McHenry County Blog

As more sources of news show up in McHenry County, it might be interesting for folks to compare coverage of public events.

Take last Tuesday’s McHenry County Board meeting for example.

McHenry County Blog, the Northwest Herald’s Keven Craver, The First Electric Newspaper’s Pete Gonigan and Andrew Gasser’s Blog concentrated on Chairwoman Tina Hill’s controversial nomination of Cathy Ferguson to the 708 Board and her dropping of an attempt to replace Sandy Salgado with Bob Martens on Donna Kurtz’ Public Health and Human Services Committee:

• Cathy Ferguson Approved for 708 Board on 16-8 County Board Vote, Hill Reverses Course on Pulling Sandy Salgado Off Public Health Committee
• Ferguson appointed to fill vacancy on Mental Health Board
• County Board OK’s Hill Pick As She Withdraws Another
• Salgado Remains – Ferguson to 708 Board

Woodstock Advocate’s Gus Philpott concentrated on the Ferguson nomination:

• Committee qualification – “lovely”

Republican Precinct Committeeman and Algonquin Township Trustee Larry Emery, on the other hand, posted his notes. They give a more complete version of what happened than any of the other sources.

• McHenry County Board Meeting 052113-Larry’s notes

So for this particular meeting, you can compare six viewpoints (and make no mistake that what a writer includes in his or her articles demonstrates at minimum what the writer thought was most important about a meeting or event).

McHenry County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill got her way on who will be appointed to the McHenry County 708 Mental Health Board Tuesday night.

But she backed away from dumping Sandy Salgado from the Public Health and Human Services Committee and replacing her with fellow District 4 Board member Bob Martens.

At the beginning of the meeting, Hill gave her version of what happened leading up to the public controversy on which her opponents framed the issue because none of Hill’s supporters explained on the Board floor why they rejected the Committee’s recommendation.

The vote was 16-8 for Ferguson, about the same as the 18-6 vote Hill enjoyed when her coalition defeated the nomination of former McHenry County College Board President Scott Summers two weeks ago.

Hill explained that she started to get questions about what the Committee was doing, about the 4-3 vote and the Executive Session [for discussing the qualities of the nominees].

When the Committee nomination failed 18-6, Hill said she knew that had to do something.  Those are not her exact words, but I believe them to be a fair representation of what she said.

Because she moved immediately after the vote two weeks ago to assert the power given her by State law to make the nomination herself, however, it was obvious that the move was previously planned and not a reaction to the vote.

There was lots of talk about conspiracy, with those who voted with Hill two weeks ago denying it and Mike Walkup wondering if a cover-up were occurring.   He said that was the public perception.

“If we’re not,we’re doing a pretty good job of [making it look like one is],” he said.

Walkup also said that he had heard that Hill had met with Interim 708 Board Executive Director Todd Schroll.

“If conversations like that can happen, that’s a really big problem…having the person [being hired helping pick the person who will pick the Executive Director].

Walkup told of other counties that have “a boss system.”

“We’re now sliding in the direction toward a boss system.”

He and others argued that financial acumen was what was needed now on the 708 Board. while supporters of Ferguson praised her knowledge of the care giving side of mental health services.

Hill said she had called Salgado and “offered her an apology.”

“I never thought there was a conflict-of- interest,” Hill asserted, although Northwest Herald reporter Kevin Craver reported that having Salgado employed by as agency (Pioneer Center) which got money from the 708 Board was “the epitome of conflict of interest.”

“I meant the appearance of impropriety,” Hill said Tuesday night.

“I agree with the State’s Attorney there is no conflict of interest.”

Later in the meeting Diane Evertson seemed to startle Hill when she inquired if Hill might have a conflict-of-interest.

“You mean that my son receives services [from Pioneer Center]?”

“That’s the exact question that we have with Ms. Salgado and Jim Heisler.”  [Heisler's wife works for Pioneer Center.]

Assistant State’s Attorney Donna Kelly was asked for her opinion.

“That’s the first I’ve heard of this,” she replied from the audience.

Hill seemed incredulous, asking how one could “construe that Cathy would do my bidding.”

“You recommend a candidate who funnels money to an organization where your son receives services,” Evertson replied.

“Don’t you see a conflict?”

“No,” Hill replied.

Those supporting Hill’s nomination for Crystal Lake City Councilwoman Cathy Ferguson follow:

• Michele Aavang
• Sue Drafkorn
• Joe Gottemoller
• Jim Heisler
• Tina Hill
• John Jung
• Ken Koehler
• Bob Martens
• Mary McCann
• Mary McClellan
• Anna May Miller
• Bob Nowak
• Nick Provenzano
• Sandy Salgado
• Carolyn Schofield
• Paula Yensen

Those not supporting Ferguson’s nomination were

• Yvonne Barnes
• Nick Chirikos
• Diane Evertseon
• John Hammerand
• Donna Kurtz
• Ersel Schuster
• Mike Skala
• Mike Walkup

Moving out of the Hill coalition of two weeks ago were Yvonne Barnes, Ersel Schuster and Mike Skala.

Moving into it by supporting Ferguson was Sandra Salgado.

Ah.

The rumor mill.

Maybe there will be fewer fireworks at tonight’s McHenry County Board meeting than most folks think.

The rumor of the hour (just confirmed) is that McHenry County Chairwoman Tina Hill is reconsidering her resolution to replace McHenry’s Sandy Salgado with Spring Grove’s Robert Martens.

Both represent District 4.

Hill has argued that Salgado has a conflict of interest because the agency that employees her, Pioneer Center, receives money from the 708 McHenry County Mental Health Board, whose members are recommended by the Public Health and Human Services on which she serves.

Hill has put on the tonight’s County Board agenda a resolution that has Bob Martens replacing Salgado.

Generally the Northwest Herald is quite protective of establishment figures in McHenry County.

But Sunday’s editorial calls out McHenry County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill out in no uncertain terms for her 708 Board nomination bypass of the Public Health and Human Resources Committee.

The editorial says she comes off “as heavy-handed and power hungry, and the move raises questions about her motivations.”

And the NWH advises members to vote against Cathy Ferguson, Hill’s choice to fill a vacancy on the McHenry County Mental Health Board, because of Hill’s circumvention of the committee process.

With regard to Hill’s intention of replacing Pioneer Center Sandy Salgado with former Family Services Executive Director Bob Martens, the editorial writers conclude,

“If Salgado’s representation on the Public Health and Human Services Committee is a conflict, certainly Martens’ is as well.”

Tonight’s “Best Show in Town” begins at 7 in Woodstock’s McHenry County Administrative Center.

With McHenry County Chairwoman Tina Hill labeling Sandra Salgado’s service on the the Public Health and Human Services Committee “The Epitome of Conflict of Interest,” Fox River Grove Republican Precinct Committeeman has written a story entitled,

“The Epitome of Conflict of Interest” – Backroom Politics

Hill bases that characterization on the fact that Salgado works for Pioneer Center and Pioneer Centers gets financial support from the 708 Mental Health Board, whose Board members the Public Health Committee recommends.

[Of course, the last recommendation, Scott Summers was rejected by the Hill followers listed below on the County Board:

[Those opposing the nomination were

• Michele Aavang
• Yvonne Barnes
• Sue Drafkorn
• Joe Gottemoller
• Jim Heisler
• Tina Hill
• John Jung
• Ken Koehler
• Bob Martens
• Mary McCann
• Mary McClellan
• Anna May Miller
• Bob Nowak
• Nick Provenzano
• Ersel Schuster
• Carolyn Schofield
• Mike Skala
• Paula Yensen

In favor were

• Nick Chirikos
• Diane Evertsen
• John Hammerand
• Donna Kurtz
• Sandy Salgado
• Mike Walkup

[And the last recommendation of Donna Kurtz' Committee--after Hill announced that she would bypass the Committee--Jeff Thorsen, was not even placed on tonight's County Board agenda.  She has recommended Cathy Ferguson, a colleague of Thorsen on the Crystal Lake City Council.]

With that as background, Gasser’s conclusion might be of interest.  Playing off Hill’s “epitome of conflict of interest” statement, Gasser concludes

“The real conflict of interest is Hill’s nominee of former Family Services & Community Mental Health Center for McHenry County CEO and current board member Bob Martens (Spring Grove).”

Why?

He points to what he calls about a $140,000 “Golden Parachute” for Martens when he was listed as “Former CEO” of  the Family Services and Community Health Center for McHenry County.   (He found that information on the agency’s IRS Form 990.)

Gasser continues,

“This same year the McHenry Mental Health Board gave a loan to Family Services & Community Mental Health Center for McHenry County $719,981 when no other lending institution would do so because of the risk.”

Gasser then asks a series of questions that readers might find of interest.

One of them has to do with the August 2012 collapse of Family Services after Martens retired and while he was one of four GOP candidate for County Board in District 4.

Gasser asks,

“Should this person really be the liaison between the county board and the Mental Health Board?”

There is more, but, again, I suggest you go to the source of this story on Andrew Gasser’s blog.

As mentioned previously, replacement of Salgado with Martens will change the balance of power on the Public Health Committee.  It will put Hill loyalists in control by a 4-3 margin.

For 708 Board purposes, that means that Hill can name replacements for the two seats whose terms expire January 1, 2014, without bypassing the committee for a second time:

• Vice President Brett  Wisnauski
• Secretary Connee Meschini

Ferguson’s term, if approved, would expire at the same time.

The meeting at which Hill’s replacement recommendation will be considered in tonight at 7 PM in the building north of the McHenry County Jail.

If the McHenry County Board follows Chairwoman Tina Hill’s recommendation, McHenry’s Sandy Salgado will have been replaced by Spring Grove’s Bob Martens the night before the Board’s Public Health and Human Services Committee meets in Crystal Lake at 9 AM in the Public Health Department building where Woodstock Street intersects Route 14.

That makes it convenient for those in the southeast corner of McHenry County to see the committee to which Crystal Laker Donna Kurtz was appointed chairman after supporting Hill’s chairmanship on the second vote.

Hill’s argument for replacing Salgado is that she works for Pioneer Center, which receives funding from the 708 Mental Health Board whose members are appointed by the the committee.

Martens, of course, before he retired, ran the Family Services agency which the 708 Board pumped in upwards of $1.8 million in an unsuccessful attempt to forestall its going out of business.

With Martens on the committee, Kurtz will have lost the fourth vote needed to advance proposals and nominations to the County Board floor, if Hill disagrees with them.

There will be a public comment period.

McHenry County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill is planning to plug a hole in her power structure by removing County Board Sandy Salgado from the Public Health and Human Services Committee.

In her place Hill is recommending Robert M. Martens, Sr.

Salgado did not vote for Hill for Chairman.

Martens did.  Martens and Salgado are both from District 4, which covers McHenry, Richmond and Spring Grove.

Putting a loyalist on the Public Health Committee will allow Hill to neutralize its Chairman, Donna Kurtz, any time Hill wants to.

The margin is now 4-3, with Kurtz being able to rely upon support from Salgado, Hammerand, Walkup and herself.  All are Republicans with Salgado being from McHenry, Hammerand from Wonder Lake with Walkup and Kurtz from Crystal Lake.

The three loyal to Hill are

• Mary McCann (R-Woodstock)
• Anna May Miller (R-Cary)
• Paula Yensen (D-Lake in the Hills)

 

Chaired by Donna Kurtz a majority of four nominated Crystal Lake City Councilman, banker and holder of an MBA Jeff Thorsen to fill the vacancy on the 708 Mental Health Board.

A vacancy remains because an 18-6 majority vote on the McHenry County Board refused to ratify the nomination of former McHenry County College Board President and 2012 Democratic Party Board candidate Scott Summers for the post.

Voting for Thorsen were Kurtz, John Hammerand, Sandy Salgado and Mike Walkup.

The other three members of the committee–Paula Yensen, Anna May Miller and Mary McCann–boycotted the meeting.

Following the eighteen “No” votes, Chairwoman Tina Hill informed the Board that she would submit her own choice to fill the vacancy.

After the Public Health Committee vote Hill was asked by Mike Walkup whether she would put the nomination on the agenda for the County Board’s May 21st meeting and she said she would not be putting the name up for the County Board’s consideration.

Then Walkup said,

“The Chair promised us in her State of the County speech that this would be a new day.

“Instead she has now plunged us into darkness.

“I suggest that everyone make sure they have extra batteries for their flashlights because it will be a long, dark night.”

John Hammerand asked why anyone should attend committee meetings.

Others considered for the post by the Committee members were

• Danijela Sanberg
• Charles Wheeler
• Catheryn Perfetti
• Cathy Ferguson
• David Barber

After the vote Sandy Salgado said she was not leaving the committee voluntarily. Salgado is employed by Pioneer Center.

Those opposing the nomination were

• Michele Aavang
• Yvonne Barnes
• Sue Drafkorn
• Joe Gottemoller
• Jim Heisler
• Tina Hill
• John Jung
• Ken Koehler
• Bob Martens
• Mary McCann
• Mary McClellan
• Anna May Miller
• Bob Nowak
• Nick Provenzano
• Ersel Schuster
• Carolyn Schofield
• Mike Skala
• Paula Yensen

In favor were

• Nick Chirikos
• Diane Evertsen
• John Hammerand
• Donna Kurtz
• Sandy Salgado
• Mike Walkup

None of the opponents offered a word as to why they were voting against Summers.

Here are the McHenry County Board members who signed Nick Provenzano’s petition to call a special meeting on Friday, January 18th at 9 AM to consider whether voters should have a shot in April at passing a referendum on whether the Board Chairman should be elected.

You can see eleven signed the petition.  Eight–one-third of the Board’s members–were required to sign to call a special meeting.

So people can find their names, let me list them in the order in which they signed and who they ended up voting for in the County Board Chairman’s race:

• Nick Provenzano (supported Koehler)
• Mike Walkup (new, supported Hill))
• Ken Koehler (supported Koehler)
• Robert Nowak (supported Koehler)
• Joe Gottemoller (new,  supported Gottemoller)
• Mike Skala (new,  supported Gottemoller)
• Robert Martens (new, supported Hill)
• Diane Evertsen (supported Schuster)
• Donna Kurtz (supported Schuster, then Hill)
• Sandy Salgado (supported Koehler)
• Mary McCann (supported Hill)

Four supported Tina Hill for Board Chairman.

Four supported Ken Koehler for Board Chairman.

Two supported Joe Gottemoller.

One supported Schuster.

All are Republicans, which when one thinks about it, that probably just recognizes the lay of the political land, that is, Democrats are more likely to gain positions of power, e.g., Paul Yensen’s appointment as Chairman of the Management Services Committee, through politicking in the current system of selecting a Board Chairman than through a one-on-one fight with any Republican in a countywide contest.   Both Yensen and first time Democratic Party Democratic Party Board member Nick Chirikos voted for Hill and neither showed any support for an at-large election at the Monday Management Services Committee meeting.

Only one of what I would consider hardcore supporters of Hill broke ranks to potentially endanger the new ruling coalition’s ability to continue its power after the 2014 election cycle.

Just because someone signed the petition does not mean that they are committed to vote for an April referendum.

There are twenty-four Board members and a majority vote will be required to put the question on the ballot.

Do you want to express your viewpoint to your County Board members?

Here are their phone numbers:

• Michele Aavang – 815-648-4210
• Yvonne Barnes – 847-516-2719
• Nick Chirikos – 847-658-3434
• Sue Draffkorn – 815-653-6057
• Diane Evertsen – 815-943-3298
• Joe Gottemoller – 815 382 9940
• John Hammerand – 815-728-0700
• Jim Heisler – 815-459-1971
• Tina Hill – 815-347-4222
• John Jung – 815-338-6201
• Ken Koehler – 815-459-7841
• Donna Kurtz -815-788-0632
• Bob Martens – 815-675-6353
• Mary McCann – 815-568-1061
• Mary McClellan – 815-482-5693
• Anna May Miller – 847-639-5112
• Robert Nowak – 847-516-9637
• Nick Provenzano – 815-355-8540
• Sandy Salgado – 815-271-5293
• Carolyn Schofield – 815-455-9550
• Ersel Schuster – 815-338-2207
• Mike Skala – 847-669-3804
• Mike Walkup – 815-459-7090
• Paula Yensen – 815-404-3918

At this point one can see that Nick Provenzano read the political wind better than the Management Services Committee did on Monday.

Whether the wind is blowing hard enough to overcome the reticence of Board members who like the current insider system (for reasons including an inability to raise sufficient funds to mount a countywide campaign–campaign cost having been mentioned by several Board members during the ongoing debate) remains to be seen on Friday morning.

And whether the measure passes or fails, the roll call will be used in the 2014 elections.

It will be interesting to see if any County board members from the last Board who voted to put a tax hike on the ballot in April will refuse to allow their constituents to vote on whether to elect their County Board Chairman at the ballot box.

Getting as much money out of taxpayers is pretty much the goal of every tax district official, from school board member to township trustee.

To do that, boards need to ask for more than the increase in the Cost of Living allowed by the Illinois Department of Revenue under the Tax Cap law.

Virtually every tax district will ask for the maximum increase allowed.

That’s 3% this coming year.

103% is multiplied by what is called the “tax extension,” the amount of taxes each district is allow to collect from local property owners, to determine how much the tax district can collect in 2013.

But there’s more.

If there has been new construction, as there has been on Crystal Lake’s Route 14 shopping corridor, local park districts, schools, McHenry County College, the Mental Health Board, townships, county government, etc., have to ask for more than 103% of last year’s tax take IN ORDER TO capture the new growth.

I have suggested that legislators could amend the PTELL (the technocrats’ acronym for the Real Estate Tax Cap) law by allowing each government under it to pass a resolution authorizing county officials to tax all of the new growth, rather than using the current practice of balloon levying.

So far, I haven’t noticed such legislation has been introduced.

Last week, the McHenry County Board approved a multi-year contract with the McHenry County Economic Development Commission that uses the same formula for increases contained in the Tax Cap formula used to maximize the Tax Take.

Might the roll call on that question be a good indication of which County Board members will vote in favor of maximizing the County’s Tax Take?

I think it will, so I present it below:

EDC related Resolution vote count is as follows:   19 yes    5 no

AYES:       Merkel, Miller, Munaretto, Nowak, Peschke, Provenzano, Salgado, Schmidt, Wheeler, Bless, Breeden, Donner, Draffkorn, Heisler, Hill, Jung, Kurtz, McCann and Koehler

NAYS:     Schuster, Yensen, Donley, Evertsen and Hammerand

My prediction is that most of those who will vote to maximize your County tax bill voted “Yes” on the EDC subsidy resolution.

I will further predict that the vote on the tax levy will not occur until after the election, so the above roll call, plus last year’s “Tax to the Max” roll call will be the best you are going to get before you have to cast your vote.

If you think the County Board is not moving in the direction of maximum taxation, please read this May 13, 2012 article.

Those voting against cutting the budget (read the story here) were

• Bob Bless (D1)
• Scott Breeden (D2)
• Mary Donner (D3)
• Jim Heisler (D2)
• John Jung (D5)
• Donna Kurtz (D2)
• Mary McCann (D6)
• Peter Merkel (D4)
• Marc Muneratto (D1)
• Kathy Schmidt (D3)
• Ken Koehler (D2)

On a second roll call the following voted for the “Tax to the Max” levy (again, see this article):

15 members voted in favor:

• Robert Bless
• Scott Breeden
• Sue Draftcorn (a switch)
• Mary Donner
• Jim Heisler
• Tina Hill (a switch)
• John Jung
• Donna Kurtz
• Mary McCann
• Pete Merkel
• Anna May Miller (a switch)
• Marc Munaretto
• Robert Novak (a switch)
• Kathy Bergan Schmidt
• Ken Koehler

Maybe the League of Women question screeners at the last week in September County Board candidates’night will allow a question that will pin down the incumbents running for re-election on the question of whether they will vote to increase the County levy so much that our County taxes will increase as much as the law allows.