Nick Chirikos Votes Against Allowing Public Comment Before Zoning Votes

The agenda for last Tuesday’s McHenry County Board meeting is below: The room was pretty full for the fourth straight meeting. Here’s how County Board member John Hammerand saw the meeting: The County Board Meeting Room was packed with citizens … Continue reading

CFI Dead, Triple Left Lanes Recommended to County Board

As I predicted last night, the Continuous Flow Intersection proposed by the McHenry County Transportation Committee and County Board has succumbed to political, business and village official pressure. As Chairwoman Anna May Miller put it, “The CFI had significant push … Continue reading

CFI Pot Bubbling

I attended my first McHenry County Board Transportation Committee meeting this morning. Todd Bright, the lead man from Randall Road consultant firm TranSystems, gave an update on the project that Chairwoman Anna May Miller is vigorously pushing for a September … Continue reading

County Cuts Losses of Housing Federal Prisoners $10 a Day – Part 2

John Hammerand, the County Board member who first pointed out (twelve months ago) that the county was losing big bucks by housing Federal prisoners, spoke next: “You cannot manage what we don’t measure. “I’m thinking of [the need to] swear … Continue reading

Legislative Committee Deliberations on MCCD Tax Hike Proposals

I was going to get up early Thursday to attend the McHenry County Board’s Legislative Committee re-consideration of endorsement resolutions of Pam Althoff’s two bills to allow the Conservation District to raise taxes (one needing voter referendum approval, one not). … Continue reading

District 1 County Board Candidate David Stieper Uses Gravy Train to Emphasize His Opposition to Pensions and Health Insurance for Part-Time Board Members

Images of an upcoming mailing have been received from McHenry County Board candidate David Stieper. He is seeking one of two Republican nominations in the southeastern-most District 1. (Other candidates who would like to share their campaign materials are welcome … Continue reading

The County Board Debate on the $9 Million Randall Road Expansion Resolution – 2

Next up in the McHenry County Board debate on the widening of Randall Road and the reconstruction of its intersection with Algonquin Road was Mike Walkup. Walkup  complained about the excessive population figures used in the analysis. He urged the … Continue reading

McHenry County Board Compensation

McHenry County Board members get paid a salary of $20,815.86 a year. The average salary is almost $33,000 when health and dental insurance is included. And, even more if the County Board member is participating in the Illinois Municipal Retirement … Continue reading

Finances in McHenry County Board District 1

In McHenry County Board District 1, there is a three-way Republican primary race. Incumbent Robert Nowak, elected from Cary, but now living in Lake in the Hills, is being challenged by Fox River Grove’s Andrew Gasser and David M. Stieper of Barrington … Continue reading

Most Politicians Skip Algonquin’s Founders Days Parade

My inability to attend Algonquin’s Founders Days Parade prevented me from taking photos of the politicians and public officials in it, but, thanks to the First Electric Newspaper’s Pete Gonigam, I still have some photos to share with you. He … Continue reading

Democratic Party Chairman Mike Bissett Comments on the Election

I asked McHenry County Democratic Party Chairman Mike Bissett for his take on the election.  His reply is below: “I’m sure it’s no coincidence that the Democratic candidates who worked the hardest won. “I’m proud of Nick Chirikos and Paula … Continue reading