McHenry County Blog

The Beatles’ song seems appropriate for today, the first day when McHenry County Property Tax Bills can be seen on County Treasurer Bill LeFew’s web site.

A taxpayer as seen by the Tax Foundation.[/caption]Look here.
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Links to all articles on the McHenry County Real Estate Bills that will arrive in the mailboxes of most people this weekend are

A taxpayer as seen by the Tax Foundation.

below:

• Most Tax Rates for McHenry County’s Upcoming Tax Bills – Up 15% in Algonquin Township Part of Lakewood
• McHenry County Multiplier Increases Assessments 1.0243 for This Year’s Tax Bills, $1 Billion Assessment Loss Sends Tax Rates Soaring
• Property Tax Rates – Comparing This Coming Year’s to Last Year’s
• McHenry County Tax District Honor Role
• The McHenry County Taxman Cometh – Tax Bills on the Internet

Jack Franks new district, redrawn to eliminate areas where John O'Neill won.

During the last three election cycles the McHenry County Republican Central Committee has forfeited the election to Democrat Jack Franks two-thirds of the time.

Once was under GOP Chairman Bill LeFew in his last term; once under current Chairman Mike Tryon in his first term.

Self-starter John O’Neill, McHenry Grade School and Library Board member, ran against Franks in 2010.

He didn’t win, but he was effective enough to convince Franks to jettison the Spring Grove part of his old district where he did poorly.

Under new law regarding the placing of candidates on the ballot who did not run in the primary election, nominated candidates have to gather as many signatures as they would have had then gotten on the primary ballot.

The State Board of Elections calendar says that June 4th is the last day such candidates to file the necessary paperwork.

Specifically,

“Last day for appointee, by established party managing committee, to file the following documents when no candidate was nominated at the General Primary Election. The following must be filed together:

1. notice of appointment by the appropriate committee,
2. nominating petitions,
3. statement of candidacy and
4. statement of economic interest receipt.

Times a wasting unless local Republicans have reached so much of an accomodation with Franks that running no one in opposition to his certain vote to put Mike Madigan back in the House Speaker’s chair is what they desire.

If so, the McHenry County Republican Party is really in sad shape.
(10 ILCS 5/7-61, 8-17)”

For some issues other than his Drano bill, potential candidates might want to read,

Help Wanted – GOP Opponent for Labor-Lawyer-Lobbyist Democrat “Chainsaw Jack” Franks

Just in case there was any doubt, “Fellow Republicans” received a letter from

• Mike Tryon
• William “Bill” LeFew
• Jack Schaffer
• Al Jourdan

informing them that are supporting David McSweeney, the GOP winner of the 52nd District State Rep. race this fall.

Targeted for opposition is Dee Beaubien, the widow of State Rep. Mark Beaubien who is gathering signatures to run as an Independent this fall after he favorite, the appointed incumbent Kent Gaffney lost to McSweeney.

“David McSweeney won that fight fair and square,” the letter says.

You can read the entire letter below:

McHenry County Republican Party Chairmen back to 1968 tell of their support for Dave McSweeney for State Representative over Dee Beaubien.

The McHenry County Treasurer’s Office.

The McHenry County Treasurer’s Office has posted the property tax bills that people will pay this year.

If you go here, you will see three ways to find what our tax bill is.

You can type in

• the Property Index Number (we all have that memorized, right?)
• the address (probably the easiest) or
• the name (here you have to remember the name on the deed)

I had no problem using our address.

Treasurer Bill LeFew will be sending out the bills this week.

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See analysis here.

If you are looking for a tax bill to be paid in 2013, look here.

A press release from McHenry County:

McHenry County Treasurer’s Office Building Energy Star Dedication

The Energy Star logo.

WOODSTOCK, IL – McHenry County will be holding a dedication for the Treasurer’s Office building in recognition of obtaining an Energy Star label designation.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 18 – 1:00 pm

WHERE: McHenry County Treasurer’s Office, 2100 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock

Energy Star is a voluntary government and industry partnership that makes it easy for businesses and consumers to save money and protect the environment.

The Treasurer’s Office building is the first McHenry County building to achieve an Energy star rating, achieving a rating of 84 out of 100.

To achieve an Energy Star rating, a building must attain a score of 75, ranking it among the top quartile of all same like buildings in energy use.

McHenry County has been an Energy Star partner since 2003.

The current program began in 1991 as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Lights program, followed shortly by the introduction of the Energy Star label. In 1996, the EPA partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy to increase the range of Energy Star product offerings.

In January 2010, the Treasurer moved into a vacant building that was formally a commercial bank across the street from the McHenry County Government Center.

The existing building was constructed in 1978 and is a single story structure with a full basement. The facility was consistent with the building type and occupancy as originally designed. For this reason, it was ideally suited to relocate the McHenry County Treasurer’s Office from the Administration Building to this new location. The building’s square footage is 5710 square feet.

The McHenry County Board and the Facilities Management Department recognized the potential to improve the building’s energy efficiency and renovate using Energy Star and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines with their architect.

McHenry County Treasurer's Office

For more information on Energy Star, please visit www.energystar.gov.

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McHenry County Treasurer’s Office Energy Star Fact Sheet

Under the guidance of the County Board, McHenry County Director of Facilities Management John Hadley and Architect Chris Hansen of Kluber Architect & Engineers worked closely to identify several green design elements that were incorporated into the project.

Architectural Systems:

• TPO Roofing Membrane: The “white” Thermoplastic Membrane Roofing system was specified for its high solar reflective index commonly referred to as SRI.
• Roof Insulation: The two inch thickness of existing roofing insulation was replaced with two layers of two inch thickness (total of 4 inches) of polyisocyanurate board insulation. The original R value of the old roofing insulation was approximately R-10. The new insulation has an R value of 24.
• The carpet and paint products specified contain low Volatile Organic Compounds reducing the impact of these components on indoor air quality.

Mechanical Systems:

• Furnaces – New Energy Star rated gas fired furnaces were installed to replace the old gas furnaces. The old furnaces had an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of 80%. The new furnaces are high efficiency, sealed combustion type and have an annual fuel utilization efficiency of 95%.
• Air Conditioning – New Energy Star rated air cooled condensing units were installed to replace the old air conditioning system. The new condensing units utilize a refrigerant that have zero ozone-depletion potential. The condensing units also have a seasonal efficiency of 13.
• Controls – Direct digital controls were utilized to operate the equipment with building unoccupied temperature setbacks and capability of web-based monitoring of the building.

Electrical Systems:

• Interior Lighting: Interior lighting utilized energy efficient fluorescent lighting sources. Meets the International Energy Conservation Code’s (IECC) power allowance requirements of 1.0 Watts per square foot.
• Exterior Lighting: The parking lot pole lighting was specified with LED lamps in lieu of traditional HID (Metal Halide or High Pressure Sodium) units. The LED lights utilized less energy than traditional lamps and last 40% longer. The typical LED light fixture will burn for 50,000 hours compared to traditional 400W Metal Halide lamp that has an average life of 36,000 hours.
• Lighting Controls: Individual interior lighting controls, including dual light level controls, were provided for the interior lighting fixtures.
• All internal lighting fixtures are connected to a central lighting controller which will automatically shut off lighting fixtures after normal business hours.
• A master switch has been provided for occupants to override the interior lighting automatic shut off function.
• Exterior lighting controls include an astronomical time clock and a photo-sensor. These controls will prevent exterior lighting fixtures from consuming energy during daylight hours.

Energy Management begins with a senior-level commitment for continuous improvement in energy efficiency. The County Board and the McHenry County Facilities Management Department have adopted this commitment as they move forward with other County buildings.

Click to enlarge.

I picked up some McHenry County Board candidates’ literature at the Friday Young Republican candidates’ night at McHenry County College, but took time to look at it.

The biggest was from Linda Kvidera-Murphy, a candidate for a District 4 seat.

It’s well-done graphically, even though too large to stick into a number ten (ten) business-sized envelope that many precinct committeemen use to deliver campaign literature.

On the front is an attractive photo and the dates for early voting (Feb. 27- March 15) and her web site address.

As I compare the web site with the “palm card,” the information seems to be pretty much the same.

(I do note that the literature contains the required fund raising disclaimer, even though it does not solicit funds, while I cannot find it on the web site. Seems that the disclosure ought be be added since there is active solicitation there.)

Click to enlarge.

The web site does say Kvidera-Murphy’s campaign strategy is to knock on as many doors as possible, so the extra large card will be easier to see than a more typically smaller one.

But what caught my attention was the endorsement by Sheriff Keith Nygren, Treasurer Bill LeFew and outgoing Coroner Marlene Lantz.

LeFew and Nygren, of course, were in the forefront of trying to rid the courthouse of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi.

It’s no big secret that Kvidera-Murphy is the sister-in-law of Nunda Township GOP Chairman Brent Smith.

My memory of her maiden name is the Kvidera who ran the butcher shop  in Cary.

He was one of the most outspoken Democrats in town.

Two generations away and there’s a Republican.

Think it’s the water or just association with neighbors who mainly Republican?

The founder of Freeport, Illinois, Tutty Baker, who died in 1855, is the pseudonym of a Stephenson County blogger. He calls his publication the Stephenson Blumdoggle.

The blog seems to have been inspired by Stephenson County’s Board Chairman, whose last name is Blum.

John Blum and his county board seem to have put the taxpayers in debt to build an industrial park that has not worked out too well.

Hence, the play on the word “boondoggle,”

Look at the blog's purpose: "An honest source of informed opinion for Freeport and Stephenson County."

Imagine my surprise when I discovered an article about an article about the McHenry County Finance Committee that ran on McHenry County Blog yesterday.

Tutty’s article is entitled,

A Freeport Connection in McHenry County

Here's the book I finished much too late Monday night to make the County Board's Finance Committee meeting.

I was finished a good novel–”Julian Comstock, A Story of 22nd Century America” by Robert Charles Wilson–last night, so didn’t make it to the County’s Administrative Building for the Finance Committee meeting.

But I am interested if the Committee members recommended selling Z Financial two lots in the Village of Wonder Lake with a market value, according to the assessor last year, of over $30,000 for $1,300.

While it probably has no connection, Z Financial gave three multi-thousand dollar contributions to County Treasurer Bill LeFew a couple of years ago.

Tutty suggests that his readers might be interested in looking at the Illinois State Board of Elections pages that show

• contributions from Z Financial and
• contributions from John Zajicek, its owner.

Zajicek is identified as an “investor” in reports made to the state.

I note the Bill LeFew is not the only County Treasurer to whom the company and the man have made contributions.

Largest political contributions made by Z Financial.

Looking at the McHenry County Board’s agenda and committee packet for Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting, I saw that a Freeport company called Z Financial Illinois G Properties, LLC, is going to be allowed to purchase two parcels for $1,300.

The County seems to be selling property county government has obtained because people didn’t pay their taxes on it.

Not much money involved, but, on a whim, I decided to take a look at campaign contributions.

So, into the Illinois State Board of Elections contributions’ search engine I typed “Z Financial.”

Here’s what popped up:

• $2,500 (3rd largest contribution made by the firm) – Bill LeFew 10/24/6
• $2,000 (tie for 4th largest contribution made by the firm) – Bill LeFew 11/13/4
• $2,000 (tie for 4th largest contribution made by the firm) – Bill LeFew 10/24/8

Nothing listed more recently.

No indication of any connection of the contributions over two years ago to anything happening this year, of course.

I decided to see what Z Financial wanted to purchase for $1,300, so I looked up the Property Index Numbers in the Treasurer’s data base. (Boy, do I wish I had that capability when I was County Treasurer from 1977-70. I tried to use note cards to keep up with addresses and couldn’t do it. Just too many changes.)

PIN numbers 09 06 281 015 and 016 are each ssessed (after the state multiplier) at $6,188. Total market value, according to the assessor, would be over $37,000 (three times the assessed value). From Google’s information, I can’t tell if it is two empty lots, but the parcels are adjacent, so a house probably could be built on them, if they are empty.

Seems they might be worth more than $1,300 in resolution in the County Board’s Finance Committee’s packet.

Bill LeFew helps taxpayers turn in their money.

The Mitt Romney campaign filed its petitions today.

In the 14th Congressional District (all of McHenry County but Algonquin Township), the candidates for Delegate are

• Ethan Hastert – Elburn
• William LeFew – Harvard
• Gabriela F. Wyatt – Aurora

The three Alternate Delegate candidates are Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager, Hebron Village Trustee Mark Shepherd and Daniel Venturi of Lake Villa.

There are no candidates listed running in support of any other Presidential candidate.

McHenry County Undersheriff Andy Zinke has raised $8,640 with a number of $250 contributors listed on his quarterly report filed October 17, the last day for filing.

He spent a bit over 10% of that amount, leaving him about $7,750 in the bank.
At the $250 level are the following:

Undersheriff Andy Zinke confers with McHenry County Board member Mary Donner at the September meeting of the Nunda Township Republican Central Committee.

• John J. Smith, McHenry
• John W. Cederlund, Union
• Ronald Bean & Janet Bean Trust, Lake in the Hills
• Jo Ann Wright, Crystal Lake
• Steven Neidenberg, McHenry
• Kenneth G. Cabay, Lake in the Hills
• Process Engineering Group, Prairie Grove
• Richard W. Graves, Spring Grove
• Tim A. Lane, Chicago
• Alpha Secutiry, LLC, Johnsburg
• Keith C. Wagner, McHenry
• Jose Rivera, Woodstock
• Laura Perez, Kildeer
• Citizens for LeFew, Harvard
• Citizens to Elect Sheriff Nygren, Woodstock

Citizens to Elect Bob Miller, Cary, contribute $500.

Expenditures large enough to list are

• McHenry County Friends of NRA – $360
• Light Center Foundation of Union – $150