Tuesday, December 7, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 pm

McHenry County Administration Building

667 Ware Road

Woodstock IL, 60098

The keynote will be nationally recognized housing professional Dr. Elliot Eisenburg presenting "Housing and the Economy - Creating Jobs and Revenue".  Dr. Eisenburg is Senior Economist for the National Home Builders Association (NAHB) in Washington, D.C. He has been featured in Business Week, Forbes Fortune, most national and local newspapers and in many other publications. The first event in an educational series, the forum will elevate community awareness centering around housing issues in McHenry County.

For additional information contact the McHenry County Housing Commission at mchenrycountycom.dev@co.mchenry.il.us.

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to McHenry County by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its Fiscal Year 2009 comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR), representing the 12^th consecutive year.  The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer and her staff are primarily responsible for preparation of the CAFR.  Ms. Palmer stated, "The creation of the CAFR involves additional work to meet the requirements of the GFOA award.  This supplemental financial information assists with supplying McHenry County citizens with noteworthy operational results and demonstrates the County Board, Elected Officials, and Department Directors commitment to strong financial stewardship.  This report is the culmination of efforts throughout the year by all involved in the financial processes. I would especially like to thank my Financial Reporting Manager, Jim Bernier, and the County's external auditors, Baker Tilley Virchow Krause, LLP."

The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR. 

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals with office in Chicago, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

Cassandra McKinney - McHenry County Water Resources Manager

In these difficult economic times we are all looking for ways to cut costs and save money. In McHenry County we are also looking for ways to sustain our finite drinking water supply - groundwater.  One way to protect our water supply is through indoor water conservation.  In this article we will focus on ways to save water and money in the bathroom. 

The bathroom is the largest consumer of indoor water year round with the toilet using 26.7% and the shower using 16.8% of all indoor water.  With bathrooms accounting for 43.5% of all household water use between just the shower and the toilet, it seems like an easy place to look for water, energy, and money savings! 

To put it in perspective, before the 1950s, toilets typically used 7 gallons or more for each flush. By the end of the 1960s, toilets were designed to flush with only 5.5 gallons, and in the 1980s the new toilets being installed were using only 3.5 gallons. A typical showerhead installed prior to 1992 typically uses 5 to 8 gallons of water per minute.  In 1992 Federal legislation was passed requiring all U.S. plumbing manufacturers and importers to meet or beat the following water-efficiency standards:

• Showerheads: 2.5 gallons per minute
• Faucets: 2.5 gallons per minute
• Toilets: 1.6 gallons per flush
•  

Today, a new toilet uses no more than 1.6 gallons per flush and showerheads use 2.5 gallons or less per minute in the U.S.  Many older fixtures in homes do not meet these standards. Therefore, if your toilets or other fixtures don't meet these standards, replacing them can save you water and money.

So what would the water savings in your bathroom look like for just ONE person?

*On average, individuals flush their toilet 5 times per day.

*An average length shower is 10 minutes

·         If your toilet flushes between 5 - 7 gallons of water per flush, one person can consume as much as 25 - 35 gallons per day, or 9,125 to 12,775 gallons per year. If your showerhead uses 5 - 8 gallons per minute, one person can consume as much as 50 - 80 gallons per day, or 18,250 to 29,200 gallons per year.  This equals roughly 27,375 to 41,975 gallons per year per person in JUST THE BATHROOM!

·         If your toilet flushes 1.6 gallons per flush, one person can consume as much as 8 gallons per day, or 2,920 gallons per year.

·         If your toilet flushes 1.28 gallons per flush, one person can consume as much as 6.4 gallons per day, or 2,336 gallons per year.

·         If your toilet flushes 1.0 gallons per flush, one person can consume as little as 5 gallons per day, or 1,825 gallons per year.  If your showerhead uses 2 gallons per minute, one person can consume as little as 20 gallons per day, or 7,300 gallons per year.  This equals roughly 9,125 gallons per person per year in the bathroom. 

Since the bathroom is the single largest user of water in our homes, replacing just the toilet and the showerhead can result in a water savings of between 18,250 to 32,850 gallons of water per person per year!  So what does this look like on your water bill?  If your water rate was $6.38 per 1,000 gallons used, your standard older fixtures as outlined above (27,375 to 41,975 gallons per year) would cost you $174.65 to $267.80 per year, whereas, upgrading these fixtures to water conserving fixtures (9,125 gallons per year) would cost you $58.22 per year - a cost savings of over $100 dollars per person per year!   The next time you look to replace or upgrade you household fixtures, appliances, and toilet, consider purchasing a product with the WaterSense label. 

The McHenry County Sheriff's Office will be increasing the enforcement to help educate drivers and reduce fatalities through the Thanksgiving Holiday...Read more

Chairman - Kenneth D. Koehler

Vice Chairman - James L. Heisler

District 1

Yvonne M. Barnes

Robert "Bob" Bless

Anna May Miller

Marc J. Munaretto

District 2