Tuesday Meetings

Tuesday, March 1

8:15 a.m.-McHenry County Board Committee of The Whole

The McHenry County Board will meet as a committee to discuss the proposed County Board Rules. These are being presented to the Board at the 9:00 a.m. meeting for adoption.

9:00 a.m.—McHenry County Board

In what is expected to be the last regular morning meeting of the full County Board, the second of two proposed hospitals is receiving the McHenry County Commendation. The original request from Mercy Hospital, as well as the request from Centegra Hospital, which was considered at the previous County Board meeting, was to vote "support" for the facilities. This is the language the institutions desired for presentation to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board.

The Board debated that verbiage at the last County Board meeting as that language had been removed when it was considered in committee. It was decided that what the County Board really wanted to back was the economic development aspect of the facilities, not that one hospital was considered over the other. The County Board did vote to commend the Centegra Hospital proposal.

The same consideration is expected to be provided for Mercy Hospital.

Revised County Board Rules

Also to be considered is a resolution adopting an amendment to the McHenry County Board Rules. A number of proposed changes are recommended such as the County Board Chairman and Vice Chairman terms are to be limited to no more that three consecutive terms. These officers are still being elected biennially on the first Monday of December of each even numbered year.

A slight alteration is being made in the meeting times. Previously, the first Tuesday of each month the County Board met at 9:00 a.m. and the third Tuesday of the month meeting was held at 7:00 p.m. Under the proposed change, all county board meetings are to begin at 7:00 p.m. So far, there are no changes in the times for the various committee meetings which are usually held in the mornings.  

The verbiage regarding people wishing to address the Board allots not more than three minutes for each person. The total time allotted for public comment is 30 minutes, unless that is extended by Board action.

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7:30 p.m.—Crystal Lake City Council

 An annual adoption of the Zoning Map is to be handled by the Council. This map reflects the current zoning and amendments within the City that were approved prior to December 31. Only two parcels are involved, one at 490 W. Terra Cotta Avenue and one at 8307 Ridgefield Road, for a total of 4.2 acres. The Terra Cotta Avenue property is being changed from R-1 to W and the Ridgefield Road property is changing from A-1 to W.

Rakow Road Improvements

This is one of the largest projects undertaken by McHenry County Division of Transportation. This is to expand Rakow Road to four lanes between Illinois Route 31 and Pyott Road.  Construction is expected to begin as of Tuesday.

McHenry County Department of Transportation is to make a presentation of the project to the City Council, including information how the project is to be staged and potential disruptions for Crystal Lake motorists.

A Change From Bank To Gas Station

 

A 4.26 acre parcel located at 7910 Route 14 (the former PNC Bank) is being planned for use as a gasoline station along with a convenience store and car wash. The property is located in the Crystal Lake watershed and will have to be developed as a Planned Unit Development.

The requested planning is to go before the Planning and Zoning Commission on April 20 with consideration by the City Council on May 3.

The Metra Ridgefield Station Annexation Public Hearing is being continued again to March 15 for an Annexation Public Hearing.

 East Crystal Lake Avenue Improvement

Segment I of Phase III improvement is planned for East Crystal Lake Avenue, which includes the widening and resurfacing of the road between East Street and Erick Street, along with water main replacement, storm sewer and sidewalk installation. The City has obtained $883,423 in Federal Surface Transportation Program funds for a portion of the work. The balance will be funded with City Motor Fuel Tax funds.

The Council is being asked to approve the proposal for the Engineering consultant, Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. in the amount of $118,178.48. This firm is considered to be the most qualified responsible, responsive proposer for the work.

The City Council is also being asked to adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the local agency Agreement for Federal Participation with IDOT in order to obtain the $883,423 STP funding.

Another matter connected with the project is the Council approval of a resolution appropriating $375,684 in MFT funds for easement acquisition, construction and engineering services for the project.

Payment from Com-Ed

The Council is being asked to adopt a resolution authorizing execution of an agreement with Commonwealth Edison for the guaranteed load drop program. It involves the City taking its larger facilities off the grid and power them with on-site generators. Com-Ed pays the City for these reductions based on the kilowatt-hours of electrical loads the City reduces.

In 2006, at Com-Ed's request, the City ran WWTP#2 and WTP#3 for five hours and received payments and credits totaling $4,819 which is much more than it cost to run the generators.

In subsequent years, 2008-2010, the City was not called upon to operate off grid but only prove that it had capacity to do so. Those payments to the city included $33,390.83 for 2008, $29,404.49 for 2009 and $89,007.79 for 2010. Since that time the City has added Water Treatment Plant #4 and Wastewater Treatment Plant #3. This will possibly add to the amount received from Com-Ed. If the City is unable to switch power to the generators, they will be penalized in form of deductions from the guaranteed payout.

There are no more than ten events during the period the City is required to take the facilities off line. Also, they will last no more than eight hours between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. For that effort, Com-Ed is expected to pay the city up to $42,228.48.

Hotel/Motel Tax Funding Allocation

It is the time of year for the Hotel/Motel Tax Funding Allocations. This year the City has received 10 applications from local organizations totaling $373,600. The allocations are to be handled at the March 1 Council meeting.

Last year's awards totaled $299,100. Two categories funded last year are not being considered for this year. These included City of Crystal Lake Independence Day Fireworks Display for $15,000 and Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Independence Day Parade for $10,000. These amounts are to come from the General Fund this year. 

Other Funding Requests Include:

• Berkshire Ballet Theatre is a new request this year for $4,500.
• Crystal Lake Babe Ruth League is seeking $2,000, same as last year.
• Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce,-Shopping, Dining and Recreation Guides, $6,000, same as last year.
• Crystal Lake Rowing Club $2,500 requested; same as last year.
• Historic Downtown District of Crystal Lake, requesting $35,000, same as last year.
• Lakeside Legacy Foundation, $80,000; received $25,000 last year.
• McHenry County Convention and Visitors Bureau, requesting $15,000, received nothing last year.
• McHenry County Music Center, requesting $3,600, same as received last year.
• McHenry Count Youth Sports Association, requesting $75,000, received $50,000 last year.
• Raue Center for the Arts-Programming and Marketing requesting $150,000, same as received last year.