Governments At Work

Wednesday, January 19--7:30 p.m. Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission
The meeting, usually conducted on the first and third Wednesday evening of the month, has been cancelled for this week. The next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, February 2.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20--8:30 a.m.—McHenry County Board Planning & Development Committee
Meets in the Conference Room A, County Administrative Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.
Dennis Dreher is to given a presentation on Green Infrastructure/Greenways Plan. Dreher has been retained by the Chicago Wilderness Sustainable Watershed Action Team (SWAT) to facilitate the development of Green Infrastructure Plans for McHenry County and the City of Woodstock.

Dreher is to provide the Committee with information regarding the purpose and benefits of developing a Green Infrastructure Plan.

Discussion is scheduled to take place regarding the beginning of a County Unified Development Ordinance. This provides an opportunity to simplify county regulations for development as well as update existing ordinances if needed.

The rather touchy topic of regulating equestrian events in McHenry County has come before the Committee previously. It was determined that surrounding counties have had similar experiences. As a result representatives of Kane, Will, Boone and Winnebago counties met with staff representatives on the topic. A report on that meeting is slated to be provided the Committee.

4:00 p.m.—Finance Committee of the McHenry County Conservation District Board of Trustees

Meets in the MCCD offices, 18410 East Highway 14, Woodstock.

Matters slated for this committee's consideration include change orders and amendments to a professional service agreement with Featherstone, Inc., on the Lost Valley Visitor Center; the FY 2012 Budget Discussion as well as designation of a dedicated account Unrestricted Reserve Fund Balances.

There will also be a closed session to review closed session minutes.

6:00 p.m.— Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of McHenry County Conservation District.

An executive session is to begin this meeting, followed by the regular session of the Board to begin at 7:00 p.m.

In addition to the various reports by the Trustee regarding conferences and meetings they attended.

Actions to be taken by the Trustees include the awarding of a contract for exotic brush removal at Glacial Park Conservation 'area to Clean Cut Tree Service of Long Grove. This qualified and responsible bidder submitted the winning bid for $74,000.

A couple of grant requests are approved for submittal. One is for a grant under the Emerald Ash Borer Planning. This is under the Urban and community Forestry and the Forest Health Cooperative Programs of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Another grant is being submitted for the purchase of Winding Creek Conservation Area addition. This is going to the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.

7:30 p.m.—Crystal Lake Park Board
Meeting in the Park District offices, One East Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake

One item on the agenda takes us to July. The Board is being requested to approve the inclusion of a contribution in the 2011-12 operating budget of $5,000 for the July 4, 2011 community fireworks display on the Crystal Lake.

Other agenda items speak of Spring—the Early Youth Sports Sign Up at Main Beach and Park Place February 5 and 12 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Also a request is to be considered by the Board for the purchase of a utility tractor from Reinders, Inc. for $22,940.

Thursday Government Meetings.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16

8:30 a.m. -McHenry County Board Planning and Development Committee

The subject of Ag Tourism is to be discussed when the Planning and Development Committee of the McHenry County Board meets 8:30 on Thursday morning in the County Administration Building Conference Room, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

It is a topic under considerable discussion, especially with regard to horse racing taking place on property that was used for horse racing in the past but was vacant for a time. It is again being used for intermittent horse racing during the summer months. However, surrounding neighbors are upset with the idea and have filed various complaints against the property owners. The county planning and zoning department has not found the complaints warranted. A proton of the problem results from a previous owner of the horse racing property abusing the use by allowing other uses such as noisey concerts on the property. This is not allowed under the current property ownership. Instead it is a training opportunity for young horses entering the racing field.  Another problem indicated is that the property owners are foreigners.

The topic is to be further reviewed with research in how surrounding counties handle the problem. What is taking place on the property is allowed. However, surrounding property is strictly residential use, a situation that has existed for some time.

5:00 p.m. – McHenry County Conservation District Finance Committee

Will meet in the Brookdale Administrative Offices, 18410 U.S Highway 14, Woodstock. In addition to discussing the 2012 Budget, a number of matters will be handled by the committee concerning the Fen at Fel-Pro RRR Conservation Area and Kishwaukee Headwaters Conservation Area.

5:00 p.m. – McHenry County Conservation District Outreach and Advocacy Committee

Also meeting in the same location, the Brookdale Administrative Offices, to consider such matters as the Community Gardens Task force, the Administrative Policy of the Committee as well as community organization outreach.

6:00 p.m. – McHenry County Conservation District Board

Also meeting in the Brookdale Administrative Offices, the Board will begin in Executive Session to consider Collective Bargaining, Real Estate, Sale/Lease of Real Estate, Probable or Imminent Litigation and Pending Litigation, and Review of Closed Session Minutes, all allowed under the Open Meetings Act.

Following handling of those matters, the Board will conduct its regular monthly meeting, in open session, and including various committee reports, other necessary Board matters such as minute approval and committee reports. A motion is to be presented authorizing the submittal of two USFWS Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant applications to fund dam removal and an alternatives study for two impoundments on the North Branch of the Kishwaukee River. 

Other matters to be considered by the Board include submission of an Illinois EPA Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant Program for Stormwater Management grant application for the Boone Creek Conservation Area Site Access Project.

Brush clearing bids are to be obtained for Boone Creek Conservation Area Site Access, Glacial Park, High Point, Kishwaukee Headwaters and Alden Sedge Meadow.

A Wetland Mitigation Agreement between the District and VCNA Prairie Aggregates Illinois, Inc. for Coral Woods Conservation Area is to be authorized.

An agreement is proposed with Obenauf Auction Services, Inc. to sell nine vehicles from the District's fleet at public auction.

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

Will conduct a Tax Levy Hearing on the tax levy for the following year. This hearing and the following Board of Trustees meeting takes place in the MCC Board room of the College, 8900 U.S Highway 14, Crystal Lake.

McHenry County College Board of Trustees Regular Board Meeting

Will take place immediate following the Tax Levy Hearing .Following accepting minutes of several prior meetings and recognition of visitors and presentations, the 2010 Tax Levy is scheduled for a hearing.

Following the Public Hearing, MCC Board of Trustees is expected tol adopt the 2010 Tax Levy which is expected to result in a total tax rate of .2739 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Compared with the 2009 rate of .2739 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The total amount to be levied is $28,234,827 compared with the amount levied the previous year of $25,691,380.

Other matters of interest the MCC Board is to consider include such as the purchase of a Facility Condition Analysis Services for identifying the facility deficiencies and planning tool for prioritizing repair and replacement projects on the building and equipment.

Preparing for something new in the Spring 2011 semester, a student-managed restaurant is to be opened as part of the Restaurant Operations class. The current kitchen equipment will be used for this; however, newer and more up-to-date equipment is needed as part of the training program. It is part of the Culinary Management program at MCC and is expected to cost $10,361.02. Board approval for this is being requested.

The agenda also includes the appointment of a new chief Financial Officer/Treasurer and a Board Attorney; however, there were no board reports on these two items included in the packet for the meeting.

7:30 p.m. -- Crystal Lake Park District Board

The Crystal Lake Park District Board is expected to approve the McHenry County Youth Sports Association, as presented at the last meeting. Other sports groups are planning for the warmer weather as well. This includes such as the McHenry County College Fit for Life 5K Walk/Run request for Lippold Park on Sunday, October 2, 2011.

The Crystal Lake Cardinals Baseball Association is requesting permission to host their 2011 fundraiser tournament on Memorial Day Weekend at Spoerl Park.

Crystal Lake Rowing Club is planning to host their 6^th Annual Chicago Area Juniors Rowing Championships Regatta at Main Beach, Saturday, May 7.

Walt Herrick, Sr, Men's Open Tournament Request is being made for January 7-9, 2011 at the Racket Club. Proceeds from this event provide tennis scholarships to local area junior players for lessons at the Racket Club.

The Board is also being requested to approve a Professional Services Agreement with Bonestroo, Inc. for $6,600 for well monitoring at Lippold Park. This is to gather further information within the Area 2 sub-watershed.

Also a discussion is to be held regarding a cell tower request.