LWV’s Elgin Township, ECC, U-46, and Gail Borden Public Library trustee forum
I was part of this forum, which means as hard as I tried to pay attention to other candidates, my mind was swirling with library-related issues. I will recount who was there and some of what I remember, but the primary purpose for this post is to give all of you a space to discuss these other races.
Elgin Township
Below are names of all of the candidates, with those who attended the forum in bold and with an asterisk.
Republican:
Annette Miller-Supervisor
Richard Burnidge-Road Commissioner
Steven Surnikci-Assessor
*Kurt Kojzarek-Clerk
*Robert Johnson-Trustee
*J. Patrick Hudgens-Trustee
*Vicki Pelock-Trustee
Steven Thoren-Trustee
Democrat:
Frederick Steffen-Supervisor
Jim Shales-Road Commissioner
Penny Wegman-Assessor
*Ralph Gross-Clerk
*Ana Ortiz-Trustee
*Carol Rauschenberger-Trustee
*Deborah Willis-Trustee
*William Becker-Trustee
Green Party:
*Dan Kairis-Supervisor
Dan Todd
*Julie Schmitt
Bradley Kairis
The Courier News covered this portion of the forum, but did not endorse candidates. The issue of the day was money. The Democrats and Greens all seemed to say the same things–Why are the top four Township employees making over $100,000/year when you include the cost of benefits? Shouldn’t more money go back to social services? How come there aren’t newsletters or web updates that inform the public that the Township is supposed to be providing social services?
The Republican incumbents came back by saying they are transparent–all meetings are open to the public and the building location has been the same for years. They do have a website and admit it isn’t as good as it could be, but they are currently working on rolling out a new one. They have not had a single person complain about salaries until now.
The Dems accused the Repubs of not being out in the community and attending events. The Repubs accused the Dems of not being interested in the Elgin Township until election time rolled around and asked why they hadn’t spoken up or attended meetings previously.
U-46
Once again, here are the names of all candidates with those who showed up to the forum in bold and with an asterisk.
*Gary Percy
*Kevin Echevarria
*Dale Spencer
Ed Stade III
*Joyce Fountain
*Donna Smith
The Courier News covered this portion of the forum and endorsed Echevarria, Percy, and Spencer. They did so because incumbents Fountain and Smith had voted for Superintendent Connie Neale’s salary and benefits package. Spencer is an incumbent who voted “no” on the package for Connie Neale. Echevarria is notable for being 21-years-old and having gone through U-46 for his entire education.
ECC
All ECC candidates were in attendance or sent a representative (in the case of Donna Schuring Redmer).
Donna Schuring Redmer
Richard Green
Bob Getz
Robin Lisboa
The Courier News covered this portion of the forum, but did not endorse candidates. They did not that Bob Getz is the lone candidate that supports cutting ECC perks and administrative costs. Robin Lisboa mentioned that she is pursuing her doctorate in Community College studies.
Gail Borden Public Library
All candidates were in attendance.
Herb Gross
Randy Hopp
Sue Moylan
Jessica Thompson
Surprisingly, the Courier News chose not to cover this portion of the forum as of yet. In mass emails Herb Gross has since pointed out the irony in failing to cover the library trustee candidates at a forum actually held in the library.
Gross is the only incumbent. Because I was answering the questions along with the other candidates during this part of the forum, I did not take notes on what GBPL trustee candidates said. Please share in the comments if you were in attendance!
Possibly related posts:
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Good luck on the election Jessica.
Thanks!
Please visit http://www.zillow.com/ and type in the address of your property in the box at the top and click go to see the market vaslue of your own property. Look at the last year tax bill and compare the assessed valuation with Zillow’s market value. Zillow has over 80 million properties with comapable sales in all areas of the USA. Now, ask yourself: “Am I being assessed fairly? Do I pay more real estate taxes than I should be paying?” Based on Zillow you will find that your home is over assessed and you are paying more taxes than you should be based on that valuation. The local Assessor’s office is to blame. A change is needed and PENNY WEGMAN will be your property in line with current market valuse and you should see a much lower tax bill. Vote for PENNY WEGMAN for a fair assessment.
Why would I want someone who I understand works or worked at Blockbuster assessing my home? Is the above the Dave Reinert that was the Supervisor of Elgin Township until he had to leave because of allegations of money missing on his watch as Township Supervisor. If so you have an ax to grind. I am not sure the result of the allegations but I think I remember. If anyone is reading and can tell us the true outcome it would be beneficial for all of us to know.
Also, I am going to vote for the entire experienced Republican Township team.
Regarding the U46 School Board:
We can vote for three U46 school board members. The fact that school board incumbent Spencer voted against Connie Neal’s contract will get my vote.
I am quite sure thanks in part to Fountain and Smith voting for her contract Neale is enjoying her lifetime family medical benefits in retirement and laughing all the way to the bank. I THINK THE VOTERS WOULD BE BRAIN DEAD TO VOTE FOR FOUNTAIN OR SMITH BECAUSE OF THE LAVISH CONTRACT THEY GAVE NEALE. IT WAS A CONTRACT THAT MOTIVATED HER TO RETIRE - NOT CONTINUE WORKING FOR U46.
Of the others I like PERCY AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH KEVIN ECHEVARRIA. HAVING GONE THROUGH ALL U46 SCHOOLS AND HAVING YOUTH ON HIS SIDE I THINK HE COULD BRING A WISER YOUTHFUL PERSPECTIVE TO THE BOARD.
With the current board being up there in years you would think that they would have the wisdom that should come with age. All you have to do is look at Connie Neale’s contract details if that were fully allowed and you can see that of the incumbents running SPENCER IS THE ONLY ONE WHO GETS MY VOTE BECAUSE HE DID NOT VOTE FOR NEALE’S CONTRACT.
CONSIDER SPENCER, ECHEVARRIA, and PERCY to better serve our taxpayer’s and students of U46.
Also regarding the ECC Referendum : One of the best values for your education dollar is Elgin Community College. Illinois State University is about 22,000 with room and board. I believe you can do two years at ECC for somewhere around 4,000 or less.
At a cost of less than 7 cents per day for the bond referendum on a 200,000 home I think it will be money well spent to continue to improve the best value in our college education dollar.
Their library is sadly lacking, increasing programs for the health and fire safety programs, as well as working on infrastructure, this will be money that will benefit Elgin because of the programs it will give needed improvements to as well as the local jobs and dollars that will be returned to the local community.
PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THEIR BOND REFERENDUM THIS TUESDAY - APRIL 7.
Common Sense Clarence Hayward - The Taxpayer’s Watchdog
Are you looking for the rest of us to give you a gold button because of who you are voting for. We don’t really care. If the team that you are voting for is so great, how come the only GOP candidate to get a new paper endorsement is Annette Miller? A few years ago the whole ticket would get an endorsement. Of course that was when those candidates deserve such an action.
“Why would I want someone who I understand works or worked at Blockbuster assessing my home?”
Maybe because YOU wanted people to vote for YOU, a guy who works at a credit card call center and (supposedly) had no idea how much the job paid until AFTER he decided to run for mayor two years ago.
That’s why.
LOL.
This is too easy.
Mr. Boxcar who hides in the darkness of his anonymous name just like many animals hide and only comes out at night why don’t you run for office? Oh but then you would have to reveal your real name and you are afraid to do that just like Herguth.
I knew before I briefly ran for mayor how much it paid I just wasn’t being honest with myself that I would have enough hours in the day to do the mayor’s job properly.
You have plenty of time to type your real name but apparently you don’t have enough faith in your convictions just like Herguth to back your posts up with your real name.
That is pitiful.
“I just wasn’t being honest with myself that I would have enough hours in the day to do the mayor’s job properly.”
Right.
LOL.
I know doing my google-searches I like the ideas of Jessica and Herb for Library…. With no coverage out there, who’s to pick fairly for the 3rd?
Nadine, I understand your predicament completely. All the candidates would be good on the board however because Randy Hopp has not missed a regular meeting of the library board since 2004 and attended many of the special board meetings as well without holding a library trustee position I have to support him and give him a chance to officially do what he clearly has a passion for.
Our library is a precious jewel in Elgin and because of that Incumbent Herb Gross first and foremost will get my vote.
Jessica Thompson is equally or even possibly more qualified from an experience standpoint to get elected as she has an MBA in Urban Planning I believe and in her studies she has worked on projects with the Chicago library. With her relative youth to the older candidates she also brings a more up to date perspective on our increasing electronic media and communications.
So for a well rounded library ballot my family and I will vote HERB GROSS, RANDY HOPP, AND JESSICA THOMPSON.
I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT RICH DUNNE FOR THE FOUR YEAR ELGIN CITY COUNCIL POSITION because of his positions regarding Proper Development, (the current council has made big money losing mistakes with development), Fiscal Responsibility, the current council is using our tax payer dollars wastefully, and Unification of the City, currently not all areas of the city are treated the same.
There are a number of service groups that I deeply appreciate for what those groups have done for all of us in the past. That is our veterans, firefighters and paramedics, and policeman. Rich is a veteran of the Air Force, and a Lieutenant in the Elgin fire department so he belongs to two of the groups that have given much for all. I thank Rich and all in those groups for keeping us safe.
As a resident, raising his family in Elgin the last 21 years he has a vested interest in making our neighborhoods safe, opening up citizen communication, and taking pride in Elgin.
MY FAMILY AND I WILL VOTE FOR RICH DUNNE FOR THE FOUR YEAR ELGIN CITY COUNCIL POSITION. Rich will help build a stronger, safer community through reliable change.
Common Sense Clarence Hayward - The Taxpayer’s Watchdog
We can only elect one person for the two year Elgin City Council position. I am going to vote for a life long resident of Elgin, who has a veteran’s track record of positive service to the people, is a graduate of my own St. Edward High School, has a Political Science degree from Depaul University, a J.D. Law degree from Northern Illinois University, and along with all these accomplishments she is in the prime of her life at age 27 - EMI MORALES.
It is extemely important to have a variety of backgrounds on the city council and it is sadly lacking a more youthful perspective and all the positive energy and perspective that a late 20’s life long Elgin resident can bring to our city council.
In education and service she is already both a seasoned and experienced positive presence fpr our city equal to any of the incumbents or challengers and when you couple that with her younger age relative to the present council you have a triple winner to help move Elgin onward and upward to being the best city in Illinois.
In the primary she finished second in the voting and in my next posts I will explain why the top vote getter in the primary will not get my vote.
PLEASE VOTE FOR EMI MORALES
It is looking more like Warren if elected to the two year race might be another vote for the mayor’s agenda in my opinion. With that being said and the fact that Warren is also an Elgin Symphony trustee I HAVE TO SAY I WILL NOT SUPPORT WARREN FOR THE TWO YEAR CITY COUNCIL POSITION.
The mayor campaigned saying the Centre would support their operating budget with memberships and we have been funding that deficit ever since. I am afraid the mayor before he leaves office will want to build a new symphony center.
The symphony is really nice but they are dependent on the donations of many because they are not a stand alone money making machine so to speak. I don’t want the mayor to have the votes to build unless he has the funds that will not take away from our ever growing list of basic services that the city is required to provide to the taxpayers.
Besides, if you really have a desire to listen to the musical West Side Story you don’t have to attend the symphony. All you have to do is hang out on a street corner a few blocks from the police department and some days you can hear the gunshots for free.
I just can’t take the chance that the mayor will have all the votes he needs.
TO ALL THE CHALLENGERS FOR THE ELGIN COUNCIL POSITION AND THEIR SUPPORTERS I suggest that if your supporters don’t have any particular interest in voting for anyone other than their challenger friend then coach them that they don’t have to vote for three - four year council positions. They can super size their vote so to speak by just voting for their favorite challenger or a combination of challengers only.
One of the reasons the incumbents have a total of 65 years on the council is because they have the name recognition advantage and the more challengers there are the more this advantage plays into their hand.
A new challenger will bring out people who really are only going to vote for their friend and so they vote for that friend and since they don’t have a strong reason to vote for anyone else then because of the name recognition of the incumbents to fill out their voting they pick two incumbents and consequently you multiply that voting by all the other challengers voters and the incumbents end up getting the most votes.
It is ok to only vote for one four year council position and by not voting for any incumbents it will super size YOUR voting power.
As we go to the polls in April for Elgin City Council it is easy for me to state who I am already positive I will not support. I WILL NOT SUPPORT ROGERS, FIGUEROA, or WALTERS They were all on the wrong side of the Elgin council issue to one degree or another regarding whether the city should hire the law firm that is now currently hired by the parents group to sue our own U46 school district.
Rogers, Figueroa, and Walters should have exerted proper tax payer steward leadership and not even brought up the thought of hiring a law firm to sue the district. Although because Walters changed his mind which was going to result in a tie vote so the proposal was tabled, he as well as Rogers, Figuroa, and our own Elgin mayor were initially considering suing the district.
So the parents group goes on to hire that law firm, the district has spent about 6.7 million dollars defending the suit with no end to costs or resolution in sight, and any informed property buyer knows that this suit is costing the taxpayers big time.
If they would have done their taxpayer steward homework they would have realized that the same law firm resulted in a Rockford district having a lawsuit bill of over 250 million dollars. What leader in their right mind knowing that would want to even say the word lawsuit if they are elected to be excellent stewards of our tax payer dollars?
This is real money we are talking about and they need to be held accountable for such reckless talk by being voted out of office. That will send a message to the other council members to think twice before talking about suing another taxing body.
PLEASE DO NOT VOTE FOR ROGERS, FIGUEROA, OR WALTERS.
The library board race is an easy one for me. Our Elgin library is a precious jewel in a downtown treasure chest that is increasingly bare so to speak. It is one of the most popular destinations for citizens. Business is booming there because they have the product that practically all in Elgin want and seek. It is second to none in America.
That being said when choosing your three to vote for, first and foremost HERB GROSS WHO IS AN INCUMBENT NEEDS TO BE REELECTED. Herb is one of the most approachable Trustees you will ever meet and twice a week he greets at the library so say hello.
Secondly RANDY HOPP WILL GET MY VOTE in part based on the fact that since 2004 he has attended every regular and most of the special library trustee meetings. Clearly he has a passion for our library.
Thirdly JESSICA THOMPSON, with an MBA in I believe Urban Planning with experience working on issues with the Chicago library as well as having youth on her side IS MY SENSIBLE THIRD VOTE. Our world is changing at lightning speed and having a younger person with both education and experience with other libraries are qualities we can’t afford to pass up.
PLEASE VOTE GROSS, HOPP, AND THOMPSON.
“To any anonymous posters out there who are critical of my cut and paste I have this to say. Our freedom of speech is one of the most precious liberties we have in America.
Don’t tell me what I should or should not post if you are unable because of possible employer retailiation or unwilling to reveal your real name. ”
The fact that my posts are all election related makes them on point in any article about the election coming up.
Besides, it is so easy to scroll past my words if you don’t want to read them. There are others perhaps who have not read the other articles so an informed voter is a better voter.
May God bless America and a special blessing for Elgin.
I am not afraid to leave my name at my posts. It would be nice to know who the true name is of anyone critical of my views and reveal it in your posts otherwise why bother to be critical of me anonymously?
Common Sense Clarence Hayward - The Taxpayer’s Watchdog
I love our country and I love Elgin. Everyone please get out and vote.
Herguth and Boxcar if you are so proud of your opinion please back it up with your real legal full name. Without it your words count for nothing in many people’s minds.
Based on the abuse or non-regard of rules here, I guess I could post that I have a car for sale here, huh?. LOL. I bet it would be welcomed here along with the other non-pertinent posts like comments about races that have nothing to do with the subject matter. Other blogs would have had you booted for copy and past abuse long ago.
If names of posters were so important Clarence, they would be required here before being allowed to blog. Your name here is important to you. I can tell.
However, I see OTHER peoples’ names AREN’T so important to you. You have been misspelling one candidate’s name for MONTHS in your copy and paste hobby of inappropriate behavior here and in the Daily Herald. LOL.
Ahhhh, the pleasures of witnessing non-original thoughts just to see ones name on a computer screen…
Now… What were you were saying?? Something about “credibility?”
LOL.
If your posts were truly helpful you would clue me in on who’s name I am misspelling so I could correct it.
Did you run for Elgin City Council either four or two years ago? I have a hunch as to who you might be who is too afraid to reveal his name.
LOL.
And ruin the revealing sideshow you have been providing here and on the Courier and Herald blogs? Everything is spelled just fine with me…
LOL.
I believe Brenda Rodgers’ last name is spelled with a ‘d’ in it, and you have been putting “Rogers,” without the “d.”
Some posters just don’t give the rest of us any respect.
With your history Mr. Reinert it is hard to respect what you did in the past.
“Sin is a very liberating thing. It’s a shame we have forgotten it. Just think what might not have happened in the world if we had had a little more respect for personal sins, a little more knowledge of our own, a little less condemnation of everyone else’s. We may have been spared the shame of the stocks in Boston, the Magdalene laundries in Ireland, the penal colonies in Georgia, the back-alley births of so many children of single mothers, the front-page pictures of professional people found drunk in public and, in our own day, the Web pages of sleazy private information released to justify the impeachment of a president. But no, as we see in the gospel for the fifth Sunday of Lent, the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), we love making sinners “stand in front of us.” In public. How else can their sins take attention away from our own?” Remember we are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. I admitted I sinned. How about you? This is a Christian Township, people living here know the meaning of the above and will decide for themselves if I should use my name in these post or not, and will consider the source who questions my doing so. But, than I doubt that you’re a Christian?
YOU’RE INVITED
WHEN: TUESDAY APRIL 7, 2009
WHERE: AT YOUR REGULAR POLLING PLACE
TIME: 6:00AM TIL 7:00PM
TO VOTE FOR PENNY WEGMAN FOR TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR
There is no clear choice in the Elgin Township election as evidenced by the Daily Herald and Courier News who would only endorse one Township candidate, Annette Miller. In past election these two local news media would endorse the entire GOP slate. However, that is not the case in the April 7, 2009 Township election. I’m sure that the presses realize that the current GOP incumbents are just another party with over a 100 years controlling Elgin Township Government. There is no transparency or accountability in place. Every unit of federal, state, county and local government needs a system of checks and balances. One party control, which has been in place in Elgin Township, is not in the best interest of the government or the taxpayers. Their big issue is that the keep the Township tax rate low. A combined levy of almost $3 million dollars to run Elgin Township with a low tax rate is because the Township valuation is very high. When the valuation continues to increase year after year there is not a need to raise the tax rate. If they raised the tax rate any higher they would only increase the surplus year in and year out an action government must watch. Thus, it is a weak or meaningless argument which sounds good but means nothing. The addition of Penny Wegman for Assessor, Ralph Gross for Clerk, Bill Backer and Carol Rauschenberger for Township Trustee would even the playing field and would make Elgin Township a much more transparent and accountable local unit of government. It is time to add some quality to Elgin Township government. We need a Township government that will work for all citizens. Just read the GOP spiteful damaging ads in the newspaper. The GOP has a hard time tolerating someone moving in on their complete control of Elgin Township government.
I don’t completely understand how our tax rate works, but Elgin township’s isn’t low for Kane County according to this chart found on the Kane co. treasurer’s site: http://www.co.kane.il.us/Treasurer/ptax.htm
“we sin because we are sinners.”
Got to love that religion. You are not responsible for your criminality because that is the way God made you!
“Sin is a very liberating thing. ”
Committing crime is actually a good thing!!!!
“their sins take attention away from our own”
Your prosecution and conviction of criminality was unjust because the prosecutors were just covering up their owns sins!!!!
Wow! Thank you for that insight into the convicted criminal politician mindset. It actually helps in understanding Ryan and Blagojevich.
Clarence, the allegations resulted in criminal conviction and sentencing. I don’t recall if he did time behind bars - he should have. He was supposed to pay back the millions he embezzled from the Elgin Township. He did not.
Thus his calls here for fiscal reponsibility is laughable.
I wonder if those he is endorsing here know and accept the endorsement? A good reason to vote against them could be his endorsement!
Your post makes little or no sense. A good reason not to vote for the GOP candidates he because of people like you. Matt 7:4 “Why tell you’re brother to remove the splinter from his eye, when you have a board in your own?” Some people don’t know that they don’t know. Anger management would maybe do you some good?
The only race that is about as disregarded as the Library Board is the Township race. I want to thank the League for holding the forums and the Courier for at least summarizing the race. I just want everyone to know that the quote below is pretty accurate in regarding the salary issue.
Green Party candidate for supervisor Dan Kairis said the position could be converted to a part-time job, and if elected he would reduce the salary to $30,000 annually.
“I believe this job could be done as a part-time position,” he said. “I’ll be more than happy to handle the administrative part of it in just 30 or 40 hours — I don’t see a problem with that whatsoever.”
I would also like to state the Daily Herald’s endorsement quote:
“If you live in Elgin Township, you’ll also have the added dilemma of finding one candidate running for township supervisor who contends he wants to eliminate the job. Green Party candidate Daniel Kairis, who has little idea of what the job entails, says it’s a wasteful duplication of services and he vows to cut the salary in half as he works to also cut the position.”
Harry Hitzeman, a reporter for the Herald, who also sat in the meeting reported:
Elected officials should be serving the people. The people should not be serving elected officials,” he said.
If elected, Kairis is willing to organize forums to gauge whether the township’s services could be provided by other agencies and if the people think the township should ultimately be dissolved.
If so, he’s willing to put that up for a public vote in a future referendum.
“The people just totally distrust what is going on,” he said. “I’m the only one who is willing to vote his job out.”
I believe he more accurately reported what I said. It is a shame an editorial writer has to make things up when putting forth their endorsements.
Think Green
Vote Green
Dan Kairis
Green Party Candidate
Supervisor
Julie Schmitt
Green Party Candidate
Trustee
Dan Todd
Green Party Candidate
Trustee
Brad Kairis
Green Party Candidate
Trustee
I agree with candidate Dan Kairis. In the meantime we need to live with what the law requres. The taxpayers of Elgin Township need more transparency and accountiability. One hundred years of the same party calling the shots without input or the watchful eye of the press is a shame. The Township government has such little respect from the general public or the press that no one cares how it functions. Ultimate dissolution is the only agenda worth pursuing. Thirty minute monthly Township Board meetings are a joke. Most local goverments spend more time then that approving and corrcting their minutes.
Abstract
“Township government was developed for a rural society in which transportation was slow and difficult. Illinois is one of only 20 states that have township government. Even in Illinois, 17 rural counties and the city of Chicago do not have operating townships. However, townships in suburban Chicago continue to thrive and spend more than half of the $547 million spent by all townships in the state. The author conducted an in-depth analysis of budgets of townships in Cook County. The study revealed that township administrative costs are high, and many social services offered by the township are also offered by other governments. Comparisons of similar services offered by other governments showed that township costs were substantially higher. Moreover, township employment had no relationship to the population or the programs offered by the township. The author concluded that at least half of the township taxes could be saved by eliminating townships and transferring their few services to other governments.”
That’s very interesting, Mr. Reinert. Could you please post a link to that source?
Thank you.
“Years ago there was a guy in McHenry county that made a crusade out of abolishing township governments. I think his name was Anderson, but I’m, not sure. He didn’t have any luck, as most of these useless suburban township offices are the breeding grounds of the local party in power.” In Elgin Township it is the GOP who is in power. It is time to level the playing field for more transparency by electing;
Penny Wegman-Assessor
Ralph Gross-Clerk
Carol Rauschenberger & Bill Becker- Trustees
To be fair all Candidate running for Elgin Township worked together as a team to pull all of the information that has been brought foward and Transparency and Accountability was across the board to communicate with the everyone.
I’ve just finished reading the most recent copy of “The Explorer,” Gail Borden Library’s PR and info mailing. This issue features pictures of the new library trustees - Sue Moylan, Jessica Thompson, and the now-notorious Randy Hopp. I feel somewhat sorry for those commentators like Common Sense Clarence who stuck their necks out endorsing Mr. Hopp on the basis of his “passion” for the library. Now that we know a bit more about the character of Mr. Hopp’s “passion,” one wonders why voters weren’t aware of his background earlier. I suppose there are a variety of reasons for this ignorance, but it remains one more embarrassment this community didn’t need.
On the subject of the library’s operation, however, one of Mr. Hopp’s campaign issues was the reconstruction of a portion of the building’s second floor. That construction is in full swing at the moment. Can someone explain why that construction was necessary in what is a virtually new (and already expensive - but lovely) building? Given the current economy and the expenses of building and running the new Rakow branch on the West Side, why was this construction undertaken now? I know Library Trustee Miss Thompson has been a contributor to this blog; maybe she can provide some insight.
So what was the story with Mr. Hopp? What exactly did he do to get himself banned from the library?
With regard to the renovation, RM, out of the same concerns you have, I asked the question to one of the librarians some weeks ago, and her response was that the building is five years old now, and it was designed to be reconfigurable. I think she said they needed to create more office space as well as create a larger teen area. I’m not sure though. But I do like the new magazine racks…
Perhaps Jessica will be able to give us a figure on how much the renovations are costing.
I have found that it is more difficult for me to go back and file my magazines that I took alphabetically since they are no longer in two long rows.
Common Sense Clarence Hayward
Good question, RS. What exactly did Mr. Hopp do? And, furthermore, what exactly does the public have a right to know about a public agency banning an elected official from the facility for which the public has elected him responsible?
Mr. Hopp is an Elgin High grad (class of 1969) and a former Big Timber/Hiawatha dancer, so I assume there are several people in the community with some direct knowledge of him. What we knew or didn’t know at the time of the election is significant, but not the key point now. In my earlier comment, I said we know “a bit” more about the man but certainly not his full story. The key point now is how the Library, as a public organization, can take this action without fully disclosing the facts behind it. At this point I understand that the Library hasn’t even disclosed that the offender indeed is Mr. Hopp. If one of the public’s elected representatives is barred from a facility he has been elected to oversee, doesn’t the public have the right to know the full story? Particularly when we seem to be in this mess because of too little information in the first place.
This is all especially ironic in view of the fact that the last generation of librarians has been brought up with a rather absolutist, non-restrictive view of information distribution resulting in an unwillingness to restrict or “censor” books or other information generally offensive to communities.
In any event, perhaps Miss Thompson would be willing to enlighten us on the Library Board’s position on the Hopp Affair, too.
I agree with you, rm, that the public needs to know what is happening here.
Jessica pointed me to the Courier stories which go into much greater depth:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1650212,Former-Gail-Borden-director_el070309.article
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1648698,Gail-Borden-bans-trustee-banned_el070109.article
What’s surprising is that none of this came out during the election.
“Can someone explain why that construction was necessary in what is a virtually new (and already expensive - but lovely) building?”
Yeah. Library Dictator Queen Medal didn’t like the view of Grove and Kimball from her office and decreed that the most beauty view from the library overlooking the Fox river to the north shouldn’t be wasted on Library patron serfs but shall be her own private domain. And thus it is so.
Most certainly this “lovely” building is less lovely (less functional) than before. I don’t appreciate that the periodicals are now out in the high traffic high noise area with significantly less seating area for reading those periodicals. The area confiscated was the quietest area in the library.
Queen Medal herself told me that the Quiet Reading room’s name was changed to the River Room because of recognition that the room wasn’t quiet at all due to library design flaw funneling noise directly into the Quiet Reading room. The obvious question then is why wasn’t the million dollars plus that the library HAD to spend wasn’t used to fix that problem? Queen Medal response to me was maybe sometime in the future!!!!
Your tax dollars in action - down the rabbit hole.
P.S. I was also told that I’m looking for a quiet reading area go the southwest corner of the library!!!! My response was “overlooking Kimball street with the constant traffic noise, sirens and thumping car stereos clearly audible is the new quiet reading area?????”
Wow! Through the looking glass.
That’s a good point about the magazines now being in high-traffic location, which is not ideal. Maybe they can do something about that. Move it back closer to the reading room perhaps.
The library should focus FIRST on what keeps many citizens away-unruly and unmonitored children, many who do not even speak English. Remember when libraries were quiet places? Now it’s one pinata shy of Great America and no parents nearby, if even INSIDE the library.
Maybe they’re just waiting for another carnival across the street.
Why the library does nothing, I don’t know.
Most libraries have a quiet reading room for those who need real quiet places. I prefer it this way rather than having to whisper throughout the library. A library is not just a repository of information but a community crossroads and meeting place.
Not sure what English has to do with anything, but keep in mind that the library staff has Spanish speakers who can speak to unruly kids in their native language if that is required.
RS, from your commentary I feel pretty safe in saying you don’t spend much time at GBPL, do you? You must not have spent much time reading this thread either. GBPL doesn’t have a quiet reading room (for those few who still engage in such a quaint notion of reading!). GBPL had a room they used to call the Quiet reading room but due to an architectural design flaw which caused the room to be not quiet at all they changed the name to the River room. Why didn’t they fix that flaw with the million $ they HAD to spend?
“Having to whisper”? The people on their cell phones sure as hell aren’t whispering. You haven’t been there in while, have you?
“community crossroads and meeting place. ” I have no idea what that means. But whatever, you might be right - all things to all people. Free DVD check out, free computer on-line access, teen center hangout, repository of taxpayers money.
You probably spend more time there than I do, Paul. I go two or three times a month. I have used the River Room. Despite the flaws you mention, I think it is reasonably quiet. And I’m not sure the renaming of the room is meant to signify that the room is not supposed to be a quiet room. GBL site describes it as, “a quiet sanctuary for reading, contemplation and study.”
http://www.gailborden.info/m/content/view/235/580/
R.S., I did not say nor imply that GBPL changed the name of the Quiet reading room because it is “not supposed to be a quiet room”. I am not quoting the library director word for word but Medal told me in single sentence and in this order: design flaw funneling noise into quiet reading thus rendering room not as quiet as expected and changed name from Quiet reading room to River room.
Nor do you have any idea how much time I spend there. But I have been spending more time in the River room of late because my options for “quiet” reading has been greatly reduced as the result a million dollar renovation of the new library that is greatly reducing “quiet” reading area.
But you might still be right. In this new age of clearly dumbed down society we may have less area need for comprehensive reading than we did say in that long ago era when the library was built - 5 years ago! Make that area a teen hang-out center with the obvious built-in expectation teens won’t/don’t need quiet reading. Then too, sometimes spending a million dollars to build in low expectations might result in the realization of the expectation!
I think it is funny that Paul refers to Carole as Queen Medal, because she is so much more pro-resident and has opened up the library so much more than Dan Zach, who ran that place with an iron fist. He made sweeping decisions, including changing designs when the library was under construction, but whatever.
The library is doing the renovation because it needs a/ more public meeting space 2/ a better teen center and 3/ more study rooms. If you use the library on a regular basis, you know the meeting rooms are constantly booked, that the “teen area” got short stick when the library was built (a Dan Zach issue) and that the study rooms are always full. The renovation gets more of all three. And, I don’t think overlooking the wastewater treatment plant is a better view for anyone at the library.
ND, if you want your opinion to be considered with any validity, stop with the absurdities.
“overlooking the wastewater treatment plant”
You mean that plant at least 1/2 mile up river, largely hidden by vegetation (and distance), and if you didn’t already know what it was you’d have absolutely no idea what it is?
And you actually claim the view of traffic on Kimball and Grove is a better view than an unobstructed view of the Fox River looking north with the ONLY traffic being bicycles, pedestrians, ducks, geese, egrets, herons, hawks, numerous other bird species, an occasional boat in the summertime, and an occasional airplane?
As to your other opinion that the library will be more than it was, it this library user’s opinion that the library will be considerably less than it was pre million dollar remodel of new library for those looking for library type functions. How you and GBPL came up with the idea that GBPL should be a center for any and all meetings, should be a teen center hang-out, a free video rental center, a free computer and Internet service for all, at the expense of providing traditional library services. Speaking of which for example - why doesn’t GBPL carry the premier national conservative magazine National Review? Or the conservative Weekly Standard magazine? Of the hundreds of magazines GBPL does carry are any conservative magazines? Is GBPL engaged in neo-liberal fascist censorship!
Paul, did you ever request those magazines? I’d like to read them too, but we wont’ know if they are censoring magazines unless somebody makes a request and gets rejected.
Do you feel that those additional services are really provided at the expense of traditional services? Aside from the magazine rack being moved around, what are your other complaints?
I have to say that I am very satisfied with the services of the library, and haven’t noticed any deterioration in quality of services because they built a teen center or offer DVDs and CDs.
I also think that it’s very important to have a movie and music collection because books are not the only repository of culture or information. There are classic movies that everybody should see and there is classical–and yes, even rock music!–that everyone should at least have the experience of listening to once.
I think it is just as important, for example, for the library to have a copy of Citizen Kane as it is for them to have a copy of Moby Dick. I think it’s just as important to have recordings of Beethoven’s symphonies as it is to have collection of works by Poe or whomever, and of course a million times more important to have Beethoven recordings than to have a collection of Harry Potter books!
Internet likewise is about access to information, which is the core function of the public library–to provide information to those who otherwise cannot access it. My complaint about the Internet at the library is that–if the kiosks are any indication–it is not fast enough! And the computers are also due for an upgrade. So yes, I think they need to invest more here, not less. New computers and more bandwidth please…