Grafton Township attorney resigns

The poisonous political atmosphere of Grafton Township claimed its latest victim this week.

Joe Gottemoller, who has served fewer than six months as the township's attorney, resigned his post Thursday.

The Crystal Lake attorney said the township's elected officials put politics before the public interest, making it difficult to complete even the most mundane tasks.

"My private practice has taken me in front of almost every government entity in McHenry County and some in Kane and Lake counties," Gottemoller wrote in his resignation letter. "With all of this work, even when the things did not go my way I was proud to be associated with the officials who were doing their best to serve the citizens who elected them. I cannot say the same about Grafton Township. The township officials appear to have forgotten that their purpose is to serve the residents who entrusted them with these offices."

Since the April election, newly elected Supervisor Linda Moore and the four township trustees have continually been at odds. While their dispute was originally over plans for a new township hall - which Moore opposes and the trustees support - the clash of personalities has engulfed other areas of the township governance as well.

As an example, Gottemoller said he fielded nine calls this week about who should post a routine meeting notice on the township offices.

"Who ... cares? I don't care who posts the notice," Gottemoller replied. "You couldn't do the simplest tasks. No one could get anything accomplished," he said.

Township officials responded to Gottemoller's surprise announcement by pointing fingers.

"It's a very unfortunate loss for our township," Moore said. "I really don't believe his criticisms are directed at me. I think they're more directed at the trustees."

Not so, said newly elected Trustee Gerry McMahon.

"Linda Moore is a very poor manager, supervisor," McMahon said. "She just doesn't have a grasp of the job. She tends to use people and lie to people."

Despite the recriminations, Gottemoller's departure may spark a thawing between the political rivals. Moore and Trustee Rob LaPorta said they spoke on Thursday and agreed to try to mend fences.

"I told her that I'm available anytime she would like to meet one-on-one," LaPorta said. "My goal - is to try to get us out of this political focus and refocus on the needs of the community that we working on before this last campaign."