Words Of Wisdom

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined."

 --Patrick Henry, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788

Congressman Report To The 8th District Constituents

Next Monday, July 30, Small Business Chairman Sam Graves will join Rep. Joe Walsh-R-8^th District for a visit to the District.

As Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access, I have worked with Chairman Graves throughout the past year and a half to help American small businesses grow and create jobs in this tough economic climate.

We will be hosting a small business town hall meeting at Roosevelt University’s Schaumburg campus from 6:30-8:00pm located at 1400 North Roosevelt Boulevard in Schaumburg. Since seats are limited, RSVP your attendance if possible to (847) 973-9341. You can find more details here.

This week I voted with my colleagues to pass Rep. Ron Paul's Federal Reserve Transparency Act. This legislation directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct an audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve banks. Since its inception, the Federal Reserve has operated in the shadows without any scrutiny or oversight of its operations and the American people have a right to know how their tax dollars are being used. You can find more on this legislation here.

I also voted in favor of the Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act, which passed by a vote of 245-172. This bill is a package of seven bills aimed at providing additional regulatory relief from the big government red tape that continues to burden our small businesses.  The bill imposes a freeze on economically significant regulations that harm the economy until unemployment reaches 6% or below and also permanently prevents “lame duck” administrations from issuing economically significant regulations. You can find more on this legislation here.

Finally, my staff will hold mobile office hours every Friday from 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. at the Schaumburg Township Center, One Illinois Blvd. Hoffman Estates, IL. If you cannot make it to one of my district offices, let us come to you!

Walkup Road And Illinois 176 Construction Area

Roadway construction continues on the east side of Walkup and the south side of IL Route 176.

Storm sewer installation also continues on the south side of IL Route 176 and at the north section of the project.

Temporary seed and blanket is being installed for erosion control.

Your continued patience is appreciated.

Please Drive Safely!

Visit www.walkuproad.com for more information on the project.

Green Drinks McHenry County -- Wednesday

The public is invited to Green Drinks McHenry County on Wednesday, August 1st from 5pm-7pm at Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N Main Street in Crystal Lake.

This month’s presentation will be by Dave Griffith, the Regional Forester for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, who will speak about the big green menace - the Emerald Ash Borer - and other pest species coming our way and what to do.

He will also talk about the Illinois Forestry Development Act program and what they can offer to land owners to assist in management planning of existing woodlands (or starting from scratch) on their property.

Order a drink or some food at the bar before coming upstairs for info and inspiration, business and pleasure. Come talk about “greening” the future with others. Must be 21 to purchase alcohol - non-alcoholic drinks are available, of course!

There will be an information table set up, and you are welcome to bring information about your green products and services each month to share.

Additional parking is available at the train station.

To be added to their email list, send a note to: GreenDrinksMC@gmail.com or “like” the group on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/GreenDrinksMcHenryCounty.

Words Of Wisdom

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined."

 --Patrick Henry, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788

West Beach On Crystal Lake Closing Sunday, July 29

Sunday, July 29 (at dusk) will be the last day that West Beach (2330 Lake Avenue) is open for swimming for the season. When beachgoers return for the summer 2013 season they will be greeted with a newly constructed West Beach building.

Demolition of the existing building will begin during the week of July 30. Construction will continue August-February with a tentative project completion date of March 1.

 Project updates will be available on the Crystal Lake Park District website at www.crystallakeparks.org/News-Cafe/project-updates.htm

Areas of the beach not under construction, including grassy areas, boat gate, playground and picnic area will still be available to the public. A public entrance will be available near the playground. During construction there will be limited public parking. Restroom facilities will be available but are limited to a port-a-potty.

For further information about the West Beach renovation project, please contact Ann Viger at (815) 459-0680, ext. 205, aviger@crystallakeparks.org. 

Setting A Residential Fire Can Result In Serious Charges

Carrie Gil, 46, formerly of Crystal Lake, was sentenced to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of Attempt 1^st Degree Murder and 12 years for Aggravated Arson.

The sentences will run concurrently and the Defendant will be required to serve 85% of the sentencing term pursuant to truth in sentencing provisions.

McHenry County State’s Attorney, in making the announcement, notes that the case was investigated by the Crystal Lake Police and Fire Departments with assistance from the State Fire Marshal’s Office as well as the United State Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Illinois State police provided experts to explain the use of an accelerant to start the fire and to associate paint from inside the residence to graffiti on the garage and screen doors outside the house.

The investigation also revealed multiple death spells within the defendant’s laptop computer which matched verbatim with handwritten notes linked to the defendant by a forensic document examiner from the Illinois State Police.

The case was prosecuted by David Johnston and Sharyl Eisenstein of the McHenry County States Attorney’s Office.

Life In The Big Ten

"The Board finds the punitive sanctions difficult and the process with the NCAA unfortunate. But as we understand it, the alternatives were worse as confirmed by NCAA President Mark Emmert's recent statement that Penn State was likely facing a multi-year death sentence. The University and Board resolve to move forward together to recognize the historical excellence in Penn State's academic and athletic programs.

“We anticipate and look forward to demonstrating our outstanding performance in complying with the sanctions. We continue to recognize the important role that intercollegiate athletics provides for our student athletes and the wider University community as we strive to appropriately balance academic and athletic accomplishments.

“Penn State will remain a world-class educational institution of which our students, faculty, staff and alumni can be justifiably proud. The commitment demonstrated by our student athletes in recent days embodies all that is good about Penn State and we look forward to unprecedented support by the Nittany nation when we take the field this fall."

Read the full story on Live: http://live.psu.edu/story/60509#nw1

The above report comes from Penn State regarding the recent negative news about the institution. It is a sad day that the punitive actions appear to be more toward downgrading the entire institution rather than the perpetrators of the unfortunate event.

Although this is not something taking place in Chicagoland area, this information is of interest to the Town Crier. We spent ten years at Penn State main campus between 1988 -1998—first as a graduate student and then working for the Public Radio Station. There are probably others in the Chicagoland area with an interest in what takes place with Penn State. It is sad that academics must suffer when grownups become criminals.

We happened to have saved an AP story which appeared in November 2011 when the incidents were first made “public”. According to that report, Paterno reported the information given him by a Graduate Assistant Coach to the police and his immediate superiors. The case was also handled by the State’s Attorney at that time. Why it is now necessary to castigate the entire university is hard to understand. 

Pyott and Rakow Roads Traffic Alert For Next Week

Traffic at the Pyott Road/Rakow Road intersection will be affected by work on Monday night, July 30th, into the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 31st. 

The temporary asphalt ramps that have been in place will be removed.  Work will begin at 7pm Monday night and continue until 5am Tuesday morning. 

During the work, the traffic signals will be set to flashing red and flaggers will be posted at each leg of the intersection.  Although the flaggers will try to minimize the disruptions to traffic as much as possible, please be prepared for delays while this work is performed. 

Thank you for your continued patience.

Use It Again Sale Begins Today

Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is holding their summer “Use It Again” garage sale beginning today at 8am until 7pm and on Friday and Saturday from 8am until 3 pm.

The location is the Algonquin Township Road District garage, 3701 U.S. Route 14, just beyond the point where Route 14 turns from an eastward direction to a southerly direction. The Algonquin Township facility is located on the left-hand side of Route 14.

Drive to the back of the property to the beige garage on the right. 

Words Of Wisdom

My construction of the constitution is very different from that you quote. It is that each department is truly independent of the others, and has an equal right to decide for itself what is the meaning of the constitution in the cases submitted to its action; and especially, where it is to act ultimately and without appeal." –

Thomas Jefferson, letter to Samuel Adams Wells, 1819

Government At Work

THURSDAY, JULY 26—

7:30 a.m. McHenry County Stormwater Commission –
Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, -- County administration Building, 667 Ware Rod, Woodstock.

The Commission is to consider a Department of Homeland Security Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program –Region VFY2012 Grant (Floodplain Studies)

TAC Bylaw   Changes as well as TAC Membership changes are to be considered.

Barrington Hills Certification Conditions is another item to be considered.

Items for discussion include Reorganization to the Water Resources Division, and Stormwater Tasks Prioritization.

A report from the TAC Chairman Graig Neville, of Manhard Consulting is also slated.

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board, Legislative Committee –

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

New businesses matters include DuPage County Referendum on Holding Two or More Public Elected Offices;
Discussion on County Board Term Lengths
Compliance with Requirement to Place Compensation on the Internet
Public Safety Fee – Fox Waterway Agency

Other matters for the Committee to consider include State and Federal Legislative updates.

9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Board Technical Advisory Committee --
Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

Several matters of Old Business are slated to be handled including Countywide Permit #1, including In-Ground Pools, Demolition, Replacement Septic, Drainage Maintenance, Removal of Obstructions and Dredging,

Countywide Permit #2 – Applies to development consisting of sidewalks, trails, and patios, boardwalks, pools, demolition and replacement septic systems.””

A user guide for McHenry County Runoff Volume Reduction Spreadsheet Tool is being presented to the Committee for consideration.

New business to be handled includes TAC Appointments. 

Words Of Wisdom

"Wish not so much to live long as to live well."

--Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack, 1746

Government At Work - Tuesday Evening

TUESDAY, JULY 24—

7:00 p.m. – Finance Committee of the Crystal Lake Library Board of Trustees -- is being held in the Library Directors office of the Library, 26 Paddock Street, Crystal Lake.

7:00 p.m. – Lakewood Village Board –

Meeting in RedTail Golf Club, 7900 Red Tail Drive, Lakewood.

In addition to approving bills, the Board is also requested to approve the Village Financial Statements, RedTail Golf Club Financial Statements and Lake Patrol Financial Statements for the periods May 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012.

Several items involving local match for street improvements are being presented to the Board for approval. These include improvements through the McHenry County Council of Mayors surface Transportation Program.

The Board is to consider an ordinance amending a prior ordinance regarding Zoning variations at 510 South Shore Drive.

Approval is being requested for National Power Rodding Corporation to Perform 2012 Storm Sewer Cleaning and Televising Services for an amount of $9,678.50.

An Ordinance is being presented for approval amending Section 15.12 Watercraft, Recreation Vehicle and Snowmobile Parking, and Appendix A, Definitions of the Lakewood Municipal Code.

7:30 p.m. – Community High School District 155 Board –

Meeting in the Center For Education, One South Virginia Road, Crystal Lake.

In addition to payment of bills, a report regarding Board Policy revisions, a number of resignations and retirement of staff is to be handled by the Board.

7:00 p.m. – Crystal Lake Public Library Board Finance Committee—

Meeting in the Library Director’s Office

The agenda for this meeting includes Per Capita Grant required reviews of IL Library Law and Rules, and supplemental taxes.

Under the topic of cash management the Committee will consider fund balance investment strategies.

In the realm of Capital Project, the committee will consider a fundraising consultant RFP, Capital costs and operating costs.

Words Of Wisdom

"The American war is over; but this far from being the case with the American revolution. On the contrary, nothing but the first act of the drama is closed. It remains yet to establish and perfect our new forms of government, and to prepare the principles, morals, and manners of our citizens for these forms of government after they are established and brought to perfection." --Benjamin Rush, letter to Price, 1786

Government At Work

TUESDAY, JULY 24—

9:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board, Finance & Audit Committee –

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

The Committee is to consider a number of resolutions including:

Resolution Authorizing Monthly Transactions for the Delinquent Tax Program... The County is to receive $184.38 as the amount due after other expenses were distributed for a parcel of property for which $650 in taxes were collection. The balance was for fees paid to the County Clerk, Recorder/Secretary of State, and the agent handling the matter.

The Committee is to accept an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste Enforcement Grant in the amount of
$41,622.49.

Other matters are being present the Committee for approval—Resolution authorizing the Symantec Software Maintenance and Support Agreement renewal. Also for consideration by the committee is a Resolution authorizing entering into an agreement with Andy Frain Services, Inc. for security Services for the McHenry County Administration Building.

Other matters to be considered by the Committee include reports from the Auditor, Contingency Reports, Economic Development Corporation and Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Comfort for the occupants of the Department of Transportation building on Nelson Road can expect some measure of comfort with a grant of $1,160 from the Illinois Department of Commerce Economic Opportunity.

Currently the building lacks automated control features to coordinate and reduce heating and air-conditioning usage of the building space. The grant money is to be used toward making the building energy efficient. This is not to exceed a projected cost of $35,700 to add automation to the HVAC systems at the McDOT Office building. It is estimated this will provide an annual energy saving of about $4,800 per year. Perhaps the most important aspect of this project is the comfort it will provide for the occupants.

Software Maintenance and Support Agreement Renewal

The Committee is to consider a $35,057 contract with Zones, Inc. of Auburn, WA. This maintenance and support contract covers technical support and subscriptions to the Symantec software platforms from September 27, 2012 through September 26, 2013. This system enables archiving of County email and file system content.

Security Services for McHenry County Administration Building

The current contract for private security services for the McHenry County Administration Building is to expire November 30 of this year. Eight of 16 potential bidders responded to the County’s request for bids.

Andy Frain Services, Inc. was the most responsive and responsible bidder. This is the current provider of these services for the Administration Building.  The monthly base price for this service from December 1, 2012 through Novembe30, 2013 is $6,627.20 for 95 hours per week, with a fixes hourly rate of $17.44 per hour personnel for any staffed time beyond the regular daytime shift.

The rate December 1, 2013 through November 30, 2014 is a fixed price of $6,760.20 for providing security during regular daytime shift with a fixed hourly rate of $17.79 per hour personnel for any staffed time beyond the regular daytime shift.

For the period December 1, 2014 through November 30, 2015, the monthly base price of $6,897 for regular daytime hours of 95 hours per week. A rate of $18.15 per hours for any staffed time beyond the regular daytime hours. Holidays paid and not worked will be billed at the regular hourly rate. These include New Years Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Words Of Wisdom

My construction of the constitution is very different from that you quote. It is that each department is truly independent of the others, and has an equal right to decide for itself what is the meaning of the constitution in the cases submitted to its action; and especially, where it is to act ultimately and without appeal." –

Thomas Jefferson, letter to Samuel Adams Wells, 1819

New Board Member For Crystal Lake Park District

Crystal Lake Park Board Commissioners welcomed a new Board Member at the last meeting held Thursday, July 19. Carolyn Bachour Chemaly is replacing Richard Passavant, who resigned as his family moved to a new home located outside the district boundaries.

The Board approved design services for new entrance doors at five locations in the District. These include:
Administrative Office on Crystal Lake Avenue and Walkup Avenue – both sets of entrance doors;

• Park Place --parking lot entrance doors for this former American Legion Building, 406 West Woodstock Street;
• Lippold Park Family Golf Center, Route 176, building entrance doors on deckside
• Nature Center  -330 North Main Street, two doors facing Veterans Acres pond;
• Racket Club, 9101 South Route 31, exterior doors at main entrance

Each door location is unique and requires that custom design drawings be developed for each set. Construction drawings are needed to obtain building permits and competitive pricing for installation.

Park District Commissioners approved a proposal submitted by Apex Project Management for an amount not to exceed $16,700 for design services for the new entrance doors.

Other upgrades to park properties as approved by the Board include:

• Design engineering services as proposed by Civiltech Engineering, Inc. for miscellaneous concrete and asphalt projects to address ADA deficiencies.
• A proposal submitted by Civiltech Engineering, Inc. for design engineering services for the parking lot and driveway at Grand Oaks Recreation Center, Route 176 for an amount of $4,925;
• An Ordinance authorizing the issuance of $3 million General Obligation Park Bonds (Alternative Revenue  Source) This is used to pay for general park and district improvements. This funding is utilized for park improvements.

Why McHenry County Has Aaa Bond Rating

McHenry County is recognized as a good steward of taxpayer funds through conservative budget practices.  This has allowed the County to obtain and maintain an Aaa bond rating through Moody’s Financial Services.  The strength behind the County’s success is not only the result of the policies set by the elected officials but also the innovative, dedicated and creative employees that make up the McHenry County Government workforce. 

McHenry County Government employees are continually finding ways to challenge the status quo of service delivery by working collaboratively with fellow employees across department lines and other local governments.

A recent collaboration that exemplifies this is the development of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Crime Mapping Program.  The development of a mapping system with an outside vendor could have potentially cost thousands of dollars.  The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) instead chose to challenge the McHenry County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Department to create this program. 

Over the span of a six month period, the GIS Department took a complicated idea from conceptualization to a crime mapping program that allows the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office to fight crime smarter. 

The MCSO Crime Mapping Program includes a public use site where the general public can review crime trends in County jurisdiction and send tips to CrimeStoppers anonymously. “Tips from the public have always been an important part of fighting crime,” stated Undersheriff Andy Zinke. “This new website, created by the County’s GIS Department provides the public a powerful new tool in their efforts to help law enforcement.” 

The MCSO Crime Mapping Program also includes an internal crime map that is very user friendly and is now used to create monthly crime trend reports in minutes (saving the MCSO Intelligence Unit about 30 man hours each month).  It is also used to create daily and weekly crime reports that each shift commander can use to allocate their resources more efficiently to provide the citizens of McHenry County with even higher quality public safety.  The McHenry County Emergency Telephone System Board also worked on this collaboration by providing data for the MCSO Crime Mapping Program.

The MCSO Crime Mapping Program can be found on the Sheriff’s website ( www.mchenrysheriff.org) under the “Crime Mapping” tab.  For more information, please contact Adam Lehmann at 815-334-0309 or aflehmann@co.mchenry.il.us.

Government At Work

MONDAY, JULY 23 --\

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Management Services Committee –

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

A presentation is scheduled regarding Strategic Planning for the County as presented by the Northern Illinois University Center for Governmental Studies.

The County is preparing to update its three-year strategic plan and NIU Center for Governmental Studies is assisting. The study will involve a community-wide online survey, district level meetings and community wide focus groups.

According to the plan proposal, the final draft report is to be completed by June or July of 2013. The total project cost is estimated at $23,250.

11:00 a.m. – McHenry County Board Transportation Committee –

Meeting at the Division of Transportation Main Conference Room, 16111 Nelson Road, Woodstock.

A discussion is scheduled regarding The Randall Road Project.

7:00 p.m. -- Historic Preservation Commission --

Meeting in the P & D Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. 

A guest, Shirley Beene, slated to appear before the Commission.

The only action item is the Trout valley Pool Landmarking. 

7:00 p.m. – McHenry County Board of Health –

Meeting in the McHenry County Department of Health, 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock.

Several grants are being presented for the Board’s acceptance. These include an IDPH Local Health Protection Grant, IEPA Solid Waste Management Grant and IPHA HIV Prevention Grant.

Also being presented for the Board’s approval is a contractual agreement for Elizabeth Hackett, All Kids Application Agent Assistance Program, and IDPH Cities Readiness Initiative Amendment.

A new contract being presented for the Board’s approval is an IDHS Illinois Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program.

A Power Point presentation on Behavioral Safety Net Task Force is to be presented. 

Words Of Wisdom

"The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale."

 --Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Taylor, 1816