Here comes the Meyer Material sob story.....Get your Kleenex.

In June, Meyer Material went to the Village Board and presented the company’s annual status report regarding their operations in the Village of Cary.  Spokesperson Randi Wille set up the entire argument that Meyer will be making to the zoning board on November 10: he said that this past year has been a “challenge” for Meyer Material because of the “weak economy.” 

There it is:  Meyer Material is experiencing some problems in this economy, therefore they need more time to extract the gravel from the land adjacent to Fox Trails.

Here is what he is not going to tell you:

1.     Meyer Material is owned by Aggregate Industries, which is owned by Holcim, LTD.  This is the second largest producer of concrete in the world.  They employ over 80,000 people worldwide and operate in more than 2,500 locations in 70 countries.

2.     This is a foreign corporation, headquartered in Switzerland.  

Holcim LTD is not hurting, despite what will be stated at the meeting.  Let’s look at their profit over the last couple of years:

Net Income for Holcim, LTD (taken from the 2010 annual report):  

2009            1.958 billion CHF  ($2.27 billion US)

2010            1.621 billion CHF  ($1.88 billion US)

Yes, they lost money from 2009 to 2010.  But, so far in 2011, Holcim has seen a 29.7% increase in profit for the first half of the year and they are set to surpass their 2009 performance. (Source)

How many of us can say that?

The CEO of Holcim is Markus Akermann.   In 2010 he made 8,713,996 CHF (source).  That is equal to over $10 million US.

And they want to continue mining in Cary for another 6 years? 

That’s another six years of low property values.

That’s another six years of dust and noise.

That’s another six years before they come to the village again with another request to extend mining operations.

You can see that coming, right?  When will it stop?

Meyer Material wants to change the agreement they made with Cary in 2008.  Yet how many of us can change the terms of our mortgages so that we don’t have to pay a penalty?  How many of us would like more time to pay off loans? Try calling your credit card company and asking to be free from the penalty that you will be receiving because of a late payment.  How sympathetic would they be?

Here is what needs to happen:

Meyer needs to finish mining by June 1, 2016.  If they can’t do it, then they need to pay the $100,000 penalty per month beyond that date.

End of story.  They signed an agreement.

If they don’t want to do that, here’s a novel idea:  hire more workers and get it done in time.  Then, if they can’t sell the material at the moment, store it for a later date.  After all, gravel doesn’t go bad. 

See how easy that was.  And I don't make $10 million a year.

Just in Time for Halloween: The Return of Meyer Material!

We all knew this was going to happen--it was only a matter of time.  Over the last couple of days, Cary residents near the Meyer Material gravel pit have been receiving letters via certified mail.  The content:  Meyer Material wishes to extend their mining operation in the village of Cary until the year 2022.

Yes.  You read right:  2022.

Back in 2008, the Village of Cary voted unanimously to grant Meyer Material Company a "conditional use permit" to extend their current operations by making their gravel pit even bigger.  There was much opposition, as many of you remember.  However, greed won out and our mayor, Tom Kierna, commented on how he was "looking forward to a prosperous relationship with Meyer."  Here is what I wrote three years ago in regard to this issue:

I wonder what this "long-term" relationship includes? Perhaps further extension of the pit into Hoffman Park? All that has to happen is the Cary Park District sells that land to Meyer and we are going through this all again. Only this time there will be less opposition, because people will know that the concerns and well-being of the community are secondary to the whims and wishes of a faceless corporation.

Meyer Material is owned by Aggregate Industries, one of the largest mining companies in the world headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.

And now they want to continue mining until 2020 with the "recreation area" being completed by 2022.

Here's the thing:  back in 2008, they signed a deal with the village that would allow mining on the property for only until June 1, 2016.  Then, if they fail to meet that deadline, they will be charged a fee of $100,000 a month for every month they extend beyond that deadline.

Meyer Material should be forced to live up to the original agreement.  Currently, Fox Trails residents near the pit cannot open their windows during the summer months due to the amount of dust.  Now Meyer wants to continue this for another 4 years?  What happens in 2020?  Will Meyer come to the board again with another extension request?

There has been talk that Meyer wants to install a concrete mixing facility on the property as well.

What will Cary do?  We know what they should do: say "no" and collect the fees.  That was the original agreement.  Stick to it.

But will they?  We know how the mayor feels.  Here's a nice cozy picture of him with the Meyer people and their 2009 "Community Relations" Award.  What a joke.

There will be a public hearing on this November 10, 2011.  As usual, the meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake.

Hope you can make it.  In the meantime, let the village board know that Meyer needs to stick to their original deal.

Tom Kierna  villagehall@caryillinois.com
Duane (Rick) Dudek  rdudek@caryillinois.com
Robert Bragg rbragg@caryillinois.com
Raymond Chisholm  rchisholm@caryillinois.com
Bruce Kaplan  bkaplan@caryillinois.com
Jeffrey Kraus jkraus@caryillinois.com
Karen Lukasik klukasik@caryillinois.com

More to come.

O'LAUGHLIN: "I GREW UP IN GRAVEL PITS"

Franklin O'Laughlin is running for a position on the Village Board of Cary. He seems like a likeable enough guy. He is roughly my age and has two kids who are roughly the age of my kids. He wants to work to keep businesses in Cary and help certain strip malls and businesses get much needed "face-lifts." He wants to "fix roads" and "get the economy moving for Cary" again.

However, he is also employed by Meyer Material Company and has worked there all his life.

At the candidate forum on Thursday evening hosted by the Cary-Grove Chamber of Commerce, I had the opportunity to ask Mr. O'Laughlin a question:

"I am a little concerned about your employer," I said. "Now that Meyer has a deep relationship with the Village of Cary, as a trustee, how would you deal with issues that may come up between Meyer Material and the Village and do you see a possible conflict of interest here?"

"Absolutely not," he exclaimed. Then he went one to point out a few details:

• He mentioned that he is a "third generation miner."
  
• He pointed out that "gravel pits built McHenry County."
  
• And he expressed a love for gravel pits in general: "I grew up in gravel pits," he exclaimed proudly. "I would live near one."

He then went on to explain that he has been on the Zoning and Planning board for the last several years and when the Meyer petition came up, he simply recused himself. And he would do it again as a trustee, he claimed. But he assured the crowd that the Meyer deal was a done deal and that all of the "Ts" have been crossed, implying that we need not worry about Meyer Material anymore.

But, I am a little worried.

What if Meyer wants to get the agreement amended in the near future? What if Meyer wants other lands within the Village? What if it is discovered that Meyer has broken some of conditions and issues are raised at Village Board meetings?

Even if O'Laughlin recuses himself, what will he say in executive sessions? Will he advocate on behalf of Meyer to the other trustees "off the record?"  Will he be expected by Meyer to be the eyes and ears for the company when it comes to business with the board? As an elected official, will his first inclination be with the Village and the people who elected him, or with the company that pays his salary?

These are important questions.

And, although Mr. O'Laughlin seems like a nice guy and I have nothing against him personally, his association with Meyer material is a liability for the Village of Cary.  Perhaps this is an overreaction, but, in the end, is it worth the risk?

Please remember this when you vote on April 7.

TIME TO COMPLAIN

It has been quite loud as of late in the Fox Trails subdivision.  they are currently working on the berm and the noise is exceedingly loud.  We are to expect noise, that is for sure.  However, the noise that now pounds the subdivision every day is beyond acceptable.

Click here to sample what it sounds like.

The machinery that Meyer is using is too loud.  It squeaks.  It clangs. And the overall hum of the engines is enough to drown out all the other ambiance of a once-quiet neighborhood.

Perhaps Meyer should get new machinery.

Or, even better:  maybe Meyer should hire more workers and build the berm in the old fashion way---by hand. 

The state has standards for noise pollution and those standards are enforced by local law enforcement.  If you feel that the noise is too loud, call the following people to make a complaint:

Bob Nowack:  (847) 639-1100

Cary Police Department (non-emergency): (847) 639-2341

The Chief of police is Ed Fetzer. he can be emailed at efetzer@caryillinois.com

Cary Loses to Greed and Money

I am a high school history and civics teacher. In this world, it is very difficult to get young people excited about government. Even at such a young age, high school students are cynical about their voice and their influence in the very affairs that can affect their lives. "My vote doesn't count," they say. "No one listens."

And the Village of Cary last night proved them right in a vote that was for greed and against the well-being of many Cary residents---residents who have, over the last several months, expressed concern and outrage over the proposed extension of a gravel pit within the borders of the village.

Despite the petitions, despite the letters, emails and phone calls, the village of Cary decided to side with Meyer in a unanimous vote in favor of the corporation's plans. So much for Cameron Davis' proclamation that Cary is a "great quality of life community."

Tom Kierna admitted that some residents will feel "pain" during the mining of the pit. That's comforting to know that at least he acknowledges our pain. But then he also revealed the true nature of his vote: "It’s going to generate $2.5 million for the village of Cary, and that’s not small potatoes." He then went on to express admiration for the deal, "looking forward to a prosperous relationship with Meyer."

A prosperous relationship with Meyer? Wow. That's a big "screw-you" to the residents of Cary who put him into office. Apparently, his "relationship" to a corporation with headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, now outweighs his relationship to the very people in his own community.

I wonder what this "long-term" relationship includes? Perhaps further extension of the pit into Hoffman Park? All that has to happen is the Cary Park District sells that land to Meyer and we are going through this all again. Only this time there will be less opposition, because people will know that the concerns and well-being of the community are secondary to the whims and wishes of a faceless corporation.

I know what some people are going to say: "you don't understand the intricacies of the situation." "The village could be sued." "There were people in Cary who supported the pit." "You are a nimby." Yada Yada Yada.

The fact is, this vote came down to an issue of morality, plain and simple.

Eighteenth century moralist Emmanuel Kant tackled the issue of morality and law during the Enlightenment. He believed that morality was something one was born with; it was not something learned. With his "Categorical Imperative," Kant outlined a way in which one can "test" the morality of an action or a law: if you can will that action as a "universal law" to be followed the world over, then that law is "moral."

In other words, if you can imagine a world in which it is followed that, in exchange for large sums of money, gravel pits are dug near residential homes over the protests of the residents, then you believe that that Village of Cary's actions last night were moral. If you can envision this as the rule rather than the exception, then the vote taken by the Village of Cary was the right thing to do.

Greed over people. That is what this vote comes down to. It doesn't matter that there may be a lake or a park there sometime in the future. The fact is, those residents who live nearest the pit overwhelmingly were against it. They are the ones who should have figured most into the decision. Apparently, they were not.

I am not too surprised by the fact that Meyer will be extending their pit. I am surprised, however, by the unanimous nature of the vote. Even Deb McNamee, a Fox Trails resident, voted for it. However, after a long period of time in executive session, she admitted that her vote was based upon the "advice" of Cary's attorney, Mike Coppedge.

It's a shame that my tax money is helping to pay for his salary and who knows how much he has billed the village for his "advice." I guess we are stuck with his mediocrity.

But at least we can vote the others out of office.

On the Brink

When the village of Cary annexed some land on February 5 that once belonged in Lake in the Hills, Village Administrator Cameron Davis announced that the acquisition of this land will add "to the village's reputation as a great quality-of-life community."

However, many of us in Fox Trails are doubtful of Davis' assertion as we stand on the brink of having a gravel pit back up to our own back-yards, drastically reducing our quality of life.

Don't get me wrong, the addition of the 180 acres of Hoffman Park into the village is good news. However, that still leaves about 100 acres belonging in Lake in the Hills. Although the Cary Park District owns it, who can say that they won't sell that land to Meyer in the future and the proposed pit will get even bigger.

It can happen. Unless we stop it now.

We are standing on the brink of the final decision. Possibly the last meeting regarding Meyer Material's petition will be held on Tuesday, February 19 at 7 pm. This time, the meeting is being held at D'Andrea Banquets in Crystal Lake. D'Andrea is located on Route 14 and Route 31.

This has been a very long road. It's been monotonous. It's been difficult. It seems that many of us have grudgingly accepted the fact that we could have an eyesore next to our houses.

Some of us have apparently accepted the possibility that in this housing market our home values will fall even further and we will be forced to live next to a dusty, hazardous pit.

Some of us may have accepted the possibility that we will lose.

If we give in to defeat now, then we have given up on our homes, our neighbors and our community.

If we give into defeat now, we have let corporate greed highjack the democratic process.

If we give into defeat now, we will have allowed Cameron Davis to tout the Village's quality of life reputation for the papers while disregarding the truth.

We cannot let that happen. We can still win.

Please come to the meeting on Tuesday. Call the Village Hall at (847)639-0003 and tell them that we hope the village lives up to Cameron Davis' statement about Cary's quality of life reputation and insist that if the village believes that, they will vote no to Meyer's petition.

The only thing that stands between a "yes" or "no" vote is us.

And together, we can tip the scales in our favor.

Protect Our Standards

The following is a recent letter that appeared in the Northwest Herald:

Dear Editor:

The Tuesday, Feb. 5, edition of the Northwest Herald shared a quote with readers from Cameron Davis, Cary’s village administrator, about the Hoffman Park proposed annexation agreement with the Cary Park District. He was quoted as saying that gaining the property “certainly adds to the village’s reputation as a great quality-of-life community.”

What about Fox Trails residents’ long standing pleas to the village to deny Meyer Material’s request for a conditional use mining permit? Please, Village of Cary Board of Trustees, reassure us that our quality of life is as equally important. Vote no and allow us to get on with our lives.

Residents, please attend the next board meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at D’Andrea Banquets at Routes 14 and 31 in Crystal Lake.

Our standards of living should not be compromised.


Cheryl Janu