McHenry County Government Receives Achievement Award

On Friday, October 26, McHenry County was recognized by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) for achieving the Council-Manger (CM) Recognition for its high level of professional local government management through the ICMA Local Government Recognition Process.

The ICMA Local Government Recognition Process identifies local governments that, by ordinance, charter, or other legal document, have established positions of professional authority.

Recognition means that McHenry County is identified as a local government that provides a legal framework conducive to the practice of professional management.  McHenry County is one of three counties in the State of Illinois to have achieved the CM Recognition.  The other two are Lake and Champaign Counties.

McHenry County joins a total of 3,297 recognized communities (cities, counties, leagues, and councils of governments) from across the United States that have achieved the CM Recognition through the ICMA Local Government Recognition Process. The County was one of 11 communities to be formally recognized in 2012.

For more information on CM Recognition through the ICMA Local Government Recognition Process, please visit: http://icma.org/en/icma/about/overview/local_government_recognition or by contacting Adam Lehmann at 815-334-0309.

Important Meeting Taking Place Wednesday, October 17

The Towncrier published information regarding the upcoming public event taking place Wednesday, October 17 from 7 to 9 pm. in Room B170 of  McHenry County College Conference Center,  8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake.. The information which was provided to The Towncrier indicated there is a $5 admission fee.

We have been informed that the sponsors of the event are not asking for a set fee but instead are requesting a donation to offset the cost of renting the MCC facility.

Granted, the college is “owned” by the citizens of the County, and operates on county tax dollars. However, a donation to help offset added costs for this event is not unreasonable.

Please donate what you can. The pro and con information on the topic is extremely important in order to make an educated vote decision in the November 6 election. Both sides of this issue are to be presented at this meeting. 

Something New In McHenry County

There is something new in McHenry County – well new on the County website.

It is the new McHenry County Meeting Portal. Look for it at

http://www.mchenrycountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx.

T\\e goal of the new McHenry County Meeting Portal is to include all McHenry County meeting agendas and minutes in one location.

In the continued effort to be a leader in transparency through technology, McHenry County selected IQM2, Inc. (www.iqm2.com) Open Meeting Management System to automate the agenda preparation process. The implementation of the new agenda management software will enable interested residents to listen to a live audio stream of County Board meetings as they occur and access archived County Board meetings after the fact.  The first County Board meeting that will be audio streamed live will be on Tuesday, June 5th at 9:00 a.m.  

A link to the McHenry County Meeting Portal can also be found on the County’s homepage through the “McHenry County Meetings” link under the Quick Links section.

For more information on McHenry County agenda management/audio streaming, please contact Adam Lehmann at 815-334-0309 or aflehmann@co.mchenry.il.

Second Year For "Sunny Award" To McHenry County Government

For the second straight year, McHenry County Government was the recipient of a “Sunny Award”, from the Sunshine Review Organization with an “A” transparency grade (www.sunshinereview.org).

The Sunny Award is presented by the editors of the Sunshine Review to honor the most transparent government websites in America.  The Sunshine Review organization evaluates and rates state and local government transparency on a public body’s website through a ten point checklist.  The ten point checklist in which McHenry County met all of the criteria include: Budgets, Open Meeting Laws, Elected Officials, Administrative Officials, Building Permits and Zoning, Audits, Contracts, Lobbying, Public Records, and Taxes.

“McHenry County is proud to receive this recognition for a second straight year for our website.  McHenry County continues to strive to be a leader in transparency in its operations in making information available to the public,” stated McHenry County Management Services Committee Chairman Ersel Schuster.

Over the past two years, McHenry County has taken steps to make its information more accessible electronically.  The County has:

• Substantially increased its usage of social media and electronic media distribution;

• County departments have greatly increased their web utilization in posting information;

• Created a Freedom of Information Request Portal and an “Information Access Portal” that places frequently requested information in one easy to find location;

• A searchable, electronic version of County Code is now available on the County Clerk’s website; and

• Audio of County Board meetings will be available on the internet by the end of June.

McHenry County government is dedicated to providing the highest quality services for the health, safety, and welfare of the County’s residents and communities. We foster representative and transparent government to ensure social, economic and environmental justice.”

Government At Work

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

9:30 a.m.—Finance and Audit Committee of McHenry County Board --

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

The approval of six resolutions involving contracts and renewals for software or maintenance of same for products used for the County’s various systems is being presented the Committee.

Another resolution seeking committee approval is authorizing the Issuance of a Call Notice Letter for the Maturities of Debt Certificates dated December1, 2003.

The Committee is being requested to authorize the purchase of a Fuel Tank Gauge and Monitoring System for the McHenry County Sheriff’s Garage.

Authorization to purchase two Tahoe’s and Seen Police Pursuit Vehicles is being requested of the committee along with authorization of a budge line item transfer in the General Fund Non-Departmental for Fiscal Year 2011 Budget.

The Committee is also to discuss the East Courthouse Entrance Door Security System.

Things To Watch

MONDAY, MAY 23—

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

Meeting in the Government Center, Administration Building,

667 Ware Road, Woodstock

.

The Committee is to consider a resolution to provide funding and authorization for a Rain Garden Demonstration Project on the County Campus. The McHenry County Soil and Water Conservation District has offered the County a $3,000 grant which involves $1,800 with a 40% math of $1,200 to fund the rain garden demonstration project.

Also the Illinois American Water has offered the County a $6,200 grant to fund the installation of a rain garden and xeriscaping education project. For those not familiar with this xeriscaping is a landscaping method developed especially for arid and semiarid climates that utilizes water-conserving techniques such as the use of drought-tolerant plants.

This garden is planned for location near the front entrance to the County Administration Building. It will serve as a visual example to property owners regarding method of stormwater management and landscape maintenance.

Also assisting with the project excavation is the McHenry County Conservation District. Others include the Wildflower Preservation and Propagation Committee and Master Gardeners to assist with planting the native plants.

The committee is also to discuss the County Administrato's Goals for 2011/12 and tour the  Courthouse.

Barry and Rita Valentine Retiring Today After Combined 58 Years Of Service

On Tuesday, May 2, the McHenry County Board recognized Barry and Rita Valentine for their years of dedication to McHenry County and its Residents. The Valentines have a combined 58 years of public service between them and are retiring today. McHenry County is appreciative of their contributions as employees that have been essential to making McHenry County a safer and more desirable place to live.

Barry Valentine started his employment with McHenry County on March 27, 1979 and was appointed Director of the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency on May 18, 1994. Mr. Valentine was in the first class to receive the Certified Emergency Management (CEM) designation from the National Emergency Management Institute, as well as serving as the Vice-Chairman of the County’s E-9-1-1 Board. He has served as Secretary for the McHenry County Mutual Aid Box Alarm Systems Division 5, Secretary of the Illinois Radio Emergency Aid Channel Governing Board, past State Representative for the National Coordination Council on Emergency Management, and past President of the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association.

In addition to serving four years with Emergency Management, Rita Valentine’s employment with the McHenry County Department of Health spans 26 years. Since 1985, Rita served as Office Assistant II in the Department’s Environmental Health Division whose programs include food protection, private water supply, solid waste management, beach sampling and drinking water analysis, and air quality. Rita’s commitment to the highest public health standards and outstanding customer service has been an integral part of the Department’s growth and continued success.

“Both Barry and Rita have served with distinction in their respective roles for the County. They have set the standard for what a public service career can be and will truly be missed by all of us here,” stated County Board Chairman Ken Koehler.

The Valentines’ live in Marengo and plan to continue their involvement in public service.

Thursday County Committee Meeting Cancelled -- County Building Open Friday

The Legislative Committee meeting of the McHenry County Board, scheduled to meet Thursday at 8:30 a.m. is cancelled.

Friday is Lincoln's Birthday. The County Board earlier decided that the county building in Woodstock would be open; however, the Courts are closed.

McHENRY COUNTY FACILITIES CLOSED TODAY

 With continuing poor road conditions, falling temperatures and high winds overnight, the decision has been made that all McHenry County facilities will again be CLOSED on Thursday, February 3, 2011 for normal business (this includes all scheduled meetings).  It is expected that the County will be open for normal business on Friday, February 4, 2011.

McHenry County Government A Leader In Energy Efficient Projects

McHenry County Board members and those in the audience learned Thursday how McHenry County Government has become an area leader among local governments in energy efficient projects.

It all began in 2007 when the first phase of the county energy efficiency project was completed. That was the retrofitting of the County boiler heating plant and allows the savings of a total of $152,393 over a ten-year period.

In 2008, Phase II of a lighting retrofit to government facilities resulted in $22,000 savings and 1,404,000 kilowatt hours. Grants worth $77,000 from the Department of Commence and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation.

In 2009, an award of $2.5 million through the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program and $16,000 through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) provided for the third phase of the retrofit program. The EECBG program, funded by the America Recovery & Reinvestment Act, was designed to assist eligible entities in implementing strategies to create jobs, reduce total energy use, and improve energy efficiency in county buildings.

In the upcoming Phase III projects, the total savings annually to the county will be $92,907 with 743,916 kWh savings, generate 16,248 kWh, and save 14,805 Therms. The total project has resulted in a reduction of 1,655,888 lbs of CO2.

McHenry County Government Salaries Hit By Economic Change

     McHenry County board members discussed the compensation for elected officials who will be starting new terms December 1. These include Treasurer, County Clerk and Sheriff as well as 12 of the 24 county board members. Salaries for these officials must be set 180 days prior to taking office. The three county offices mentioned as well as 12 of the 24 county board members are to be filled through the election process taking place November 2.
     The salaries were discussed in committees as well as at the County Board. The proposal for this year is to rescind prior resolutions adopted in 2009 which set the salaries for the board members and constitutional officers being elected in November 2010. These salaries according to resolutions adopted Tuesday by the County Board will freeze the salaries of those officials.
     This means the salaries for the year December 1, 2010 to November 30, 2011 will be frozen at $103,000 for the Clerk and Treasurer and $145,000 for the Sheriff. The salary for county board members being elected will be set at $19,766 for board members and $79,063 for the Chairman. All county board salaries are to be increased by the cost of living for the following fiscal year.
     There was discussion regarding setting salaries for the officials at one time, especially the county board members, so there would not be a "two tier" situation. Some of the county board members also noted that compensation should be set for the elected officials based upon the job requirements and if the salary was not acceptable then the alternative is not to seek election.

Celebrate Earth Week

NIKE Reuse-A-Shoe Collection Program
McHenry County is participating in the NIKE Reuse-A-Shoe Collection Program during the Earth Week event being held April 19-23. Bring in your old worn out athletic shoes to the County Administration Building (667 Ware Road, Woodstock, IL). There will be a collection box for shoes. Keep old shoes out of the landfills!

“Going Green” Informational Fair
McHenry County is hosting a “Going Green” Informational Fair on Friday, April 23rd from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the McHenry County Administration Building Conference Rooms, 667 Ware Road in Woodstock. Informational booths will include green strategies for home and the office to reduce energy consumption, water use, waste, and your carbon footprint. Protect the environment and water resources!

For more information, please contact Adam Lehmann at (815)334-0309 or aflehmann@co.mchenry.il.us.