Letter to the editor

July 17, 2012

After months of reading news articles and following posts about Grafton Township on Huntley Neighbors, my husband and I decided to attend a Grafton Township meeting on July 12, 2012.  We wanted to see for ourselves how our tax dollars are put to work.  I can only express our disappointment in our Township Supervisor, Linda Moore.

We certainly learned how many mistakes she makes with our money.  Taking money out of the budget earmarked for senior busing and spending it on newsletters.  Not paying bills on time and incurring more expenses on late fees.  Paying bills but not paying the correct amounts, causing vendors to become upset and not want to do business with our township.  She even argued paying the trustee their stipend for meetings as far back as April of this year.  It didn’t seem to us that see enjoys her job.  She certainly doesn’t seem to take pride in doing her job well.

What really upset my husband and I was the answer or non answer she gave to another citizen that attended the meeting.  She directed a question to Mrs. Moore during open comment and asked, “Why have the trustees’ not been paid?”   Her response, “I do not answer questions of the general public.” 

We believe that Linda Moore is doing this township a disservice.  To be a supervisor you need to have leadership qualities and to be a good leader you need people to follow you.

Chris Boyce

Concerned Grafton Township Citizen

Don't Listen to Linda

Song Lyrics

(Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart)

Don`t listen to Linda
She said all those things before
She`s just a pretender,
And though you couldn`t love her more
She`ll lead you on, and then one day
She`ll say you`ll have to part
Don`t listen to Linda
She`ll only break your heart.

Don`t listen to Linda
If you want some good advice,
Just try to remember,
She did it once, she`ll do it twice
There`s more to her little games,
Than your eyes can see,
Don`t listen to Linda,
Or you`ll end up like me.

You`ll never understand her
All the presents you could hand her,
Could never be enough, oh no,
So, don`t underestimate her,
`cause sooner or later,
The goings gonna start to get rough.

Don`t listen to Linda,
Don`t believe the things you hear.
You`ll end up, contender,
For the "Loser Of The Year".
I`ve said everything I can
To try and make you see
Don`t listen to Linda,
Or you`ll end up like me.

2012 Special Annual Grafton Township Meeting Agenda – Part 2

…….Continued

"As a result, the electors deem to be in the best interest and conductive to both the Road District and Township that:
  
 A. The Road District, within ten (10) days, deliver warranty deed to the property located at 10109 Vine Street, Huntley, Illinois to Grafton Township and legally described in resolution 2010 ATM 1. In lieu of any balance remaining on the sale price provided by the electors at the 2010 annual meeting owed by Grafton Township, the Grafton Township Road District shall pay no rent to Grafton township for the term of the lease between Grafton Township as landlord and Grafton Township Road District as tenant for the garage portion of the premises, other than provided in elector resolution 2010 ATM 1, for a period of twenty (20) years. The electors specifically do not authorize any additional leases of any real property between Grafton Township and Grafton Township Road District except a twenty year lease of the garage portion of 10109 Vine Street to the Grafton Township Road District under the terms provided herein and in resolution 2010 ATM 1. To the extent that any other leases have been executed outside of this authority, Grafton Township Road District and Grafton Township are directed to take all steps necessary to cancel said agreements, including the Intergovernmental Agreement dated February 10, 2011. Pursuant to this authority, the electors require that any debts incurred as a result of, incident to, or for the purpose of effectuating the transfer, at any time by any entity, of 10109 Vine Street be extinguished, defeased, or repaid to the greatest extent permitted by law within ten (10) days."

·         

     * The electors have no authority over this. If this item passes, it will, more than likely, result in another law suit costing taxpayers thousands more. Fees have already exceeded $600k.

"B. A resolution of the electors to direct the Township Supervisor to engage the services of a Realtor, for a fee not to exceed six percent (6%) of the sales price, to auction or otherwise sell the property on Haligus Road under the authority and conditions contained in Resolution No. 2010 ATM 8."

·         

·        * The supervisor cannot act on her own as the township board consists of the Supervisor AND the trustees. The wording of this resolution will need to be changed to include the entire board.

     * Furthermore, the trustees are elected officials. It would be improper to eliminate them from the decision making process of the township.

"Further, the resolution shall censure the Town Board for failing to accept an offer of $100,000 for the township property at 9260 Haligus Road pursuant to the Resolution No. 2010 ATM 8, of the electors at the April 2010 Annual Meeting of the electors filed by the township clerk April 19th, 2010."

·        

          * The Special Meeting Minutes for September 22, 2011 says the board UNANIMOUSLY agreed to counter the offer on the Haligus Road property for $120k, plus expenses. First Electric Newspaper reported that Supervisor Moore and the trustees refused to reveal the price offered, however, it is rumored that the amount was below the $100k threshold.

·        * Since this resolution is requesting that we vote to censure the "Town Board", we would be censuring the ENTIRE town board, which includes Linda. Also, Linda Moore’s name appears on the petition for the 2012 Special Meeting…so in a sense, she is requesting to censure herself.

Public funds are not used for any materials distributed by 

Citizens for a Better Grafton Township.

2012 Special Annual Grafton Township Meeting Agenda – Part 1

 

"Pursuant to 60 ILCS 1/30-10, The objects of the meeting, which are relevant to the powers granted to the electors under the Illinois Township Code, are as follows: The electors, having had their authority ignored and contravened by the Township Trustees and Road Commissioner, make the following direction regarding the property commonly known as 10109 Vine Street, Huntley, Illinois, pursuant to the authority of the electors, 60 ILCS 1-30-50, to make all orders for the sale, purchase or conveyance of Township corporate property (including the direct sale of single township road district property). The electors specifically find that the deed to the property has not been transferred as required by resolution 2010 ATM 1 and that the actions taken in the Intergovernmental Agreement dated February 10, 2011 were not authorized by the electors. The electors find these actions to be willful violations of the direction of the electors. "

·          

      * The deed to the property has not been transferred because the payments have not been completed. The township still owes $300k on that property. It was decided by the electors at the 2011 Special Annual meeting that a lump sum payment would not be made because the audits had not been completed.

A little History:

After 2010’s annual meeting the trustees immediately went to work on coming up with a financially responsible way to pay back the Road District Loan. Please review the meeting minutes beginning May 13th, 2010 – the first board meeting after the annual meeting.

During the June 14th meeting the trustees expressed concern over not knowing the financial standing of the Township and suggested making payments to the Road District until a special audit can be performed. Scroll down to agenda item 5-A. Also notice that the SUPERVISOR, herself, voted against making payments to the Road District.

At the 2011 annual meeting we voted to allow the intergovernmental agreement until ALL the audits were completed. Why is Linda trying to circumvent your directive?  The audits are still not complete and the 2011 audit will be due soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Linda gets caught trying to ignore your directive:

You may also be interested to know that after we voted NOT to pay the lump sum payment, Linda Moore attempted to push this payment through anyway at the general meeting held in April 14th.

Order of events:

03/10/2011 Regular Meeting, item 9C: Board approves to pay $200k as per the intergovernmental agreement (Linda Moore did not make this payment)

 04/12/2011(Special)Annual Meeting: Electors vote to approve the payment plan per the intergovernmental agreement until all the audits are complete.

04/14/2011 Regular Meeting, item 5A: Supervisor Moore attempts to make a $700k payment without regard to how the electors voted just 2 days prior. Trustees catch this and have the line item changed from $700k to $200k. Linda presents the $200k payment to the Road and Bridge. 

I'd also like to point out item 8D: "Discussion and potential action to pay the Road District $200,000, plus rent as per the Intergovernmental Agreement with the Road District, approved on February 10, 2011 and payment as approved at the March 10, 2011 Regular Township Board Meeting. Discussion: Supervisor Moore recommended to strike this item from the agenda since this subject has been resolved."

05/12/2011 Regular Meeting, 5A: Supervisor Moore makes an attempt to pay $300k to the Road and Bridge, again disregarding the directive of the electors. The supervisor explained that this was the balance of the loan. When asked why it wasn’t $500k, she explained that an additional $200k has already been paid: $200k from the 2010-2011 budget and $200k from the 2011-2012 budget and that the trustees approved both. 

As you can see from the timeline, two payments were not approved as the trustees were under the impression they were re-stating their original approval dated 3/10/11. Linda had acknowledged this on 4/14 when saying the issue was resolved and striking the item from the agenda.

Question #1:  Why didn’t Linda pay the $200k when it was originally approved? 

Question #2:  If her claim is sincere, that both payments were approved, why would she attempt to pay $700k on 4/14 instead of $500k which would have been the new total?

Supervisor Moore presented this bill again on June 9, August 11, September 8, and October 13. 2012 meeting minutes are not yet available.  A blatant disregard for the electors wishes.

Public funds are not used for any materials distributed by 

Citizens for a Better Grafton Township.

Did Supervisor Moore use public funds for this???

Dear Fellow Grafton Township Electors,

The following letter was distributed by Grafton Township Supervisor, Linda Moore to households throughout the township. This letter is politically biased in nature and serves to support the agenda of the group of electors who requested the 2012 Special Annual Meeting to be held April 10. 

It is illegal to use public funds and government resources to create and distribute documents for political purposes. This could be considered electioneering and a violation of the Illinois Election Code.   

This letter is signed by none other than Linda Moore. 

Since a group of electors requested the special meeting, it is their responsibility to produce and distribute this correspondence using only private funds.  Linda Moore should have separated herself from acting on behalf of those electors. 

Linda Moore should have little to no responsibility in this matter as the request for the special meeting should be filed with the township clerk as described under Illinois Statute, Article 30-10 (a): Notice of the time and place of holding the annual and any special township meetings shall be given to the township clerk (or, in the clerks absence, the supervisor, assessor, or collector) by posting written or printed notices in 3 of the most public places in the township at least 10 days before the meeting and, if there is an English language newspaper published in the township, by at least one publication in that newspaper before the meeting. The notice shall set forth the agenda for the meeting.

 

Public funds are not used for any materials distributed by 

Citizens for a Better Grafton Township.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Grafton Township Residents,

This newsletter is being sent to you to inform you of some important upcoming township events, primarily, the Annual Town Meeting of the Electors (voters). Township government is unique in that you have the ability to vote annually on many things including the buying and selling of township property and any leases of this property. These decisions will have a direct effect how township tax dollars are spent and how much is spent on certain items. We have been preparing for this meeting by reserving a gymnasium at the local school district, arranging for a sound system, posting yard signs around the township, preparing this newsletter, and many other details.

Here is a summary of the issues we you will be asked to take action on at the Special Town Meeting and the regular Annual Town Meeting on April 10.

HISTORY:
 

The township has owned the property on Vine Street in Huntley for as long as anyone can remember. In 2009 Highway Commissioner Freund borrowed $700,000 to buy the township property. We are paying for the same property twice. As a result of this loan approximately $129,000 of taxpayer money has been paid to the bank for interest and fees.  

He failed to obtain the required permission from the electors to purchase the township property.  He is asking for rent to be paid for office space on a lease that was never approved by the electors. 

At the 2010 Annual Grafton Town Meeting, exercising your specific authority to approve the sale or lease of property, you directed the town board and highway commissioner to undo this sale made without your prior approval. You also approved a 20-year lease to the road district for the garage. 

As electors, you have authority over all leases and real estate. 

To date, your directions have not been followed.

VOTING OPTIONS

As a result, electors of the township have called for a Special Grafton Township Meeting for 6 PM on April 10, 2012 to address and vote for or against the following items:

 *  Return the property deed to the township by April 20, 2012.

 *  In place of paying rent for the next 20 years, the road district will pay off the remaining balance of the loan ($305,000 plus any interest or fees) to the bank in full by April 20, 2012 using the $300,000 reserve held for the last 12 months in a road district money market and regular road district funds for the balance. Due to a 4.9% increase in the road district’s levy, they will have an additional approximate $24,000 in property taxes.

*  Cancel any agreements with the road district executed outside of the town board’s authority including any leases or rent payments in the “Intergovernmental Agreement” dated February 10, 2011.

*  Your approval is needed to hire a realtor to sell the township property at 9260 Haligus Road for a fee of not more than 6%.

  Please attend the Special Town Meeting at 6 PM on April 10, 2012 at Heineman Middle School, 725 Academic Drive, Algonquin, IL 60102. (Just off Square Barn Road)

Plan to stay for both meetings.

Call 1-847-669-3328 with any questions.

Thank you. 

Linda Moore
Grafton Township Supervisor

Grafton Township 2012 Annual Meeting

PUBLIC NOTICE
GRAFTON TOWNSHIP
2012 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, to the legal voters, residents of Grafton Township in the County
of McHenry and State of Illinois, that the Annual Town Meeting of said Township will take
place on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, being the second Tuesday of said month, at the hour of
7:00 PM at: Heineman Middle School, 725 Academic Drive, Algonquin, IL 60102, for the
transaction of the miscellaneous business of the said Township; and after a Moderator having
been elected, will proceed to hear and consider reports of officers, and decide on such measures
as may, in pursuance of law, come before the meeting; and especially to consider and decide the
following:
     I. Call to Order
     II. Pledge of Allegiance
     III. Explanation of Procedures
     IV. Selection/Oath of Moderator
          A. Nominations for Moderator
          B. Close of Nominations for Moderator
          C. Election of Moderator
          D. Moderator's Oath of Office
          E. Signing of Moderator's Oath
     V. Adoption of Rules
          A. Adoption of Robert's Rules of Order as the sole rules of Grafton Township with no amendments for the 2012 Annual Town Meeting.
     VI. Approval of the Minutes of the April 12,2011 Annual Town Meeting.
     VII. Approval of the Minutes of the April 12,2011 Special Meeting of the Electors.
     VIII. Presentation of Annual Township Financial Reports
          A. Presentation of Supervisor's Annual Financial Report: Discussion and potential action to waive the reading.
          B. Presentation of Highway Commissioner's Annual Financial Report: Discussion and potential action to waive the reading.
     IX. Old Business
     X. New Business
          A. Discussion and potential action of Resolution Pursuant to the authority of the electors, under 60 ILCS 1/30-50 and 60 ILCS 1/30-25, to make all orders for the sale, purchase, conveyance, regulation or use of the township's corporate property (including the direct sale or lease of single township road district property) deemed conducive to the interests of its inhabitants, and to take all necessary measures and give directions for the exercise of their corporate powers:
          1. The electors reconfirm the 2010 Annual Meeting Resolution, ~here'a(they . ratified that two (2) Lots 1 and 2 in A.W. Garlieb's Subdivision.of part-of the < West Y2 of the West Y2 of Section 28, Township 43 North; Range.? East ofth-e- Third Principal Meridian and commonly known as 10109 Vine Street-Huntley, Illinois, was to be sold back to the Township by the Road Distrlcffor Seven' Hundred Thousand Dollars ($700,000.00) subject to a 20-year leaseback of the garage facility to the Road District; and Further ratify the Intergovernmental Agreement entered into by the Road District
and Township to complete said resolution by the payment of $200,000.00 in fiscal 2010, $200,000.00 in fiscal 2011, and $300,000.00 in fiscal 2012 with an interim lease of the facility while said payments remain due as approved by the Road District and Board on February 10,2011, at a duly held Board Meeting, with the interim rent being reduced by agreement of the parties at a subsequent Regular
Board Meeting to $1,850.00/mo. upon the installment payments for 2010 and 2011 having been made.
          B. Motion to sell surplus Township equipment valued at $100 or less.
          C. Motion to set Annual Town Meeting for Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.
     XI. Public Comment
     XII. Adjournment

Special 2012 Annual Meeting Agenda

2012 GRAFTON TOWNSHIP SPECIAL ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

PUBLIC NOTICE GRAFTON TOWNSHIP 2012 SPECIAL ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, to the legal voters, residents of the Town if Grafton Township in the County of McHenry and State of Illinois, that the Annual Town Meeting of said Township will take place on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, being the second Tuesday of the said month, at the hour of 6:00 PM at Heineman Middle School, 725 Academic Drive, Algonquin, IL 60102 for the transaction of the miscellaneous business of the said Township; and after a Moderator having been elected, will proceed to hear and consider reports of officers, and decide on such measures as may, in pursuance of law, come before the meeting; and especially to consider and decide the following:

     I. Call to Order
     II. Pledge of Allegiance
     III. Explanation of Procedures
     IV. Selection/Oath of Moderator
          A. Nomination for Moderator
          B. Close of Nominations for Moderator
          C. Vote to Elect Moderator
          D. Administration of Moderator’s Oath of Office
          E. Signing of Moderator’s Oath
     V. Adoption of Rules
          A. Discussion and possible action on Motion to adopt Robert’s Rules of Order as the sole rules   of Grafton Township with no amendments for the 2012 Annual Town Meeting.
     VI. Approval of the Minutes from the April 12, 2011 Special Annual Town Meeting.
     VII. New Business

Pursuant to 60 ILCS 1/30-10, The objects of the meeting, which are relevant to the powers granted to the electors under the Illinois Township Code, are as follows: The electors, having had their authority ignored and contravened by the Township Trustees and Road Commissioner, make the following direction regarding the property commonly known as 10109 Vine Street, Huntley, Illinois, pursuant to the authority of the electors, 60 ILCS 1-30-50, to make all orders for the sale, purchase or conveyance of Township corporate property (including the direct sale of single township road district property). The electors specifically find that the deed to the property has not been transferred as required by resolution 2010 ATM 1 and that the actions taken in the Intergovernmental Agreement dated February 10, 2011 were not authorized by the electors. The electors find these actions to be willful violations of the direction of the electors. As a result, the electors deem to be in the best interest and conductive to both the Road District and Township that:
       
 A. The Road District, within ten (10) days, deliver warranty deed to the property located at 10109 Vine Street, Huntley, Illinois to Grafton Township and legally described in resolution 2010 ATM 1. In lieu of any balance remaining on the sale price provided by the electors at the 2010 annual meeting owed by Grafton Township, the Grafton Township Road District shall pay no rent to Grafton township for the term of the lease between Grafton Township as landlord and Grafton Township Road District as tenant for the garage portion of the premises, other than provided in elector resolution 2010 ATM 1, for a period of twenty (20) years. The electors specifically do not authorize any additional leases of any real property between Grafton Township and Grafton Township Road District except a twenty year lease of the garage portion of 10109 Vine Street to the Grafton Township Road District under the terms provided herein and in resolution 2010 ATM 1. To the extent that any other leases have been executed outside of this authority, Grafton Township Road District and Grafton Township are directed to take all steps necessary to cancel said agreements, including the Intergovernmental Agreement dated February 10, 2011. Pursuant to this authority, the electors require that any debts incurred as a result of, incident to, or for the purpose of effectuating the transfer, at any time by any entity, of 10109 Vine Street be extinguished, defeased, or repaid to the greatest extent permitted by law within ten (10) days.
        
B. A resolution of the electors to direct the Township Supervisor to engage the services of a Realtor, for a fee not to exceed six percent (6%) of the sales price, to auction or otherwise sell the property on Haligus Road under the authority and conditions contained in Resolution No. 2010 ATM 8. Further, the resolution shall censure the Town Board for failing to accept an offer of $100,000 for the township property at 9260 Haligus Road pursuant to the Resolution No. 2010 ATM 8, of the electors at the April 2010 Annual Meeting of the electors filed by the township clerk April 19th, 2010.

     VIII. Public Comment
     IX. Adjournment