With Five Seats Open Ten File for McHenry County College Board

Below are the ten people who filed petitions ro run for the McHenry County College Board. Only one elected incumbent is running for re-election–Molly Walsh. Karen Tirio is retiring. Three appointed incumbents will be on the ballot–Thomas Allen, Mary Beth … Continue reading

MCC Capital Program Goes from $42 Million to $63 Million to $35 Million to $22 Million

Former McHenry County Board President Ron Parrish is quite pleased with what administrators offered up Thursday night to solve the science and health science facility deficiency. “Wonderful,” was his first comment after the presentation by newly-installed President Clint Gabbard. “This is … Continue reading

MCC Students To Pay $10 per Credit Hour for Addition, Approval Granted for $34 Million Project

By a unanimous vote, including Student Trustee Jeremy Sacrament, McHenry County College Trustees voted to impose a $10 per credit hour infrastructure fee starting this summer. One Trustee called it a “user fee.” Including the extra $10, the cost per … Continue reading

MCC Board Moves Toward $30+ Million Addition & Renovation, No Referendum, Athletics Could Be Sacrificed

Tuesday night the McHenry County College Board talked about a consultant-proposed $62-$78 million recommended renovation and expansion of the college campus. With Full Time Equivalent enrollment down 7.6% since 2011, but a need to update science laboratories which one Trustee … Continue reading

MCC Set to Tax to the Max

Since McHenry County College was scheduled to hear the recommendation of its finance guy Bob Tentua last night, I thought I’d spread some warm fuzzies about my and other taxpayers’ appreciation that the Board had kept last year’s tax burden … Continue reading

Consultant Finds MCC Space Needs, Half in Athletics/PE, Half for Student Center

Phase 1 of a two-part study of space utilization needs for McHenry County College found a net current space deficiency of 20,540 “assignable square feet.” Increase that number by 35-50% and one finds the gross shortage. Looking at the calculation, … Continue reading

Mike Smith Elected MCC Board President

Recently elected McHenry County Trustee Mike Smith of Lakewood was elected President of the College Board by a 4-3 vote. He replaced his April running mate Ron Parrish, who sought re-election to the Board Presidency, being nominated by newly-sworn in … Continue reading

$1,875 and Good-Bye

I attended the meeting of the McHenry County College Board tonight because of the following agenda item: ACCEPT AND APPROVE DR. SMITH’S NOTICE OF INTENT TO RETIRE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015, AND GRANT DR. SMITH A POST RETIREMENT STIPEND … Continue reading

MCC Board Picks Architect

After a long and secret retreat, the McHenry County College selected the architectural firm of Demonica Kempter Architects (DKA). (Fortunately, I brought three newspapers and a new science fiction novel to read while waiting in the hall.) The firm was … Continue reading

Board Winnows Down Architectural-Space Utilization Firms to Two

There was no official vote taken, but preferences were expressed after three Architectural Services-Space Utilization applicants made their pitches to the McHenry County College Board Thursday night. The three finalists were Holabird & Root Wight & Company Demonica Kemper Architects … Continue reading

Ron Parrish Re-Elected MCC Board President, 3.45% Annual Compensation Increase in Approved Contract

A press release from McHenry County College. (Printed mainly because of the revelation that the average compensation package is said to be increasing 3.45% per year.) MCC Board of Trustees Approves New Full-Time Faculty Contract [April 25, 2014.Crystal Lake, IL] … Continue reading

McHenry County College Passes Flat Levy, Taxes Will Decrease

The three newly-elected McHenry County College Board members joined with the Board President they elected to pass a property tax levy that will collect the same amount next year as this year. The zero increase levy was originally on the … Continue reading

MCC Administration Continues Pitch to Maximize Real Estate Tax Income

McHenry County College’s Committee of the Whole meeting was carefully orchestrated to lead at least one of the four members who said they wanted a flat property tax levy next year to change his or her mind. First there was … Continue reading

MCC Trustees Vote for Flat Budget

By a 4-3 vote, the newly-elected McHenry County College Board members, plus the man they elected Board President, outvoted the longer term Trustees. “If we don’t vote to approve [the lower] alternative budget, we have lost the chance to give … Continue reading

MCC Board President Ron Parrish Seems to Have Deciding Vote on Flat Real Estate Tax Levy for Next Year

McHenry County College’s Board of Trustees discussed next year’s budget against last night at its Committee of the Whole meeting. Three members lined up on the side of keeping the tax levy flat next year. They are (in alphabetic order) … Continue reading