Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Amendment allows restaurant patrons to bring their own beverage; spas, beauty parlors and barbers can serve patrons complimentary alcoholic beverages.
The Lake Zurich Village Board agreed to an amendment to the Municipal Code to address restaurants that do not have a liquor license and wish to allow patrons to BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage), at Monday night's village board meeting. The amendment also addressed spas and beauty parlors who sometimes serve their customers mimosas or champagne. After some discussion, the board decided to also add barber shops that may want to offer customers a complementary drink. Police Chief Kevin Finlon explained to the board that the businesses were unregulated in regard to alcohol use which created a potential of overserving customers. The board agreed to create a Class “L” license for beauty parlors, spas and barbers. The law sets a limit of two …
Candidates file as a slate as well as independent.
Update: Dec. 20 A third candidate, Mary Black, has filed for the position of Village President as an independent. More candidates have filed for Lake Zurich School Board, John Shaw and Russ Cerqua Dec. 19 A slate of six candidates and six independents filed petitions for village board seats on Monday, the first day of filing for the April 9, 2013 elections, according to Village Clerk Kathleen Johnson. On the Lake Zurich village board, the village president, four trustees and the village clerk will be up for election. The slate, the United Lake Zurich Party includes current Village President Suzanne Branding, current Village Clerk Kathleen Johnson and four-year trustee candidates Helmut Gerlach, Todd Minden and Ildiko Schultz. Debra …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Village encourages residents to light luminaria Friday on one week anniversary of tragedy In Connecticut.
Village President Suzanne Branding encouraged Lake Zurich residents to light luminaria, Friday night, in support of the families and community of Newtown, CT, where 20 children and six adults died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Dec. 14. The effort was inspired by a luminaria lighting in Grayslake and fueled by Lake Zurich Patch Facebook fans, including Shelly Carlson, who responded to a link to the Grayslake story. Trustee Jonathon Sprawka saw the Facebook posts and suggested the village hold a luminaria night for Newtown as well. Village President Suzanne Branding announced, at Monday’s village board meeting, that the village will hold a luminaria night on Friday, Dec. 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. Lake Zurich residents are …
Tom Poynton announces that he has filed a petition for village president in the April election.
Lake Zurich Village Trustee Tom Poynton was among the first candidates to file for village seats in the April 9, 2013 election. Dec. 17 was the first day to file for village office; the filing period ends Dec. 26. Poynton will challenge Village President Suzanne Branding. In a news release Poynton wrote: Today, I am announcing that I have filed petitions declaring my independent candidacy for office of Village President (Mayor) of the Village of Lake Zurich. It has become increasingly clear that the village is suffering from a lack of leadership and credibility in Village Hall. I’ve never considered myself a “politician.” I’ve always considered myself “Joe Resident.” I’ve always wanted what was best for the residents. My only desire …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Sales tax rebate to fund public improvements at site.
The Lake Zurich village board approved a sales tax rebate for $1.55 million to the developers of Bradford Town Crossing at a special meeting, Monday. Bradford Town Crossing, at Quentin Road and Route 22, will be home to Mariano's Fresh Market, McDonald’s and other businesses. The developers asked for the rebate to fund off-site public improvements including extension and installation of public works and sanitary sewer to the site, access from Quentin Road and a left-turn lane off Route 22. Trustees voted unanimously to approve the economic incentives, however there was some debate over the impact of the tax incentives. Trustee Jeff Halen wondered how much additional revenue Mariano’s would garner. “For the good or the bad Lake Zurich has …
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Deputy village clerk will head to sunny Florida for retirement.
Lake Zurich resident and public servant Susan T. Ragsdale is retiring, today, from her role as executive assistant/deputy village clerk. She has served the village for 32 years. In a proclamation honoring Ragsdale for her service, Village President Suzanne Branding called her the 'face and voice of Lake Zurich." Ragsdale grew up in Lake Zurich and was part of the first class to graduate from the current Lake Zurich High School. She started working at village hall as an interm and was hired full-time as the first village administrator’s assistant. At that time, village staff worked from 61 W. Main St. with the police and all departments in one building. Lake Zurich Patch did a short Q&A with Ragsdale: What is the highlight or a …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Levy will increase by 4.21 percent
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Amy Johnson
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The Lake Zurich Village Board approved a 4.21 percent increase in its property tax levy this week. The increased levy is estimated to bring in $320,863 more in property taxes to the village next year, which officials say will in part fund required contributions to police and fire pension funds. For the owner of a home valued at $250,000, the increase could mean about $20 more for the year, the village’s finance director Jodie Andrew said. However, that amount may change depending on the home’s EAV and other factors. “If all other things remain equal, it would be about $20,” said Jodie Andrew, the village’s director of finance. In all, the levy is expected to bring in $7.9 million to the village, which helps support the general fund, …
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Consultant recommends two-step process to find qualified developer for Block A.
Lake Zurich Village board members and staff gathered, Tuesday night, to discuss which direction to take to get downtown development back on track. See: Lake Zurich Downtown Development Consultant Lee Brown of Teska Associates recommended that the village start over with Block A, the village-owned Main Street site across form the Promenade, but this time take a more formal process to attracting qualified developers. “Our recommendation is that it is time to look at a way of building momentum, building success,” Brown said. Brown proposed a formal two-step process that begins with an RFQ, request for qualifications. Village staff and consultants would ask developers to provide their credentials and references. Brown said the previous …
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Village board sends John Breugelmans proposal for a hotel to plan commission.
Lake Zurich’s downtown TIF district could get a big boost with a proposed 130-room hotel, southwest of Rte. 22 and Old Rand Road. The hotel is being proposed by John Breugelmans of Lakeland Asset Management; Breugelmans was one of the developers who had proposed a development on Block A, across from the Promenade, in downtown Lake Zurich this summer. The village board decided not to go with any of the developers. Breugelmans started his presentation saying he was trying again. He said the owner of the property, Greg Schwermer, approached him because he was impressed with Breugelman’s proposal for Block A. A sliver of the land of proposed hotel site is owned by the village. Breugelmans brought the plan to the village board Monday night, and…
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Lake Zurich village board to meet in workshop to discuss downtown development.
Village Administrator Jason Slowinski told village board members, at Monday's board meeting, that the TIF Evaulation Committee has met to review the downtown development process and is recommending that the village board get together for a workshop to discuss downtown development. Slowinski said the committee felt the board members needed extra time, outside of the village board meeting, to discuss downtown development. He said Lee Brown of Teska Associates would also be at the workshop. Brown is the consultant for downtown development. Downtown redevelopment of village-owned property has been at a standstill since mid-August when the board voted against going with any of four developers proposing projects for the development of a parcel…
Sandra Reid
8:12 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
WOW - sounds very liberal - and about time! Moves Lake Zurich into the same company as big cities - this is done here in Peoria, Arizona!!!!!! Nice touch! more ›