Saturday, August 11, 2012

Democratic View Of Paul Ryan

Barack Obama had Paul Ryan on his radar years before Mitt Romney selected the representative from Wisconsin as his running mate. Ryan, the president said, favors "thinly veiled social Darwinism."

Further, Obama charged that Ryan dishonestly claims the mantle of deficit hawk when he actually votes for budget-busters as long as they come from his party.

And Team Obama's response to the House Budget Committee Chairman's elevation to potential VP made clear that the Democrat's campaign won't overhaul so much as go into overdrive. Aides argue that Ryan amplifies rather than challenges their core message with just 88 days until the election

The early attacks are telling: Obama's website repeatedly refers to Ryan's "extreme budget plan" as favoring the rich over the middle class (the president's core argument against Romney). The first line of its biographical sketch reads "Paul Ryan is a career Washington D.C. insider." (Obama has been running in large part against inside-the-Beltway political stalemate, casting the blame on Republicans.)

In an attack everyone in politics saw coming, the site warns Ryan's budget "would turn Medicare into a voucher program, increasing seniors' costs by up to $6,350 per year"—an unusually precise figure seemingly tailored to shock elderly voters in pivotal battlegrounds like Florida, even though his proposal would not affect people currently over 55.

The site also highlights Ryan's opposition to abortion and his vote against legislation aimed at erasing pay discrimination against women. (Obama is counting on his "gender gap" advantage over Romney in November.)

The president tweeted a link to the new content to his 18.4 million followers.
Team Obama hopes that these arguments will be enough to reassemble key parts of the coalition that powered his historic 2008 victory while limiting the political damage from the president's sorest vulnerability: An economy still sputtering and weighed down by high unemployment three and a half years after he took office.

The president, who was due to fly home to Chicago for some fundraising before a three-day bus tour in Iowa starting Monday, kept mum after the announcement. But campaign manager Jim Messina hit all of the same notes in a statement emailed to reporters.

Ryan, like Romney, favors "the flawed theory that new budget-busting tax cuts for the wealthy, while placing greater burdens on the middle class and seniors, will somehow deliver a stronger economy."

The Republicans would "end Medicare as we know it." And "Ryan rubber-stamped the reckless Bush economic policies that exploded our deficit and crashed our economy. Now the Romney-Ryan ticket would take us back by repeating the same, catastrophic mistakes," he said.

Behind the scenes, Democrats urged reporters to consider that Ryan voted for the Bush-era tax cuts (which Obama renewed in late 2010) and the war in Iraq—both policies that swelled the deficit.

And they also underlined that Ryan voted (with many Democrats) to bail out big banks threatened in the 2007-2008 global financial meltdown and also supported the auto industry bailout. Those policies are frequent targets of conservative hatred—but there's no sign that this will dent their support for Ryan. In fact, the Tea Party Express group cheered the choice.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said it was targeting "70 vulnerable House Republicans" with the message that Ryan's plan "ends Medicare." That's a reference to Ryan's plan to transform the hugely popular health care program for the elderly into a voucher-like system as part of an effort to contain its swelling costs. It's an argument that Obama himself has essentially been making for months—as recently as the July 19 event in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Even in a campaign that has seen Obama and Romney each try to portray the other as History's Greatest Monster (as The Simpsons once dubbed Jimmy Carter,) some of Obama's past clashes with Ryan have had something of a personal tone.

In April 2011, Obama was caught on tape blasting Ryan to donors. In remarks reported by CBS Radio News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller, Obama charged that Ryan was "not on the level" when it came to cutting the deficit.
"This is the same guy that voted for two wars that were unpaid for, voted for the Bush tax cuts that were unpaid for, voted for the prescription drug bill that cost as much as my health care bill—but wasn't paid for," Obama said. (Ryan's response: "Rather than building bridges, he's poisoning wells.")

One year later, Obama charged at an Associated Press luncheon that Ryan's budget amounted to "thinly veiled Social Darwinism." (Ryan's response: Obama "has chosen to distort the truth and divide Americans in order to distract from his failed record.")

But for his part, Ryan is no stranger to leading Republican attacks on Obama—his main role as vice presidential nominee and one he has played with relish since the administration's first year. In late 2009, Ryan predicted that defeating the Democrat's health care overhaul would mean "a failed presidency" that had to negotiate with Republicans.

That might make debating Vice President Joe Biden—some three decades senior to the 42-year-old lawmaker—a bit of a letdown.

Biden's strategy? Maybe this could be a preview: Biden calls Ryan "a fine guy."
"He's a bright, handsome guy from the state of Wisconsin. He a fine guy," Biden went on. "But I think his ideas are not nearly as fine as he is a man."

Added 'Benefit' Of Flying

When the TSA security screening agent makes you walk barefoot in an airport you're walking through a jungle of bacteria.

Conditions and procedures in screening areas actually violate US CDC (Center Disease Control) infection control guidelines.

TSA agents wear gloves to protect themselves but travelers must walk through concentrated areas were people touch and walk barefoot on contaminated floors and touch unsanitized articles handled by tens of thousands of people before them.

A study conducted at San Diego airport found 13 out of 21 samples of floors in the security area tested positive for bacteria, but the report would not identify the type of bacteria. 


The story received little press but now Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have studied the role airports play in spreading disease and pandemics. They found that airports in New York, Los Angeles and Honolulu can spread disease more aggressively than others.


Airports, security screening areas and planes move more than only people. They have also transported diseases such as influenza, SARS, and tuberculosis.


Yatta Montrell is flying to Hong Kong and Malaysia from Los Angeles. Every time she travels, she worries about getting sick.


"I try to take travelers' shots and carry hand sanitizer," she said.


Some airports in the United States are able to spread disease more quickly, according to researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.


They looked at the volume of traffic, the amount of long-range travel and connections from certain airports. New York's Kennedy airport and LAX in Los Angeles ranked highest by those measurements.


Researcher Ruben Juanes was surprised that Honolulu's smaller airport ranked third in its ability to spread a pandemic. In a Skype interview with VOA, Juanes explains why.


"It's in the middle of the ocean so virtually every connection is a long-range connection that can take away infected passengers very quickly over many thousands of kilometers. And even though the number of connections is small, a large fraction of them are hubs in Asia or North America," Juanes stated.


MIT factored in the travel patterns of individuals: the length of their trips and layovers.


Thomas Valente, professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California, says the study is a reminder that airports can spread pandemics more easily than other transportation hubs.


"Airports move people around and, when you're at an airport, you have time to wait for a plane to leave or if you're meeting somebody for it to land," said Valente. "So there's lots of people sitting in close proximity waiting for things to happen."


Sometimes a traveler catches a disease that originated far from home.


"Not only will we see more pandemics but we are all globally at more risk to things that are happening in other places," Valente added.


Jonathan Samet heads the Institute for Global Health at the University of Southern California. "Many infections are spread just simply by people touching the same surfaces that are contaminated," he said. "So on airplanes again bathrooms, doorknobs are places where infections might spread."


Health experts say frequent hand washing is a precaution travelers can take to prevent illness when they're on the plane or at the airport.


MIT's Ruben Juanes says the study may help forecast how disease will spread when another outbreak occurs. 

Friday, August 10, 2012

Another Statistic Regarding Abuse of Alcohol

Forty-nine year old Daniel Bending, formerly of Marengo, was sentenced to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offenses of Driving with a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.08 or more, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Causing Death.

Bending was arrested after having struck 77-year old Leonard Anderson, a truck driver, as he crossed Route 20 on foot in Marengo on April 18, 2008. A blood test revealed that Bending’s blood alcohol concentration two and one-half hours after striking Leonard Anderson was still over the legal limit. Anderson survived the initial crash, but later succumbed to his injuries.

On June 18, 2012, a McHenry County Circuit Court jury found Bending guilty of the above-mentioned three offenses. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally, Robert Zalud, and Alexander Geocaris.

Words Of Wisdom

"Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of."
-James Madison, Federalist No. 46, 1788

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Special Type Recycling Event Saturday

Fluorescent Tubes
Electronics
Styrofoam™

Want to discard some of the above?
Don’t know where to go with them?

Here’s the answer--
On Saturday, August 11th, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County will conduct a recycling collection for fluorescent tubes, Styrofoam™, electronics, and batteries from 9 a.m. until noon.

The location is The Farm Bureau parking lot, 1102 McConnell Road, Woodstock. The Defenders continue to collect certain items which are not usually accepted by curbside programs, and which would be harmful to the environment if put in a landfill.

As of January 1, it is no longer legal for individuals to dispose of unwanted electronics in their regular trash and it will be illegal for Illinois landfills to accept them.


Discarded electronics must now be taken to a registered recycler for proper management. The Defenders are here to fill this need.


Electronics, including computers, monitors, keyboards, scanners, fax machines, clean microwaves, and just about anything with a cord or batteries, are accepted at their monthly drives. TVs and computer monitors will be accepted for a donation of $10-$35.

The Defenders’ Recycling Drive also accepts household batteries, car batteries, lithium and button batteries, fluorescent tubes, clean Styrofoam™, VHS & Cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs, packing peanuts and re-usable, unpopped bubble wrap. A donation is requested for fluorescent bulbs and batteries that are brought in to offset the costs involved in processing these items.

The Defenders hold a recycling drive on the second Saturday of each month, alternating between McHenry in odd-numbered months and Woodstock in even-numbered months.  Area residents may drive up and drop off their recyclables with Defenders’ volunteers, who help to unload and sort the materials.

For more information about the recycling schedule and types of materials accepted at each location or to access the Green Guide recycling directory which is put out annually by the Lou Marchi Total Recycling Institute at MCC, visit the Defenders’ website at http://www.mcdef.org/recycling_information.htm, phone 815-338-0393, or find them on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalDefenders.

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment. The group provides the community with educational programs and volunteer action on pollution prevention, sustainable land use and energy and natural resource conservation. Donations are encouraged and are tax-deductible as charitable contributions.  For more information, visit www.mcdef.org or call 815-338-0393.

School Health Program Funding For McHenry County Health Department

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) awarded $3.5 million in We Choose Health grants to 21 organizations, including $298,994 to McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH).

Partnering with community-based organizations, funding will be used to support the existing Coordinated School Health program (a school-based obesity prevention program), establish safe walking/biking routes to school, further policies for smoke-free outdoor spaces such as parks, create joint use agreements between schools, communities and groups to increase the number of facilities/areas for physical activity and make roads more accessible for pedestrian traffic.


We Choose Health is a multi-year, state-wide initiative to encourage and support obesity and tobacco prevention in Illinois communities.  IDPH received a Community Transformation Grant (CTG) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to work with communities to implement proactive health programs. 

“It is important that we all work together, area organizations, schools, local health departments, municipalities and others, to improve the health of people in our communities,” IDPH Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck said.  “I want to congratulate McHenry County Department of Health on receiving one of 21 We Choose Health grants and encourage everyone in the community to get involved in the exciting new programs coming your way.”

Created by the Affordable Care Act, the CTG program supports states and communities that tackle root causes of poor health so Americans can lead healthier, more productive lives.
 
For more information about We Choose Health, call MCDH at 815-334-4510.

Words Of Wisdom

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms ... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes."

--Cesare Beccaria

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Government At Work

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 –
9:00 a.m. –McHenry County Continuum of Care for Homelessness
Meeting in the Conference Room C, McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

This agenda calls for a report on Continuous Quality Improvement before the presentation of old business.

This is a newly organized group so the administration and management structure will be a topic for discussion as well as establishing a calendar of responsibilities, as well as other necessary plans and discussions.

9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Board Transportation Committee –
Meeting in the Main Conference Room at the Division of Transportation, 16111 Nelson Road, Woodstock.

Only one piece of business is listed on the agenda—Private Non-Dedicated Subdivision Roads

7:00 p.m. – Crystal Lake Public Library Finance Committee –
Meeting in the Library Director’s Office, Crystal Lake Public Library, 126 Paddock Street, Crystal Lake.

West Nile Virus Among Us

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) reports two birds – one found in Woodstock, the other in Cary – have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). 

As of August 3rd, MCDH has recorded nine positive mosquito batches but no human cases for WNV.  According to the latest report from Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), 29 other counties have reported positive bird and mosquito batches and two human cases so far this year.  In McHenry County, one human case of WNV was reported in each of the last two years.

WNV is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Illness from West Nile virus is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches but serious illnesses, such as encephalitis and meningitis and death, are possible.  Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks.  Persons 50 and older have the highest risk of severe disease but everyone is at risk. 

As the hot summer continues, so does mosquito activity and the risk of disease from West Nile virus.  The risk for WNV remains until the first hard frost. The best way to prevent WNV is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions.
  • Empty standing water from containers around the house; make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens
  • Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active (dusk, dawn); use insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus; wear long sleeved shirts and long pants for extra protection.
 For more information on WNV, visit www.mcdh.info (Environmental Health) or call 815-334-4585.

Words Of Wisdom

"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." –

Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, 1785

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Government At Work

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8—
8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board, Natural and Environmental Resources Committee

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

One piece of business to be considered is the re-bidding of the Solid Waste Removal Franchise Agreements for Wonder Lake and Pistakee Highlands.

Also for the committee’s consideration is the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Strategic Plan for 2012...

Issues regarding drought summit follow-up are also included on the agenda and include resident notification, and Illinois Drought Plan.

Open Burning Permits and current environmental conditions is another matter to be considered.

Also for consideration is Intergovernmental agreement with Lake County.

1:30 p.m. – McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals—
Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

A petition for conditional use permit is being requested by Nancy A. Lease, Trustee of the Nancy A. Lease Declaration of Trust dated December 30, 2003.

The property for which the hearing is being held is 5.88 acres located at 6416 Johnsburg Road, Spring Grove. The property is currently zoned A-1C Agricultural. No zoning change is being requested. A renewal of a conditional use permit is being requested to allow a second residence on the property. This residence is planned to be used for family members. Currently two residential structures on the property were in existence prior to the property owner’s purchase of the property July 2001.

MCC Scholarship Recipients

McHenry County College (MCC) is announcing the recipients of two separate scholarships—the 2012 Presidential Talent Scholarship and the 2012 McHenry County College Founding Faculty Scholarship.

Eight area 2012 high school graduates have been selected to receive a 60-credit hour scholarship to attend McHenry County College under the Presidential Talent Scholarship program.

The Presidential Talent Scholarship is MCC’s most prestigious scholarship, awarded each year to qualified high school seniors based on academic achievement, extra-curricular activities and community involvement.

The recipients are:
Woodstock North High School
David Bernal
Benjamin R. Bradley
Megan Schaffter

Crystal Lake Central High School
Taylor Carter
 Erin Jauch

Crystal Lake South High School
Christopher Godsted

Huntley High School
Samantha Skowronski
Natasha Tynczuk,

Three additional 2012 high school graduates have been selected to receive a 60-credit scholarship to attend McHenry County College under the MCC Founding Faculty Scholarship program. This scholarship is awarded in recognition of the more than 30 years’ worth of contributions of retired founding faculty of McHenry County College. Recipients are:
Joseph Bilodeau, Crystal Lake South High School
Fernando Nuno. Prairie Ridge High School
Samantha Sonneman, Crystal Lake Central High School.

Through the generosity of community donors, many other scholarship opportunities are offered by the Friends of McHenry County College Foundation, including awards for student athletes, those entering healthcare or nursing, fire science, early childhood education, welding, and scholarships for women. More information is available at www.mchenry.edu/scholarships.

August 9 Blues Benefit

It’s a benefit for Compassion for Campers – support for homeless PADS clients in the months rotating church shelters are closed.

Staring Bluesman Andy Cohen, Chicago folk performer Norman Mad Dwag Siegel, and McHenry County’s The Siblings.

The location – Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road, McHenry 

Time:  7:00 p.m.

Area Travel Reminder

Left turns are not allowed from westbound Ackman onto southbound Skyridge.

To access points on Skyridge south of Ackman, please proceed to Alexandra Boulevard, the first street south of Ackman, turn west onto Alexandra and then go to the first street, Skyridge, and turn right.

Left turns are also prohibited from northbound Skyridge onto westbound Ackman.


Words Of Wisdom

"It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a republic in vigor. A degeneracy in these is a canker which soon eats to the heart of its laws and constitution."

--Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the Virginia Query 19, 1781

Springfield To McHenry County State's Attorney Office

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, is pleased to announce that Daniel Kegl has joined the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office as an assistant state’s attorney. 

Daniel Kegl recently worked as Assistant Counsel to the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Springfield, where he served as Parliamentarian for House Sessions. Kegl also assisted representatives with legislative drafting and analysis regarding transportation and local government issues.

Now he is a McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney.

State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi recently announced that Kegl joined that office. He received his Juris Doctorate in May, 2010, from Northern Illinois University, College of Law, ranking 7th in his class of 99.  While in law school, he was the managing editor of the Northern Illinois University Law Review.  He served as Associate Justice in the NIU College of Law Moot Court Society, and he also attained a semi-finalist position in the John Marshall International Moot Court Competition in Information and Privacy Law in 2009.

During law school, Kegl worked as a law clerk in the Boone County State’s Attorney’s Office.  After graduation, Kegl represented Ace Hardware Corporation of Oak Brook as outside counsel, reviewing a variety of contracts, including distribution, license and service agreements. 

Monday, August 6, 2012

Crystal Lake Library Committee Meeting Tuesday Evening

A meeting of the Building Committee of the Crystal Lake Public Library Board of Trustees will be held on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at 7:00pm in the Ames Meeting Room at the Crystal Lake Public Library.

Government At Work

TUESDAY, AUGUST 7 –
CRYSTAL LAKE CITY COUNCIL
7:30 pm. –Crystal Lake City Council –
Meeting in the Crystal Lake City Council Chambers, 100 Woodstock Street –

City of Crystal Lake 25-year Chamber of Commerce Membership
The City is being recognized for 25 years of membership in the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce.

St. Thomas the Apostle Church—
Requesting a Class “16” Temporary Liquor License in order to sell beer and wine at their Parish Dinner being held at the Oak Street Church Community Center, 431 Terra Cotta Avenue on September 8 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Run and Roll For The Dole--
The Lakeside Legacy Foundation is requesting approval to conduct the Run and Roll for the Dole on Sunday, October 14 between 8:00 a.m. and approximately 10:30 a.m.


This is a two-mile run on Crystal Lake roads. A 20 K (12.6 mile) bike course is also being added along with another two-mile run. The running courses will take place on Crystal Lake roads with a majority of the bike ride taking place throughout the Village of Lakewood. A two-mile walk course will take place on the run course.


Johnny Appleseed Festival and Great Ball Races
Scheduled for Saturday, September 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Council is being requested to permit closing of Brink Street between Williams and Main Street for the annual Great Gall Race. This also includes the request to close the Brink Street Market parking until 5:00 pm.

Kmart Liquor License Request
The Kmart Corporation, 6000 Northwest Highway is requesting a Class 13 liquor license, increasing the number of licenses issued from 21 to 22. Kmart previously held a Class 13 license with the City but did not renew the license for the 2002/2003 license period.

Martin Chevrolet (formerly Crystal Lake Chevrolet)
The new owners, Todd Martin and his partner, Cary resident Dan Hoyland, are seeking approval to add three signs to the building for a period of nine months. These include one on the roof a the center of the main building, one on the west side of the service Department and one over the Express Service entrance.

Job Creation Grant
The Council is being requested to approve $10,000 in matching grant funds for Kumi Sushi Japanese Restaurant, 1145 S. Route 31, Suite N. This fushion Japanese restaurant is expected to bring high quality cuisine prepared by New York Chefs for the Crystal Lake area. Kumi Sushi is to lease 3,000 square feet in the out lot building in the Lutter Center, in front of Super Walmart. The new facility will be hiring five full-time and three part-time employees. The owner expects to spend approximately $87,843 on eligible furniture, fixtures and equipment.

American Auto Sales, 189 S. Main Street
This is the location of the former Main Street Classic Cars. The new owner plans to store 30 to 40 cars on the site. Although the Planning and Zoning Commission had some concerns regarding the number of vehicles to be stored on the site, the Commission recommended approval of the requested Special Use Permit.

Canterbury Drive Parking
Parking in this area has been problematic for sometime, not only for school but the area baseball fields are also used for Little League

Currently parking restrictions are different for both sides of Canterbury Drive. It is reported that the Crystal Lake Baseball little league games are nearby fields re the primary generator of on-street parking on Canterbury Drive as the school parking lots do not have sufficient capacity to meet these demands.
A recommendation is being presented to the Council for approval. It includes no stopping, standing or parking on the west side of Canterbury Drive between Berkshire and Aberdeen Drive
No stopping, standing or parking on school days between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 pm on the east side of Canterbury Drive, between the southern school entrance and 475 feet south of Farringdon Drive
No parking on school days between 3;00p.m and 4:00 p.m. on the east side of Canterbury  Drive, between Aberdeen drive and the southern school entrance (stopping or standing would still be allowed to facilitate the school pick-up procedure).
All other existing or conflicting parking restrictions between Berkshire Drive and Aberdeen Drive are to be repealed.

Possession of Cannabis
State of Illinois laws make misdemeanor and felony cannabis possession a criminal offense. Possessing not more than 30 grams of cannabis is a misdemeanor and possession over 30 grams is a felony.
Locally, 2011, the City made over 50 arrests related to misdemeanor cannabis possession. These involve a great deal of time dedicated by the patrol officers. This involves transfer of an individual to the police station for fingerprinting and processing.

The alternative is for officers to ticket the offender for smaller amounts of cannabis possession by issuing a ticket rather than making an arrest. The offender would no longer be subject to possible jail time. Depending on the circumstances, the officer could still arrest the offender for any amount of cannabis is necessary.

If officers were able to ticket offenders for cannabis possession, this would increase the amount of time the officers are patrolling. An officer may indicate on the ticket that a fine is to be paid. Fines depend upon the amount of cannabis in the possession of the alleged offender in amounts from $500 to $1000.

Appointments of Deputy City Clerks
The current City Clerk will be unable to attend the Tuesday night Council meetings as e has accepted a position of a visiting Assistant Professor at DePaul University. This will be for a total of five meeting until the end of 2012.

To ensure efficient administration of duties during these absences, Deputy City Clerks are to be appointed to handle those duties.
The Council is requested to adopt an ordinance to this effect.

Suburban Purchasing Cooperative Vehicle Purchase
The Council is being requested to adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Currie Motors, Frankfort, IL for the purchase of one Police Interceptor Utility AWD for an amount of $26,468. This is through the Northwest Municipal Conference Suburban Purchasing Cooperative.

Downtown Sidewalk Replacement
Sidewalks in the downtown Crystal Lake area are to be replaced including concrete and brick paver sidewalk areas in three areas of the downtown including:
North side of Brink Street between Williams Street and Grant Street
North side of Railroad Street between Grant Street and Main Street
West Side of Main Street between Railroad Street and gates Street

Five bids were received for the project with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder being Copenhaver Construction, Inc. of Gilberts, Illinois for $122,835.50.

Selection of Consultant for Engineering Services—Backup Generator
Council is being requested to approve a Consultant for Engineering Services for Backup Generator Evaluation & Design and Arc Flash Study. This is necessary to provide needed power for operation of the City’s various facilities such as water treatment plants, cooling/heating center, lift stations to name a few. There is a need for added guidance in implementing additional backup power where feasible.

Crawford, Murphy & Tilly has been determined to be the most responsive and responsible proposer to provide the needed services to review the current facilities, identify the needs, create drawings, plans and bid document to implement a generator that will resolve power deficiencies. These services are for Water Treatment Plants #5 (Bard Road), Plant #3 (Virginia Road) Plant #1, (Poplar Street) and Plant #4 (Knack Blvd).

Aerial Ladder Fire Truck As Surplus
The truck was built in 1988 and after 24 year o service it has reached its serviceable life span. The Council is being requested to approve authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with B & P Apparatus, Inc., a fire apparatus broker for the sale of the truck. A replacement is in place.

Street Improvements Through Federal Highway Funding
The McHenry Council of Mayors receives a percentage of federal highway funds based on the population in its jurisdiction. The Council then allocates funds to road projects in its jurisdiction considered worthy enough through Surface Transportation Program grants. This process offsets the cost of construction, and engineering by providing 80% of the cost for road improvements.

The City is submitting grant applications for four improvements including:
North Main Street Improvement from Illinois Route 176 to the Union Pacific Railroad Tracks;
Dole Avenue Reconstruction from Crystal Lake Avenue to Lake Shore Drive;
Miller Road Resurfacing between Rakow Road and Frank Road;
Ballard Road from Briarwood Road to Haligus Road. The pavement surface on Ballard Road will need resurfacing soon and it would be beneficial to seek a grant for this. Lakewood would be the lead agency on this.

The Council is being requested to adopt the necessary Resolutions committing to the local match for the improvements.

Annexation of Crystal Lake Manor Properties
Annexation is being requested for five properties located on State Street in Crystal Lake Manor. The addresses include 4814, 4902, 4910, 4916 and 5006.
State Street runs parallel with Route 14 and extends from Pingree Road to Manor Road, the main entrance to the subdivision.

Government At Work

TUESDAY, AUGUST 7 –
9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Board –
Meeting in the County Board Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

Two special presentations are scheduled including County Artwork and Specialty Courts.

County Public Building Commission Appointee
Appointments to be authorized include Kathleen Marinangel to the McHenry County Public Building Commission for a term to expire September 1, 2017.

Under finances, the Board is being requested to approve a resolution authorizing monthly transactions for the Delinquent Tax Program regarding a Port Barrington property.

Security Services for Administration Building
The Board is being requested to authorize an agreement with Andy Frain Services, Inc. for security services for the County Administration building for the next three fiscal years for an average of $81,146 per year, with the latter two years being optional.

Solid Waste Enforcement Grant
The County is to receive a $41,622.49 Solid Waste Enforcement grant to cover the county’s $68,000 budgeted costs through June 30, 2013. The Board is requested to approve the grant.

Emergency Management Performance Grant
A request is being made for the Board to approve an agreement with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for the receipt of a program grant not to exceed $78,017.34 for a period October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012.

Generators For Emergency Power
The State has determined that McHenry County is a willing and capable agency to provide facilities and operations in the State during times of disasters, emergencies and unexpected long term power outages. Therefore, the County is entering into an agreement with the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System to accept an award of five 60kw electrical generators with the understanding that the County will provide inside storage, license the trailers and maintain the generators throughout their useful life.

In return, the County will have use of the generators for other local areas in times of critical emergencies and disasters.

Acceptance of the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System Grant
McHenry County Emergency Management Agency recommends the use of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) during emergency operation center activations or any emergency requiring notification to the citizens of the County regarding immediate danger to life and property.

It is necessary that the County enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Federal Emergency IPAWS.

Access to the system allows notification to the citizens of the county where there exists immediate danger to life and property.

Adopt A Highway
An agreement between the County Division of Transportation and a volunteer group Loving Memory of Margaret Shafer is being presented for approval. The volunteer group is to be responsible for litter collection on Chapel Hill Road from IL 120 to River Road.

Park and Ride Lot Project-
McHenry County and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning have determined there is a need to construct a park and ride lot at the intersection of Virginia Road and Illinois Route 31.

In order to proceed with the project, an engineering firm is needed. The County Board Transportation Committee selected Civiltech Engineering to perform the services.

The County Board is being requested to approve the appropriation of $99,597 for Civiltech Engineering, Inc. of Itasca, to provide necessary engineering services. The cost is to be reimbursed by the CMAQ program at 100%. Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2013, after the Virginia Road at Illinois Route 31 intersection relocation project is completed. Engineering costs are estimated to be $99,597.

Charles J. Miller Road Project
A determination has been made that improvements are needed for the Miller Road between Illinois Route 31 and River Road, in the City and Township of McHenry. This is an existing road which is congested with volumes of traffic higher than the facility was designed to handle.

The County Board is being requested to approve a resolution appropriating funds to pay for Water Quality Certification to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. It is necessary to obtain the Illinois EPA permit due to the complex involvement of this project with the Fox River.

McDOT Office Building Indoor Environmental Controls
This building lacks automated control features to coordinate and reduce heating and air-conditioning usage of the building space during times of low occupancy.

The cost to add automation to the HVAC system at the office building is $35,700. The Illinois Department of Commerce Economic Opportunity has awarded McHenry County a grant of $12,160 for use in making the McDOT office building energy efficient.

Implementation of this project is expected to provide energy savings of $4,800 per year in addition to adding to the comfort for occupants of the building.

The County Board is to approve the necessary resolution authorizing the Board Chairman to enter into a grant agreement with the Illinois Department of Commerce Economic Opportunity for the $12,160 grant.

Dunham Township Road District Construction
A $384,927.15 contract with Peter Baker & Son Company for maintenance resurfacing work on Dunham Township roads.
Two Ordinances for Review--
Emergency Services and Disaster Agency
Is to become the Emergency Management Agency of McHenry County. This change is necessary in order to comply with P.A. 85-1025.

A portion of the Subdivision Ordinance Adopted February 19, 1980 is to be amended regarding the penal sum charged which is currently 150% of the engineer’s estimate of cost to insure compliance of the work. It is the opinion of the Planning and Development Committee that this is overly punitive. The new rate proposed is 125% of the engineer’s estimate of cost.

For What It's Worth

President Barack Obama is having more difficulty keeping 2008 supporters on his side than Mitt Romney is having holding onto John McCain voters, according to a new Gallup poll.

A survey of registered voters conducted July 23-29 found that 92 percent of Americans who voted for McCain in 2008 plan to vote for Romney this fall and just 5 percent have switched sides to support Obama. But among Obama's 2008 supporters, just 86 percent are planning to do so again and 9 percent are switching their support to Romney.


Overall 11 percent of voters who say they cast ballots for Obama or McCain are supporting the other party's candidate.


The margin of error for all 2008 voters is plus or minus 3 percentage points. For the sample of Obama or McCain voters, the margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.


Words Of Wisdom

"It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a republic in vigor. A degeneracy in these is a canker which soon eats to the heart of its laws and constitution."

--Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the Virginia Query 19, 1781

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Letter To The President

Charlie Daniels Open Letter to Barack Obama
August 1, 2012 
Here's an open letter To Barack Hussein Obama by Charlie Daniels.

“Mr. Obama, You recently made a statement to the effect that, ‘If you have a business you didn't build it, you had help,’ implying that the federal government helped build our businesses by virtue of paving roads and building bridges and keeping the nation safe from foreign invasion. 


“First of all, Mr. Obama, if I'm going to take advice about business it will not be from somebody who has had absolutely no business experience like yourself. Secondly, Mr. Obama, I vehemently disagree with your premise. 


“Where was your government when I spent as much as 16 weeks away from my wife and infant son to get a business started?


“Where were you on those cold winter nights when my old bus broke down in the middle of nowhere and we had to scramble to make the next show, nobody from the government came along to give us a ride?


“Where was your government when I had to borrow money from a bank to make my payroll?


“Where was your government while I was digging out of a two million dollar debt, playing every smoky beer joint I could to keep from losing everything I owned? 


“Mr. Obama, I want to make you aware of a fact. It is the federal government's responsibility to build roads and bridges and keep the nation safe. That's what the federal government is supposed to do, not create an entitlement society that is totally unsustainable and pile up debt that we can't pay.


“And who do you think paid for those roads and bridges in the first place, and have been doing it for 200 years before you were even born? 


“The citizens of this nation do not need to pay more taxes, the federal government needs to stop spending money it doesn't have and has to borrow. Because the truth of the matter is that no matter how much taxes the government collects, things are only going to get worse because you'll only spend it and demand even more.


“Mr. Obama you have divided this nation by making the have-nots believe that anybody who has been successful has done so at their expense, that anything they've accumulated has been stolen, not earned. That hard work and risk had nothing to do with their success, because they’ve just been lucky and should give a big part of what they earn to the government to pass on to those who don't even try to be successful. 


“Look at what’s going on with the African-Americans who put their hopes and complete confidence in you and voted overwhelmingly for you. The unemployment rate is 14% and the unemployment among young African Americans is something like 40% Is that what hope and change is all about?


“Look at what's happening in your hometown of Chicago where the murder rate is through the roof. 
“Do you think your baseless rhetoric about the unfairness of the successful in America is going to help soothe the situation?

“Have you ever considered reaching out to them, instead of fanning the flames?


“Mr. Obama I don't think you like America very much. I think you'd like to redesign it from the ground up, to turn it into a lazy, unproductive, secular, socialist society. 


“Well, that just wont flush in a lot of ways, the most prominent being that when all the productive people have given up and stopped trying, when all the investors stop investing, when 80% of the population is living on government hand outs, your government is going to run out of money and this nation will sink into chaos.


“But Mr. Obama, I’m beginning to think that's what you want. 


“My help cometh from the Lord who made Heaven and Earth - not the government who made debt and class envy.


“‘What do you think? Pray for our troops, and for our country. 


“God Bless America,
“Charlie Daniels”

Government At Work

MONDAY, AUGUST 6 –
8:15 a.m. – McHenry County Board Law & Justice Committee –
Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

A number of FY 12-13 Budget Reviews are slated including those for Court Administration, Court Services, Public Defender, Merit Commission, and Coroner.

Several Resolutions are being presented for the Committee’s consideration including:


Resolution authorizing the acceptance of the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System Grant. This is the awarding of five 60kw mobile generators to the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency. These are considered necessary for operations during times of disasters, emergencies and unexpected long term power outages.


Resolution authorizing acceptance of a State of Illinois Emergency Management Performance Grant Program Agreement for FY 2012.


Resolution Authorizing a Memorandum of Agreement Between the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency and the federal Emergency Management Agency Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Program Management Office.


Ordinance to modify the Emergency Services and Disaster Agency of McHenry County as the Emergency Management Agency of McHenry County.


Discussions are to take place regarding Marine Patrol Services and revenues as well as on Traffic Ticket Fines and Fees.

End Of Season For Concerts In Park

Only two more opportunities to enjoy the long time summer tradition of Concerts in the Park at Crystal Lake Main Beach – 300 Lakeshore Drive.

Fans of music and those who cherish time together with their family have gathered at the Main Beach Band Shell to experience this longtime tradition of enjoying music and time together with family.


The remaining concerts scheduled for this season:

Tuesday, August 7 – Vito Buffalo Orchestra
Tuesday, August 14 – Billy Croft The 5-Alarm Band (Country)

Concerts begin at 7 p.m. and refreshments will be available for purchase. In the event of inclement weather, call the Program Weather Information Hotline at 815-459-7275. 
 

Words Of Wisdom

"We ought to consider what is the end of government before we determine which is the best form. Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree that the happiness of society is the end of government, as all divines and moral philosophers will agree that the happiness of the individual is the end of man." –
John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776