Would goodies be found as they are with the Chicago Aldermen’s much larger expense accounts?

Here’s what I received when I filed a Freedom of Information request for Fiscal Year 2009, which ended November 30th. As you can see, it’s pretty obvious that the spreadsheet provided contains some reimbursements beyond the $1,000.

In fact, I learned it contains all of the expense rreimbursements to county board members, except mileage for driving to and from meetings.

What seems most significant is the large number of county board members that took no reimbursements.

McHENRY COUNTY BOARD EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS – FY 2009

Randy Donley

• $188.10 for 342 mile trip for 3-30-9 Rural Community Economic Development Conference
• $94.33 for hotel/food for Rural Comm Econ Dev Conf

John Hammerand

• $38, McCog (McHenry County Council of Governments) Dinner September 23

Tina Hill

Tina Hill

• $742.19 2009 National Association of Counties Conference 3-7 thru 3-10
• $28.05 Comcast broadband meeting 2/26/09
• $161.28 Rural Economic Development Seminar
• $841.12 NACO 3/7-3/10  Wash DC
• $32 March McCog Mtg 3
• $35 McCog May 27, 2009
• $34 McCog June 26th dinner
• $30 McCog Meeting July 2009
• $125 EDC Dinner Sept 17
• $38 McCog Dinner Crystal Lake 9/23/09
• $31 October McCog Dinner Mtg
• $32 November 18 McCog meeting

Ken Koehler

• 

  Ken Koehler

  $436.80 Wash DC Mtg w/Lobbyist

• $193 Paratransit/Fed Lobby/Strat Plan Dec 2008
• $76.50 Springfield Meetings Jan 2009
• $57.20 K.Koehler
• $255 DCA Lobbyist 3/2-4,2009
• $37 transportation mtg 2/17/09
• $38 EDC 2/19/09
• $12 CMAP 3/24/09
• $71 Amtrak/Rockford 3/25/2009
• $43 Integrated Justice Mtg Luncheon
• $45.25 Lakewood Issues Luncheon
• $43 Transit Grant Program Luncheon
• $129 PACE Pilot Project
• $28 Randall Rd., City CL Mtg
• $53 CMAP2030 Chicago
• $34 Public Safety Bldg Mtg
• $50 MCEDC Issues
• $26 RWSP, Chicago Water Issues
• $24 Valley Hi Issues Koehler, Dvorak
• $44 ISSSoftware Issues Koehler, Austin, Wallis
• $47.25 MCEDC Issues Koehler, Austin, MCEDC reps
• $84 Valley Hi long range Koehler, Austin, Revere reps
• $27.50 2030 plan w/Eldridge
• $47.25 Meeting w/Lobbyist – Ferguson
• $12 RTA – cab fare

Lyn Orphal

• $34 June 24th McCog Dinner

Ersel Schuster

• $173.28 Rural Community Econ. Dev. 03/04-03/05
• $64 McCog June and July reimbursement

Barb Wheeler

• $91.71 Housing Forum refreshments

Paula Yensen
$30 McCog reimbursement
$30 Feb McCog reimbursement
$34 McCog Dinner 6/24/09 3
$30 McCog July 2009
$20 MCCD Class-Creating Thriving Communities

Short for the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water, the group ALAWproposed wide-ranging conflict of interest notification for McHenry County’s elected and appointed officials.

Think about knowing what real estate planning and zoning people have an interest in.

And, who owns land near what highway improvement.

Information like that might begin to explain otherwise really hard to understand county government decisions.

What was it that Deep Throat advised Woodward and Bernstein advised?

“Follow the money.”

I believe I told you last night that the Management Services Committee of the CB was meeting on Thursday morning and the ordinance is on that agenda for discussion.  I need to correct myself, the meeting is Tuesday morning, 8:30 am, and yes the ordinance is on the agenda.

Here are the committee members:

Ersel Schuster, Chairman
Pete Merkel, Vice Chairman
Yvonne M. Barnes
Paula Yensen
Kathleen Bergan Schmidt
Tina Hill
Lyn Orphal

The organization has called for passage before the primary election in the first week of February.

I predicted last night that the McHenry County Board would approved what proponents insist on calling video poker.

But, this morning social conservatives on the board pulled off a 13-10-1 victory.

That was with the help of all three Democrats on the county board. (Counting only Republicans, the vote would have been tied 10-10.)

Lake in the Hills member Paula Yensen has personal knowledge of how devastating gambling can be to a family.

Patriots United video slot machine debate panels, ban proponents on the right, opponents on the left.

Perhaps also influencing the vote was the leadership that Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks has taken on the issue. He attended a Patriots United debate on the subject after returning from one of this fall’s veto sessions.

All Republicans representing McHenry County in the Illinois General Assembly except State Senator Dan Duffy, that is, State Representatives Mike Tryon and Mark Beaubien, plus State Senator Pam Althoff, voted supported video slot machines.

Voting in favor of a ban of the video gambling machines in unincorporated areas were the following, who are grouped by county board district (those up for election this year are show in bold face type):

District 1

• Yvonne Barnes

District 2

• Jim Heisler

District 3

• Ed Dvorak (retiring)
• Kathy Bergan Schmidt
• Barbara Wheeler

District 4

• Sue Draffkorn
• John Hammerand
• Sandy Salgado

District 5

• Paula Yensen
• Jim Kennedy
• Virginia Peschke

District 6

• Mary McCann
• Ersel Schuster

Voting against the ban, thus in favor of expanding gambling were the following:

District 1

• Anna May Miller
• Bob Bless
• Marc Munaretto

District 2

• Scott Breeden
• Ken Koehler
• Lyn Orphal

District 3

• Mary Donner

District 4

• Pete Merkel

District 5

• Tina Hill

District 6

• Dan Ryan

Abstaining from the vote was District 6 Republican Randy Donley.

A month ago the board voted against holding an advisory referendum on the issue. The vote was 13-11-1.

The thirteen board members who voted against allowing their constituents to vote on the issue follow:

• Yvonne Barnes (R-Cary)

• Sue Draffkorn (R-Wonder Lake)

• Paula Yensen (D-Lake in the Hills)

• Ed Dvorak (R-Crystal Lake)

• Jim Heisler (R-Crystal Lake)

• Ken Koehler (R-Crystal Lake)

• Mary McCann (R-Woodstock)

• Pete Merkel (R-McHenry)

• Virginia Peschke (R-Bull Valley)

• Sandy Salgado (R-McHenry)

• Kathy Bergan Schmidt (D-Crystal Lake)

• Barb Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake)

Voting in favor of an advisory referendum were

• Bob Bless (R-Fox River Grove)

• Scott Breeden (R-Lakewood)

• Mary Donner (R-Crystal Lake)

• John Hammerand (R-Wonder Lake)

• Tina Hill (R-Woodstock)

• Jim Kennedy (D-Lake in the Hills)

• Anna May Miller (R-Cary)

• Marc Munaretto (R-Algonquin)

• Lyn Orphal (R-Crystal Lake)

• Dan Ryan (R-Huntley)

Members of the Operating Engineers Local 150 lobbied vigorously against the gambling ban, arguing for the jobs its proceeds would finance.

Having failed to alter the agenda to allow a Tuesday up or down county board vote on video gambling, Nunda Township’s gambling opponent Barb Wheeler next sought to table the referendum resolution.

This motion was seconded by Ersel Schuster.

As it sat on the agenda, the outright ban was to be considered for 30 days and voted upon the first Tuesday in December.

But that rule can be waived.

Tina Hill asked if the committee was “going to ask to waive the 30-day review (for the gambling ban resolution).”

License and Liquor Committee Chairman John Hammerand related the history of the committee discussion. It started with talk of a ban, then “we decided it would be nice to have the people involved in the decision.”

He said he wanted the county board to have the opportunity to be a leader in the communities, so that municipalities could put similar referendums on the ballot on Feb. 2nd.

“I certainly support the referendum,” he said.

“It’s not my goal to waive the rules,” Hammerand continued.

Cary’s Anna May Miller took the delegate approach:

“I would like to move forward to allowing people with the county weigh in.”

Woodstock’s Hill wondered why there was all the fuss. She listed the number of people in each county board district who would be eligible to vote, 47,923 in all, while there are 200,228 registered voters in McHenry County. That’s not quite 25% of the total living outside of municipalities.

• District 1 – 4,034
• District 2 – 2,340
• District 3 – 11,214
• District 4 – 12,448
• District 5 – 3,254
• District 6 – 14,633

Huntley’s Dan Ryan pointed toward the moral aspect of the issue. He said there was no question from the fiscal point of view:

“Yes, we want the money.”

Ryan voted for a referendum, assuming I would guess that people know what their moral stand on the issue is.

The cost of the referendum also came up. Just under $18,000.

Yvonne Barnes of Cary came down on the trustee side of representation:

“I’m opposed to postponing the vote (on the gambling ban).”

Hammerand re-entered the debate:

“All I’m asking is to have status quo until we have a referendum and let them speak.”

Hill attempted to clarify what would be voted upon. Hammerand seemed to say that a vote on both Tuesday would be acceptable.

Pete Merkel, up for re-election in an unopposed McHenry-Richmond-Burton Township primary, took the trustee approach. He told of two advisory referendums on hot issues which a park board and city council decided to put on the ballot in an attempt to reach consensus.

The votes were 54-46 and 49-51.

No consensus resulted, he noted, supporting the “no advisory referendum” side of the issue.

“That’s why we get paid to make the tough decisions,” Merkel added.

“I’ll bet we’re going to be back here at the end of February with a whole roomful again and we’ll be having the same discussion.

“I think it is a cop out.

“Do we want to do that (have a referendum) with the 2030 Plan, with the public safety building?”

Merkel then pointed out that it was a social issue and questioned whether a “low turnout” primary election would yield a valid reading of public opinion.

Hedging his bet a bit, Merkel concluded,

“I don’t want to say, ‘We don’t want to listen to the people.’”

His vote, nevertheless, was against holding the advisory referendum.

“I totally agree with Mr. Merkel’s position,” Seneca Township board member Ersel Schuster added.

She remembered an advisory referendum that received 80% approval, but was ignored. The subject was whether the county board should require a three-quarters vote to approve conditional use permits.

Bull Valley’s Virginia Peschke agreed.

“I think the referendums should be reserved for asking people if (they want higher taxes).

“This is just government cowardice.”

Sandra Salgado, who like Merkel has not primary opponent, also took the “we can make the decision without voter input.”

“I can’t tell you how aggravated I was when legislators stood up here and said, ‘(You’re) going to make the hard decision.’”

“Obviously, I’m ready to make the tough decision,” Wheeler added.

“You don’t want the people to say you don’t want to hear them. (Let’s) not put the burden on our voters. We are elected to make these tough decisions.”

Also speaking in opposition to a referendum was Yvonne Barnes of Cary.

“I believe as elected officials it is our responsibility to make these decisions.

“This issue affects people throughout the area (county). An advisory referendum does not include (those in incorporated areas) in making the decision.”

Merkel then referred to the provision in the legislation that allows 25% of the voters to petition for a binding referendum.

Hammerand pointed out how extraordinary high that 25% signature requirement is.

“If it is (for) the board to wash out this referendum, I have no objection.”

He then attempted to amend the resolution motion to require a county board vote after the February 2nd primary election.

Tina Hill seconded the motion, “even though we’re probably on different sides of the issue.”

The attempt failed on a voice vote.

It’s a pretty good gig, although nothing like as good as in DuPage County:

• FY 07 $48,620 (0%)
• FY 08 $50,079 (3%)
• FY 09 $51,581 (3%)
• FY 10 $53,645 (4%)

with $3,000 more for each committee chairman and a $1,000 bonus for vice chairmen.  (Undoubtedly, the DuPage County Board chairman uses the extra money to build the strength of his coalition.)

Lake County Board members will take home $44,074 by 2012.

In McHenry County, the salary is approaching $20,000, plus full health insurance, if a member wants it.

The exact figure this year is $19,327.10.  And unlike DuPage County, the McHenry County Board members will see salary increases proportional to the increase in the Consumer Price Index.

Assuming the CPI increases 1/10 of 1%, members will receive a $19.33 raise next term.

Anyway, you can see why folks might want to run for the office.

As I have written previously, Ray Humphreys, a wise Republican campaign school elder (former West Virginia state representative and congressional candidate) outlined three motives for seeking office way back in 1967:

• Power
• Prestige
• Pecuniary

Now, I’m not saying that people don’t run because they want to “make a difference,” etc.  But I would observe that one can make more of a difference if one gains the power of public office.  And the money isn’t bad for a very part-time job.

The two incumbents are running for re-election.

They are Dan Ryan and Mary McCann.

Joining the fray are Mark Shepherd and Nick Carroccia.

Shepherd ran in 2006, coming in fourth of seven candidates.  That’s the election that

• Mary McCann received 2,189 votes
• Dan Ryan – 1,718
• Ersel Schuster – 1,706
• Harry Alten, Jr. – 1,555
• Mark Shepherd  – 1,512
• Former Regional Supt. of School Don Englert – 1,512
• Michael Cederlund – 807

Schuster was elected to the board in 2008.

Shepherd is a Hebron village trustee and a Republican precinct committeeman.  I saw him at McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s fund raiser.  Too bad I didn’t take a photo I could share with you.

I understand Carroccia is close to former McHenry County Circuit Clerk Bill Kays, whose sister Mary Lou Zeier retired last year.  Carroccia is identified as Integrated Justice Project Manager in the April 6, 2009, minutes of the Joint Law and Justice Committee and Finance and Audit Committee.

Only Ersel Schuster and John Hammerand voting “No.”

Read it and tell me if you think it says those twenty-two who voted “Yes” favor

• an income tax and/or
• Motor Fuel Tax hike:

WHEREAS, regardless of the funding source (a Motor Fuel Tax or income tax increase), it is critical that local governments receive their fair share and are treated equitably in any capital bill.

Just wondering?

The whole resolution is below:

RESOLUTION
URGING PASSAGE OF A COMPREHENSIVE CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

WHEREAS, passing a comprehensive Capital Infrastructure Program in the 2009 Legislative Session is critical to Illinois; and

WHEREAS, ten years have passed since the Illinois General Assembly and Governor last passed and signed into law a comprehensive Capital Infrastructure Program; and

WHEREAS, local communities are facing the problem of maintaining their roadways, bridges, water systems and sewer systems to meet growing needs; and

WHEREAS, units of local government have responsibility for over 88% of the public roads in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Motor Fuel Tax Allocations for municipal, county and township roads and bridges are only 10% higher than they were eight years ago, yet the cost of construction on local roads is 90% higher during that same timeframe; and

WHEREAS, the Motor Fuel Tax has not been changed since it was raised to 19 cents a gallon in 1990; and after expenses are removed the balance of the 19 cent Motor Fuel Tax is distributed as follows: 45.6% to the state, 26.7 % to municipalities; 19.1% to counties; and 8.6% to townships; and

WHEREAS, it is extremely important that the dollars are divided by formula and that the current formula is kept intact; and that units of local government have the opportunity to control what projects will be funded in their respective jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, regardless of the funding source (a Motor Fuel Tax or income tax increase), it is critical that local governments receive their fair share and are treated equitably in any capital bill.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the McHenry County Board of Illinois believes it is imperative that a comprehensive capital infrastructure bill be passed in 2009 and that local governments receive an equitable share of such capital infrastructure program to be delivered through existing formula; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this resolution be distributed to Governor Quinn, Speaker of the House Madigan, Senate President Cullerton, House Republican Leader Cross, Senate Republican Leader Radogno, State Senators Althoff and Duffy, State Representatives Beaubien, Franks and Tryon, the County Administrator and the Director of Transportation/County Engineer.

DATED at Woodstock, Illinois, this 2nd day of June, A.D., 2009.

________________________________
KENNETH D. KOEHLER,
Chairman McHenry County Board

I would point out that consideration of raising the Motor Fuel Tax is not serious in Springfield, even it would be logical a logical way to finance road improvements.

Standing room only.

Something about renting out the township hall by incumbent Ersel Schuster.

Schuster was defeated by challenger James Kagel, a Democrat, by a preliminary vote of 500-216.

Better than 2-1.

The backbone of Kagel’s campaign was former Democratic Party Chairman John Bartman and his mother Rosemary, a Seneca Township Trustee. John Bartman was hired by the Rod Blagojevich administration to work in the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Here is something I got via email about the meeting:

A bright pink flyer was sent to 1,200 homes in Seneca Township inviting everyone to a candidates forum for the thee road commissioner candidates and the two supervisor candidates.

Latecomers among the 90 who turned out, were left literally standing out in the
hallway.

The idea for this forum was started when a group of concerned residents were having breakfast out and decided it was time to let the candidates speak for themselves and end some misinformation that had been circulating in the township.

The forum began with the road commissioners.

Each candidate talked for a minute and then turns were taken answering written questions from the audience, with each candidate responding to each question.

The supervisors went next in the same fashion.

One topic of note was the subject of renting out the town hall. Kagel felt it was a bad idea because of the liability involved.

Supervisor Schuster responded by saying that the hall was the property of the voters and renting out the facility was their right. She explained that the liability issue could be addressed with a simple document that is easily created.
Schuster pointed out that the new addition was completed without any debt or tax increases.

The parking lot was filled beyond capacity and everyone was cordial.

Not much. If anyone would like to fill me in on the issues of the campaign, feel free.

Schuster also serves on the McHenry County Board, having been elected last fall.

= = = = =
The head shot is of Ersel Schuster.

From left to right are

• Randy Donley (R-Union),
• Jim Heisler (R-Crystal Lake),
• John Hammerand (R-Wonder Lake),
• Virginia Peschke (R-Bull Valley),
• Bob Bless (R-Fox River Grove),
• Paula Yensen (D-Lake in the Hills),
• Kathy Bergan Schmidt (D-Crystal Lake),
• Mary Donner (R-Crystal Lake),
• Ersel Schuster (R-Woodstock),
• Scott Breeden (R-Lakewood),
• Sue Draffkorn (R-Wonder Lake) and Marc Muneratto (R-Algonquin).

In the bottom picture, you can see (if you click on the image) McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler to the right of Munaretto’s head awaiting the election of board officers.

Here are the details about the discussion about the contested election before the vote, which resulted in two Crystal Lakers taking control.

From left to right are

• Randy Donley (R-Union),
• Jim Heisler (R-Crystal Lake),
• John Hammerand (R-Wonder Lake),
• Virginia Peschke (R-Bull Valley),
• Bob Bless (R-Fox River Grove),
• Paula Yensen (D-Lake in the Hills),
• Kathy Bergan Schmidt (D-Crystal Lake),
• Mary Donner (R-Crystal Lake),
• Ersel Schuster (R-Woodstock),
• Scott Breeden (R-Lakewood),
• Sue Draffkorn (R-Wonder Lake) and Marc Muneratto (R-Algonquin).

In the bottom picture, you can see (if you click on the image) McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler to the right of Munaretto’s head awaiting the election of board officers.

Here are the details about the discussion about the contested election before the vote, which resulted in two Crystal Lakers taking control.

The number of Democrats will rise from one to three as

join Jim Kennedy of District 5, also a former Lake in the Hills village trustee.

Newly elected Republicans include

• Robert Bless of District 1, replacing retiring Dan Shea. Both are from Fox River Grove
• Scott Breeden of District 2, replacing retiring Marie Chmiel. Both are Crystal Lakers. Breeden previously served as Lakewood Village President and President of the Crystal Lake Park Board.
• Ersel Schuster of the District 6 part of Woodstock. She has previously served on the county board and is Seneca Township Supervisor. Schuster replaces retiring Mary Lou Zierer, who lives between Marengo and Harvard.

Being sworn in after being re-elected will be Algonquin’s Marc Munaretto (District 1), Crystal Lake’s Jim Heisler (District 2), Mary Donner of rural Crystal Lake (District 3), John Hammerand and Sue Draffkorn (District 4), Bull Valley’s Virginia Peschke (District 5) and Union’s Randy Donley (District 6).