Thought folks might like to know what elected officials besides most McHenry County Board members participate in the pension fund of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF).
I filed a Freedom of Information Request asking for the following:
“All employers participating in IMRF that are located in McHenry County that have elected officials participating in that capacity. This list should include the employer name and all elected officials currently participating (broken down by employer) along with their position.”
Below is what I received. I cannot explain why Mary McClellan and Sandra Salgado are identified as County Board members. (I have asked.)
Active Elected Officials Located in McHenry County
Algonquin Township Supervisor Dianne L. Klemm
After Klemm informed McHenry County Blog that Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller and Township Assessor Bob Kunz were both participating in IMRF, IMRF was asked why they were not included in this list. The answer is
“Both Mr. Kunz and Mr. Miller were elected prior to our database implementation. Because their elected positions did not change their benefit eligibility, their position titles weren’t uploaded during the transition.”
Chemung Township Assessor Douglas J. Hawthorne
Chemung Township Supervisor Robert W. Dixon
Chemung Township Clerk Judith A. Koch Judith
City of Harvard Clerk Andrew J. Wells
City of Harvard Mayor Jay T. Nolan
Dorr Township Supervisor Robert E. Pierce Robert
Grafton Township Clerk Kathryn M. Hurley Kathryn
Grafton Township James A. Kearns
Grafton Township Highway Commissioner Tom J. Poznanski
Grafton Township Assessor Alan D. Zielinski
Greenwood Township Supervisor Barbara A. Klasen
Greenwood Township Highway Commissioner Donald Goad
Greenwood Township Assessor Karen D. Roth
Greenwood Township Clerk Kendra E. Rishling
Marengo Township Assessor Jon J. Klick
Marengo Township Highway Commissioner John E. Adamson
McHenry Township Assessor Mary V. Mahady
McHenry Township Clerk Marsha A. Nelson
McHenry Township Supervisor Craig M. Adams
McHenry Township Highway Commissioner James E. Condon
McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi
McHenry County Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Keefe
McHenry County Treasurer Glenda L. Miller
McHenry County Auditor Pamela K. Palmer
McHenry County Board member Michele Aavang
McHenry County Board member Yvonne Barnes
McHenry County Board member Susan M. Draffkorn
McHenry County Board member Diane F. Evertsen
McHenry County Board member Joseph Gottemoller
McHenry County Board member John D. Hammerand
McHenry County Board member James L Heisler
McHenry County Board member Tina R. Hill
McHenry County Board member John P. Jung
McHenry County Board member Donna M. Kurtz
McHenry County Board member Robert Martens
McHenry County Board member Mary T. McCann *
McHenry County Board member Mary McClellan
McHenry County Board member Anna M. Miller
McHenry County Board member Dominic A. Provenzano
McHenry County Board member Michael R. Rein
McHenry County Board member Sandra Salgado *
McHenry County Board member Carolyn Schofield
McHenry County Board member Michael Skala
McHenry County Board member Larry W. Smith
McHenry County Board member Michael Walkup
McHenry County Board member Charles S. Wheeler
* Not now on the County Board, but on this FOIA answer from IMRF.
[The IMRF explanation:
You asked why Mary McClellan and Sandra Salgado were included on the list. Because both individuals still work for the county (i.e., the same employer for which they were also county board members), the system still pulls them as active for that entire time period. It only marks that a part of the time period is as a member of the governing body, but does not differentiate which time period (since the calculation is the same regardless of the type of position in which they are participating). So, using Ms. Salgado as an example, our system shows that she has been an employee of McHenry County continuously from 12/4/2000. It also shows that some part of that service was as a member of the governing body and some other part of that service (which may or may not be concurrent) was as a “general” position. The system does not, however, show the specific service periods for each.]
Nunda Township Highway Commissioner Michael A. Lesperance
Nunda Township Assessor Dennis A. Jagla
Nunda Township Supervisor Kelvin L. Jennings
Richmond Township Assessor Patricia O’neill
Riley Township Highway Commissioner David Diamond
Riley Township Supervisor Karen A. Schnable
Seneca Township Highway Commissioner Scott A. Swanson
Seneca Township Assessor Paul Bockman
Maybe Steve Reick can start an initiative to end ALL public sector pensions for ALL elected officials in the State.
The trade off could be to put an end to Prevailing Wage laws simultaneously.
Both will benefit the taxpayer.
Is it me, or does that list seem short?
How can a clerk who attends one meeting a month work 1000 hours a year?
Thats 80 hours per meeting!
Jim Kearns has an outside full time job selling dog food.
How does he qualify for 1000 hours per year?
So much for the Grafton township board having everything under control!
If we attend “our” annual township meeting can attendees make a motion and vote to eliminate pension benefits or force them to transition onto 401k style plan?
Which ones are Tier 1 and Tier 2?
Bot: I think you are already too late for the Annual meeting.
Someone told me that the Agenda is set in stone thirty days prior to the annual meeting which takes place (I believe) the second Tuesday in April.
If I am wrong, please correct me.
Don’t mix apples and oranges.
Township officials, unlike county board members, are not subject to the 1,000 hour rule self-imposed (I believe) by the McHenry County Board when they decided they needed a pension for themselves.
The township officials spend more time at work than just the meetings.
The other thing to consider is the basis for that pension.
Not all the township officials are highly paid although I grant you that many are paid far more than they are worth
You can bring this topic up at the annual meeting under public comments.
The 1000 hours rule is for everyone who participates.
Only those who were hired several years ago are under the 600 hour rule.
If low pay of township officials meant they should get a break on their pensions then that would apply to county board members too.
Mahady and Adams ….
2 tax pigs for McHenry Township ….
Please don’t bite them ….
you might contract a nasty case of trichinosis!
Bot:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=770&ChapterID=13&SeqStart=6100000&SeqEnd=10900000
Annual township meeting:
b) Agenda. Not less than 15 days before the annual meeting, the township board shall adopt an agenda for the annual meeting. Any 15 or more registered voters in the township may request an agenda item for consideration by the electors at the annual meeting by giving written notice of a specific request to the township clerk no later than March 1 prior to the annual meeting. The agenda published by the township board shall include any such request made by voters if the request is relevant to powers granted to electors under the Township Code.
(c) Additional agenda items. Any matter or proposal not set forth in the published agenda shall not be considered at the annual meeting other than advising that the matter may be considered at a special meeting of the electors at a later date.
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=006000010HArt.+35&ActID=770&ChapterID=0&SeqStart=11600000&SeqEnd=13900000
(60 ILCS 1/Art. 35 heading)
ARTICLE 35. SPECIAL TOWNSHIP MEETINGS
(60 ILCS 1/35-5)
Sec. 35-5. Special township meeting. Special township meetings shall be held when the township board (or at least 15 voters of the township) file in the office of the township clerk a written statement that a special meeting is necessary for the interests of the township. The statement also shall set forth the objects of the meeting, which must be relevant to powers granted to electors under this Code. The special township meeting shall be held no less than 14 nor more than 45 days after the written request is filed in the office of the township clerk. Special township meetings may not begin before 6 p.m.
(Source: P.A. 95-761, eff. 7-28-08.)
Could someone also answer when salaries and compensation packages are voted on for the upcoming round of elected township officials?
Is it done at the annual meeting?
TIA!
The salary and benefits are set by the Township Board, not at the Annual Meeting.
After Supervisor Klemm notified McHenry County Blog that both Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller and Township Assessor Bob Kunz were participating in IMRF, IMRF was asked about the discrepancy.
This is their reply:
What was the last name Pat, Algonquin Township Supervisor just prior to Diane Klemperer?