Hopefuls agree Wonder Lake needs dredging
By JENN WIANT - jwiant@nwherald.com
WONDER LAKE – Voters in Wonder Lake will have to decide April 7 whether they want to keep the same leaders in place or add a new person to the mix.
John Lynd will challenge incumbent trustees Lester Anderson, John Naatz and Fred Learman for one of three open seats on the Village Board.
Lynd, a former Marine and small-business owner who worked in the food and beverage industry, said he believed he would bring a fresh perspective to the board.
“It is my belief that occasionally government needs to be revitalized,” he said. “Even with good intentions and tremendous effort, periodically its members stagnate and forget the big picture in favor of particular projects. It is my opinion that this might be the case, and the village government could benefit from some new ideas and a fresh approach.”
All four candidates agreed that Wonder Lake needed dredging, but they disagreed on the best way to accomplish it.
Lynd did not support the plan by the Master Property Owners Association and the village to dredge Wonder Lake by creating a special service area for homeowners with lake rights.
“If the lake had public access, I would not be opposed to government being involved,” Lynd said.
Learman, a principal in a contracting business, said he supported the project.
“Even though we are in tough economic times, it is important to keep moving forward,” he said. “The lake is the heart of our community, and in order to attract future business and residents, we need to bring the lake back up to the focal point it once was.”
Naatz, owner of a telecommunications company and a four-year member of the Wonder Lake Board of Trustees, applauded the MPOA’s efforts to keep the cost of the project down.
“The owners of the lake need to maintain their property,” he said.
If re-elected, Naatz would like to see all the subdivisions around the lake annex to the village. He also would like to hire a part-time village manager to watch over spending and seek resources from the county, state and federal governments.
Anderson, a 12-year board member and retired insurance branch manager, was optimistic about Wonder Lake’s future and the growth that he expected the proposed Thatcher Meadows development to bring to the area.
“I think it will be one of the best things to happen to McHenry County,” Anderson said. “It’s going to set a precedent. ... Before the first home is built, there will be tennis courts, walking trails, soccer fields, baseball fields, a community room, and a swimming pool.”
Anderson said village officials had not raised taxes in Wonder Lake since he took office 12 years ago, and he hoped to continue the trend if re-elected to a fourth term. He also would focus on keeping the roads in good repair and the village neighborhoods safe and clean.
