Volo Looking to Spur Downtown Redevelopment

From the June 9, 2010 Daily Herald:
By Lee Filas - Daily Herald Staff

Volo officials hope new sewer and water lines on Route 12 could lead to future redevelopment of the village's downtown area.

Mayor Burnell Russell said Volo will borrow $2 million bond to be used to extend water and sewer lines to the corner of Old Volo Village Road and Route 12. The area is now served by well and septic systems.

Construction to bring water and sewer lines to the area would begin after the bond is officially in hand Thursday morning, Russell said.

"For me, it's real exciting," Russell said. "We are slowly putting bits and pieces of our master plan together and watching as these areas develop into commercial and residential properties."

A closed gas station, tavern, a closed bait shop and the old Volo village hall are currently in the area the sewers will serve.

With the addition of sewers, a proposed Thornton's Gas Station could begin construction at that intersection, Russell said. Village board members hope other smaller businesses will open shop there.

Russell said it's unclear how much potential sales tax revenue could be added to the annual operating budget as a result of the sewer installation.

"Redevelopment has been slowed recently due to the economy, but we are starting to see it pick up a little," he said. "With these sewer and water lines being put in place, it could lead to big things on Route 12 down the road."

Volo has been working for the past decade to attract more businesses to town through the use of sewers along Route 12.

Unfortunately, Russell said most developments that were planned for the 7 miles of Route 12 in Volo have either fallen through or been put on hold because of the economy.

Previously, sewers were extended on the east side of Route 12 to most residential developments. This is the first expansion of sewers to the west side of Route 12.

They probably said it was going to be for medical purposes

Volo men arrested in pot sting
By Tony Gordon | Daily Herald

Two men accused of growing marijuana in the basement of their Volo home pleaded not guilty Thursday in Lake County circuit court.

Mark Getzinger, 35, and John Theobald, 37, each face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver.

Assistant State's Attorney Fred Day said a caller to Lake County Crime Stoppers suggested the two were growing marijuana, and police obtained a search warrant for their house in the 300 block of Terrace [sic] Springs Circle.

Around 2:30 p.m. on March 30, agents of the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group raided the house and discovered 11 marijuana plants growing in the basement, Day said.

The basement was outfitted with halogen lights, a watering system and fans for the plants, Day said.

Police also found cultivated marijuana stashed in several places in the house, Day said.

The total weight of all the marijuana in the house was around 5 pounds, Day said, and has an approximate street value of $7,500.

Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak scheduled a trial of the case for June 11 and ordered the pair, who are free on $2,500 bond, to appear in court again June 1.

Volo Raises Sales Tax by 1 Percentage Point

This article from the July 31 Daily Herald (http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=224499) is a great segue to something I posted on my blog last week that I'll share here. It was a delightful Home Depot experience. I've changed a few words to make it more appropriate. The comments below the Daily Herald article are pretty funny, although I don't know why people are really complaining. There are so few businesses in Volo for it to really make a huge difference at this point. And, frankly, I'd rather be paying 7.5% than what people are paying in Cook County!

You know the economy is bad when...

...you argue over 7 cents.

I bought some air filters for my HVAC unit a few weeks ago and it turns out I bought the wrong size. On Wednesday (July 30), I returned them to Home Depot with the intent on exchanging them for the right size. The other size was the same price so I expected an even exchange. Home Depot has a separate returns counter, so I had to get my money back first and then go through the regular register with the new purchase.

I scanned the new filters in using the self checkout and I expected my total to be $7.46. That's how much was returned to me and so I expected to put the same amount back in. To my surprise, the total came up $7.53! How is that possible? I asked the girl manning the self checkouts to explain why there was a price difference when I was making an even exchange. The girl tried to tell me it was because I was buying a larger size that made it cost more. I had to explain to this girl at least twice that the two items were the EXACT SAME PRICE. What difference does the size make if the price is the same? I was trying to be polite about it but it was very clear this girl had no idea what she was talking about, and to make matters worse, she was starting to get [irritated] about it. "Well *I* don't know why it's not the same." I should have just paid the extra 7 cents and left, but I really felt like I was being cheated here, so I asked her to get a hold of a manager.... for 7 [lousy] cents!!! It was all a matter of principle by that point. The girl should have offered to ask someone else rather than be nasty about it, so by that point, I was going to make her work. A manager wasn't available, but a more senior member of the Home Depot team came over and explained to me that the sales tax rate had adjusted the previous Saturday (July 26). Now the [Volo] sales tax increase should have already happened, but apparently Home Depot was just now getting around to it. The lady kindly adjusted my item by 7 cents which is what a GOOD salesperson would do, and because of the sales tax adjustment, I ended up saving a penny in the end!!! Go me...

I was very polite and even said thank you to the rude girl behind the self checkout counter. She said "have a nice day" without even looking at me. Touche.

Volo Compost Plan Draws Heat

By Mick Zawislak | Daily Herald Staff Writer

Published: 7/19/2008 12:06 AM

For years, the Perricone brothers have used composted grass clippings as a nutrient for trees and other plants at their garden center and nursery in Volo.

No one, they say, had an issue with the operation. But the business now is facing heat from residents to the west and has to secure a permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to operate a landscape waste compost facility.

"We've been here 15 years and never had a problem," said Mario Perricone. "We use the compost because it's good for our plant material."

Perricone Brothers Landscaping Inc., is applying for an IEPA permit to operate a landscape waste compost area on 6.2 acres of and adjacent to its garden center on Route 120 and Fisher Road.

The facility would accept landscape material - grass clippings, leaves and brush - for composting. Most of the material has been generated and used on the 45-acre site, according to Perricone, although some also has been accepted from contractors who arrive with debris and leave with trees or other plants.

"Even homeowners who buy trees from us can drop off a bag," Perricone said.

Perricone also will apply for a landscape material transfer permit, which will allow debris to be moved from a central drop off point, for example, to the composting area.

The proposed operation drew about 50 people Thursday from neighboring Lakemoor to a Volo plan commission hearing, on requests to annex a portion of the property. The hearing has been continued to Aug. 21.

Concerns included potential odors from the operation.

"'Might' is the word," said Volo Village President Burnell Russell. "I think there's a little hysteria going on there."

Perricone contends the business is being singled out because of a single complaint.

"We try to do things the right way and recycle and use it on our own fields and own property," he said. Grass clippings can produce an odor when they sit for long periods but since the materials are being constantly used that is not the case, he added.

All compost facilities require a permit, said Mike Kuhn, solid waste specialist with the Lake County Health Department, which regulates the operations on behalf of the IEPA.

"We had a complaint about some of the operations, just people questioning what was going on," he said. "We thought we should look not only at the one we received the complaint on but some of the larger operators," he said.

Notices that permits to either compost on site or accept landscape material for transfer to another location are needed have been sent to eight operators in Lake County, Kuhn said.

"We want to make sure there's no off-site odor problems," or potential impact on groundwater or surface water, he said.

Perricone is being allowed to continue composting and using materials generated on site but no fresh material is being allowed in, Kuhn added.

Consumers Credit Union opening branch in Volo

From the April 29, 2008 Lake County News-Sun

Consumers Credit Union is opening a new branch in Volo, which will be its seventh, at the end of the year, said Sean Rathjen, president of chief executive officer of the 50,300-member credit union.

"It's a growing community there with a lot of houses being built. We have a lot of members living in the western part of Lake County. They wanted our services to be near them," said he.

The 5,000-square-foot full-service facility will be at the intersection of routes 60 and 120.

Rathjen, who was named the head of the credit union four years ago, called 2007 the best year ever with both membership and revenue up for the not-for-profit financial organization.

What made it successful in a year when many financial organizations suffered because of the subprime loan crisis is that Consumers Credit had wisely stayed away from the lending practices associated with subprime loan.

"We're not impacted by it because we refused to get involved in those types of lending," said Rathjen.

Instead, Consumers Credit Union late last year started to offer 7-year balloon mortgage at 5.625 percent with what he called "phenomenal success."

The beauty of the special product is that the mortgage provides 90 percent financing of the value of the property instead of the traditional 80 percent, Rathjen said.

"The rate we offer is below market," he stressed.

Most borrowers pay off their loans in seven years, he said. If not paid off, they would refinance their loans before the end of duration anyway.

Earlier this year, Consumers Credit also offered a line of home equity at 4.99 percent up to $1 million with equal success.

Another "phenomenal success" is the "Rewards Checking" bearing a 5.09 percent interest on a balance of up to $25,000.

"It's the best you can find," said Rathjen.

There are certain conditions attached, though, including that an account holder must sign for receiving electronic instead of paper statements, make 12 debit card transactions and pay one bill electronically.

Meeting the needs of credit card holders tired of paying high interest rates and late fees, Rathjen, ever innovative, launched a Visa balance transfer program. Under the program, Consumers Credit is offering 7.99 percent fixed rate for people transferring their accounts to it.

"Thousands of people have transferred their accounts to us," he said.

Consumers Credit does charge a late fee of $25, but it gives 10-day grace period while many credit card companies start to assess late fees if one is a day late, he said.

Naturally, those who transfer their accounts as others who want to benefit from the offerings of Consumers Credit must become a member. It costs just $10 to join with $5 to open an account and $5 for membership.

For its outstanding services, Consumers Credit has received the Dora Maxell Award for advocating the philosophy of credit union, and also the Louise Herring Award for providing financial education in the Latino community.

"I just love what I do. As non-profit organization, we're not for profit as a non-profit organization, but try to serve people by giving them the best possible financial information and advice," said Rathjen.

New Village Hall Represents Volo's Evolution

From the 4/4/08 Daily Herald:

New village hall represents Volo's evolution
By Lee Filas | Daily Herald Staff

In 1993, the village of Volo conducted business out of a small storefront that was used part time as a rug and drapery storage room.

"We had one employee when we first got it. She was in there working with the rugs around her," Volo Mayor Burnell Russell said. "It's easy to see why this new building is one of the most important steps in the town's history."

Starting Tuesday, the latest phase of evolution of Volo will open to the public. Residents can attend an open house from 9 a.m. to noon May 17.

The new village hall, at the corner of Route 60 and Fish Lake Road, is an expansive, 15,500-square-foot, three-story building.

But for Russell, the significance of the new building goes beyond the new woodwork, carpeting and furniture.

It's the next piece of a puzzle that was started five years ago and should be finished in 2013.

"When we were open land five years ago, we asked all the property owners to pitch in to help create a comprehensive plan," he said. "We are simply following that plan now."

He said the new village hall was one small but significant piece of that larger plan.

Eventually, he said, the village will be 50 percent residential, 40 percent commercial and 10 percent open space.

When completely built out, the village will have about 8,500 residents and 260 businesses. Currently, the village has 1,616 residents and 60 businesses, he said.

"We should be built out residentially in 2013 or 2014," he said. "And, after the first main retail development comes in, the other business should follow quickly."

He said the first main retail development, the Volo Marketplace on Route 12, is expected to break ground in the fall and be completed in 2009.

"Honestly, we've had good people, good planners, good engineers and a good attorney that has helped us get to this point," he said. "This village hall is just the next step in a long line of steps that we are taking."

For now, he's simply admiring the direction the town is moving, and is content that the $2.4 million village hall will be ready on time and under budget. The project was funded by developer impact fees.

"We wanted to get it all done as fast as we can, and it looks like we are moving forward with it," he said. "It's just a fantastic building and we are extremely happy it's almost done."

Volo in the Final 4?

During the NCAA tournament, the Chicago Tribune is running its "Bracketology" column which pits various Chicago items not related to sports. Last week, the vote was on to choose Chicagoland's best town name. Volo, along with Sauk Village, Sandwich, Midlothian, Justice, Golf, Alsip and Minooka were selected.

In the first round, Volo defeated Sauk Village, Sandwich defeated Midlothian, Justice defeated Alsip and Golf defeated Minooka.

In the final 4, Sandwich defeated Volo (boo...) and Justice defeated Golf.

The finals saw Sandwich defeat Justice. I guess people were hungry.

Volo To Fund Intersection Improvements

From the 3/29/08 Daily Herald:

Volo to fund intersection improvements
By Lee Filas | Daily Herald Staff

Volo won't wait for the Illinois Department of Transportation to fix three dangerous intersections and will instead fund the work itself.

Mayor Burnell Russell said Friday work will begin as soon as the weather breaks in April to install traffic signals and turn lanes at Fish Lake Road and Route 60.

The improvements are expected to cost about $1 million for the intersection, which now has only a stop sign. The village will pay the entire cost.

"Route 60 is a state road, but we can't wait for IDOT to find the money to fix it any more," Russell said. "This intersection is dangerous and needs to be upgraded. So, we are doing it ourselves."

He said it's not the number of accidents there, but blind spots make it hard for drivers and pedestrians to see each other when traveling on Fish Lake Road or Route 60 near the intersection.

"And, with the Millenium Bike Path going through that area next year, it has the potential to be a real problem," Russell said.

The village will use loans to immediately fund the roadwork. The loans will be repaid with transportation impact fees paid to the village by developers, and a one percent sales tax increase.

The village board approved the sales tax increase in March, after voters granted Volo home-rule status in the February primary election.

Russell said Volo officials sought home-rule authority so they could use the sales tax to fund intersection and road improvements.

The larger sales tax checks should begin arriving in July.

"It'll be an increase of $350,000 this year because we are only getting about six months from it," he said. "But it should double next year and increase more as more commercial comes to town."

Once that project is complete this summer, Russell said, roadwork will begin on Route 120 and Fish Lake Road. The third project will be at Molidor Road and Route 12. Although that project is slated for late fall, he said it could be pushed until next spring.

"As long as we can do it ourselves, we'll do it," he said. "That's why we asked voters for home rule for the sales tax increase. We wanted these and other intersections fixed."

From the Volo Archives

I subscribed to the Daily Herald newspaper archive, which for only $40 a year, gives you access to many past Daily Herald newspapers (and its predecessors).

Every now and then I'll post something fun from Volo's past. The first is an article from May 16, 1994, around the time that the 120 bypass opened. Pay particular attention to the before and after maps. I had no idea that Gilmer and 12 actually intersected at one time.

New Bypass Helps Breathe Fresh Life Into Small Town

Be aware of coyotes

From the 2/6/08 Daily Herald:

2 motorists injured after coyote causes head-on crash in Volo
By Lee Filas | Daily Herald Staff Contact writer

Two motorists were injured after a wandering coyote caused a head-on collision on Route 12 in Volo at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Sgt. Christopher Thompson of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said a 2007 Scion driven by Christine Blair, 21, of Antioch, was head south on Route 12 about a half-mile south of Route 120 when a coyote wandered out of an open field and into her lane.

He said Blair struck the coyote before spinning out of control, crossing the median and into the northbound lanes of Route 12.

Her car slammed head-on into a 2006 Suzuki Aerio driven by Cynthia Wolf, 56, of Schaumburg.

Witnesses to the accident called emergency personnel and put out a fire that had started in the engine compartment of the Aerio, Thompson said.

He said the northbound lanes of Route 12 were closed for two hours while Wauconda Fire and Rescue and the Fox Lake Fire Protection District handled the accident scene.

He said both drivers were transported to Centegra Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry. Officials at Centegra said Blair remains in serious condition but that there was no information available on Wolf.

The coyote was killed.

"This is just one of those unfortunate accidents that occur," he said. "And even though this one seemed unavoidable, we always remind motorists to be aware of surroundings when it comes to deer and other animals that might cross your path while driving."

Chris McCloud, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said coyotes are becoming more willing to be seen in Lake and McHenry counties. He said people should become more aware of them.

"As areas become more developed over the past five to 10 years, they are becoming more and more comfortable with their changing surroundings and are willing to come out more," he said.

"That's not to say they'll come up to you because they are scared of humans and society, but they are more comfortable with it and will do things like this."

The water tower saga continues....

From the 3/14/07 Daily Herald:

Volo Still Trying To Find Site For Trail

By Lee Filas
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Volo officials hope negotiations with the Lake County Forest Preserve District over a new location for the future Millennium Trail will remain civil.

But district President Bonnie Thomson Carter said she is still upset Volo built a water tower on land earmarked for the trail without informing the forest preserve.

The forest preserve rejected three alternatives late last week to relocate the planned trail off land Volo used near Route 60 and Fish Lake Road.

Carter, who also serves as a Lake County Board member representing Volo and Fox Lake, said the alternatives were rejected because of construction issues or being too close to major highways.

She said the forest preserve came up with its own alternative and sent it to Volo for review.

Carter said the proposals from Volo were not in the best interest of the forest preserve.

“There were significant drainage issues and a 12-foot drop off from backyards to the trail,” she said. “We have asked our staff to come up with the best possible solution and present it to the village.”

Volo Mayor Burnell Russell said he has been meeting with forest preserve officials to try to work out the details. While some of the meetings have been tense, he understands the preserve is upset. He said it was his mistake the village did not contact the forest preserve before building its water tower.

“We are trying to find a new location for them,” he said. “It might take some time, but it will all get worked out in the end.”

If the two sides do not come to an acceptable solution, the forest preserve could turn to litigation. One possibility is Volo could be ordered by a judge to tear down the $1.3 million water tower and two wells, which cost about $300,000 each.

Sixteen feet of the 60-foot easement earmarked for the Millennium Trail was built on. A portion of the water tower, two wells and two concrete pads were built on the trail land. The rest of the $5 million water system Volo built near the easement is on village land.

Russell said the village intends to complete construction on the trail in the fall.

Another water tower story (Chicago Tribune article)

Here's another story about Volo's incorrectly placed water tower.

Water Tower gets in way of forest preserve trail By Susan Kuczka Tribune staff reporter Published February 27, 2007 It's not uncommon for Lake County Forest Preserve District officials to find storage sheds, fences, swing sets and other items on their property, usually placed thereby unsuspecting residents who don't realize they've put their personal property on public land. But a 120-foot water tower is something else entirely, say forest preserve officials, who recently learned that the Village of Volo mistakenly built a $1.3 million water tower on land that was supposed to be developed as part of the district's Millennium Trail. "They're a little upset with us, but I think we'll be able to work something out," Volo Village Administrator Ken Buchardt said. Now that the water tower is up, it's likely to be a bit more difficult to find a solution. It took a complicated agreement between the village and the Forest Preserve District to come up with land for the trail in the first place, officials say. Initial suggestions by Volo officials for an alternate path have been rejected. The first site was too hilly, a second was too close to a busy highway and a third meandered between baseball fields. "The Millennium Trail is a wonderful amenity for the residents of Lake County and future residents," said Forest Preserve District President Bonnie Thomson Carter (R-Ingleside). "They just did what they did without even contacting us. "My hope is that this can be worked out because it's the taxpayers who pay for lawsuits." Volo had given the forest preserve a 600-by-60-foot easement on land it owns after the district allowed the village to use forest preserve property nearby for underground sewage pipes. The village needed the equipment to help provide services to thousands of people expected to move to Volo over the next few years. Volo, which had 180 residents in the 2000 federal census, has grown to approximately 2,300 and is expected to swell to as many as 5,000 by 2011, Buchardt said. The once rural town now looks like a big construction site, with new homes and commercial and industrial buildings being built at once. The village recently built the steel water tower on 14 acres at Illinois Highway 60 and Fish Lake Road. A new Village Hall and water treatment building also are planned for the site. The forest preserved district planned to use its easement on the village property to connect Millennium Trail from the Singing Hills Forest Preserve on Gilmer Road to the Marl Flat Forest Preserve on Fish Lake Road. When completed, the 35-mile trail will run from the Des Plaines River Trail near Libertyville, west through Mundelein to Wauconda, north to Volo and east through Round Lake, Lindenhurst and Grayslake before reconnecting to the Des Plaines River Trail near Wadsworth. Forest preserve officials realized there could be a problem with the path's link in Volo when officials conducting an aerial survey this winter spotted a huge hole in the Singing Hills preserve. By the time the officials returned to the site on foot, the water tower had been sunk into the hole, with its foundation located about 12 feet inside the planned Millennium Trail property. Buchardt said workers moved the tower from the site originally planned for it after soil samples determined that the land wasn't strong enough to support the 1 million-gallon tower, which will weigh 8 million pounds when filled. "We had to keep moving it, and that's how it got out of hand," Buchardt said. "Nobody was really paying attention." Village officials also believed that any trail problems caused by the decision to move the water tower about 150 feet west of its original site could be easily rectified. That hasn't been the case so far. With Fish Lake Road to the east, forest preserve officials say there isn't enough room left around the base of the water tower for trail users to walk safely past the structure. "We need to have the trail far enough away from the water tower so any ice forming and dropping doesn't become a liability for our users," Carter said. Village officials have not been able to come up with an alternate easement on the west side of the tower. Still, officials from both Volo and the forest preserve district said they remain optimistic that a new path can be found. Officials will meet Thursday to discuss options. Village officials say they have few left, but one thing is certain. "That tower's not going to be moved," Buchardt said. ---------- skuczka@tribune.com

Volo woman accused of lying on witness stand faces perjury charges (Daily Herald Article)

Great - they live right across from me...I remember when they moved in.

From the 3/2/07 Daily Herald:

By Tony Gordon
Daily Herald Legal Affairs Writer
Posted Friday, March 02, 2007

Lake County authorities arrested a Volo woman Thursday and accused her of lying on the witness stand during a criminal trial.

Elizabeth Post, 25, is charged with perjury and was released on a signature bond after appearing before Circuit Judge Valerie Boettle Ceckowski.

State’s attorney’s office investigator Lou Archbold said Post testified last fall during the trial of a Spring Grove man accused in a road rage incident.

Archbold said Post stated repeatedly during the trial of Keith Olbie, 46, that she did not know the man Olbie was accused of attacking July 12 in Wauconda.

In fact, Archbold said, Post and the victim, Brian Steeves, 24, had bought a house together about a month before the incident.

State’s Attorney Michael Waller said his office did not consider the fact that Post had testified for the prosecution in Olbie’s trial when investigating her.

“The integrity of the court system requires people to tell the truth under oath, no matter who they are testifying for,” Waller said. “If a perjury case can be proven, we are going to charge whoever is behind it.”

Archbold said Post and Steeves were in separate vehicles when they encountered Olbie about 3 p.m. along Route 12.

Steeves accused Olbie of cutting off Post’s car and aggressively tailgating his while shouting threats.

Olbie told police Steeves had thrown a soft drink can at his car. Both men were standing on the shoulder of the road pushing and shoving each other when police arrived.

Olbie was charged with battery and reckless conduct and was convicted of reckless conduct after a bench trial before Associate Judge Mitchell Hoffman on Oct. 11. Hoffman sentenced Olbie to two weeks in jail and one year of probation.

But Archbold said Olbie’s attorney, Anthony Lombardo of Des Plaines, smelled a rat and had a private investigator check out Post. The investigator discovered the mortgage application Post and Steeves filled out for their home at 223 Terra Firma Lane on June 20, Archbold said.

Lombardo filed a motion for a new trial, which Hoffman granted Jan. 4, and prosecutors responded by dropping all charges against Olbie.

Archbold then started his own investigation of Post and said he was able to verify the private investigator’s information.

“There was really no question about it; the signatures of both people on the application were identical to those we had in the file,” he said. “Based on the fact that she was the only person who testified against Olbie, we had no other choice but to drop the charges.”

Post was arrested at her home Thursday morning, Archbold said, and confessed to the ruse in an interview he conducted.

Ceckowski told Post, who has no prior criminal record, that she faces up to five years in prison if convicted and ordered her to appear in court again April 11.

Her attorney, Douglas Zeit of Waukegan, declined comment.

Towns pick sides in upcoming hospital debate (Daily Herald article)

From the 3/2/07 Daily Herald:

By Lee Filas

Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Friday, March 02, 2007

Location. Location. Location.

Lake County towns are choosing sides in the debate over which proposed hospital should get the green light by the state health board.

Fox Lake, Volo, Round Lake Beach, Wauconda and Round Lake have signed on in support of Oak Brook-based Advocate Health Care’s proposal to build a 144-bed hospital at Route 120 and Wilson Road in Round Lake.

Roughly 11 miles to the northeast, Antioch, Lake Villa Township, Lindenhurst, Waukegan and North Chicago signed similar resolutions supporting a 140-bed hospital proposed by Vista Health on Grand Avenue in Lindenhurst.

The municipalities say they are supporting the hospital proposal closest to their communities.

“Response times would be only eight minutes from the farthest location of Fox Lake,” Mayor Cindy Irwin said. “From a fire and rescue standpoint, this is great for us.”

Irwin and Fire Chief Ron Hoehne endorsed Advocate’s plan for the new facility, claiming there is an “absolute need for it” on their end of the county.

The fate of both projects is in the hands of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, which determines need based on an area’s population and proximity to another facility.

Both hospital groups have filed letters of intent with the state.

Earlier this month, Antioch officials approved a resolution “whole-heartedly” supporting Vista’s proposal.

“It would be a lot closer and more convenient for our residents than the hospital proposed for Route 120 and Wilson Road,” said Village Manager Mike Haley. “It’s better for our village.”

Lake County Board officials are not endorsing either project, but unanimously agreed a hospital is needed in the northwest part of the county.

Vista is owned by Tennessee-based Community Health Systems and operates two Waukegan hospitals.

Its proposal is a financial plum for Lindenhurst because the group would have to pay property taxes.

Advocate Heath Care is a nonprofit hospital. It also owns Good Shepherd Hospital near Lake Barrington and Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

"Cat In The Hat" at Auto Museum

From the 2/28/07 Daily Herald:

The sun might not shine, but it’s never too wet to play at the Volo Auto Museum.

That will be especially true as the museum celebrates the 50th anniversary of “The Cat in the Hat” with free admission for all children 12 and younger on Dr. Seuss’ birthday Friday, as well as Saturday. The cost for children ages 5 to 12 is normally $5.

So don’t sit in the house. Come see the one and only $1.2 million Super Luxurious Omnidirectional Whatchamajigger that was built to carry Mike Myers as he portrayed the cat in the 2003 live-action production of “The Cat in the Hat.”

Also in the newly renovated exhibit is the actual fur suit worn by Myers in the movie — a $50,000 costume. In addition to free admission for kids, a reading incentive will take place between 1 and 3 p.m. both days.

In recognition of the book’s phenomenal significance in inspiring beginning readers, the museum invites selected children 12 and younger to read out loud their favorite three to four pages from “The Cat in the Hat” to receive an exceptionally rare opportunity.

The first 50 children to sign up for a time slot Friday and the first 50 to sign up for a time slot on Saturday will be invited to climb into the $1.2 million car after reading their selection aloud. This extraordinarily valuable Hollywood creation normally is roped off in a “no-touch” zone in the museum.

The chance to pose for pictures within it has been open to no one other than Mike Myers, “The Cat in the Hat” cast and a few television news crew members at the recent Chicago Auto Show.

Call (815) 385-3644 to sign up. The Volo Auto Museum is at 27582 W. Volo Village Road and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Volo's Million Dollar Mistake? (Daily Herald article)

From the 2/13/07 Daily Herald:

by Lee Filas
Daily Herald Staff Writer

Volo officials are searching for a new location for the Millennium Trail after the village mistakenly built a water tower on a Lake County Forest Preserve District easement.

If a suitable alternative can‘t be found, the village could be forced to dismantle the $1.3æmillion tower completed in December at Route 60 and Fish Lake Road. But village officials say they don’t expect that to happen.

Lake County Forest Preserve District Board President Bonnie Thomson Carter called the matter “a serious violation,” and said she was disappointed Volo built the tower without first speaking with the forest district.

“I told them I can’t believe they did this,” Carter said.

Mayor Burnell Russell said the village donated a 60-by-600-foot easement for the county’s Millennium Trail in February 2006. It would link Singing Hills Forest Preserve on Gilmer Road to the Marl Flat Forest Preserve on Fish Lake Road.

The village owns roughly 14 acres at the southwest corner of Route 60 and Fish Lake Road, adjacent to the easement. That parcel is earmarked for a new village hall, as well as a $5.4 million water system project.

Soil testing to determine a location for the tower showed the ground was not stable enough to support the weight of the 1 million-gallon structure, Russell said.

The tower, a water treatment building and two water wells were moved about 150 feet to the west and built, he said.

The forest district later discovered 16 feet of the tower, the wells and three concrete slabs for future improvements were built on the trail easement, he said. The treatment building is not on the easement.

The move was his “oversight,” Russell said, adding he “did not check” with the forest district before construction of the tower began.

“I’ll take the blame for it,” he said. “I should have contacted the forest preserve before we selected the new location. It’s my fault.”

Russell said he has met with forest district officials to try to find an alternate site for the trail.

“We are meeting with them and will get everything worked out,” he said.

There is vacant land nearby, but it is planned for residential development.

Lake County Forest Preserve Executive Director Thomas Hahn said no acceptable solution has been found.

“I’m extremely disappointed this happened,” Hahn said. “If the village came to us ahead of time, we could have potentially worked out another solution that may have involved moving the trail.”

Should the matter go to litigation, a judge could force Volo to tear down the water tower and move the wells, which cost about $300,000 each, village and forest district officials say.

“I truly hope we can work this out without resorting to litigation,” Hahn said. “We prefer not to go to court, but it’s our right to enforce the terms of the easement. At this point in time, the village is showing us trail corridors going around the obstructions. But, we have not seen one that works for us.”