Canceled retreat could cost Lake Zurich $2,000

Lake Zurich officials said they expect to lose more than $2,000 after having to cancel a work retreat at Geneva National Golf Course in Lake Geneva, Wis. this weekend.

The money was for deposits on 16 hotel rooms for one night and a banquet hall for a two-day goal-setting and planning retreat involving village staff and board members.

"We are certainly going to try and get the deposit money back, but there are no guarantees because that is not their policy," Village Administrator Bob Vitas said.

The total bill at Geneva National was about $3,100, and the resort has agreed to refund about $750 of that amount, Vitas said. The village expects to lose the difference, or $2,387, he said.

The village was forced to change locations for the retreat after a community member complained to the Lake County State's Attorney's office about the 45-mile distance from the village.

Prosecutors said that distance violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act. They said the open meetings act states meetings are to be held at times and places convenient to the public.

State's attorney officials said they were ready to file a formal complaint against the village to stop the retreat, but village officials agreed to change the location to the village police department.

The retreat, which is open to the public, is set for 9 a.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

Vitas said Thursday the Lake Zurich board does not agree with the state's attorney's decision.

"If you look at the meeting agenda and the events that needed to be accomplished, we had 20-hour work sessions that would have taken all day Friday and all day Saturday," he said. "There was no golf, no parties, absolutely nothing planned like that. It was work sessions that did not include spouses, children or guests."

He added the board looked for a location within one hour driving distance for the retreat because it was far enough to get away from everyday distractions, but still close enough should any residents want to attend.

The village board held a similar meeting in Lake Geneva in 1995, "so there was a precedent in place for this sort of thing."

"But, we have moved past it at this point," he said. "We have business to conduct and we will conduct our business, whether it's in Lake Geneva or at the police station."