Jack Franks Choices for Committee Chairmen Emerge from County Committee on Committees Meeting

The McHenry County Committee on Committees held its meeting today and the following Finance& Audit – Mike Skala (District 5) Internal Support and Facilities (formerly Management Services) – Yyonne Barnes (District 1) Law and Government – Michele Aavang (District 6) … Continue reading

Franks Makes Progess on Lowering Number of Committees

McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks made significant progress in convincing Board members to lower the number of committees from twelve to seven. Can’t imagine why readers might be intereste, but here’s an attempt to list the proposal: Finance Internal … Continue reading

Jack Franks Temporary Rules Committee

There is a provision in the McHenry County Board Rules that allows its Chairman to appoint ad hoc committees. It was designed, according to one member of the Management Services Committee who was there when the language was added, to … Continue reading

State’s Attorney’s $75,000 Settlement Runs into Rough Waters

When Assistant State’s Attorney George Hoffman came before the McHenry County Finance and Audit Committee Thursday morning for permission to settle the suit filed by former Assistant State’s Attorney Kirk Chrzanowski for $75,000, he made a cost-benefit argument. He estimated that … Continue reading

Lame Duck Planning and Development Expanding Government Tuesday

The agenda for the Planning and Development Committee is out.  On the agenda is to expand the P&D committee by 1.5 full time employees or FTEs.  Here is a link to the agenda on the McHenry County Board’s website. The … Continue reading

Keeping the One-Sixth of Prisoners Who Are Mentally Ill Out of McHenry County Jail

The minutes of the January 13, 2016, McHenry County Public Health Committee dipped into the mental health problems of those ending up in the County Jail. The statistics for last year show there were 6,200 individuals detained in our jail … Continue reading

Kelly Liebmann Expands on County Board’s Valley Hi Overtaxation

A press release from District 6 McHenry County Board candidate Kelly Liebmann: Kelly Liebmann expands forum answer on Valley High $41 million surplus District 6 County Board Candidate Recommends Option to Fund $500,000 Valley High Yearly Operating Cost Shortfall Through … Continue reading

Liebmann Calls Out McCann & Smith on Vote against Cutting $40 Million+ Valley Hi Surplus

A press release from District 6 McHenry County Board candidate Kelly Liebmann: Kelly Liebmann addresses funding concerns to County Board District 6 County Board Candidate Pushes to Eliminate Valley Hi Tax Levy and Reduce $40 Million Excessive Reserve Fund Woodstock, … Continue reading

Finance Committee Fight over Valley Hi Taxes – Part 2

At this point Barnes weighed in. “That’s concerns me,”  she said. “You don’t solve that $20 million problem by [lowering the levy]. “I disagree,” Barnes replied. “If you’re going to be thinking about another facility,” Walkup said, “I think that … Continue reading

The Finance Fight over Valley Hi Taxes – Part 1

First, Mike Walkup, not a member of the Finance Committee, asked that the Valley Hi levy be split from the others for voting purposes. Pointing out that he had served on the nursing home’s Operating Board for two years, Walkup … Continue reading

Finance Committee Provides Dilemma for Gottemoller

The Finance Committee has laid a dilemma in McHenry County Board Chairman Joe Gottemoller’s lap. The ordinance laying out the tax levy for county government was to be on the agenda of the next County Board meeting. It has to … Continue reading

Township Consolidation Dead – Updated with Public Comment

Led by McHenry County Board Chairman Joe Gottemoller, thirteen members tacked the lid on the coffin of the township consolidation movement. During the lengthy public comment period, in which the opponents of township consolidation dominated the podium, County Board members … Continue reading

Skala Proposes No Fringe Benefits for County Board Members

In the last Republican Primary election two candidates campaigning on not taking pension and health benefits. They were District 1 candidates Andrew Gasser and David Stieper.  Gasser won the primary and the election, while Stieper lost to incumbent Republican Robert … Continue reading

Palmer Convinces Finance Committee To Keep Dental Audit Secret

Wednesday McHenry County Blog ran a piece entitled, “Should Misdeeds Uncovered by Internal Audits Be Made Public?” There has apparently been double billing for providing dental care to Veterans. Both the Veterans department and the County Health Department have been … Continue reading

Gottemoller’s Committee Spoils for His Supporters

The last article on McHenry County Board Committee assignments by newly-elected Chairman Joe Gottemoller focused on what those who supported his opponent Jim Heisler ended up. This will look at how the winners were rewarded.  Again requests that were granted … Continue reading

Newcomers on Board Got 3-2 for Winning Chairman Candidate

There are five new members on the McHenry County Board. District 1 – Andrew Gasser District 3 – Don Kopsell District 4 – Chuck Wheeler District 5 – Michael Rein District 6 – Larry Smith The five newcomers split 3-2 … Continue reading

Five New County Board Members Being Sworn In

Next Monday, five new members will join the McHenry County Board. They were elected in November’s election. The five are spread over five of the six County Board districts. In McHenry County’s southeastern-most District 1, Republican Andrew Gasser topped incumbent … Continue reading