Local Governments Spent $1 Million Fighting Flooding, Illinois Total Too Low for Federal Reimbursement

Local governmental expenditures submitted to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency from McHenry County totaled $1,080,640.62. According to the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency, “In the four counties proclaimed a disaster area by Governor Rauner, uninsured damages to public property and … Continue reading

Tax Takes for Cities and Villages

Below is what cities and villages in McHenry County did to property taxpayers last year and what can be expected this year: City or village INCR / DECR INCR / DECR 2015 – 2014 2014 – 2013 IN TOTAL TAX … Continue reading

Effective Tax Rates in McHenry County

The only way to compare property tax burdens is to divide one’s property tax bill by the value of one’s home. That’s what the Chicago Tribune did in November of 2015. The effective tax rates found for McHenry County towns … Continue reading

County Postponing the Condemnation Vote

The McHenry County Board has a vote coming up that conservationists are watching. It is whether to condemn sensitive property just north of Island Lake in order to construct a roundabout. The vote was supposed to have happened already, but … Continue reading

The Sideways Report on Camp Algonquin

Looking at the McHenry County Historical Commission agenda for June 3rd (6:30 PM Administration Building in Woodstock), I discovered that it does not allow the public to view minutes from past meetings without a secret password. But that may not … Continue reading

Comparing City & Village Tax Takes

Yesterday, we took a look at what school districts requested to be collected last year and this year. Today we’ll look at municipalities. A number of McHenry County municipalities overlap into adjacent counties. If you see “McH only,” that is … Continue reading

Bianchi Announces Scott Peters Conviction

A press release from McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi: SCOTT PETERS FOUND GUILTY OF SEVEN COUNTS OF ATTEMPT FIRST DEGREE MURDER OF A PEACE OFFICER, THREE COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED BATTERY WITH A FIREARM TO A PEACE OFFICER AND FIVE COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED … Continue reading

Le Villa Vaupell Country Club Residents Ask for Jack Franks’ Help

The following letter was sent to State Rep. Jack Franks by the Villa Vaupell Country Club community asking for “help to stop the actions of the Nunda Township  Road Commissioner, Mike Lesperance on my community, Le Villa Vaupell Country Club, in unincorporated … Continue reading

Candidates for McHenry County Cities and Villages

I’ve finally pinned down all who are running for municipal office in cities and villages having all or part of their boundaries within McHenry County. The names have been listed in ballot order.  That makes little difference unless there are … Continue reading

Filings for Municipal Office

Here’s my best effort to find out who filed for village and city offices in McHenry County’s thirty municipalities. Most who didn’t file last week probably waited until late Monday afternoon. Why? Best place on the ballot is first.  With … Continue reading

District 155 Imposes “Soft Lockdown” Because of Holiday Hills Shooter

The following message was delivered by robo-call from Crystal Lake District 155 Superintendent Johnnie Thomas: Code Yellow Lockdown – 10/16/14 As you may be aware, there was a shooting this morning in nearby Holiday Hills, and the suspect is still … Continue reading

Crystal Lake’s Hikes Taxes Almost 10%–More Than Any Other City or Village

Municipal elections were last spring.  The next ones are not until next spring. Perhaps that explains why the City of Crystal Lake decided to hike taxes so much this year–a non-election year. There will go up 9.8%. McHenry, on the … Continue reading