McHenry County -- First County In State Declared Purple Heart County

Purple Heart monument to be installed in McHenry County

State Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) reports that McHenry County has become the first county in the state to be declared a Purple Heart County by proclamation.  McHenry County will also be the first county in the state to install a Purple Heart Monument on county grounds. 

The monument will be installed at the McHenry County Government Center with a dedication ceremony scheduled for August 7, 2014 – National Purple Heart Day.  Althoff said to look for more details to come on the unveiling ceremony and encourages all to attend.

The monument will be furnished at no cost to taxpayers.  Instead, Richard Young – who initiated the designation and monument – has contacted businesses and individuals for donations to assist in the building and installation of the monument.  Chuck Ruth of Alliance Contractors and Anthony Zoia of Zoia Monuments, both of Woodstock, have agreed to install the monument.  If individuals are interested in donating towards the monument, they can contact Richard Young at 815-338-7757.

At the March 4 McHenry County Board meeting, a proclamation designating McHenry County as a Purple Heart County was read by board member Paula Yensen.  A Purple Heart flag was then presented to County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill by Young and McHenry County Undersheriff Andy Zinke. The flag was provided by the Illinois Military Order of the Purple Heart. 

As a Purple Heart County, which was approved by the Illinois Military Order of the Purple Heart, the county is entitled to fly the Purple Heart flag.  The Purple Heart is the oldest military award given to veterans who have either given their lives or have been injured while serving and defending our country. 

Althoff said the Purple Heart distinction and upcoming installation of the monument indicate the county’s reverence for veterans.

“We owe our veterans our deepest gratitude and respect for their service,” Althoff said.  “And for those who were injured in the line of duty or paid the ultimate sacrifice, we can show that respect and reverence.  I support this initiative and the fact that individuals have recognized the need to install a monument to these outstanding men and women.  I’m proud that McHenry County has become the first in these two areas, and I hope that other counties take after its example.”

Nice Work If You Can Get It

"Without precedent" is how one member of Congress described it

Another member announced it was "nearly unbelievable."

No, they weren't talking about the latest Obama girls' outing to China. They were talking of the more than $1-billion spent on travel every year by Obama and his family.

Or, as Britain's Daily Mail reported, Obama is spending 20 times what the entire royal family spends for travel. That sort of luxury and excess would make the sovereigns of any European nation wince.

The latest trip to China includes all the must-see sights, such as the historic city of Xi'an, the southern district of Chengdu and the home of China's beloved panda bears. American taxpayers should be in open revolt, as they're footing the bill for this opulence and grandeur.

Adding insult to injury is the simple fact that Michelle Obama won't answer a single question about the entire trip. And still we're paying the freight...

Living Large in Spite of the Times

When the Obamas travel, they never seek to lower the bill. They stay at the finest private homes, rented for top dollar, or they check into the most luxurious resorts.

Figures and details are often hard to obtain, but the Washington Post estimated that the Obamas' June 2013 sojourn to Africa cost taxpayers $60 million to $100 million. The legendary size of the entourage forced the government to pay for 4,000 "room nights" for the single stop in Johannesburg, South Africa. They also rented a mind-boggling $2-million worth of cars - that must have been nearly every auto in town!

Back home, Obama keeps a 747 at his disposal, ready to take off at a moment's notice. He's used the plane so frequently that the White House had to expand the number of pilots available since Obama was elected. As Andrew Malcolm reported in the L.A. Times, "At an Air Force-estimated cost of $181,757 per flight hour (not to mention the additional travel costs of Marine One, Secret Service, logistics and local police overtime), that's a lot of frequent flier dollars going into the president's carbon footprint."

The perks of the office don't end with a plane, either. Not only does the White House have a theater, they have a projectionist available on standby 24 hours a day. Chefs, gardeners and personal trainers are available for any family member at a moment's notice.

Bored with the movies? How about a party? The Obamas have thrown the most ostentatious parties in White House history, including Michelle Obama's infamous 50th birthday party. Beyoncé headlined the party, but it included musicians like John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Jennifer Hudson, James Taylor, Gladys Knight and Mary J. Blige. Celebrities lined up to attend, including Magic Johnson, Samuel L. Jackson, Rachael Ray, Billie Jean King and Al Roker.

Meanwhile, our defense budget and foreign policy are in shambles. Our economy has sputtered and sank while Obama has been in office. Deficits are out of sight. Obamacare is on the ropes. Yet our First Family parties and lives large, passing the cost off to hard-working Americans.

It's no wonder that Obama's popularity is in the toilet.

Your eyes on the Hill,
Floyd Brown

Canceled Crystal Lake Meeting

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the regularly scheduled meeting of the Crystal Lake Economic Development Committee for Tuesday, March 25, 2014 is hereby canceled.  The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at 7:30 a.m. in the City Council Chambers conference room at 100 W. Woodstock Street.

/s/        Brian Fowler, Chairman

City of Crystal Lake

Economic Development Committee

Special Meeting -- Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission

A Special meeting of the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at the Crystal Lake City Hall located at 100 W. Woodstock Street. 

This meeting is being held in order to discuss 2014-13 Teckler Boulevard Self Storage and 2014-11 Penny Pinchers Resale Shop – Crystal Lake Plaza; at which time and place any person determining to be heard may be present.

Wonder Lake Resident Arrested For Violating Sex Offender Act

The McHenry County Sheriff's Office arrested a Wonder Lake resident for violating the Duty to Register provision of the Sex Offender Act.  The suspect failed to report the location of where he was residing as is required by the Illinois Sex Offender Registry Act.

The Sheriff's Office Investigations Division received information that sex offender Robert Curtis was currently living in unincorporated Wonder Lake.  Investigators discovered that Curtis had lived in the Wonder Lake residence since December 2013.  Curtis was a prior registrant through the state of New Hampshire.

The investigation culminated with the arrest of Robert Curtis by members of the McHenry County Sheriff's Office. Curtis was taken into custody on March 19, 2014 and is being held at the McHenry County Correctional Facility. Undersheriff Zinke would like to remind citizens they can check the McHenry County Sheriff's website at www.mchenrysheriff.org for registered sex offenders living in their area.

Bond is set at $15,000 and his Court Date is March 24.

Government At Work

THURSDAY MARCH 20—

7:00 p.m. – McHenry County Board

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

Normally this meeting is scheduled for the third Tuesday of the month, but because of election on that day the County Board meeting was postponed.

Several zoning matters are being presented for approval, including

Neises, McHenry Township for A1 to A1V

Gordon, McHenry Township for R1 to R1V

Ninz/Mixed Media LLC-

Also, for Hinz/Mixed Media LLC, Algonquin Township B1V to B1V needs 18 votes to pass.

Eleven resolutions are to be considered by the Board mostly for the purchase of various products needed in the county operations as well as acceptance of the 2013 State Criminal Alien Assistance Program Award.

Government At Work

Thursday, March 20

8:30 a.m. --McHenry County Board Planning and Development Committee—

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

Several people will be interviewed for two seats on the Hebron Drainage District No. 1 including Michael VonBergen, William Haun and Martin Susala. The two selected will be recommended to the County Board Chair for appointment to terms which expire September 1, 2015 and one term expiring September 1, 2016.

Also to be considered is a resolution establishing a deadline for the County to identify and pursue corrective action against property owners for building and zoning violations.

Also for consideration is a resolution authorizing the program year 2013 HOME Investment Partnership Program Allocations.

Other resolutions for consideration:, Establishing a Deadline for the County to Identify and Pursue Corrective Action Against Property Owners for Building and Zoning Violations

Resolution Authorizing the Program Year 2013 HOME Investment Partnership Program Allocations

Resolution Authorizing an Emergency Appropriation into the Department of Planning and Development FY2014 Budget and to Enter Into Contractual Agreements with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Public Service and Archeology and Architecture Program and also with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) for the Purpose of Accepting the Historic Preservation Grant in the Amount of $15,400

Also to be considered for discussion is the topic of Off-Premise Digital Sign Moratorium

8:30 a.m. McHenry County Merit Commission—

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

The Commission is expected to Review Applications for Lateral Placement on Eligibility List.

9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Hearing Officer

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

Two matters are being presented including:
A corral in Algonquin Township with a request for a variation to allow a side yard setback of 5 feet instead of the required 10 foot setback along the south property line, and to allow 2,516 square feet of a lot coverage instead of the maximum 2,550 square feet allowed, and to allow a front yard setback of 25 feet instead of the required 30 feet.

Also to be considered is a requested variation for a church in Chemung township to allow a storage building to be located in the front yard.

6:00 p.m.—McHenry County Board – Committee of the Whole

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

The brief agenda calls for the introduction of new labor attorneys along with a discussion labor relations.

7:00 p.m. – Crystal Lake Park District Board

Meeting in the Park District Administrative Offices, One East Crystal Lake Avenue.

Matters the Board is to consider are requests

+To hold a Night Owl Bike Ride event

+By the Crystal Lake Rowing Club 

+For Crystal Lake Baseball Rafflle 

The board is to give consideration to accepting the low bid for Dave Phillips, of Speer Financial

Approve requests for a Night Owl Bide Ride and requests from the Crystal Lake Rowing Club.

The Board is also being requested to consider an ordinance providing for the issue of General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds for the payment of land for parks, for the building maintaining, improving and protection of the same and the existing and the existing land and facilities of the Park District and for the payment of the expenses incident thereto and providing for the levy of a direct annual tax to pay the principal and interest on said bonds.

 

Crystal Lake Park District Honored

The Crystal Lake Park District is honored with a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

The Certificate has been awarded to the Crystal Lake Park District and Debra Oldham, Crystal Lake Park District Superintendent of Business Services, by the Government finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report.

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government agency and its management.

 The Crystal Lake Park District comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

The GFOA is a non-profit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, IL, and Washington, D.C.

Certificate Of Achievement For Excellence For Park District

The Crystal Lake Park District is honored with a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

The Certificate has been awarded to the Crystal Lake Park District and Debra Oldham, Crystal Lake Park District Superintendent of Business Services, by the Government finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report.

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government agency and its management.

 The Crystal Lake Park District comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

The GFOA is a non-profit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, IL, and Washington, D.C.

Illinois Route 176 Detour

There is a water main break on IL Route 176 at the intersection of Ridge Avenue.  Repairs are scheduled to begin at 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2014.  While repairs are being made, a detour will be established on Route 176 for both eastbound and westbound traffic approaching the work zone.  The detour will direct westbound motorists south on Oak Street, west on Woodstock Street, and north on IL Route 14 where normal travel may resume on IL Route 176.  The eastbound detour will follow the same route in the opposite direction.

Normal traffic is expected to resume by 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 19, 2014.

A water main break occurred on IL Route 176 intersection of Ridge Avenue.

Repairs are taking place tonight beginning at 11 p.m...

While repairs are being made, a detour will be established on Route 176 for both eastbound motorists south on Oak Street, west on Woodstock Street, and north on IL  Route 14 where normal travel may resume on IL Route 176. The eastbound detour will follow the same route in the opposite direction

Normal traffic is expected to resume by 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 19.

An Important Day

               The most important thing to be done Today is

VOTE!

If you are not sure where you go to vote, check your voter registration card.

It lists the precinct in which you reside.

Then you can call the County Clerk's office and ask where the voting for that precinct is held.

The privilege to vote is part of being an American Citizen.

It is also a duty connected with that citizenship.

(This does not apply to those who have already voted)

 

 

A Duty And A Privelege

The most important thing to be done Today is

VOTE!

If you are not sure where you go to vote, check your voter registration card.

It lists the precinct in which you reside.

Then you can call the County Clerk's office and ask where the voting for that precinct is held.

The privilege to vote is part of being an American Citizen.

It is also a duty connected with that citizenship.