MCC Annual Fall Student Music Recital Sunday

McHenry County College will present its annual Fall Student Music Recital at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2 in the Luecht Conference Center at McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake

A variety of student performances will include instrumentalists and vocalists performing pieces in a range of styles. Soloists and small ensembles will be featured.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Michael Hillstrom at (815) 479-7814.

Walkup Avenue Construction--Crystal Lake--Continues

North Leg:

On Wednesday afternoon, primecoat (oil) was placed on Crystal Lake Avenue from Anvil Road to the north end of the project in preparation for Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) placement that began Thursday 11/29.  Hot Mix Asphalt placement will continue for the next several days.  Pavement striping for the winter will follow once HMA placement is complete.  Final landscape restoration will be completed following the asphalt placement.

South Leg:

Work will continue on the retaining wall along Walkup Road by Veteran Acres with completion scheduled for late next week.  Curb was placed Thursday 11/29 along Walkup Road from south of Crystal Ridge Drive and on IL Route 176 west of the Walkup Road/IL Route 176 intersection.  Paving of this area will begin early next week.  Also next week, paving will occur on the southbound lanes of Walkup Road from Talismon Drive to Burning Bush Trail.

New Police Chief For Crystal Lake

 A new year will begin in just over a month.

Crystal Lake will have a new police chief seven days later.

Chief David R. Linder will retire after 32 years of serving the City of Crystal Lake Police Department.

City Manager Gary J. Mayorhofer announced the appointment of James R. Black as the new Police Chief for Crystal Lake. Chief Black currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Police for the Village of Downers Grove.

Chief Black will begin his service to the City of Crystal Lake on January 7, 2013. He has served Village of Downers Grove for the past 25 years in the role of Police Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, Operations Lieutenant, and for the past six years as Deputy Chief of Police.

Rakow Road Construction Project Completed

Something not heard very often—PROJECT COMPLETED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

That phrase can be used for the Rakow Road construction project. –it was finished two weeks ahead of schedule. All lanes opened to traffic Friday, November 16.

Rakow Road was widened to four lanes from Illinois 31 to Pyott Road and to six lanes from Pyott to Alexandra Boulevard.   Free-flow right turns were incorporated into the design from both southbound Illinois 31 and southbound Pyott Road onto westbound Rakow Road.

All of the intersections along the project limits were channelized for improved traffic safety and flow. This includes dual left-turn lanes, where deemed necessary, for greater capacity and efficiency.

Now that the roadway has been fully opened, signal timings will be monitored and adjustments will be made to optimize traffic flow to the extent possible.

The project also includes some “green” features. A pedestrian/bicycle path bridge was constructed over Rakow Road just east of Pyott Road to replace the at-grade crossing along Pyott.

The underground drainage system includes the capacity to store stormwater inside the pipes and internal restrictors and sediment traps that control the quantity and quality of the water that flows out. This is a real benefit to the sensitive environmental areas along the project including the Three Oaks Recreation Area and wetlands.

The contractor, Bollinger, Lach Associates, Inc., sends a thank you for the patience of the drivers while this important project was completed.

Words Of Wisdom

"Nothing is more certain than that a general profligacy and corruption of manners make a people ripe for destruction. A good form of government may hold the rotten materials together for some time, but beyond a certain pitch, even the best constitution will be ineffectual, and slavery must ensue."

--John Witherspoon, The Dominion of Providence Over the Passions of Men, 1776

Government At Work

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30 –

8:30 a.m. –McHenry County Board-

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

This is an orientation meeting for the “new” County Board. That is the newly elected members integrating with the continuing members.

1:30 p.m. –McHenry County Board Transportation Committee—

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

The agenda calls for an “old” piece of business, Land Acquisition Management Services

"Dog Sees God-Confessions of Teenage Blockhead"

McHenry County College Drama Club presents “Dog Sees God: Confessions of Teenage Blockhead” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 6, 7 and 8 and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Dec. 8. The show will take place in the Black Box Theatre, Room D167 at the College, 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

The play by Bert V. Royal is directed by MCC student Frank Padour of Crystal Lake. This unauthorized parody of the Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schultz takes a glimpse into the future when Charlie Brown and his friends are 10 years older and encounter modern threats to childhood’s innocence.

They examine questions like “What happens when we die?” as Charlie Brown mourns the death of Snoopy, his pet beagle. The play explores how teenage students address alcohol, drugs, sexuality and prejudice on a daily basis. The play contains graphic and explicit language, violence and sexuality.

Cast members as pictured, from left, front row: Joseph Rice and Jessica Miller, back row, Justine Aparri, Cody Oates, Jake Mathews, Alisha Reid, and Cecelia Long.Tickets are $5 at the door. For more information, call (815) 455-8746.

Illinois Route 31 And Virginia Road Area Open To Traffic

The McHenry County Division of Transportation is announcing that the roadway construction on Illinois Route 31 (IL 31) at Virginia Road/Klasen Road has been completed and that all lanes of traffic will be open on Thursday, November 29th.  Motorists should expect a slight delay the day of the opening as the traffic signals get turned on.  There is a small amount of remaining work to be done after the 29th which will be done using daily lane closures.  The lane closures are expected to last until the middle of December.

Upon completion, the IL 31 @ Virginia Road/Klasen Road Widening and Reconstruction Improvements will tie into the Western Algonquin Bypass Project, connecting a key corridor for the area.  The project along IL 31 has seen many improvements take place because of the construction this year. 

Those include over a mile of new reconstructed concrete pavement with four lanes of traffic and dual left turn lanes at Virginia Road.  The realignment of Virginia Road also was completed with efforts to increase safety at the intersection of IL 31. 

The Klasen Road and Virginia Road intersections at IL 31 received modernized traffic signals.  A new bike path was paved along the entire length of the east side of IL 31.  Over two and a half miles of new storm sewer has been installed to go together with the open-ditch storm water system.

The final landscaping for IL 31 will be completed in the Spring of 2013.  This work will take place under daily lane closures and may also include some small punch-list items. 

The McHenry County Division of Transportation would like to thank you for your patience this past year while the project was being constructed.

Rakow Road Project Finished Two Weeks Ahead Of Schedule

The Rakow Road construction project was finished two weeks ahead of schedule with all lanes opened to traffic on Friday, November 16.  Rakow Road was widened to four lanes from IL 31 to Pyott Road and to six lanes from Pyott to Alexandra Blvd.

Free-flow right turns were incorporated into the design from both southbound IL-31 and southbound Pyott Road onto westbound Rakow Road.  All of the intersections along the project limits were channelized for improved traffic safety and flow and include dual left-turn lanes, where deemed necessary, for greater capacity and efficiency.  Now that the roadway has been fully opened, signal timings will be monitored and adjustments will be made to optimize traffic flow to the extent possible.

The project also includes some “green” features.  A pedestrian/bicycle path bridge was constructed over Rakow Road just east of Pyott Road to replace the at-grade crossing along Pyott.  The underground drainage system includes the capacity to store storm water inside the pipes and also includes internal restrictors and sediment traps that control the quantity and quality of the water that flows out.  This is a real benefit to the sensitive environmental areas along the project including the Three Oaks Recreation Area and wetlands.

Thank you for your patience while this important project was completed!

Words Of Wisdom

"A universal peace, it is to be feared, is in the catalogue of events, which will never exist but in the imaginations of visionary philosophers, or in the breasts of benevolent enthusiasts."
--James Madison, essay in the National Gazette, 1792

Government At Work

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 –

7:30 a.m. – McHenry County Stormwater Commission –

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

The Commission is expected to consider for approval two countywide permits, both which have been revised. Other matters for consideration by the Commission include stormwater and TAC priorities for 2013

9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Technical Advisory Committee—

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

The Committee will consider reports from staff and committees as applicable and discuss next priorities.

1:00 p.m.—McHenry County Board Planning and Development Committee and McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals—

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.
The draft Unified Development Ordinance is to be reviewed by the two groups,  considering the equestrian uses as well as other uses as applicable.

6:00 p.m. –McHenry County College Board of Trustees –

Meeting in the College Board Room, 8900 US Highway 14, Crystal Lake.

The Board is to discuss the estimated 2012 tax levy along with acceptance of closed session minutes for October 16.

7:00 p.m.-- McHenry County College Board of Trustees Regular Board Meeting –

Meeting in the College Board Room, 8900 US Highway 14, Crystal Lake.

Following various committee reports, presentations and the President’s report, a presentation is slated by Mark Kuhlman, Instructor of Biology and Doug Goostree, Instructor of Fire Science will provide a demonstration for the Board.

What Free Speech?

(NaturalNews) What is arguably the very last bastion of totally free speech is once again under assault by the world's tyrants, as the United Nations is now eying regulation of the Internet - as though it was in need of being regulated.

Why? It's an age-old story.

Leaders of authoritarian regimes the world over hate the free flow of information that is disseminated via the Internet. They hate the fact that they no longer have a monopoly on ideas and opinion within their own country. They see notions of freedom and liberty as a threat. They despise any medium that undermines their grip on power. And their regimes are heavily represented in the U.N., of which the United States (once considered the bastion of liberty and freedom) is the largest contributor.

"Who runs the Internet? For now, the answer remains no one, or at least no government, which explains the Web's success as a new technology. But as of next week, unless the U.S. gets serious, the answer could be the United Nations," reports The Wall Street Journal.

Learn more: 

http://www.naturalnews.com038125_United_Nations_internet_global_government.html#ixzz2DX16YD5Z

Walkup Road Work Continues

North Leg: 
Profile grinding to level the pavement will be completed Wednesday 11/28 in the morning.  On Wednesday afternoon, primecoat (oil) will be placed on Crystal Lake Avenue from Anvil Road to the north end of the project in preparation for Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) placement that is scheduled to begin Thursday 11/29.  Pavement striping for the winter will follow once HMA placement is complete.  Final landscape restoration will be completed following the asphalt placement.

South Leg:

Work will continue on the retaining wall along Walkup Road by Veteran Acres with completion scheduled for late next week.  Curb placement is scheduled for Thursday 11/29 along Walkup Road from south of Crystal Ridge Drive and on IL Route 176 west of the Walkup Road/IL Route 176 intersection.  Paving of this area will begin late next week.  Also next week, paving will occur on the southbound lanes of Walkup Road from Talismon Drive to Burning Bush Trail. 

Rakow Roadway System Being Monitored

With Rakow Road recently being opened as a new roadway system, the McHenry County Division of Transportation will be monitoring the entire corridor to see how it functions. 

They will be looking at all of the new traffic signal installations, timings and the “No Turn on Right” requirement for eastbound McHenry Avenue traffic to southbound Randall Road. 

Once the roadways have been operational for a time allowing “normal” traffic patterns to resume, traffic counts will be analyzed to see if adjustments are required.  This will be a continual process. 

All of the signals along Rakow are interconnected in an attempt to make travel along Rakow more efficient, although that comes with some disadvantages for cross road traffic.  Continual attempts will be made to make the entire system as efficient as possible, but that does not mean that all directions of traffic will have continual flow at all times. 

Thank you and enjoy the new road!

Government At Work

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28—

1:00 p.m. – McHenry County Zoning Board --

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. The Zoning Board will conduct a hearing on a request for a reclassification from B-2 Liquor Business District to the R-2 two-family residential district and a variation to allow a lot size of nine acres instead of the required one acre minimum.

3:00 p.m.—McHenry County Ethics Commission—

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. The Ethics Commission is to review the Ethics Ordinance and Operating Procedures as well as received updated information regarding internal training.

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

Meeting in the Ames Meeting Room of the Public Library, 126 Paddock Street, Crystal Lake.

7:00 p.m. – McHenry County Ag Conservation Easement Committee –

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. The Committee is to consider updates on a number of topics including Natural and Environmental Resource Legislation; Transfer of Development Rights, and Open Meetings Act Training.

New Business matters include an update on Unified Development Ordinance, creation of application packets,

7:00 p.m. Valley Hi Nursing Home Operating Board –

Meeting at Valley Hi Nursing Home, 2406 Hartland Road, Woodstock.

The agenda for this meeting includes 2013 Administrator goals, Illinois Department of Public Health Revisit; Illinois Department of Public Health Hearing update; New Illinois Proposal RUGs and Resident and Family Satisfaction Survey; State Minimum Wage Increase Proposal, Obamacare Financial Impact, and Illinois Medicaid Payment Delays.

Free Jazz Concert Wednesday Evening

Like Jazz Music?

A free MCC Jazz Concert is taking place at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday) November 28 in the Luecht Conference Center, McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake.

This free concert will feature the MCC jazz combo and the jazz ensemble and is open to the public.

Largest Organic Peanut Butter Factory In America--Shut By FDA

In the past few years organic food has become a very serious priority for many Americans, much to the dismay of big agriculture industry forces.

One of the primary unspoken functions of the FDA is to prevent this kind of competition from threatening the entrenched companies who have special interest privileges through government relationships.

Since Monsanto dominates the food market worldwide and have many representatives appointed to high places in government this company is the main special interest in Washington when it comes to the food industry.

The most obvious example of this collusion is Michael Taylor, who currently runs the FDA and is actually the former vice president of Monsanto.

The mission statement of this company is to monopolize the food chain and eradicate organic food altogether, so it is not an exaggeration to say that they will use their power in Washington to stomp out their competition, especially with the FDA.

This shutdown of an organic peanut butter factory is just the most recent case of the FDA going after local farms and organic food.

According to mainstream reports this shutdown is related to a string of salmonella infections that were allegedly tied to the peanut butter.  However, even if this is true, an FDA shutdown of this nature is on a very slippery slope, granting the agency even more power over the food market than ever before.

 
The peanut butter factory even voluntarily shut down after infections were reported, with hopes of reopening under stricter conditions and closer attention paid to this specific problem.  Despite these efforts of retribution, their license to operate was still suspended.

The associated press reported that:

“The food safety law gave the FDA authority to suspend a company’s registration when food manufactured or held there has a “reasonable probability” of causing serious health problems or death. Before the food safety law was enacted early last year, the FDA would have had to go to court to suspend a company’s registration.

Sunland had planned to reopen its peanut processing facility on Tuesday and a spokeswoman said before the FDA’s announcement Monday that the company hoped to be selling peanut butter again by the end of the year. The spokeswoman didn’t have immediate comment on the suspension.

The company now has the right to a hearing and must prove to the agency that its facilities are clean enough to reopen.

Michael Taylor, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods, said the FDA’s ability to suspend a registration like this one is a major step forward for the agency.”

There is definitely a need to ensure the safety of our food, but a government agency is not the solution.  As a result of public ostracism, this company was ready to restructure their whole factory anyway, on their own, but the FDA picked an easy target and took the opportunity to exercise their new powers anyway.
 
(From the Intelhub

World AIDS Day - December 1

World AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Day was established in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness and promote advocacy and education about the global AIDS epidemic which is commemorated each year on December 1st.  In observance of World AIDS Day, McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is offering free confidential rapid HIV testing to those individuals at high risk for infection. To determine if you qualify for free testing, call MCDH at 815-334-4847. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 1.2 million Americans are infected.  One in 5 is unaware of their infection, with about 50,000 becoming newly infected every year.  The Illinois Department of Public Health reports there are 123 people in McHenry County living with HIV, 72 of which have advanced to AIDS.  

Ensuring people have the information, motivation, and skills necessary to reduce their risk continues to play an important role in preventing the spread of HIV.  The best way to protect yourself is to know your HIV status and that of your partners.  Most people change behaviors to protect their partners if they know they are infected with HIV.

For more information, visit http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics or call MCDH at 815-334-4500.

Words Of Wisdom

To judge from the history of mankind, we shall be compelled to conclude that the fiery and destructive passions of war reign in the human breast with much more powerful sway than the mild and beneficent sentiments of peace; and that to model our political systems upon speculations of lasting tranquillity would be to calculate on the weaker springs of human character."

 --Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 34, 1788

Welcome To Communist USA

By Mac Slavo
SHTFplan.com

A new effort by the Obama administration, Congress, the Treasury Department and labor unions aims to fundamentally alter how Americans plan and save for retirement.

Warnings have been popping up over the last several years about the possibility of re-appropriating the $3.5 Trillion sitting in private retirement and spreading those funds around to Americans who are deemed less fortunate.

This couldn’t possibly happen in America, right? At one time, most Americans also believed health care mandates that force Americans at the barrel of a gun to surrender portions of their earnings into a universal system for all would never happen. Well, it did.

And now, those who would control and regulate every aspect of our lives are making a new push; one whose efforts will ultimately end in the seizure and redistribution of the personal retirement savings of every American who has ever put money into a 401(k) or IRA.

This is no longer in the realm of conspiracy, but rather, public record.

A recent hearing sponsored by the Treasury and Labor Departments marked the beginning of the Obama Administration’s effort to nationalize the nation’s pension system and to eliminate private retirement accounts including IRA’s and 401k plans, NSC is warning.

The hearing, held in the Labor Department’s main auditorium, was monitored by NSC staff and featured a line up of left-wing activists including one representative of the AFL-CIO who advocated for more government regulation over private retirement accounts and even the establishment of government-sponsored annuities that would take the place of 401k plans.

“This hearing was set up to explore why Americans are not saving as much for their retirement as they could,” explains National Seniors Council National Director Robert Crone, “However, it is clear that this is the first step towards a government takeover. It feels just like the beginning of the debate over health care and we all know how that ended up.”

A representative of the liberal Pension Rights Center, Rebecca Davis, testified that the government needs to get involved because 401k plans and IRAs are unfair to poor people.

She demanded the Obama administration set up a “government-sponsored program administered by the PBGC (the governments’ Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation).”

Such “reforms” would effectively end private retirement accounts in America, Crone warns.

“These people want the government to require that ultimately all Americans buy these government annuities instead of saving or investing on their own.

The Government could then take these trillions of dollars and redistribute it through this new national retirement system.”

“This effort ultimately is designed to grab the retirement nest eggs of America’s senior citizens. This new government annuity scheme, even if it is at first optional, will turn into a giant effort to redistribute the wealth of America’s older citizens,” explains Crone.

“This scheme mirrors what I expect the President will try to do with Social Security. He wants to turn that program into a welfare program, too.”

With the re-election of President Obama, a majority Democrat Senate and powerful organization and lobbying from labor unions, we can fully expect legislation that will shift private accounts into the public coffers  to become reality in the not too distant future.

In fact, the push to mold the perceptions surrounding this issue is already on, as highlighted in a recent Market Watch article which claims to explain the  10 Things 401(k) Plans Won’t Tell You.

Did you know, for example, that 401(k) plans aren’t supposed to provide you with full retirement benefits, and that they were originally intended to be “mere supplements” to other plans, and that they only “benefit the rich?”

Not only that, but according to the article, no one can really tell you how much money you’re going to need; all of those math formulas and expert calculations were all wrong.

Additionally, there are so many hidden fees that you’re losing hundreds of thousands of dollars to Wall Street (most of us knew that one).

And all this time, the millions of Americans who contributed their money to these accounts over the last three decades were under the impression that their accounts would one day grow into a retirement nest egg from which retirees could spend their days in comfort and relaxation.

Nope. We had it all wrong. Private retirement accounts were never actually designed to ensure that you could retire! Only a government managed retirement plan can ensure that you will have the money you need when you turn 59 1/2.

Only they will be able to ensure you don’t pay excessive, hidden fees (even though they could have created legislation to require firms to overtly disclose this information int he first place). And, only the government can provide 100% full retirement coverage, not just supplemental funds.

Oh, and they also know WHEN you should retire, currently 65 years of age.

It’s on folks. They are going to hit Americans from all angles on this one.

First, the political hearings that will claim only the rich are benefiting from private retirement accounts.

Then they’ll point out how stock market crashes and volatility put your money at risk. In fact, if we do have another market crash, look for this to be a key reverberation.

Then they put the spin machine into action, so that you think you’re getting unbiased analysis and truth.

Then they open the guilt spigot and make those who have personal retirement savings wonder if they are being greedy, and those who don’t have savings will direct their anger not just at the rich, but anyone who has put any money away.

Finally, they will pass a bill, which we have to pass first in order to know what’s in it, and it’ll be a done deal.

The government of this country is coming for everything they can get their hands on.

No Organic Food Allowed In USA

By JG Vibes
theintelhub.com
November 27, 2012

In the past few years organic food has become a very serious priority for many Americans, much to the dismay of big agriculture industry forces.

One of the primary unspoken functions of the FDA is to prevent this kind of competition from threatening the entrenched companies who have special interest privileges through government relationships.

Since Monsanto dominates the food market worldwide and have many representatives appointed to high places in government this company is the main special interest in Washington when it comes to the food industry.

The most obvious example of this collusion is Michael Taylor, who currently runs the FDA and is actually the former vice president of Monsanto.

The mission statement of this company is to monopolize the food chain and eradicate organic food altogether, so it is not an exaggeration to say that they will use their power in Washington to stomp out their competition, especially with the FDA.

This shutdown of an organic peanut butter factory is just the most recent case of the FDA going after local farms and organic food.

According to mainstream reports this shutdown is related to a string of salmonella infections that were allegedly tied to the peanut butter.  However, even if this is true, an FDA shutdown of this nature is on a very slippery slope, granting the agency even more power over the food market than ever before.

The peanut butter factory even voluntarily shut down after infections were reported, with hopes of reopening under stricter conditions and closer attention paid to this specific problem.  Despite these efforts of retribution, their license to operate was still suspended.

The associated press reported that:

“The food safety law gave the FDA authority to suspend a company’s registration when food manufactured or held there has a “reasonable probability” of causing serious health problems or death. Before the food safety law was enacted early last year, the FDA would have had to go to court to suspend a company’s registration.

Sunland had planned to reopen its peanut processing facility on Tuesday and a spokeswoman said before the FDA’s announcement Monday that the company hoped to be selling peanut butter again by the end of the year. The spokeswoman didn’t have immediate comment on the suspension.

The company now has the right to a hearing and must prove to the agency that its facilities are clean enough to reopen.

Michael Taylor, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods, said the FDA’s ability to suspend a registration like this one is a major step forward for the agency.”

There is definitely a need to ensure the safety of our food, but a government agency is not the solution.  As a result of public ostracism, this company was ready to restructure their whole factory anyway, on their own, but the FDA picked an easy target and took the opportunity to exercise their new powers anyway.

Government At Work - Tuesday

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 –

9:00 a.m. McHenry County Board Finance and Audit Committee –

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

The Committee is to consider nine resolutions providing:

• Acceptance of Sustained Traffic enforcement Program
• Accepting Grants from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for the Sheriff’s Office for Child Passenger Safety Program
• Authorizing a Two Year Contract with Geographic Information Services, Inc. (GISi) for GIS Consulting Services to Support the County's Geographic Information System
• Authorizing the Purchase of a HP EVA6350 Storage Area Network
• Authorizing the Renewal of the IFMS Performance Series Accounting Software Maintenance Contract with Cogsdale Holdings, Ltd. for Fiscal Year 2013
• Authorizing a Telephone Switch Maintenance Agreement with Mac Source Communications Inc. for Fiscal Year 2013
• Authorizing Renewal of a Multi Function Peripheral Service and Supply Maintenance Contract with Stan's Office Technologies for Fiscal Year 2013 routing change
• Authorizing the Annual Maintenance & Support Renewal Contract with Hyland Software for the OnBase Document Imaging System for Fiscal Year 2013
• Authorizing a Citrix XenApp Platinum Edition Software Maintenance Contract Renewal with Citrix Systems, Inc. For Fiscal Year 2013

 10:00 a.m. McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals –

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

The Zoning Board is to consider a petition regarding the Strauss Trust in Hartland Township. A request is being made for the renewal of a Conditional Use Permit to allow a landscape business to be run on the property and the use of the one-story barn located on the property as an office.

Also being requested is allowing  the outdoor and indoor storage of commercial equipment and vehicles on the property in question with an amendment to allow the storage of mulch and firewood

A conditional use is being requested to allow Creekside Landscape Development to sell firewood to its landscape customers and to provide snowplowing and shoveling services to the public.

7:00 p.m. – Crystal Lake Public Library Board of Trustees Finance Committee--

Meeting in the Library Director Office of the Public Library , 126 Paddock Street, Crystal Lake.

7:00 p.m. – Lakewood Village Board –

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

In addition to the necessary routine items on the agenda, the Board will also consider a presentation by the Lake Savers regarding the Turnberry Lakes

Words Of Wisdom

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."

--John Adams (1770)

Government At Work - Monday

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26—

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

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

The Committee will be considering seven resolutions dealing with services for the county such as GIS Consulting Services, Software Maintenance, Multi-functional peripheral Service and Supply Maintenance Control, Telephone Switch Maintenance Agreement, Accounting maintenance Contract and Storage Area Network.

1:30 p.m.—McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals –

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

The Zoning Board is to consider a reclassification from the B-2 Liquor Business District to the R-2 Two-Family Residential District for property location in Chemung Township.

6:00 p.m. – McHenry County Board of Health Personnel Committee –

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

The Board is handling the annual review of the County Health Administrator and is conducted in executive session.

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

The public meeting of the Board of Health is conducted in the same location, 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock.

The Board of Health is expected to consider a number of contracts for renewal including

IDPH Vision and Hearing Screening Grant ($11,300)

Metro Infectious ($250 per hr)

Lake McHenry Pathology Associates (reimbursement for services)

DHS – Family Case Management Amendment

Also to be considered are new contracts including: 

• Delta Dental of IL Foundation Grant  ($9,000)
• Shelly Nicholson Contractual Agreement ($22.00 per hr)
• Mini Grant Agreement (We Choose Health Initiative) (amount will vary)
• Dental Needs Assessment U0f I ($30,935)

The program highlight for this meeting is  Early Identification of Children’s (0-24 months) Developmental Concerns

Matters for Board discussion and possible action include:

• FY 2013 Staff Merit Increase
• Election of Board of Health Officers for 2013
• Board of Health Meeting Dates for 2013

Budget For McHenry County Government

A new fiscal year for McHenry County Government (and the citizens in McHenry County) begins December 1. A budget for the new year was adopted by the County Board at its November 20 County Board meeting.

Highlights of the proposed FY13 Budget are noted below.

In developing the FY13 Budget, McHenry County maintained the professional, conservative approach to budgeting that earned an Aaa bond rating from Moody’s Investor Services.  McHenry County is one of only three counties in Illinois (also Lake & DuPage) to have earned in this distinction.

The McHenry County Board directed staff not to capture the allowable inflationary growth in the property tax extension.  The County is collecting $2.3 million less than is allowable under tax cap law.

The proposed FY13 Budget is $250,077,103.  This compares to the current FY12 Budget which was approved at $256,714,170.

In developing the FY13 Budget, the County is responding to a revenue environment that continues to be challenging with a corresponding control on expenses.

There are no dramatic cuts to services, but as in recent years, there are adjustments and reductions in almost all areas of County Government.

The proposed FY13 Budget maintains compensation parity between union and non-union employees.

Through an active management of the employee roster, there are 83 positions that have now been eliminated since 2009 and 19 positions have been added to the roster through consolidation and rethinking responsibilities.  The result is 64 fewer positions than three years ago.

A copy of the proposed McHenry County FY13 Budget can be found in the County Clerk’s Office or on the County website at www.co.mchenry.il.us under “Quick Links”. For more information, please contact Adam Lehmann at 815-334-0309.

Words Of Wisdom

'Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."

--John Adams (1770)