McHenry County Board Committee Recommendations (Corrected)

Correction: My eyes were not working well enough yesterday when I copied the following information from item 14.2a in tonight’s McHenry County Board Agenda.  Most of my mistakes were in the Public Health Committee. = = = = = On … Continue reading

Arrogance of Soda Pop Social Engineeers Revealed in Compromise Suggested as Repeal Impending

When the soda tax was first proposed by Cook County Board President Toni  Preckwinkle it was promoted as a tax on  “sweetened” beverages. Yet, it included diet pop, but not Starbucks coffee. Now, WBBM Radio says tax defender Elissa Bassler, CEO … Continue reading

Jack Franks Seeks Leasing Agent for Valley Hi Nursing Home Without County Board Involvement

In a move of which no McHenry County Board member attending State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally’s fundraiser last night was aware, Jack Franks has asked for Requests for Proposals to lease Valley Hi, the County nursing home. One member of the … Continue reading

Franks’ Patronage Hires Fail HR Committee Test – Part 3

This is Part 3.  Part 1 can be found here. Part 2 is here. Michael Rein wondered if most jobs were not advertised on the internet and advertised. “That’s correct,” County Administrator Peter Austin replied, [but] it varies for the … Continue reading

Franks’ Patronage Hires Fail HR Committee Test – Part 2

Part 1 can be read here. Continuing the questioning of McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin, Human Resources Board member Craig Wilcox said, “You exercised an authority that the County Board is responsible for, that we do spell out in [your … Continue reading

“Nunc Pro Tunc,” After the Fact Purchasing Approval

You can read the last substantive item on the Tuesday McHenry County Agenda below: Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of a Used 2015 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup Truck Nunc Pro Tunc for the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency in FY2016. There are … Continue reading

The County Board Winners Get Sworn In

There are so many aspects of the December 5th McHenry County Board meeeting that there will be stories coming for a while. One that was overshadowed by the activies of newly-elected Chairman Jack Franks was the swearing in of the … Continue reading

Committee on Committees Members Announced

The McHenry County Board gets recommendations from its Committee on Committees as to who will serve as committee chairmen and members. In past years, the recommendations were just that. The McHenry County Board Chairman made the final selections. This past … Continue reading

Jeff Thorsen Elected McHenry County Board Vice Chairman

As suggested in an article last night, newly-elected Board member Jeff Thorsen (R-Crystal Lake) was elected Vice Chairman of the McHenry County Board Monday morning. Also nominated was Mary McCann (R-Woodstock), a veteran Board member. Thorsen beat her 13-10 with … Continue reading

NWH Endorses Second Lawyer Democrat

With endorsements completed yesterday for the McHenry County Board, in its District 5 picks, the Northwest Herald has endorsed its second Democrat who is a lawyer.  (The first was District 3’s Diane Johnson, a former Crystal Lake Grade School Board … Continue reading

Yvonne Barnes Gets Special Finance Committee Meeting on Valley Hi Finances

At the beginning of Thursday’s McHenry County Finance and Audit Committee McHenry County Board Chairman candidate Mike Walkup called for the abolition of the property tax levied for the Valley Hi Nursing Home. He pointed out that the nursing home … Continue reading

State’s Attorney’s $75,000 Settlement Runs into Rough Waters

When Assistant State’s Attorney George Hoffman came before the McHenry County Finance and Audit Committee Thursday morning for permission to settle the suit filed by former Assistant State’s Attorney Kirk Chrzanowski for $75,000, he made a cost-benefit argument. He estimated that … Continue reading

Lame Duck Planning and Development Expanding Government Tuesday

The agenda for the Planning and Development Committee is out.  On the agenda is to expand the P&D committee by 1.5 full time employees or FTEs.  Here is a link to the agenda on the McHenry County Board’s website. The … Continue reading

Valley Hi Consultant’s Report

Have to say I was disappointed with the Wipfli LLP Market Study Report presented at the joint meeting of the Valley Hi Operating Committee and Public Health and Human Services Committee. From the hour or so presentation and discussion I … Continue reading

Operating Engineers’ Endorsements

For McHenry County, the Operating Engineers are endorsing the following countywide offices: McHenry County Offices Recorder: Joni Smith State’s Attorney: Patrick Kenneally McHenry County Board: Dist. 1: Kerri Barber Dist. 1: Anna May Miller Dist. 2: Dominique Miller Dist. 3: … Continue reading