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

County Transportation Committee Approves Agreement With Algonquin Township

This morning at a very quick meeting of the transportation committee was agenda item five: Resolution Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement Between the County of McHenry and the Algonquin Township Road District for the Jurisdictional Transfer of County Highways Located in … Continue reading

Friday Afternoon Snow Removal

Drove on some Nunda Township Roads Friday afternoon about 3:30. Here’s what the road in front of the Township Garage looked like: Turning on Pleasant Hill Road, the one that runs past Prairie Ridge High School’s ball fields and this … Continue reading

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

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

Quick-Take Condemnation Bill Passes for Randall Road & Island Lake Intersection, plus Kane County Intersection

Below is the summary provided legislators of Senate Bill 1518, a bill sponsored by McHenry County legislators State Senator Pam Althoff and State Rep. Barb Wheeler. [The duplicative language has been removed, but may be seen at the link above.] … 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

Still No McDOT Work Product for Jack Franks McDOT Ghost Employee

A Friend of McHenry County Blog filed a Freedom of Information request with the McHenry County Department of Transportation. He asked for “any documents that show Oliver Serafini worked at the Department of Transportation in February 2017.” Here’s the reply … Continue reading

Half-Paid from McDOT Funds, Franks Patronage Worker Gets Department Tour

A Friend of McHenry County Blog filed a Freedom of Information Request with county government on February 2nd asking for “any documents that show Oliver Serafini worked at the Department of Transportation this January.” You can read the reply below: … Continue reading

County Going After Quick-Take Condemnation for Highway Work

The McHenry County Department of Transportation seeks approval to condemn property for highway improvements using what is called “quick take.” Quick take allows governments to seize property and argue what it is worth later in court. River Road at Dowell … Continue reading

State Asks for $180,875 Snow Plowing Help

Here’s what the McHenry County Board’s Transportation Committee will consider today: On September 19, 2016, MCDOT was approached by representatives from IDOT with a proposal to assist IDOT with winter operations on approximately 118 lane miles of State Highways. Three … Continue reading

Cost of the Algonquin Bypass

Now that the election season is (almost) behind us, perhaps we can start thinking about public policy again and not just politics.  Below is a study by Steve Willson on the Algonquin Bypass: Our Outrageous Roads In September of 2014, … Continue reading

Lawrence Road Bridge Being Replaced

Here are the details from the McHenry County Department of Transportations: LAWRENCE ROAD BRIDGE REPLACEMENT IDOT CONTRACT: 61B85,  Section No. 10-00376-00-BR The Lawrence Road Bridge over a tributary to the Lawrence Creek between Ramer Road and Oak Grove Road, 1.5 miles … Continue reading

Non-Dedicated Subdivision Road Meeting Cancelled

The McHenry County Board was scheduled to convene at 6 PM on November 17th to hear what the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office has to say about where the County has been historically, where we are now, and the options available … Continue reading

Considering Widening Randall Road

McHenry County Board Chairman Joe Gottemoller asked a Randall Road question of the four men who want to sit in the seat vacated by Ken Koehler. Besides putting in two left turn lanes on all four corners of the intersection of … Continue reading

County Highway Vendor Gives to Gottemoller & Hill

When I saw AECOM US Federal Political Action Committee out of Arlington Heights, Virginia, on the campaign disclosure reports of Joe Gottemoller, candidate for McHenry County Board Chairman, and Tina Hill, McHenry County Recorder of Deeds candidate, I wondered why. … Continue reading

Over $8 Million for Unincorporated Subdivision Roads

The McHenry County Transportation Committee has voted to budget $8,060,000 over the next five years to attack the problem of unincorporated subdivision roads. A memo explains what’s up: In accordance with Illinois Law, Motor Fuel Tax Funds are permitted to … Continue reading