A-LAW Questionnaire for County Board Candidates

You read what the Woodstock Independent, the Northwest Herald and the Daily Herald want to know about and from candidates. Here’s what the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water are interested in learning about those running for the McHenry County Board:

ALAW County Board Candidates Survey: 2010 Primary Election

Please, indicate yes or no in the box to the right of the question.

A. Land Use

1. Have you personally attended any of the Regional Planning Commission meetings or subcommittee meetings on the 2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan?

2. Have you read the proposed 2030 Land Use Plan?

3. Do you think the makeup of the 2030 Regional Planning Commission was a balanced representation of the residents of the county?

4. Do you agree that new development should be located where infrastructure exists, to minimize the extension of new roads, utilities and services, and protect farmland and water recharge areas?

5. If elected, will you support funding permanent protection of agricultural land and the agricultural industry in the County?

6. Do you understand that new rural development costs more for the extension of infrastructure (roads, water, sewer and services) than it brings to the County in taxes and that those extra costs are passed on to the existing taxpayers?

7. Do you support creation of the Hac-Ma-Tac National Wildlife Refuge in the county?

B. Water Resources

1. Would you oppose any land use change that would exceed a locally recharged aquifer’s capacity?

2. If elected will you enforce use of the SARA – Sensitive Aquifer Recharge Areas map developed by the County Water Resources Department, as a determining factor in every land use change decision?

3. Do you support redistributing groundwater from water-rich areas to areas that have over drawn their groundwater?

4. Do you think that McHenry County will be able to get water from Lake Michigan?

C. Transparency in Government

1. Would you support a requirement that all elected or appointed county officials make up-front disclosures of any financial or other interest in any real property in the County?

2. Do you support a requirement that all elected or appointed county officials make up-front disclosures of their interest in any business entity doing business with the county?

3. Do you believe that public officials should disclose whether they provide professional services to any unit of government to which they are elected or appointed?

4. Do you agree that all scheduled meetings agendas and minutes, including committee and sub-committee, should be posted on the County web site?

5. Do you agree that all McHenry County Board meetings should be video recorded and posted on the County web site?

D. Short Answer. Only the number of words indicated will be published in the response report. (please add a page if you need more room, but remember that we can only print the number of words indicated. Thank you.)

1. What role do you think the County should play in planning for growth? (50 words)

2. By protecting agricultural lands and soil resources, groundwater and its natural recharge can also be protected. What will you do to provide that protection? (50 words)

3. What does the County get from its annual contract with the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation and is it a good investment of taxpayer money? (50 words)

4. Who do you consider to be your constituents and how do you intend to communicate with them to ensure your positions honestly represent them? (50 words)

5. Please provide a personal statement about what you intend to accomplish, if elected to the County Board, and/or provide additional information regarding any of the “ / no” yes answers given above. (100 words)

Answers are due January 11th.


Comments

A-LAW Questionnaire for County Board Candidates — 6 Comments

  1. A. Land Use
    1. Have you personally attended any of the Regional Planning Commission
    meetings or subcommittee meetings on the 2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan? NO

    2. Have you read the proposed 2030 Land Use Plan? NO

    3. Do you think the makeup of the 2030 Regional Planning Commission was a balanced representation of the residents of the county? NO

    4. Do you agree that new development should be located where infrastructure exists, to minimize the extension of new roads, utilities and services, and protect farmland and water recharge areas? Yes

    5. If elected, will you support funding permanent protection of agricultural land and the agricultural industry in the County? Yes

    6. Do you understand that new rural development costs more for the extension of infrastructure (roads, water, sewer and services) than it brings to the County in taxes and that those extra costs are passed on to the existing taxpayers?
    I understand the impact of new development on road costs. I’ve worked for IL Dept. of Transportation for 17 yrs. I believe that zoning regulations need to be revised. So that, they are easier to understand. Without all the sub restrictions and regulations.

    7. Do you support creation of the Hack-Ma-Tack National Wildlife Refuge in the county? http://www.hackmatacknwr.org

    Yes, I do as long as it doesn’t have negative impact on taxpayers and future water sources for our county.

    B. Water Resources
    1. Would you oppose any land use change that would exceed a locally recharged aquifer’s capacity?
    Yes. Unless there is a system to restore the water after it is used. And bring in water from another source.

    2. If elected will you enforce use of the SARA – Sensitive Aquifer Recharge
    Areas map developed by the County Water Resources Department, as a
    determining factor in every land use change decision? Yes

    3. Do you support redistributing groundwater from water-rich areas to areas that have over drawn their groundwater?
    No, I support creating a natural way to restore the water, safely to the environment.

    4. Do you think that McHenry County will be able to get water from Lake
    Michigan? No. and if we did, at what cost to the taxpayers of Mchenry County.

    C. Transparency in Government
    1. Would you support a requirement that all elected or appointed county officials make up-front disclosures of any financial or other interest in any real property in the County?
    Yes, it’s of public record already if you go to the recorder’s office. Why would they be against it? Unless they have something to hide.

    2. Do you support a requirement that all elected or appointed county officials make up-front disclosures of their interest in any business entity doing business with the county? Yes,

    3. Do you believe that public officials should disclose whether they provide
    professional services to any unit of government to which they are elected or
    appointed? Yes.

    4. Do you agree that all scheduled meetings agendas and minutes, including
    committee and sub-committee, should be posted on the County web site? Yes, I believe there should be full access so everyone knows whets going on in their county. If something is being hiding its wrong.

    5. Do you agree that all McHenry County Board meetings should be video
    recorded and posted on the County web site? Yes, Depends on how much it costs. That should be put on a ballot for the taxpayers to decide. If they want it, it should be checked into.

    D. Short Answer. Only the number of words indicated will be published in the Response report. (Please add a page if you need more room, but remember that we can only print the number of words indicated. Thank you.)

    1. What role do you think the County should play in planning for growth? (50 words)
    100%. It’s the Counties responsibility to protect the resources of the taxpayers and make sure that we don’t have more of the Rohm and Haas and Modine situations in the future and if there is, fix it! And take swift action against the companies involved.

    2. By protecting agricultural lands and soil resources, groundwater and it’s natural recharge can also be protected. What will you do to provide that protection? (50 words)
    We need to have the counties most valuable resource, used for what they are good at: The Water Conservation District. And give the Conservation police the Authority to arrest people caught dumping. We need to have people who know what they are doing in charge of the departments that are overseeing the problems.

    3. What does the County get from its annual contract with the McHenry County? Economic Development Corporation and is it a good investment of taxpayer money? (50 words)
    I will have to look into them I have never heard of them. And I’ve been involved in a lot of situations with the county and they haven’t come up before.

    4. Who do you consider to be your constituents and how do you intend to communicate with them to ensure your positions honestly represent them? (50 words)
    The taxpayers of McHenry County are my constituents. I believe the board needs to get involved in county activities and be available for everyone who lives here. I believe there should be News-letter in our local paper. We need info boothes at local events so people can come by and voice their concerns. The board needs to be pro-active with the community. I think the Board needs to have weekly press meetings and let the media work for the county letting them know whats going on. Since we have 2 local radio stations we could announce things on the radio. And use the Northwest herald also.

    5. Please provide a personal statement about what you intend to accomplish, if elected to The County Board, and/or provide additional information regarding any of the “yes / no”
    answers given above. (100 words)
    I think I will wait and see if I get elected. Then I will let everyone know what I will be attempting to do.

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