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Tom Roeser: East Dundee is 'rotten to work with'

Tom Roeser called himself East Dundee's biggest supporter when he first began a public-private partnership with the village. But their once strong relationship is in turmoil after Roeser says officials failed to respond to his concerns on several occasions.

At a meeting Monday, Roeser criticized the conduct in which the village collaborates with investors. He accused officials of interfering with private investments, failing to communicate with developers and, in turn, discouraging future growth.

“You guys are just rotten to work with,” said Roeser, president of Otto Engineering.

Roeser also called for the resignation of Village President Lael Miller, who was not at the meeting. But Trustee Jeff Lynam said the village board as a whole should take responsibility for Roeser's frustrations.

“I'm troubled that Mr. Roeser — as influential and effective as he is, and really good for the village — is as frustrated as he is,” Lynam said. “I would encourage some continued dialogue, and hopefully everyone can be made happy with whatever compromise we're able to come up with.”

Roeser's discontent with the village first arose in February, when he sent a letter to East Dundee residents saying officials defaulted on a pledge regarding the 611 E. Main St. building.

Roeser had previously bought and renovated the building with the understanding that the village would eventually buy back any unsold office suites. Officials said they upheld that promise last year when East Dundee purchased the property exclusive of three office units, including one Roeser was seller-financing to a potential buyer.

When that deal fell through months later, Roeser asked the village to buy the unit in full. But Miller said in February the village is not obligated to purchase the remaining suite, as per a sales contract with Otto Engineering.

The issue still hasn't been fully resolved, Roeser said Monday, and officials — namely Miller — are “just purely avoiding me.”

Roeser also denounced East Dundee's decision to purchase the 110 N. River St. property and turn it into a temporary parking lot. Though officials hope to eventually sell it to a developer, Roeser said the village should have allowed an interested buyer to create a permanent public parking lot there.

But Lynam said buying the lot gives the village flexibility to determine its fate.

“It's in the village's best interest to retain some control over the business development,” Lynam said. “It's our community. We need to apply some vision to (our plans) and think, what will we be able to do with it down the road?”

  Businessman Tom Roeser is criticizing East Dundee officials, saying they failed to promptly respond to his request for the village to purchase the final office unit in the 611 E. Main St. building. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
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