McHenry County Board member John Hammerand, who is running for re-election in District 4, answers the Questionnaire of the Alliance of Land, Agriculture and Waterbelow:

ALAW County Board Candidates Survey: 2012 Primary Election

A. Land Use

1. 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

2. If elected, will you support permanent protection of agricultural land and the agricultural industry in the County? Only if it can be done without the county taxpayer’s money.

3. Do you agree or disagree 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? Yes

B. Water Resources

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

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

4. In your opinion, will McHenry County be able to get Lake Michigan water? No

C. The Role of County Government

1. Should the county provide support services to municipal governments, for example issuing and enforcing municipal building permits, administering and enforcing the Storm Water ordinance? If the county will recover true costs from the Municipalities, including overhead.

2. Do you support a county housing program where the county purchases, constructs, remodels, rents, sells homes throughout the county and in municipalities? No

3. Do you support a county bus program, where the county takes over responsibility for established service between select cities and townships? No

4. Should the county health department report to the county board as opposed to an independent board of directors? Yes

5. Do you think county government should increase expenditures and the scope of its activities, which will increase taxes to its residents? No

D. Transparency and Commitment

1. County board records indicate that the average number of meetings necessary for attendance by a County Board Member is 8. This includes two full board meetings a month and two meetings a month for each committee (generally three) the member is assigned. Are you able and willing to make the commitment to represent your constituents to this extent? Yes

2. During the last primary election 32 candidates for county offices voluntarily filled out the ALAW initiated Statement of Economic Interests BEFORE the election. This form is now required once you are elected, but we need to know before we elect you. Will you follow suit and file yours with us now? (Form attached with mailing instructions.) Yes

3. Do you agree that all scheduled county meeting agendas and minutes, including committee and sub-committees, should be posted on the County web site? Yes

4. Would you have voted to raise the county board members salaries? It needs to be said that for the four years of this term I have opposed every tax increase on the taxpayers imposed by the County levy. I have suggested that raises to employees should follow the same plan as I suggest for the county board as follows:

I propose that any raise given to the County Board would be one-half percent less than the Social Security COLA. I believe that this would keep County Board Members aware of the financial circumstances of our citizens who rely on Social Security Benefits in our Community.

It also should be noted that county employees received a 3% increase. This includes our $150,000+ administrator and his $100,000+ a year helpers. This plan was facilitated by a smoke screen created around County Board Pay by many who work for other governmental agencies and government supported agencies, or have a spouse working for the county receiving full benefits and the 3% raise.

5. Would you have voted to increase the real estate tax levy by 1.5% thus increasing the amount of real estate tax collected by the county by $1.1 ml.? No

E. 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 and reserve the right to edit your response for that reason. Thank you.)

1. If you are elected to serve the residents of McHenry County, what external state and local agencies do you think are important for the county to liaison with and how would you make sure that information is flowing both ways with that agency? If you are currently serving and are an appointed liaison, please tell us what agency you are assigned and how you accomplish effective two-way communication. (50 words)

I am not a liaison at this time. However, each agency should have a cost benefit analysis performed to determine the need.

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)

As Suburban Chicago spread westward, development assumed a water supply from Lake Michigan – but McHenry County is ineligible. However, in many instances our developments look like typical suburban Chicago developments. This needs to change. We have a responsibility to ensure that future homes and businesses have adequate water supplies.

3. Most municipalities in the county have their own economic development commissions or committees. Economic development has to occur where there is existing infrastructure. The county funds the private McHenry County Economic Development Corporation ($635,985. for the 2009-2012 term) to create development in the county outside of municipalities. Is this a good investment of taxpayer money? (50 words)

No.

4. Do you think Fleming Road, Alden Road and other county roads that do not serve highly developed commercial areas, need to be widened and “improved” at this time? (50 words)

No.

5. What weight should you as a county board member give the opinions of citizens affected by zoning decisions, special use permits and road projects? (50 words)

I have represented the people of McHenry County first in my 13 years as a County Board Member, and they have always been my primary consideration.

6. What in your background qualifies you to serve the public as a county board representative and what do you intend to accomplish if elected to the County Board. You may also use this space to provide additional information regarding any of the “yes / no” answers given above. (100 words)

Most of all, my parents taught me right from wrong. As a County Board Member, I am credited for saving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the construction of the new Highway Department Building. I introduced the Whistleblower law to McHenry County and provided support for the new, more probing Economic Interest Statements.

Prior to serving on the County Board, I served as Treasurer of the Fire District, where I identified and recovered thousands of dollars.

For the past 13 years I have voted against the tax increase and the continued increase in bond indebtedness. I welcome being judged by my past performance in representing the people of McHenry County.

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Hammerand has a fundraiser tonight (Monday) at The Mill Inn at the north end of Wonder Lake from 5-8.  The invitation says Precinct Committeemen are free.  $40 for others and $15 more for the second person.