Help Breaking Old Habit In New Year

Beginning January 5, 2011, MCDH and Centegra Health System will partner to provide “Quit Smoking” classes to teach practical ways to end nicotine addiction. The class offers group support and behavior modification, and also reviews the nicotine replacement products that are currently on the market. The class is taught by MCDH staff, trained in the American Lung Association’s “Freedom from Smoking” program.

Classes will be held at Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center in Crystal Lake, located at 200 Congress Parkway, on Wednesdays, from 6pm-7:30pm. A $25 course fee, payable at the first class, is refundable if all seven sessions are attended.

For more information, and to register, call 1-877-CENTEGRA, or visit http://www.mcdh.info/.

To speak with a counselor immediately, call the Illinois Tobacco Quitline at 1-866-QUIT-YES

Christmas Gift Idea

Give the gift of lifelong learning and enrichment this holiday season by purchasing a gift certificate for a special someone who would love to take a continuing education class, participate in the Retired Adult Program or get away on a fun trip offered by the McHenry County College Continuing Education Department.

MCC offers a wide variety of continuing education classes for the winter and spring months, including art, language, music, crafts, personal development, and recreation.

 

The Retired Adult Program (RAP) is a membership-based, non-credit program dedicated to adults ages 50 and older who are active, curious and serious about continually learning. There are many stimulating art, music and classic film lectures offered during the winter and spring months, along with many other thought-provoking classes.

 

MCC’s Trips and Tours program offers several day trips along with an exciting trip to Washington D.C. in April. The day trips include a special gold exhibition at the Field Museum (Golden Chicago), another to view Chicago’s Orthodox churches and a trip to a Wisconsin winery, along with lunch and dancing.

MCC Gift Certificates are available in the MCC Registration office, Room A258 through Dec. 23 for any denomination that you wish. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. For a complete list of continuing education classes, visit www.mchenry.edu/coneducation. For more information, contact Dori Smith at (815) 455-8559 or Tracy Berry at (815) 455-8758.

Thursday Government Meetings.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16

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

The subject of Ag Tourism is to be discussed when the Planning and Development Committee of the McHenry County Board meets 8:30 on Thursday morning in the County Administration Building Conference Room, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

It is a topic under considerable discussion, especially with regard to horse racing taking place on property that was used for horse racing in the past but was vacant for a time. It is again being used for intermittent horse racing during the summer months. However, surrounding neighbors are upset with the idea and have filed various complaints against the property owners. The county planning and zoning department has not found the complaints warranted. A proton of the problem results from a previous owner of the horse racing property abusing the use by allowing other uses such as noisey concerts on the property. This is not allowed under the current property ownership. Instead it is a training opportunity for young horses entering the racing field.  Another problem indicated is that the property owners are foreigners.

The topic is to be further reviewed with research in how surrounding counties handle the problem. What is taking place on the property is allowed. However, surrounding property is strictly residential use, a situation that has existed for some time.

5:00 p.m. – McHenry County Conservation District Finance Committee

Will meet in the Brookdale Administrative Offices, 18410 U.S Highway 14, Woodstock. In addition to discussing the 2012 Budget, a number of matters will be handled by the committee concerning the Fen at Fel-Pro RRR Conservation Area and Kishwaukee Headwaters Conservation Area.

5:00 p.m. – McHenry County Conservation District Outreach and Advocacy Committee

Also meeting in the same location, the Brookdale Administrative Offices, to consider such matters as the Community Gardens Task force, the Administrative Policy of the Committee as well as community organization outreach.

6:00 p.m. – McHenry County Conservation District Board

Also meeting in the Brookdale Administrative Offices, the Board will begin in Executive Session to consider Collective Bargaining, Real Estate, Sale/Lease of Real Estate, Probable or Imminent Litigation and Pending Litigation, and Review of Closed Session Minutes, all allowed under the Open Meetings Act.

Following handling of those matters, the Board will conduct its regular monthly meeting, in open session, and including various committee reports, other necessary Board matters such as minute approval and committee reports. A motion is to be presented authorizing the submittal of two USFWS Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant applications to fund dam removal and an alternatives study for two impoundments on the North Branch of the Kishwaukee River. 

Other matters to be considered by the Board include submission of an Illinois EPA Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant Program for Stormwater Management grant application for the Boone Creek Conservation Area Site Access Project.

Brush clearing bids are to be obtained for Boone Creek Conservation Area Site Access, Glacial Park, High Point, Kishwaukee Headwaters and Alden Sedge Meadow.

A Wetland Mitigation Agreement between the District and VCNA Prairie Aggregates Illinois, Inc. for Coral Woods Conservation Area is to be authorized.

An agreement is proposed with Obenauf Auction Services, Inc. to sell nine vehicles from the District's fleet at public auction.

7:00 p.m. – McHenry County College Board of Trustees

Will conduct a Tax Levy Hearing on the tax levy for the following year. This hearing and the following Board of Trustees meeting takes place in the MCC Board room of the College, 8900 U.S Highway 14, Crystal Lake.

McHenry County College Board of Trustees Regular Board Meeting

Will take place immediate following the Tax Levy Hearing .Following accepting minutes of several prior meetings and recognition of visitors and presentations, the 2010 Tax Levy is scheduled for a hearing.

Following the Public Hearing, MCC Board of Trustees is expected tol adopt the 2010 Tax Levy which is expected to result in a total tax rate of .2739 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Compared with the 2009 rate of .2739 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The total amount to be levied is $28,234,827 compared with the amount levied the previous year of $25,691,380.

Other matters of interest the MCC Board is to consider include such as the purchase of a Facility Condition Analysis Services for identifying the facility deficiencies and planning tool for prioritizing repair and replacement projects on the building and equipment.

Preparing for something new in the Spring 2011 semester, a student-managed restaurant is to be opened as part of the Restaurant Operations class. The current kitchen equipment will be used for this; however, newer and more up-to-date equipment is needed as part of the training program. It is part of the Culinary Management program at MCC and is expected to cost $10,361.02. Board approval for this is being requested.

The agenda also includes the appointment of a new chief Financial Officer/Treasurer and a Board Attorney; however, there were no board reports on these two items included in the packet for the meeting.

7:30 p.m. -- Crystal Lake Park District Board

The Crystal Lake Park District Board is expected to approve the McHenry County Youth Sports Association, as presented at the last meeting. Other sports groups are planning for the warmer weather as well. This includes such as the McHenry County College Fit for Life 5K Walk/Run request for Lippold Park on Sunday, October 2, 2011.

The Crystal Lake Cardinals Baseball Association is requesting permission to host their 2011 fundraiser tournament on Memorial Day Weekend at Spoerl Park.

Crystal Lake Rowing Club is planning to host their 6^th Annual Chicago Area Juniors Rowing Championships Regatta at Main Beach, Saturday, May 7.

Walt Herrick, Sr, Men's Open Tournament Request is being made for January 7-9, 2011 at the Racket Club. Proceeds from this event provide tennis scholarships to local area junior players for lessons at the Racket Club.

The Board is also being requested to approve a Professional Services Agreement with Bonestroo, Inc. for $6,600 for well monitoring at Lippold Park. This is to gather further information within the Area 2 sub-watershed.

Also a discussion is to be held regarding a cell tower request.

 

Crystal Lake City and McHenry County Working to Put Foreclosed Homes In The Market

In this economy where every community in McHenry County is experiencing the foreclosure issue at record levels, the City of Crystal Lake is doing something to help. Its actions are helping to move yet another foreclosed home in the City back into the market.

In cooperation with McHenry County, the Crystal Lake City Council passed an ordinance at its July meeting to waive permit fees for homes being purchased and renovated through the Neighborhood Stabilization program (NSP).

NSP was created through the Housing and economic Recovery Act passed by Congress in 2008. For McHenry County's program, it is expressly intended to acquire abandoned, vacant and foreclosed homes. These homes would otherwise sit vacant and their conditions deteriorate, furthering the distress on the surrounding community.

"It is in our City's interest to cooperate on the foreclosure issue wherever possible," said Mayor Aaron Shepley. "The funds cannot be used to prevent foreclosures, but they can reduce the impact of foreclosures once they occur."

The waiver of fees by the City reduces the cost of the property renovation, and it allows McHenry County to use that fee waiver as a match per NSP regulations. The County was warded $3 million in federal NSP funds, which will be administered by the Corporation for Affordable Homes of McHenry County (CAHMCO). CAHMCO was also awarded an additional $2.4 million in State administered NSP funds to utilize in McHenry County.

The main program objectives are to stabilize neighborhoods, protect property values from further decline and to make available local construction jobs," said Maryanne Wanaski, Deputy Director of the McHenry County Planning and Development Department.

It is encouraging to see Crystal Lake be so proactive in its efforts to minimize the impact of foreclosures in its community," says Mary Lu Seidel, Executive Director of the Corporation for Affordable Homes of McHenry County. "They are not waiting for a solution...they are engaged actively in finding these solutions."

To date, CAHMCO has either acquired or has under contract 14 properties throughout McHenry County with the County NSP funds. The homes are being renovated and offered for sale to income eligible homebuyers. Rehab brings them up to code, increases energy efficiency and improves major home infrastructure. Acquisition assistance will also be available for qualified buyers. CAHMCO has acquired two properties in Crystal Lake.

Road and Bridge Work Considered Wednesday

8:15 a.m.--McHenry County Transportation Committee
McHenry County Department of Transportation, 16111 Nelson Road, Woodstock

In addition to the necessary matters to pay bills, approval of a resolution is sought for an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Illinois for the Union Road Bridge over the South Branch of Kishwaukee River. The total cost is estimated at $2,424,630 with $1,947,704 from Federal Highway participation.

 

The Illinois Route 31 Western Algonquin Bypass, included in the FY 2010-2014 Highway Improvement Program, will require consulting engineering services. The County Board has approved a contract with Civiltech Engineering, Inc. at a cost of $2,912,724.07. An amendment to this agreement has been recommended in an amount not to exceed $729,842.70, increasing the total amount of the contract with Civiltech to $3,642.567.

Letter To The Editor

Dear Editor:

The McHenry County Division of Transportation sent a letter to the residents of Fleming Road in January 2010 informing us that they had determined that the road had deteriorated to the extent that they would need to rebuild it.

Our continuing conversations with them about the extent of the rebuild have left us deeply concerned that their project will destroy the charming, rural nature of the road. At an August 2010 meeting of the Citizens Advisory Group, McDOT informed us that they intend to remove ONLY 230 trees on this 2.5-mile road. I am concerned because: the 230 trees make scenic and ecological contributions to the road, The Land Conservancy has informed us that Fleming Road travels through one of the largest concentrations of remnant oak woodlands in McHenry County, many 200 to 250 year-old trees are within 10 to 20 feet of the pavement, McDOT eliminated some trees from the survey, and the rebuild will kill many more trees due to root damage.

The position of the Fleming Road Alliance is that the road must stay in the same footprint as it is now:  no widening, no straightening, no leveling,  no turn lanes, no curbs-and-gutters, no wide shoulders, no deep drainage ditches, no retaining walls, and we must save our trees!

To help us maintain the charm of Fleming Road, please contact us at flemingroadalliance@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Mary Moltmann,

Bull Valley IL  60098

"Baby, It's Cold Outside. . . ."

And it may affect more than our comfort when we are outside.

Due to the extreme cold that the area experiences during the winter months, frost covering the City is able to penetrate deeper into the ground and reach some water service lines. When the frost reaches these depths, it is able to freeze the water and service lines, which can prevent residents from having access to water.

A frozen service line can be costly to homeowners who must then call a plumber to thaw their exterior service line. Residents who have experienced this problem in the past may be at risk again. The City urges these residents to turn on one faucet in their home and leave it running at a trickle, with the water stream no wider than a pencil. This will allow the water to flow through the pipes, which will prevent it from freezing. In extreme cases, if frozen exterior service lines are left untreated, they can cause pipes to burst in a residential home.

This problem is particularly prevalent in vacant homes that have not had their pipes properly winterized. By allowing the home's plumbing to remain active while not heating the home, the property owner is taking a significant risk that the pipes will not freeze. Proper precautions must be taken in these dwellings to ensure the integrity of the unit's plumbing system.

If a resident experiences a water outage caused by freezing pipes, they should contact the Public Works Department at 815-356-3614.

Governing In Action

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14

Management Services Committee of the McHenry County Board –

8:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Conference Room of the County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. Several Worker's Compensation Claim Settlements are included on the agenda along with authorization for a number of contracts for technology services, systems and maintenance agreements. Also, being considered is a four-year laptop lease for the county.  A review of the County Board rules is another item on the agenda.

Finance and Audit Committee of the McHenry County Board—

9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Conference Room of the County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. In addition to authorization of several Worker's Compensation Claim Settlement matters, the reclassification of one position in the Public Defender's Office is also scheduled for authorization consideration.

Several Worker's Compensation Claim Settlements are being presented to the Committee for Approval.

The McHenry County Mental Health Board is seeking authorization of an emergency appropriation in its Fiscal Year 2009 budget for $600,000 to allow the Mental Health Board to respond to increased demands for Mental Health Board funded services for McHenry County citizens. The funds are coming from the 2009 Mental Health Board budget which was increased to meet this anticipated demand.

Authorization for the issuance and sale of a $5,687,050 recovery Zone Facility Bond for Cary Corners, LLC Project, otherwise known a Sage Products.

A transfer of $1,722.60 is to be transferred to the County General Fund from the County Treasurer's Office Building Remodel Project. This is the amount that was not used from a $867,364 budgeted amount for the remodeling of the Treasurer's office, now located at 2100 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock. It is no longer located in the county Administration Building.

Authorization is being sought to purchase 16 new police pursuit vehicles for the Sheriff's Department. These are being purchased through the State of Illinois Joint Purchasing Act to piggy back off the Cook County Bid for police pursuit vehicles.

The Finance Committee is asked t o approve an Engineering Agreement Amendment for the Illinois Route 31 Western Algonquin Bypass Project.  This project involves the relocation of Illinois Rt. 31 to the west between Huntington Drive and the Cary-Algonquin Road (IL Route 62) Since the new alignment will be located on the former Toastmaster and Prairie Oasis properties and contaminated soil was encountered, cleanup of the property is necessary, raising the original contract with Civiltech Engineering to $3,642,567.

Approval is sought for a resolution supporting the 22^nd Judicial Circuit in Awarding a Contact for Psychological services which are many times ordered by the courts for sex offender, domestic violations and substance abuse assessments prior to sentencing.  A contract with Mather's Clinic of Woodstock is proposed for a not to exceed amount of $80,000.

McHenry County College

2:00 p.m. Facilities Planning Committee

Meeting in the Board Room of the College.

The agenda calls for facility condition analysis, discussion on a water main, Building B alterations

High School District 155

6:00 p.m. Board Policy Committee

Meeting in Crystal Lake South High School, 1200 South McHenry Avenue, Crystal Lake, will consider policies under review including School sponsored Field Trips and Extended Trips and Athletic Clubs.

7:30 pm. Board of Education

Meeting in Crystal Lake South High School

A presentation of the Proposed 2010 Levy is scheduled for a hearing along with adoption of the levy. Also included on the agenda is a report from the Superintendent, Dr. Jill Hawk, and includes Operation Teen Safe Driving Program, and an update on Boundary Changes.

LAKEWOOD VILLAGE BOARD

7:00 p.m. in RedTail Golf Club, 7900 RedTail Drive, Lakewood

In addition to the regular matters to be handled by the Board, such as bill payment, approval is also being sought for seven Ordinances for seven Special Service areas;

• An ordinance to increase the Street and Bridge Fund Levy for the 2010 Levy extended to 2011;
• Two ordinances abating taxes levied to pay principal and interest on certain General Obligation Bonds for Waterworks and Sewage Refunding Bonds;
• Ordinance authorizing the abatement of Taxes on Certain properties annexed to the Village;
• Ordinance to abate taxes levied to pay principal and interest on Alternate Revenue Source General Obligation Bonds.
• In addition to financial matters, the board is to approve an agreement for Fire Protection Services Between Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and the Village.

Governments At Work Monday

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13

Human Resources Committee of the McHenry County Board—

8:15 a.m. Monday in the Conference Rooms, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. The agenda calls for the reclassification of one position in the Public Defender's office from Senior Public Defender to Principal Public Defender; authorization of several Workers' Compensation Claim Settlements; and a resolution authorizing unfreezing of a Salary Adjustment for First Assistant and freezing the position of Assistant Attorney.

McHenry County College Committee of The Whole—

6:30 pm. Monday in the MCC College Board Room to review the Board Packet for the December 16 Regular Board meeting.

Additionally, the agenda calls for a presentation of the ERP Procurement Process by Jack Overcash; a first reading of a policy regarding identity theft prevention program by Don Wilske; and acceptance of closed session minutes in a closed session

School District 47 Board—

7:00 p.m. Monday in the Husmann Elementary School, 131 Paddock Street, Crystal lake.

Included on the agenda for this meeting is the hearing and subsequent approval of the 2010 Tax Levy for the District.