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<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9TbfqKAd4U">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9TbfqKAd4U</a><!-- m -->
What a coincidence. While browsing youtube I saw Linda's statement. This is the statement that drove Wayne wild. I wonder which particular parts Wayne took issue with and/or thought were lies?
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That second video is even worse as it captures the beginning of the discussion and shows the context of Mtoley's comments.
Motley's behavior is reprehensible.
And why did Hyde tell him to speak anyway?
He's not part of the council and Ms. Rickman was not talking to or about him.
If he want's to keep the two forms of government seperate he should have kept his mouth shut and he should resign from being the City Clerk.
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Wow that's the first time I saw Motley NOT hitting on a woman in the same room as him!
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I readily admit that I lost my composure at the city council meeting after hearing Linda Ryckman's comments concerning the alledged environmental issues at the former Orchard Hills Golf Course. I stated that Linda Ryckman was a liar. That term may seem harsh to you, and in hindsight, I should have used the word misguided or misinformed.
Ms Ryckman continually alleges that the golf course property is contaminated with arsenic, yet she is unable to substantiate her claim.
I have spoken to Ms Ryckman personally since this incident and I did apologize to her for my conduct and behavior the evening of the council meeting. I will not attempt to defend my actions, my remarks were inappropriate. I guess that I had just had enough of Linda Ryckman's misuse of facts and reacted instinctively to defend the Waukegan Park District.
Who you believe at this point is up to you, however, I can assure you that I would never place my grandchildren or anyone else in harm's way by allowing them to play on at site that I suspected of being environmentally insecure.
Wayne Motley
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I myself don't care about the video, I figured that there was some bad blood between you two after I saw it. I wouldn't call it you were going wild. If someone thought your statements was going wild they should view the English Parliament in session. You can see it on the BBC. It's a hoot.
Anyway, I do care about and what many care about is what the park district is going to do.
You take a functioning golf course and bulldoze it. Now that in itself is no small thing. You must be aware what it cost to build a golf course, millions upon millions. First you have to find the land and in this day and age that isn't easy. You already had it. You have to get an architect to design it, you have to do the necessary land work. It's a big undertaking and when you already have one you don't take it away lightly. You just can't stop off on the way home from work and pick up a golf course.
We both know that golf attendance is down. Especially in this economy but we also know economies go up and down all the time. The time will come again as it always had in the sport of golf that it will be super popular again. You don't close a golf course based on recent attendance.
Orchard was nice in that it was a reasonably priced course. Especially in this economy many retirees can't afford the other courses. Sure Orchard wasn't the best course in the area but many people could only afford to go to that one.
Many of us resent that this complex is being build primarily for use by many people that don't even pay taxes. Here many of us have paid taxes to the park district for decades upon decades and here you are building something that we can't even use.
At the very least you could have had a referendum to decide to keep it or not. I know you say when the district first purchased it the plans were to do away with the course but again if you look at my arguments above it is a very very big thing to try to get a golf course built and you just don't throw one away when you already had it.
Now, you have heard many people complain about this and you just can't blow them off. You have your opinion and the deed is done but don't brush aside the feelings of those who are against it.
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WTHS 74 you made an eloquent argument and I appreciate your opinion. I remember playing ball at Edward's field. It was a beautiful park, and it broke my heart to know they had to bulldoze that because of prior soil contamination. ( Can't remember what? Guilty of CRS!)
I know that you know the story of the JM site, to spare us all that drama and disappointment, we find ourselves in our present situation. I am the last of eleven, all of whom were born and raised Waukeganites. Many in favor of the complex, some opposed. Having been involved with Girls Softball in Waukegan for going on 10 years, I have seen beautiful complexes our surrounding communities have built. I have been promised by the likes of fine representatives of the Park District, such as Joe Favero and Wayne Motley, for many years that we would have a complex. They would tell me, be patient, Shawn, we have a plan in the works. I believe the referendum, one that I voted for, happened 10-12 years ago, when the District saved the course from certain home developement, thus giving the Orchard Hills course a few more years. All of this genuine love of this course, yet it was not profitable, and nothing but arguements at the end to try to save her?
I sure do not wish to instigate a deeply rooted feeling that many are passionate about, and respect yours. I can tell you I am a very bad golfer and love the game. I also believe it is a shame to lose an option to play golf so close to home. I also believe that it is a shame that every city surrounding us, up and down the North Shore invites my teams and our organization to their complex, but I am unable to reciprocate their generosity and hospitality.
To the many that have an opposing view of mine, I wish not to offend. Just letting you that others have feelings, just as you have, trying to do better for our future Waukeganites, and give them a place they could be proud of.
Wayne, I appreciate your passion about this matter, and remember the promise you and Joe made many years ago.
Shawn White
Waukegan Girls Softball Association
Waukegan Renegades Travel Softball
(224) 381-2834
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You can bet code enforcement goes by her house 6 times a day. I'm surprised they didn't arrest her for speaking at the council meeting.
