Boone County Watchdog

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/