McHenry County Blog

Paula Yensen

On Monday morning, the top ranking official labeled a Democrat will have her spot in the sun.

Named head of the Management Services Committee, Lake in the Hills McHenry County Board member Paula Yensen is chairing her first big meeting.

At it will be discussed whether a referendum should be put on the April ballot asking voters if they want to elect the Chairman of the County Board in an at-large election.  (See my Wednesday article.)

Since the deadline is rapidly approaching for placing such a referendum om the ballot and the agenda does not indicate any action will be taken, getting the issue before the County Board will take some fancy footwork.

Here are the committee members:

• Chairman: Paula Yensen
• Vice-Chairman: John Hammerand
• Member: Donna Kurtz
• Member: Anna May Miller
• Member: Ersel Schuster
• Member: Michael Skala
• Member: Michael Walkup

The outgoing County Board managed to put a tax hike on the April ballot.

Of course, a majority of the County Board may not favor electing the County Board Chairman.

Ersel Schuster listening to discussion of Conflict of Interest Ordinance.

Whether the ordinance that the McHenry County Board passed two days ago will make any difference in the way the board does business remains to be seen.

But it is a step toward the transparency that citizens need to begin to understand whether conflicts of interest drive County Board decisions.

It passed with only two dissenting votes, Lakewood’s Scott Breeden and Huntley’s Dan Ryan.  Ryan blamed his Republican primary defeat on his unwillingness to fill out the ALAW questionnaire upon which the ordinance is based.

Here is the way Emily Berandt, the one who led the charge before Ersel Schuster’s Management Services Committee reacted:

Emily Berendt (on the left) makes point in mark-up meeting of the Management Services Committee. Sitting to her left is Janet Trafelet, who serves on ALAS's Advisory Board.

The McHenry County Statement of Economic Interests Addendum Ordinance passed at the County Board meeting Tuesday night 22-2.Although much has been deleted or changed since we presented the original draft, much of what is really important remains.

This new addendum requires county officials to disclose all real estate holdings, business and professional relationships and larger indebtednesses to entities doing business with county or local governments.

When this ordinance was proposed, we said that this was McHenry County’s opportunity to be a leader in a nationwide movement toward greater transparency in government.

ALAW urged McHenry County to take a preemptive strike against accusations of self dealing and to restore the public trust in its elected officials.  We are pleased that the county has stepped up to the plate.

Thank you to all who were involved in this process.

Emily Berendt
Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water (ALAW )

Thursday, McHenry County Blog told of the conflict of interest and economic interest ordinance proposed by the reform group ALAW.

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.

The Ladies of the McHenry County Management Services Committee’s rejection of Dick Tracy for the post of county seal has brought Dick Tracy to tears.

That’s what Allan Showalter, author of Heck of a Guy blog, is my contact with Dick Tracy.

Showalter headlines his article,

Dick Tracy Defends County’s Right To Make Bad Choices

Here’s how Showalter describes Dick Tracy’s reaction to his rejection:

“An obviously saddened but unbowed Dick Tracy reports he is still steadfastly loyal, despite the apparent lack of reciprocation, to the County where his creator, Chester Gould, made his home for many years.

“Tracy, in fact, remains unhesitant in his support of the powers that be, pointing out that the capacity to make the wrong decision is the bedrock of local government.2

“Tracy goes on to explain that he is disappointed but unsurprised by the result.

“When they said they wanted a seal that was unique, easily identifiable, and not boring, I felt I fit that description and so, I had a responsibility to volunteer to serve.

“Somewhere along the line, it began to look as though those qualities weren’t really what was wanted – or maybe someone changed their mind.

“I can’t say it didn’t hurt, but I still have my day job righting wrongs, protecting the weak, bringing treacherous villains to justice, and whatnot so I’ll be all right.”

Dick Tracy also has his park in Woodstock, where

If you want to know Showalter’s answer to the ladies’ negative take on Dick Tracy for County Seal, you can read it on his blog today or wait for me to get to it.

If you want to read about the meeting:

“Dick Tracy Fails to Get the Ladies‘ Vote: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.”

The Ladies of the McHenry County Management Services Committee’s rejection of Dick Tracy for the post of county seal has brought Dick Tracy to tears.

That’s what Allan Showalter, author of Heck of a Guy blog, is my contact with Dick Tracy.

Showalter headlines his article,

Dick Tracy Defends County’s Right To Make Bad Choices

Here’s how Showalter describes Dick Tracy’s reaction to his rejection:

“An obviously saddened but unbowed Dick Tracy reports he is still steadfastly loyal, despite the apparent lack of reciprocation, to the County where his creator, Chester Gould, made his home for many years.

“Tracy, in fact, remains unhesitant in his support of the powers that be, pointing out that the capacity to make the wrong decision is the bedrock of local government.2

“Tracy goes on to explain that he is disappointed but unsurprised by the result.

“When they said they wanted a seal that was unique, easily identifiable, and not boring, I felt I fit that description and so, I had a responsibility to volunteer to serve.

“Somewhere along the line, it began to look as though those qualities weren’t really what was wanted – or maybe someone changed their mind.

“I can’t say it didn’t hurt, but I still have my day job righting wrongs, protecting the weak, bringing treacherous villains to justice, and whatnot so I’ll be all right.”

Dick Tracy also has his park in Woodstock, where

If you want to know Showalter’s answer to the ladies’ negative take on Dick Tracy for County Seal, you can read it on his blog today or wait for me to get to it.

If you want to read about the meeting:

“Dick Tracy Fails to Get the Ladies‘ Vote: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.”

Entitling it’s “Wait-a-Minute” editorial,

Missing the big picture,

the Northwest Herald says,

McHenry County officials need to quickly back away from a proposal that would put tight restrictions on photography at County Board meetings.

The Herald cites the Open Meetings Act’s clear language protecting photographing public meetings.

And, you know what, it doesn’t say anything about putting camera folks in the back corners of the room.

The NW Herald even lays down the not-so-subtle threat of a lawsuit and offers some ridicule:

… to completely ban flash photography and restrict photographers to one location is overly restrictive, violates the basic tenet of open government gives an illusion of self-importance (emphasis added).

And the NW Herald even refers to McHenry County Blog’s interpret photographer, although not by name:

The proposed ban stems from one person’s picture-taking at public meetings. Government does not infringe on established rights because one person may be annoying to certain board members.

And, heaven forbid, the editorial writer thinks I am being

punished because certain board members have a vendetta.

Whatever can that mean?

No one could be holding a grudge about the failure of the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax, could they?

Want to see how bad the lighting is in the McHenry County Board room?

I took this shot at the day the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax was scratched. I’m pretty sure I used a flash, which comes up automatically on my Canon Rebel whenever the light level is too low. This was taken before all the members had sat down for the meeting. (As usual, you can click on the picture to make it larger.)

Did you know that people who win Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act suits now can get legal fees for their attorneys?

And, guess who pays them?

Unfortunately, it is not the individual public officials who violate the law.

As usually, when public officials make mistakes, we all pay through our taxes.

In any event, thanks, Northwest Herald.

I know you are protecting your own self-interest, but, in doing so, you’re obviously protecting mine as well.

The editorial did not name the members of the Management Services Committee, at least online, so I shall. They all voted for the rules being trashed by the NW Herald:

Management Services Committee
Chairman: Tina Hill
Vice Chair: Pete Merkel

Members:

Yvonne M. Barnes,
Marie Chmiel,
Mary L. Donner,
Barbara Wheeler,
Mary Lou Zierer

I guess I should give the NW Herald editorial writer’s reaction to Pete Merkel’s comment about people needing to buy a better camera, if theirs would not work in the back corner:

“elitist and unwarranted.”

That comment inspired a friend of the blog to create this fake Skinner.com ad for a camera big enough to work.

= = = = =
Wanted Poster credit to Al Showalter, author of the Crystal Lake blog “Heck of a Guy.” If you have not read his piece about my travail with the Prairie Grove School Board and Police, you should.

Entitling it’s “Wait-a-Minute” editorial,

Missing the big picture,

the Northwest Herald says,

McHenry County officials need to quickly back away from a proposal that would put tight restrictions on photography at County Board meetings.

The Herald cites the Open Meetings Act’s clear language protecting photographing public meetings.

And, you know what, it doesn’t say anything about putting camera folks in the back corners of the room.

The NW Herald even lays down the not-so-subtle threat of a lawsuit and offers some ridicule:

… to completely ban flash photography and restrict photographers to one location is overly restrictive, violates the basic tenet of open government gives an illusion of self-importance (emphasis added).

And the NW Herald even refers to McHenry County Blog’s interpret photographer, although not by name:

The proposed ban stems from one person’s picture-taking at public meetings. Government does not infringe on established rights because one person may be annoying to certain board members.

And, heaven forbid, the editorial writer thinks I am being

punished because certain board members have a vendetta.

Whatever can that mean?

No one could be holding a grudge about the failure of the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax, could they?

Want to see how bad the lighting is in the McHenry County Board room?

I took this shot at the day the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax was scratched. I’m pretty sure I used a flash, which comes up automatically on my Canon Rebel whenever the light level is too low. This was taken before all the members had sat down for the meeting. (As usual, you can click on the picture to make it larger.)

Did you know that people who win Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act suits now can get legal fees for their attorneys?

And, guess who pays them?

Unfortunately, it is not the individual public officials who violate the law.

As usually, when public officials make mistakes, we all pay through our taxes.

In any event, thanks, Northwest Herald.

I know you are protecting your own self-interest, but, in doing so, you’re obviously protecting mine as well.

The editorial did not name the members of the Management Services Committee, at least online, so I shall. They all voted for the rules being trashed by the NW Herald:

Management Services Committee
Chairman: Tina Hill
Vice Chair: Pete Merkel

Members:

Yvonne M. Barnes,
Marie Chmiel,
Mary L. Donner,
Barbara Wheeler,
Mary Lou Zierer

I guess I should give the NW Herald editorial writer’s reaction to Pete Merkel’s comment about people needing to buy a better camera, if theirs would not work in the back corner:

“elitist and unwarranted.”

That comment inspired a friend of the blog to create this fake Skinner.com ad for a camera big enough to work.

= = = = =
Wanted Poster credit to Al Showalter, author of the Crystal Lake blog “Heck of a Guy.” If you have not read his piece about my travail with the Prairie Grove School Board and Police, you should.