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Vehe coverage
Pioneer Press, 8/21/08 "Vehe renovation cost report delayed: The final report on the renovation cost of Deer Park's Vehe Barn has been delayed, officials said Monday. Village President Scott Gifford said earlier in August he expected the report, along with the construction documents supporting it, at this week's Village Board meeting.Instead, Gifford said he expects the accounting within the next few months." Full story
• Pioneer Press, 8/04/08 "Some documents regarding billing for work on the Vehe Barn are not in Deer Park's possession. The village sought an extension until Aug. 7 for a Freedom of Information Act request by Pioneer Press dated July 21" LINK DOWN, please contact DPN for more info.
• Pioneer Press online, 7/10/08 "Deer Park Village President Scott Gifford believes Vehe Farm reconstruction contractor, Orland Park-based R&W Clark, and its bonding company, Las Vegas-based Individual Surety LTD, aren't immune to a lawsuit because of an indemnity clause in an agreement between the village and the Vehe Farm Foundation." LINK DOWN, please contact DPN for more info.
• Daily Herald, 6/30/08, Letter to Editor: "Keller anticipates a lawsuit, but the bonding company isn't licensed in Illinois, Clarke may be bankrupt and the board approved a sweeping indemnification (written by Keller's firm and on file at Village Hall) of anyone involved in the project. At least, that's how I read it. Whatever pockets there might have been are now empty or sewed up tight." Full story
• Pioneer Press, Thursday, June 26, LZ Courier: "State: Vehe Barn's bonding company wasn't licensed. Deer Park is trying to recapture $500,000 to $900,000 back from Orland Park-based R&W Clark Construction and its bonding company, Las Vegas-based Individual Surety Ltd., for cost overruns on the Vehe Barn renovation." Full story
• Pioneer Press, Thursday, June 26, LZ Courier and BA Courier: "Barn fee-asco: Deer Park Village Attorney Paul Keller thinks it's time for a final accounting of the Vehe Barn development. At the June Board meeting, Keller listed total cost, cost overruns, items in original R&W Clarke contract but NOT done, rework of items in Clarke contract but done badly and cost of items not part of original Clarke contract."Full story
• Pioneer Press, Friday, June 19 "Deer Park may want between $500,000 and $900,000 of its money returned from a construction company that worked to renovate the Vehe Barn, but getting it might prove difficult." Full story
• Letter to Editor on Trustee Kellermann's ongoing request to see the documents. "For many months, questions about the costs and payments for the Vehe Farm Barn have gone unanswered. Trustee Bob Kellermann, a professional accountant and 33-year village resident, has raised the questions. Over the months, Mr. Kellermann has repeatedly asked to review invoices, wavers of liens and other contractor documents. Under the leadership of Deer Park President Scott Gifford, the board has spent $800,000 more than the $1.2 million paid to the original contractor. Much of that money went to rework. All of that money has been spent on just the interior of the barn!Full Story
MEMO TO BOARD presented by former Village Administrator Kari Diesen-Dahl, long-time resident of Deer Park and employee of the village for 19 years.
Lake Zurich Courier, 7/31/08 "Villages that will be impacted by Canadian National Railway Company's acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad spoke out against the acquisition at last week's Breakfast with the Villages, hosted by the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce." Full story
Daily Herald, 7/30/08 "On second thought, the Canadian National Railway isn't thrilled with a report by federal regulators on its request to purchase the EJ&E railroad.…Tuesday, the company's CEO Hunter Harrison went further, saying he was disappointed by the federal board's analysis, suggesting staff was using questionable standards for deciding what crossings would benefit by grade separations, one of the most expensive ways of remedying safety concerns." Full story
Draft Environment Impact Statement of the Surface Transportation Board regarding the Canadian National acquisition of the EJ&E line. Read it and weep. Read the report Or, if you cannot wade through it, public officials did (or had their people read it for them), and they have commented:
Lake Zurich joins TRAC (The Regional Answer to Canadian National), by approving an intergovernmental agreement. They also committed $10,000 to Trac’s fight. Full story
“Board Minutes Unclear: The Deer Park Village Board accepted an agreement between the village and the Vehe Farm Foundation with an indemnity clause that was agreed to by both bodies on Jan. 30. What is not clear is exactly who is indemnified.”Full story
• Barrington Courier, 7/11/08 "Members of the Barrington Village Board and Barrington Area Library Board of Trustees held a preliminary meeting to discuss the reconfiguration of Lake Zurich Road to create a stoplight intersection at Northwest Highway." Full story
• Lake Zurich Courier, 7/11/08 "Deer Park Town Center has received several inquiries about the sales tax increase in Cook County and shoppers have been pleased that we are in Lake County and not affected by the tax increase." Full story
Coming to a street near you!
A picture's worth a hundred thousand dollars! There is a Roads Program, directed by Trustee Bob Kellermann, and repairs are underway. Amazing what can be accomplished when the people speak out. Remember, for years the roads program was unfunded or underfunded. Then the voice of the people was heard. Look, men at work (without a new sales tax!). Some of the workers were wearing lime green safety vest--might make you think that they, too, are Deer Park Neighbors! Here are photos (click to enlarge) by Al Barry of work on Rue Chamonix.
• Letter to Editor on Free Speech. "At every monthly Village Board meeting, Deer Park President Scott Gifford reads a statement at the start of the public comments portion of the meeting. The statement is a warning to village residents about what Mr. Gifford will allow them to say while addressing the board. Not one other village president in any of the nine neighboring communities reads such a warning to residents. Why does Mr. Gifford do it?"Full story
Host your event at the Vehe Barn
DOWNLOAD the Vehe Barn Brochure
Imagine. A wedding, a bar/mitzvah, anniversary, scout troop event--out on the Vehe property, May to October. And year around, plan an event inside. The village has an events coordinator who can help you put together a once-in-a-lifetime celebration or a weekly, monthly, quarterly meeting. This is a terrific venue for an unsual event.
The lovely grounds include a butterfly garden--perfect for a nuptial ceremony or memorial service.
Do you have music students? Tutoring clients? Meditation, Bridge, Pilates, Yoga, Mah Jongg, aerobics, floral arranging? How about a tea party, wedding, pre-nuptial dinner, bridal or baby shower, retirement party? The Barn has space for you.
Need a place to host your arts festival, craft show, farmers' market, orchestra and band concerts. There's a complete PA system, with multiple microphones.
And complete gourmet kitchen! How about a gourmet club? Homeowners Association meetings. Annual conventions. And it's universally accesible. Take a look, schedule a tour, and book your next event. Email or DOWNLOAD the Vehe Barn Brochure.
LAST CHANCE TO SPEAK OUT! Click on the CN logo to reach our CN Information Page. Also, read "Rita on Rails," updated 9/30/08, 11:10 AM, our index of all things Canadian National, prepared by our stalward Neighbor Rita Finley. Links should be clickable, or copy and paste into your browser
WATCH THIS VIDEO, THEN VISIT FIGHT RAIL CONGESTION TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS AND THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD.
Congresswoman Melissa Bean and Congressman Don Manzullo
More money for Vehe? Not right now. Between the time the agenda for the 7/21 board meeting was posted, and the actual meeting, VFF had a donor and free engineering to put in their ADA path. That's just the way it ought to be!
U.S. fails to OK bill calling for stricter rules on railroad mergers
PROPOSED SUBDIVISION at 21624 Rainbow Road. UPDATE POSTED 7/13/08 to a report from Teri Masino, an adjacent resident. See also a letter to trustees from Joseph O'Keefe. Cancelled from the Aug. 18 VODP BOT Agenda, and never scheduled for September. Status? We'll let you know...
A number of postings being added at YouTube on the Canadian National acquisition (see Deer Park Neighbors Channel and search "Canadian National"). Now that Senator Obama has taken a public position, the time has never been better for individuals to speak out.
To get email blasts from the village, you have to opt in at the village web site. So even if you've been on their internal email list in the past, you must re-up. Click on the Connect-CTY® link, and enter your contact information. You can also sign up with your business address, as well. For neighbors and friends without internet, go to the Village Office (map it) and ask that staff add them to the CTY call list, which will be used not only for emergencies (weather threats, etc.), but also for disseminating village information by phone and/or email. For more information, contact Village Clerk Susan Meyle, 847-726-1648.
One of the projects that is scheduled to go forward is recreational equipment for Old Farm Park (see map, dated 2006). You can see that the Old Farm area is really isolated from other parks and play areas. The spending will be modest, about $24,000, and benefit many families. Most important, the families of that area worked together, signed a petition, presented that petition at the Park Forum, were clear about what their needs were and continue to send representatives to board meetings. This is, in our opinion, precisely how the process should work. But will the trustees follow through on their 5/1 vote (Only Trustee Pat Plautz dissenting) and build this park?
If you like what Deer Park Neighbors does, why not join for a one year subscription. Don't know what we do? Asking yourself, "Who are Deer Park Neighbors?" See the archive of blasts from the past.
Do you have music students? Tutoring clients? Meditation, Bridge, Pilates, Yoga, Mah Jongg, aerobics, floral arranging? How about a tea party, wedding, pre-nuptial dinner, bridal or baby shower, retirement party? The Barn has space for you. 
