Same group, different name

Fox Valley Citizens for Legal Immigration seems to have gotten a makeover.  Good news for immigrants?

Find out more Monday on Carpentersville Action Network.

Candidates discuss issues on radio show

This morning on WRMN1410’s radio show, Politics & Issues, candidates for President of the Village of Carpentersville talked about issues, their reasons for running, and their plans to lead the Village.

The approximately 30-minute segment did not contain any glaring revelations about any of the candidates, as they stuck mainly to the issues they’ve already discussed and put forth on their campaign sites and literature.

After opening statements from each of the candidates, host Tom Sandor, first tossed up a question about why each candidate was running and why voters should vote for them.

Ed Ritter reiterated his campaign platform to bring a new leadership style.Jim Krenz did the same, promoting his position as a Carpentersville business owner. Bill Sarto presented the numerous items that have been accomplished during the last 4 years — also a recurring theme in Sarto’s answers.

Next, Sandor asked how each candidate interpreted the role of Village President.

All 3 candidates were in basic agreement in their answers, although Ritter added that the President was a “cheerleader”.

Things heated up briefly – but remained civil – when Sandor asked about the controversies that have occurred in the last 4 years. Sarto discussed several of the actions by Board members to undermine the ability to conduct Village business (which have been documented on this site). Ritter tried to distance himself from those actions, and Krenz seemed the odd man out in the exchange.

When the issue of meetings between some Trustees and a small group of residents was brought up, Ritter stated that he did not know if the involvement of 4 members of the Audit & Finance Commission in discussing policy was an Open Meetings Act violation. [ed. Trustee Ritter should read the Act (5 ILCS 120), which I will post relevant portions of in the comments.]

For the remainder of the time, the candidates talked about what they perceived to be the issues most important to Carpentersville residents.

Krenz said streets, vacant homes, and the collective services of police, fire and public works. Sarto said vacant homes and rebuilding streets and infrastructure, and crime. Ritter said streets, crime and business (including filling the industrial park on Rt 31), though housing is also an issue.

In their closing statement, Ritter again highlighted leadership style, that he’s worked with teams and that he thought Carpentersville could again be the best in Kane County, as they were in the days of Meadowdale Mall and the “international raceway”.

Krenz highlighted his experience, passion and planning that he says will make Carpentersville a place to be proud of.

Sarto closed by emphasizing the results produced in the last 4 years vs the talk. Carpentersville is in a better position than most surrounding towns, not having to raise taxes or lay off staff during the tough economic period. He said he has shown the ability to get things done, “things that had not been addressed in decades”, and intends to continue to build on that.

I was driving when I was listening to this, so I could not take extensive notes and have written this as soon after the program aired as I could.

There were some specific moments that I recall from the segment:

Ritter stated that there were Board planning sessions that occurred in the first year of his term, “but that stopped when the Illegal Immigration issue was brought up”. That is quite an admission of how the Illegal Immigration at the hands of Sigwalt and Humpfer, was responsible for interfering with the ability of the Board to effectively do its job.

Sarto’s statements on the Village’s finances was appropriate considering its improved state. He credited staff for their significant role in holding the line on spending, and noted the significant amount of outside money — particularly 25% of the total allocation from the Community Development Block Grant ($400,000 of $1.6million) — that he has helped bring into the Village.

As much as Trustee Ritter tried to say he was not part of the camp that led the controversies on the Board, he also did nothing to see that it was ended. Even in the segment, he defended Trustee Humpfer’s position on the Board — first getting the position in what smells very much like “pay to play” (since Humpfer received an appointment to the Trustee position shortly after working on Village finances without a contract, directive or payment), getting reappointed to a position after losing to Sarto in the 2005 election (which would have put Humpfer off the Board), and then being retained by a majority vote that included Ritter, after conviction of four counts of domestic battery. Ritter also did not question (and appeared to defend in the segment) the improper use of Village meeting rooms by Humpfer (and Sigwalt), which the Village Manager put an end to after discovering that they lied about the pupose of the meetings at a west side fire station. The actual purpose of the meetings was not a permitted use.

These are the kinds of acts which Sarto has rightly shown intolerance. Ritter and Krenz have said that they would return “respect”; but, as commenter “At a Glance” posted yesterday: “Someone needs to stand up and fight for us and if you say Krenz would be less confrontational, then he is not the person for the job!!!!”  That would go equally for Ritter.

Attend hearing on tollway plan

The following is a Guest Post from Billita Jacobsen.

Speak up now or forever hold your complaining about the proposed four lane toll way through Carpentersville. Artfully named the “Longmeadow Parkway Corridor” this monstrosity will create more traffic in our village, decrease property values, and steal more businesses while destroying the most scenic view along the Fox River. The plan has always been intended to create a corridor to Algonquin’s Randall Road shopping centers and, at the same time, solve Algonquin’s traffic problems.

If officials in Carpentersville, West Dundee, and East Dundee would have a forward-looking brain among them, they would see that this project will only hurt our area. We’ve already lost a lot of business to Algonquin’s Randall Road 1,000 acres shopping corridor. This toll way will be the final nail in the coffin.

So, taxpayers, you are funding a public hearing March 26th at the Randall Oaks Golf Club (4101 Binnie Road, off Randall) from 4-8 p.m. If you are against a toll way plowing through Carpentersville, please attend and speak out about it. The Kane County Dept. of Transportation is providing a court reporter to take down comments about the “proposed” project. Of course, this is what’s known as a “done deal.” The problem is, residents of Carpentersville are the ones being done in.

The toll way will carry four lanes of traffic from Route 62, cross Route 25, go along Bolz Road, cross the river and continue to Huntley Road. Has anyone taken a look at Bolz Road and noticed how close this toll way will be to homes? Is anyone aware of where they will be able to get on and off this toll way? What will happen if the tolls collected don’t pay for the building of this Carpentersville bypass? Are any efforts being made to minimize the noise residents will suffer from as cars and trucks whiz by their homes? Is anyone concerned that property values will plummet (even more than they already have)?

Maps will be on display March 26th, as well as propaganda about the “purpose and need” for this toll system. Educate yourself and start telling officials you don’t want a toll way through Carpentersville. A simple, local, two-lane bridge (from Route 25 to Route 31) will suffice. This is an especially good time to speak out, with local elections coming up. I know Bill Sarto supports the toll way. He believes it will bring business to Carpentersville but in reality, it will do the opposite.  [ed. This was stricken as Bill Sarto provided a comment that clarified that he opposes this tollway and supports a local bridge option.]  I don’t know where the other candidates stand on the issue. I would love to hear one of them oppose this ridiculous plan–so I’d know who to vote for.

Billita Jacobsen
Foxpathorg@aol.com