WHY FIRE DON?
Don has big ideas for your money and your property – and you’d better not protest. He threatens to – and actually does – destroy private property. He spends taxpayer money on big projects – the needs of the people be damned. As a result, taxes have risen and are continuing to rise. He spoke on behalf of the Village of Shabbona to give away Shabbona Lake – and as a result the bill to transfer ownership of the Lake will likely pass.
1+
Businesses Closed or Prevented
1+
TAXPAYER DOLLARS SPENT
1+
LAKE GIVEN AWAY
1+
DEPARTURE YEAR – SHABBONA CANNOT SURVIVE THAT LONG!
EXAMPLES
After sitting vacant for decades, Josh Snyder purchased the building and immediately started work to fix up the building.
The Village President immediately called the building inspectors (B&F) claiming that illegal work was being done to the building despite a valid permit for the masonry repairs that were being done.
The Village President threatened to fill in a stairwell that provides access to the building’s basement. Even after trying to explain that the stairwell was on private property and that Josh has future plans to open a new business or expand into the basement, the Village President was insistent on his way.
Josh had asked for a slight modification to the parking lot being built next door. The modification simply moved the lot over slightly so cars would be less likely to hit his building. Despite IDOT and the engineer’s approval, the Village President protested and tried to force the original plan.
Josh went public about the threats and bullying from Village President Don Goncher.
The Village President retaliated against the owner by telling B&F to issue a “Stop Work Order” while roof repairs were being performed, again despite a permit having been pulled for the work.
The “Stop Work Order” caused a delay of around a month; the whole while rain was gushing into the building and causing further damage.
Thrift & Consignment Shop
103 W Comanche Ave
The owners have tried to open multiple different kinds of businesses in the old hardware store.
The most recent business shot down by the Village President is an indoor flea market and maker space.
The Village President decided they weren’t allowed to open without a Certificate of Zoning Compliance and/or a Certificate of Occupancy.
A Certificate of Occupancy is only required after new construction or a major rehab.
The Village President has declared that the rear portion of their building needs to be demolished to make way for a walking path.
The newest plans are to open a full service salon in 2025 but the owners fear retaliation, unnecessary obstacles, and fees. Especially considering their past experiences.
Hardware Hank
210 W Comanche Ave
When the current owners of the carwash purchased the business, they were immediately approached by the Village President and told the carwash had to be shut down.
The Village Attorney had to step in to tell the Village President that he couldn’t force the car wash to shut down, or demand the car wash can’t use the alley behind it, or that the vacuums had to be removed.
Car Wash
209 W Comanche Ave
Plans were drafted to open a coffee shop in the car wash’s building.
The Village President decided that the building code required an extra bathroom, despite a licensed architect (whose job is to design things to code) saying a second bathroom was not required.
The added cost of the extra bathroom was too great to justify it so the plans were scrapped.
Coffee Shop
209 W Comanche Ave
Tom Greenwell passed away in 2020 and the Village President took it upon himself to call Tom’s daughter, who lives out of state, to complain about everything to do with the property and set the stage for a long battle of harassment in order to induce the sale of the property.
The Village President has been keen on purchasing the property to demolish the buildings and to either expand the parking lot that has been recently built in front of it or to leave empty and maybe put in a bench.
The Village President believed he could bully the surviving Greenwells into selling at a steep discount. He offered them $2,500 for the property and to stop the harassment.
When the Greenwells turned down the low-ball offer, the Village President went on a campaign of passing new ordinances to target the property.
The Greenwells met and exceeded all of the new maintenance demands the Village President imposed on them. But that wasn’t enough. The Village President continues to bully and demand.
The shop had continued to be operated on an appointment only basis throughout the whole ordeal.
Despite remaining an active business, the Village President has deemed the building “vacant” under the Vacant Buildings Ordinance and has imposed unreasonable fines.
As of now, the shop has been closed down pending a sale to the Village.
The Village President wants to destroy an asset simply because he doesn’t like it. (This is a very common recurring theme)
Greenwell Small Engine Repair
106 1/2 W Comanche Ave
The Village President and Board have targeted almost all of these businesses/buildings with the Vacant Buildings Ordinance.
The Village has made it impossible to open a business, and then continuously fined the property owners for having vacant buildings
Vacant Buildings Ordinance
A Weapon
While it may be good to have rules in place for building, the Village government does not even follow its own rules.
Village Code 6-1-2 subsection 3 states “All sidewalks shall contain at least four inches (4”) of concrete with two (2) continuous three-eights inch (3/8”) reinforcement rods placed two inches (2”) deep, eight inches (8”) from each edge of the sidewalk.”
Little to no concrete poured for the Downtown Streetscape Project followed this code.
Is it right that the Village President insists on strict adherence to the Village Code for you, but not for himself?
Rules for Thee
(But not for me)
The state is debating a bill which would transfer ownership of Shabbona Lake State Park from the IL DNR to the Prairie Band Potawatomi
Village President Don Goncher filed a witness slip indicating that the Village of Shabbona supports this measure when most residents do not
The debate now includes the supposed support of the nearest Village, and the bill will likely pass
Is it right that the Village President speaks on your behalf, without even consulting you?
Shabbona Lake Giveaway
Signed, “The Village of Shabbona”
Did you know there are around 5 downtown businesses trying to open in Shabbona? They are being told they can’t!
The Village President and Board actively deter investment by creating roadblocks, fees, fines, and wild threats.
The Village President has persecuted downtown business owners by trying to remove access to their properties, their driveway aprons, and their storm water drainage with the Streetscape Project.
The Downtown Streetscape Project has destroyed a large portion of downtown parking.
Please read some of the stories inside about the businesses trying to make downtown better but are being told they can’t.
Downtown Decimated
Closed for Business
Shabbona has been spending an average of almost $1,000,000 per year over the last 10 years. For a town of just over 800 residents!
Whenever spending money comes up at Village Board meetings there is little to no discussion if it’s worth spending the money or if they can afford it. Spending just continues to rise with no relief in sight.
Taxes are on the rise and are set to continue to rise.
Out of Control Spending
Taxes on the Rise