Larry Bettag Illinois FHA Specialist

The glory of the disconnections in Campton Hills continues.... here's the article from the daily herald with my comments.

www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=313433

Campton Hills officials said Wednesday they won't appeal the disconnection of seven properties neighboring the village president's house. (I wouldn't want to live next to her, much less be incorporated within her town).

Kane County Judge Michael J. Colwell ruled late last week to allow six homes and one undeveloped parcel in the Homeward Glen subdivision, where Village President Patsy Smith lives, to detach from the village.

Attorney Timothy Elliott, who represented the property owners, said the disconnected area is 34 acres and includes 28 residents whose land will be returned to unincorporated Kane County.

Elliott said his clients were "frustrated" with the village for opposing their petition to disconnect without putting on witnesses or introducing any evidence. "We're pleased the village chose not to put on a case, but puzzled and disappointed they didn't just consent to the disconnection outright and save everyone the expense of going to trial," he said. This is exactly one more reason why we don't want the village. they can't make any decent business decision. OK...hmmmmmm....let's engage in a lawsuit and put on no witnesses, but make sure we pay the attorney who represents us????

Village Attorney Bill Braithwaite said there will be no appeal. (On what grounds? there are no grounds....they didn't oppose anything) The village went to trial but did not put on a case, he said, "to be sure the facts are there that would allow for disconnection. Huh????

"The village took the position that the people seeking disconnection should be required to prove their case, which they did," Braithwaite said. "We did not present any evidence or go to the expense of producing any witnesses or experts, so the result was fully anticipated." How much did they pay the attorney to not represent them....or may to represent them to do nothing?

Smith declined to comment. Of course she didn't......

Since its controversial incorporation in May 2007, Campton Hills has resisted a flood of property owners' attempts to remove their properties from the village, arguing the cumulative effect on per capita state revenue could be devastating.

In most cases, Colwell has sided with the property owners, many of whom say they simply do not want to live in an incorporated area. Who would? I sure didn't move out here to have a prima dona ruling over me with and treat the homeowners as peasants in her fifedom. Braithwaite said appeals are pending in two cases the village won, but all other disconnection petitions have been decided.

Please join me in welcoming Mike Kachadorian and Doug Haldeman and their entire team to the Cherry Creek Team. Mike and Doug have a huge team just outstide of Saint Louis, Missouri and an incredible history in the business. They have a huge lending team that really has captured the market with in their area just out side of Saint Louis.

Mike and Doug are huge family men who have similar passions and core values as I do. They love their families and they love serving their clients. What separates them is that they've been in the business so long and are doing very well, even in this economy. Why would this be the case? They've found a way to really serve their clients. In this market, they bring out the best of their loan originators, but have built a huge sphere of referrals through their database and referral network.

They really are people who spend a lot of time investing, not only in their team, but especially in their clients. I think that's what makes them so successful in our industry.

Their local team of Loan Officers have an average of 10 years of mortgage industry experience and have been recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of the areas top 25 Mortgage Lenders for the past 2 years.

Mike and Doug work hard to bring you the best home buying experience in the St. Louis area. Their team of Loan Officers, Appraisers, Processors, Underwriters and Closers are experienced and dedicated in serving your mortgage needs, from application through closing. They go above and beyond to make it easy and convenient for you.

Please join me in welcoming me these men of integrity to Cherry Creek Mortgage. We are so proud that your entire team has decided to let our company serve you. If you need a mortgage in the Saint Louis Area, call Doug and Mike at 314-439-9999.

In keeping with my theme of localism, I like to highlight those who are tops in their field. That means that these establishments are really head and shoulders above the others. When I got into this business, I was able to hook up with a realtor who was about 1 lap ahead of me in her learning. It was Joyce Courtney, of Re/Max at that time. I met her when she was a buyer's agent for a realtor who worked for Re/Max. We did a deal together and it quickly became obvious that we HAD TO work together. It really wasn't an option. We were both:

• Driven for being the best in the industry;
• Driven by a quest for knowlege;
• committed to serving our clients better than anyone;
• Driven to learn how to add value to our clients in ways that our competition coudn't, and;
• Had the ability to demand that we follow Vince Lombardi's mantra of:

1. God First;
2. Family Second; and
3. Green Bay Packers or, er, Work third......

Needless to say, Joyce and I and our spouses quickly became fast friends. My wife and I are now better friends than even she and I.

So....the reason she's the best of the best is because you're friends, you may ask?????

Nooooooooooooooooooo....not at all. The reason we're friends is because we both have the same values as to how a client needs to be treated. I think that I do a pretty darn good job following up with my clients after closing. I do a lot of post closing value added service. In fact, my branch at Cherry Creek Mortgage just got voted the best mortgage company in all of Kane County by the reader's choice awards. However, I learned the tricks of service through Joyce. There's really no one better at giving back in a sincere manner to her clients than Joyce.

I think that investing in your clients and adding sincere value to them distinguishes you from your competition. The most important thing is that service needs to be sincere. Joyce emulates that. When it comes to the BEST OF THE BEST, Joyce Courtney proves that she is the exception and not the rule.

Call Joyce at 630-513-6010 or visit her at www.thehomecourt.com

Best of the Best.....Avenue Two Barber Shop in Saint Charles, Illinois has been around for over 30 years in Saint Charles. I moved here in 5th Grade and have had my hair cut there since. In 7 of the last 12 years, Avenue Two Barber Shop has been voted the best barber shop, not only in Saint Charles, but also in all of Kane County. That says a lot.

What do I like about the barber shop? The prior owners hired graduates from Mooseheart Illinois. Mooseheart is an organization sponsored by the loyal order of the Moose that invest in the lives of orphaned and children without adequate parents and prep them for college and life and teach them a trade to boot. One of those trades??????? Barbering!!!! Check out www.mooseheart.org.

Those guys who were as young as I was when I was getting my 5th grade hair cuts are the new owners. Scott and Mick Davenport and Brian now own and run the best place in town.

My niece, Jessi, goes to Mooseheart and loves sharing her stories with all the Mooseheart men at Avenue Two.

For a great haircut, great comraderie and great service from the best people in the business, call one of the boys at Avenue Two in Saint Charles. Tell them Larry sent you. You won't be disappointed.

Call Mick and Scott today at 630-584-2002!!!!!

As most people are aware, the village is falling apart. The village has a $10,000,000 suit against it. It has a suit from the chosen head of the "Village." There are budget issues. Calls for reduction of the police force, an increase in admin employees, vast differences from those in power show the incredible increase in discontent in Campton Hills.

But now comes some just stunning news. Judge Colwell again ruled in favor of the people and allowed those who never wanted to be in this village to depart and leave even though they are neighbors of the grand pooba. Congratulations to Peter Vasilakos and all of the petitioners who got their freedom. It becomes very costly for those who remain.

As reported in the Kane County Chronicle....www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2009/08/07/62305401/index.xml

Eleven neighbors of Campton Hills Village President Patsy Smith can disconnect from the village, a judge ruled late Friday.

Kane County Circuit Court Judge Michael Colwell issued a written order allowing the 20 residents of the Homeward Glen subdivision to disconnect. Smith lives in the subdivision.

Smith did not return a phone message seeking comment.

But village attorney William Braithwaite said the decision was no surprise.

"We are disappointed, of course, that they sought to leave, but that was their decision," Braithwaite said. "We do not anticipate any appeal."

The homeowner association is made up the owners of 25 houses in the subdivision.

Homeowners association president Peter Vasilakos, and his wife Carolyn, of 39W310 Cranston Road, were among the petitioners who filed court papers in May seeking to disconnect.

"This is one of the happiest days of my life," Vasilakos said. "We don't feel the need to be part of the village. It's another layer of government with no need for it."