McHenry County Board Committee Recommendations (Corrected)

Correction: My eyes were not working well enough yesterday when I copied the following information from item 14.2a in tonight’s McHenry County Board Agenda.  Most of my mistakes were in the Public Health Committee. = = = = = On … Continue reading

Republicans Gather at CL’s Pablo’s to Raise Money, Meet Candidates

Nelwy-elected Algonquin Township Republican Party Chairman Glen Swanson hosted a fundraiser at Pablo’s in Crystal Lake Thursday night. The entrance fee was $35 apiece. There were no cut rates for Republican Precinct Committeemen. Legislators attended. State Senator Dan McConchie and … Continue reading

Skillicorn Joins Franks in Calling for Referendum to Put Algonquin Township Road District Under Township Board in 2021

A press release from State Rep. Allen Skillicorn: Franks, Skillicorn Asking Algonquin Township for Referendum to Abolish Highway Department WOODSTOCK, Ill. – State Rep. Allen Skillicorn is joining McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks’ call for the Algonquin Township Board … Continue reading

Former Democratic County Board Member Nick Chirikos Gets $550 in Bonuses Miscellaneous Income from Bob Miller

Former McHenry County Board member Nick Chirikos was employed by Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller during his last year in office. Chirikos beat Republican Bob Bless in 2012. Republican Andrew Gasser beat him four years later. Chirikos was hired … Continue reading

Franks Gets What He Wants on Patronage Employee Hire from Human Resources Committee

Cut 10, add 2. That’s what the County Board seems likely to do. The levy will be cut 10% (after an all-Republican Board raised the levy 4% a year ago), but added will be two employees not in the this … Continue reading

Jack Franks’ Proposal to Kill Pensions of Countywide Elected Officials Fails for Lack of a Second

In the Human Resources Committee this morning the most ballyhooed issue was one from McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks to eliminate pensions for those countywide officials specifically mentioned in the 1970 State Constitution. Franks proposal, of course, got coverage … Continue reading

GOP Members of County Board Seek Two Special Meetings Wed. Night

A press release about the call for special McHenry County Board meetings by Republican County Board members: Special Meetings, McHenry County Board Two Special Meetings of the McHenry County Board have been called by Republican members for Wednesday, August 23, … Continue reading

Franks’ Patronage Hires Fail HR Committee Test – Part 3

This is Part 3.  Part 1 can be found here. Part 2 is here. Michael Rein wondered if most jobs were not advertised on the internet and advertised. “That’s correct,” County Administrator Peter Austin replied, [but] it varies for the … Continue reading

Franks’ Patronage Hires Fail HR Committee Test – Part 2

Part 1 can be read here. Continuing the questioning of McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin, Human Resources Board member Craig Wilcox said, “You exercised an authority that the County Board is responsible for, that we do spell out in [your … Continue reading

Yvonne Barnes Wins County Board Seat with Less than $5,000, Tom Wilbeck Spends $6,285

Financial reports have been filed by District 1 County Board candidates and the top vote-getter spent less than $5,000. That’s the “magic number” under which a candidate does not have reveal how much money was raised and spent. Spending less … Continue reading

The County Board Winners Get Sworn In

There are so many aspects of the December 5th McHenry County Board meeeting that there will be stories coming for a while. One that was overshadowed by the activies of newly-elected Chairman Jack Franks was the swearing in of the … Continue reading

Messages the Democrats Didn’t Get Out – District 1

The Sunday before the election I was wondering where the Democrats mail was. You may remember that McHenry County’s Democratic Party accepted some big checks ($32,400 to be precise) from a very, very liberal Chicago millionaire in mid-October and then gave … Continue reading

McHenry County Pro-Life Victory Endorsements

The following endorsement mailing came from the Pro-Life Victory Committee, the political arm of Right to Life, McHenry County. Those endorsed in McHenry County follow: Donald Trump – President Peter Roskam – 6th District Congress Randy Hultgren – 14th District … Continue reading

Taxpayers Protest at McHenry County Treasurer’s Office

Having served as McHenry County Treasurer as a child (1966-70), it bothers me a bit that taxpayers are not protesting at school board meetings or signing up to run for school board, where most tax dollars end up once they … Continue reading

NWH Features Election Upsets

An article summarizing the upsets in the Republican Primary Election ran in the Northwest Herald today. Written by Kevin Craver, its headline is Fighting the Status Quo, County voters send establishment a message in Illinois primary Featured on the front … Continue reading

Gasser Writes Constituents about Election

This letter from McHenry County Board member Andrew Gasser was sent to 3,900 addresses: Mr. Andrew Gasser 112 Grove Ave, Fox River Grove McHenry County Board District 1 Friends, Neighbors, and Constituents, I am writing you to tell you about … Continue reading