Hanover Pk. trustee rebuts editorial 

It seems in recent months that your editors have taken a cavalier and irresponsible approach in what you write.

Several months ago, when the wind turbine generator for District 20 was first proposed, you insinuated that if trustees did not vote for it, it was for political reasons.

It must be nice to have complete knowledge of all subjects. My 20 years of experience in structural erection tells me to tread softly. A wind turbine generator is the equivalent of placing the weight of 1½ fully loaded semi trucks on top of a pole 400 feet in the air. It will be the predominate feature of the skyline for miles around. It will be subject to the whims of nature.

Placing this structure in the wrong place could have devastating results. There are a myriad of issues, both pro and con, that go with this decision, not to mention that there are very few of these units in an urban setting. This doesn’t give much data to go on. Not one word of sworn testimony has been presented to the board or the Development Commission. When it is presented, I assure you the village board will make an INFORMED decision based on the facts – not on speculation, conjecture and what the current fad is. I don’t see you lobbying for one of these in your backyard.

Yesterday you ran an editorial that accuses the board of denying Trustee Carter’s request for funding for the Diversity Committee. There is one small problem with your story and I brought this to Ms. Pohl’s attention but you obviously ignored it. The committee does not yet exist. The mayor has requested that staff prepare an ordinance to create the committee. Once created it can be funded.

The question before the board on Thursday was discussion on the budget for the village president and board of trustees. What the board rejected on Thursday was the budget for the village president and board. Why don’t you read the agenda? Each board member had their own reason for voting as they did; I can only tell you mine. I was not happy with the way funds were appropriated in that budget and felt it needed more work, so I exercised my right to vote no.

The village has until April to pass a budget, so rejecting part of it and asking that it be reworked and resubmitted did no harm. It is my job as trustee to weed out unnecessary expenditures. That’s called fiscal responsibility – which your paper honored me for two years ago.

The other reason for my voting “no” was that if we are presented with an ordinance creating a Diversity Committee, the funding for that committee would come from the president and board’s budget. Had we passed that budget, we would have had to amend it before it even took effect. As for my position on the Diversity Committee, once I see the proposed ordinance, spelling out the purpose and scope of the committee, I can make an INFORMED decision. Until then my mind is open.

I’m sorry that the Herald editors are still upset that the village board would not allow them to invade the privacy of the Bock family as Irv battled his terminal illness, but you really need to get over it and start reporting responsibly again.

If not, I have a suggestion. Since you seem to really support green initiatives, why not spare the lives of millions of trees each year and stop printing garbage.

Trustee William J. Manton

Hanover Park

Daily Herald

14 January 2008