Watching Government - Tuesday

TUESDAY, AUGUST 3
McHenry County Board Planning and Development Committee
8:30 am in the County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock
A brief meeting to authorize amendments to the annual action plans for Payout Year 2009 and 2010 in order to meet HUD requirements.
McHenry County Board
9:00 am, County Board Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.
McHenry County's Views on CMAP GO TO 2040
The concerns of the McHenry County Board with regard to the proposed CMAP 2040 Regional Plan is to be discussed at Tuesday morning's County Board meeting. The largest concern expressed is that of state and local tax policy reforms as proposed by the CMAP group.

A proposed letter to be sent on behalf of McHenry County to the CMAP Council states, "Our general consensus is that the State has a spending problem and not an income problem. We believe the tax structure needs to be systematically reviewed and overhauled."

Another concern is the possible increased regional regulatory control implied in many of the Plan recommendations and policies. "The plan appears to support shifting control and funding for land use, transportation, and water resources from local to regional entities," states the letter to reach CMAP Board Members.

Also noted is "many assumptions about McHenry County that do not fit the collar county scenario." These are also expected to be considered at the Tuesday morning County Board meeting which gets underway at 9:00 am in the County Board room, located in the County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road Woodstock.

CRYSTAL LAKE CITY COUNCIL
7:30 pm in Crystal Lake Council Chambers, 100 Woodstock Street
The Crystal Lake City Council is expected to approve a fifth antenna installation for the McCormick Park Water Tower. Clearwire Communications is seeking permission to erect antennas on the water storage tank for wireless broadband service.
The first lease agreement for use of the water storage tank was executed January 18, 2000 and was for a cellular telephone provider. Since that time, eight additional lease agreements have been approved. These eight plus Clearwire, if approved, will generate $314,706 in revenue for the city. Use a water storage tank eliminates the need for a special use permit to construct a tower. This also cuts down on the addition of added towers. The Clearwire lease provides an initial annual lease payment of $30,948 with a 5% inflation escalator each year and an additional five five-year terms. Clearwire will also provide a one-time site maintenance fee of $16,000.

Other Council matters to be considered Tuesday include two matters related to the Main Street Rail Yard Relocation Project. This is Phase I Engineering. A contract was approved with TranSystems April 7, 2009 but funds were not budgeted because of an uncertain timeline for some of the environmental issues now being resolved. Approval is being requested for $90,000 for the engineering of the Main Street Rail Yard Relocation project and approval of allocation of the same amount from Motor Fuel Tax funds.

Approval is also requested to for a lease agreement with Culvers of Crystal Lake for operation of concessions at Three Oaks Recreation Area (formerly known as Vulcan Lakes),