Government Meetings

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11

8:30 a.m. – Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee of McHenry County Board, meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

The committee will consider any State and Federal Legislative updated information available.

A letter to Governor Quinn is being prepared regarding the removal of funding for the Illinois State Water Survey, Geological Survey and Natural History Survey. Without sufficient funding for groundwater and surface water research areas, the sustainability of water resources and economic viability of the state is at stake. The Governor is being asked to help restore the funding for the three aforementioned agencies.

The Committee is also to discussion HB 3372, which has passed the Illinois House of Representatives and is in the Illinois Senate for consideration. This legislation is to provide Illinois counties with more flexibility to address basement and street flooding and water pollution from stormwater runoff. It also encourages the use of green infrastructure to save money.

This legislation would allow Counties to establish a system to encourage the use of green infrastructure on private and public property to reduce runoff before it reaches county stormwater system.

In connection with the proposed legislation a stormwater utility survey may be discussed. An engineer in Bowling Green, KY is conducting a survey of utilities and found some interesting data, such as Wisconsin, Washington, Florida and Minnesota are the only states with more than 100 utilities.

The question of whether the county can regulate the application and sale of coal tar may also be discussed.

Another touchy topic is that of cell towers. The City of Crystal Lake recently adopted a resolution requesting the County Board to issue a moratorium on telecommunication facility building permits until the County’s Telecommunication Ordinance is amended to “provide further guidelines, standards, criteria or other such regulation.”

The opinion of the State’s Attorney’s office is that under Illinois state law, the County cannot substantially modify its Telecommunication Carriers Ordinance.

A number other topics are also slated for consideration including Electrical aggregation, Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) and Non-Dedicated Roads.