McHenry County Blog

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.

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

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.

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.

After attending “Under the Streetlamp,” a concert by the stars of “Jersey Boys,” at Huntley High school, the Skinners went to eat at 1776 in Crystal Lake.

Proprietor Andy Andresky, as usual, came around to greet us and, after catching up on family affairs, I asked about the Cat Tax.

Andresky, who is now President of the McHenry County Board of Health, told me that it wouldn’t come up this year.

So, it seems Keely Cat can relax for another year.

No need to keep watch for the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collector.

Imagine my surprise to see that the McHenry County Health Department is again floating the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax in its FY2011 “Goals.”

Don’t believe me?

Take a look at the 2011 Draft Budget, a link for which can be found on this page.

Search for page 246 in the 425 page document.

Besides wondering why the final budget has not been posted, I wonder what part of “No” that the Board of Health doesn’t understand.

You may remember that District 2 County Board Member Lyn Orphal blind-sided Board Chairman Ken Koehler in February of 2007 when she advanced a motion to remove the all references from about the Cat Tax.

But Orphal didn’t win re-nomination. She was replaced by Donna Kurtz and I don’t remember if she had taken a position on the Republican Cat Tax or not.

Looking at the people up for election who supported the Cat Tax, I see all won election. One of the opponents, Democrat Jim Kennedy lost to John Jung, who voted for the tax before he was defeated in 2008 by Democrat Paula Yensen.

Dan Ryan and Yvonne Barnes, both opponents of the Cat Tax, also did not win re-nomination.  They were replaced by Diane Evertsen and Robert Novak, neither of whose stands on the issue, if any, I know.

Both Ed Dvorak, who is retiring this year, and Nick Provenzano, who took his place, voted against the Cat Tax.

Maybe the word has been passed to the Board of Health that it’s OK to ask the County Board to impose this tax a second time now that the elections are over and two Cat Tax opponents will not be serving for the next two years.

The vote three years ago was 12-10. Apparently two people were absent.

But twelve votes would have killed the tax hike, if all had voted against Tina Hill’s motion to approve the amendatory ordinance. Ties fail, you see.

It’s unlikely that Koehler has zeroed in on this issue, however.

Keeley Cat isn’t too bothered yet. He doubts many County Board members have even noticed that the Board of Health is planning another assault on the kitties.

= = = = =
Thanks to Gus Philpott, who writes “Woodstock Advocate,” for letting me know of what was in the Health Department’s Goals.

With McHenry County animal control employees not willing to accept the county’s offer, perhaps it is time to take a page out of Chicago’s book.

Its Inspector General Joe Ferguson has suggested its animal control operation be privatized.

Now, I have to admit that I think privately-run operations are virtually always more efficient that government ones, hence, my willingness to chair the one and only Illinois House Privatization Committee.

But, that aside, privatization of the county animal control might be worth consideration by the McHenry County Board.

Keely Cat is assuming that any such privatization effort (whatever that means) would not mean he would have to be on the watch for the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collector.

Here is the direct mail piece designed to “close the sale” with voters. 4,700 in all.

It would be interesting to compare the endorsements above with the ones Provenzano listed when he announced his candidacy last July.

In an email accompanying the images above, Provenzano wrote,

“On the last mail piece, I was going to add a photo of Keely Cat next to the Cat Tax comment but attempts to reach his agent went unanswered.”

Just in case you want to know who voted for the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax, you can find out here.

This is what Provenzano’s Saturday robo-call to 4,200 people said,

“Hi this is Nick Provenzano, wait don’t hang up, I hate these robo calls as much as you do, but I have a tax alert message that you need to hear.

“I’m sure your household budget was much like mine, growing smaller everyday, and finding ways to save out of pure necessity. And yet the County board voted to spend another 10 million dollars.

“This is Nick Provenzano and I’m running for County board to send a message. I feel enough is enough, together, let’s draw a line in the sand, right here, right now, let’s start here in McHenry County and tell our politicians that enough is enough. – No longer will we tolerate tax and spend politicians who just don’t get it. It’s time to cut spending and reduce taxes.

“My opponent doesn’t get it, she voted for that 10 million dollars in additional spending. She also voted in favor of pay raises for all County Employees, when most of us are either getting laid off or getting pay CUTS.

“I need your help and your vote to get this done, please select a Republican ballot and vote for Nick Provenzano on February 2nd.

“To learn more about my history and efforts to fight higher taxes and reform county government go to my web site at nickpro2010.com that’s N I C K P R O 2010 dot com.”

Another robo-call from Irene Napier went to pro-lifers.

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″

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