Government At Work

TUESDAY, MAY 15 –

7:00 p.m. – McHenry County Board—

Meeting in the County Board Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

A number of Special Recognitions are being presented for approval including;

Girl Scout Resolution for four Girl Scouts obtaining the Girl Scout Gold Award. These include:

Kaitlyn Zieman, Wonder Lake

Katy Crain, Woodstock

Kathryn Melanouris, Spring Grove

Cali Flanagan, Cary.

Also being presented a Special Recognition for Boy Scouts including:

Zachery T. Brokaw, Wonder Lake-Troop 456

Jerome E. Becker, Crystal Lake,   Troop 347

Michael N. Guerra, Crystal Lake,   Troop 347

Tyler P. King, Crystal Lake,            Troop 347

Charles R. Ellis, Cary                    Troop 657

Nico Corrado, Oakwood Hills,        Troop 161

A proclamation recognizing May 2012 as “Look At Local History Month” a presentation of the McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission

A proclamation is being presented recognizing responders to a McHenry stable fire, the Black Tie Stables.

Zoning Board of Appeals

Four petitions are being presented on the ZBA Consent Agenda, all with recommended approval. These include:

Riley Township, Krause Trust, reclassifying A1-A2 for 5.35 acres located on the south side of Grange Road just west of the intersection of Riley Road and Grange Road, Marengo.

Richmond Township, Richmond Hunting Club, reclassification of A1 to A1C for property located on the south side of IL Route 173 approximately one–half mile east of Route 12 to allow a shooting range on the property.

Seneca Township, Muir Trust Reclassification of A1C to A1C

A request for renewal of a Conditional Use Permit to allow a heliport on the property located on the south side of Millstream Road, approximately 800 feet east of Standish Road. The Zoning Board recommends approval of the Permit for 20 years.

Dorr Township, Hurley/Nepermann Est., reclassification from A1 to A2.

This involves a 3.39 acre parcel of property located on the east side of Dean Street in Dorr Township. A residence is currently located on the property as well as various outbuildings. The property has impediments for agriculture and is planned for a continued residential use. The Zoning Board recommended approval of the request.

Appointments

A number of appointments are being made by the County Board Chairman, including:

Donna Schaefer to the Senior Services Grant Commission, for a term to expire October 1, 2013

Harry Alten, Jr. to the McHenry County Farmland Assessment Review Committee with no length of term

Joanne F. Hanrahan and Gloria G. Mack to the Valley Hi Operating Board with terms to expire June 30, 2014

Valley Hi Nursing Home

A request is being made for reclassification of a position in the Nursing Home staff from a Full Time Nursing Assistant I position to a Full Time Activity Assistant Position. Valley Hi Administrator Thomas Annarella explains in a memo the need for an Activity Assistant rather than a Full Time Nursing Assistant.

Grant of $85,663 from Department of Public Health

This is for a Vector Surveillance and Control Program. The program is administered through the County Health Department and the grant is to be used to improve the Department’s capacity to respond to West Nile Virus and other vector borne disease outbreaks.

Grant for Emergency Management Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness

This $8,860 grant is for the development, implementation and improvement of hazardous chemical emergency plans as handled by the County Emergency Management Agency.

Grants for McHenry County Workforce Network

Several grants are being provided for the Workforce Network providing for training for laid off McHenry County workers. The total of the several grants is

$148,348.84 and is in addition to previously received grants.

Intergovernmental Agreement With Kane County – Juvenile Detention Beds

This agreement fills the needs for both counties. Under Illinois Juvenile Court Act, juveniles in need of secure detention must be placed in specialized facilities separate from adults. McHenry County does not have its own juvenile detention center. McHenry County juveniles have been housed at various detention facilities throughout Illinois over the years, at times as far away as in southern Illinois in St. Clair County, Belleville, which is across the Mississippi from St. Louis.

A detention center located in McHenry County is ideal and it has been studied and debated for decades. Based on current economic considerations it has been determined that accessing another county’s detention beds through an intergovernmental agreement is the most viable option.

Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Illinois

A resolution is being presented for County Board Approval authorizing Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois as the Provider of Administrative Services including Stop loss coverage and employee medical and dental insurance for the year period July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013.

Contract Agreement, Metropolitan Alliance of Police Chapter 515 and County

The two sides have negotiated a tentative contract agreement and approval of the contract is recommended by all involved for a period December 1, 2011 to November 30, 2014. The County Board is to authorize all necessary retroactive pay as proved in the contract.

Appointment of Member to McHenry County Farmland Assessment Review Board

State Statutes provide for the appointment by the County Board of three County farmers to the McHenry County Farmland Assessment Review Committee. Charles Budreck has resigned and Harry Alten, a long-time McHenry County farmer is willing to serve. The County Board is expected to approve Alten’s appointment.

Wet Well In Union With CDBG Funds

Due to a balance of funding from the Thompson Road Project, a needed “Wet Well” is being funded in Union. Action to allocate the funds for the latter project will be before the County Board for approval.

Senior Services Grant Commission 2012-Grant Commission

The current plan for the Senior Services Grant Commission has been in effect since May 2007, being amended each year since then. A sub-committee of the Commission was formed this year and following several meetings, developed a draft document for consideration by the full commission.

Following further discussions, four Goals were developed to guide the Commission in its future activities. As a result a document, Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Performance measures was developed. These are to be presented to the full County Board for approval.

Transportation Department

Several groups are undertaking cleanup of trash along stretches of highway. These groups are being presented to the full County Board for approval. They include

The Top Gun, working on Algonquin Road from Randall Road to Talaga Driver; In Loving Memory of Bob and Geri Morehead, on Walkup Road from Crystal Springs Road to Pleasant Hill Road.

Crosspoint Lutheran Church, Ackman Road from Lakewood Road to Haligus Road

Purchase of Maintenance Equipment

The County Transportation Department annually budgets for new and replacement equipment. The 2012 budget is providing for two snow plow trucks

with combination dump spreader units. Bids were received for this equipment from Chicago International Trucks, Huntley for a cost of $472,570. Since the Finance and Transportation Committee concur in the purchase, the County Board is requested to also approve the purchase.

Preparing for Winter

Last December, the County Board approved a $904,800 agreement to supply and deliver salt for the FY 2011-2012 snow and ice season. The mild winter prevented the McHenry County Division of Transportation from fulfilling the requirements of the agreement. North American Salt has agreed to amend the contract by extending it for the FY2012-13 snow and ice season without penalties. North American Salt will be providing whatever salt is needed the coming winter season.

Pavement Markings

It is necessary to periodically replace sections of markings. Therefore, bids for taken for the needed product. Four bids were received with Maintenance Coatings Company, South Elgin, being the successful bidder for thermoplastic pavement marking contract at $209,985.85.

Road District Material Bids

A culvert on Main Street, in Spring Grove has been determined to be structurally deficient and requires replacement. Engineering and environmental studies have been completed and it is determined that a new structure will require the acquisition of property. The Transportation Department has determined the need for approval of an agreement with Mathewson right of Way Company of Chicago for services not to exceed $4,800. Approval is sought for this expenditure.

Lawrence Road Bridge Over Piscasaw Creek

The Lawrence Road Bridge in Chemung Township has been determined to be in need of replacement due to structural deficiencies. Acquisition of real property is needed and the sum of $10,000 has been appropriated for the purchase.

Ethics Ordinance Amendments

A couple amendments are needed for the County Ethics Ordinance. One is changing the Ethics Advisory from the State’s Attorney to the Human Resources Director. This is due to the possibility that the State’s Attorney may inadvertently be placed in a conflict by advising a county employee who could at a future time be referred to the Office by the Commission for prosecution.

The Human Resources Director has agreed to serve as an Ethics Advisor.

Also the current Ethics Ordinance exempts only the State’s Attorney’s and Circuit Clerk’s Offices based on the Attorney General’s Guide to the Model Ethics Ordinance. It has been suggested that these offices should be exempt from the County Ordinance. Likewise, the Supreme Court has exclusive authority to regulate the conduct of Illinois judges. Therefore, they are also to be exempt from the County Ethics Ordinance.

Liquor Control and Liquor Licensing Ordinance

The County Liquor Control Ordinance is also being revised slightly and will need the final approval of the County Board.