Government At Work

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3—

9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Board –

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

In addition to the routine matters handled by the Board, the appointment of members to the standing committees of the board and various related county agencies is being presented for approval.

Objections To MCC Board Candidates Due By January 8

Anyone wishing to file an objection regarding a candidate’s filed petition may file said objection at McHenry County College in the President’s Office, Room A233 on business days from January 2 and January 8, 2013 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

For more information, contact: Pat Kriegermeier, Office of the President,

 at (815) 455-8726 or email her at pkriegermeier@mchenry.edu.

The following individuals filed nominating petitions:

Erik Sivertsen, McHenry, IL, received December 26, 2012

Thomas Wilbeck, Lakewood, IL, received December 26, 2012

Chris Jenner, Cary, IL, received December 26, 2012

Barbara Walters, McHenry, IL, received December 26, 2012

Molly Walsh, Crystal Lake, received December 21

William Scott Alford, Wonder Lake, received December 19

Carol Larson, Harvard, received December 17

Mike Smith, Village of Lakewood, received December 17

Arne Waltmire, McHenry, received December 17

TERMS EXPIRING

Dennis Adams - not seeking re-election

Barbara Walters

Carol Larson

Rakow Road Construction Work Nearing End

The McHenry County Division of Transportation is still monitoring the entire Rakow corridor.  They are looking at traffic signal installations, timings and “No Turn on Red” requirements.
 
Once the roadways are operational for a time allowing “normal” traffic patterns to resume, traffic counts will be analyzed to see if adjustments are required.  This will be a continual process.  All of the signals along Rakow are interconnected in an attempt to make travel along Rakow more efficient, although that comes with some disadvantages for cross road traffic

. 
Please continue to watch for crews as minor clean-up tasks are taken care of before the winter weather really starts.  Expect to see work at the intersections for the signals and at McHenry for the street lighting system.
 
Thank you and happy new year!  New photos have been posted to the Photos page!  Click here to view!

Editorial Note: There are also some interesting facts regarding materials used on the road.

Tennis Tournament At The Racket Club -- Crystal Lake

Professionals and Top Local Collegians Dominate This Year’s Entrees

For 4th Annual Walt Herrick, Sr. Memorial Men's Prize Money Tennis Tournament

 

On January 4-6, 2013, The Racket Club (a Crystal Lake Park District facility) will host its biggest pro tournament to date, the Walt Herrick Sr. Memorial Men's Prize Money Tennis Tournament.  A guaranteed $4,000 prize money distribution has made this tournament one that Professionals and top local collegiate players do not want to miss. Players committed for the tournament include:

Local favorites, McHenry County Classic Men’s Open finalists and recent NCAA Division 1 players John Cincola and Sam Sweeney.

Former Costa Rican David Cup player and local tennis luminary Fred Thome.

2006 NCAA Doubles Champion and University of Illinois All-American Ryan Rowe.

Crystal Lake Racket Club products and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater teammates Cam Laktash and Mitch Osborne.

 

The $4,000 prize money distribution is as follows: Prize money is guaranteed. 

SINGLES: Champion - $1600, Finalist - $800, Semifinalists - $300. 

DOUBLES (per team): Champions - $600, Finalists - $300. Players may register online at: http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=132034

The Racket Club is located at 9101 South Route 31, one mile south of Rakow Road in Algonquin. The public is invited to stop by and watch the tournament action. Admission is $5 for the entire tournament or $3 daily. There will be great close up views through the spacious lounge windows. The Racket Club is truly excited about the opportunity to host this tournament for the 4th straight year. "Not only does this event provide the Club's members and the public a rare and special opportunity to observe great professional-quality tennis players on court, it also allows spectators the chance to interact closely with players when they are not competing," said Rob Laue, Club Manager at The Racket Club.

This tournament is a fundraiser for the Walt Herrick, Sr. Memorial Fund. Walt Herrick, Sr. was a Crystal Lake businessman who founded The Racket Club in 1972.  The Fund was created to provide scholarships to promising junior players who would otherwise not be able to afford access to tennis lessons and memberships at The Racket Club.

Words Of Wisdom

"I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."
 --Thomas Paine, The Crisis, No. 1, 1776

Government At Work

Wednesday, JANUARY 2, 2013

8l15 a.m. – McHenry County Board Transportation Committee—

Meeting cancelled.

8:30 a.m. McHenry County Board Housing Commission Education Committee
Meeting cancelled

9:00 McHenry County Staff Plat Committee
Meeting cancelled

6:30 p.m. McHenry County Historic Preservation –

Meeting in the P and D Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

Four guests -- Benjamin Fredrick, Nicholas Spoor, Susan Stelford, and Robert Goray—are expected as visitors.

Following introduction of visitors and various staff liaison and committee reports, a discussion is scheduled regarding a proposed new landmark point system.

7:30 p.m.  – Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission

Meeting in the Crystal Lake City Council Chambers, 100 West Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake. The following petitions are scheduled for hearing:

Milestones Therapy – 394 Federal Drive

Final Plat of Subdivision to create a two-lot subdivision.

Approximately 2 acres with B-2 PUD General Commercial zoning.

Surrounding zoning includes:

North: B-2 PUD General Commercial (McHenry County –Federal Financial Credit Union)

South: B-2 PUD General Commercial (Sam’s Club)

East: B-2 PUD General Commercial (in-line tenant building)

West: B-2 PUD General Commercial (Post Office)

C and D Recycling/Virginia Road Recycling

1350 South Virginia Road,

Existing Use:  The site is currently vacant. In November 2011 C &D Recycling received a Special Use Permit for a construction and demolition recycling and processing facility along with landscape waste transfer station.

The land use map shows the area as Industry.  This is an appropriate land use designation for this use. The site is zoned M Manufacturing.

The site layout with approved buildings, parking and storage areas will remain the same from the 2011 approval.

Pedcor –Congress Parkway Apartment Homes—

Located on Congress Parkway between Commonwealth and the Post Office. This is a request for approval for a 70-unit residential development on the approximate seven-acre parcel.

In May of 2012, Pedcor received their preliminary PUD, preliminary plat and use variation approvals for a 70-unit development. There was considerable discussion by the Commission regarding the location of this development in what might be considered a commercial area.

4500 Northwest Highway

Request:  Use Variation to allow a use not permitted in the zoning district. 

Land Use:  The land use map shows the area as Commerce.  This land use designation is appropriate for the requested flooring retail use.

• Land Use:  The land use map shows the area as Commerce.  This land use designation is appropriate for a flooring retail use.

• Zoning:  The site is zoned M.  Manufacturing is not an appropriate zoning district for retail use.

Corner Bakery – Archway East – 815 Cog Circle

Conceptual Review for drive-through.

The petitioner is requesting a conceptual Planned Unit Development review for a drive-through addition to accommodate the Corner Bakery Cafe.

Words Of Wisdom

"I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."
 --Thomas Paine, The Crisis, No. 1, 1776