The Wild Side of McHenry County

United States Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar visited McHenry County to announce the authorization for the establishment of the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge through the National Wildlife Refuge System at Glacial Park in Ringwood, IL.

The Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge eventually will provide up to 11,200 acres of habitat for wildlife as well as outdoor recreational opportunities within easy driving distance for the residents of southeastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois.

The Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge will allow for restoration of wetlands, prairie and oak savanna habitat and provide a home for 109 species of animals and plants that are of concern. The list includes 49 birds, five fishes, five mussels, one amphibian, two reptiles and 47 plants. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will also provide ample environmental education and recreational opportunities for visitors, including the 3.5 million people within 30 miles of the refuge.

To learn more about the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, please visit: www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/Hackmatack

Words Of Wisdom

"Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer."

--Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

Government At Work

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23—

9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Local Emergency Planning Committee –

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

The Committee is expected to consider routine business regarding emergency planning for the County.

9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Technical Advisory Committee –

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

The Committee, which handles matters regarding water matters in the County, will be considering countywide stormwater permits based on Illinois Department of Natural Resources requirements.

10:00 a.m. – McHenry County Coordinating Council –

This committee involves all those working together in preparation for any type of emergency, whether man-made or from Mother Nature.

10:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Legislative Committee –

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

Following State and Federal Legislative Updates, the Committee will consider a resolution for establishment of County Board Rules for Determination of Terms of Office, hear an update from the Task Force on Local Government Consolidation, and hold a discussion regarding County Executive Form of Government.

6:30 p.m. – McHenry County College Board of Trustees –

Special Board meeting for a tour of the Building B Renovations.

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

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

The regular Board meeting of the College Trustees will take place following the tour of the renovations.

In addition to the necessary matters needing the action of the Trustees, they will receive an update report on Human Resources as well as a presentation regarding Online Learning.

Other matters to be considered by the Trustees concern personnel matters.

Government At Work

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22—

1:30 p.m. – McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals –

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

The petition to be considered is:

McGuire Constant Trust – Grafton Township. A reclassification from A-1 Agriculture District to the A-2 Agriculture District is being requested. Also a conditional Use Permit is being requested o allow a second dwelling and a variation to allow an existing accessory structure in the front yard.

The property is located on the West side of Haligus Road, Grafton Township, with a commonly known address as 8219 Haligus Road, Huntley.

7:00 p.m. – Valley Hi Nursing Home Operating Board –

Meeting in the Nursing Home located at 2506 Hartland Road, Woodstock.

A resolution is being presented increasing the Daily Room Rates for the nursing home to be effective December 1, 2012.

Another resolution for consideration is authorizing a reclassification of a full time Food Service Assistant into two part time food service assistant positions.

Old Business to be considered is a resolution authorizing entering into a contract with MDI-Management-Data, Inc. for the purpose of upgrading the clinical/Accounting Software used at the nursing home.

Other old business to be considered includes the customer service program,  WIPFLI presentation coordination and unionization update.

Participate In McHenry County Long Range Transportation Planning

The McHenry County Division of Transportation (MCDOT) is working on the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan to identify the County’s future transportation needs and figure out how to best address them.

As part of this project, MCDOT has been obtaining input through a number of different methods, including pop-up meetings, high school learning programs, focus groups, charettes, library display boards, and an interactive map on the website. 

This comprehensive outreach effort has led to an unprecedented amount of participation among the public for a planning effort in McHenry County. 

MCDOT will be holding an open house on Thursday, August 23, 2012, between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM at Crystal Lake City Hall. 

Why? The purpose of this open house is to allow attendees to review all of the public comment that has been heard to this point, review the goals and objectives of the plan, and provide your input on the direction of the Plan.  County staff and consultants will be in attendance to listen to your ideas and get your input.  To learn more about the Plan, review documents, and see what others in the County have to say about transportation on the “Map” visit http://www.2040mchenrycountyplan.org.

Additional public meetings will be held in the fall to present the draft plan.   

Dunham Road Bridge Open

The Dunham Road Bridge was opened to traffic late in the day on Friday, August 17, 2012.  The marked detour has been removed.

The McHenry County Division of Transportation (MCDOT) would like to thank the motoring public for their patience and understanding during the construction of this important improvement to the local highway system.

The project was completed within budget at a cost of about $1.05 million, and was opened to traffic at the earliest possible date. A thank you goes out to all MCDOT and Township personnel for their efforts on this project, and to the Bridge Contractor for a job well done!               

CONTRACTOR:                             Alliance Contracting Company

1166 Lake Avenue

Woodstock, Illinois 60098

815-338-5900

PROJECT MANAGER:                 Rodney Hisel

CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER:   Pablo Faillaci

Phone: (815) 334-4982

E-mail: pffaillaci@co.mchenry.il.us

SORRY

Sorry for the lack of news, but the Town Crier computer had to take a brief rest in a computer
"hospital", KS Computers.

We'll try to get back into routine soon.