What, exactly, led to this decision?

If McHenry County College District 528 taxpayers wanted to see when, how and where the decision was made to convert 30 acres of our land to a sports and entertainment complex for a private developer, where could they look?

Not in the board of trustees' minutes. On Jan. 22, March 19 and April 11, these arrangements were made behind closed doors.

Not in the recordings of those closed sessions. Although the one-sentence descriptions of two of the closed-door sessions have been released, the public is being denied the recordings of those meetings.

Not in the three April 26 agendas. Nothing under action items in the retiring board's consent agenda to alert the public that a license agreement with the private developer was to be approved. Instead, it is buried in "committee reports" in the retiring board minutes.

Not in the fiscal year budget. At the Aug. 22 budget hearing, the Operations and Maintenance Fund, about to expand to about $35 million, is not part of the $58.8 million revenue projection. No projected or itemized costs separating the educational component of expansion from the sports and entertainment complex. No budget details given that would disclose new District 528 debt, or that taxpayers would have no say in that new debt burden.

Not in the "informational" meetings administrative staff members held last week, although President Walt Packard admitted that a referendum request for an athletic facility probably would fail.

No hard data given at these meetings -- just pie charts with percentages. Nothing to show that taxpayers will assume risk and liability for a private, for-profit entity.

One fact we learned: the administration insists there is no time to work out better plans that would protect the lake that many value.

Ask the elected trustees -- who have successfully hidden behind the administrative "spin" -- why.

Jane Collins

Woodstock