By being out of the room, I missed what Lake in the Hills Democrat Paula Yensen said at the McHenry County Board on organization day, but did hear Crystal Lake Democrat Kathy Bergan Schmidt tell fellow board members what she was going to do with the pay raise that she thought should not have been granted the coming year.
Schmidt’s is going to the McHenry County Cooperative Dental Clinic. It is a joint effort by the McHenry County Dental Society and the County Health Department, offering dental services to lower income residents.
“If others (follow my example), well and good,” she said.
Seen from left to right at the check passing are Grafton Food Pantry Board member Kathy Schneiter, County Board member Paula Yensen, Food Pantry President John Rossi and Board Members Harriet Ford, Betty Zirk
Here is the press release Yensen distributed:
Paula Yensen (D-Lake in the Hills) today donated half ($250) of her McHenry County board member pay raise for FY 2011 to the Grafton Food Pantry.
She also donated $250 to Turning Point.
Yensen had voted against the pay increase for County board members, but the State’s Attorney’s office has said that board members could not refuse the increase nor return it to the County. Yensen decided to donate her entire pay increase to the two charities.
I think its unethical that my tax dollars were used by these two to receive political press for their careers, blatantly, I’m offended by this use of taxpayer dollars, this is what we don’t need! If they really meant to do good, they would have just donated the money and been done with it, this is really transparent…
Joe, it was your tax dollars that paid the salary of Ms. Yensen. What she chose to do with HER money which was earned via her position with the county board is commendable at the least.
By the way, this ‘raise’ was APPROVED PRIOR to her taking her position on the board,
I certainly respect your opinoin Joe, but maybe an alternative viewpoint can be shared.
Perhaps Ms. Yensen is trying to send a message to others, that is they too, should give back?
Just a thought. I dont know Ms. Yensen well, but I do know enough about her that publicity is not something she seeks.
The law does NOt provide a newly elected candidate to NOT take the pay that is ‘set’ for each board member.
So, she really had no choice to take it, paid the tax on it, then gave it away.
I think thats pretty darn good!
Merry Christmas everybody!
I think this may well turn out to be one of the most interesting Christmas’s in the history of McHenry County!
If not Christmas, for SURE, a New Years Surprise is just around the corner.