Info On Government For Tuesday

TUESDAY, JUNE 28

The usual fourth Tuesday of the month meeting of the Lakewood Village Board has been cancelled. The next scheduled meeting is July 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the RedTail Golf Club,

7900 RedTail Drive, Lakewood

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

Meets in the Conference Room of the County Administration Building,

667 Ware Road, Woodstock

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The Committee will hear the FY 2010 Financial Reports by Baker, Tilly Virchow, Krause, LLP, the county’s outside auditors.

The County is to receive $1,841,614 in Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funding for the year July 1, 20qq through June 30, 2012. These funds include a WIA Program grant of $551,289, Dislocated Workers Program grant of $660,860; and WIA Youth Program Grant of $639,465.

Words of Wisdom

"All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression."
--Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address, 1801

Monday--National HIV Testing Day

According to the CDC, over 1 million Americans are living with HIV. One in 5 is unaware of their infection and may be spreading it to others.  The best way to protect yourself is to know your HIV status and that of your partners.  In observance of National HIV Testing Day (June 27), McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is offering free, confidential or anonymous rapid HIV testing for at-risk individuals.  The test consists of a small finger-stick blood sample and results are available in less than 30 minutes.  Individuals are also assessed for risk factors and provided educational material. 

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, as of December 31, 2010, there are 124 people in McHenry County living with HIV; 74 of whom have advanced to AIDS.

This month marks 30 years since the first AIDS case was reported in the United States.  Twenty-one percent (21%) of those infected are unaware of their status and are at risk of transmitting the virus to others. People who engage in certain behaviors are at an increased risk of becoming infected with HIV. Those who may be at risk include men who have sex with men, intravenous drug users, people with 2 or more STD’s in the past 12 months, people who exchange sex for something they need, people who average 6 or more partners a month, or anyone who has had unprotected sex with any of the above.

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

Mad Chickens At MCC

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, the Lou Marchi Total Recycling Institute at MCC, and McHenry County Transition invite you to a screening of the documentary Mad City Chickens On Tuesday, June 28^th , 7:00 pm, at the McHenry County College Conference Center. 

Mad City Chickens is a sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical look at the people who keep urban chickens in their backyards. From chicken experts and authors to a rescued landfill hen or an inexperienced family that decides to take the poultry plunge-and even a mad professor and giant hen taking to the streets-it’s a humorous and heartfelt trip through the world of backyard chickendom.

Join others interested in this renewed trend for the screening and follow-up discussion.  Free to the public, donations to help offset costs are encouraged.

To see trailers of the film, go to

For more information, contact the Defenders at 815-338-0393 or mcdef@owc.net

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment. The group provides community residents with educational programs and volunteer action on pollution prevention, sustainable land use and energy and natural resource conservation. Donations are encouraged and are tax-deductible as charitable contributions.  For more information, visit or call 815-338-0393.

McHenry County Board Committee Meeting Monday

MONDAY, JUNE 27

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

Meeting in the Conference Room of the County Administration Building,

667 Ware Road, Woodstock

The Committee is to interview five individuals who have expressed an interest to serve on the County Ethics Commission. These include William Hauck, Scott S. Logan, Cheri R. Rickert, Thomas B. Spencer, John J. Donahue. A sixth individual, Connee Meschini is unable to attend for the interview.

A number of resolutions are to be considered by the Committee. Two of these relate to the IT Department and involves an agreement with Symantec for Software Maintenance and Support. The other concerns a five-year Network Server Lease with Cisco Capital Leasing for Cisco Network Services.

A salary adjustment is to be considered for a network engineer in the IT Department and a

Contract is to be considered with Gavers Excavating for the Demolition of the Old Valley Hi Nursing Home Facility.

Additionally, there could be a discussion regarding Open Meetings Act, and a demonstration is scheduled for an iPad demonstration.

Discussion by the Committee is slated regarding a future tour of the jail.

Demolition of Former Valley Hi Nursing Home Building

Requests for Proposals were solicited for asbestos removal and demolition of the abandoned Valley Hi facility that served to house the elderly for many years until the voters approved a referendum for a new building in 2000. This new facility is located on the southeast corner of Nelson and Hartland Roads and is also on county-owned property that had been acquired many years ago when caring for the elderly was accomplished on the "poor farm."

That was a farm where the elderly could live when they no longer could do the farming to support themselves. Everyone that was able to do some chores pitched in to keep the farm going and at the same time had a place to reside.

Since nursing home patients moved into their new home, the facility located on the west side of

Hartland Road

has been utilized for storage. That is becoming a problem due to the age of the building and the decision was made to demolish it.

Eighteen Years Out of Society For Armed Robbery

A 36-year-old Spring Grove man was sentenced this past week to 18 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the Class X felony offense of Armed Robbery following a negotiated plea.

Defendant Kozik admitted to robbing the Payday Loan Store in McHenry in December of 2006. He is currently serving a sentence in the Federal Penitentiary for bank robbery which occurred near the time of the instant offense.

His projected federal parole date is January 30, 2029. This case was investigated by Detective John Birk of the McHenry Police Department. There was further cooperation with police departments from Crystal Lake, Fox Lake, and Antioch. The case was prosecuted for the State by Assistant State’s Attorney Sharyl Eisenstein.

"Summertime When the Goin' Is Easy"

And No Open Burning

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) reminds residents that year-round burning restrictions are in effect for the proper disposal of landscape waste on their property. Landscape waste consists of grass or shrubbery cuttings, leaves and tree limbs.  The “McHenry County Public Health Ordinance: Open Burning of Landscape Waste” permits residents to burn landscape waste on weekend days (Saturdays and Sundays) during April, May, October and November if the burn area meets the setback requirements of at least 100 feet from a school, business, church or house; 50 feet from a barn, shed or detached garage. Most municipalities have ordinances which restrict or prohibit the burning of yard waste. In areas where there is not a ban or more restrictive ordinance, the County ordinance, which is in effect year round, must be followed. 

But There Are Alternatives

Reduce/Reuse - Use a mulching mower for grass and leaves or a chipper for branches. Native landscaping will also reduce the need for yard waste. 

Recycle - Composting landscape waste can reduce material volume by 70 - 80% and act as a soil conditioner to improve plant growth.

Licensed municipal waste haulers in McHenry County are required to provide pick up of landscape waste from residential customers; an additional fee may apply.  Some waste haulers contract with municipalities, neighbors and homeowner associations to provide collection of landscape waste. Residents are encouraged to work collectively with neighbors and associations for the most economical solution for their neighborhood. Residents may also drop off landscape waste at a local facility that composts these materials into organic compounds for reuse. A listing of these services is available at

Health Department, Other Alternatives --go to Open Burning under Quick Links and then to Other Alternatives

Communities with ordinances that meet or exceed County standards, as well as those with total bans on burning are also listed. Call local police, fire or MCDH non-emergency number for enforcement of open burning issues. If reporting an emergency complaint that is life threatening or is a fire safety issue, call 911. Residents may also call the health department’s after-hours phone number 815-344-7421 for assistance.

Complete details about the Ordinance and suggested alternatives are available online the Department’s webpage or by calling 815-334-4585.