McHenry County Blog

Keely Cat has been pretty laid back since the County Board defeated the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax.

First, here’s the vote on what I consider the preeminent issue of the day–whether to push taxes as high as the Property Tax Cap allows or give taxpayers a break:

Who Vote to Raise Your County Taxes?

There were two votes and you might find it interesting who went from being on the taxpayers’ side to the tax eaters’ side.

Secondly, if you are interested on which County Board members wanted to increase regulation and taxes on cats in order to raise more money to remodel the Animal Control operation on Route 14 at Woodstock Street in Crystal Lake, the following roll call might be of interest:

Remembering the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Now that the County Board Members Are Up for Re-Election

There are other issues of local impact, but the two above affect people throughout McHenry County and combine the obvious tax question, plus the less obvious fee hike issue (a new tax by another name) and expansion of regulation issue.

As with a number of candidates, former County Board member Lyn Orphal did not answer the ALAW Questionnaire, so you will be denied the comparison answers to its questions provide.

Nevertheless, McHenry County Blog has obtained her palm card and a letter which you can see below.  As usual, click to enlarge.

The front of Lyn Orphal's palm card tells of her "eyes and ears of experience."

The back of the piece points to her ten years service on the McHenry County Board, plus her corporate, community and teaching experience.

This letter is also part of Lyn Orphal's campaign to win election to the County Board. She emphasizes the need for communication, tells of her economic problems and the county board's vote to hike taxes. Orphal explains why she opposed the countywide election of the Board Chairman, pointing to the possibility of a Republican version of Mike Madigan. She, however, criticizes leadership for failing to build consensus.

"I'm one of you," Lyn Orphal's letter continues. She criticizes "leadership" again, saying it "needs to change."

Orphal’s web site can be found here.

In looking at her page on County Board experience, I see no reference to what I shall always remember her for.

To the utter surprise of McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, she moved to strike all language about the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax from the re-write of the Animal Control Code.

Those who presented the revised ordinance expected to use the money to finance a more elaborate facility in Crystal Lake.

McHenry County Blog ran an almost daily campaign against the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax from house cat Keely’s perspective.

The campaign penetrated the political Establishment enough that ordinance sponsor Tina Hill even referred to her proposal as a “Cat Tax,” before realizing her (what word should I use, “embarrassing,” no, “hilarious” is better; I was laughing too loudly in the audience) mistake.

One of the arguments for the tax was to make certain that all cats were inoculated against rabies…all cats but those most likely to have it, barn cats.

The proposal made no sense and public pressure was so great that Orphal made a last minute decision to offer her amendment to the ordinance.

It succeeded.

Now Keely Cat can rest comfortably assured that the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collector will not come searching for him.

= = = = =

To refresh people’s memories of this example of over-regulation by local Republicans, I’ll show you the story that I ran before the GOP primary election two years ago. (Please note, “Chainsaw Jack” Franks that you are not the first I have taken on for trying to over-regulate us in McHenry County.):

Remembering the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Now that County Board Members Are Up for Election

Keely Cat takes a dim view of those county board members who wanted to send out the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collector. (He also takes a dim view of people who wake him up to take his picture to illustrate a story like this.) Catkins still can't understand why they thought he couldn't take care of any rabid bat that might penetrate the Skinner household. The bugs he has hunted are no longer around and, if he could get out of the sun porch, he knows that chiprats would be no problem.

Now that the primary election is but a week away, I’m going to give you a chance to read my article on the McHenry County Board’s 2007 defeat of the Republican Cat Tax.

The folks running for re-election (or, in the case of one running for higher office) who voted to impose the Cat Tax in order to help pay for new animal control shelter on Route 14 in Crystal Lake follow (updated for 2012):

• Mary Donner of Crystal Lake, District3
  
• John Heisler of Crystal Lake, District 2
  
• Tina Hill of Woodstock, District 5
• John Jung of Woodstock, District 5
• Ken Koehler, County Board Chairman, Crystal Lake, District 2
• Anna May Miller of Cary, District 1
• Virginia Peschke of Woodstock, District 5
  
• Sandra Salgado of McHenry, District 4
• Barbara Wheeler of Crystal Lake, running for State Rep. unopposed

The original February 21, 2007, article follows. For some reason Google has removed the original photographs, even though I paid extra to keep the up.

11 Republicans, 1 Democrat Kill McHenry County Republican Cat Tax

If you ever think that your voice can’t make a difference in local government, think again!

Both opponents and proponents of the Republican Cat Tax mentioned they had been lobbied by their constituents.

And some of them used language (“Cat Tax Collector”) that made me know that McHenry County Blog readers had been spreading the word.

The McHenry County Board, stacked 23-1 in favor of the Republican Party, defeated the cat tax backed by County Chairman Ken Koehler (he called it a “fee”) and nine other GOP county board members.

Lyn Orphal

The motion to eliminate the cat tax from the revision of the animal control ordinance passed 12-10 on a motion by Lyn Orphal, seconded by Mary Lou Zierer. Perhaps Republicans have been this split on a board vote before. I don’t follow it closely enough to know. It must be a rarity, however, for a county board chairman not to get his way.

The 11 Republicans voting to kill the Republican Cat Tax follow. (Those in bold face type are on the ballot–updated for the 2012 election.)

• Yvonne Barnes of Cary, a newcomer
• Sue Draffkorn of Wonder Lake
• Randy Donley of Union
• Ed Dvorak of Crystal Lake
• John Hammerand of Wonder Lake
• Mary McCann of Woodstock, just elected
• Lyn Orphal of Crystal Lake
• Nick Provenzano of McHenry
• Daniel Ryan of Huntley, just elected
• Dan Shea of Fox River Grove
• Mary Lou Zierer of Marengo

Newly elected Democratic Party member Jim Kennedy of Lake in the Hills joined this majority of voting Republicans (two were absent) to kill the cat tax.

Get down, Catkins. I’m writing a story.

Don’t worry, you’re safe now from the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collectors.

Relax.

I’ll scratch your chest and neck later.

Those voting in favor of the Cat Tax ordinance, which would require rabies inoculation, plus the fee (which even a supporter slipped and called a “cat tax”), couched their arguments primarily toward being fair to both dog and cat owners, plus getting ahead of the spread of cat rabies, which is in Pennsylvania.

Those voting in favor of imposing the Cat Tax Hike were all Republicans. Their names follow (those on the ballot shown in bold face type–updated for the 2012 election):

• Ken Koehler, County Board Chairman, Crystal Lake
• Marie Chmiel of Crystal Lake
• Mary Donner of Crystal Lake, just elected
• John Heisler of Crystal Lake
• Tina Hill of Woodstock
• John Jung of Woodstock
• Anna May Miller of Cary
• Virginia Peschke of Woodstock
• Sandra Salgado of McHenry
• Barbara Wheeler of Crystal Lake

= = = = =
Here, minus Chairman Ken Koehler, are those who attended the Cat Tax County Board meeting. (Click to enlarge.)

Koehler is pictured in profile on top, while Lyn Orphal, the Crystal Laker who made the motion to kill the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax is just below.

Keely cat is shown relaxing after the death of the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collector ordinance.

Keely Cat can continue relaxing after Andy Andresky reassured those big people who feed him.

After attending “Under the Streetlamp,” a concert by the stars of “Jersey Boys,” at Huntley High school, the Skinners went to eat at 1776 in Crystal Lake.

Proprietor Andy Andresky, as usual, came around to greet us and, after catching up on family affairs, I asked about the Cat Tax.

Andresky, who is now President of the McHenry County Board of Health, told me that it wouldn’t come up this year.

So, it seems Keely Cat can relax for another year.

No need to keep watch for the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collector.

Imagine my surprise to see that the McHenry County Health Department is again floating the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax in its FY2011 “Goals.”

Don’t believe me?

Take a look at the 2011 Draft Budget, a link for which can be found on this page.

Search for page 246 in the 425 page document.

Naturally, the Board of Health did not emphasize its Cat Tax proposal, but it is the departments third goal. Higher ones have to do with internet submission of of private sewage and well permit applications and computerized food inspection and record storage system with web access. The top two priorities, plus most of the others in the list of ten priorities cost money, as you can see below. The Cat Tax is the only proposal that seems to raise cash.

Click to enlarge the ten goals listed by the Health Department in the preliminary 2011 budget posted on the internet.

Besides wondering why the final budget has not been posted, I wonder what part of “No” that the Board of Health doesn’t understand.

You may remember that District 2 County Board Member Lyn Orphal blind-sided Board Chairman Ken Koehler in February of 2007 when she advanced a motion to remove the all references from about the Cat Tax.

But Orphal didn’t win re-nomination. She was replaced by Donna Kurtz and I don’t remember if she had taken a position on the Republican Cat Tax or not.

Looking at the people up for election who supported the Cat Tax, I see all won election. One of the opponents, Democrat Jim Kennedy lost to John Jung, who voted for the tax before he was defeated in 2008 by Democrat Paula Yensen.

Dan Ryan and Yvonne Barnes, both opponents of the Cat Tax, also did not win re-nomination.  They were replaced by Diane Evertsen and Robert Novak, neither of whose stands on the issue, if any, I know.

Both Ed Dvorak, who is retiring this year, and Nick Provenzano, who took his place, voted against the Cat Tax.

Maybe the word has been passed to the Board of Health that it’s OK to ask the County Board to impose this tax a second time now that the elections are over and two Cat Tax opponents will not be serving for the next two years.

The vote three years ago was 12-10. Apparently two people were absent.

But twelve votes would have killed the tax hike, if all had voted against Tina Hill’s motion to approve the amendatory ordinance. Ties fail, you see.

It’s unlikely that Koehler has zeroed in on this issue, however.

Keely, the McHenry County Republican Watchcat, hasn't gotten too worried about the 22-2 Republican majority's sending out the Republican Cat Tax Collectors yet.

Keeley Cat isn’t too bothered yet. He doubts many County Board members have even noticed that the Board of Health is planning another assault on the kitties.

= = = = =
Thanks to Gus Philpott, who writes “Woodstock Advocate,” for letting me know of what was in the Health Department’s Goals.

"Ready for take-ff. Now, if only a rabid bat will fly below me."

It looks as if Keely Cat is doing the split here, but he’s not.

He’s practicing flying.

He’s ready for those rabid bats the McHenry County Department of Health keep talking about.

“If squirrels can fly, why not cats?”

“I don’t need a Republican Party Cat Tax for protection.”

Keely can't wait to chase bats in our home. In the background are photos of my parents and daughter Alexandra.

They’re back.

The rabid bats, I mean.

I first got interested with rabid bats when the McHenry County Health Department used them as an excuse to try to impose what I came to call the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax.

The pitch was that all cats had to be immunized against rabies in order to protect them.

Oh, yes.

Each cat had to be licensed so the county health department could make sure they had had their rabies shot.

As our Keely Cat knows, some cats are not allowed to go outside, even though that mean man in the smelling office has stuck a needle in him.

Anyway, Keely Cat would welcome the opportunity to chase a fellow mammal. Being limited to the occasional insect hardly satisfies his hunting instinct.

And, he still wonders why the county board ordinance exempted cats that live in barns. Wouldn’t they be the most likely to run into bats?

The county’s press release follows:

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) confirms its 2nd and 3rd rabid bat – both in Woodstock – with one resident undergoing rabies preventative treatment. It is strongly recommended that residents not release a bat but contain it in a room, under a bucket or blanket and keep people away from it.

In order to test bats for rabies, it is important they be in good condition – either alive or recently deceased. Specimens that are in good condition and test negative for rabies eliminates the need for rabies treatment.

McHenry County Animal Control should be contacted immediately. – call (815-459-6222).

The State Health Department has reported 16 rabid bats state-wide. Lake, Kane, Cook and Will County are among those reporting rabid bats in 2010 in addition to central and southern counties.

The best way to avoid rabies is to avoid exposure.

Keely is ready for any bat that menaces the Skinner household.

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system and can only be confirmed in a laboratory.

Residents are encouraged to take a “hands off” approach to wild animals to reduce their risk of exposure. Parents also need to educate their children of the dangers.

Keeping pets up to date with vaccinations will not only keep them from getting rabies but also provide a barrier of protection for you if your animal is bitten by a rabid animal. Most bats leave in the fall or winter to hibernate so these are the best times to “bat-proof” your home.

A bat that is active by day, found in a place where bats are not usually seen (such as in your home, in a swimming pool or on the lawn) or is unable to fly, is more likely than others to be rabid. A rabies fact sheet is available at the Illinois Dept of Public Health.

Questions about exposure should be directed to MCDH’s Communicable Disease Program at 815-334-4500.

The Badmitten may look like he’s in hunting mode above, but a guy can always be vigilant, right?

It's not as if a guy can be alert all the time. It's been four years and I've never seen a bat.

Here is the direct mail piece designed to “close the sale” with voters. 4,700 in all.

Provenzano says he supports "enhanced" Economic Disclosure, opposed (what I call the McHenry County Republican) cat tax, wants to internet streaming of county board meetings, sponsored the Whistleblower ordinance to "root out fraud," opposed the $10 million increase in county spending and employee/public official pay raises, plus helped the State's Attorney "slash outside attorney's fees saving tax payer dollars."

The back side of Nick Provensano's last mailing emphasizes endorsements. Click to enlarge.

It would be interesting to compare the endorsements above with the ones Provenzano listed when he announced his candidacy last July.

In an email accompanying the images above, Provenzano wrote,

“On the last mail piece, I was going to add a photo of Keely Cat next to the Cat Tax comment but attempts to reach his agent went unanswered.”

Keely Cat still lifts his tail at the thought of those county board members who wanted to tax him in order to help pay for that Animal Control Shelter on Route 14. The proponents argued that Keely and other house cats needed to be protected from rabid bats, but were going to exempt barn cats. Keely is just your average cat, but even average cats know barn cats are more likely to see a rabid bat than a house cat. (In the background you see my daughter Alexandra and my parents Eleanor and Cal Skinner.)

Just in case you want to know who voted for the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax, you can find out here.

This is what Provenzano’s Saturday robo-call to 4,200 people said,

“Hi this is Nick Provenzano, wait don’t hang up, I hate these robo calls as much as you do, but I have a tax alert message that you need to hear.

“I’m sure your household budget was much like mine, growing smaller everyday, and finding ways to save out of pure necessity. And yet the County board voted to spend another 10 million dollars.

“This is Nick Provenzano and I’m running for County board to send a message. I feel enough is enough, together, let’s draw a line in the sand, right here, right now, let’s start here in McHenry County and tell our politicians that enough is enough. – No longer will we tolerate tax and spend politicians who just don’t get it. It’s time to cut spending and reduce taxes.

“My opponent doesn’t get it, she voted for that 10 million dollars in additional spending. She also voted in favor of pay raises for all County Employees, when most of us are either getting laid off or getting pay CUTS.

“I need your help and your vote to get this done, please select a Republican ballot and vote for Nick Provenzano on February 2nd.

“To learn more about my history and efforts to fight higher taxes and reform county government go to my web site at nickpro2010.com that’s N I C K P R O 2010 dot com.”

Another robo-call from Irene Napier went to pro-lifers.