Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Overkill

An actual, unretouched screencap from the Kane County Reporter which is totally different than the Lake County Gazette, Lake County's #1 fakenews source:
"The rapid increase just this year in those being hit or fatally killed is extremely concerning," said Sen. McConchie.
When asked for a comment, Dan McConchie said: "Could you repeat that again?"

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when subsequent future developments warrant.

Monday, July 29, 2019

The Sweet Deal

If you are like your LakeCountyEye then you spend your summer vacation reading minutes from village board meetings. So you don't have to.

Haha, this was an agenda item on the of the July 24 North Barrington Village Board meeting:
VII. ADMINISTRATION – President Eleanor Sweet McDonnell

D. Approval of Resolution #_______, A Resolution approving a proposal from GOVHR USA, LLC for Consulting Services*

Village of North Barrington :: 2019

VILLAGE OF NORTH BARRINGTON MEETING AGENDA

GOVHR USA, LLC is a government staffing agency that provides performance evaluation services:
GovHR is excited to announce our partnership with Engagedly to provide local municipalities with a robust web-based performance evaluation system.
GovHR USA / GovTemps USA
Your LakeCountyEye learned that the village of North Barrington has 3 employees:
The Village Staff consists of the Village Administrator/Clerk and two Deputy Clerks.
Village of North Barrington :: Officials
And North Barrington has a new Village President:
Eleanor Sweet McDonnell
And the new North Barrington Village President runs an executive search firm:
The Remington Group, LLC
Sharpeyed Operatives will be asking themselves:
Why would a village with only 3 employees and a new President (who runs an executive search company) contract the services of a government staffing agency that conducts performance evaluations?
The answer nodoubt is to be found in the Shakman Decree:
firing, demoting, transferring or punishing a government employee for political positions was unconstitutional and illegal.
Shakman Decrees
Note to Ops: If you want to get rid of unwanted government employees, outsource the job.

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Building Partnerships; Visiting the Border


Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy
Luvia Quinones, Health Policy Director at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, will describe the conditions on the the border between the US and Mexico and highlight the work that numerous organizations are doing to provide support for migrants and refugees.
  • Sunday
    August 4 2019
    2:00 pm
  • The Stevenson Center on Democracy
    25200 N St Mary's Rd
    Mettawa (Libertyville), IL 60048
    773-281-0378
  • $15
    (Students Free)

Thursday, July 25, 2019

On a Clarke Day You Can See Nada

If Lake County had a new motto, that would likely be:
Nothing to See Here
No, really, there is nothing to see here. The 2019 quality of air in Lake County is cause for concern:
The Chicago area's "milky white" sky is caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires blowing over the upper Midwest, which could contribute to worsening air quality in the region today.
Why the sky has been so hazy
There is nothing to see in Beach Park:
Beach Park ammonia spill: Lake County Sheriff's Office releases body camera image of toxic cloud
And there is nothing to see in Gurnee:
'We don't want EtO': Residents target ethylene oxide emissions at Gurnee, Waukegan meetings
And there even is nothing to see in North Barrington:
Lake County Sheriff's Office said 75 gallons of a pesticide spilled onto the ground in North Barrington Tuesday after a mosquito abatement company vehicle hauling the liquid crashed into a tree. The sheriff's office said a preliminary investigation shows an Alsip man driving the company's 2007 Ford truck left the road and crashed after he fell asleep while driving.
Truck Crash Causes Pesticide Spill In North Barrington
Despite dumping 75 gallons of insecticides in North Barrington, that same mosquito abatement company -- Clarke --is still trusted to be spraying insecticides all over North Barrington.

Village of North Barrington
Move along. Nothing to see here.

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Self Promotion

The Little Lotto Numbers are ... 2 ... 0 ... 2 ... 2 ...
Among Lake County political warhorses there is an old saying: "Don't bother being kind to people on your way up. In Lake County there ain't no way up."

Haha, Lake County State Representative David McSweeney thinks there is a way up:
Earlier this year, Rep. Dave McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, lost his comms staffer for criticizing fellow Republican Rep. Steve Reick for allegedly making "racist" comments and calling on House GOP Leader Jim Durkin to resign for being a "fake Republican" and "corrupt insider." McSweeney, who wants to run statewide in 2022, said he paid for his own communications staffer, so he wasn't concerned.
The return of the circular firing squad
David McSweeney may not want to represent you in Lake County any more, but who is going to blame him? Especially when there will be plenty of statewide constituencies up for grabs in 2022.  What will McSweeney do in 2022? Your LakeCountyEye doesn't expect him to run for Township supervisor. No, here's the smartmoney handicap over the 2022 election:
  • A U.S. Senate seat will be on the ballot. While McSweeney managed less than 45% of the vote when he ran against Melissa Bean for Congress in 2006, challenging an incumbent U.S. Senator next time will be totally different. Totally.

  • Every Illinois Constitutional office will be on the ballot. But McSweeney, presumably, will give the cold shoulder to Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer and Comptroller. None of these positions are much of an improvement over being a State Representative. Even being a State Representative in the minority party. And even a State Representative in the minority party who's been warming a backbench.

  • Whether it needs to or not, Illinois will elect a Governor and Lieutenant Governor in 2022. If history is any indication, you can't get elected Governor in this state without name recognition, being admired, being trusted, etc. You can however get elected Lieutenant Governor. This position is tailor-made for McSweeney.
As is too often the case, your LakeCountyEye makes it a point to remind candidates that there will always be another election. In this instance, the 2024 Presidential Election. The position of US Vice President will be tailor-made for a perennial candidate like David McSweeney. 'Nuff Said!

Friday, July 19, 2019

Political Ambition

Does your Township spark joy?
Has Lake County seen yet it's share of toxic spills? Apparently not -- someone just spilled the beans on State Representative David McSweeney:
Earlier this year, Rep. Dave McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, lost his comms staffer for criticizing fellow Republican Rep. Steve Reick for allegedly making "racist" comments and calling on House GOP Leader Jim Durkin to resign for being a "fake Republican" and "corrupt insider." McSweeney, who wants to run statewide in 2022, said he paid for his own communications staffer, so he wasn't concerned.
The return of the circular firing squad
Which statewide office will David McSweeney run for in 2022? No one is saying.

Your LakeCountyEye is betting that McSweeney will run for Township Supervisor. It may not be a statewide office, but he won't have to worry about David McSweeney sponsoring Bills any more to eliminate township government.

Monday, July 15, 2019

Loose Women

This week's pop quiz comes courtesy of the Lake County Gazette:
Q: Where do candidates rely most on women in Lake County?
Precinct voter rolls: Where do candidates rely most on women in Lake County?
Those who answered:
A:Wheeling Township Precinct 4
(Cook County)
... are wrong. But you can take an Honorable Mention for giving the same answer provided by the Lake County Gazette:

Precinct voter rolls: Where do candidates rely most on women in Lake County?
Why does the Lake County Gazette (Lake County's #1 fakenews source) want to know where all the reliable women are to be found? Your LakeCountyEye has no idea.
Q: Where do candidates rely most on women in Lake County?
Your LakeCountyEye does know, however, that the correct answer is MARS:
A: MARS
MARS, coincidentally, is where all of the Lake County Gazette news stories come from.

Saturday, July 13, 2019

North Shore Taco Fest

  • North Shore Taco Fest 
  • July 20-21 
  • Highwood Metra Station
  • 317 Green Bay Rd
  • Highwood
Highwood Days & North Shore Taco Fest

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Hard to Swallow

Kitteh Endorsed
Be thankful that you weren't a fly on the wall in Lake County when that mosquito abatement truck crashed into a tree. Because if you were a fly on the wall where 75 gallons of insecticides spilled, you would be dead:
Lake County Sheriff's Office said 75 gallons of a pesticide spilled onto the ground in North Barrington Tuesday after a mosquito abatement company vehicle hauling the liquid crashed into a tree. The sheriff's office said a preliminary investigation shows an Alsip man driving the company's 2007 Ford truck left the road and crashed after he fell asleep while driving.
Truck Crash Causes Pesticide Spill In North Barrington
Informed sources say that unnamed "mosquito abatement company" is: Clarke

Clarke is an extermination company.  Don't bother looking for Clarke's Wikipedia page, there isn't one.

If Clarke has e-mail, your LakeCountyEye couldn't find any. They do list phone numbers:
  • Phone
    630.326.4633
    888-593-1628
  • International Phone
    +1.888.593.1628
  • Fax
    630-443-3070
Their only web presence is a corporate website:
Doing the Right Thing, Even When It's Hard
Honesty and integrity drive our everyday actions and are reflected in our common belief to do what's best for our industry, and the people and communities we serve.

Aquatic & Mosquito Control Services & Products | Clarke
Some questions for Clarke, when you call:
  • Why was a guy from Alsip driving around a Lake County community?

  • Why was he driving a 12 year old Ford pickup around a Lake County community?

  • Why was he driving while asleep around a Lake County community?

  • Why did he drive into a Lake County tree?

  • Why did he drive into a Lake County tree and dump 75 gallons of insecticides?

Do the right thing even when it's hard?

Saturday, July 6, 2019

Whodumptit?

Lake County authorities say it is now OK to leave your homes. Just don't breathe the air.

Haha, according to the Patch:
Lake County Sheriff's Office said 75 gallons of a pesticide spilled onto the ground in North Barrington Tuesday after a mosquito abatement company vehicle hauling the liquid crashed into a tree. The sheriff's office said a preliminary investigation shows an Alsip man driving the company's 2007 Ford truck left the road and crashed after he fell asleep while driving.
Truck Crash Causes Pesticide Spill In North Barrington
Make no mistake, 75 gallons of liquid insecticides is a turd in anybody's punchbowl.  And while your LakeCountyEye tried to contact the at-fault mosquito abatement company for some answers, it turns out that no one knows who it is.

Not the Sun-Times ...
The truck was carrying pesticides for a mosquito abatement company
Truck driver crashes, spills pesticide in North Barrington
GOOGLE ADS
And not WBBM ...
The mosquito abatement company contacted an environmental service to clean up the spill.
Truck Driver Crashes, Spills Pesticide In North Barrington
GOOGLE ADS
And not the Daily Herald ...
A 27-year-old Alsip man employed by a mosquito-abatement company fell asleep while driving a company truck
No threat to public after crash leads to chemical spill in North Barrington
GOOGLE ADS
Does anyone have any idea who this unidentified "mosquito abatement company" could be?

Thursday, July 4, 2019

Boom Goes the Pesticide

wouldn't harm a fly
Lake County celebrated Fourth of July 2019 with a bang.

While the exploding oil train failed to explode, the exploding pesticide truck did explode:
Lake County Sheriff's Office said 75 gallons of a pesticide spilled onto the ground in North Barrington Tuesday after a mosquito abatement company vehicle hauling the liquid crashed into a tree. The sheriff's office said a preliminary investigation shows an Alsip man driving the company's 2007 Ford truck left the road and crashed after he fell asleep while driving. The sheriff's office responded to the crash at 2:25 p.m. in the 100 block of Carriage Road, and discovered upon arrival that the pesticide was leaking, according to a release.
Truck Crash Causes Pesticide Spill In North Barrington
Note to Ops: Drowsiness is a symptom of insecticide poisoning. If you've been exposed to insecticides, don't operate heavy machinery. It's only common sense!

Monday, July 1, 2019

McHenry County Bonkers

Do you like to think your finger is on the pulse of McHenry County politics? Test your wits against this week's pop quiz:
Q: How many Illinois Representative Districts are there in McHenry County?
If you answered ...
One
then you get your news from the McHenryCountyBlog:
Under the story I wrote on the effect of the U.S. Supreme Court's "hands off" decision of legislative re-mapping, someone said with all Republican representing McHenry County in the Illinois General Assembly McHenry County did well. I beg to disagree. Something over 100,000 people are in each State Rep. district. With over 300,000 residents, that means McHenry County deserves at least two members of the Illinois House. We only have one–Steve Reick.
More Thought on Reapportionment
This assertion by the McHenryCountyBlog (aka the Sunshine Blogger), that McHenry County has only one State Representative District, is flatly untrue.  Not only does McHenry County have 5 (Five) State Rep Districts, but they are all Republican-held:
RepresentativeDistrictParty
David McSweeney52R
Steven Reick63R
Tom Weber64R
Dan Ugaste65R
Allen Skillicorn66R
This would be evident from this map of Illinois State Rep Districts posted on the, erm, McHenryCountyBlog -- in fact, on the very same post that was quoted.

More Thought on Reapportionment
Note to Ops: When factoring in the effects of climate change, the Sunshine Blog is, from a meteorological perspective, the Moonshine Blog.