Quick Hits – October 24, 2024

Quick Hits – October 24, 2024

LaFox just dodged a bullet

Way back in 2007 – my second year as a columnist for the Sun-Times newspapers – I warned those fine but nutty Campton Hillians that, given Elgin’s penchant for land grabs, they’d annex their mother if they left her standing by the border for too long. When LaFox balked at being incorporated into the new village, I admonished them for being absurdly short-sighted.  

My theory was, considering those stately homes, the wide-open spaces, and the property tax possibilities, someone would be coming after them sooner rather than later. But when the 2008 subprime mortgage debacle crashed the housing market, it put off any LaFox annexation possibility. Of course, my esteemed LaFoxians mistook a tailwind for talent, never truly considering their good, but temporary, fortune.

Which nearly ran out this year when Pulte Homes, the quintessential questionable enterprise, did their damnedest to incite St. Charles into annexing that land. For reference purposes, Pulte has a combined 1.3 out of five-star rating on the Consumer Affairs website. Generating that kind of ill will takes real skill and a certain amount of talent.

Pulte’s ham-handed mistake was going whole hog on a proposed 900 home subdivision which would’ve essentially quadrupled the village’s 1,090 population. That prospect provoked the populace into outright rebellion. And when faced with that stark red yard sign opposition, St. Charles relented.

Had that homebuilder been a little more circumspect, they might’ve been able to pick off those parcels piecemeal – something they’re probably planning as we speak. LaFox’s kryptonite is the promise of improving their abysmal utilities. All you have to do is sneeze out there and the power goes out, and we won’t even talk about the “plumbing” because this is a family blog. Combine that prospect with vastly increased property values and it just might just convince some smaller enclaves to capitulate to the next more savvy operation.

But even if it isn’t Pulte, Elburn is growing by leaps and bounds and their fascist village board wouldn’t think twice about instigating a southern invasion. Given their persistent infighting, I don’t think Campton Hills would try anything, but city governments have a tendency to change – as will certainly be the case with St. Charles.

Put more simply, my 17-year advice still stands. If my beloved LaFoxians don’t join forces with Campton Hills, or incorporate into their own village, annexation is only a matter of time.

 

Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining

Though he certainly wasn’t one of my favorite elected officials, I take no solace in former Batavia Alderman Dan Chanzit’s recent felony drug bust. To wit, a North Central Narcotics Task Force search warrant on his home produced felony charges of:

  •         Possession of methamphetamine – less than 5 grams
  •         Possession of Ecstasy – less than 15 grams
  •         Possession of psilocybin – less than 15 grams
Dan Chanzit

Considering 15 grams is barely over half-an-ounce, we’re not talking about mass quantities here. Chanzit maintains business has kept him away from that home 20 hours a day, and he was unaware of his two live-in “artisans” propensity to dabble in drugs. He’s convinced he’ll eventually be exonerated.

But I’m not so sure about that.

A number of local law enforcement leaders explained that the Task Force generally doesn’t pursue minor possession cases. They tend to act on tips, and that dime dropping typically revolves around the intent to sell those controlled substances. When you add that reality to the fascinating variety of pharmaceuticals found at Chanzit’s home, I’m betting there was more than a bit of selling going on.

One of the commanders further explained that Task Force timing can be everything. If a dealer’s wholesaler just made a delivery and they show up with a warrant, it’s not going to end nearly as well for the inevitable defendant(s). Conversely, if their supply is at low ebb, the defendant(s) can thank their lucky stars.

Again, it’s nothing more than an educated speculation, but I think the latter is the more likely case here. Put more simply, Mr. Chanzit really oughtta buy a lottery ticket.

Regardless of what we just discussed, his purported ignorance of his residential proceedings will get him absolutely nowhere. Just like you’re on the insurance hook if you loan your car to a friend, you’re ultimately responsible for whatever goes on under your roof.

Oh! And by the way, the fact that the Kane County Chronicle insists on printing mugshots before a defendant has their day in court proves that newspaper is even scummier than Pulte. They had a plethora of Chanzit shots to choose from, but they went with the mug variety, instead. Why does the term “pieces of shit” suddenly come to mind?

 

And speaking of utilities…

I’m not sure if it’s luck, if Geneva city administrators gave ComEd what for, or if it was me buying that backup power supply, but aside from a semi-recent lightning strike, the Geneva electric utility has managed to keep the westside juice flowing uninterrupted since July 22. Do the math and that adds up to three outage free months, which really doesn’t take all that much getting used to.

Since this journalist made a point of pointing out those previous power failure failures, it’s equally, if not more important, to bestow the appropriate credit when things are going well. Consider it done!

Keep up the good work Geneva!

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