Government At Work

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16 –

6:00 p.m. – High School District 155 Board Policy Committee –

Meeting in the District Office, 1 South Virginia Road, Crystal Lake.

The Committee is to discuss Athletic Clubs. The policy is being amended to add language allowing the district to participate in an emerging sports agreement with the IHSA.

Following the Policy Committee, the Operations Committee –

Will meet in the same location.

Considerations will include

403b Plan Changes
Snow Removal Bid Results
Facility Review
Cary-Grove Fine Arts Foundation Update
Any other matters that may come before the Committee.

6:00 p.m. – McHenry County Board Finance & Audit Committee –

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

The Committee is to consider an Ordinance Providing for the Levy of Taxes for McHenry County for the Fiscal Year December 1, 2012 through November 30 2013.

Also to be considered is the Annual Budget and Appropriations Ordinance for the County for the fiscal year December 1 2012 through November 30, 2013.

6:30 p.m. – McHenry County College Board of Trustees –

Meeting in the College Board Room, McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake.

The Board is to consider the Fiscal Year 2012 Audit and Management Letter. Also for consideration is a request for emergency repairs to sanitary sewer pipe under Parking Lot B.

Also for consideration is consideration of Chargeback.

7:00 p.m. – McHenry County Board –

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

A number of special recognition and reports are being presented the Board. Included is recognition from the American Planning Association - Illinois Chapter Best Strategic Plan Award for McHenry County Green Infrastructure Plan.

Proclamation Designating October 19 as Senior Services Associates, Inc. Day

Proclamation To Recognize All McHenry County Emergency Management Volunteers for their Thousands of House of Dedication to Emergency Management for the Citizens of McHenry County.

One zoning matter is on the Zoning Board of Appeals consent agenda. This is for McGuire Constant Trust in Grafton Township

The Board is expected to approve a $78,580,000 Levy for the coming year.

7:30 p.m. – Crystal Lake City Council –

Meeting in the Crystal Lake City Council, 100 West Woodstock Street.

Crystal Lake Manor Property Annexations

Six of seven Crystal Lake Manor properties to be annexed to the City will be continued for public hearings. One property at 4914 State Street is being presented to the Council for approval of annexation. 

Festival of Lights Parade –

It’s time for the annual Festival of Lights Parade on November 23 beginning at 5:30p.m.  Parking restrictions are being requested for Council approval for this evening. This will include both sides of Caroline Street between Woodstock Street and Crystal Lake Avenue, on both sides of Paddock Street between Williams Street and Walkup Avenue; and the first two parking spaces on the east side of Grant Street just north of Crystal Lake Avenue.

Objection To Proposed County Zoning Change—

David Hinz, owner and Mixed Media, LLC, of property located at 10216 Route 31, Algonquin, is seeking a variation to allow a sign that is greater than 150 square feet in areas to be setback 65 feet from the residential zoning t the east instead of the County required 100 –foot setback from residential zoning.

This property is in the mile and one –half of the City’s planning jurisdiction. The Council is being requested to approve the objection of the City at the zoning hearing to be held by the County Zoning Board of Appeals on October 18 at 9:00 a.m.

New Retailer Job Creating and Investment Matching Grant

Crystal Lake Furniture & Mattress, 18E Crystal Lake Plaza is requesting a $10,000 matching grant for furniture, fixtures and equipment at 18E Crystal Lake Plaza. The business is planning to expand by moving from the current location in Prairie Grove. The new location was formerly occupied by Thomasville Furniture.

Special Use Permit for 235 Crystal Ridge Drive

The Council is being requested to approve an ordinance granting a special use permit for a pool and deck at 235 Crystal Ridge Drive. The request is recommended for approval by the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission.

Sea Level Diving Variations
Sea Level Diving, located at 296 Liberty Drive is requesting several variations for their planned project to be located at the Liberty Drive location. These variations include deferral of required sidewalk installation until an area wide program is established. The second is a variation from the requirement to install curbing around the parking lot, and the third request is variation from the requirement to have a landscape island at the end of the parking row on the south side and from the requirement to have a landscape island every 10 spaces. According to the petitioner, sidewalk does not exist on either side of the lot, and there are only 11 parking spaces planned.

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial of the petitioner’s sidewalk deferral request. The Commission also recommended approval of the petitioner’s other two requests, adopting an ordinance granting the variation from the curbing and the landscape islands at this location.

Wickenkamp Residential Variation

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial of the request for a variation t allow a covered front porch to encroach 10.8 feet into the required 25.5 foot average front yard setback.

Nagel Simplified Residential Variation
The petitioner is requesting a variation to allow an addition to the residence to encroach into the required front setback and be as close as 10 feet from the front property line instead of the required 35.5 feet.

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial of the request. If the Council has a different opinion, a super majority vote –five votes- - is required to overturn the Planning Commission recommendation.

Harkins Special Use Permit
Redmond Harkins, 73 Lincoln Parkway, desires to build a garage with a full basement on the property.

The Planning –Zoning Commission expressed the opinion that the garage is too large and out of character for the neighborhood. If the Council disagrees and feels that the garage should be constructed, a number of conditions are recommended including, the structure may not be used for living quarters, along with a number of conditions related to placement the garage and size.

The petitioner discussed the requirements with the Building Division  with the decision being made that the floor will be precast concrete with a membrane on top and an added two inches of concrete on the membrane; also the installation of a floor drain to trap any oil, gas, water, etc that might leak onto the floor.

Five positive votes are required by the Council to overturn the Planning Commission negative recommendation.

Traffic Control Options for East Crystal Lake Avenue –

This topic is for discussion only. Additional measures are needed to address concerns related to a median that was required at the East Street intersection near the tracks.

Fall Parkway Tree Planting
The Council is being requested to approve a bid for the purchase of services for the Fall tree planting program. The successful bidder is to supply 167 trees of various species including Emerald Luster Maple, Red Sunset Maple, Norwegian sunset Maple, Green Spire Little Leaf Linden, Honey Locust, Hackberry, and Trident Maple, or equivalents. The successful bidder, Wilson Nurseries, Hampshire, submitted a bid of $11,143.50 for the delivery of the 167 trees to the Municipal Complex.

Maintenance of City Property

A number of bids are being presented for Council approval, all connected with maintenance of City property, include such as bids for bids for snow and ice removal, awarding bids for repair work on a well, painting of wastewater treatment clarifier domes; water treatment contracts.