Johnsburg GOP St. Pat’s Event May Turn into Steve Reick Rally

With all the hit pieces this past week against Steve, Reick, the real Republican candidate running for the GOP nomination for State Rep., it occurs to me that the McHenry Township Republican Party’s St. Patrick Day Meet & Greet and … Continue reading

Demetri Makes Fourth Mailing

In the fourth mailing on behalf of his candidacy for Circuit Court Judge, Demetri Tsilimigras unrolls a list of endorsements. On the address side, he promises to “adhere to the highest ethical standards and enforce the law equally–without prejudice, bias … Continue reading

Mailed Sample Ballot Arrives

I haven’t noted this year that the post office continues to play the role of precinct worker. Think of how much dedicated manpower that candidates would have to have if all the post cards and other literature you receive in … Continue reading

Tryon Endroses

State Rep. and former McHenry County Republican Party Chairman has sent an email offering his endorsements in the Primary Election.  It follows: Early voting for the March 15 Primary Election begins today at locations throughout the county. Locations and times … 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

Daily Herald Rolls Out Endorsements for County Board Districts 2 & 3

The Daily Herald has published its endorsements for three McHenry County Board districts. For District 1, Yvonne Barnes and Anna May Miller For District 2, John Reinert and Jeff Thorsen For District 3, Nancy Gonsiorek and Nick Provenzano … Continue reading

County Board Pensions and Health Insurance

There were two questions asked of all candidates who participated (only Mary McCann did not) in the McHenry County League of Women Voters candidates’ forums for County Board: Pensions (and insurance the second time around) Homelessness I’ll deal with the … Continue reading

Committee Votes Down Maintenance Workers Contract

Last Tuesday, the McHenry County Board’s Facilities Management Committee could not muster a majority to recommend the maintenance workers union contract with Operating Engineers Local 150. The vote was 2-2 with three members absent. Voting in favor were Jim Heisler, … Continue reading

23 Republicans, 5 Democrats Run for 12 County Board Seats

Here are the final filings for the Republican Primary Election for McHenry County Board: District 1 Yvonne Barnes, Cary Anna May Miller, Cary Terence Ferenc, Fox River Grove Tom Wilbeck, Barrington Hills District 2 Cameron Hubbard, Crystal Lake John Reinert, … Continue reading

County Eliminates $3 Million Valley Hi Tax

The all-Republican McHenry County Board  Tuesday night voted unanimously to cut the tax levy for the Valley Hi Nursing Home to zero. The significant amendment did not even require a roll call, as County Board Chairman Joe Gottemoller called for … Continue reading

Justification of Valley Hi’s $40 Million in the Bank

Peter Austin unveiled graphic results of Valley Hi Administrator Tom Annarella’s modeling efforts Tuesday. All versions assumed that the levy would be cut from $3 million to $2.250 million. The first version, seen below, shows the Valley Hi bank account … Continue reading

Finance Reverses Course, Cuts Valley Hi Levy by $750,000

What a difference five days makes. On Thursday, the members of the McHenry County Board’s Finance Committee voted 4-3 against lowering the $3 million Valley Hi Nursing Home levy by one penny. First-term member Chuck Wheeler, who was recently appointed … 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

Budget Back to Finance Committee

McHenry County Board Chairman Joe Gottemoller has apparently decided not to put next year’s levy ordinance on the Board Agenda without a positive vote from the Finance and Audit Committee. As you can read exclusively here, the vote was 3-3 … 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