Synopsis of David McSweeney’s New Township Abolition by Referendum Bill.

Here’s what legislators will see (in addition to any caucus analysis) about State Rep. David McSweeney’s bill to allow the abolitiion of township governments in McHenry County: Amends the Township Code. Provides that the board of trustees of any township … Continue reading

Senator Terry Link Pledges Township Abolition Bill Will Pass Again and Likely Be Signed by Governor JB Pritzker

Calling former Governor Bruce Rauner “hypocritical” for vetoing the township abolition bill, State Senator Terry Link,also Chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, says the bill will pass again and be signed by Governor JB Pritzker. The bill had two … Continue reading

Taking Power Away from Citizens in Township Government

I have been following Algonquin Township government since I was in college. In fact, my first public meeting was one on non-dedicated subdivision roads for Silver Lakes. The township used a law passed by State Rep. George Lindberg (R-Crystal Lake) … Continue reading

Burton Township’s Road District Would Barely Survive Abolition under McSweeney’s Bill

With only 15.69 miles of township roads, the office of Burton Township Road Commissioner would be abolished at the end of the current commissioner’s term under House Bill 4637. The bill was sponsored in the Illinois House by Republican State … Continue reading

Abolishing Office of McHenry Township Road Commissioner Set for November Ballot

Three of the five members of the McHenry Township Board voted to allow citizens to determine whether the Office of McHenry Township Road Commissioner should exist after incumbent James Condon’s term runs out in 2021. Supporting the ballot measure were … Continue reading

Ersel Schuster Defends State Rep. Steve Reick’s Bill Requiring Cost-Benefit Study Before a Township’s Highway Commissioners Abolished

From McHenry County Board candidate Ersel Schuster: Taxpayer to Taxpayer After reading the “thumbs down” opinion (12/23/17 NW Herald), it would be difficult to conclude this is nothing more than a calculated put-down of Rep. Reich’s amendment HB 4160, an … Continue reading

Reick Steps into Township Efficiency Issue

Posted by State Rep. Steve Reick: Rep. Steve Reick Files Legislation to Require Cost Study to Ensure Township Road District Consolidations Save Money State Representative Steve Reick (R-Woodstock) is hoping to infuse some common sense into the discussion of township … Continue reading

Could Idle Gravel Trucks Be Used to Plow Roads?

McHenry’s Ned Neumann offers the following commentary in a Northwest Herald letter to the editor. It is published with permission of its author. Consider outsourcing township plowing If there are great savings to be had in the operation of township … Continue reading

Bill Passes Giving Township Trustees Power to Set Township Road District Abolition or Consolidation Votes

A press release from Lt. Governor Evelyn anguinetti: Township Road & Bridge District consolidation bill sent to Governor CHICAGO – Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti applauds the passage of a bill to allow township trustees to initiate referendums to consolidate township road … Continue reading

Referendum Effort to Merge Two DuPage County Township Road Districts

Consolidation of township road functions is taking a new twist in DuPage County. According to the Naperville Sun, a judge is being asked to putA  the following question on the spring ballot: Shall the Naperville Road District and the Lisle … Continue reading

Grafton Township Sets Salaries

At its September meeting, the Grafton Township Board set salaries for terms that begin after next April’s election. The Township Supervisor will be paid $43,500, plus participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund pension system. The Township Assessor will be … Continue reading

Fight over Township Road Commissioner’s Authority

The Village of Schaumburg and the Schaumburg Township Trustees think the Township Road Commissioner should turn over a large portion–16 to 20 miles–of his roads to the village at a savings of $800,000 per year. According to a story in … Continue reading

Five-Year Tax Hike for Schools 12.75%

Reader “Connecting Dots” inserted this property tax information in a comment under the article, “McSweeney Introduces Eleven Bills.” There are comments on more than one of the bills, but with regard to McSweeney’s House Bill 178 to freeze township extensions … Continue reading

McSweeney Introduces Eleven Bills

Sophomore State Rep. David McSweeney introduced eleven bills on the first day of the session. To say that it is an ambitious agenda is more than an understatement. You can take a look at them below: House Bill 173 – Repeals … Continue reading

The Loss of Voter Power to Township Boards

The following comment was posted about township government’s consolidation of power in township boards over the years: I do not support the creation of laws that divert attention from the real problem. Townships have become targets for elimination because Springfield … Continue reading

Nunda Township Road Commissioner Hiding Audit of Senior Bus Services

McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer conducted an audit of the grant to the Nunda Township Road Commissioner for Senior Bus Service. Since County government was responsible for awarding the money, it seems appropriate that the Auditor should see if it … Continue reading

Taxpayers Urged to Attend Wed. Night Richmond Township Meeting

The following came from a friend of McHenry County Blog in Richmond: Of course, Richmond Township is not the only township setting the amount of taxes it will collect next year. Taxpayers who do not want that part of their … Continue reading

Road Commissioners Slush Funds Mntioned by Belvidere Township Assessor

I was reading an article Boone County Watchdog criticizing the Belvidere Township Assessor’s petty cash fund when I ran across the following in a referenced article in the Belvidere Daily Republican: “In addition, she [Assessor Diann Helnore] said she understands … Continue reading