them for wasting the court's time. If Island Lake "lost" the tickets in a bottom drawer at the police station or the Clerk's office (who were the Clerks and the Police Chiefs over that time span???) and failed to take regular collection action, then the Village has forfeited its right to collect on them. Where did they get the legal advice to commence collection activity? Or did they get any legal advice on that point?

Trying to collect on old tickets from 5-10-15-20 years ago is a dumb move. Forget it, folks!

The tickets are probably illegal, anyway, if Island Lake does not provide due process. At last check there was no administrative adjudication court, where a violator could challenge a ticket and defend himself against the charge.

Looking back, I should have thrown away a $5 "Welcome to Woodstock" overnight parking ticket that I received on my first night in Woodstock. But I rolled over and just paid it, even though there were no warning signs on the roads entering Woodstock, as the folks at the PD told me there were that February morning in 1996.

David takes a smack at Goliath

Today's Northwest Herald gave anti-Township advocate Bob Anderson a generous number of column-inchs for Bob to remind us why Township governments are dinosaurs that just haven't died yet. You can read the article here or you can go to the Northwest Herald website and search for "redundant" or you can copy and paste this URL: www.nwherald.com/2011/10/12/a-redundant-system-of-local-government/arozwbl/

Bob informs readers that there are about 7,000 local governments in Illinois. Of these, there are 1,433 township governments in the State of Illinois, and there are 1.395 township road districts. All of these have employees and benefits and, probably, retirement plans.

One of the main local duties of the Supervisor of a township is what is called General Assistance. If someone has an urgent financial need, he might apply to the township for some money. Bob writes, "Aid provided by the township costs two to three dollars in administrative overhead for each dollar of aid delivered."

Geez! And people worry about administrative costs of a charity, when they hit 40-50-60-70-80-92%. Township administrative costs for aid are 100-200% of the aid amount.

Read Bob's column. If you don't get to it within a week, it will dive out of sight into the Northwest Herald archives. Use your Woodstock Library card for free access to the archives.

You can read Bob's website at www.mchenrycitizenstaxwatch.org  Bob's contact information can be found on that website.

Is 55-65 too fast?

Is 55MPH too fast? Like, southbound on N. Seminary Ave. (Route 47) in Woodstock, at about Donovan Street, where the speed limit is 35MPH?

A sheriff's department squad car was flying low this afternoon about 2:00PM. The deputy was blasting south and right down the middle lane on the roadway, using the two-way, left-turn lane along with his (her?) lights and siren.

I always wonder what kind of call for service justifies excessive speed? Too many crashes occur that involve speeding police vehicles using emergency equipment. And, when they occur, the deputy never gets to the scene of his call, at all. Vehicles are damaged, people are often hurt, and another deputy has to be dispatched and arrives even later.

When I lived in Lakewood, Colo., the chief of the town's new police department, Pierce Brooks, would not allow officers to run "hot" except under the most urgent circumstances. He knew, and that was in 1971, that accidents are costly in many ways.

I often hear sirens of Woodstock Police cars flying toward the Square on Lake Avenue with sirens in use. When I say "flying", I mean at what I consider to be unsafe, excessive speeds. I hear the siren approach and the engine of the car as it flies past.

How much time might an officer lose by driving 40-45, instead of 55-65? What? Maybe 15-20 seconds? They all think they are good drivers, and many of them are. But if an animal or a child on a bike or an inattentive (or distracted) motorist pulls out of a driveway or into an intersection, even the best police driver is not likely to be able to avoid a serious crash.

Caligero's - now open

The new restaurant at 135 Washington St., Woodstock, has opened. Caligero's Just Off the Square is on the south side of Washington, a few steps from the railroad tracks and depot. They are having their "soft opening" now, but they are open and ready for your business.

Owners Dom, Laura and Carole Cullotta will be open during the following hours:
M-Th 10:30AM-9:30PM
F-Sat. 10:30AM-11:00PM
Sun. 11:00AM-8:00PM

The menu includes Italian house specialties, as well as filet mignon, salmon, ribs and chicken marsala. Desserts (maybe I should have put these first) include Spumoni Ice Creme, Cannoli, Tortoni, Tiramisu, cheese case.Pizza offerings include Orazietti Pizza (dine-in only) and Supreme, Veggie, Margherita and Chicago.And sandwiches that you haven't seen on other menus, as well as traditional ones.

Their website is being developed now. If you want to order carry-out right now, call 815.308.5610

You can enjoy an alcoholic beverage or Coke products with your meal. It's a family restaurant, not a bar. There is adequate parking in front and just across the street. Stop in soon.

Caldwell in, Gummerson out

What did last Tuesday's hearing in Judge Meyer's court really mean? The one about Zane Seipler's petition for a special prosecutor to investigate Sheriff Keith Nygren.

Here is one guy standing up and putting his money where his mouth is. How many around here to do that? Remember back when Zane filed the first petition? He did so pro se; that is, without an attorney. Pretty quickly he realized that he was going to need an attorney, or his petition would grind to a halt. And so he got an attorney - a good one. Chicago Attorney Blake Horwitz has kept this petition alive, continually filing amended petitions as new information came to light.

I don't know what it has cost Zane so far - my guess is that the legal bill is $70,-100,000 - so far.

There were many court dates when Judge Meyer could have ended Seipler's petition. My experience from being in his courtroom often was that he was looking for every opportunity not to stop it.

The State's Attorney doesn't want to investigate Nygren, saying that he is the sheriff's attorney which, legally, he is. In that position there seems to me to be a clear conflict of interest. And so a Special Prosecutor should be appointed.

The latest step was for the State's Attorney to pull Assistant State's Attorney Don Leist out of the picture, with the result on Tuesday, October 11, that Judge Meyer appointed Woodstock attorney Bill Caldwell to represent the County of McHenry.

Nygren had countered with his own petition late last week, asking that Caldwell not be appointed and asking for the Court to appoint Woodstock attorney Mark Gummerson to represent him "in his official capacity", meaning that the County would pay Gummerson to represent Nygren. Judge Meyer put the kabosh on that by appointing Caldwell to represent the County and refusing to appoint Gummerson as Nygren's taxpayer-supported counsel.

Now, who represents Nygren? Isn't the Sheriff's Department part of the County of McHenry? Opinions outside the courthouse seem to be divided as to whether Bill Caldwell will represent Nygren and the County. If the County and Nygren are at odds, then Caldwell might have a hard time representing both.

I am reminded of the situation in which robbers hit a bank and get arrested. Should they have the same attorney? Even a "Bonnie and Clyde" team? Should they make do with one attorney or should each have his own attorney? I say, separate attorneys. Of course, in our wonderful country you can get only as much justice as you can afford.

It seems to me that Judge Meyer, in appointing Bill Caldwell to represent the County and refusing outside, County-paid, legal services to Nygren as Sheriff, was saying that Caldwell will represent the Sheriff in this case.

Now, aren't they both Republicans? Do they like one another?

But what about the conflict of interest? Seipler's petition claims that Nygren has spent thousands of dollars, wrongfully, to plaster his political badge all over County equipment, property and stationery. How could the same attorney (Caldwell) defend and prosecute Nygren? He can't.

That's why a Special Prosecutor is demanded in this case. And why Judge Meyer should appoint one.

Jobs Fair, Woodstock - Sunday, Oct. 16

Congressman Joe Walsh is sponsoring a jobs fair this Sunday at Woodstock (Ill.) North High School. Come one and all.

He may have announced it locally earlier in the week, but I saw it in his emailed Weekly Wrap Up just now.

Sunday, October 16
12:00PM-4:00PM
Woodstock North H.S. (that's the new one)
3000 Raffel Road (between Ware Road and Charles Road)

Illinois employers at the jobs fair will include Northrop Grumman, Scot Forge, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Bridgeview Bank Group, Mercy Health System, Schaumburg Police Department, Baxter, Comcast, Walgreens, Home Depot, Claussen and others.

Bring resumes, business cards, calling cards. Dress sharp. Look sharp. Get out the shoe polish and use it on your shoes. That seems to be a lost art. Wouldn't hurt to get your ears lowered, guys. Dress shirts will make a much better impression that a t-shirt with a logo on it.

A recruiter may not have a job for you but, if you are sharp, he might know of a job for you. Review your networking skills.

If you see me there, I am not looking for a job. If I see one for you, I'll tell you about it. Good luck on Sunday. And, Joe, thanks!

1950's Auto Test

This is a fun test, but you'll need to be 60-70 years old to get any kind of a decent score. The man who sent it to me claimed 100%. My score was 73%. Ho-hum...

 

The average is 73%.

If you choose to participate, this will definitely test your auto acumen andbring back some fond memories when cars were distinctly different in appearanceand we looked forward to "the new model year" being introduced.   http://www.americantorque.com/game/car-show-50s/