Letter from Village President Hettermann - Pistakee Yacht Club

Dear Johnsburg Residents and Business Owners,

I am writing to clear up some misinformation circulating regarding the lawsuit initiated against the Village by the Pistakee Yacht Club.

First and foremost, the Village is not trying to shut down the Pistakee Yacht Club and Community Sailing School. That statement is false and several members of the Yacht Club and Sailing School have publicly acknowledged that. The Village has always and continues to be supportive of both organizations.

Last Spring, the Village received multiple complaints regarding the improper use and condition of a vacant parcel owned by the Pistakee Yacht Club. Through those complaints, it came to the Village’s attention that the Yacht Club was collecting fees for the open storage of boats, a use that is not authorized on the property. In following up on the complaints, it was noted that several of the boats were dilapidated and that portions of the property had become overgrown with weeds and grass due to junk and debris that were also accumulating on the property. The Village notified the Yacht Club of the violations and over the past year has made extensive attempts in good faith to work with the Yacht Club to clean up the property and amicably resolve the matter. Although Club representatives acknowledge that junk and inoperable boats were being stored on the property and have made efforts to clean up the property, they maintain that the Club is allowed to charge fees for unlimited open boat storage on the property, based upon a variance it sought in 1970 through McHenry County. In turn, they chose to pursue litigation against the Village regarding the matter. The Village reviewed the documents related to the matter and disagrees with the Club’s position. Upon that review, it was discovered that notice for the public hearing never referenced boat storage of any kind and violated people’s due process.

At this past Thursday’s Board meeting, the Village took action to adopt an updated zoning map, an activity that must be conducted each year in March. In light of discovering that notice was not published for boat storage, the Board approved the zoning map without a variance designation for the vacant lot. To do so otherwise would be endorsing the unfairness and lack of due process that occurred when the Club sought its so-called variance. 

The Village has a responsibility to enforce ordinances and protect all of its residents from being adversely impacted by the misuse of property. We have repeatedly expressed our willingness to work with the Yacht Club. This past Friday I again reached out to the Yacht Club’s commodore requesting a meeting in an effort to reach an amicable resolution to the matter. I am still awaiting a response.

We realize what both the Pistakee Yacht Club and Community Sailing School bring to our community and also wish to preserve their heritage and future. I again ask that as we work towards resolution, people are treated decently and with dignity. Further circulation of misinformation, and the use of intimidation and other tactics being pursued, only create a further divide on this matter.

Respectfully,
Edwin P. Hettermann
Village President