Integrity and Character in Northwest Illinois...and Does it Matter?

Tutty misses the old days when public integrity actually mattered. Before social media it was much more difficult to feed the masses misinformation.  Newspapers and broadcasters all had editors that would vet every story or column before it would see the light of day.  Editors had telephones and would themselves fact check the content brought to them purported to be truth.

In those days, when mistakes got published or someone was dishonest with the public, it would be listed as a correction in the following day's newspaper or broadcast.  More glaring snafus might even get an editorial or commentary apologizing for misleading the public on an important issue.  Although rare, reputable media outlets still do these things.

Using public discourse to intentionally mislead the public was thought to be a mortal sin.  To engage in such behavior would likely mean the loss of your editorial and personal integrity and not much is more valuable than personal and professional integrity.

In today's world pumping the public with misinformation is so commonplace "reputable" news organizations don't even bother to call out those that tell the public lies.  Even when those people are elected officials sworn to serve the residents of this Illinois.

Just look at this example from State Representative Andrew Chesney, Republican, 89th district.  Representative Chesney shared this meme about a week ago in regards to the last presidential debate.

While Representative Chesney claims you, "Just can't make this stuff up!" the sentence attributed in the meme is fabricated.  The complete sentence uttered that night was this, "Abraham Lincoln here is one of the most racist presidents we've had in modern history, he pours fuel on every single racist fire, every single one." (Italics represent content omitted from the "sentence" Representative Chesney purported to be actual).  Here is the you YouTube link complete with gestures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaBaiSIhmIQ

A lone Republican on the Stephenson County Board called out Representative Chesney on his Facebook page for making up his accusation as did other individuals.  Former Freeport mayoral assistant, politician and newspaper owner, Eric Gubelman offered his criticism from southern Illinois.  Mr. Gubelman, despite not residing in the 89th district, received the only response Representative Chesney offered.  This is what he posted:

Not only is Representative Chesney content to let people that would trust an elected official believe a falsehood, he also implies that such dishonesty is a part of what he does to "reflect and represent the values of NW IL".

Will all those in northwest Illinois that believe feeding the public misinformation  is an appropriate "value" please raise your hand?

The representative is also the chairman of the Stephenson County Republican Central Committee.  So does the entire committee agree that fabricating and publishing something false to make someone look bad is wrong?  And if they actually do, why the complicit silence?  Should it be assumed all local members of the GOP are comfortable with an elected official that lies to the public?

What about the Republican state's attorneys in the 89th district or all the Republican sheriffs that have voiced public support for Representative Chesney, do they to believe this behavior is ethical representation for their constituencies?  Why would these sheriffs tolerate someone misleading the very people they are sworn to serve?

And last but not least, where is the media that lets this type of public chicanery on the part of an elected official go unchecked?  Where are the Rockford TV stations and the "local" newspapers?  Why sit back and watch as someone in position of authority spreads a lie?

This weekend be sure to ask your Republican friends and family members why they would support someone that is willing to lie to people they are sworn to serve.  How can you be sure such a person is not lying to you?  Does he conduct his business life with the same willingness to be dishonest as he does in his political life?

Tutty just can't stand when a someone in an alleged position of authority misleads Tutty's friends and neighbors for any reason.  Tutty waited a week to write this with the hope Representative Chesney would see the errors of his ways and delete the post, however, he and his party seem perfectly willing to let dishonesty stand, and that Tutty will not and can not sit by and let that happen.

So, integrity and character in northwest Illinois, does it matter or not?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker  tutty.baker@gmail.com 

Let's Dust Off the Stephenson County Code Book

Earlier this week Tutty recieved a couple of queries questioning the practice of district G Stephenson County Board member Andy Shroeder.  It seems, during official meetings of the Stephenson County Board held on the internet platform known as Zoom, Mr. Shroeder's campaign sign for elective office is prominently displayed within the frame.  The sign clearly reads "Vote Andy Shroeder".  See photos below.

There exists in Stephenson County an Ethics Code designated as Chapter 62 in the Stephenson County book of codes, hereinafter "the Code".

The code is intended to ensure that Stephenson County "officers" and "employees" adhere to certain ethical standards and that political activities are not performed on "compensated time".  The public needs to know beyond a doubt that county officials are not using our resources for their individual political ends.  It just makes sense.

The code lists 15 different "Prohibited political activites" among these activities are "Campaigning for any elected office or for or against any referendum question" (emphasis added).

So how can County Board member Shroeder not be in violation of the code?

The word "vote" is clearly visible (more so in the live feed than in this screenshot) on his campaign sign.  Is anyone really willing to argue that Mr. Shroeder didn't deliberately give his campaign sign a place of prominence in front of the camera?  He's set himself to the side of his campaign sign for God's sake.

Even if this wasn't a direct violation of the code, which Tutty believes it is, it just looks plain bad. Politics should never be intentionally interwoven with official public business.  What also looks very bad is no one, save for a few private citizens that contacted Tutty, even questioned Mr. Shroeder's practice of campaigning (again, that sign didn't walk there itself) while being paid for official county business.

Have any other officers or employees of Stephenson County,including the state's attorney, who is purportedly in charge of enforcing the code, even bothered reading what's written therein?

Another interesting part of the code is the hefty criminal penalties that it provides for violators. Here is a picture of that section.

Tutty's sincere hope is that Stephenson County officials take care of this problem before some private citizen with a rudimentary understanding of Illinois court procedure presents this issue to the 15th Judicial Circuit for review and action.  It will be easier to deal with Tutty, a nineteenth century ghost, than a real life judicial proceeding.  However, it just might make some great political theater.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com

Clandestine and Problematic Actions Within the Stephenson County Board

Before Tutty had seen the news himself the messages had begun, "Isn't that against the open meetings law? Tutty's friend Lou implored.  "How can 14 county board members get together and sign a letter without telling us first"? Jackie wanted to know.  Todd asked if he should file a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor Sarah Pratt, who oversees such things as compliance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

These queries were in regards to the letter 14 members of the Stephenson County Board drafted and sent to Illinois Governor, J.B. Pritzker to "request the immediate rescission of the COVID-19 stay-at-home order...".  News of the letter broke on Wednesday just past.


The Illinois Open Meetings act (5 ILCS 120/) does require all deliberations of public bodies to be held in the open with sufficient public notice.  In order for a meeting to take place there must be a majority of a quorum of the public body.  Because the Stephenson County Board has 22 members a quorum would be 12 and a majority of that would be seven, so seven county board members would make a meeting.

Another problem is that if the letter is determined to be a meeting than you also have a meeting of seven of the county board's sub-committees, the Administration; Court Services; Finance and Procurement; Nursing Center; Planning and Development; Public Property and Safety as well as the  Public Works committee all had at least three members sign the letter to Governor Pritzker.  Three is a majority of a quorum on these seven member committees.

Apparently, not a single one of the 14 board members even thought about this action being construed as a possible violation of the Open Meetings Act, which does provide a criminal penalty of a Class C misdemeanor.  But even absent the law, how proper is it for a majority of any elected body to be discussing public business--going so far as to draw conclusions about what's best for their constituents--outside of legal meetings set aside for such purpose?

This letter is very problematic in that it is solid testament that a majority of the Stephenson County Board believe it is somehow acceptable to work behind closed doors on our purported behalf.  This is exactly the type of behavior the Illinois Open Meetings Act is designed to prevent.   There is no excuse that  Scott Helms, a long time Freeport City Council member and now county board member--with a spouse that is the Stephenson County Treasurer no less--has such little grasp of how proper public deliberation should be conducted by a unit of local government.  How many other times has the county board deliberated in secret, perhaps reaching a consensus before any public meeting?  Thereby denying citizens' rights to not only be privy to the discussion but to weigh in on the decision as well.  Clearly, an open letter to the governor is not something that can be legally discussed in closed session, such decisions must be made in the sunlight.

Another problem, does the signatures of a majority of the Stephenson County Board on a single document make this letter an official act of the board which can only be undone by further board action or lawsuit?  Why, or why not/  Clearly, before being so cavalier, these county board members would have been well served to discuss this letter with the State's Attorney or Clerk and Recorder.  Tutty knows that there is expertise within Stephenson County which more often than not exceeds that of board members.  In most cases, board members are not qualified to answer Tutty's questions.  They are not attorneys and they are not the keeper of records.

In a public Facebook Live conversation with State Representative Andrew Chesney, one of the letter's signers, county board member Andy Shroeder said, "I was one of the 14 members of the board that signed this letter that went to Governor Pritzker and I just want to be very clear that any comments I make about that are my own, I certainly don't represent that I speak for the other 13 members of the board that signed it so I want to be clear about that."

If Mr. Shroeder only wants to speak for himself why did he use Stephenson County letterhead for the press release?  To draw attention?  Or to fool the less informed in the media and the pubic into thinking it was an official act of the board?  Here is a picture of the press release:

How is it proper or ethical to use the county seal and the return address of the county administrator on anything less than official Stephenson County Business?  Does Mr. Shroeder make this a habit?  Perhaps Mr Shroeder should have used the letter head and return address of his employer, the Freeport Police Department.  Tutty doubts that would go over very well with Chief of Police Matt Summers. Tutty understands Chief Summers puts a very high value on integrity.

One last thing, these board members have professionals at their disposal.  A health department administrator, an emergency management coordinator and a county administrator yet none of these people are cited in the letter which very much involves the health and safety of all Stephenson County residents.

Tutty was going to take the letter apart paragraph by paragraph as Mr. Shroeder in his Facebook Live conversation urged everyone to read the letter and said he wanted to, "dispel any myths about that letter because I think nuance is important and if you're not reading the whole letter you are missing a lot of the nuance that's in it."

I think it is disingenuous for Mr. Shroeder to stress how he speaks for himself when he is part of  known coalition of Stephenson County Board members that are comfortable going outside the confines of legal meetings to not only form a majority behind closed doors but to take an action which could affect all Stephenson County residents, without residents having any knowledge until after the fact.

I'd like someone to explain how this is proper behavior of any Illinois unit of local government?  Tutty's all ears.

As always, yours in honesty Tutty Baker  tutty.baker@gmail.com

Requests to Governor Pritzker Analyzed

After a month under Governor Pritzker's executive order known as the "stay at home" order whereby Illinois' non-essential businesses were closed, threatening the financial livelihood of people and businesses alike, area mayors are antsy to begin opening up their respective economies.  As a result, several letters have been written to the governor asking for relief from the order.

The two letters focused on in this post will be the letter Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara sent on April 14th and the letter sent by Stephenson County mayors; Jodi Miller, Freeport; Shawn Cox, Cedarville; Jason Knox, Dakota; Robert Knoup, Pearl City; Kim Kopp, Ridott; Charles Halbleib, Rock City; Leroy Wernet, Winslow; Dennis Bergman, Lena and Michael Siedschlag, Orangeville.

These letters were chosen as they both ask the governor for completely different things.  Mayor McNamara asks for "modifications" of the executive order.  The request from the Stephenson County mayors ask Governor Pritzker: "if you are considering extending any statewide restrictions beyond April 30th, we strongly request that you allow each community or region, that knows their businesses, their people, and the COVID impact on their community to make proper decisions on reopening businesses."

Let's look at Mayor McNamara's letter first.  The mayor's main point is that, "Big box stores are posting record profits, while the 'mom and pop' stores are sadly going insolvent."

The Rockford mayor requests a modification to the executive order to "Allow all non-essential retail businesses to provide curbside pickup for online and phone orders as part of their Minimum Basic Operations, while recommending appropriate health measures be taken."  He also would like any modification to "Allow all outdoor garden centers to remain open."   Among the measures suggested by the mayor are "curbside transactions be contact free" and that "employees wear masks" and patrons should stay in their cars as much as possible as well as employees have their temperatures taken at the beginning and middle of their shifts.

Mayor McNamara stated that "allowing big box stores to keep their non-essential departments open for business, while requiring standalone stores to close, we are encouraging more people to congregate at a select few stores."  The mayor also asked that if the governor could not "enact these changes for small businesses, we request that you close all non-essential departments of big box stores including clothing sections, she departments, garden centers, etc.  We urge you to act on these recommendations to help save our local businesses, which are the backbone of every community in Illinois."

Tutty found Mayor McNamara's letter straight to the point with a single focus...trying to save his "mom and pop" businesses and asked for nothing that would not apply to his neighbors.  However, please don't take that to imply Tutty agrees with  Mayor McNamara, Tutty is no pandemic expert but found no questionable statements in the mayor's missive to the governor.

The letter sent from the Stephenson County mayors was written on City of Freeport letter head therefore, for clarity, Tutty will refer to it as the "Freeport letter".  But please remember it was approved and signed by all the above named mayors.

The mayors are rightly concerned about their constituents economic well being.  However their approach may need some work for the following reasons.  The Freeport letter states, "Thousands of employees who work n the restaurant, service, event logistics, nonessential retail, gyms, salons, and child care industries are being unnecessarily harmed."  The Freeport letter states that the mayors have had numerous people ask, "if social distancing is working in big box stores, then why can't the same social distancing measures be safely applied to small businesses?"

While not wanting to minimize the economic damage to our people and communities, Tutty is not convinced that it has been "unnecessary."  Secondly, how does anyone know "social distancing is working" have we had enough testing to actually know that as fact?  Again, Tutty is no healthcare expert but either are any of the local municipal leaders that signed the Freeport letter.

The Freeport letter asks that if the executive order is extended past April 30th that Governor Pritzker "allow each community or region, that know their businesses, their people, and the COVID impact on their community to make the proper decisions on opening businesses."  The letter states that "Stephenson County is not Cook County" and that "counties like ours have a different culture that, by nature, normally utilizes social distancing."  Wow, Tutty thought about some of our cultural events in Freeport---Music on Chicago, Cruise Night, Pretzel City Beerfest and of course the Stephenson County Fair.  Do we really utilize social distancing?  But a larger stretch of the truth was the mayors' collective assertion that "most of our dining options are laid out at distances greater than 6 feet apart."  Can Tutty get a list of those places please?

The Freeport letter asks Governor Pritzker to "Please consider these common sense modifications to the Executive order giving counties or regions the autonomy to enact local self-determination for social distancing measures and protocol."  While sounding good the effectiveness of such an arrangement could be be a logistical challenge.  Because "regions" are not defined by statute that's just not feasible at present.  Letting every jurisdiction set their own protocols would be a mess.  Travelling down Rte. 73 from Lena to Lanark you could have five different sets of protocols, three municipalities and two counties.

Tutty thinks it is obvious that the Freeport letter was approved by part time mayors with very little real experience in public policy much less public health.

While I believe the Stephenson County mayors in the Freeport letter have very good intentions, none of them are well versed in a pubic health crisis that even the experts find daunting. Secondly, they offered no real plan to prevent the spread of COVID, they basically just said let us do what we want.

What's more, these mayors need to put much greater effort into reviewing what they put forth for public discernment.  The most glaring error in their letter to Governor Pritzker was found in the first sentence of the their letter which reads, "On behalf of Northern Illinois Communities of the greater Freeport region we are writing about the impact of Executive Order Number 8".  Actually the stay at home order was Executive Order 2020-10.  Executive Order 2020-08 involved Secretary of State operations.

Such a glaring mistake, sure to jump out to whoever on the governor's team reads the original letter next, makes a body wonder if these Stephenson County mayors have even bothered reading Governor Pritzker's executive orders.  How can nine elected officials miss what jumped right out to Tutty if in fact they've done their diligence and studied the executive orders?  Such official sloppiness just doesn't look good from people that purport to have our best interest at heart.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker  tutty.baker@gmail.com

  

Northwest Illinois Values?

Tutty believes in being as honest as possible when it comes to speaking or writing in public.  The public must have good information if this democracy experiment is to be successful.  The public, in Tutty's opinion, should be able to expect at least an attempt by local officials to be forthright in every occasion.

Unfortunately, in the day social media, bluster, phoniness and personal attacks have taken the place of quality public discourse. Tangible facts are thrown out the window as half-truths and out and out lies pervade the news feeds of everyone's social media accounts.

That said, Tutty believes that the Stephenson County Republican Central Committee (SCRCC) as well as State Representative Andrew Chesney owe our U.S. House of Representative, Cheri Bustos, a public apology.

This past Thursday the SCRCC shared a post on Facebook which stated, "Cheri Bustos unloads Stock (sic) impacted by COVID!"  The SCRCC, for attribution, relied upon a post from Mr. Chesney with the claim, "Congresswoman Cheri Bustos dumps Stocks (sic) impacted by COVID-19 after private briefing!"

Mr. Chesney, in an effort to support these claims linked a Breitbart article to his post. Here is a link to the Breitbart article:
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/04/02/dccc-chair-unloaded-upwards-50k-stock-coronavirus-briefing/?fbclid=IwAR0XGXwkrhsAGH9D5cMyDTDo7eENOXEHhuJPv5iceNIxoQ86aNa1-Bhv4HQ

Let's forget the fact that Breitbart is not objective, and leans so far right as to defy gravity.  However, even this article provides nothing about Ms. Bustos behavior worthy of public mention and completely fails to support its own sensational headline alleging wrong doing by a member of congress.

The article states that Ms. Bustos, "sold off between $15,000 and $50,000 worth of stock in the Walt Disney Company on February 10, according to financial disclosure forms.  The sale was accompanied by a purchase in the same amount of shares of the retail giant Target" and that the Congresswoman's action took place after she was "privy to briefings from Trump administration officials regarding the pandemic."  A long confusing paragraph later the article starts a new paragraph with, "It is unclear if Bustos did attend the briefing."

In the first place, the article that Mr. Chesney--and by default the Stephenson County Republican Central Committee--used to support their claim of alleged wrong doing by Congresswoman Bustos corroborates no such thing.  Secondly.  Ms. Bustos, per the article, did not "dump" or "unload" any stocks as both Mr. Chesney and the SCRCC claim.  She traded one stock, Walt Disney, for another, Target. For the record, shares in both stocks have taken a beating in the days since the trade.

Perhaps local Republican Illinois Senator Brian Stewart and his political party mates, Sheriff David Snyders and State's Attorney Carl Larson should look into this matter and if  Mr. Chesney's allegations prove to be unfounded, there should be a public apology issued to Congresswoman Bustos.  Surely your constituents and hers are worthy of the truth.

Representative Chesney repeatedly cites  "Northwest Illinois Values" on his Facebook page.  Well gentlemen, now is your chance to prove that public integrity is one of those values.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker  tutty.baker@gmail.com

Blatant Price Gouging in Tutty's Town

Tutty went south to Dixon this morning, filled up with gasoline in Forreston, here is the picture of the reciept.  With the COVID-19 precautions there is a glut of gasoline and this is the lowest price per gallon in recent memory.

Arriving back in Freeport I couldn't help but notice Kelly-Williamson (Mobil) still had their price at a whopping $2.38 per gallon.  Picture below was taken at 12:29 pm, March 15, 2020.

So, Mayor Miller, Freeport City Council.  Why is acceptable for Kelly Williamson to gouge Freeporters?  Tutty always thought holder of liquor licenses held themselves to a higher standard...or at least the Freeport City Council would require a higher standard for such licenses.

Freeport leaders can either accept such obvious price gouging among their liquor license holders through their continued (yet still loud) silence or they can take decisive action to ensure that the holder of any such license has consequences for ripping people off.

What will it be Freeport City Council?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker,  tutty.baker@gmail.com

The Opaque Finances of the Freeport Park District

Much attention has been focused on the Freeport Park District as of late, and rightly so, in Tutty's informed opinion the park district has taxed far too much while at the same time shutting the real owners of our parks out of any official decision making.  All the multi-million dollar capital improvements over the past few decades and not a one tied to a referendum decision is proof enough.

Tutty was very happy to see so many individuals practicing civil engagement with the Freeport Park District Board of Commissioners and the work they went to gathering information and organizing a large group of concerned citizens.  They should be applauded for their efforts.

What still concerns Tutty, always the fiscal conservative, is the park board's agenda from their February 4th, 2020 regular meeting.  Agenda item B was an ordinance "providing for the issue of approximately $360,075 in General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds, Series 2020A"  The ordinance would also be "providing for the levy of  a direct annual tax to pay the principle and interest on on the bonds".  Here is a picture of the meeting agenda.

What Tutty can't understand is why the Park District--apparently--does not have to comply with the Bond Issue Notification Act, 30 ILCS 352/1...can anyone get Tutty an authoritative answer to this publicly important query?

The Bond Issue Notification Act  provides that Illinois' units of local government provide published  notice and hold an official public hearing before borrowing money (bonds) and creating a new tax (levy).  As far as Tutty can recall there was not any published notice, nor do the park district's written agendas and meeting minutes suggest that an official public hearing was ever held.

Does the Park District and their five commissioners actually have the power to borrow money--money that many of us have yet to earn without even telling us they are doing it, much less what they are borrowing it for? The Bond Issue Notification act, it would appear, was meant to prevent this very thing.  One paragraph of the act would require the "governing body shall explain the reasons for the proposed bond issue."  Here is a picture of that part of the statute.

So why does this Illinois statute not apply to the Freeport Park District?  How can five-commissioners decide to borrow money and not even officially give notice that they raising your property taxes to do it?  Where is our States Attorney?  Who is charged with making sure these statutes are followed?  Is a private citizen expected to hire an attorney?

Tutty believes these question (and others) need to be put to Stephenson County States Attorney, Mr. Carl Larson as well as our two representatives to the Illinois General Assembly, Senator Brian Stewart and Representative Andrew Chesney.  The citizens of the Freeport Park district deserve an authoritative answer to the questions posed above

Is it too much for citizens to ask that units of local government be transparent when it comes to public financing?

Why can't we expect that here in northwest Illinois?  Gentlemen?

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker,  tutty.baker@gmail.com

Freeport Park District, Taxation Without Representation

No one will dispute that Freeport has excellent park facilities, that's not a matter of debate.  God blessed this area with geological beauty and we've managed to maintain some of it for our collective enjoyment. However, how much money does the Freeport Park District actually need from our pockets to maintain our parks and keep them in a respectable state of repair?

And that my fellow Freeporters is literally a multi-million dollar question.

In the last 30-years the Freeport Park District  has bought land and constructed a new district headquarters, have completely redone both Krape and Read Parks with a maintenance garage in Krape that resembles a hangar for aircraft, and let's not forget the new restroom facilities to the tune of more than $400k. The district has bought and torn down houses near Read Park to expand parkland holdings while the population is shrinking.  At their October 22, 2019 meeting the park district's five commissioners voted to create new position of  "Park District Assistant Director."

Clearly, while Freeport, Illinois shrinks, we probably have more empty square footage of big box stores than we have occupied, the Freeport Park District continues to spend like drunken sailors.

And now, at tonight's meeting, park district  commissioners will more than likely vote to raise our taxes and borrow money from us that we have yet to earn.  This action will result in a direct increase to property taxes paid to the park district.  All you have to do is read the agenda on the Freeport Park District's web page.

The Freeport Park District should only be collecting enough in tax dollars to adequately maintain our parks in a respectable state of repair.  The fact that they can do all of the above listed capital improvements and more without coming to the taxpayers for a referendum proves that they are collecting too much of our money.

If they had a choice would local taxpayers rather see the public money the park district is voting to borrow tonight used for something more necessary.  Say the Walnut Acres (formerly the Stephenson County nursing home).  Perhaps the Freeport Public Library Board could use the additional tax rate the park district will likely approve at tonight's meeting to reinstate Sunday hours.

Tutty feels it is terribly sad that the Freeport Park District has money to burn but we can't have our library open on Sunday's during the school year?  Why is the park district getting fatter and has the money for every little thing the commissioners want to do while our other local taxing bodies are forced to make cuts and struggle to provide, arguably more important, basic services?

Where is the outcry from local officials?  The park district is borrowing money without a referendum, published notice or a public hearing and no one says a damn thing?  Tutty thought Stephenson County was a Republican stronghold?   How can the park district's actions be termed as anything less than in-your-face socialism?

The Stephenson County GOP always has plenty of opinions to share on Facebook regarding national issues but when it comes to things that actually mean something to the bottom line for local taxpayers they are strangely missing in action.

Recently our Republican representatives to the Illinois General Assembly weighed in on actions the that Freeport  D145 School Board had taken.  While this was an issue driven by emotions it had little to nothing to do with pubic necessity or expenditure.

If the local Republican party is as adamant about tax issues as they claim why are they not speaking out about the Freeport Park District issuing non-referendum, non-noticed debt upon their constituents? They can't write or speak about how much they want reduced property taxes while at the same time ignoring (or perhaps being ignorant of) the Freeport Park District's actions which will result in a direct property tax increase for their constituents.

Oh, and in case anyone missed it, the Park District is really not too keen on being accountable to the public they are alleged to serve.  Besides handing out free golf passes to themselves (ethical issue?) do park district commissioners hand out additional free golf passes to other officials, while heavily subsidizing Park Hills Golf Course with general taxes?

For decades the Freeport Park District Board of Commissioners has existed with far too little public scrutiny.  This is why commissioners were able to expend good money on a "Commissioners' Garden" in Krape Park.  Here, all this time, Tutty thought it was only in monarchies  or communist countries where leaders collected public funds build monuments to themselves.

Tutty knows this, nary a Republican "leader" around here had better utter a word about high property taxes or socialism unless they show up at the Freeport Park District Board of Commissioner's meeting tonight and oppose blatant taxation without representation.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker,  tutty.baker@gmail.com.