When the McHenry County Board met Tuesday (December 21), it was the first meeting of the board since the organization meeting of December 6, when the newly elected board members were sworn in. These included returnees of Anna May Miller, D-1, Kenneth Koehler, D-2, Barbara Wheeler, D-3, Pete Merkel and Sandra Salgado, D-4, Tina Hill, D-5, and Mary McCann, D-6.
New Board members included Robert Nowak, D-1, Donna Kurtz, D-2, Nick Provenzano, D-3, John Jung, D-5, and Diane Evertsen, D-6. Both Provenzano and Jung previously served on the board until 2008. Provenzano, a Republican was defeated by Democrat Kathleen Bergan-Schmidt by 1% of the total votes in the District. Jung also previously served on the Board until his defeat in 2008 by Democrat Paula Yensen in a 3.42 % vote gap in that district.
Recognition was made for Joey Perrone, Huntley Boy Scout Troop 167 for attaining the accomplishment of Eagle Scout. Also recognized was Phil Ulmer for his 39 years of service with the McHenry County Probation and Court Services Department.
Five zoning matters were easily approved including: a reclassification of A1 to A2 in Hebron Township; renewal of a reclassification from A1C to A1C Renewal for Prairie Aggregates in Riley Township; a reclassification from E3 to E3V in Nunda Township; reclassification from R1 to R1V in Nunda Township; and a reclassification of R1 to R1V in Burton Township.
A difficult zoning issue in McHenry Township was approved in a 19-5 vote. The property owner did begin some improvements without required permits. The Building and Zoning Department worked with the property owner to resolve the alleged hardship experienced due to the topography of the property, the need for a septic system, and the location of the existing home.
A resolution authorizing unfreezing of a Salary for a Firs Assistant State's Attorney and freezing a position for assistant attorney was delayed to the second Board meeting in February, with on quiet no vote heard.
Two matters involving resolutions for road work were approved; one for Blivin Street Bridge Traffic control and one for acquisition of Right-of-way for Highway Purposes on Johnsburg Road. Both involve eminent domain acquisitions.
Several resolutions regarding Workers Compensation Claim settlements were removed from the list for approval by Ms. Yensen who explained she would be voting against these as she did in the Human Relations and Management Services Committees.
She explained that she opposes it because there has been over $500,000 paid out in claims and they should have safety programs to reduce the claims and there will need to be a discussion with the Sheriff's Department in the future. She noted that the opposition vote is symbolic that the situation is not acceptable. Three other members joined in the opposition vote including R. Donley, D-6, J. Heisler, and S. Breeden, both D-2.
Other matters presented by the Finance and Audit Committee for County Board approval were approved unanimously. Most involved matters to provide funding for needed supplies, maintenance and contracts needed by the County Government such as supplies and maintenance of technologies.
Approval was made for the authorization of Issuance and Sale of Recovery Zone Facility Bonds for Sage Products in Cary to be used for expansion of the business facility.
A number of routine actions were taken to transfer funds as necessary for accounting purposes including one to transfer $1,722.60 from the Treasurer Office Building Remodel Project back to the County General Fund. This amount was not used in the remodeling project.
A resolution for the purchase of 16 Police Pursuit Vehicles for the Sheriff's Department for $265,390 was among numerous authorizations for leases and appropriations
Two resolutions were approved by the Board regarding the McHenry County Emergency Operations Plan and the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and continuation of Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee.
Two resolutions received approval for volunteer groups to clean litter from highway including Rancho Poker De Ases responsible for cleaning litter from Harmony Road from County Line Road to Harmony Road; and Edward Jones to clean Maple Street from Coral Road to Beck Road. This is part of the volunteer program known as Adopt-A-Highway.
Several Building Code Amendments are to be amended including 2006 International Building Code, 2006 International Residential Code and 2008 National Electrical Code. These were placed for review before they are adopted.
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