Attorney General Considering Appeal of Algonquin Township’s Denial of Subpoena

I filed a Freedom of Information Request for “any subpoenas that have been served on any Alg Twp Official.” On June 29th, McHenry County Blog published Algonquin Township Clerk Karen Lukasik’s reply: “Your request is denied pursuant to 5 ILCS … Continue reading

Attorney General Rules McHenry County Blog “News Media” for Purposes of Freedom of Information Requests

The Public Access Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office has ruled that McHenry County Blog is to be considered “media” under the Freedom of Information Act. McHenry County Blog is now the only blog in Illinois certified as a … Continue reading

Zinke Job Recommendatons Top Secret, Hush, Hush

Working on a tip that Undersheriff Andy Zinke had given some interesting job recommendations, McHenry County Blog filed Freedom of Information requests for those which he signed since he became Sheriff Keith Nyren’s top assistant. Three were provided, but with … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Loses Precedent-Setting FOIA Ruling on Hiding High Salaried Employees’ Names

This past spring I asked various municipalities to provide emailed lists of their employees who made over $75,000 in salary and fringe benefits. Many complied with the names and compensation information. The City of Crystal Lake sent the information, but … Continue reading

New Assessments for Algonquin Township Wednesday

Real estate assessments will be published in the Northwest Herald Wednesday. I don’t know what the news stand price is, but the price for the insert is $2.50 after Wednesday, as I understand it. There’s about a month in which … Continue reading

McHenry County Board’s Special Prosecutor Fee Payment Appeal Denied, Judge Gordon Graham’s Decision Upheld

Considering the Special Prosecutors appointed by Judge Gordon Graham have been spectacularly unsuccessful and expensive, I thought folks might like to read the whole 2nd Appellate Court decision on McHenry County’s effort to rein in costs.  It is below.  I … Continue reading

Message of the Day – Irony

Now comes into the email box of McHenry County Blog a decision by the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor. In early December Cynthia Schenk asked the McHenry County Conservation District for a list of hunters allowed on district property. … Continue reading

Attorney General Asks Sheriff to Come Up with Another Reason for Denial of Pagano’s Signature

You may remember that I’ve been trying to get information about the suicide notes that Phil Pagano’s suicide notes. I requested that McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren send me a copy of Pagano’s signature on one of the notes that … Continue reading

Attorney General to McHenry County: Show Us the Special Prosecutor’s Bills

On September 23, I filed an appeal to McHenry County’s denial of my Freedom of Information request for “copes of the bills that were submitted by Special Prosecutor Tonigan,” plus for “any for consultants, investigators, or anything else submitted.” “No, … Continue reading

McHenry County Refuses to Even Supply the Name of the Judge who Ordered Payment of Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan’s Bills

This is getting amusing. You will remember that I think the public has a right to see the billings of Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan. I have been denied those billings by both the County Board and County Auditor Pam Palmer. … Continue reading

Linda Moore Subpoenaed in Appeal of General Assistance Denial

It was supposed to be on the morning of the second day of the Grafton Township separation of powers trial last week. 8 AM. The subpoena from McHenry County Board Chairman and Chairman of something called the McHenry County Public … Continue reading

Bob Schlenkert Wins Reinstatement as McHenry County Deputy Sheriff

Deputy Bob Schlenkert, fired by McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren for not following an order to complete basic police academy for a second time, has won his reinstatement court case in the 2nd Appellate Court. Stunning is the length of … Continue reading