Letter to the Editor: Comments Not Directed at Developer Harold Oliver

On May 19, 2010, I made a comment on the Beacon News website titled, “Mega Sport Complex Touted for Yorkville.” My comment was directed at the Yorkville mayor as it was my personal belief that she had mishandled many different projects around our city. My comment in part, was as follows:

“[D]owntown may never be developed, Countryside Center may never be developed, Kendall Marketplace is almost ready to collapse, Horrible Oliver and company stole the TIF money for building the underground parking-upscale apartment with retail downtown and the TIF money from Countryside Center. He is now trying to steal the money for Alexander Square and downtown Oswego.”

It should be noted that my comments were in no way directed towards Harold Oliver or his company, . I did not infer that Harold Oliver stole TIF money and I apologize that it might have misled readers. Mr. Oliver has represented that he and his company have never requested nor received TIF funds or reimbursements of any kind from Oswego or Yorkville.

Mr. Oliver and his company, HRM Properties, are well-respected in the area and have helped many individuals and communities in the greater Fox Valley, including Yorkville. I sincerely wish Mr. Oliver and his business health and prosperity and apologize for any problems and damages my comments may have caused him.

Mark Johnson, Yorkville