Message of the Day – Congestion

The widening of Randall Road in Algonquin and Lake in the Hills has reached the point where motorists will be frustrated at lane closures. Below one can see what was happening last week as utility relocations began: Here’s what the … Continue reading

NWH Reporter Kevin Craver Goes to Work for Jack Franks

Friday, “Communications Specialist” Oliver Serafini quit his Jack Franks patronage job. The resignation paperwork says he was the “Utilities Coordinator” for the McHenry County Department of Transportation. Nevertheless, his name did not appear on the June 16, 2017, organization chart … Continue reading

February McDOT Work of Jack Franks’ Patronage Guy

A Friend of McHenry County Blog filed the following Freedom of Information request for “Any documents, reports, presentations, emails, meetings, etc. that Oliver Serafini had involving Division of Transportation, including outside vendors, elected officials, consultants, other units of government, the … Continue reading

Will New Transportation “Lock Box” Constitutional Amendment Prohibit Payment of Jack Franks’ Press Aide from McDOT Money?

As I was reflecting on the end run that newly-sworn in McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks is trying to pull on the taxpayers of McHenry County, it occurred to me that there may be a road block in the … Continue reading

Donna Kurtz Explains County Board Approval of Randall-Algonquin Road Improvement

The following was written by McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz: WHY FIXING RANDALL ROAD / ALGONQUIN ROAD INTERSECTION AREA MATTERS Most will agree that the Randall and Algonquin Roads intersection and surrounding area is a significant congestion problem for … Continue reading

What to Expect at County Transporation Committee Meeting Wednesday Morning

The McHenry County Transportation Committee will meet at 8:15 AM in the Board’s room in the Administrative Building in Woodstock. According to The First Electric Newspaper, there was a secret slide presentation to a group of “stakeholders” last Thursday. Algonquin … Continue reading

Finance Committee Moves Randall-Algonquin Road Intersection Improvement to County Board

In the 1960’s when one wanted to get from the northern termination of Randall Road at Algonquin Road, one had to go east and travel through the old section of Lake in the Hills to get to Crystal Lake. The … Continue reading

Proposed Randall Road Consultant Makes McHenry County Political Contributions

Whenever I see a contract being let, I wonder if campaign contributions might have been made to anyone close to the awarding of that contract. Today I looked at the McHenry County Transportation Committee agenda, which you can find here. … Continue reading

Reconstructed Richmond Bridge Re-Opened on Hill Road

A press release from McHenry County: Hill Road Bridge Reopened October 1st WOODSTOCK, IL – The McHenry County Division of Transportation (MCDOT) reopened the Hill Road Bridge over the North Branch of Nippersink Creek, located just east of the Village … Continue reading

Views of Traffic Slowed by Snow

All in all, it was a very bad night for traffic. Route 62 was worse than that part of Algonquin Road east of Route 31, which is a county road. Maybe it was the beet juice mixed with the salt. … Continue reading

Destructive Mowing on Fleming Road by the McHenry County Department of Transportaton

If one believed in conspiracies in McHenry County, one might think the gouging of the grass along parts of Fleming Road was deliberate. There certainly could be motive for McDOT’s defacing the shoulders along the stretch of scenic rural highway. … Continue reading