Annual Leaf Pick-up In Crystal Lake City

MDC Environmental Services will be responsible for the Annual Leaf Pick-Up Program. From Monday, October 7, 2013 through Friday, December 13, 2013, MDC crews will collect bagged leaves placed at the curbside in front of all residents’ homes along public streets.  The bags must be placed on the parkway before 7:00 a.m. on the normal trash collection day.  The Leaf Pick-Up Program is being offered at no additional fee
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Leaves must be placed in biodegradable paper bags in order to be collected.  Paper leaf bags are available at local grocery and hardware stores. Neither the City nor MDC provides leaf bags.
 

There is a 50 pound maximum per bag. Be aware that wet leaves will add to the weight of the bag. Leaves placed in other containers such as plastic bags, garbage cans or boxes, or in bags too large for one person to handle, cannot be accepted.

Questions regarding the Leaf Pick-Up Program can be directed to MDC Environmental Services at (815) 568-7274 or the Crystal Lake Streets Division at (815) 356-3700 ext. 4019.

Words Of Wisdom

"The experience of treaties being broken with impunity provide an afflicting lesson to mankind how little dependence is to be placed on treaties which have no other sanction than the obligations of good faith; and which oppose general considerations of peace and justice to the impulse of any immediate interest and passion."

 --Federalist No. 15 (1787)

Government At Work

TUESDAY OCTOBER 1, 2013

9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Board—

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

Two special presentations are slated including

• Art Work Presentation
• Comprehensive annual Financial Report for the County

Appointments to the County Board of Health and the Mental Health Board are being presented for Board approval

Recommendations for approval from the Finance and Audit Committee include:

• Resolution authorizing the purchase of two portable changeable message boards for the McHenry County Division of Transportation
• Resolution Authorizing the Reclassification of an administrative specialist position to administrative Specialist III, and from a part-time status to a full-time status in the Workforce Network Board Department.
• Resolution authorizing an emergency appropriation in the Recorder’s Fiscal Year 2012-13 Budget to purchase Tax Transfer Stamps.
• Resolution to Approve Appointment of Members to an Expanded Board of Review for Assessment Year 2013
• Resolution Authorizing the Renewal of a Contract with Carasoft Technology Corporation for Agenda Management/Webstreaming Services
• Resolution Authorizing a Contract with Sequris Group for Check Point Firewall Maintenance and Support Renewal
• Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Rooftop Chillers for the McHenry County Jail and Courthouse and an Emergency Appropriation to the Non-Departmental Fiscal Year 2013 Budget
• Resolution Setting the 2014 Meeting Dates for the McHenry County Board
• For Public Health and Human Services
• Resolution Adopting the Senior Services Grant Fund Allocations for Program Year 2014
• For Transportation -Resolution Accepting Culvert Materials and Appropriating Funds
• Resolution Approving Right-Of-Way Land Acquisition Management Services Amendment and Appropriating Funds for the Johnsburg Road Project.

 7:30 p.m. – Crystal Lake City Council

Meeting in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 West Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake.

Several items are on the consent agenda including:

• Justin Schroeder Memorial Foundation Class 16 Temporary Liquor License request.
• Knights of Columbus Council #10678 Class 16 Temporary Liquor License request.
• Festival of Lights Parade and Parking Restrictions request.

Other preparation for the Christmas Holiday include:

A temporary use permit is requested by Timeless Holiday, 740 McArdle Drive, Unit A to display artificial pre-lit Christmas trees.

Other requests before the Council include:

• McHenry County Gun Show/Holiday Inn, 800 S. Route 31 – Temporary Use Permit is requested to hold a series of gun shows.
• 1335 Knollwood Circle – Simplified Residential Variation to allow a 6-foot tall fence in a yard abutting a street.
• Signature Auto Group, 970 Pyott Road – Special Use Permit and Use Variation Amendment for an Automobile Dealer and Other Motor Vehicle Dealer in the M Manufacturing zoning district.
• 1089 North Shore Drive – Variations to allow a detached accessory structure to be located on a lot without a principal structure and to allow a 6-foot tall fence in the street side yard.
• 186 Regal Drive – Variation to allow a deck and gazebo to encroach 10 feet into the required 20-foot rear yard setback.
• Crystal Court Shopping Center – Final Planned Unit Development Amendment to allow changes to the free-standing sign. 
• Texas Roadhouse, 835 COG Circle – Final Planned Unit Development Amendment to allow elevation and signage changes.
• Bid award and resolution authorizing execution of an agreement for the  purchase of a Hydraulic Knuckle Boom Log Loader.
• Bid award and resolution authorizing execution of an agreement for the provision of Liquid Anti-Icing &  De-Icing Chemicals.
• Bid award and resolution authorizing execution of an agreement for the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 Parkway Tree Planting Program.
• Pathway Court Parking Ordinance.
• Resolution authorizing execution of an agreement with the North Central Narcotics Task Force.
• Ordinance approving a variation of Chapter 150 of the City Code to allow for the landing of a tethered hot air balloon.

Words Of Wisdom

"If the federal government should ... make a tyrannical use of its powers, the people ... must appeal to the standard they have formed, and take such measures to redress the injury done to the Constitution as the exigency may suggest and prudence justify."

 --Alexander Hamilton

Talk About Greening The Future

The public is invited to Green Drinks McHenry County on Wednesday, October 2nd from 5pm-7pm at Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N Main Street in Crystal Lake. Head upstairs at Duke’s for info and inspiration, business and pleasure. Come talk about “greening” the future with others. Must be 21 to purchase alcohol - non-alcoholic drinks are available, of course!

This month’s topic: Toys that are Future Friendly and Kind to the Environment

Lori McConville, Owner of Marvin’s Toy Store in downtown Crystal Lake, will be speaking about how she chooses toys for her store that meet expectations for being sensitive to the earth and friendly to our future.  That means looking for a product that is both environmentally and socially responsible.  It’s about being conscious about the life-cycle of the toy and striving to have the whole supply chain engaged in environmentally sustainable practices. 

Buying a toy for a child is a special purchase.  It’s important to know that the toy meets safety standards and that the quality is there both in materials and in the play that it provides.  Beyond that, there are other layers to look at that affect the earth and people, such as packaging, shipping, production, etc.

Find out about the criteria used to select toys for an eco-conscious store and learn about the questions Lori asks when deciding to sell an item.  You will get a chance to check out some toys, and you will be asked to make some decisions yourself.  Find out how easy or difficult it can be to make smart decisions about the toys our children play with. 

There will be an information table set up, and you are welcome to bring information about your green products and services each month to share. Additional parking is available at the train station.

To be added to their email list, send a note to: GreenDrinksMC@gmail.com or “like” the group on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/GreenDrinksMcHenryCounty

Upcoming Meeting Agendas --

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1

9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Board—

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

Following open remarks, two presentations are scheduled to be provided the Board. The first is the County Artwork presentation, followed by a presentation by County Auditor, Pam Palmer of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the County.,

Other business to be handled by the Board includes:

• Recommendation for Appointments to the McHenry County Board of Health and the McHenry County Mental Health Board for October 1, 2013 
• Receipt of Statutory Reports to be placed on file

Under Finance and Audit Matters

Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Two (2) Portable Changeable Message Boards

For the McHenry County Division of Transportation:

Resolution Authorizing the Reclassification of Position #27-0915-04/Administrative Specialist II to an Administrative Specialist III, and from a Part-Time Status to a Full-Time Status in the Workforce Network Board Departmental Roster

Also: 

• Resolution Authorizing an Emergency Appropriation In The Recorder's Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Budget to Purchase Tax Transfer Stamps
• Resolution to Approve Appointment of Members to an Expanded Board of Review for Assessment Year 2013
• Resolution Authorizing the Renewal of a Contract with Carasoft Technology Corporation for Agenda Management/Webstreaming Services
• Resolution Authorizing a Contract with Sequris Group for Check Point Firewall Maintenance and Support Renewal
• Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Rooftop Chillers for the McHenry County Jail and Courthouse and an Emergency Appropriation to the Non-Departmental Fiscal Year 2013 Budget
• Resolution Setting the 2014 Meeting Dates for the McHenry County Board
• Resolution Adopting the Senior Services Grant Fund Allocations for Program Year 201  
  
  For the Transportation Department:
• Resolution Accepting Culvert Materials and Appropriating Funds
• Resolution Approving Right-Of-Way Land Acquisition Management Services Amendment and Appropriating Funds for the Johnsburg Road Project

7:30 p.m. – Crystal Lake City Council—

Meeting in the City Council Chambers, Crystal Lake Administration Building, 100 West Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake.

A number of requests are to be considered by the Council for approval including: 

Justin Schroeder Memorial Foundation Class 16 Temporary Liquor License request

• Knights of Columbus Council #10678 – A Class 16 Temporary Liquor License request
• Festival of Lights Parade and Parking Restrictions Request.
• Timeless Holiday, 740 McArdle Drive, Unit A-Temporary Use Permit request to permit small showroom for display of artificial pre-lit Christmas trees.
• McHenry County gun Show/Holiday Inn, 800 S. Route 31-Temporary Use Permit request to hold a series of gun shows.

A number of zoning request matters are being presented for Council consideration including:

• 1335 Knollwood Circle – Simplified Residential Variation to allow a 6-foot tall fence in a yard abutting a street.
• Signature Auto Group, 970 Pyott Road –Special Use Permit and Use Variation Amendment for an automobile dealer and other motor vehicle dealer in the Manufacturing zoning district.
• 1089 North Shore Drive—Variations to allow a detached accessory structure to be located on a lot without a principal structure and to allow a 6-foot tall fence in the street side yard.
• 186 Regal Drive – Variation to allow a deck and gazebo to encroach 10 feet into the required 20-foot rear yard setback.
• Crystal Court Shopping Center – Final Planned Unit Development Amendment to allow changes to the free-standing sign. 
• Texas Roadhouse, 835 COG Circle – Final Planned Unit Development Amendment to allow elevation and signage changes. Bid award and resolution authorizing execution of an agreement for the purchase of a Hydraulic KnuckleBoom Log Loader.
• Bid award and resolution authorizing execution of an agreement for the provision of Liquid Anti-Icing & De-Icing Chemicals.
•  Bid award and resolution authorizing execution of an agreement for the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 Parkway Tree Planting Program.
• Pathway Court Parking Ordinance.
• Resolution authorizing execution of an agreement with the North Central Narcotics Task Force.
• Ordinance approving a variation of Chapter 150 of the City Code to allow for the landing of a tethered hot air balloon.
• Resolution authorizing execution of an agreement with the North Central Narcotics Task Force.
• Ordinance approving a variation of Chapter 150 of the City Code to allow for the landing of a tethered hot air balloon.

Words Of Wisdom

"Freedom had been hunted round the globe; reason was considered as rebellion; and the slavery of fear had made men afraid to think. But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing."

--Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1791