Another reason to nix township government

As a village trustee for East Dundee, I attended the May 19 Dundee Township board meeting at the request of a few individuals who were to petition the board for permission to hold a classic car show at the Raceway Woods. Raceway Woods, for those unaware, is a parcel along Huntley Road that was purchased by the township for an obscene amount of money. My appearance at the meeting was completely impartial as I have no association with either the board or the car club.

Shortly after the meeting began, I could not shake the feeling that the fix was in concerning this issue. The gentleman standing next to me, who was part of the group lobbying for permission to hold the event, grew steadily agitated as the meeting continued. Despite being shamefully dismissed out of hand by Dundee Township Supervisor Sue Harney, the group walked away without even the courtesy of a vote. The board exposed themselves as just another bloated bureaucracy trumpeting the mantra of "we know better than you how to spend your money."

There was no reason to deny this event. I saw the car club as a responsible group of Dundee Township residents wanting to use Dundee Township property, which was paid for with Dundee Township tax dollars.

With the exception of Joann Fritz, who did little more than toe the party line in trying to explain the board's position, only Harney spoke to it. Her reasoning was not only thin, but insulting. Her contention was it would violate a covenant with the Department of Natural Resources and thereby put at risk any DNR grant money. I found it telling that no documentation proving this was offered except for a hand written statement on a white board in the meeting room.

I have long held the position that the township level of government is wholly unnecessary, and May 19's meeting left me more steadfast then ever in that belief.

Jeffrey J. Lynam

East Dundee