Preparing For Spring

\Although snow may still be flying, spring has sprung at the Colonel Palmer House in Crystal Lake.

On Sunday, April 6, 2014, the Crystal Lake Park District will again present their very popular Mother-Daughter Tea at the Colonel Palmer House located at 660 East Terra Cotta Avenue in Crystal Lake. Grandmas, moms and aunts will find that this afternoon tea is a delightful way to welcome spring with a special granddaughter, daughter or niece.

Mrs. Palmer’s parlors come to life as costumed staff serve guests a delightful luncheon tea. A special presentation by Joan Walton on etiquette practices of the mid-1800s will surely inspire all.  Girls (ages 4 & up) in attendance are encouraged to bring their favorite doll and all guests are encouraged to wear their finest hat.

Limited space is available for this popular event for seating at 12:30 pm (code #9695-0) or 3:00 pm (code #9695-1). Register in advance online at www.crystallakeparks.org or in person at the Crystal Lake Park District Administrative Office, One East Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake. Resident Fee: $15, Non-Resident Fee: $23. For more information call (815) 477-5873.

Representative Wheeler Named To Tax Policy Subcommittee

Seeking to define the bottom-line problems with Illinois’ business climate, State Representative Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) will be participating in a newly-formed Business Climate Subcommittee in Springfield.

The subcommittee was created at the end of February as a result of the joint Revenue and State Government Committee hearings on Tax policy and Tax Incentives. The group met for the first time this week to begin their work, and focused on rules and regulations for businesses.

“Our overall goal is to identify problems and ultimately reduce or eliminate the uncertainty that exists with our State’s business climate,” Wheeler said.  “I am looking forward to serving on this very important committee.”

The subcommittee was formed to study differences of opinion among Illinois stakeholders regarding the State’s business climate. “Today we have sharply divergent accounts of what our business climate is,” said Wheeler. “Some voices, including our current Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, assert that Illinois is a healthy place to start up a business and create jobs. Many others from the business community disagree with this characterization and point to problems with Illinois’ economic status and job-creating atmosphere.”

Subcommittee members will seek testimony from a wide variety of stakeholders and sift through the testimony and other data to found points of consensus, so that changes to Illinois policy can be recommended. “It will be nice to once and for all separate fact from fiction and determine what issues truly exist and what points can be classified as partisan differences of emphasis and opinion.”

The subcommittee’s next meeting is scheduled for the week of March 17th.

Town Crier Is Back

Town Crier is back in "print".

It took some work and waiting, but the task was accomplished.

Computers do not always desire to cooperate and that is when problems arise.

Also, our e-mail is once again working.

iwb315@ameritech.net

or

towncrier@ameritech.net

NOTICE -- Crystal Lake Residents

The City of Crystal Lake has been informed by a third party company, HomeServe, that they will be mailing a solicitation for “Water Service Line Coverage” to residents beginning in early January.

The City is not affiliated with this company or its services in any way. Residents should use their own judgment in deciding if this is a service that they wish to purchase.

Government At Work

WEDNESDAY MARCH 5

8:15 AM—McHenry County Transportation Committee—

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

Six resolutions are being presented for Committee consideration:

• Approval of a supplemental engineering agreement and appropriating funds for the County Line Road Bridge over the Kishwaukee River Project.
• Approving an Engineering Services Agreement Supplement and Appropriating Funds for the Johnsburg Road Project.
• Appropriating funds for Cartegraph software license renewal and maintenance for fiscal year 2014.
• Appropriating funds for the purchase of parts from Bonneli Industries for fiscal year 2014.
• Authorizing and appropriating funds for the option renewal in the contract with Trees R Us, Inc. for providing emergency and o-call tree maintenance services.
• Approving Adopt-A-Highway Volunteer Group Agreement

New Business includes pavement preservation program for 2014

1:00 PM- McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals—

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

Also meeting with the Zoning Board is the McHenry County Board Planning and Development Committee to review the draft County Unified Development Ordinance in the area of temporary signage and acceptance of a Draft UDO for release for public hearing.

6:30 PM- McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission –

Meeting in the Planning and Development Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

• The Commission is to consider:
• A Certified Local Government/IHPA Grant Application Cycle for 2014 with actions to be taken regarding the Grant/Rural Intensive Survey.
• Also The Tryon Grove Scenic Road Application and the Goals and objectives of the committees.

New business includes

• Review for certificate of Appropriateness of Ostend Cemetery Sign
• Expenditure for Commissioner Name Badges
• Administration Building Landmark Photo Display

Government At Work

TUESDAY MARCH 4—

9:00 AM—McHenry County Continuum of Care Strategic Planning Committee—

Meeting in the Planning and Development Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock

The Committee is to identify core priorities for McHenry County CoC as a whole.

Also to be considered is the identification of funding priorities for FY 2014 projects.

9:00 AM—McHenry County Board-

• Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.
• The County is being recognized as a Purple Heart County
• The City of Crystal Lake is providing a presentation regarding the completion of their Emergency Operations Plan.
• A resolution is being presented for approval regarding the 2040 McHenry County Long Range Transportation Plan
• A resolution is being presented requesting authority from the General Assembly to exercise Quick Take Powers of Eminent Domain for the completion of a highway project on Charles J. Miller Road
• A resolution is being presented approving an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Illinois for the Franklinville Road Bridge over the Kishwaukee River Project and Appropriating funds
• A resolution is being presented approving an intergovernmental Agreement with the State of Illinois for the Noe Road Township Bridge Over Rush Creek project and Appropriating Funds.
• Presentation of a resolution to approve Adopt-A-Highway Volunteer Group Agreement.
• Presentation of a resolution amending the McHenry County Division of transportation Tree Planning and Replacement Policy.
• Resolution approving an intergovernmental Agreement with the Illinois Tollway for the Harmony Road Bridge over Interstate 90 Replacement

7:30 PM—Crystal Lake City Council—

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

• A scheduled public hearing slated for Tuesday evening regarding Doherty Properties, north and south of Route 176 and east of Route 31, is continued.
• St. Thomas the Apostle Church is requesting to close Lake Street between Washington Street and the eastern portion of the St. Thomas the Apostle Church property on April 18 during the reenactment of the Stations of the Cross.

Government At Work

MONDAY MARCH 3—

8:15 a.m. – McHenry County Board Law and Justice Committee—

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

Following a presentation regarding Court Technology and Staffing, the Committee will interview Richard Hemmingsen for the Marengo Rescue Squad District and Martin Perenchio for the Harvard Community Fire Protection District.

Consideration is to be given to William Mack’s re-appointment to the Sheriff’s Merit Commission

The Committee is to deliberate and select one candidate for recommendation to the County Board Chairwoman for the Marengo Rescue Squad District for a term to expire on December 31, 2014.

Also, deliberation and selection of one candidate for recommendation to the County Board Chairwoman for the Harvard Community Fire Protection District for a term to expire in May 2017.

Deliberation and selection of one candidate for recommendation to the County Board Chairwoman for the Sheriff’s Merit Commission for a term to expire on April 1, 2020

Resolution authorizing renewal of Maintenance and Support with Nelson Systems for Support on the Eventide 9-1-1 Logging recorders.

Resolution authorizing the purchase of 40 computer aided dispatch workstations from the McHenry County Emergency Telephone System Board FY2014 Budget

Resolution authorizing the acceptance of the 2013 State Criminal Alien Assistance Program Award and an Emergency Appropriation to the sheriff’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget

10:00 a.m. – McHenry County Liquor and License Committee—

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

Four raffle permit requests and one liquor license request will be considered.

• Raffle permit requests to be considered include:
• Polish Legion of American Veterans, Ladies Auxiliary-Liberty Chapter 188
• Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team
• Zamindar Club, Inc
• McHenry County Iron Justice Motorcycle Club

McHenry County Iron Justice Motorcycle Club is requesting a Special Class F Liquor License.

Other matters for consideration include:

Propose amendment to fee for change in corporate officers or partners (Section 10 (C)

Incident Reports

Update on Sting Operations

A Primary Election Is On The Way

Information regarding the upcoming Primary Election on March 18.

The last day for the County Clerk’s Office to receive applications by mail for absentee ballot is Thursday, March 13. Absentee ballots mailed to individuals must be voted, post marked 
 prior to Election Day and received no later than the 14^th day after the Election on March 18.

Applications for absentee ballot by mail may be made to the McHenry County Clerk, 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, IL 60098. Applications for absentee voting may be obtained by calling 815-334-4242 or downloaded from the County Clerks website

https://www.co.mchenry.il.us/county-government/departments-a-i/county-clerk

As a safeguard to absentee voting the following provisions are in effect:

• A candidate whose name is on the ballot is prohibited from assisting a physically disabled absentee voter unless the candidate is the spouse, parent, brother or sister of the voter, “Schultz explains.
• “Also no one other than the absentee voter, shall deposit the absentee ballot in the mail,” she added
• An absentee ballot may be delivered “in person” to the County Clerk’s Office, by either the voter or by a spouse, parent, child, brother or sister of the voter. If the ballot is delivered by any of the aforesaid persons, written authorization from the voter must also be provided. A ballot may also be delivered to the Clerk’s office by an authorized delivery service.
• A voter who was issued an absentee ballot, by mail, may surrender his unvoted absentee ballot on Election Day at the polling site and vote in person.

Schultz noted that individuals who register to vote by mail must provide sufficient proof of identity. Any person who registered by mail, who has never voted in McHenry County before, and is requesting an absentee ballot through the mail, must provide sufficient proof of identity, to allow the election authority to verify the voter’s identity, prior to the mailing of an absentee ballot; or the absentee voter may vote “in person” at the McHenry County Administration Building, Room 107, with one exception:  any voter who is voting under the provisions of the uniformed and overseas citizen absentee voting act, who registered y mail, may vote absentee by mail.

Further information may be obtained by calling 815-334-4242 or the Illinois State Board of Election at 217-782-4141 in Springfield or 312-814-6440 in Chicago.

“In person” absentee voting will be conducted at:

McHenry County Administration Building

667 Ware Road, Room 107

’Woodstock, IL

Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM