Dear Editor,
In response to an article in the May 25 edition of the Northwest Herald, regarding the opposition of a new Centrega Hospital because of the new Sherman Hospital – I feel the opposition is totally incorrect. I also live in Huntley – Actually Dell Webb’s Sun City. Our retirement community has approximately 9,500 residents. Many of them do not like to travel the toll road – especially when ill, and I agree with them. Some will not even take the toll road when they are feeling good – just a phobia of driving the toll road and all the crazy drivers. A hospital on Haligus and between Reed Road and Algonquin Road would be much closer for any type of hospital service, emergency, or just visiting loved ones at the hospital. Sherman might be great for those living in Elgin, but not those living in Huntley – especially in Sun City. Retirement communities have a higher percent of illnesses and emergencies than those living in communities with younger families – a closer hospital could save a life.
We need a hospital close to our community and not in Elgin. I believe many living in Sun City feel as I do. Why drive all the way to Sherman when we can have a hospital in our back yard?
Thank you,
Jim Bartunek
A Sun City resident
Open Letter to the SCCAH Board of Directors
First let me say that I believe the Board of Directors has done many fine things for Sun City and has made plenty of great decisions affecting its residents. I also want to point out that I have nothing against the church but I have a major problem with the lack of transparency in the Boards’ decision to sign this three month lease.
True to being on the firing line when dealing with a large group of individuals, not all decisions are loved by everyone. As an example, based on input I’ve received from many Sun City residents, the lions share of the people feel the Boards’ choice of Jamesons as a replacement for Twelfth Night Catering was a stroke of genius. Personally I agree with that assessment. However, keeping in mind that you can’t please all the people all the time, I have also heard a few residents grumble about that choice. Clearly the vast majority feel Jamesons is perfect for Sun City.
The main issue here is that decision, although it upset a small number of residents, did not divide the community. Another factor was, as residents, we were kept in the loop as progress was made in nailing down a replacement vendor. Additionally, there was no question that all the residents wanted a new vendor to take over the old restaurant. We were all riding in the same boat.
On the other hand the decision to sign a lease with a church allowing them to use our facilities at MVL was done without keeping everyone in the loop. No one I know had any awareness of this agreement until well after the lease was signed, sealed, and delivered. This included our neighborhood representatives.
You have effectively taken away the ability for residents to use two rooms at MVL on Sunday mornings for the life of the lease.
A bigger issue here is the fact that this decision, made by the Sun City Board of Directors, has seriously divided the community. In Bill Pennock’s letter to the community dated April 2011 regarding âMeadow View Lodge Rentalâ he states – âthe Board will take action based on its duty to operate in the best interest of the entire communityâ. Clearly the Boards’ decision here does not uphold that commitment.
Whether it’s true or not there is word going around that this short term lease at MVL is purposely short term until the old sales center renovation is complete. The supposed idea being that the church will then be given a new, longer term lease commandeering a chunk of the new build-out which is supposed to be for the use of all Sun City residents.
I am a member of the Cue Club and you well know that we were moved out of a wonderful location in the Lodge which was then turned into the old Sports Bar and is now part of the new Jamesons. We were told from the beginning that our move to significantly smaller space in the Millgrove Woodshop building was just temporary until the sales staff moved out of the Lodge. At that time space would be available. You, the Board, made the decision that we would be relegated to stay in the current, less than accommodating space because there was not enough room for us in the revamped Lodge space. I would hate to think that we’ve been relegated to this less than desirable space because your plan all along was to provide a long term lease to the church in the new space.
I could go on and on about the ill effects of your decision and how it was made. I now implore you to do the right thing and do not renew the church’s’ three month lease, or sign a new long-term lease. There are plenty of churches in the area including the new Willow Creek extension at Huntley High School. Do the right thing for our community and allow the lease to expire at the end of its initial three month term. Reunite the community.
Sincerely,
Michael Fahey
N25
