Words Of Wisdom

"[A]mbitious encroachments of the federal government, on the authority of the State governments, would not excite the opposition of a single State, or of a few States only. They would be signals of general alarm."

 --James Madison, Federalist No. 46, 1788

Commencement At MCC -- Saturday Morning

WHERE:       MCC Gym/Multi-Purpose Room in Building A                    

WHEN:          10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15

Description: McHenry County College’s 54th Commencement will honor students who have earned associate degrees and/or certificates in 2012 summer and fall semester.

Tracy Silva of Woodstock has been selected as the student speaker for the commencement ceremony.

MCC President Vicky Smith, Ed.D. will welcome guests and Elaine Whalen, instructor of Health and Fitness Education, will give the “faculty charge” speech.

Government At Work

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14 –

9:00 a.m. –McHenry County Board Committee on Committees –

Meeting in the Conference Room, McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.
One item of new business is to be considered – Review Consideration of Committee Reorganization and Appointments.

Words Of Wisdom

"There is not a single instance in history in which civil liberty was lost, and religious liberty preserved entire. If therefore we yield up our temporal property, we at the same time deliver the conscience into bondage."

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

Government At Work

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13

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

Meeting is cancelled.

9:00 McHenry County Board Continuum of Care Committee—

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

The Committee is expected to discus administration and management structure as well as organization structure.

Other discussions are also anticipated as need regarding such as administration funds, coordinated assessments, permanent shelter and hear reports as applicable.

7:30 p.m. –Crystal Lake Park Board of Commissioners-

Meeting in the Park District offices, One East Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake.

The Board is expected to adopt the Tax Levy Ordinance for the coming year.

Also, consider matters regarding construction projects including West Beach Construction Change Order, Door Replacement Projects bid.

Other matters for Board consideration include: personnel policy change, approval of Park Board meeting dates for the coming year.

Leadership Award For McDOT Maintenance Superintendent

McHenry County Division of Transportation Maintenance Superintendent Mark DeVries was recently awarded the American Public Works Association (APWA) Presidential Leadership Award for 2012.

 
This award is an extraordinary commemoration and is awarded at the discretion of the APWA President to someone who has distinguished himself or herself in the public works profession.  Past recipients of this prestigious award include former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters. 

 Mark received the award at the APWA Congress and Expo held in Anaheim, CA this past  August. This is an annual gathering of APWA members from across the world.  APWA is the largest international organization of its kind with over 28,000 members and serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy, and exchange of knowledge.

The Presidential Leadership Award is the highest award APWA bestows upon an individual.  Mark is being recognized as he has been an exemplary professional in snow and ice, and winter maintenance and safety.  

His efforts in the public works profession are felt not only here locally in McHenry County but throughout Illinois, the entire United States, and internationally. His passion, enthusiasm and willingness to share his expertise with others in the profession are unparalleled in his field. 

 Mark has worked for the McHenry County Division of Transportation since 1984 and has been Maintenance Superintendent since 2001.  He chairs APWA’s Winter Maintenance Subcommittee and the Excellence in Snow and Ice Control Award Committee. Mark has shared his experiences with local agencies as well at local seminars and expos. He also assists the Illinois Local Technology Transfer Program and teaches flagging safety and snow and ice removal for new operators for many local agencies in northern Illinois. 

In 2010, Mark was also recognized as one of APWA’s Top Ten Public Leader of the Year.

About APWA

The American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 28,500 members involved in the field of public works.  APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, has an office in Washington, D.C. and 63 chapters in North America.

Want To Quit Smoking?

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) and Centegra Health System are partnering to offer a once-a-week quit smoking class for adults. The classes will teach practical ways to end nicotine addiction through group support and behavior modification.  It will also review nicotine replacement products that are currently on the market.

Instruction is provided by MCDH staff that are trained in the American Lung Association’s “Freedom from Smoking” program.

Classes will be held at Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center in Crystal Lake, located at 200 Congress Parkway, Wednesdays, from 6pm-7:30pm. A $25 course fee, payable at the first class, is refundable if all seven sessions are attended. Class members will also receive a free 3-day pass to the Health Bridge Fitness Center
Quitting smoking can add up to measurable savings - $2,500 a year for those who smoke one-pack a day as well as the money saved on healthcare costs. For more information, and to register, call 1-877-CENTEGRA, or visit www.mcdh.info.  To speak with a counselor immediately, call the Illinois Tobacco Quitline at 1-866-QUIT-YES

Government At Work

WEDNESDAY, December 12 –

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Natural and Environmental Resources Committee –

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

A groundwater resources overview is scheduled to be provided the committee regarding Groundwater Resources Management and Stormwater Management.

Also to be presented is information regarding Emergency Management Services including Natural Hazard Mitigation Planning, Solid Waste Program Planning and Agricultural Easement Commission.

Other business matters include’

Next steps to address continuing drought conditions

Information needs of board members

The continuing issue of need for noise ordinance regulation

11:00 a.m.—McHenry County Board Liquor-License Committee –

Meeting cancelled.

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

Scheduled hearing regarding Master-One Transportation Inc. in Dorr Township is cancelled.

2:00 p.m. – McHenry County Groundwater Task Force-

No information available.

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

Meeting in the Library Director’s Office at the Crystal Lake Public Library, 26 Paddock Street, Crystal Lake.

Words Of Wisdom

"There is not a single instance in history in which civil liberty was lost, and religious liberty preserved entire. If therefore we yield up our temporal property, we at the same time deliver the conscience into bondage."

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

Walkup Road Construction Update

Here’s what is happening on the Walkup Road construction:

South Section:

Pavement Striping of the lanes to the new (temporary) configuration for the winter months continues today.  Landscaping and cleanup will continue and be completed by 12/21/2012.

North Section:

Pavement Striping of the lanes to the new (temporary) configuration for the winter months continues today.  Landscaping and cleanup will continue and be completed by 12/21/2012.

Words Of Wisdom

"I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power."
 --Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Charles Jarvis, 1820

Government At Work

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11—

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Human Resources Committee—

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

Meeting Cancelled

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

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

Meeting Cancelled

11:00 a.m. – McHenry County Liquor & License Committee

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

Meeting Cancelled

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

Committee of the Whole, meeting in the Board of Trustees Room of the College, 8900 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake.

Following discussion of the November Financial Reports, the Board is to be advised regarding parking lot B and D reconstruction.

Also a report on the exterior lighting project as presented by Greg Evans, Assistant Vice President, Physical Facilities.

MCC Trustee Ron Parish is to report to the board regarding Public-Private Partnership.

Dr. Tony Miksa, MCC Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs is slated to report on the Childcare Center Request for Proposals.

The next phase of desktop virtualization is to be presented to the Trustees by Dr. Allen Butler, Chief Information Officer.

7:00 p.m. – Community High School District 155 Board of Education—

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

This Special Meeting will be conducted in Executive Session regarding Student discipline.

7:00 p.m. – Village of Lakewood Board of Trustees –

Meeting in the RedTail Golf Club, 7901 Red Tail Drive, Lakewood

In addition to approval of bills and financial statements, the Board is to consider:

• Approving the National Bridge Inspection Standards Program work order with Baxter & Woodman in the amount of $3,200.
• Approval of an Ordinance for the Levy of Taxes for the Village for 2012.
• Approval of an Ordinance Levying Taxes for Special Service Area Number 1(Turnberry Lakes) for the 2012 Tax Year  
• Approval of an Ordinance Levying Taxes for Special Service Area Number 2 Brighton Oaks for the 2012 Tax Year.
• Approval of An Ordinance Levying Taxes for Special Service Area Number 3 –Westlake Woods for the 2012 Tax Year.
• Approval of an Ordinance Levying Taxes for Special Service Area Number 4 –Hidden Lakes--for the 2012 Tax Year.
• Approval of an  Ordinance Levying Taxes for Special Service Area Number 5 –The Reserves of Lakewood-- in the Village of Lakewood for the 2012 Tax Year.
• Approval of an Ordinance Levying Taxes for Special Service Area Number 6-Cambria Subdivision--in the Village of Lakewood for the 2012 Tax Year
• Approval of an Ordinance Levying Taxes  for Special Service Area Number 7 –Woodland Hills and Autumn Ridge--in the Village of Lakewood for the 2012 Tax Year.
• Approval of an Ordinance Increasing the Street and Bridge Fund Levy for the 2012 Levy Extended in 2013
• Approval of an Ordinance Abating Taxes Levied to Pay Principal of and Interest on Certain General Obligation Bonds including:  (Alternate Revenue Source) Series 2010A, of the Village of Lakewood and (Waterworks and Sewerage Refunding Bonds)
• Approval of an Ordinance Abating Taxes Levied to Pay Principal of and Interest on Certain General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source) Series 2010B, of the Village of Lakewood (Waterworks and Sewerage Bonds)
• Approval of an Ordinance Authorizing the Abatement of Taxes on Certain Properties Annexed to the Village of Lakewood Pursuant to 35 ILCS 200-18/184
• Approval of an Ordinance Authorizing the Abatement of Taxes on Certain Property Annexed to the Village of Lakewood Pursuant to 35 ILCS 200-18-184
• Accept Public Improvements for the Highlands at RedTail Subdivision 

Holiday Hours For Crystal Lake Library

The Crystal Lake Public Library will be closed on Monday, December 24 through Tuesday, December 25, 2012 for the Christmas holiday.  The Library will re-open to the public at 9:00 am Wednesday, December 26, 2012.

The Last Word

Note: We could not help but want to share this—found on “The Patriot Post” 
http://patriotpost.us/editions/15824/

"[I]n a republic governed by 'we, the people,' when the President of the United States wishes to watch a film, there are two full-time movie projectionists who live at the White House and are on call round the clock, in case he's overcome by a sudden urge to watch Esther Williams in 'Dangerous When Wet' (1953) at two in the morning. ... In his recent book 'Presidential Perks Gone Royal,' Robert Keith Gray, a former Eisenhower staffer, revealed that last year the U.S. presidency cost American taxpayers $1.4 billion. Over the same period, the entire Royal Family cost British taxpayers about $57 million. There's nothing 'royal' about the current level of 'presidential perks': the Obama family costs taxpayers more than every European royal house put together. In the American republic, even the dogs cost more. ... In contrast to the stingy remuneration offered by the Royal Household, the presidential dog-walker is one of 226 White House staff earning over $100,000 a year. For many centuries, the King had a courtier whose somewhat intimate duties were reflected in his title: the Groom of the Stool, a position abolished in 1559. Now, after two and a third centuries, the American Presidency has evolved to the point that it has a full-time six-figure Groom of the Canine Stool. Will he be accompanying the President on Air Force One to liaise with the Keeper of the Privy Flatscreen over screenings of 'Lassie'?" --columnist Mark Steyn

Words Of Wisdom

"It already appears, that there must be in every society of men superiors and inferiors, because God has laid in the constitution and course of nature the foundations of the distinction."

 --John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776

Gift Ideas From MCC

Looking for a holiday gift or stocking stuffer for under $10? The McHenry County College Staff Council is selling “Recipes for the Heart from the Heart,” a designer-original cookbook featuring more than 100 tried and true favorites from MCC employees.

Proceeds from the cookbooks will go toward student scholarships. The majority of the recipes have been modified to be healthier, except for a decadent desserts section, which contains delicious recipes for anyone to eat in moderation.

Cost is $9.95 with a discounted price of two cookbooks for $18. Cookbooks are available through Dec. 21 in the MCC Bookstore or in the Professional Development Office, Room A210.

The cookbooks will be available with free gift wrapping from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 10 and 11 in the hallway outside the cafeteria.

For more information, contact Kathy Hayhurst at (815) 455-8740.

Reminder For Grafton Township Taxpayers

If you plan to appeal your assessment, Monday, December 10, 2012 is the deadline.  You will not have the ability to do this again for another year.  The Assessor's office is open on Monday from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. They will provide you with the forms and give you guidance with completing the forms.  It's not too late!

Government At Work

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10—

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

Meeting is cancelled.