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.

This was not an investigatory story.  (Hurry.  It won’t be free long.)

Nothing about how the county was looking for a place not near a residential neighborhood…on cheap land…without brick walls and ended up near a residential neighborhood on one of the busiest highways in McHenry County with brick walls.

After Blake Hobson gave Ken Koehler the credit for the new facility, someone named “OakLeaf” wrote the following:

OakLeaf wrote on January 25, 2010 12:44 p.m.

“I think the county could have found a much less expensive place. This is from mchenrycountyblog The folks running for re-election (or, in the case of one seeking to return to the board) who voted to impose the cat tax in order to help pay for new animal control shelter on Route 14 in Crystal Lake follow:

• Ken Koehler, County Board Chairman, Crystal Lake, District 2
• John Jung of Woodstock, District 5
• Tina Hill of Woodstock, District 5
• Anna May Miller of Cary, District 1
• Sandra Salgado of McHenry, District 4
• Barbara Wheeler of Crystal Lake, District 3″

Keely Cat doesn't have to hide from the McHenry County Cat Tax Collector anymore.

It was a coincidence that I wrote a story about the votes on the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax the same day the NW Herald did a two-year retrospective.

And, the Herald didn’t point out the role its approval played in the defeat of Woodstock Republican County Board member Perry Moy by Lake in the Hills Democrat Jim Kennedy.

There are certainly different roles played by the NW Herald and McHenry County Blog.

And, only McHenry County Blog features the best know cat in McHenry County:

The one, the only

Keely Cat

When the postman came on Monday, the first day of early voting, there were envelopes from District 2 candidates Ken Koehler and Lyn Orphal.

I’m a big advocate of putting your message on the address side of the envelope, if a candidate is sending a letter.

As you can see Koehler did that and Orphal didn’t.

Without even opening the envelope, you can see that Koehler is running a better financed campaign. He uses color; Orphal uses black and white.

That difference is continued inside.

Koehler encloses a heavy card stock piece. Full color treatment.

On one side he touts

• Financial stability with a balance budget
• Transportation improvements, citing future improvements
• Groundwater protection to pass the first comprehensive groundwater protection ordinance in Illinois
• Economic Development – fostering responsible economic development

It is conceivable that Koehler may be called on the 2030 Plan’s not recognizing his hometown’s Watershed Ordinance. This was brought up by primary opponent Ellen Brady Mueller in the city council debate about moving forward to zone the property on Country Club Road in Ridgefield where Metra wants to build a train station on land half-owned by Koehler.

One interesting aspect of the side of the piece you see above is that it lists both elections. That means Koehler can use any left over literature this fall, assuming he wins the primary in which he is clearly the favorite.

The other side pretty much reiterates the points made on the more detailed, although it does add “Proactive land use planning” and improving “public transportation.”

His letter (click to enlarge), which is not in color, highlights his web site and talks about early voting, noting he brings “a unique perspective that is not offered elsewhere in the District 2 race” because of his nine years experience on the board with five years as chairman.

“Perhaps my greatest contribution to the county board so far has been my commitment to the protection of our groundwater supply,” Koehler writes.

Perhaps someone will ask him at Friday night’s Patriots United candidates’ night at 7 at McHenry County College whether that concern extends to recognizing the building restrictions imposed by the Crystal Lake Watershed Ordinance.

On the back of his letter are listed where one can vote early. Locally, the two places are Crystal Lake City Hall and the Algonquin Township Hall.

Lyn Orphal’s letter (click to enlarge) is printed in the cheaper black and white. She lists the committees on which she has served over the last ten years. For the last four years she has served as “chair” of Public Health and Human Services.
She also lists her being board liaison to the housing authority, senior service grant commission, the Workforce Investment Board and the McHenry County Economic Development Board.

Orphal accurately describes herself as a “veteran” board member and says, “I have been able to make a difference and want the opportunity to continue to do so.”

She is Executive Director of Leadership Greater McHenry County.

I can’t find a web site for her campaign.

Keely Cat, who led the fight againstg the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax, still is keeping an eye out for a rabid bat, which was the stated excuse to impose this tax. Keely never understood how rabid bats could get inside, when even the mouse holes have been plugged up. The animals he is watching move around his domain about as much as the bats. The Republican Cat Tax was proposed to finance the re-modling of the Animal Control Shelter on Crystal Lake's Route 14 across from Woodstock Street. As with McHenry County Board and the McHenry County College Board, Keely doesn't like having the camera flash in his eyes when I take pictures.

What she doesn’t mention is the key role she played in killing the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax. She made the motion to kill it, bringing great surprise to Koehler, who was a strong supporter.

But both mailings were amateur night performances compared to the 8½ by 11 inch post card that arrived from challenger Donna Kurtz yesterday.

Mine arrived unbent sticking out from the other mail.

It also promotes early voting, but has polling places in Huntley (park district), which is not in the district, and, more importantly, Lake in the Hills (village hall), which is in District 2.

Kurtz says she is into

• Protecting the Future
• Ensuring Our Quality of Life

She says, she

• is principled, honest, and on our side
• will protect our quality of life (here she talks about safeguarding lake, fen, and stream watersheds, but does not specifically mention Crystal Lake’s Watershed Ordinance)
• will speak her mind and stand up for you (for some reason she does not give her best example, which was changing her mind from supporting the minor league baseball stadium in Crystal Lake’s watershed at McHenry County College, on whose board she serves)

Looking at the piece again, I notice that a photo on this side has her talking to old guys. It looks like a piece of Kurt Stobach cut crystal in the background.

The address side gives some background:

• Long family tradition of public service
• 23 years in corporate management overseeing multi-million budgets
• B.A. – Southern Illinois University
• MMA – University of Illinois – Springfield

And some experience:

• Office of Illinois Auditor General – Auditor
• McHenry County College Trustee (in 5th year)
• Republican Precinct Committeeman
• Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce member
• Former McHenry County Family Service Board member

Her pledges:

• I will be a County Board Member who will place the public good first
• I will dedicate myself to making life better for residents of my district
• I will keep you informed of issues facing our county
• I will fight for fiscal responsibility through smaller government

Naturally, Kurtz points to her web site.

Missing from the literature is that Kurtz has filled out the conflict of interest questionnaire. Koehler and Orphal have not.

Maybe that information will show up in a later comparison piece from Kurtz.

Rabid bats found in McHenry County.

Can a push to license cats be far behind?

That’s what Keely Cat is wondering.

Yes, we know that the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax, proposed almost two years ago, was strictly a way to raise more money to remodel the animal control facility in Crystal Lake.

But, you know government officials.

They always have things they want to spend money on, even if the expenditure wouldn’t make the cut under any rational set of priorities.

The Badmitten is prepared for another fight, if that’s what it takes.

And, he’ll keep trying to find one flying around our home.

And Cat Dad will continue to point out that the cats most in danger—those in barns—won’t be have to get rabies shots under the county cat taxers’ proposal.

Rabid bats found in McHenry County.

Can a push to license cats be far behind?

That’s what Keely Cat is wondering.

Yes, we know that the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax, proposed almost two years ago, was strictly a way to raise more money to remodel the animal control facility in Crystal Lake.

But, you know government officials.

They always have things they want to spend money on, even if the expenditure wouldn’t make the cut under any rational set of priorities.

The Badmitten is prepared for another fight, if that’s what it takes.

And, he’ll keep trying to find one flying around our home.

And Cat Dad will continue to point out that the cats most in danger—those in barns—won’t be have to get rabies shots under the county cat taxers’ proposal.

The McHenry County Health Department, a.k.a, the wannabe McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collectors are back.

The have identified two rabid bats in Cary.

That’s pretty close.

And, one got inside.

In a basement.

Don’t play coy.

You know about basements.

You run through the basement door any chance you get.

Then Cat Mom has to use those cat wipie dipes to clean off the dirt.

Now, if she reads this article, she might be more worried that you would get bitten by a rabid bat.

You are so lucky that she doesn’t read McHenry County Blog.

No word on whether the McHenry County Board will try to force house cats to have rabies shots, while ignoring those barn cats that may be in real danger.

“If it’s all the same with you, Cat Dad, I’d rather sleep.”

The McHenry County Health Department, a.k.a, the wannabe McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collectors are back.

The have identified two rabid bats in Cary.

That’s pretty close.

And, one got inside.

In a basement.

Don’t play coy.

You know about basements.

You run through the basement door any chance you get.

Then Cat Mom has to use those cat wipie dipes to clean off the dirt.

Now, if she reads this article, she might be more worried that you would get bitten by a rabid bat.

You are so lucky that she doesn’t read McHenry County Blog.

No word on whether the McHenry County Board will try to force house cats to have rabies shots, while ignoring those barn cats that may be in real danger.

“If it’s all the same with you, Cat Dad, I’d rather sleep.”

Some evidence that my musings on the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax were not misplaced appeared on the front page of Thursday’s Chicago Tribune.

New readers won’t remember my prediction that passage of the cat tax would allow opponents of cat tax supporters to have a ready-made mailing list for future political campaigns.

The Tribune story tells of how reformer Joel Erickson, who somehow made it onto the Berwyn village board, got the list of licensed pets and sent a newsletter addressed to the towns cats and dogs by name.

What a great idea!

Something very similar to what I advised county board cat tax opponents to do if they ran against a cat tax supporter.

The establishment politicians in Berwyn, who in the worst way do not want to give up power to a city manager, if Erickson gets his way to change the form of government, are aghast at his innovative use of public information.

I guess that Berwyn must have a rabid bat problem.

Why else would they want house cats to be licenses except to make sure they had rabies shots?

Oh.

I forgot.

Politicians like the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collectors wanted the revenue.

But I’ll bet Berwyn didn’t exempt barn cats, the way the McHenry County ordinance did.

= = = = =
Even the mention of the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collectors scared these two Downtown Crystal Lake feral cats to run through the hole in the fence within sight of the Crystal Lake City Hall. They must be smart enough to know that city tax collectors are not the ones to fear.

Maybe Keely Cat needs to talk to them about Mayor Aaron Shepley’s 75% city sales tax hike.

Some evidence that my musings on the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax were not misplaced appeared on the front page of Thursday’s Chicago Tribune.

New readers won’t remember my prediction that passage of the cat tax would allow opponents of cat tax supporters to have a ready-made mailing list for future political campaigns.

The Tribune story tells of how reformer Joel Erickson, who somehow made it onto the Berwyn village board, got the list of licensed pets and sent a newsletter addressed to the towns cats and dogs by name.

What a great idea!

Something very similar to what I advised county board cat tax opponents to do if they ran against a cat tax supporter.

The establishment politicians in Berwyn, who in the worst way do not want to give up power to a city manager, if Erickson gets his way to change the form of government, are aghast at his innovative use of public information.

I guess that Berwyn must have a rabid bat problem.

Why else would they want house cats to be licenses except to make sure they had rabies shots?

Oh.

I forgot.

Politicians like the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collectors wanted the revenue.

But I’ll bet Berwyn didn’t exempt barn cats, the way the McHenry County ordinance did.

= = = = =
Even the mention of the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collectors scared these two Downtown Crystal Lake feral cats to run through the hole in the fence within sight of the Crystal Lake City Hall. They must be smart enough to know that city tax collectors are not the ones to fear.

Maybe Keely Cat needs to talk to them about Mayor Aaron Shepley’s 75% city sales tax hike.