McHenry County Blog

The Monday before last, McHenry County College President Walt Packard handed out a list of people whom he wanted to recruit for the community outreach effort, as recommended by tax hike consultants Unicom-ARC, out of St. Louis.

It looks like the beginning of a tax hike referendum committee to me. I’d offer the time line in this article for your consideration. And what are we paying? Here’s the price.

There haven’t just been hired by the McHenry County College Board. The St. Charles School District has also hired the firm.

At last Thursday night’s board meeting, the list was expanded. Board members probably made most of the suggested additions.

Below are listed the new names, along with an identifying description and a town, which, I note, is not necessarily where the people live. It may represent their place of work.

• Todd Bessey, Wayne Hummer Investments, Algonquin
• Roger Brown, Inland Real Estate Development
• Joe Cox, VP, J.P. Morgan/Chase, Crystal Lake
• Dr. William Cox, Jr., McHenry County Orthopaedics, Crystal Lake
• Cathlene Decaene, Artist, Woodstock
• Bill Donato, Teacher, Woodstock HS
• Chuck Ebann, Community Member, Crystal Lake
• Jackie Eberle, Treasurer, Crystal Lake Food Pantry, Crystal Lake
• Holly Emrich, Community Member, Crystal Lake
• Pedro Enriques, Regional Director, Illinois Migrant Council, Harvard
• Judge Michael W. Fetterer, Woodstock
• Julie Gibson, Program Director, Thresholds McHenry, McHenry
• Frances Glosson, MCC Board & Director, Community Learning Strategies/Centegra, McHenry
• Stacia Hahn, VP Finance, Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake
• Sean Haley, VP Regulatory Affairs, Sage Products, Crystal Lake
• Monica Heydari, Behavioral Health Counselor, Crystal Lake
• Pam Hoffman, MCEDE Treasurer and Associated Bank, McHenry
• Tracy Izquierdo, Weist, Botto & Gilbert/Foundation Board, Crystal Lake
• Cliff Jackson, Owner/Jackson Insulation & Exteriors, Crystal Lake
• Cathy Klettke, Admin. Asst., CL Chamber of Commerce, Crystal Lake
• Rosemary Kurtz, Retired legislator, Crystal Lake
• Mike Nygren, Director of Marketing Communications, Sage Products, Crystal Lake
• Ardale Pate, Distance Learning Professor, Crystal Lake
• Don Peters, Retired, Crystal Lake
• Marcy Piekos, Owner/Maverick Minds Consulting, Woodstock
• Linda Pohlman, Teacher, Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake
• Roger Schlies, Retired, McHenry

Under this list of new potential recruits are the names released on Monday. They are categorized, rather than being listed in alphabetically on the new list, which includes all of the following except Terry Miller, “Terry Miller.” That omission may, of course, just be a clerical error.

Health Care

• Denise Eesley, Centegra
• Angela McAuley, Centegra Senior VP Women’s Health

Agriculture

• Linnea Kooistra, Woodstock
• Ken Book, Harvard
• John Pihl, Harvard
• Harry Alten, Harvard
• Mel Von Bergen, Hebron

Industry

• John Cain, Scot Forge, Spring Grove
• Sandra Pierce, Phoenix Woodworking, Woodstock

Retail/Business

• Jim/Cheryl Wormley [Cheryl is the Woodstock Independent's publisher)
• Bob Seegers, Jr., Crystal Lake
• Mike Splitt, Crystal Lake
• Luke Lohmeyer, Woodstock
• Jack Porter, Woodstock

Banking/Finance

• Charie Zanck, American Community Bank, Crystal Lake
• Tom Quinn, American Community Bank, Crystal Lake
• Bob Cormier, Jr., Home State Bank, Crystal Lake
• Maggie Rivera, Home State Bank, Crystal Lake
• Steven Slack, Home State Bank, Crystal Lake

School Districts

• Joe Williams, Regional Superintendent's Office
• Ellyn Wreszki, District 200, Woodstock
• Jill Hawk, District 155, Crystal Lake
• Dan Bertrand, District 154, Marengo

Political

• Lauri Olson, Richmond Village President
• Sandy Donley, County Board, Marengo
• Sandra Salgado, County Board, McHenry
• Anna May Miller, County Board, Cary
• Donna Schaefer, McHenry Township Supervisor, McHenry
• Bob Pierce, Dorr Township Supervisor, Woodstock
• Jim Heisler, County Board, Crystal Lake
• Ed Dvorak, County Board, Crystal Lake
• Rich Mack, Ringwood Village President

<Governmental Entities

• Ron Salgado, State's Attorney’s Office, McHenry
• Pete Austin, McHenry County Administrator, Woodstock
• Wayne Amore, McHenry Fire Chief, McHenry
• Derik Morefield, Deputy City Manager, Woodstock

Not for Profits

• Sue Krause, Youth Service Bureau, Woodstock
• Jane Farmer, Turning Point, Woodstock
• Anna Bicanic Moeller, McHenry County Council of Govts, Crystal Lake
• Kate Halma, Community Foundation
• Dave Barber, United Way, McHenry

Taxpayer/Residential

• Monic Heydari, Crystal Lake
• Dallas Schmidt,Woodstock
• Helen Ruth, Huntley
• Terry Miller
• Bob/Rosemary Blazier, Crystal Lake
• John Jung, Jr., Woodstock

College Educators

• Lillian Roy, retired from MCC, Cary
• Richard Wood, retired from COD [DuPage], Huntley
• Verne Manke, retired from Harper, McHenry

= = = = =
McHenry County College Board member Frances is seen on top. Below is retired State Rep. Rosemary Kurtz. Centegra’s McHenry Hospital is next. McHenry County College as seen from the northeast on a cold January day is seen directly below. The new Woodstock High School is next. McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s Chief Investigator Ron Salgado is the lowest photo.

Click on any image to enlarge it.

The Monday before last, McHenry County College President Walt Packard handed out a list of people whom he wanted to recruit for the community outreach effort, as recommended by tax hike consultants Unicom-ARC, out of St. Louis.

It looks like the beginning of a tax hike referendum committee to me. I’d offer the time line in this article for your consideration. And what are we paying? Here’s the price.

There haven’t just been hired by the McHenry County College Board. The St. Charles School District has also hired the firm.

At last Thursday night’s board meeting, the list was expanded. Board members probably made most of the suggested additions.

Below are listed the new names, along with an identifying description and a town, which, I note, is not necessarily where the people live. It may represent their place of work.

• Todd Bessey, Wayne Hummer Investments, Algonquin
• Roger Brown, Inland Real Estate Development
• Joe Cox, VP, J.P. Morgan/Chase, Crystal Lake
• Dr. William Cox, Jr., McHenry County Orthopaedics, Crystal Lake
• Cathlene Decaene, Artist, Woodstock
• Bill Donato, Teacher, Woodstock HS
• Chuck Ebann, Community Member, Crystal Lake
• Jackie Eberle, Treasurer, Crystal Lake Food Pantry, Crystal Lake
• Holly Emrich, Community Member, Crystal Lake
• Pedro Enriques, Regional Director, Illinois Migrant Council, Harvard
• Judge Michael W. Fetterer, Woodstock
• Julie Gibson, Program Director, Thresholds McHenry, McHenry
• Frances Glosson, MCC Board & Director, Community Learning Strategies/Centegra, McHenry
• Stacia Hahn, VP Finance, Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake
• Sean Haley, VP Regulatory Affairs, Sage Products, Crystal Lake
• Monica Heydari, Behavioral Health Counselor, Crystal Lake
• Pam Hoffman, MCEDE Treasurer and Associated Bank, McHenry
• Tracy Izquierdo, Weist, Botto & Gilbert/Foundation Board, Crystal Lake
• Cliff Jackson, Owner/Jackson Insulation & Exteriors, Crystal Lake
• Cathy Klettke, Admin. Asst., CL Chamber of Commerce, Crystal Lake
• Rosemary Kurtz, Retired legislator, Crystal Lake
• Mike Nygren, Director of Marketing Communications, Sage Products, Crystal Lake
• Ardale Pate, Distance Learning Professor, Crystal Lake
• Don Peters, Retired, Crystal Lake
• Marcy Piekos, Owner/Maverick Minds Consulting, Woodstock
• Linda Pohlman, Teacher, Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake
• Roger Schlies, Retired, McHenry

Under this list of new potential recruits are the names released on Monday. They are categorized, rather than being listed in alphabetically on the new list, which includes all of the following except Terry Miller, “Terry Miller.” That omission may, of course, just be a clerical error.

Health Care

• Denise Eesley, Centegra
• Angela McAuley, Centegra Senior VP Women’s Health

Agriculture

• Linnea Kooistra, Woodstock
• Ken Book, Harvard
• John Pihl, Harvard
• Harry Alten, Harvard
• Mel Von Bergen, Hebron

Industry

• John Cain, Scot Forge, Spring Grove
• Sandra Pierce, Phoenix Woodworking, Woodstock

Retail/Business

• Jim/Cheryl Wormley [Cheryl is the Woodstock Independent's publisher)
• Bob Seegers, Jr., Crystal Lake
• Mike Splitt, Crystal Lake
• Luke Lohmeyer, Woodstock
• Jack Porter, Woodstock

Banking/Finance

• Charie Zanck, American Community Bank, Crystal Lake
• Tom Quinn, American Community Bank, Crystal Lake
• Bob Cormier, Jr., Home State Bank, Crystal Lake
• Maggie Rivera, Home State Bank, Crystal Lake
• Steven Slack, Home State Bank, Crystal Lake

School Districts

• Joe Williams, Regional Superintendent's Office
• Ellyn Wreszki, District 200, Woodstock
• Jill Hawk, District 155, Crystal Lake
• Dan Bertrand, District 154, Marengo

Political

• Lauri Olson, Richmond Village President
• Sandy Donley, County Board, Marengo
• Sandra Salgado, County Board, McHenry
• Anna May Miller, County Board, Cary
• Donna Schaefer, McHenry Township Supervisor, McHenry
• Bob Pierce, Dorr Township Supervisor, Woodstock
• Jim Heisler, County Board, Crystal Lake
• Ed Dvorak, County Board, Crystal Lake
• Rich Mack, Ringwood Village President

<Governmental Entities

• Ron Salgado, State's Attorney’s Office, McHenry
• Pete Austin, McHenry County Administrator, Woodstock
• Wayne Amore, McHenry Fire Chief, McHenry
• Derik Morefield, Deputy City Manager, Woodstock

Not for Profits

• Sue Krause, Youth Service Bureau, Woodstock
• Jane Farmer, Turning Point, Woodstock
• Anna Bicanic Moeller, McHenry County Council of Govts, Crystal Lake
• Kate Halma, Community Foundation
• Dave Barber, United Way, McHenry

Taxpayer/Residential

• Monic Heydari, Crystal Lake
• Dallas Schmidt,Woodstock
• Helen Ruth, Huntley
• Terry Miller
• Bob/Rosemary Blazier, Crystal Lake
• John Jung, Jr., Woodstock

College Educators

• Lillian Roy, retired from MCC, Cary
• Richard Wood, retired from COD [DuPage], Huntley
• Verne Manke, retired from Harper, McHenry

= = = = =
McHenry County College Board member Frances is seen on top. Below is retired State Rep. Rosemary Kurtz. Centegra’s McHenry Hospital is next. McHenry County College as seen from the northeast on a cold January day is seen directly below. The new Woodstock High School is next. McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s Chief Investigator Ron Salgado is the lowest photo.

Click on any image to enlarge it.

You can bet there will be thanks and rejoicing at the Miller household in Cary this Christmas.

That’s because 22nd Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Michael Feetterer dumped the Cary Police charge of obstruction of justice charge. It resulted from David Miller’s dumping a load of gravel Saturday, June 16, 2007, rather than going to a weigh station, as instructed.

Judge Feetterer ruled that the prosecution did not provide that charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

The decision freed Miller from the possibility of serving up to three years in state prison.

Feetterer did not, however, let Miller completely off the hook. He found him guilty of a business offense and fined him $2,000, the maximum amount possible. Miller also has to pay court costs in addition to the $2,000.

According to Josh Stockinger’s Daily Herald story,

“Last week, he testified that he thought the weight check was a ‘waste of time’ and an example of police targeting truckers for revenue. ‘I didn’t think I was doing anything illegal,’ he said.”

The story was featured in the Northwest Herald a month after the arrest.

The paper reported Miller’s brother, Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller, called his friend Judge Mike Chmiel after his brother’s Saturday arrest, which was after the regular Saturday bond hearings. He sought another bond hearing, so his brother would not have to spend the weekend in jail.

Chmiel held such a bond hearing.

The Judicial Inquiry Board got involved, filing a complaint against Chmiel and sent an investigator to interview witnesses in McHenry County.

No action has resulted from what presumably is the resulting report. The next move is by the Illinois Courts Commission, to which any report from the Judicial Inquiry Board would be submitted.

David Miller’s niece (Bob Miller’s daughter) Rebecca Lee was the defense attorney in the case.

Some comments below the Daily Herald article and Northwest Herald story are pretty biting.

= = = = =
The McHenry County Courthouse is the building you see.

McHenry County Board member Anna Miller and her husband, Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller, are seen behind two unidentified women entering the Illinois Republican Party Convention in Decatur. Judge Michael Chmiel can be seen below.

You can bet there will be thanks and rejoicing at the Miller household in Cary this Christmas.

That’s because 22nd Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Michael Feetterer dumped the Cary Police charge of obstruction of justice charge. It resulted from David Miller’s dumping a load of gravel Saturday, June 16, 2007, rather than going to a weigh station, as instructed.

Judge Feetterer ruled that the prosecution did not provide that charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

The decision freed Miller from the possibility of serving up to three years in state prison.

Feetterer did not, however, let Miller completely off the hook. He found him guilty of a business offense and fined him $2,000, the maximum amount possible. Miller also has to pay court costs in addition to the $2,000.

According to Josh Stockinger’s Daily Herald story,

“Last week, he testified that he thought the weight check was a ‘waste of time’ and an example of police targeting truckers for revenue. ‘I didn’t think I was doing anything illegal,’ he said.”

The story was featured in the Northwest Herald a month after the arrest.

The paper reported Miller’s brother, Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller, called his friend Judge Mike Chmiel after his brother’s Saturday arrest, which was after the regular Saturday bond hearings. He sought another bond hearing, so his brother would not have to spend the weekend in jail.

Chmiel held such a bond hearing.

The Judicial Inquiry Board got involved, filing a complaint against Chmiel and sent an investigator to interview witnesses in McHenry County.

No action has resulted from what presumably is the resulting report. The next move is by the Illinois Courts Commission, to which any report from the Judicial Inquiry Board would be submitted.

David Miller’s niece (Bob Miller’s daughter) Rebecca Lee was the defense attorney in the case.

Some comments below the Daily Herald article and Northwest Herald story are pretty biting.

= = = = =
The McHenry County Courthouse is the building you see.

McHenry County Board member Anna Miller and her husband, Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller, are seen behind two unidentified women entering the Illinois Republican Party Convention in Decatur. Judge Michael Chmiel can be seen below.

I first saw this story about the Illinois Bar Association’s on the Daily Herald web site Saturday.

It’s headline was

Lawyers give McHenry County judges mixed reviews in poll

But, it was the Northwest Herald’s headline

Judges Nearly Perfect

that stimulated this article.

Remember last May when McHenry County Blog broke the story that the Chicago Crime Commission was looking into, well, crime, in McHenry County? At its press conference, it was revealed that McHenry County divorce court judges were being probed by the Chicago Crime Commission?

Two judges who have been in divorce court are mentioned in the Daily Herald article:

(1) (Associate Judge Suzanne C.) Mangiamele, an associate judge since 2003 who now presides over family and divorce court, earned strong marks in areas of integrity and sensitivity, but scored below the “recommended” level in areas of legal ability and court management.

She got a “not recommended” ranking.

(2) (Associate) Judge Michael Feetterer earned perfect scores in eight of nine categories, and 100 percent score on the issue of meeting the requirements of the office.

The stories I was getting concerned the judges and the lawyers being quite close. Too close, some alleged.

So the Illinois Bar Association does a survey of attorneys and, guess what?

The attorneys like and respect the judges.

Now this could be accurate or self-serving or a bit of both.

Bar association spokesman David Anderson said, “The poll is what it is — the opinion of the lawyers who chose to respond.”

I first saw this story about the Illinois Bar Association’s on the Daily Herald web site Saturday.

It’s headline was

Lawyers give McHenry County judges mixed reviews in poll

But, it was the Northwest Herald’s headline

Judges Nearly Perfect

that stimulated this article.

Remember last May when McHenry County Blog broke the story that the Chicago Crime Commission was looking into, well, crime, in McHenry County? At its press conference, it was revealed that McHenry County divorce court judges were being probed by the Chicago Crime Commission?

Two judges who have been in divorce court are mentioned in the Daily Herald article:

(1) (Associate Judge Suzanne C.) Mangiamele, an associate judge since 2003 who now presides over family and divorce court, earned strong marks in areas of integrity and sensitivity, but scored below the “recommended” level in areas of legal ability and court management.

She got a “not recommended” ranking.

(2) (Associate) Judge Michael Feetterer earned perfect scores in eight of nine categories, and 100 percent score on the issue of meeting the requirements of the office.

The stories I was getting concerned the judges and the lawyers being quite close. Too close, some alleged.

So the Illinois Bar Association does a survey of attorneys and, guess what?

The attorneys like and respect the judges.

Now this could be accurate or self-serving or a bit of both.

Bar association spokesman David Anderson said, “The poll is what it is — the opinion of the lawyers who chose to respond.”