State’s Attorney Candidates’ Contributions This Year

Time to take a look at big contributions to the campaigns of Patrick Kenneally and Dan Regna, both of whom seek the Republican Party nomination for McHenry County State’s Attorney. Kenneally started out the year with $32,906, having raised $50,600. Since … Continue reading

Twelve Seek Metra Board Appointment

The following seek to succeed former State Senator Jack Schaffer on the Metra Board. It’s a paying position–$15,000 per year–but not exempt from political heat. Dennis Adams, McHenry, former McHenry County College Board member, McHenry alderman and candidate for Mayor, … Continue reading

Mental Health Board Outside Executive Director Search Sputters Out

How long has it been since the McHenry County Mental Health Board had a permanent Executive Director? The 2013-14 McHenry County Yearbook published every two years by McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz lists Todd Schroll as “Interim Executive Director.” He … Continue reading

McHenry County Board Members May Have Signaled Intention to “Tax to the Max” Again

Getting as much money out of taxpayers is pretty much the goal of every tax district official, from school board member to township trustee. To do that, boards need to ask for more than the increase in the Cost of … Continue reading

County Board Decides Not to Muddy Jack Franks’ County Czar Waters

There was a long debate over whether the County Board should put a referendum on the fall ballot asking voters is they wanted to elect the County Board Chairman in an at-large election. Before that several citizens provided input. District … Continue reading

County Board Set to Tack Another $475,000 on Budget

On March 27, McHenry County’s Finance and Audit Committee discussed emergency appropriations: a pair of contracts for the Planning and Development Department – one for a computer program for their Permitting System and another for their Digital Plan Review in … Continue reading

McHenry County Has Money for Small Business

McHenry County Board Finance and Audit Committee Chairman Scott Breeden was the main speaker for the McHenry County Business Committee meeting Wednesday night. He told of the $400,000 in the county till that could be loaned to businesses that didn’t … Continue reading

County Board Gives Fleming Road Alliance Victory

A message from the Fleming Road Alliance about their McHenry County Board victory: Dear Fleming Road Alliance Residents and Supporters: By now you probably have read the Herald article on the meeting yesterday, and received Diane Evertsen’s email thanking you … Continue reading

Who Voted to Raise Your County Taxes?

The McHenry County Board failed to break with the “increase the tax take as much as possible” crowd, but they came close. Barb Wheeler made the motion to remove the CPI and Nick Provenzano seconded it.   Wheeler is a candidate … Continue reading

CL City Council Member Carolyn Schofield Running for County Board

One day after McHenry County Board Finance Chairman Scott Breeden made it know that he is not running for re-election, Crystal Lake City Councilwoman Carolyn Schofield announced her candidacy for the vacancy. Actually all four seats are up for election. … Continue reading

ALAW Offers Reaction to Passage of Conflict of Interest Ordinance It Promoted

Whether the ordinance that the McHenry County Board passed two days ago will make any difference in the way the board does business remains to be seen. But it is a step toward the transparency that citizens need to begin … Continue reading

DuPage County Board Salary Freeze Puts Pressure on McHenry County Board

There’s a movement on the McHenry County Board to freeze their own, plus countywide officials’ salaries. And a counter-movement to raise the salaries of the McHenry County Clerk, Treasurer and Sheriff. There’s politics involved, of course, Those voting for such … Continue reading

Grafton Township Republican Turnout

Continuing a series of Republican turnout in the February 2nd primary election, we now turn to Grafton Township. Previously, precinct results for Algonquin Township have been previously  published. As in Algonquin and Nunda Townships, all Grafton Township precincts had contests … Continue reading

Carolyn Schofield Gets Watershed Ordinance Recognition Resolution on City Council Agenda

At election night’s Crystal Lake City Council meeting, City Councilwoman Carolyn Schofield, elected last year, took the lead in getting a resolution on the agenda at tomorrow night’s meeting asking for recognition of the city’s Watershed Ordinance by county government. … Continue reading

McHenry County Board Bans Video Slot Machines 13-10-1

OK. I was wrong. I predicted last night that the McHenry County Board would approved what proponents insist on calling video poker. But, this morning social conservatives on the board pulled off a 13-10-1 victory. That was with the help … Continue reading

Borrow, Borrow, Borrow

Thanks to the Northwest Herald for assigning Kevin Craver to cover the county board. He writes today of the Finance Committee’s recommendation that the McHenry County Board vote to borrow $60 million on the Federal “come.” FREE MONEY TIME All … Continue reading

New $3.5 Million Grafton Township Hall Up to Judge Michael Caldwell

I ventured into the courtroom of McHenry County Judge Michael Caldwell yesterday to hear arguments over whether the Grafton Township Board should be allowed to build a new $3.5 million (plus over $1.5 million in interest) township hall and garage … Continue reading

Grafton Township Electors Vote “No” Before They Vote “Yes” on New Township Hall

No one ever said that Democracy was supposed to be neat and tidy and Tuesday night’s annual Grafton Town meeting certainly was messy. The Huntley Police were in an adjacent parking lot just in case there was more trouble than … Continue reading