Mobil Hearing Unit Available Tuesday At Grafton Bingo Event

The Huntley Lions Club Mobile Hearing Unit will be available tomorrow at the Grafton Township Bingo Event from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The location is the Huntley American Legion, 11712 Coral Street, in Huntley.

Miss Illinois To Visit With Seniors August 30

On Tuesday, August 30, Miss Illinois, Hannah Smith, a Huntley native, will be speaking at the Grafton Township Senior Bingo Event.

Miss Illinois is scheduled to speak to the seniors at 11 a.m. Her topic is about her experience in the competition for Miss Illinois. She will also provide a short dance performance. She won her Miss Illinois crown last month. More information regarding Miss Illinois is available by visiting

She will be available for photo and autograph opportunities. For more information about Grafton Township visit www.graftontownship.net or call 1-847-669-3328. 

For more information about Miss Illinois visit www.missillinois.org

Government Happenings Tuesday

TUESDAY, AUGUST 16

8:00 a.m. -- McHenry County College Facilities and Planning Committee –

Meeting in the MCC Board Room of the College, 8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake

Following the opening of the meeting, the Committee is slated to consider matters regarding Building B Renovation Project.

This is followed by a couple other reports regarding the building including Facility Master Plan Contract as presented by MCC President Dr. Vicky Smith and an analysis of the HVAC System and Electrical Generator Capacity information Technology as presented by Vern Manke and Greg Evans.

Student Affairs Reorganization is to be presented by Ms. Juletta Patrick and Dr. Tony Miska, all for discussion.

The Educational Master is to be presented by Dr. Tony Miska.

9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Conservation District Board—
Meeting at the former Camp Algonquin Dining Hall at Fox Bluff Conservation Area, 1889 Cary Road, Algonquin.

The meeting is devoted to the strategic planning for the FY 2013 – 2015

4:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Open House for McHenry County Unified Development Ordinance –
Taking place in the Conference Rooms of the McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

This is a presentation of the recommendations for drafting a Unified Development Ordinance which will update and combine existing ordinances in order to produce a clearer, consistent, modern, and streamlined process for land use change, development and the protection for agriculture and natural resources in unincorporated McHenry County.

The report is also being presented to the County Board at its 7:00 p.m. meeting when the public will also be able to comment on the plan.

6:00 p.m. McHenry County Board Committee of The Whole –

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

The Board is meeting regarding the Current State of the County’s Finances. This meeting will be followed by the regular meeting of the McHenry County Board.

7:00 p.m. – McHenry County Board –
Following the opening of the Board meeting, a proclamation is being presented recognizing Dave Brandt for his Dedicated Pubic Service to Stormwater Management in McHenry County

A special presentation is being made on the Unified Development Technical Review Report.

Three zoning matters are being presented for the Board’s approval including a request for reclassification of A1 to A1C in Hartland Township for Ronald and Rhonda Lenzi.:
Another requested approval is for A1 to A1C in Grafton Township for the Jensen Trust. And a third approval request is for Phillip/Diana/Eric Bird for a reclassification from A1 to A2. All are recommended for approval.

The County Board will be presented a resolution recognizing McHenry County’s Class III groundwater Designated Areas for Protection from Contamination. This will be incorporated into the Sensitive Aquifer recharge Area Overlay Map.

In Planning and Development, a resolution is being presented Recognizing McHenry County’s Class II Groundwater Designated Areas for Protection from Contamination to be incorporated into the Sensitive Aquifer Recharge Area Overlay Map.

Several resolutions are being presented by the Transportation Department. One is a budget line item transfer for fuel, oil and grease.

Another resolution provides for an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Crystal Lake for Construction of the Walkup Road Project.

A third resolution provides for Engineering Services Agreement and Appropriating funds for a Countywide Safety Studies Project

7:30 p.m. –Crystal Lake City Council
One item on the Consent Agenda for the Crystal Lake City County Meeting Tuesday evening is an ordinance amending the City Code to incorporate regulations for immobilization of motor vehicles on private property.

The newly drafted ordinance is designed to prevent predators in this business from taking advantage of the residents. Such things as licensure of the immobilization companies with a $100 annual fee, requirement of name, address and phone number of the company placed on the driver side of the vehicle. Also the companies are required t accept payment other than cash. These are a few of the new requirements. They are the result of complaint from residents that their vehicles parked on their property had been booted with no knowledge of where to find the company placing the boot.

Johnny Appleseed Time
An application has been made for a Temporary Use Permit for the 19^th Annual Johnny Appleseed Festival to take place Saturday, September 24 from 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. The application is needed since Brink Street is to be closed between Williams and Main Streets from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the 12^th annual Great Ball Race. Also the Brink Street parking lot is to be closed until 5:00 p.m.

Another annual event, the Knights of Columbus Annual Corn Boil is taking place September 3 from noon to 4:00 p.m. on the St. Thomas the Apostle Church grounds, 451 W. Terra Cotta Avenue . A Temporary Liquor License is being requested in order to sell beer and wine for this 49^th annual event.

St. Thomas the Apostle Church is also seeking approval for the Temporary Liquor License for the Parish Dinner for Married Couples being held at the Church Community Center, 451 Terra Cotta Avenue on September 24.

Backyard Hens
Following a presentation at a previous Council Meeting, the City Council is to consider a request to permit “farm animals” and other domesticated animals in the city. Certain criteria must be met regarding the keeping of at least two but not more than four hens of any chicken or quail’; no male birds permitted; hens may not roam at large and must be kept in a coop with an outside enclosure’ one coop per property permitted.

Also the location of the coop must be a minimum of five feet from any property lien or a minimum of 20 feet fro any residential structure on an adjacent lot. Portable coops are prohibited.

Also the premises are to be kept in a sanitary condition, free from rodents, offensive odors, excessive noise, or any other conditions which constitute a public nuisance. Additionally, all feed must be kept in bins with tightly fitting lids to prevent access by wildlife. Feeders shall be used as opposed to casting the food on the ground. Also, registration with the Illinois Department of Agriculture Livestock shall be made and proof posted in a location that is visible from the street.

No sale of birds or eggs will be permitted and no slaughter of any bird within the City on any residential property. Additionally, a permit from the city is required on an annual basis with proof of Illinois registration, veterinary care and site plan must be submitted with the permit application.

This also requires the City Code to be amended to accommodate these animals. The issue arose at a prior Council meeting when a resident requested consideration be made to allow the keeping of a couple of hens in the backyard.

Pingree Road –Segment 2
This is to complete the enhancements to this corridor and includes widening of the intersection at Pingree Road and Congress Parkway. This includes a sidewalk along the west side of Pingree Road; Dual left turn lanes and additional through lane on the area south of Congress Parkway. Funding for this project comes from a combination of Federal Surface Transportation Program funds, Metra’s contribution, and local City MFT funds.

Rakow Road Closure Tonight and Tuesday Night

Rakow Road will have a nightly closure and detour tonight, Monday, August 15th.

The closure and detour will begin at 8pm and end at 6am. 
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Another closure will most likely take place Tuesday, August 16th, from 8pm to 6am. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

Words of Wisdom

"The steady character of our countrymen is a rock to which we may safely moor; and notwithstanding the efforts of the papers to disseminate early discontents, I expect that a just, dispassionate and steady conduct, will at length rally to a proper system the great body of our country. Unequivocal in principle, reasonable in manner, we shall be able I hope to do a great deal of good to the cause of freedom & harmony."

 --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Elbridge Gerry, 1801

Monday Government Meetings

MONDAY, AUGUST 15

8:15 a.m. – Law and Justice Committee of McHenry County Board, -- meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

The Committee is expected to consider a resolution authorizing a budget line item transfer of $16,000 in the Sheriff’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget for a Capital Expenditure.

The reason for the request is due to the Sheriff’s Office security entrance being unstaffed. This causes a concern for the potential for unauthorized and unscreened individuals to enter the Government Center at this entrance. A turnstile mechanism would limit entrance to the building to one person at a time and only with these of security cards. The estimated cost is $16,000.

The committee is also to review Budgets for the following department, Sheriff, State’s Attorney, Circuit Clerk, La Library, EMA, E-911, Court Administration, and Court Services.

6:00 p.m. – McHenry County Mental Health Board – meeting in the Centegra Specialty Hospital Atrium, 527  West South Street, Woodstock.

The meeting is being held in this location due to construction taking place at the Agency’s Dakota Street facility, in Crystal Lake.

Presentations by Centegra Specialty Hospital and McHenry County Crisis Team are slated to be provided.

Director Sandy Lewis will provide an update on the agency’s building project as well as on the FY 12 Funding Process. A presentation on a Heating Garden is also planned by Julie Gale.

A number of financial reports are slated for presentation and new business includes approval request for an Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement with the McHenry County Department of Health.

6:30 p.m. – McHenry County College Evaluation and Policies Committee of the McHenry County College Board of Trustees, -- meeting in the Board Room of the College, 8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake.

The Committee will be presented a report on Policy Development Training provided by Ms. Nanci Rogers, of Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd, attorneys for the Board.

A report from the Internal Board Policy Review Committee is also slated to be presented.

6:00 p.m. – School District 47 Board – meeting in the C.O.R.E Center, 300 Commerce Drive, Crystal Lake.

Following the call to order, an Executive Session is slated for the purpose of Personnel and Land Acquisition.

Following the agenda item for open session of Citizens Input, and reports on enrollment, parent survey results and a tentative budget, as well as other financial reports to the Board, agenda items that are considered to require discussion and/or board approval will be handled.

Other agenda items that are handled through consent agenda items include matters handled by the Treasurer such as approval of monthly payrolls, monthly bills, district

The Treasurer’s Report is provided the board verbally as well as in print.

A number of personnel matters are also provided to the board in written format for consent agenda approval

A resolution to Establish Fund Balance Policies is to be presented the Board by Treasurer Harkin for approval.

Also a resolution to Transfer Working Cash and Debt Service Fund Interest is being

Approval of Extended Time Program Agreement with Crystal Lake Park District is presented as a consent agenda item.

Adoption of a couple resolutions are being presented to the Board for approval, including one to establish fund balance policies and also to transfer working cash and debt service

A discussion on Public School Choice is being presented by Superintendent Mendoza as well as a discussion regarding Educational Foundation.

Approval of the Superintendent Contract is also being presented to the Board.

A Date To Keep In Mind

Secretary of State Jesse White, in cooperation with Grafton Township, is offering drivers a chance to renew their driver’s license, obtain a duplicate or corrected license or obtain an Illinois identification card. 

On October 4, 2011 Mobile Driver Services Unit will be available for the general public at , 10109 Vine Street, Huntley IL.   If you are age 65 or older you may obtain a free, non-expiring State of Illinois photo ID card.   The following services will be available:

• Renewal/correction of driver’s license
• New/renewal/correction of state ID
• License plate stickers
• Motor vehicle registration with renewal of DL/ID
• Organ donor registration with renewal of DL/ID
• Free State ID for seniors age 65 and over
• Vision screening and written test available for driver’s license renewal

 An applicant renewing a current Illinois driver’s license or identification card need only present a current valid driver’s license or identification card.  To find out what documents are considered acceptable identification and the fees involved, please call 217-782-7044 or visit the Illinois Secretary of States website at 

www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a1751.pdf 

It is important to note that those who require a road test will need to visit their local DMV to renew their driver’s license.  To register for this event please call Supervisor Linda Moore’s office at 1-847-669-3328 or email lindamooregt@hotmail.com to reserve a time between 10 am to 2pm.  You can visit the township website at www.graftontownship.net.  

Donations of frozen or non-perishable food items for the Food Pantry at Grafton Township would be greatly appreciated.

Words of Wisdom

"In the midst of these pleasing ideas we should be unfaithful to ourselves if we should ever lose sight of the danger to our liberties if anything partial or extraneous should infect the purity of our free, fair, virtuous, and independent elections."

--John Adams, Inaugural Address, 1797