Residents Receive Anonymous Letters Discouraging Public Speaking

With no business on the agenda outside of paying bills, approving past meeting minutes, and hearing public comment, the Manteno Board meeting was relatively quiet. Trustees Peggy Vaughn, Joel Gesky, and Todd Crockett were all absent.

The board acknowledged a public works employee, Mike Pointkowski, who just recently retired after 10 years of service.

Public comments, however, revealed some individuals received anonymous letters discouraging speaking at the board meetings.

Sandy Chiz, who is a regular speaker, spoke first.

“I planned on talking about how I would rather be sitting at home on my couch rather than be here repeating and rehashing the same issues over and over again, but then I got my hate letter. The letter proved to me how little understanding many people have about what’s going on in our village and why we get up meeting after meeting repeating ourselves,” Chiz said.

Chiz went on to read the letter, which criticized her for speaking out during public comment, the positions she took on issues, and for regularly attending and speaking during comment. 

“People should be able to give their opinion without harassment from the audience. And I wish that would stop,” Chiz added.

Francine Fatima, who also is a regular fixture at board meetings and speaks against Gotion, also received an anonymous letter.

“Miss Fatima, the letter states, please go back and watch the village board meetings and see how you sound during the public participation, whatever that means, and I heard that part in Sandy’s letter that she received. Please consider volunteering at the library to read to small kids to fill your need for public speaking. It would be appreciated. It’s one thing to speak when you really have something to say, but I find it hard to believe that every board meeting you need to speak at,” Fatima read.

“So I read the letter, but it won’t stop our opposition to Gotion,” she affirmed, adding she was “just trying to reach John Q public. That’s what small village life should be. That’s America,” Fatima said.

At the end of the board meeting, Trustee CJ Boudreau addressed the anonymous letters.

“We, as a board, have been getting them, too. And I’ll be honest, even though some are positive to some of us and some are not, I’m kind of tired of them, too. I’d rather them just reach out to us. I mean, you shouldn’t be getting any feedback, as you said, and I appreciate it, what you said, too. Everyone deserves their opinion to speak. It’s your right as an American,” Boudreau said.

“Don’t send mail to people’s houses. That, to me, is a step over the line. I don’t like that at all,” he added.

Trustee Mike Barry also addressed the anonymous letters.

“I’ve always been from the old school, if you got something to say, say it to my face or at least let me know. But, I mean, when we’re starting to get residents who are taking their time out of here, and I mean, especially some of the residents here are older, I mean, that could scare somebody. I never saw, for all the years coming to the village board meetings before there was a turnover election, all these people getting anonymous letters,” Barry said.

David Kuiken spoke to add his feelings on Gotion and its Communist ties. He called attention to a recent 60 Minutes episode, which focused on how Chinese-backed government hackers hijacked a small town’s water supply in Littleton, Massachusetts. Kuiken emphasized if it could happen there, it could happen anywhere.

Like Kuiken, Bob Forsythe spoke, referencing the same 60 Minutes episode, and specifically called out Boudreau. He hoped Boudreau would teach about the threat of the CCP to the USA as a history teacher.

Tim Finnegan criticized how the board acts and felt politics and attitudes of the past administration continued to control the board and its actions.

“Attending these meetings does reveal a lot of information. Not much of it is very good watching the board. The body language of the trustees does reveal a lot about them. Mostly reveals there isn’t any, there is no transparency,” Finnegan said.

Ann Gates spoke about the hazards of lithium batteries, shared concerns about Gotion, and urged people to YouTube what people in China are saying about the batteries and the CCP.

Outside of Gotion talks, Tiffany Parpart spoke against the short-term rental tax. Parpart owns Airbnbs in Manteno and The Beauty Company salon.

“I know it’s not on the agenda, but I feel like I need to get ahead of it because generally once it’s on the agenda, it’s already voted. Everyone already knows what they feel,” Parpart said.

She emphasized the pressure small businesses face and noted one business recently closed its doors in downtown Manteno. She explained the additional tax would not benefit the businesses and would instead be another burden, noting they’re just “trying to make ends meet.”

She questioned whether Visit Kankakee is beneficial and noted the last promotion they participated in, a craft beverage tour, brought in only two customers to her coffee shop. 

David Bergdahl spoke, requesting first and second readings instead of having discussions in committee, which he felt would be more transparent to the public. He also requested there be involvement with River Valley Special Recreation Association, citing a need for those services.

Boudreau said they’re working to post committee agendas and record as much as possible to be more accessible and transparent.

Halloween Trick-or-Treating hours in Manteno will be from 5 to 7 p.m.

Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.