McHenry County2/11/2011

McHenry County e-News
A message from the Chairman... 
McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler
Ken Koehler
 County Board Chairman

 

Dear McHenry County Resident,

 

The first week of February 2011 will long be remembered as the date of the great blizzard of 2011.  Despite the 3rd worst snow storm in our state's history, McHenry County employees rose to the occasion to get us through the week's horrific weather conditions.

 

I want to give a special thanks to the employees of the Division of Transportation, the Sheriff's Department, Emergency Management Agency, Facilities Management and Valley Hi for their dedication and hard work during the blizzard.  Their sacrifice kept the roads cleared, assisted those stranded, coordinated our snow removal effects and kept our seniors at Valley Hi safe.  I proud of the dedication our employees exhibited in getting the County back up and running soon after the blizzard subsided.  To all involved, a job well done!

 

Sincerely,

 

Kenneth D. Koehler

County Board Chairman

 
 
2011 State of the County Address

 

On Tuesday, February 1st, 2011, County Board Chairman delivered the State of the County Speech. Click here to view the full text of the speech.

County Board member Spotlight: Donna Kurtz

 

Donna Kurtz grew up in McHenry County and attended Crystal Lake Central High School.  She holds a BA from Southern Illinois University and an MBA from the University of Illinois at Springfield. She has over twenty-four years of business and financial experience as a corporate manager supervising multi-million dollar projects, and as a financial advisor...read more

Water Resources Manager Earns Recognition 

 

McHenry County's Water Resources Manager, Cassandra McKinney, was recently selected as the recipient of the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) 'Outstanding Advocate' for her and McHenry County's continued support and collaboration with the Illinois State Geological Survey.

 

The 'Outstanding Advocate' Award is for those who have been strong advocates of ISGS, or particular ISGS programs, in public arenas. Cassandra McKinney was selected for the McHenry County 3-D Hydrological Mapping Project. When completed, this project will provide technical information and support for the sustainable management and protection of groundwater resources for the County. In particular, this project will provide an evaluation of the distribution and character of sand and gravel aquifers in the County as well as insight on their potential for recharge and vulnerability to contamination.

 

"We are delighted that Cassandra has been recognized for her advocacy for advancing the use of technology in the county's groundwater planning efforts", stated County Board Natural and Environmental Resources Committee Chair Mary McCann. "Through a McHenry County partnership with the Illinois Geological Survey, Cassandra's work to build a comprehensive groundwater assessment and monitoring program has been greatly advanced.  The use of such advanced technical resources will provide the County with important information to better plan for future sustainable water supplies."

 

Cassandra will be honored at the ISGS annual State of the Survey Address on February 25th.

 

MCDH Update

 

PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES

 

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) will offer a cardiovascular screening on Saturday, February 19, from 9:30am-11:30am, at the Woodstock Public Library, 414 West Judd Street, Woodstock. The screening requires a 12-hour fast and includes total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, blood pressure, cardiovascular education and heart age assessment.  Appointments are necessary.  Call the Woodstock Public Library at 815-338-0542.  The cost is $35.00.   

 

For more information on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/risk_factors.htm.

 

Valley Hi Nursing Home Operations 

 

 

With the long-term care industry becoming highly regulated and increasingly complex, the McHenry County Board restructured Valley Hi Nursing Home's long-standing organizational model to a single-mission operating board to provide guidance to its management while ensuring efficient, high quality care.

 

The Valley Hi Nursing Home Operating Board was created through County Board action in July 2010 replaced the Valley Hi Committee, a standing Committee of the County Board. The Operating Board will assist by providing policy direction to Tom Annarella. Tom was hired in March to replace Revere Healthcare Systems. Operating Board Chairman Peter Michling and the County Board have been meeting monthly since July, reporting success in its first few months of operation.

 

"The new Valley Hi Operating Board has been an excellent addition to Valley Hi. The vast range of expertise of the Operating Board Members will be drawn upon as Valley Hi continues to improve upon the care provided and the financial performance of the organization," stated Valley Hi Administrator Tom Annarella.

 

Valley Hi continues to maintain a census level at or near 100% capacity, with Medicare residents totaling 14-15 of its census, just short of its 20 Medicare bed capacity.  In August, revenues exceeded expenses for the first time. Valley Hi continues to improve upon the revenues over expenses, showing a $830,004 net operating income for FY2010. This exceeded projected FY2010 income. 

MCSO Promotions

 

Congratulations to the following individuals in the McHenry County Sheriff's Office who were promoted on Thursday, February 10:

 

Corrections

Daniel Sitkie (promoted to Lieutenant)

Daniel Acevedo (promoted to Sergeant)

 

Administration Bureau

Duane Cedergren (promoted to Commander)

 

Operations Bureau

John Miller (promoted to Commander)

Kenneth Neilsen (promoted to Lieutenant)

 

Special Services Bureau

James Wagner (promoted to Lieutenant)

 

Congratulations to all on their well earned promotions!

 

MCSO to host IDNR Snowmobile Safety Courses

 

The McHenry County Sheriff's Office will be hosting the IDNR Snowmobile Safety Certification Course on on the upcomming dates of February 26, 2011 and March 26, 2011 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. This course is open to children 12 years of age and older. Those who do not have a valid driver's license need to have this certificate to legally operate a snowmobile in the State of Illinois. Those who possess a valid driver's license may also attend to expand their knowledge of snowmobile safety.

 

The IDNR Snowmobile Safety Certification Courses cover maintenance and repair of snowmobiles, proper and safe operation, history of snowmobiling, first aid, protection of the environment, and the state laws. Persons completing the minimum eight hours of instruction and successfully completing the final examination will receive a State of Illinois Certificate of Competency and a graduation patch.

 

The course will take place at the McHenry County Government Center in the McHenry County Sheriff's Office - Training Division. Please pre-register with Cathy Hardt at (815)334-4739 or [email protected]. Class size is limited to thirty students and pre-registration is required. For further information on snowmobile safety courses or this class, go to IDNR's website: http://www.dnr.state.il.us/safety/snowmob.htm. Additional information on this class can be found through the link to North Region, then McHenry.

McHenry County Board 
 

Chairman - Kenneth D. Koehler

Vice Chairman - John Jung, Jr.


District 1


Robert Nowak

Robert "Bob" Bless

Anna May Miller

Marc J. Munaretto


District 2

 

                                       JS "Scott" Breeden
                                       James L. Heisler
Kenneth D. Koehler
Donna Kurtz

District 3

Mary L. Donner
Kathleen Bergan Schmidt 
Nick Provenzano
Barbara Wheeler

District 4

Sue Draffkorn
John D. Hammerand
Pete Merkel 
Sandra Fay Salgado

District 5

Tina Hill
John Jung, Jr.
Virginia Peschke 
Paula Yensen

District 6

Randall Donley 
Mary T. McCann 
Diane Evertsen 
Ersel C. Schuster

 

In This Issue
State of the County
County Board Spotlight
Water Resources
MCDH Update
Valley Hi
MCSO Promotions
Snowmobile Safety

McHenry County Employment Opportunities 

Click here!
 

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