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Safety is mostly about common sense. But, the excitement over Halloween can make both kids and adults less careful, leading to accidents and injuries. Here are a few things to keep in mind this afternoon and evening as you and your children are trick-or-treating, or you may be driving around town:
Designated hours for trick-or-treating in the Village are between 3pm and 7pm.
Excerpt from the National Safety Council:
- Stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never enter a stranger’s home. It’s also recommended to stick to your own neighborhood, since you know it. It’s best not to load up all the kids into the van and cart them all over the town.
- Establish a return time. (Let them know when they must be home, and when you’ll expect them)
- For smaller children, under around age 12: Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing
- Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard. (Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.)
- Make sure kids can see and breath adequately if masks or face coverings are worn
- Walk on sidewalks, not in the street. If there are no sidewalks available (as in a few areas), walk on the left side of the street, facing oncoming traffic.
- Inspect all treats, telling kids not to eat any treats until they get home. “When in doubt, throw it out.”
- Temperatures are expected to drop in the late afternoon to early evening hours. Make sure kids are dressed warmly enough.
- Motorists are also reminded to watch for kids running out between parked cars or walking along the sides of streets, etc.
And, here are a few words about courtesy:
- Say “Trick or treat”.
- Say “Thank you”.
- Use the sidewalks and driveways. Don’t cut through yards. (Important for safety as well)
- Take one or two pieces if the person holds out the bowl for you to choose a favorite; don’t grab a handful (although, if you hold out the bowl, expect some kids to take a bunch).
Finally, a note to treat givers: Give something pre-packaged (unless you’re famous in your neighborhood for giving out something special); if you give out ziploc baggies of popcorn, apples or other such things, expect that some will end up on your roof, lawn, etc. — Kids, just dispose of these at home, if you don’t want them.
Have a safe and fun Halloween!
Trustee Sigwalt,
I am directing this letter to you for reasons which are not, by any means, partisan. Your responses to some recent emails from myself and others, in addition to actions taken during Village Board meetings, have given me cause for concern. A primary concern is your insinuation that there is an agenda behind your actions on the Board. The comments I have received from others have led me to believe that as well.
Specifically, when concerns were raised about the behavior of the Board, you replied, in part: “Anytime you would like to talk and learn the reasons behind some of the actions I would oblige.” I think we all would like to know those reasons, so please share them. I believe you, as a representative of the People of Carpentersville, owe us all an explanation.
The purpose of this blog is to call those elected to office in the Village to account in hopes of moving things forward, and stopping what I believe to be a pattern of lies and games. It is in this spirit that I have pointed out areas that I believe need significant improvement — always backing my statements with evidence.
I do believe you, as the senior trustee on the Board, have been a factor in the current state of Village politics, which has now seen 3 different Village Presidents. Yet it has not changed the contentious behavior — of which you most often seem to be a part — of the Board.
However, this is not merely about you. This is not even about me. It is also not about Bill Sarto or any others. And, it is not about anyone on a personal level.
This is about the Village and residents; and about our elected officials’ service and duty to us. This is about where we have chosen to live and work and raise our families and setting things in place to continually improve that.
Unfortunately, you have seemed to make this personal. I could provide a litany of examples to back such a statement, but I think I’ve already said enough along that line.
I’ve said in the past, patterns of behavior that I have observed for some time have made it necessary for me to take these issues to the people — and provide the information that I feel has been lacking, and even ignored — using a mechanism that is commonplace on the public internet: a pseudonym or “alias”.
In the past week, I have taken some time to work on presenting a better image of what is happening in the Village … and have asked that our Village Board get past their petty bickering. I have done this because I honestly feel that the Village has finally began to move forward in the past few years.
Yet, the Board seems to continually argue about things which are irrelevant to Village business.
If it takes further criticism of the Board to get you all to play nice, I will not hesitate to say what’s on my mind. The ultimate direction of my comments on my blog is up to you and others on the Board.
Let’s pull it together so that the good work that is being done in the community can be reflected in, and assisted by, our Village Board.
Just remember where you heard it first. 
At least one member of the Board has accused this site of “telling lies and hiding behind an alias” all the while providing no further information about what those “lies” are, or what the perceived “truth” is.
In light of that, let me take a moment to just highlight one example of what this blog is about, and directed toward:
On Monday, October 22nd, I posted “Water rate do-over” that spoke of the upcoming vote to modify the implementation of the water rate increase. In that article, I wrote:
It all can be quite confusing. New newspaper reports and notices provided to residents may add to the confusion by some who may think the Village is raising rates again.
I’d like to thank Larissa Chinwah at the Daily Herald for trying to address that concern in her article posted to DailyHerald.com on Saturday, October 27th.
Prior to my Oct 22nd article, I contacted the Village Board, in attempts to get clarification on the implementation of the increase. After the Board failed to respond, I decided to post an article speculating on the Village’s plan in hopes of alerting residents and others of the confusion and seeing if any would obtain a reply.
It seemed that there was — and maybe still is — some confusion about the way the increase will finally be put in place, as there have been some differing answers heard around Village Hall. Even the latest information in the Village newsletter is not very clear.
At least we finally have this, though:
“We are proposing making the rate changes effective for water consumed after Jan. 1,” Finance Director Lisa Happ said. “The new rates won’t hit bills until April.”
I’m happy to see that response, and that this blog has effected such communication.
Just a few things to note …
The Village has announced that Halloween trick-or-treating hours will be from 3:00pm to 7:00pm on Wednesday, October 31.
Also, the Village is planning to go door-to-door to “treat” those in the Morningside neighborhood to information about low-interest loans and grants available, totaling $600,000. State and federal dollars are available for residents to make improvements to their homes.
Only 3 applications have been submitted, with only 1 renovation started, thus far, in a program that started in January. Such low response has been attributed to debate over the proposed illegal immigration ordinances as well as some of the stipulations of the loans, such as the requirement to pay the money back if one moves less than 5 years after the money was granted.
Revitalization of the Morningside neighborhood, just off Rt 68, considered an entryway to the Village, has long been targeted for improvements. In fact, Tom Roeser, president of Otto Engineering, has bought and helped to renovate a few homes in that area to begin the process.
Any monies not applied for by January will be taken back, which would really be sad to see the money just remain unclaimed.
As the storm clouds hang over the Village Board in their attacks on one another, residents seem to be banding together more than ever to bring healing and unity to a town battered by political division and neglect for nearly a decade. In fact, take the Board’s discord out of the picture and one sees a picture of a town in recovery, for the most part.
For example, the Courier-News published a report last Friday of a group of about 10 local pastors of Carpentersville churches who have been meeting regularly to reach out to the community through their congregations to hear their concerns and attempt to find direction and solutions for the Village.
Village staff is doing a good job of coordinating efforts to repair and maintain the roadways and infrastructure, as well as bring additional retail and commercial development to the town. Although a few businesses that have left Carpentersville have been relatively high profile (Circuit City, Jewel, Big Lots, and Fridays), there are not as many empty store fronts as some would have folks believe. With the exception of the old Big Lots space, Meadowdale Mall is basically full. The old Jewel store is being significantly overhauled to open in November/December as “the Village Fresh Market”. White Castle is slated to open soon next to Aldi on the near-West side, across from food stops like Jamba Juice and Panda Express. And, there are some rumors flying around that some of the restaurant spaces around Spring Hill Mall might not be empty for long.
Even the schools in the area appear to be improving. Despite continued overcrowding issues (although the total number of students is below the bottom floor estimates provided by the District during the last referendum) that have plagued District 300 for years (on the West, as well as the East), according to recent reports test scores among third through eighth graders improved to exceed the state average. Carpentersville Middle School, after several years of failing to meet standards set by the federal No Child Left Behind act, has recently received a passing grade.
It will take time to get to a higher level of satisfaction … but progress is being made, in a time when the economy is otherwise stumbling, slowing growth and development.
Now, if we can just stage an intervention as a community to help some of our Trustees get some therapy so they can actually aid in the recovery…
About 4 1/2 years ago, people all across the United States were able to add their phone numbers to the Federal Do Not Call List. This prevented telemarketers from calling you at home unless they represented a company with whom you had done business. Exceptions were made for charitable organizations, surveys and political calls. Since it went into effect in 2003, over 145 million numbers have been entered into the registry – 6.5 million in Illinois as of Sept 30.
“So what?”, you may say.
Well, because many readers have probably registered on the do-no-call list, I thought it might be good to let people know some things that are now being considered about it (and what is not). (If you haven’t registered and want to stop telemarketer calls — with the exceptions noted above — you can go t0 the FTC website for the Do-Not-Call list registration information.)
When the list was created in 2003, it was to expire in June 2008. That would mean that consumers would have to re-register their numbers every 5 years to keep numbers out of the hands of telemarketers.
There are some things you should know that are happening with the do-not-call list right now.
First, the FTC was considering purging all numbers from its list in June 2008, causing all who are on the list to have to re-register, regardless of when they previously registered their number. However, information released today states that the FTC will not be dropping any numbers from the list at the 5-year expiration period.
Legislation has been introduced in Congress to make the list permanent. The final decision regarding the Registry is pending this legislation.
Changes have been made since 2003 that cause disconnected and reassigned numbers to be removed from the database on a monthly basis. This allows the Registry to balance accuracy with consumer privacy concerns, making it possible to do away with the 5-year expiration period.
And, finally, there has been a myth circulating for awhile — primarily via email — that telemarketing companies would begin calling cell phones. The do-not-call list does accept cell phone numbers into the registry for those wanting the added security and privacy. However, the FCC has made it illegal to use automated dialers to call cell phones; which is the way most telemarketing companies operate.
You can register online at WWW.DONOTCALL.GOV or call toll-free, 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236), from the number you wish to register. Registration is free.
If past history is any indication, the increased water and sewer rates are now in effect for most all Village residents.
The Village posted a notice on the website [English version][Spanish version] stating that a vote will be taken by the Board at a November meeting to re-approve the water and sewer rate increases that were approved at a September meeting. When residents, mostly from the west side, received their bills in early October for usage from June 10th through September 10th, the rate increase approved September 18th was reflected on their bills. In effect, folks were retroactively charged for usage before the increase was approved.
Credits are expected to be approved for those who were already billed — totaling about $43,000 — while the Village amends the implementation of the increase.
The latest notice on the Village website reads, in part:
If approved, beginning in January 2008 water rates will be $2.66 and sewer rates will be $2.95 for 1,000 gallons of water used.
It seems obvious that the rate will be re-approved. However, it begs the question … will the January bills reflect the new rate for September – December usage? Or, will the new rate not be seen until around April, for December – March 2008 usage?
What the Village will do is anyone’s guess at this point. The track record indicates January’s bill will again reflect an increase for water and sewer used before the November approval of the amended rate.
It all can be quite confusing. New newspaper reports and notices provided to residents may add to the confusion by some who may think the Village is raising rates again.
Had this been done properly, the Board would have voted for the increase to take effect beginning with the October usage cycle. The October bills would have contained a notice of the water and sewer rate increase that would be seen on the January bill.
That said, what about the proposal to move the temporary environmental surcharge onto the property tax bill? I believe it needs to be voted down, unless it is determined that the reasons for the surcharge will always exist. In such a case, the surcharge should be removed and property tax rates should be appropriately increased for the 2008 tax year. One of the potential problems with that would be that businesses would then be charged for a residential surcharge, barring some exemption for businesses.
The whole thing really calls for a more extensive study of the way the Village handles its billing for water, sewer and waste management. Additionally, it might make sense to switch to a monthly billing cycle.
For the past five years, the Zarrillo family of Carpentersville has transformed their very normal-looking home in the Kimball Farm subdivision into a haunted house that they open to the public for six nights during Halloween.
This is going to be the final year of their haunted house.
Admission into the house is free with a nonperishable donation that the Zarrillo’s deliver to the F.I.S.H. Food Pantry in Carpentersville.
The Zarrillos’ Haunted House is at 5726 Breezeland Road in the Kimball Farm subdivision next to Liberty Elementary School. It will be open today through Sunday and Oct. 26, 27, and 28. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6 to 8 p.m. Sundays.
The Haunted House will not be open on Oct. 31 because the cast wants to go trick-or-treating.
[Read more of the story at the DailyHerald.com: Zarrillo's haunt their house for last time this year to aid food pantry]
Because I have received rebuttal information from certain individuals to Mr. Reece’s letter, I have taken it down. I am still waiting for additional “proof” from both sides. While I make no judgment about the information provided by either side, I have not yet received additional proof that Mr. Reece promised, and therefore I do not believe it is fair to make comments without the ability to back them up.
This site is not here to damage people’s reputation. That is just the opposite of the purpose that it was started.
The Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor Task Force is scheduled to meet for the first time on Thursday, October 25th at 7:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Center II, 100 Carrington Drive, West Dundee, IL.
In order to adequately prepare for the Task Force proceedings, KDOT staff and Jan Carlson, Chair, Kane County Transportation Committee, decided that the team should first host one or more staff level coordination meeting(s) with all participating municipalities and McHenry County. The agenda for this meeting(s) will focus on shaping a Task Force process that 1) maximizes participation and coordination of all local government stakeholders, 2) explore financial options and logistical project elements in a methodical, comprehensive fashion, and 3) produce findings and recommendations for the Kane County board in a timely manner.
The meeting is open to the public and the media.
Task Force members are as listed below (those representing Carpentersville are bolded).
Somewhat coinciding with this, it was reported in the Daily Herald yesterday that the Village will begin planning for areas along the Longmeadow corridor. One important parcel of land for Carpentersville is the Brunner property on the West side, between Rt 31 and the Fox River. A letter was received by the Village from the Kane County Forest Preserve District, declaring that they are interested in purchasing the entire parcel of land. Carpentersville’s Comprehensive Plan calls for that land to be developed with estate style homes, light industrial/commercial and retail along the corridor. In fact, the Comprehensive Plan envisions that some businesses operating along Main Street in the Old Town district would move to this area, so that the Main Street area could be redeveloped to become a quaint restaurant and entertainment district. The Brunner family has long said that they desired the area to be open space, yet numerous times in the past Carpentersville officials have expressed it to be a key component in an economic development plan for the Village.
The Village hopes, by putting together a plan, that it can be used in the planning for the Longmeadow Bridge itself, to ensure that access is available to the areas that may benefit from the bridge and parkway use.
TASK FORCE MEMBERS
Kane County
Jan Carlson, Task Force Chair
John Noverini, Kane County Board
Hollie Kissane, Kane County Board
John Fahy, Kane County Board
Phil Bus, Executive Director, Development & Transportation Group
Carl Schoedel, Kane County Engineer/Director of Transportation
McHenry County
Dan Shea, McHenry County Board (Trans. Comm. Chair)
Joe Korpalski, County Engineer/Director of Transportation
Ed Dvorak (Alternate for Mr. Shea)
Jeff Young (Alternate for Mr. Korpalski)
Municipalities
President Bill Sarto, Village of Carpentersville
Craig Anderson, Village Manager of Carpentersville
President John Schmidt, Village of Algonquin
Bill Ganek, Village Manager of Algonquin
President Dan O’Leary, Village of East Dundee
Frank Koehler, Village Administrator of East Dundee
President Larry Keller, Village of West Dundee
Joe Cavallaro, Village Manager of West Dundee
Who would have thought appointments to a committee (an ad hoc committee, at that) would be so difficult for a Village Board? Ah, but this is Carpentersville after all, where even the routine will be made difficult.
At their July 17th meeting, the Board voted for the creation of an ad hoc committee to work out details of the Carpentersville Improvement Committee, consisting of 3 residents and 2 trustees.
Sarto introduced his choices for appointments to the CIC by stating that he had put this group together as a team whose skills well complimented each other and would put forward a diverse and well-balanced “face” to the residents of Carpentersville. It was well-stated introduction that reflected how and why teams are built and chosen.
Four trustees were determined to inject political spite into the discussion — a discussion that went on for over an hour. Their comments wreaked of no-confidence in the abilities of the five members to make up the committee, and showed a great disrespect to the residents and trustees that were to make up this committee.
Trustee Ritter began by stating: “You point out that this is a team, but your team is a player short.” Sarto, however, had listed 5 appointees, as the Board had previously approved (in fact, it was Ritter who made the motion and Sigwalt who had seconded). Attorney Rhodes confirmed the minutes, motion and vote taken to the Trustees. Thus, in order for the team to be “a player short” would mean that a member of the team was not right for the job.
Why does this Board continue to attack its members? Why do they think so little of the abilities of Trustees Teeter and Ramirez Sliwinski, not to mention the residents who were also chosen to be appointed?
In fact, based on their statements, why do we need a committee at all? From the way the others made it sound, Trustee Sigwalt has all the experience — and the only experience — that is needed.
Still, why did they chose to throw Teeter under the bus? It should have been obvious to them that Ramirez Sliwinski, being the only Hispanic on the Board, would have been chosen so, at issue was really Sigwalt vs Teeter. Oh, they planned it out ahead of time to make it appear that they supported Teeter, but it was so thinly veiled as to be obvious they supported Sigwalt over Teeter.
I thought they were attacking Sarto (and I think they thought that too), but their antics and argumentation really were a slap in the face to Trustee Teeter. Why do they think she can’t do the job? The lack of respect for her capabilities and experience should really come as a shock to someone who has been there to support their often ill-advised agendas.
And, what about Sigwalt’s statement that she is the only one who is not a member of a committee? Well, earlier this year, though she was going to be made a member of the the Audit & Finance Commission, she declined the appointment. So, she does not sit on a committee by her own choosing.
This was not “Sigwalt’s baby” as it was put in the discussion. Trustee Sigwalt originally touted this as something akin to a “code patrol”. This was the direction of the initial discussions until resident Pat Schultz clarified for the Board that the committee to be formed would be primarily directed toward education. (Schultz was one of the residents appointed to the ad hoc committee last night). Further, as Trustee Humpfer noted, this was a recommendation of the Comprehensive Plan, not specifically of the Board.
In the end, after all the arguments for Sigwalt to be on the committee over Teeter, the Board unanimously approved Sarto’s appointments, leaving one to wonder what all the fuss was about. To be honest, it was an embarrassment to see the Trustees behave this way. It is long past time for them to put aside their spite and get to work.
I received the following as a “Guest blogger” submission from Peter Pimkus:
There is all this curiosity about names: Who are the anonymous posters? What, however, does a name tell us? Do we know the ideas a person has from their name? Do we know their profession or their education? Do we know their expereices in life or what their interests are?
Brown, Patel, Pennington, Harrington, Castro, Emmanual, Santiago, Smith, Capone, Sosa, Clemente, McNeil, Schultz, Kowalski, Carr, Stoneham, Rosser, Prescott Bush, George Bush, etc. What pictures come into our heads as we read these names? And do we see who they are or just the images that the names create from our own experiences? Is the name male or female? Do they have white or dark skin? What is their hair color or are they bald, old, young, single, married or dead or alive?
Often, from a name we think we know their heritage, or their race, or even their religion. From a name, we may think we know if they are rich or poor. We may think we can tell their neighborhood or their intelligence. We may even think we KNOW them because we know their name. I hear many say, oh they must be German, or Italian or Irish, or Mexican, or Jewish or I know the family or I know the wife or brother or mother or sister…So, what does this tell us about THEM?
So, to those that are more interested in thinking they know me, I say, listen to what I say, to the thoughts, concerns, ideas, or questions I have, and then you MAY be more accurate in knowing me but even then, I doubt it…
Attacks on people are used to silence them and while that is wrong, we see it used even at the highest levels of our government. We see the “explanation” for the comments made by people as only being because of who they are and then no answer is given, just the inference that no answer is needed because of who they are. Or, because someone said something, they’re labeled as some kind of kook and that is how they are “perceived” or viewed for anything they ever say again.
If you like George Bush and he said something, would you accept it more willingly and universally than if you didn’t like him? Would either be correct? Should questions be asked or is the information all that you need to “know” the facts? I say that assumptions lead to misunderstanding and do a disservice to everyone. Yet, that is what is being asked here. To let us judge you because of who you are and not by what you say or the questions you ask is what is wrong with society. We need to listen to, question, and respect each other for who we really are.
As I drive around Carpentersville’s East side, I see it’s slowly but surely being cleaned up. Most homes backing to Rt 25 are noticeably more pleasant to look at. But, there is still more work to be done. For that reason, the Carpentersville Improvement Committee was proposed; to help the four code enforcement officers with their jobs.
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Village Board, a vote will be taken on the appointments of Mr. Adam Ruiz, Ms. Patricia Schultz, Ms. Karen Sutter, Trustee Linda Ramirez Sliwinski, and Trustee Kay Teeter to the Committee.
Members appointed to the Committee will first need to work on how the committee will best serve the Village. I believe the Committee should task itself primarily with education and notification of the Village Codes. One thing that the Committee does need to be mindful of is that they help alleviate some of the code enforcement officers’ work, as opposed to creating more. Residents have typically complained that numerous violations go unchecked, therefore the Committee would do well to establish neighborhood groups which could be called upon to distribute pertinent information to neighborhood residents, and even doing the work of translating such documents for those residents who may need it.
Though education is one part of the equation, neighborhood pride is also something that must be sought after. We have seen the ability of residents to come together to protest. Now is the time to come together to brighten the Village.
On a lesser, side note, Sunday’s Courier-News contained an article about the planned committee appointments, “Sarto’s foe not among new faces on committee”. It’s unfortunate that information on the upcoming Committee appointments had to be brought to this level because it does not seem that quotations from Sarto set one side against another.
Trustee Ramirez-Sliwinski certainly does seem to be an appropriate choice, particularly in light of the fact that she has regularly touted education over penalization as a primary governmental tool and would certainly benefit the Committee, the community and the Village’s image well in that respect. Given this, and the earlier expressed desire to appoint 2 Trustees and 3 residents to the Committee, it would then fall to whether the Board would recommend Trustee Sigwalt over Trustee Teeter. If so, why?
That will remain to be seen.
At this week’s meeting of the Audit & Finance Commission, while discussing the credits to residents retroactively charged for water usage at the rate increased on September 18th, it was suggested that the environmental impact fee for garbage collection be taken off the quarterly water billing and possibly be added as a percentage of one’s property taxes.
What’s your view of this suggestion?
(What’s your view? is an opportunity for guests of Carpentersville Action Network to comment on an issue before I write my own view on the topic.)
Residents, mostly on the Village’s west side, who received bills reflecting a retroactive water rate increase should see a credit on their next billing.
The village audit and finance committee voted unanimously Thursday to recommend the government offer about $43,000 in credits to homeowners and businesses affected by the retroactive increase.
Because the Village bills in 3 cycles, with a third of residents in each cycle, some residents may not have received their bills yet, and the commission is recommending that the Board make the rates effective Jan 1st billing, in order to give residents adequate notice of the increase approved September 19th.
It will be up to the Village Board to approve the credits at the next meeting of the Board on Oct 16th.
However, a $3 fee for garbage collection will remain on the bills, although it was supposed to be removed.
“The reasons for the fee still exist,” Village Manger Craig Anderson said. “Fuel costs are at the same level, and the collection companies still have to pay for environmental permits.”
Trustee Paul Humpfer, who is also the chairman of the Audit and Finance Commission, said they will look at removing the fee in the future and replacing it with an increase in resident’s property taxes.
Although ceremonially celebrated this past Monday — the 2nd Monday of October — October 12th commemorates the 515th anniversary of Columbus’ “discovery” of America.
So, those of you who balked at Hispanic Heritage Month, and asked about why we don’t celebrate other nationalities …
Happy Italian-Immigrant Day!
Sometimes one reads an editorial letter and says “Huh? What is he/she talking about?”
Dan Pluth’s letter to the editor appearing in today’s Daily Herald is one of those times.
Upon a closer reading of the letter, one finds that mention of President Sarto’s comments and vote related to an amendment to the “Vehicles and Traffic” ordinance appears to be simply a ruse used to once again regurgitate illegal immigration rhetoric, and pretend that Sarto is the cause. Sarto ended up voting for the amendment, which adds a Village administration fee of $250 plus applicable storage fees for the retrieval of an impounded vehicle.
A response to an email that I sent Sarto asking him about his vote, in light of the comments he’d made earlier, states:
I voted for it because when the actual amendment was presented it changed very little of what we were doing already, so it seemed appropriate to vote for it. In the end, because things that I believed would be a problem were not in the amendment, I felt it was acceptable.
If Mr. Pluth wants to know “how President Sarto remains in office”, he should be sure to check out yesterday’s letter to the editor, which provides several examples of major issues on which Sarto demonstrated leadership. That letter concludes:
It’s my observation that Sarto knows what he is talking about and it’s high time for the newspapers and the public to listen to him. Sarto has been leading. Others have not been following.
Now, its not exactly true that “others have not been following”. It is just that they have taken their sweet time in doing so. Presently, the Board is unanimous in the position that Sarto has espoused from the start: wait and see how the Hazleton case turns out. It just took them until after the election for some to come to that conclusion.
Still, Pluth asks of Sarto:
[W]hy he is so supportive of illegal immigrants who have shown such disregard for the laws of this country.
I believe Sarto has answered this question on more than one occasion: He isn’t. When a July 2000 letter written by Sarto was republished in the Daily Herald, Sarto readily acknowledged it and that he still felt the same today in pointing out that it is an issue the federal government must deal with appropriately. That letter called on the federal government to do something about illegal immigration. Sarto has also voted for a resolution sent to the federal government, seeking federal action to establish better border security and immigration reforms. And, he supported the request for ICE’s 287(g) program, in which local law enforcement is trained by, and partners with, federal immigration enforcement officers.
These seem to be prudent actions taken to support a uniform establishment and enforcement of immigration laws, rather than a piece-meal approach. In doing it this way, it ensures that the rights of American citizens and legal residents are not abridged in pursuit of those allowed into this country illegally.
One shouldn’t fault Pluth, though. Several people aren’t paying attention. Unless they begin to, they will likely be making the same mistakes as a result.
DailyHerald.com did a profile story of Kane County Board member, Hollie Kissane, of Carpentersville. In addition to her work on the County Board, Kissane is a member of the Village’s Parks Committee, who worked diligently to help make Autumn Fest the success that it was in celebration of the Village’s 120th anniversary.
A special thanks to Hollie for all her hard work and dedication to the Village and County residents.
Found this story from yesterday’s L.A. Times to be interesting. Apparently, the tightening of the southern border is having such an effect on nationwide farming that the Bush administration is now working “quickly and quietly” to modify current regulations for visas for immigrant farmworkers.
“It is important for the farm sector to have access to labor to stay competitive,” said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel. “As the southern border has tightened, some producers have a more difficult time finding a workforce, and that is a factor of what is going on today.”
The farm work force is down about 20%.
Almost three-quarters of farmworkers are thought to be illegal immigrants.
In turn, farmers and agriculture officials are warning of price hikes as crops lie rotting in some fields.
The California Farm Bureau says farmers are “squeaking by” in California this year, but say immigration crackdowns have created a chronic worker shortage that could be devastating in future years, causing produce prices to rise.
With the US economy in a very fragile state, it will be necessary to exercise some level of caution in the actions taken in these matters. Solutions are not as simple as saying “pay a higher wage” and workers will come to those jobs. The economic balances and effects of inequity need to be considered carefully. It is higher costs that end up being passed to consumers who then either pay those higher prices, choose alternatives or go without. In some cases, workers in other sectors may require higher paying jobs to keep up with the rising cost of living. In turn some of these companies will go out of business, raising unemployment rates and creating additional obstacles to economic recovery as well as greater need for federal assistance on the backs of a lesser number of taxpayers.
While this may be an oversimplification for the sake of keeping the information accessible, the principles behind it are quite sound. I still think tightening the borders is necessary, but additional actions are also required in order to maintain the necessary balances to our economy.
How do we propose to balance all of these issues that must be addressed simultaneously?
Over the past several days, I’ve been trying to find out more about what really went on “behind-the-scenes” of Autumn Fest.
But, despite having received a good deal of information, I began to wonder something … if more time was taken to get to the bottom of this, what should the consequences be?
I mean, how serious is this, really, in the context of everything going on in the Village?
So what that the Trustees didn’t get official invites in their packets?! Perhaps in the future there should be no expectation to either send or receive written invites to such events. After all, the Board was made aware of the event, given specific details about the event, and it was a Village coordinated event. Hopefully eliminating written invites in the future, we can make sure that no one’s feelings get hurt if there is misunderstandings or miscues that occur.
And, is it really a big deal that Trustees Sigwalt and Teeter participated in the parade, but didn’t pay the $10 participant fee?
Community pride and desire to be involved should have compelled everyone on the Board to participate appropriately. That some didn’t speaks more about their true feelings, but do any of these things require disciplinary action? Nope.
So what the heck is the Board doing wasting more time at meetings arguing about it?
The same goes for this talk of disciplinary action over private conversations. One should wonder what Trustee Sigwalt’s plan is to monitor all conversations — emails, phone calls, letters, or even conversations around the dinner table — of the Village President and the Trustees; or any of the Village staff for that matter? But, the idea is so preposterous that it shouldn’t be raised again.
Now, let’s start dealing with the real business of the Village!
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