McHenry County Blog

What you see is the side of the agenda for the McHenry County Concealed Carry rally held Thursday night at the Operating Engineers Lakemoor Banquet Hall.

I see four candidates for Congress were present or representated.

From the 16th District, incumbent Republican Don Manzullo had a statement read by McHenry Right to Carry Association President Lou Rofrano.  Challenging Democrat George Galrapp spoke for himself.

In the 8th District, incumbent Democrat Melissa Bean was a no-show.  Republican Joe Walsh came in person and Green Party candidate Bill Scheurer had a statement read.

Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County Sheriff Mike Mahon spoke early on.  Green Party candidate for Sheriff Gus Philpott was slotted in the middle.

Incumbent Republican Sheriff Keith Nygren is not listed on the agenda.  Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran had a statement read on his behalf, as did his Demcoratic Party opponent Doug Roberts.

For state representative, the southern McHenry County district now represented by Republican Mike Tryon saw him speaking for himself.  Challenging Democrat Robert Kaempfe sent a statement to read.

Incumbent Democrat Jack Franks was apparently a no-show, but his Republican opponent John O’Neill spoke.

A view from the back of the Lakemoor Banquet Hall.

Lake County’s State Senator Michael Bond is listed on the agenda.  His opponent, Suzi Schmidt, had a statement read.

The only statewide candidate on the agenda was Republican gubernatorial aspirant Bill Brady.  A statement was read on his behalf.

Nick Provenzano, seeking to return to the McHenry County Board, also spoke to the crowd.

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If you would like some facts about the effectiveness of the proposal after which the association is named, I would suggest reading the third edition of “More Guns, Less Crime” by John Lott.

For my review of the book, click here.

From the front page of the Chicago Tribune April 26, 2010.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the RTA’s Metra commuter trains to and from Chicago are featured in a critical article on the front page of the Tribune today.

The beef is that riders can’t access the internet on the train.

It reminds me of the first thing the Regional Transportation Authority did when it took over the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad’s trains.

Under Northwestern operation, there was water available on the trains. One would take a little paper cup, push a button and out came drinkable water.

The first noticeable change under RTA management in the late 1970′s was the covering of the water dispensing part of the commuter cars with a stainless steel panel.

A real loss for those who commuted over an hour. Think McHenry County, where the fastest train to Crystal Lake was about an hour.

So, RTA’s commuter service started out ignoring customer wishes. Riders number 150,000 a day now.

Metra commuter cars at grade crossing next to the Downtown Crystal Lake train station.

Last year, Metra, created in the early 1980′s to give suburban politicians their own patronage haven, had to be hounded into the late 1900′s on the use of credit cards.  It took a bill sponsored by State Rep. Michael Bond (D-Grayslake).

Want a ticket, have cash. Or a check in some instances, like for monthly passes.

Now, it appears the Tribune is about to start another campaign to improve customer service on the trains. It seeks Wi-Fi.

Simplistically, one might ascribe the three failures in meeting customer needs to the monopoly nature of the rail service. But, the Chicago and Northwestern had a monopoly and still provided water for riders.

And other commuter lines in the USA have managed to figure out how to allow customers to access the internet. Santa Fe, New York, Boston, Silicon Valley’s run between San Jose and Stockton, even Amtrak on the East Coast, manage to provide internet service.

The Tribune article notes that Metra’s response is basically “providing wireless internet is too expensive and technologically challenging.”

Probably none of McHenry County Blog’s readers are old enough to remember when railroads were THE high tech part of the American economy.

Metra’s advice to those who want train internet service is to buy through their cell phone providers. The Tribune says the cost is $20-60 a month.

Metra could, of course, provide the service and charge for it.

Rep. Bond is sponsoring another bill to require it, the Tribune says.  Something about bringing Metra into the 21st Century.

There is no official way to submit proposals for the new stimulus package, so an association of the largest counties in Illinois took it upon themselves to develop their own list.

County Administrator Peter Austin emailed me,

“We submitted it as a part of the Metro Counties organization to CMAP (a combination of the old NIPC and CATS) and the IL Senatorial Task Force called for by Senator (John) Cullerton and Chaired by Senator (Michael) Bond.”

Below is what McHenry County government submitted:

Transportation Projects

Reconstruction

1. Chapel/Lincoln Intersection reconstruction – $1.8 million

2. Fleming Road Reconstruction with porous pavement – $3.5 million

Resurfacing

3. Critical Priority County Resurfacing (approx 42 lane miles) – $8 million – Includes the following roads which are rated at a 4.0 or worse on the MCDOT Pavement Condition Rating Survey:

a. Pyott Road
b. Chapel Hill Road
c. Franklinville Road
d. Hobe Road
e. Maple Street
f. Ramer Road
g. Deep Cut/Nelson Road
h. Hampshire Road
i. Burlington Road

2. High Priority County Resurfacing (approx 97 lane miles) – $18 million – Includes the following roads which are rated between a 4.0 and 5.25 on the MCDOT Pavement Condition Rating Survey:

a. Roberts Road
b. Lawrence Road
c. Cary Road
d. Lake-Cook Road
e. Flat Iron Road
f. Marengo Road (in Huntley)
g. Miller Road
h. Harmony Road
i. River Road
j. Hartland Road

3. Randall Road resurfacing – $4 million – Randall is rated at a 5.25 on the MCDOT Pavement Condition Rating Survey

Bridge Projects

4. McHenry County has 12 bridges planned for replacement over the next 5 years. All are Federally eligible and the County is anticipating replacement costs at about $1 million per bridge for a total of $12 million. The bridges are:

a. Kishwaukee Valley Road,
b. Graf Road (1 county and 1 township)
c. Dunham Road (1 county and 1 township)
d. Lawrence Road (1 county and 1 township)
e. Union Road
f. Hill Road
g. Noe Road
h. County Line Road
i. Blivin Road

Construction Projects

1. Former Woodstock Cardunal Bank Renovation – to become new County Treasurer’s Office

Size of project: 5700 square feet
Renovation costs: $416,603
Contingency 10%: $ 41,603
Arch/Professional Fees $ 56,078
FFE $ 80,000
Miscellaneous $ 42,500
$636,784

2. Sheriff’s Evidence Facility Expansion/County Archive Facility Addition – Demolition of Annex V

Size of project: 63,038 of building demolition at Annex V
25,000 square foot addition to Evidence Facility
Demolition costs: $ 346,200
Expansion costs: $3,750,500
$4,096,700
Contingency $ 187,525
Arch/Professional Fees $ 300,040
FFE $ 562,575
Miscellaneous $ 122,901
$5,269,741

3. Site Improvements to County Government Campus – including expanded roads, sewer and water

Construction costs: $13,489,500
Contingency: $ 674,475
Arch/Professional Fees: $ 1,079,160
Miscellaneous $ 404,685
$15,647,820

There is no official way to submit proposals for the new stimulus package, so an association of the largest counties in Illinois took it upon themselves to develop their own list.

County Administrator Peter Austin emailed me,

“We submitted it as a part of the Metro Counties organization to CMAP (a combination of the old NIPC and CATS) and the IL Senatorial Task Force called for by Senator (John) Cullerton and Chaired by Senator (Michael) Bond.”

Below is what McHenry County government submitted:

Transportation Projects

Reconstruction

1. Chapel/Lincoln Intersection reconstruction – $1.8 million

2. Fleming Road Reconstruction with porous pavement – $3.5 million

Resurfacing

3. Critical Priority County Resurfacing (approx 42 lane miles) – $8 million – Includes the following roads which are rated at a 4.0 or worse on the MCDOT Pavement Condition Rating Survey:

a. Pyott Road
b. Chapel Hill Road
c. Franklinville Road
d. Hobe Road
e. Maple Street
f. Ramer Road
g. Deep Cut/Nelson Road
h. Hampshire Road
i. Burlington Road

2. High Priority County Resurfacing (approx 97 lane miles) – $18 million – Includes the following roads which are rated between a 4.0 and 5.25 on the MCDOT Pavement Condition Rating Survey:

a. Roberts Road
b. Lawrence Road
c. Cary Road
d. Lake-Cook Road
e. Flat Iron Road
f. Marengo Road (in Huntley)
g. Miller Road
h. Harmony Road
i. River Road
j. Hartland Road

3. Randall Road resurfacing – $4 million – Randall is rated at a 5.25 on the MCDOT Pavement Condition Rating Survey

Bridge Projects

4. McHenry County has 12 bridges planned for replacement over the next 5 years. All are Federally eligible and the County is anticipating replacement costs at about $1 million per bridge for a total of $12 million. The bridges are:

a. Kishwaukee Valley Road,
b. Graf Road (1 county and 1 township)
c. Dunham Road (1 county and 1 township)
d. Lawrence Road (1 county and 1 township)
e. Union Road
f. Hill Road
g. Noe Road
h. County Line Road
i. Blivin Road

Construction Projects

1. Former Woodstock Cardunal Bank Renovation – to become new County Treasurer’s Office

Size of project: 5700 square feet
Renovation costs: $416,603
Contingency 10%: $ 41,603
Arch/Professional Fees $ 56,078
FFE $ 80,000
Miscellaneous $ 42,500
$636,784

2. Sheriff’s Evidence Facility Expansion/County Archive Facility Addition – Demolition of Annex V

Size of project: 63,038 of building demolition at Annex V
25,000 square foot addition to Evidence Facility
Demolition costs: $ 346,200
Expansion costs: $3,750,500
$4,096,700
Contingency $ 187,525
Arch/Professional Fees $ 300,040
FFE $ 562,575
Miscellaneous $ 122,901
$5,269,741

3. Site Improvements to County Government Campus – including expanded roads, sewer and water

Construction costs: $13,489,500
Contingency: $ 674,475
Arch/Professional Fees: $ 1,079,160
Miscellaneous $ 404,685
$15,647,820

26th District Democratic Party State Senate candidate Bill Gentes, Round Lake Mayor, obviously hopes his fund raiser tonight will raise big bucks. The notes he sent out by email follows:

Co-Chairs

Recently named a Tier One candidate by the Senate Democrats, Bill is running to be his district’s first Democratic senator in recent memory and to improve development and education opportunities in Northeast Illinois. Currently serving his second term as Mayor of Round Lake, Bill Gentes has led his village through unprecedented growth and development, led efforts in Lake County to widen Route 120 and bring smart growth to Western Lake County.

Hard not to notice that it is in Downtown Chicago.

26th District Democratic Party State Senate candidate Bill Gentes, Round Lake Mayor, obviously hopes his fund raiser tonight will raise big bucks. The notes he sent out by email follows:

Co-Chairs

Recently named a Tier One candidate by the Senate Democrats, Bill is running to be his district’s first Democratic senator in recent memory and to improve development and education opportunities in Northeast Illinois. Currently serving his second term as Mayor of Round Lake, Bill Gentes has led his village through unprecedented growth and development, led efforts in Lake County to widen Route 120 and bring smart growth to Western Lake County.

Hard not to notice that it is in Downtown Chicago.

In the

category is legislative language proposed by

• Oak Park State Senator Don Harmon, plus
• Mattie Hunter,
• Donne E. Trotter,
• James A. DeLeo,
• Iris Y. Martinez,
• Michael Noland,
• M. Maggie Crotty,
• Kirk W. Dillard,
• Jacqueline Y. Collins and
• John J. Millner and supported in committee by
• Kwame Raoul,
• Michael Bond,
• James Clayborne,
• Mattie Hunter and
• Antonio Munoz

Two who might run for governor–Republicans Bill Brady and Dan Rutherford–voted against the bill in committee, as did the GOP’s Brad Burzynski . Dan Cronin, also a Republican, voted present.

The supporters want to allow auto mechanics and body guys, sign hangers, auto attendants and, would you believe, messengers to retire at full pension benefits after 25 years.

Lots of other tollway folks, too:

lane walkers, toll collectors, section clerk and parts clerk, warehouse workers, money room truck driver, money room cash handlers and custodians.

Make no mistake about these employees being your bed rock patronage types. They work not only for the tollway, but for Agriculture, Transportation and Central Management Services.

This is one audacious bill.

Jim Tobin’s National Taxpayers United of Illinois flagged this atrocity for me. NTU’s press release is the top one on its new web site.

Ultimate credit goes to Kristen McQueary, however, I was told. These abuses of the taxpaying public were featured in her Sunday Daily Southtown column.

Can anyone in Springfield spell 401(k)?

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In the photo of the O’Hare toll plaza at rush hour, note that one of the cash booths is unmanned. Probably out lobbying a state senator for a pension increase.

In the

category is legislative language proposed by

• Oak Park State Senator Don Harmon, plus
• Mattie Hunter,
• Donne E. Trotter,
• James A. DeLeo,
• Iris Y. Martinez,
• Michael Noland,
• M. Maggie Crotty,
• Kirk W. Dillard,
• Jacqueline Y. Collins and
• John J. Millner and supported in committee by
• Kwame Raoul,
• Michael Bond,
• James Clayborne,
• Mattie Hunter and
• Antonio Munoz

Two who might run for governor–Republicans Bill Brady and Dan Rutherford–voted against the bill in committee, as did the GOP’s Brad Burzynski . Dan Cronin, also a Republican, voted present.

The supporters want to allow auto mechanics and body guys, sign hangers, auto attendants and, would you believe, messengers to retire at full pension benefits after 25 years.

Lots of other tollway folks, too:

lane walkers, toll collectors, section clerk and parts clerk, warehouse workers, money room truck driver, money room cash handlers and custodians.

Make no mistake about these employees being your bed rock patronage types. They work not only for the tollway, but for Agriculture, Transportation and Central Management Services.

This is one audacious bill.

Jim Tobin’s National Taxpayers United of Illinois flagged this atrocity for me. NTU’s press release is the top one on its new web site.

Ultimate credit goes to Kristen McQueary, however, I was told. These abuses of the taxpaying public were featured in her Sunday Daily Southtown column.

Can anyone in Springfield spell 401(k)?

= = = = =
In the photo of the O’Hare toll plaza at rush hour, note that one of the cash booths is unmanned. Probably out lobbying a state senator for a pension increase.

The man playing the role of Paul Revere in this year’s RTA/CTA suburban money grab has been the Daily Herald’s Eric Krol.

Friday, he repeated a call made in late May.

The first sentence doesn’t say that the sales tax would be doubled in the collar counties. But Krol does name some of the suburbanites who are selling out their constituents.

Two from Lake/northern Cook County–a Republican and a Democrat–are actually co-sponsors:

• Democratic Rep. Kathy Ryg of Vernon Hills and
• Republican Rep. Sid Mathias of Buffalo Grove.

He adds,

And, only four suburban House members voted against the Ryg-Mathias tax increase:

• Reps. Patti Bellock of Downers Grove,
• Dennis Reboletti of Elmhurst,
• Michael Tryon of Crystal Lake and
• Jim Durkin of Westchester.

“Congressman Mark Kirk of Highland Park recently held a hearing and blasted the RTA proposal as a suburban bailout for Chicago. Democratic Sen. Michael Bond of Grayslake joined Republican Kirk,” the Daily Herald article continues.

Kirks district overlaps Mathais’.

According to Krol, suburban Democratic Party State Representative Bond echoed what suburban Democrats said during the 1974 RTA referendum campaign:

“I will not support any legislation that bails out the CTA at the expense of suburban taxpayers.”

And,

only four suburban House members voted against the Ryg-Mathias tax increase (in committee):

• Reps. Patti Bellock of Downers Grove,
• Dennis Reboletti of Elmhurst,
• Michael Tryon of Crystal Lake and
• Jim Durkin of Westchester.

So, why would a rational suburban legislator oppose this tax hike proposal?

Krol lets Democrat Bond summarize the case:

the suburbs would be paying $220 million more in sales tax. The city of Chicago would pay an additional $100.5 million in sales and real estate transfer taxes.

But of the $322.5 million collected, the CTA would get $193.5 million, Metra $96.75 million and Pace $32.25 million, according to the analysis. The CTA gets 60 percent of the booty, but city folks are paying only about a third of the new taxes.

Let me repeat the cost-benefit analysis:

The CTA gets 60% of the money and pays 1/3 of the tax hike.

Put from a suburban viewpoint, the suburbs pay 67% of the money, while getting 40% back.

A suburbanite who votes for a deal like that is mathematically, not to mention politically impaired.

Finally, why have Republican suburban state legislators allowed Democrats to take the lead in opposing this rip-off?

Yet another reason a Republican come back will be more difficult than it should be.

The man playing the role of Paul Revere in this year’s RTA/CTA suburban money grab has been the Daily Herald’s Eric Krol.

Friday, he repeated a call made in late May.

The first sentence doesn’t say that the sales tax would be doubled in the collar counties. But Krol does name some of the suburbanites who are selling out their constituents.

Two from Lake/northern Cook County–a Republican and a Democrat–are actually co-sponsors:

• Democratic Rep. Kathy Ryg of Vernon Hills and
• Republican Rep. Sid Mathias of Buffalo Grove.

He adds,

And, only four suburban House members voted against the Ryg-Mathias tax increase:

• Reps. Patti Bellock of Downers Grove,
• Dennis Reboletti of Elmhurst,
• Michael Tryon of Crystal Lake and
• Jim Durkin of Westchester.

“Congressman Mark Kirk of Highland Park recently held a hearing and blasted the RTA proposal as a suburban bailout for Chicago. Democratic Sen. Michael Bond of Grayslake joined Republican Kirk,” the Daily Herald article continues.

Kirks district overlaps Mathais’.

According to Krol, suburban Democratic Party State Representative Bond echoed what suburban Democrats said during the 1974 RTA referendum campaign:

“I will not support any legislation that bails out the CTA at the expense of suburban taxpayers.”

And,

only four suburban House members voted against the Ryg-Mathias tax increase (in committee):

• Reps. Patti Bellock of Downers Grove,
• Dennis Reboletti of Elmhurst,
• Michael Tryon of Crystal Lake and
• Jim Durkin of Westchester.

So, why would a rational suburban legislator oppose this tax hike proposal?

Krol lets Democrat Bond summarize the case:

the suburbs would be paying $220 million more in sales tax. The city of Chicago would pay an additional $100.5 million in sales and real estate transfer taxes.

But of the $322.5 million collected, the CTA would get $193.5 million, Metra $96.75 million and Pace $32.25 million, according to the analysis. The CTA gets 60 percent of the booty, but city folks are paying only about a third of the new taxes.

Let me repeat the cost-benefit analysis:

The CTA gets 60% of the money and pays 1/3 of the tax hike.

Put from a suburban viewpoint, the suburbs pay 67% of the money, while getting 40% back.

A suburbanite who votes for a deal like that is mathematically, not to mention politically impaired.

Finally, why have Republican suburban state legislators allowed Democrats to take the lead in opposing this rip-off?

Yet another reason a Republican come back will be more difficult than it should be.