McHenry County Blog

Maybe the times they are a changing.

The following press release from ALAW, the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water tells of two new aspirants for the McHenry County Board having answered the questions on the income and asset disclosure form which the group has asked be passed before the primary election.

District 3 County Board Candidate Craig Steagall

2nd District County Board Candidate Donna Kurtz

The two candidates are Craig Steagall running in District 3 and Donna Kurtz running in District 2. Both districts have large parts of Crystal Lake in them, the dividing line being Crystal Lake Avenue (the Algonquin-Nunda Township line).

The press release from the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water follows:

CANDIDATES DISCLOSE VOLUNTARILY

Two candidates for County Board in the upcoming primary have voluntarily sent ALAW statements pursuant to the ALAW conflicts disclosure ordinance. These disclosures are posted here.

ALAW presented the draft ordinance to the County Board on December 2, 2009.  If passed, the ordinance will require up front disclosure of appointed and elected county officials’ real estate holdings and business relationships with the county.

These disclosures were unsolicited, but certainly are welcome indications of the candidates’ stance on transparency.  We are hopeful that other candidates will be joining Craig Steagall and Donna Kurtz in taking this position.  As one candidate, Craig Steagall, said, “I am in favor of 100% and cannot imagine an elected official serving without providing this information in a public manner.”

ALAW would like to remind all candidates to send us the ALAW Survey on environmental and related issues. Surveys were mailed to all candidates on December 22, 2009 and are due to ALAW by January 10, 2010. We cannot endorse a candidate without the survey responses.

Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water
PO Box 1021, Woodstock
Contact: Patricia Kennedy 815-943-7223

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Here’s my question of the other candidates:

Any more volunteers?

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.

Looks like my raking leaves instead of attending the McHenry County Board meeting Tuesday resulted in not only missing the debate on whether or not to ban video slot machines (“video poker” to proponents of gambling expansion), but also a proposal for conflicts of interest disclosure.

The talented group of people grouped under the A-LAW banner have been kind enough to issue the following press release about their proposal:

McHenry County Economic Interests and Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Ordinance presented to County Board by ALAW,
Adoption Urged Before Primaries!

In an effort to restore the public trust in McHenry County officials, attorney members of the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water (ALAW) presented the county board with a proposed ordinance entitled

“McHenry County Economic Interests
and Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Ordinance.”

The perception that public officials commonly violate the public trust by placing personal gain over their duty to their constituents is insidious and has recently gained momentum here in McHenry County. This creates a climate of distrust, dissatisfaction and speculation that is harmful to all county residents and unfair to those public officials who are brought under suspicion simply by virtue of their office.

Drafted from similar existing local and state laws, the purpose of the ordinance is to restore the confidence of McHenry County residents in their elected and appointed officials.

The ordinance imposes stricter requirements for up-front disclosure of economic interests that might result in conflicts, including real estate interests, than currently in effect.

All elected and appointed county public officials and consultants, including members of county regulatory boards, and petitioners or applicants for said positions will be subject to the requirements of the ordinance, if it is adopted.

ALAW has urged the County Board to direct the ordinance to the proper reviewing committee and expedite it for adoption before the February 2nd Primary election.

Copies of the proposed ordinance will be viewable on the ALAW web site at https://sites.google.com/site/landagricultureandwater/home

Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water
PO Box 1021, Woodstock, IL 60098  alaw.mail@gmail.com

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ALAW had a questionnaire for county board candidates two years ago and ended up endorsing three candidates.  Besides pushing unsuccessfully for the creation of a Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority, A-LAW testified against building a baseball stadium at McHenry County College on Crystal Lake’s watershed.

The following press release has been received by the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water:

The Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water (ALAW) is pleased to support three candidates for McHenry County Board in the upcoming election: John Hammerand, District 4; John Jung Jr., District 5; Ersel Schuster, District 6. Please vote for these candidates if you live in their respective districts.

Each of these candidates demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the primary issues concerning our county, and the impact county board decisions can have on those concerns.

Each has made a commitment to preservation of our natural resources, our fresh water supply and our prime farmland. These goals are critical to maintaining our quality of life and economic viability in the county.

In addition each candidate has been accessible and responsive to our questions and shown a willingness to think independently and act accordingly.

Our survey and the responses of all candidates who answered are available by request at ALAW.

The following press release has been received by the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water:

The Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water (ALAW) is pleased to support three candidates for McHenry County Board in the upcoming election: John Hammerand, District 4; John Jung Jr., District 5; Ersel Schuster, District 6. Please vote for these candidates if you live in their respective districts.

Each of these candidates demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the primary issues concerning our county, and the impact county board decisions can have on those concerns.

Each has made a commitment to preservation of our natural resources, our fresh water supply and our prime farmland. These goals are critical to maintaining our quality of life and economic viability in the county.

In addition each candidate has been accessible and responsive to our questions and shown a willingness to think independently and act accordingly.

Our survey and the responses of all candidates who answered are available by request at ALAW.

This is the third installment of McHenry County Board candidates’ answers to the joint McHenry County Defenders and Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water’s county board answers to their questionnaire.

The topic today is the goals of the candidates.

Only five of the candidates answered today’s question. Incumbent Sue Draffkorn declined to provide her vision of what she would accomplish during another four years on the county board.

Let’s see what the five have to say about this open-ended question.

Sue Draffkorn, D-4, Republican: Did not respond to this question.

Jeff Thirtyacre, D-4, Democrat: I would like to start by addressing our tax policy, then look into our education system to control the spending problem in some of the school districts. Look into the water problems in the county; stop illegal dumping of hazardous materials on property near our wetland and conservation districts; look into hazardous roads and intersections and quit kissing up to the rich people in Lake-In-The-Hills & Algonquin. There are other places that need attention. We need new business in McHenry County so taxpayers don’t have to commute so far, generate jobs and fine companies with revolving door policies or set up credits for companies that supply benefits for their employees.

Virginia Peschke, D-5, Republican: I intend to continue working on the projects at hand: agricultural and open-space protection, conservation development initiatives, health and safety issues, including strategies to help citizens, particularly seniors retain home-ownership, disaster preparation for pandemics and other causes and improvement of public transit.

Ersel Schuster, D-6, Republican: My past work on this board included reduction of county government. I will continue that work when elected. Additionally, I will work to preserve and protect our agricultural land by working with fellow board members so they understand the many reasons for agreeing with that philosophy.

Harry Alten, Jr., D-6, Republican: I would try to develop allies on the board to come together with a comprehensive plan to preserve and protect our county and its natural resources. Also, we must manage growth responsibly.

Andrew “Drew” Georgi, Jr., D-6, Democrat: We need to plan our growth better that includes transportation, jobs, housing, and the effects of this growth on our county as a whole. We need to improve both our roads and public transportation. Bring in affordable housing that our people can buy. We need to bring in jobs that let our people both live and work within the county. We need to all of this and make sure we do not affect our environment in a negative w

This is the third installment of McHenry County Board candidates’ answers to the joint McHenry County Defenders and Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water’s county board answers to their questionnaire.

The topic today is the goals of the candidates.

Only five of the candidates answered today’s question. Incumbent Sue Draffkorn declined to provide her vision of what she would accomplish during another four years on the county board.

Let’s see what the five have to say about this open-ended question.

Sue Draffkorn, D-4, Republican: Did not respond to this question.

Jeff Thirtyacre, D-4, Democrat: I would like to start by addressing our tax policy, then look into our education system to control the spending problem in some of the school districts. Look into the water problems in the county; stop illegal dumping of hazardous materials on property near our wetland and conservation districts; look into hazardous roads and intersections and quit kissing up to the rich people in Lake-In-The-Hills & Algonquin. There are other places that need attention. We need new business in McHenry County so taxpayers don’t have to commute so far, generate jobs and fine companies with revolving door policies or set up credits for companies that supply benefits for their employees.

Virginia Peschke, D-5, Republican: I intend to continue working on the projects at hand: agricultural and open-space protection, conservation development initiatives, health and safety issues, including strategies to help citizens, particularly seniors retain home-ownership, disaster preparation for pandemics and other causes and improvement of public transit.

Ersel Schuster, D-6, Republican: My past work on this board included reduction of county government. I will continue that work when elected. Additionally, I will work to preserve and protect our agricultural land by working with fellow board members so they understand the many reasons for agreeing with that philosophy.

Harry Alten, Jr., D-6, Republican: I would try to develop allies on the board to come together with a comprehensive plan to preserve and protect our county and its natural resources. Also, we must manage growth responsibly.

Andrew “Drew” Georgi, Jr., D-6, Democrat: We need to plan our growth better that includes transportation, jobs, housing, and the effects of this growth on our county as a whole. We need to improve both our roads and public transportation. Bring in affordable housing that our people can buy. We need to bring in jobs that let our people both live and work within the county. We need to all of this and make sure we do not affect our environment in a negative w

McHenry County is not destined to get water from Lake Michigan, so what county board members do on water policy is an important issue.

Some forces want to take water from the rural parts of the county (mainly District 6) and pipe it to areas that have grown or want to grow beyond their underlying aquifers ability to provide water. Carpentersville has actually investigated drilling a well in the Harvard area and piping it southeast.

The McHenry County Defenders and the Alliance for Land, Water and Agriculture (A-LAW) put together questions for county board candidates. So far, only six have responded. Maybe more will do so before the fall elections.

Here are the answers of four Republicans and two Democrats to the following questions:

Sue Draffkorn, D-4, Republican: I would like to see developers take it upon themselves to create subdivision plats that protect our natural resources. McHenry County is developing a conservation design ordinance that will require developers to incorporate the preservation and protection of natural resources.

Jeff Thirtyacre, D-4, Democrat: We need a water filtration plant to collect rain water and filter it to have for when water is lacking so not to waste ground water quantities. And to aid in land preservation for farmers. Established water banks can take the overload when water levels are low.

Virginia Peschke, D-5, Republican: I am currently on the Agricultural Preservation Committee and a Board Member of The Land Conservancy (TLC). I have spoken with municipal leaders regarding inter-governmental agreements that facilitate transfer of development rights, yielding income to farmers while preserving ag use. The success of TLC is proof that farmers do want to preserve agriculture.

Ersel Schuster, D-6, Republican: I am convinced that we need an independent water authority in the areas where the greatest recharge of our groundwater occurs. I plan to help fellow board members see the wisdom in that concept and will work to secure their assistance to see that it happens while we can still realize the benefits of having done so.

Harry Alten, Jr., D-6, Republican: Again, we need a viable Agricultural Land preservation plan and hold to that commitment.

Andrew “Drew” Georgi, Jr., D-6, Democrat:
First we need to protect the water and make sure those that are contaminating it stop and clean it up. Second, we need to make sure that we do not let the existing water be over used by approving too many new building projects. And last we need to add reservoirs to both new building projects and to our conservation areas.

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Again, I unfortunately do not have Harry Alten’s photograph. I should have also taken a picture of Jeff Thirtyacre looking left so the spacing would have been better.

McHenry County is not destined to get water from Lake Michigan, so what county board members do on water policy is an important issue.

Some forces want to take water from the rural parts of the county (mainly District 6) and pipe it to areas that have grown or want to grow beyond their underlying aquifers ability to provide water. Carpentersville has actually investigated drilling a well in the Harvard area and piping it southeast.

The McHenry County Defenders and the Alliance for Land, Water and Agriculture (A-LAW) put together questions for county board candidates. So far, only six have responded. Maybe more will do so before the fall elections.

Here are the answers of four Republicans and two Democrats to the following questions:

Sue Draffkorn, D-4, Republican: I would like to see developers take it upon themselves to create subdivision plats that protect our natural resources. McHenry County is developing a conservation design ordinance that will require developers to incorporate the preservation and protection of natural resources.

Jeff Thirtyacre, D-4, Democrat: We need a water filtration plant to collect rain water and filter it to have for when water is lacking so not to waste ground water quantities. And to aid in land preservation for farmers. Established water banks can take the overload when water levels are low.

Virginia Peschke, D-5, Republican: I am currently on the Agricultural Preservation Committee and a Board Member of The Land Conservancy (TLC). I have spoken with municipal leaders regarding inter-governmental agreements that facilitate transfer of development rights, yielding income to farmers while preserving ag use. The success of TLC is proof that farmers do want to preserve agriculture.

Ersel Schuster, D-6, Republican: I am convinced that we need an independent water authority in the areas where the greatest recharge of our groundwater occurs. I plan to help fellow board members see the wisdom in that concept and will work to secure their assistance to see that it happens while we can still realize the benefits of having done so.

Harry Alten, Jr., D-6, Republican: Again, we need a viable Agricultural Land preservation plan and hold to that commitment.

Andrew “Drew” Georgi, Jr., D-6, Democrat:
First we need to protect the water and make sure those that are contaminating it stop and clean it up. Second, we need to make sure that we do not let the existing water be over used by approving too many new building projects. And last we need to add reservoirs to both new building projects and to our conservation areas.

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Again, I unfortunately do not have Harry Alten’s photograph. I should have also taken a picture of Jeff Thirtyacre looking left so the spacing would have been better.

Below are the answers to the A-LAW and McHenry County Defendeers’ McHenry County Board questionnaire. Although the questions of the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water and the Defenders are good ones, only six of the candidates took the time to answer them.

A-LAW, you may remember proposed and campaign unsuccessfully for a water authority for the more unpopulated part of the county. The proposal covered much of county board District 6, where a number of the candidates providing answers seek to serve.

The McHenry County Defenders organization needs no introduction.

That’s really a loss.

Perhaps this fall when it is Republicans versus Democrats more candidates will conclude that sharing their visions of McHenry County’s future is in their best interest, not to mention the best interest of allowing a better informed electorate.

Below is the first installment:

Sue Draffkorn, D-4, Republican:
It appears that municipalities and the county were not pro-active in regards to the growth that has occurred over the past 25 years. We are now dealing with crowded roads, crowded schools and housing that is becoming unaffordable. The state of Illinois has failed to help McHenry County with transportation and education expenses. We are a donor county; we do not receive the same considerations from the state as other counties. Our citizens pay more in taxes and get little in return. I would like to see more environmentally friendly subdivision ordinances that take into account groundwater and natural resources in McHenry County.

Jeff Thirtyacre, D-4, Democrat:
Growth in McHenry County has been moderate at most due to the lack of Public Transportation. The Southern part of McHenry has had a boom in growth while the rest has little to none. My concerns are that because of the growth levels, we are going to see problems with jobs being lost. Water supply will decline because new water protection plans haven’t been developed. I would like to see development plans put into place. Including Business Promotions to get jobs to McHenry County.

Virginia Peschke, D-5, Republican:
Growth has been out-of-control for the last 20 years due to the lower purchase price of homes and lack of planning by County and municipalities. The County, even with limited power to control growth had neither the will, nor the expertise, to exercise leadership in promoting “smart growth” principles. It will take effort and public pressure to force elected officials to rein in growth and promote sensible, sustainable development. The growing shortage of water resources may be a wake-up call. I would like to see the public elect representatives who would protect the quality of life we enjoy in McHenry County.

Ersel Schuster, D-6, Republican:
For the most part, I see growth in McHenry County being openly encouraged by village and municipal governments. From all indications I believe that process will continue at break-neck-speed; far outstripping the necessary infrastructure and ability for residents to pay the costs associated with that development. Idealistically, I would like to see greater restraint on the part of county and municipal leaders in promoting growth and development. I would envision stricter zoning laws and adherence to those laws thus curbing out of control development the public can ill afford.

Harry Alten, Jr., D-6, Republican: Random. Sometimes leap frogging. Misuse of productive Ag land. I would like the purchase of development rights of Ag Land to sustain our Agricultural Industry in McHenry County.

Andrew “Drew” Georgi, Jr., D-6, Democrat:
Large growth of the population and expensive housing projects that our people can not afford with the jobs available inside our county causing them to work outside the county making our transportation system over burdened. We need to approve only housing projects that our people can afford, bring in more jobs to the county, improve both our roads by having bypasses around the congested areas and improve the public transportation system.

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Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of Harry Alten. And there are two stories today where he is featured.