Greater Efficiency For County And Local Governments

State Representatives Sheri Jesiel (R-Winthrop Harbor), Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein), and Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) have joined with other elected officials from Lake and McHenry Counties to sponsor and pass legislation in the Illinois House to bring greater efficiency to county and local governments.

Illinois has more layers of government than any other state in the United States, creating one of the most burdensome property tax scenarios nationwide. House Bill 229, which passed the House today, allows for duplicative bodies of government to be dissolved. This initiative has already been utilized in DuPage County to great effect.

“County officials and residents in both Lake and McHenry Counties have been frustrated by so many overlapping units of government for a long time,” said Wheeler. “We’ve seen how helpful this efficiency initiative has been in DuPage County and I’m very pleased we will now be able to benefit from it in Lake and McHenry Counties as well.”

HB 229 grants authority to Lake and McHenry Counties to pass ordinances, which may be ratified by referendum, to remove certain units of local government that perform the same duties as other units of local government, or lack appropriate accountability. The purpose of this is to increase efficiency in local government and help lessen the heavy tax burden already on the backs of families in Lake and McHenry Counties. In addition to being supported by a number of local leaders in both counties, it is also supported by the Better Government Association, Illinois Association of County Board Members, the Illinois Association of Realtors, and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

“Efficiency in government has been a punch line in Illinois for a long time now,” said Sullivan. “The reality is that efficiency isn’t just a problem in Springfield, but throughout Illinois. While we still need to do much more, this effort has been working in DuPage County and now we have the chance to benefit from it as well. I want to thank Lake County Board Chairman, Aaron Lawlor, for encouraging our support on this measure, and also my colleagues who helped pass it.”

“I would like to echo the comments of my colleagues; residents have been asking for some relief from the heavy tax burden that is causing so many of our families and business to leave Illinois,” said Jesiel. “We have a lot of work to do in state government to help solve this problem, but if we can empower our county government and voters to directly help make government operate more efficiently, I’m happy to support it.”

DuPage County was a pilot for this effort beginning in 2013, where a review of some 400 taxing bodies found that most suffered from some form of unaccountability or duplicative service. That assessment found issues with local units failing to meet county standards for issues such as ethics policies, sharing of essential service information, access of records to the public, and that many local units had duplicate services and contracts leading to increased costs.

“I want to thank the Representatives for supporting this legislation,” said Aaron Lawlor, Lake County Board Chairman. “House Bill 229 gives Lake County the ability to continue our efforts to make county and local government more efficient by finding new opportunities for consolidation of shared services.”

For further information, and to track the progress of House Bill 229 in the Senate, please visit www.ilga.gov.

McHenry County College SPAN "Take Back The Night" Event

The Student Peace Action Network of McHenry County College will sponsor its fifth annual Take Back the Night event from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday April 30 in the Luecht Conference Center. The college is located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

The event begins with a resource fair and a presentation of the Clothesline Project, featuring a collection of t-shirts decorated by sexual assault and abuse survivors to express that they have endured. In addition, guest speakers will talk on a variety of topics, including sexual exploitation, sexual assault, healing and building healthy relationships, followed by a march outside around the campus. The event will conclude with a vigil around a fire pit by the peace pole on the patio outside of the cafeteria.

MCC was selected by the national organization of Take Back the Night to be one of the 10 Points of Light, which features 10 schools throughout the U.S. who will host individual vigils at the same time. The vigils aim to show support of survivors and unite efforts to end sexual violence of all types.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Pat Gaughan at pgaughan@mchenry.edu.

Annual High School Accounting Bowl Friday

McHenry County College’s 13^th Annual High School Accounting Bowl

WHERE:       McHenry County College Luecht Conference Center and other classrooms

WHEN:          Friday, April 24 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

More than 182 students from 9 area high schools will participate in the 13^th annual High School Accounting Bowl at MCC. The event will include a one-hour pencil and paper test, a scavenger hunt, Jeopardy game and a guest speaker

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Guest speaker is Ryan McNeil, professional accountant. He is a 2010 graduate of Woodstock High School and earned his associate’s degree in accounting at MCC, followed by a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Northern Illinois University in December 2014.

The schools what will participate include: Alden-Hebron, Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South, Harvard, Johnsburg, Marian Central, McHenry, Woodstock and Woodstock North. Big Foot from Wisconsin is also participating.

The schedule of events is below:

9-9:15 a.m. - Welcome by MCC President Vicky Smith, Ed.D. and Don Curfman, Accounting Department chair

9:30-10:30 a.m. - Competition: 100-question test in various classrooms throughout campus

10:30-11:15 a.m. - Scavenger Hunt throughout campus

11:15-11:45 a.m. - Pizza lunch and prizes in MCC cafeteria

11:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Guest speaker Ryan McNeil, Luecht Conference Center

12-12:30 p.m. – Jeopardy game in conference center

12:30-1 p.m. – Awards presentation in conference center

Recycling Questions Answered

 Where can I recycle off compact fluorescent bulbs, old computer monitors or styrofoam? To find answers to these questions and more, area residents can turn to the “McHenry County Official Green Guide 2015,” which features an up-to-date Recycling Directory and a Green Living section, plus a topic Index. The publication is available beginning April 26 at www.mchenry.edu/green.
 

New highlights in this year’s Green Guide include a listing of locations to drop off styrofoam and new locations for electronics recycling. Plus, a link to a survey to collect information on how people use the Green Guide is included. Survey results will provide direction for future editions of the Green Guide. If you wish to share some thoughts about the Green Guide, please go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/GreenGuide before August 1.

Sponsored by the MCC Sustainability Center at McHenry County College, the Green Guide 2015 provides useful and educational information for anyone looking to recycle, reuse or reduce to protect the environment. The Green Living section lists businesses that sell green products locally and online.  

 

In addition, the Green Guide 2015 will be available at 90 local government agencies and business locations and as an iRecycle app at Earth 911.com, the largest and most accurate recycling directory in the U.S. 

 

For more information about the MCC Sustainability Center or anything related to recycling and sustainability, contact Kim Hankins, director of Sustainability, at (815) 479-7765.

Pavement Management Program Information At MCC April 30

McHenry County College’s Workforce Training Department will host a Pavement Management Program Information Session from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 30 in Room A103.

The information session will feature an overview of a series of courses in Pavement Management, focusing on pavement preservation that will begin in fall 2015 and continuing into spring 2016.  The pavement management classes will meet on Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. at McHenry County College, located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

The new pavement preservation methods are effective means of retrofitting by saving cost and time and are a greener alternative than the current reconstruction methods.

The information session is free of charge. To register, call (815) 455-8588 and refer to course ID: QPM C01-001. For more information, contact Ruth Kormanak at rkormanak@mchenry.edu or (815) 479-7879.

May 2 MCAC Rabies Vaccination Event Cancelled

McHenry County Animal Control (MCAC) has canceled the recently announced low cost rabies vaccination and microchip event scheduled for May 2 at its Crystal Lake facility. MCAC will reschedule this event later in the year. McHenry County Department of Health reports three dogs in the County became ill with symptoms consistent with the H3N2 dog flu which has sickened over 1,000 dogs in the Chicagoland area and other parts of the Midwest.  One dog has since died, another dog is suspected to have the illness and test results are pending on the third animal. 

Pet owners are cautioned to keep their dogs away from dog parks and from kenneling animals to reduce the spread of the virus. A fact sheet about canine influenza can be found on the American Veterinary Medical Association website https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/FAQs/Pages/Control-of-Canine-Influenza-in-Dogs.aspx.

According to a press release issued by Cornell University researchers and posted on its website http://mediarelations.cornell.edu/2015/04/12/midwest-canine-influenza-outbreak-caused-by-new-strain-of-virus/, there is no evidence that the H3N2 subtype can be transmitted to people. However, it apparently has caused infection and respiratory illness in cats.

Anyone with concerns about their pet’s health, or whose pet is showing symptoms of canine influenza, should contact their veterinarian. Symptoms of the disease may include a soft, moist cough or dry cough similar to that induced by kennel cough; discharge from the nose or eyes; sneezing; lethargy; low-grade fever; and loss of appetite. For more information, contact MCAC at 815-459-6222 or www.mcdh.info. 

Preparing For ACT Tests At MCC

High school students can prepare this spring or summer for the upcoming national ACT tests with prep sessions offered on Saturdays in May and August at McHenry County College. The ACT prep sessions are offered in conjunction with the MCC Kids and College program.

Four-day comprehensive classes are designed to improve student ACT scores. Each class section focuses on one of four subjects: math, science, reading and English. The Barron’s book is included in the cost of the class and is distributed the first day. The class does not include the actual ACT exam. Students must register separately for the exam and should consult their school guidance counselors for information about taking the ACT test. 

 

The four-day prep class takes place from 8 a.m. to noon May 2, 9, 16 and 23. (Use course code #: NKC S04 018 to register). Another session will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Aug. 1, 8, 15 and 22 (use course code #: NKC S04 001 to register). 

 

Cost of the class is $165 and includes the book. Register online at www.mchenry.edu/myMCC. The college is located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

For more information, contact Laura Beaupre at lbeaupre@mchenry.edu or (815) 455-8597. Students can visit www.actstudent.org for test sites, dates or test or contact their guidance counselor. Register early to ensure first choice placement.

One-day NEC Seminar At MCC -- May 29

McHenry County College will offer a one-day IAEI's One- and Two-Family Dwellings-2014 NEC seminar from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, May 29 in the Bersted Lecture Hall, Room A240 at the college, located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

This seminar is ideal for electricians, inspectors, engineers, designers, project managers, students and those who work in the commercial or industrial building trades. Participants will learn how to make more accurate, thorough, and safe installations and inspections of one- and two-family dwellings. The seminar is based on a comprehensive book of the same name that explains in clear, concise language the installation, design, and inspections of electrical systems in dwellings. Both NEC and IRC requirements are referenced in this book. 

Seminar presenter is L. Keith Lofland, director of education, Codes and Standards for IAEI. Lofland represents IAEI as a member of Code Making Panel 9 for the National Electrical Code. He is the principal author of several IAEI publications including IAEI’s NEC Analysis of Changes, Soares Grounding and Bonding, and IAEI’s One- and Two-Family Dwelling Electrical Systems.

Cost is $225 and includes lunch. If registered by May 13, the One- and Two Family Dwelling book will be included.

For more information or for a company sponsored form, contact Ruth Kormanak at (815) 479-7879 or rkormanak@mchenry.edu. To register for this course, please call the MCC Registration Office at (815) 455-8588, or register online at www.mchenry.edu/community, and use course code number: USV U45 001.

Plans To Reduce McHenry County Township Government

The McHenry County Citizens for Township Consolidation (MCCTC) has announced plans to pursue an initiative to reduce the number of Townships in McHenry County through consolidation via a binding referendum in the March 15, 2016 primary.

MCCTC spokesman Mike Shorten explained, “For many in McHenry County, township governments provide valued services. With 136 elected officials governing 17 different townships, it is our belief that those services can be delivered just as effectively and at a lower cost if we were to reduce the number of townships to eight through consolidation.

“While we are still are working on finalizing projections, our initial estimates indicate that taxpayer savings will be well in excess of forty million dollars over ten years.”

Illinois statutes allow for citizens of townships to vote via binding referendum to consolidate, however in order for the referendum to appear on the ballot county board approval is required.

“We do not anticipate any difficulty receiving the support of a majority of the county board to have the binding referenda placed on the ballot. The ultimate decision will be left to the voters,” Shorten said.

Shorten, who also serves as an elected Trustee in Nunda Township explained, “MCCTC would like to see the referendum on the ballot in March of 2016, so that the townships would have a full year to work on consolidation plans once the voters give their approval.”

The organization has launched a website and will be posting updates on the initiative as it moves forward. McHenry County Citizens are encouraged to visit MCC4TC.org to learn more about the initiative, submit questions, endorse, or contribute financially to the effort.