Steve Willson’s Reply to Anonymous Commenter’s Charge of Lying about Randall Road’s Capacity

Commenter “Pro” wrote: “Figures from the McHenry County Division of Transportation show that, even at rush hour, traffic on Randall Road at Algonquin does not exceed capacity, nor has traffic on that part of Randall grown in more than twelve … Continue reading

Attorney General Public Access Division Asks County Government to Justify Lack of Response to Freedom of Information Request

After the Illinois Attorney General’s Office confirmed that McHenry County Blog was a member of the “news media” under the Freedom of Information Act, I filed a request with McHenry County. I asked for “copies of all work product for the … Continue reading

McDOT Planner Speaking in Crystal Lake on April 5th

The Green Drinks program sponsored by the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County offers the following program on Wednesday, April 5th, at Duke’s Alehouse from 5-7 PM. Scott Hennings & Ben Redding – McHenry County Division of Transportation Scott Hennings, Principal … Continue reading

February McDOT Work of Jack Franks’ Patronage Guy

A Friend of McHenry County Blog filed the following Freedom of Information request for “Any documents, reports, presentations, emails, meetings, etc. that Oliver Serafini had involving Division of Transportation, including outside vendors, elected officials, consultants, other units of government, the … Continue reading

Still No McDOT Work Product for Jack Franks McDOT Ghost Employee

A Friend of McHenry County Blog filed a Freedom of Information request with the McHenry County Department of Transportation. He asked for “any documents that show Oliver Serafini worked at the Department of Transportation in February 2017.” Here’s the reply … Continue reading

Half-Paid from McDOT Funds, Franks Patronage Worker Gets Department Tour

A Friend of McHenry County Blog filed a Freedom of Information Request with county government on February 2nd asking for “any documents that show Oliver Serafini worked at the Department of Transportation this January.” You can read the reply below: … Continue reading

Will New Transportation “Lock Box” Constitutional Amendment Prohibit Payment of Jack Franks’ Press Aide from McDOT Money?

As I was reflecting on the end run that newly-sworn in McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks is trying to pull on the taxpayers of McHenry County, it occurred to me that there may be a road block in the … Continue reading

Tax Protest Against McHenry County – Part 2

The second tax protest attack against McHenry County’s Highway Department levies is below: MCHENRY COUNTY MATCHING TAX FUND – EXCESSIVE ACCUMULATION Moreover, the 2015 McHenry County audit memorialized The Matching Fund had a surplus of $16,233,946 at the end of … Continue reading

State Asks for $180,875 Snow Plowing Help

Here’s what the McHenry County Board’s Transportation Committee will consider today: On September 19, 2016, MCDOT was approached by representatives from IDOT with a proposal to assist IDOT with winter operations on approximately 118 lane miles of State Highways. Three … Continue reading

Donna Kurtz Explains County Board Approval of Randall-Algonquin Road Improvement

The following was written by McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz: WHY FIXING RANDALL ROAD / ALGONQUIN ROAD INTERSECTION AREA MATTERS Most will agree that the Randall and Algonquin Roads intersection and surrounding area is a significant congestion problem for … Continue reading

RTA Sales Tax Could Displace Property Taxes Financing Sheriff’s Department

I’ve shared what the McHenry County Board could do to cut property taxes big time. They’ve already sliced $3 million of their $79 million real estate tax bill by zeroing out the levy for the Valley Hi Nursing Home. That’s … Continue reading

Vote on $2.2 Million Woodstock Road Project Tomorrow, Even Though Defeated in Transportation Committee

Saturday I wrote an article entitled, Charles and Raffel Roads Roundabout Proposal Comes Around Again, Despite Defeat in Committee Day after Election I apparently misunderstood where the proposal to award $2,229,600 to Curran Contracting Company of Crystal Lake was scheduled. … Continue reading

Tax Dollars Hardly Working

Every time I drive by McHenry County’s only Park and Ride lot at the intersection of Route 31 and Virginia Street Road, I wonder about its justification. Certainly there was government-owned land as the path of Virginia Street Road was … Continue reading

Charles and Raffel Roads Roundabout Proposal Comes Around Again, Despite Defeat in Committee Day after Election

Coming around to the McHenry County Transportation Committee for the second time in three weeks is a $2,229,600 proposal to build a roundabout north of the Woodstock North High School on Raffel Road where it dead ends at Charles Road. … Continue reading

$10 Million More to “Expedite” Randall Road Right-of-Way Purchases

Next Wednesday, the McHenry County Board’s Transportation Committee has before it a request to authorize another $10 million  for “the acquisition of right-of-way for the Randall Road widening and resurfacing capacity improvement project.” $5 million was previously appropriated in February of 2014. … Continue reading

Will Randall Road Be Allowed To Deteriorate Until Widening?

Went to Algonquin Saturday to Red Robin. As we were returning to Crystal Lake, I noticed the Randall Road pothole in the photo below across from the old Citco Station, which I assume the McHenry County Transportation Department has already … Continue reading

Considering Widening Randall Road

McHenry County Board Chairman Joe Gottemoller asked a Randall Road question of the four men who want to sit in the seat vacated by Ken Koehler. Besides putting in two left turn lanes on all four corners of the intersection of … Continue reading

Comparing County Government Efficiencies

This comes from a report submitted to the Management Services Committee of the McHenry County Board: Bellwether Benchmarking McHenry County participated in a Multi-County Benchmark comparison to assess the performance of departments and operations. Seven Illinois counties participated in the … Continue reading