Mike Walkup Discusses Township Assessors and Road Commissioners

Before I post the next installment of McHenry County Board-elect Mike Walkup’s thoughts on township government in Illinois, let me point out that someone forged his name on a comment under the first article. The poster used the email address … Continue reading

Township GOP Primary Election Paperwork Not at County Clerk’s Office Yet

The Republican Parties in all of the five largest townships in McHenry County seem to have decided or soon will decide to hold primary elections in February, rather than hold caucuses. Those five are Algonquin Dorr Grafton McHenry Nunda Paperwork … Continue reading

No Agreement Yet on Free Mediation Offer for Grafton Township by Attorney Robert Hanlon

Woodstock attorney Robert T. Hanlon was in courthouse this past Wednesday to offer his services pro bono to mediate differences between the Township Trustees and the Supervisor. There were court appearances in the Separation of Powers case that Supervisor Moore … Continue reading

Algonquin Township GOP to Hold Primary Election to Select Next Year’s Township Candidates

Since the 1973 fiasco of a caucus conducted by the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee, McHenry County largest township has allowed voters to decide who GOP candidates for township office shall be. That was the year that first-term Assessor Forrest … Continue reading

Officials’ Perks Ruled Taxable in Grafton Township

An IRS finding handed down January 31st will surely be the talk of the next meeting of the Township Officials of Illinois. It says that heretofore fringe benefits, such as the Grafton Road Commissioner’s vehicle and the reimbursement for dinners … Continue reading

BGA Goes After Township Government – Road Costs

A couple of weeks ago news media unloaded the latest attack on township government. They were working from a Better Government Association report. Most of the attention was aimed at Cook County townships. That’s where most of the land is … Continue reading

McHenry County’s Township Road Costs

Today let’s look at the cost of maintaining township roads. As you can see, the cost varies a lot,. So do the number of miles of roads for which the various township road commissioners are responsible for maintaining. The townships … Continue reading

After the Storm in Hartland Township

An observer in Hartland Township sent this “after clean-up” photo of Paulsen Road. Here’s the commentary that accompanied it: Interesting that on Monday morning Alden Road was closed to work on ONE tree that was felled during the storm on … Continue reading

Photos of Storm Damage in McHenry County

A friend of McHenry County Blog sent the following photos of  “storm damage on Paulson Road just south of Streit. Trees fell across the North-South Paulson Road. “Behind this tree, hidden from view are about 15 more covering the roadway. … Continue reading

Possible Partial Repayment of Grafton Town Hall Harris Bank Loan

Two Grafton Township Thursday meeting agendas arrived today. The Trustees’ and the one developed by Township Supervisor Linda Moore. Present on Moore’s, but not on the Trustees’, is “Action to approve $400,000 payment to Harris Bank (Bank of New York … Continue reading

Ancel Glink’s March Bill to Grafton Township – Part 11

The second page of the Ancel Glink March bills for the Annual Town Meeting, which was held April 13th, is the subject today. First, we finish up March 10th: “Correspondence to Pam Fender with memo to board regarding annual town … Continue reading

Ancel Glink’s March Bill to Grafton Township – Part 10

Although the Grafton Township Annual Town Meeting occurred on April 13, 2010, Ancel Glink billed $8,328.22 for that purposed during the month of March. One can only wonder how many thousands of dollars more were billed in April when the … Continue reading

Chris Krug on Value of Township Government

Sunday Northwest Herald Executive Editor Chris Krug wrote of taking some heat from a reader who criticized him in a letter to his boss John Rung. In response, Krug said he was going to list the benefits of township government. … Continue reading

Tidal Wave of Opposition Overwhelms Trustees’ Desire for New Grafton Township Offices

With over 700 registered voters in attendance, electors at the Annual Town Meeting overwhelmingly refused to follow the script laid out by Ancel Glink partner Keri-Lyn Krafthefer. There were so many people in attendance that the 700 pink ballots designed … Continue reading

Mike Tryon Announces Member Initiatives

Congressmen call it “earmarks.” Illinois legislators call it “member initiatives.” If it’s in someone else’s part of the country or state, people commonly call it “pork.” Whatever you call it, here is what Crystal Lake State Rep. Mike Tryon got … Continue reading