The Jack Franks’ Sign Story That the Northwest Herald Did Not Think Newsworthy

Here’s a story about a public employee changing a sign at Jack Franks’  Route 47 campaign office that the Northwest Herald did not think worthy of a story, let alone a front page story: County Employee Changes Jack Franks Campaign … Continue reading

County Employee Changes Jack Franks Campaign Sign in Mid-Afternoon of Work Day

On Tuesday, November 7th, shortly after 2:40 in the afternoon, McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks’ assistant Kevin Craver was spotted changing the  sign of Franks’ Route 14 campaign office. The man he replaced was Oliver Sarifini, who had previously … Continue reading

Franks’ Patronage Push Loses in First County Board Committee

The patronage employees that Jack Franks hired without County Board authorization around Christmas last year did not received a reprieve in the Internal Services Committee yesterday. After Franks prevailed upon County Administrator Peter Austin to exceed the hiring authority granted … Continue reading

Reflecting on Oliver Serafini’s Short Tenure as Jack Franks’ Patronage “Communications Specialist”

Another view of County government from former McHenry County Board member Ersel Schuster: And the Games Continue… So, one of the McHenry County Board Chairman’s patronage hire, “Olie,” has resigned his more than questionable position as “McDOT’s, utilities coordinator.” Would it … 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

Susan Handelsman Offers Possible Redress for Jack Franks’ Patronage Hiring

From a comment this week by Woodstock’s Susan Handlesman: This case is illustrative of the condition of which Illinois taxpayers should be keenly aware: There is no practical enforcement policy for Illinois law, County or Municipal Code, or any other … Continue reading

Jack Franks says,”Shenangans;” In Other News, Pot Calls Kettle Black

The Northwest Herald, as with all other media took no interest in the 40-year old Lake in the Hills Sanitary District until Jack Franks took umbrage at being being outmaneuvered in a game of government control. But, before we get … Continue reading

Jack Franks/Peter Austin/John Jung Won’t Allow Craig Wilcox’ Special Meeting on Firing Franks’ Patronage Employees

The following email was sent to Human Resources Chairman John Jung and McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin: Call for Human Resources Cmte meeting on June 13, 2017 Mr. Jung, Mr. Austin, Mr. Wilcox (District 4), Pursuant to the fact the … Continue reading

County Treasurer Still Waiting for Big Money “Found” by Jack Franks’ Patronage Employees

Back in March, I wondered if the Northwest Herald had been mislead by McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks’ patronage employee Oliver Serafini. The Northwest Herald reported on February 24th that $134,000 of county money was lying unclaimed in Springfield … Continue reading

Attorney General Public Access Division Asks County Government to Justify Lack of Response to Freedom of Information Request

After the Illinois Attorney General’s Office confirmed that McHenry County Blog was a member of the “news media” under the Freedom of Information Act, I filed a request with McHenry County. I asked for “copies of all work product for the … Continue reading

Harvard Resident Trashes Franks’ Hiring of Patronage Employees

The following letter to the Northwest Herald by William Matteson is published with his permission: County hires were unfair It never crossed my mind that Jack Franks intended to corrupt McHenry County government when he stated during his campaign, “I … Continue reading

Another View of the Human Resources Committee Meeting on Patronage

The following was written by former McHenry County Board member Ersel Schuster: 4/12/17 McHenry County’s Internal Support & Facilities (ISF) meeting: There is no greater insult to voters/taxpayers than public officials who think their responsibility is to their own personal … Continue reading

Franks’ Two Patronage Workers Rejected for Second Time by HR Committee

The McHenry County Board’s Human Resources Committee voted 4-2 to reject the approval of McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks’ two patronage employees at its meeting Wednesday morning. Those voting against approving the hiring were Jim Heisler Donna Kurtz Michael … Continue reading

Franks Making Another Run at Gaining Approval of His Patronage Hires Wednesday

On the Agenda of the McHenry County Board’s Internal Support & Services Committee on Wednesday morning for the second time is an agenda item to legitimize the patronage hiring of Chairman Jack Frank’s two former employees. To remind readers of … Continue reading

Wonder If the NW Herald Got Misled by Jack Franks’ Patronage “Communications Specialist”

Took a look through a Freedom of Information request with what Jack Franks’ “Communications Specialist” got from the State Treasurer’s Office that led to the Northwest Herald’s February 24th story that, what, $134,000 of county money was lying unclaimed in … Continue reading

Kelly Liebmann Takes County Board to Task over Jack Franks’ Patronage Hires

Here is what former McHenry County Board member candidate Kelly Liebmann said to the County Board last night: The inappropriate and improper hiring of the Chairman’s Executive Assistant and Communications Specialist must be addressed post haste. The avoidance of communication … Continue reading