Boone County Watchdog: July 2011

Sunday, July 31, 2011

BCJ Letter to Editor 7-29-2011—Lincoln’s prayer for St. James

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Belvidere Township wants to buy the old Eagle Lodge Building. WHY?

I am having a big problem regarding this matter. Should local government be purchasing property for an organization (no matter how good it maybe) which has the word “Christian” in is name? What message does that send to taxpayers with a different religious belief? In these economic times, does this unit of government have so much money that it can spend $150,000 to help a local charity organization? What about all the other expenses needed to refurbish this former bar and restaurant? I have not been in the Eagle’s Club in years but it was very dark and smoke-filled last time I was there. Those odors don’t go away easily even over time.

I almost wish I was a voter in Belvidere (rather than Bonus) Township so I could vote next Friday, August 5, 2011.

Was the public timely notified of the August 5 vote?

Below is the legal publication from the July 27, 2011 Belvidere Republican. Publication was nine days from the date of the meeting.

Here is the Notice of Special Town Meeting from the Township bulletin board. Note that there are no dates on the postings. Many clerks date their postings to clarify when the posting began.

The building was originally built for the local telephone company as a telephone switching station and office. It was replaced by the modern switch next door on the corner; the original YMCA was built on that corner.

If you have some questions or concerns, I suggest you contact your trustees or the township supervisor. See the photos below for their names and phone numbers:

Is St. James admitting that there is a “problem” with their plan for a new church?

St. James’ agent, Jeff Linkenheld, has requested a postponement of the August 1 vote by the Belvidere City Council on their zoning request. They are working out compromises on some of their requested variance from the city zoning. If the postponement is granted, the detail will not be submitted to the public for another 15 days.

Reports from the neighbors ,who lodged a formal protest regarding the zoning change, indicate that beginning last Tuesday Fr. Geary has made personal visits requesting that they consider selling their property to the parish and drop their protest. As as parishioner whose contribution might pay for such property I wonder where the money will come from. I understand that the building project is already over the $5.5 projected cost and that is the upper limit as to the amount the parish can spend. (See letter from Diocese by clicking on following: http://boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/2011/07/will-fr-geary-be-able-to-comply-with.html). Or is that letter from the Diocese no longer in effect? Does Fr. Geary have authority from the bishop to negotiate such property purchases? Meanwhile parishioners have been told nothing about these details either from the pulpit or in the bulletin.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

What institutional zoning of St. James (Belvidere) could mean?

St. James, its school and church, are grandfathered institutions within a residential zoned area. Based upon that current zoning the school and church buildings can be altered or expanded however should the property be sold the zoning would not necessarily follow to the new owner. However if “institutional zoning” is granted the zoning would actually go with the building. The city would have no control over what type of institution is set up.

So what is the big deal. Let us go back four years to the big zoning question of that year—Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission and St. Joseph Hospital. Because St. Joseph had only grandfathered zoning the city has a say. Here is the story just as a reminder.

The proposal prompted four months of boisterous debate within the Boone County community, which ended this month when the Belvidere City Council rejected the group’s plan to convert the property into a monastery and convent. The discussion reopened questions about the secretive organization, which some say has torn families apart. ….

The council rejected the plan, however, because it would create too much activity in the residential neighborhood. The hospital had been there before the current zoning, but the proposed new use meant the group needed to get permission to operate in a residential neighborhood, he said.

For the complete article go to: http://www.religionnewsblog.com/18722/in-belvidere-controversial-sect-stirs-worry

For more articles on the St. James Church issue go to: http://boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/

Or click on the list of articles from that website:

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Milwaukee Archdiocese gives legal notice to creditors and abuse victims of deadline

The following is taken from the Archdiocese’s website: http://www.archmil.org/reorg/bardate.htm

Monday, July 25, 2011

St. James’ New Church: Many Questions; Few Clear Answers UPDATED 8-9-2011

Since January 2011 parishioners have been ask to support the campaign for a new church. However since then there have been many changes some of which only a few parishioners are aware. Just to clear things up --here is what you should be aware.

The capacity of the new Church is now 850
It is being planned to be located at the old convent/parking lot on Church Street and Caswell Streets. The main entrance doors will be on Caswell. [NOT on the 22 acres West of Belvidere on Town Hall Road]
The new church will have steps at the front and at all side entrances. The church will be handicapped accessible only for the front. The handicapped ramp will be much less steep than the current ramp however it will be approximately twice as long. And it will require the walker to enter on the school side of the church. See drawings at: http://boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-st-james-church-will-be-very-bigyou.html
A number of neighbors have signed formal protest requests regarding the parish’s zoning request. None of the adjacent neighbors have agreed to sell their property to the parish.
Type of roof on the new church: Despite what the application for zoning stated and what Father Geary stated earlier, the roof apparently now is standard shingles—not a metal roof. (Metal roofs have a much longer life)
The old church will be torn down to make a parking lot. The new church will be five stories tall. There will be four inches (basically zero) set back on the Church Street side of the building.
The Parish will pay all city expenses for rebuilding the 300 block of Church Street to make diagonal parking alone the new church building.

When will Father Geary or Bishop Doran communicate with St. James Parishioners? First communication in bulletin on 8-7-2011; To see this, click on following: http://boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/2011/08/insert-to-parish-bulletin-8-7-2011.html

Few of the changes (such as those listed above) have been published in the weekly bulletin or any other written source. Father Geary has orally stated many things which “the Bishop will not approve or Diocese demands” but such things have not been written nor has the pastor, the parish finance committee or the parish council disseminated the information in written form to the parish. Other than continuing to solicit funds, parish administration has little desire to communicate with the parish members concerning changes to the new church.

Is the Church still going to have a basement? NO, IT WILL NOT See 8-7-2011 Insert; click on following: http://boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/2011/08/insert-to-parish-bulletin-8-7-2011.html

Many heard that the project was running over the $5.5 limit [maybe this is $6,000,000, see insert] and no basement was being planned even though at public meetings an unfinished basement was stated. If there is no basement St. James Parish will have even less storage. The school and organizations are already complaining about storage. Where will the old stain glass and other sacred items be stored?

QUESTIONS that remain unanswered:

How much money does the campaign have in the Parish DIAL account?

There have been many expenses for the campaign management firm, architect, surveying and legal. The campaign needs $1,000,000 in the DIAL account. How close are we to that requirement?

What happens if the pledge goal of $3,000,000 is not reached?

Will any funds be returned to the donors?

Will the expenses for the campaign and pre-construction be shown in the parish’s June 30, 2011 annual statements to the parishioners?

If not, what type of public accounting will parishioners receive and when?

Will St. James be a good steward of the Earth in the building of the new church?

Will modern ecological/energy-savings devises and systems be employed to lessen heating, cooling and lighting bills? Can a church with 50 feet ceilings ever be consider energy efficient? Will the demolition, constructions and operations be earth friendly?

What is the projected cost of the total project now?

Rumor says the church building will cost $6.4million and if there is a basement $7.5 million. And now there is talk that the parish will be buying the houses of the landowners who have signed formal protests. Could that be another $1,000,000?

I have been told by Father Geary that he will answer questions when he deems the parish should be told.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Northwest Herald Letter to Editor: U.S. becoming oligarchy?

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To the Editor:

According to the U.S. Constitution, Article IV, Section 4: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government …”

According to the U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 2: The Congress shall have the power “To borrow Money on the credit of the United States.”

Nowhere in the Constitution does it give the authority to Congress to pass a bill giving the Executive Branch (the president) the authority to raise the debt ceiling. This is being proposed by a handful of legislators in the Congress (an oligarchy) in the hope that it will be approved by the Congress. It is the duty of the Congress either to increase, keep the same or decrease the debt ceiling.

They should perform their constitutionally directed mandate and not drop this (unconstitutionally) on the Executive Branch (the president).

The political theater must stop and the Congress – Republicans, Democrats and Independents – must meet their responsibilities and not posture for future elections.

I believe that those who continue to play political theater won’t be on the list of actors in the next Congress.

Dr. Richard W. Gorski

The above was taken from: http://www.nwherald.com/2011/07/20/u-s-becoming-oligarchy/akggm89/

St. James: What do your neighbor’s think of the new church? Oh Yes—they are not selling.

For more details on the St. James expansion project go to: http://www.boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/

For more information on the St. James zoning issue go to: http://www.boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/

or click on any of the following listed stories:

Elgin’s Lords Park bison dies; just one remaining

extreme heat, large animals have been expiring at an accelerated rate this past week. Morrissey told staff he did not believe that staff could have done anything to prevent her death.

The only remaining bison is the female named Pokey, who was born in 1991

“Please know it is more important now than ever that we get the fencing repaired and (to) bring in donated young bison to continue the tradition began in 1905 by the Lords Family and Elgin citizens,” Gibson-Aiello stated via Facebook.

Click on the following for more details: http://couriernews.suntimes.com/6653900-417/lords-park-bison-dies-just-one-remaining.html

Boone Co Sheriff releases results of July 4th patrols

There were 19 seat belt citations, 3 suspended or revoked drivers arrested, 10 uninsured motorists were cited and 15 motorists cited for speeding.

Deputies also arrested four subjects for drug related offenses. Six people were arrested for DUI offenses.

Click on the following for more details: http://www.belvideredailyrepublican.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6798:sheriff-releases-results-of-july-4th-patrols&catid=108:boone-county&Itemid=510

McHenry County Sportsplex developer asking for more time

McHenry County Sportsplex LLC wants to put the 100-plus-acre sports facility southwest of the intersection of Routes 47 and 176.

Designs for the two-phase project include playing fields for soccer, baseball, lacrosse, basketball and volleyball. A 125,000- to 150,000-square-foot building would house a restaurant, retail space and indoor sports facilities. There also would be an outdoor arena able to accommodate local, national and international teams.

The SportsPlex gained notice in August 2010 when it was listed in a report of 100 stimulus-funded projects considered boondoggles by two U.S. senators.

Click on the following for more details: http://www.nwherald.com/2011/07/22/sportsplex-developer-asking-for-more-time/ai0ljdn/

Illinois AG gets help in robo-signing investigation

July 20, 2011

By Andrew Thomason Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — A group of 12 county recorders in Illinois are providing documents to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan for her investigation into an illicit practice relating to the national real estate and subsequent foreclosure crises, known as "robo-signing."

“Robo-signing is actually a variety of practices. It can be mortgages individuals signing a document that they have no idea of what’s contained within the document and without verifying the information,” said Champaign County Record Barb Frasca. “It can mean someone forging an executive signature on a document or using their own name on the document with a fake title.”

Madigan launched her investigation earlier this year into Lender Processing Services and Nationwide Title Clearing, two of the largest loan servicing companies in the country.

County recorders, one for each of the state’s 102 counties, are stewards of deeds and other documents relating to real estate ownership, and often receive paperwork from loan servicing and other mortgage processing companies. Josh Langfelder, Sangamon County recorder, said he and the 11 other recorders voluntarily are assembling documents for Madigan.

“They gave us a sample of documents that may be related to our investigation, and they are gathering more documents to provide,” attorney general spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler said. “We’re reviewing the information they provided.”

Ziegler would not identify the documents provided or comment on whether the initial sampling will help in Madigan’s investigation, because it is ongoing.

When the global recession hit and the real estate bubble burst, banks and other mortgage holders were flooded with foreclosures. To keep the surge of paperwork moving, some institutions disregarded safeguards that would protect homeowners, such as providing an affidavit verifying the identity of the mortgage owners.

These practices led to a temporary halt in foreclosures last fall, as sloppy paperwork turned into unnecessary foreclosures. Without proper documentation, confusion emerged over who owed what to whom.

“We want to be protective of the homeowners, people who have perchance been foreclosed on that perhaps the ownership (of the mortgage) was not clearly identified, or someone who has bought a foreclosed home,” said Rock Island County Recorder Pat Veronda.

Similar county officials in Minnesota and Massachusetts, for example, are working with their states’ attorneys general in robo-signing investigations. For example, the county recorder office for Essex County, Mass., claims to have nearly 1,200 documents with 22 different handwriting styles that all read “Linda Green,” according to the Associated Press.

"Linda Green" signatures have found their way to Illinois as well, said Glenda Johnson, chief deputy recorder for St. Clair County.

The Massachusetts example "made us look further into it. She is all over out there," Johnson said.

While companies have claimed to stop the practice of robo-signing, recent investigations by the AP and Reuters indicate this is not happening, which could prove troublesome as the rate of foreclosures refuses to drop to prerecession levels.

While foreclosure rates dropped by nearly 25 percent for June when compared with the same period this past year, they inched up by 4 percent from May, according to RealtyTrac, a company that monitors foreclosures nationwide.

Illinois had 11,014 foreclosures in June, or one in every 480 housing units, mainly in the counties surrounding Chicago. Only Michigan, Arizona, Florida and California had more foreclosures in June than Illinois

Friday, July 15, 2011

NDK American, Belvidere being sued by its insurance provider

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Articles regarding the proposed new St. James Church

The following postings regarding the new St. James church are available on the Concerned Catholics of Boone County website at :

http://www.boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/

Just click on the title below and your browser will open at the story on Concerned Catholics of Boone County.

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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Priest abuse victims protest at Vatican

[Sunday, 7-10-2011] Victims from Australia, Belgium, The Netherlands and the United States held up banners saying "The Pope protects paedophile priests," "Church without abuse" and "Pope on trial."

"Enough is enough," said Bernie McDaid, victim and co-founder of Survivor's Voice, the US group behind the protest.

Click on the following for more details: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8100756/Priest-abuse-victims-protest-at-Vatican.html

New Irish report on Catholic child abuse blames Vatican

"That's the most horrifying aspect of this document. This is not a catalogue of failure from a different era. This is not about an Ireland of 50 years ago. This is about Ireland now," Fitzgerald said.

The report said [Cloyne Bishop John] Magee and his senior aide for handling complaints, Monsignor Denis O'Callaghan, were blind to the reality that their protection of accused priests meant that more children could suffer molestation. It noted that, in one case, O'Callaghan told police the name of an alleged victim -- but refused to provide the name of the priest.

report condemned Magee's oversight of abuse cases as incompetent and deceptive.

It said he took no hands-on interest in enacting the Irish church's child-protection policies until 2008; established a bogus committee for reviewing abuse cases that never met once after 1995; and produced widely differing written records on one priest's case -- one for diocesan officials that omitted the priest's face-to-face admission of abusing children, the other a more detailed account for Vatican eyes only.

And Irish government leaders and abuse-rights advocates said the Vatican itself bore heavy responsibility for encouraging coverups since 1996.

They and the investigators emphasized that Ireland's bishops formally agreed in 1995 to begin reporting suspected child-abuse cases to police in rules that became valid Jan. 1, 1996. The Irish church took that step after the first abuse victims went public with their lawsuits, a development that opened the floodgates for more than 13,000 such cases.

But a confidential January 1997 letter from the Vatican's diplomat in Ireland to the Irish bishops warned them that the Irish church's child-protection policies were invalid under Catholic canon law; those internal church laws must be respected foremost; and any accused priests were likely to have any punishments successfully appealed in Rome.

The letter's author, the late Archbishop Luciano Storero, then Pope John Paul II's ambassador to Ireland, dismissed the Irish policy as representing "a study document."

Click on the following for the complete story: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/World/20110713/ireland-report-catholic-child-abuse-110713/

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Belvidere City Council “tables” St. James Church Zoning

The following slides were presented to the City Council of Belvidere last Tuesday evening. Mr. Robert A. Casey delivered the negative response on behalf of neighbors and other residents. Mr. Casey was not allowed to use a projector so printed slides could only be supplied to the council members.

The Council voted to “table” the two zoning ordinances concerning St. James until St. James provides the court reporters transcript of the Planning/Zoning Commission session concerning St. James.

This posting is also available at: http://www.boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/ More postings regarding St. James are available at that site.

CLICK ON THE PHOTOCOPY TO ENLARGE

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

St. James Church zoning requests up for Belvidere approval tonight

Didn’t Father explain that the church is now just 850 capacity?

July 5th, 2011 at 06:17pmBetsy Lopez

St. James Church officials in Belvidere are pushing forward on plans to erect a new church near the current house of worship at 535 Caswell St. Initially, officials looked at moving the church to a parcel at Squaw Prairie and Town hall Road, but that idea was nixed early in the planning process.

Erecting a new church is a venture that’s budgeted to cost $5.5 million and fundraising efforts have been under way since late January. To date, the church has raised $650,000 in cash and $2.4 million has been pledged for the project and in order to get the go-ahead from the Rockford Diocese must raise $3 million in pledges and $1 million in cash, said the Rev. Brian Geary, the church’s pastor.

St. James officials hope that one day in the near future, the current church will be torn down and turn the land it sits on into a parking lot — but that idea is meeting resistance. In recent weeks, neighbors of the church have looked to Belvidere city officials to deny zoning requests for the expansion.

Tonight at 7 p.m. the Belvidere City Council will vote on whether to grant the church’s zoning requests, including a special use permit for the new structure. A new building could hold up to 1,000 parishioners, versus the current church which holds 300 to 350 people.

Check back to rrstar.com for more. Staff writer Betsy Lopez can be reached at blopez@rrstar.com or 815-544-3452 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 815-544-3452 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

This posting is also available at: http://www.boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/ More postings regarding St. James are available at that site.

Monday, July 4, 2011

New Website on St. James Church

I have posted numerous articles regarding St. James Parish and the new church project. For your convenience I have gathered the posting together into a new website available at: http://www.boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/

Below is the a photocopy of the website’s banner.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Will Fr. Geary be able to comply with the requests from the Diocese and build his church?

This posting is also available at: http://www.boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/ More postings regarding St. James are available at that site.

The pastor is currently embroiled in a fight for rezoning and special use for the 5 story church to be built on the old convent site.

The financial side of the equation is also great. This October 8, 201o letter from the Rockford Diocese indicates what was required at that point. To summaries:

1. The project will not exceed $5.5 MILLION INCLUDING DEMOLITION AND PARKING LOT CONSTRUCTION.

2. Project will not begin until $1 million is cash is collected and deposited in DIAL (Diocesan Investment and Loan Office).

3. Capital Campaign has $3 million in pledges.

4. Cash flow analysis of capital project outlays including all projected outlays and sources of revenue including amortization of any debt.

Note the letter mentions demolition. Was the old church slated for demolition back in October? Was the plan in October to be on the old parish site rather than the 22 acre site? Have any of these conditions changed? Do any of us know?