McHenry County e-News

McHenry County, IL

6/3/2011

Ken Koehler County Board Chairman

Dear McHenry County Resident:

I am pleased to have recently learned that through conservative budget figures, fiscal discipline and a bipartisan approach, the Illinois General Assembly was able to pass a balanced budget that is a $33.2 billion dollar spending plan, or $2 billion less than what Governor Quinn requested earlier this year in his budget address.

State Representative Mike Tryon said it best in his reaction to the budget: "The final budget included difficult budget decisions, but it forces the state to live within its means so that bills can be paid and finances can get back on track...It is a huge step in the right direction for Illinois."

McHenry County applauds the State Legislature for making difficult and conscientious decisions in setting Illinois on a solid financial course. Illinois will continue to face similar fiscal constraints in future budgets and now is the time to address the overspending issues this state faces and set the tone for future budget discussions.

Sincerely,

Kenneth D. Koehler

County Board Chairman

County Board Member Spotlight:

Scott Breeden

Scott Breeden was elected to the McHenry County Board in November, 2008 and currently resides in the Village of Lakewood. Mr. Breeden serves as Chairman of the Finance & Audit Committee and is also a member of the Human Resources and Transportation Committees. Additionally, Mr. Breeden serves as the County Board Liaison to the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation. Click here to learn more about Mr. Breeden.

2011 McHenry County Illinois Visitor Guide

Looking for something to do in McHenry County this summer? The 2011 McHenry County Illinois Visitor Guide is just a glimpse at all the exciting things to see and do in our corner of Chicagoland. From groundhogs to Mozart, visitors keep coming back for "Fun-Filled Days and Star-Filled Nights in McHenry County". To view a downloadable version of the 2011 McHenry County Illinois Visitors Guide, please click on the link below:

2011 McHenry County Illinois Visitor Guide

Division of Transportation Update

COUNTY ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS UPDATE

Rakow Road Reconstruction - Many of the utility conflicts have recently been resolved allowing portions of the project to progress. Earthwork is progressing on the south portion of the project with storm sewer work now resumed from Virginia Road towards Illinois Route 31. Temporary pavement will be completed soon on the north side in preparation for shifting traffic to the north after the Memorial Day holiday. This will allow the southern half of the new pavement to be constructed this year. Water main work has begun at Ackman Road. Temporary traffic signal timings are continuously being monitored and adjusted to maximize their benefits to traffic. We appreciate your patience and extra care in driving through the construction zones.

Walkup Road Widening, Resurfacing and Multi-use Path Construction - Curb and gutter and pavement widening is complete on the east side at Crystal Springs Road, as is the concrete pathway north of Hillside Road. Traffic has been shifted and work is now proceeding on the west side at Crystal Springs Road. Installation of traffic signal equipment is complete and the new signals will be turned on when final paving and pavement markings are complete. Traffic flows will be interrupted intermittently throughout the week in the areas where crews are working. Please drive carefully and allow extra time to get through the construction zones. For more information and to sign up for email updates, visit www.WalkupRoad.info.

Dunham Road Bridge Replacement - The piling and abutments are now complete and the bridge beams were set on May 16. Decking in preparation for a June 6 deck pour is in progress and mass earth grading has begun. The project is scheduled for completion by June 24, however, utility work did create a delay which could extend the completion date.

Union Road Bridge Replacement - The preconstruction meeting took place at IDOT on May 13, 2011. The road closure and detour route will go into effect on May 23 and the contract completion date for this work is September 30, 2011. There will be a marked detour route in effect for the duration of construction using IL 176, IL 23, US 20, West Union Road and North Union Road. The detour route and additional information will be available at www.McHenryCountyDOT.org in the near future.

County Pavement Preservation Projects - The low bidder on this project was Arrow Road Construction Company. This project will provide a heavy mill and overlay on Maple Street, Cary-Algonquin Road and Roberts Road. The project started on May 17 with milling on Cary-Algonquin Road with binder course paving underway. Milling is expected to start on Maple Street around June 6, with Roberts Road to follow approximately two weeks later.

The County Crack Sealing Project is scheduled to start the week of May 23, and will include routing and sealing of pavement cracks on Coral, Country Club, Lakewood, Ridgefield and Vermont Roads.

Three New Bridge Replacement Projects - On April 29, 2011 in Springfield, IL, bids were taken by the Illinois Department of Transportation on three McHenry County bridge replacement projects. Work is expected to start on all three later this summer and all are scheduled to be completed in 2011. They are the Lawrence Road bridge over Lawrence Creek just north of Oak Grove Road, the Dunham Road bridge over Rush Creek west of Illinois Route 23 in Dunham Township, and the Graf Road bridge over Lawrence Creek just north of Oak Grove Road in Chemung Township. The preconstruction meetings for these three projects are scheduled for the week of June 6, with the start of construction expected to follow within one to two weeks. The completion of these projects will eliminate three load posted bridges on the County and Township roadway systems.

Visit www.McHenryCountyDOT.org and check out the interactive Construction Map for the latest information or links to specific project.

2011-2015 McHenry County Highway Improvement Program

On May 3, 2011, the McHenry County Board unanimously approved the FY2011 to 2015 Highway Improvement Program. This program guides the activities of the McHenry County Division of Transportation (MCDOT) regarding projects and priorities to be undertaken over the next five years. It is updated annually to track revenues, review the status of projects, and discuss priorities. This year's program was developed in conjunction with past programs, the 2020 Long Range Transportation Plan, and with County Board members.

The FY2011 to 2015 Highway Improvement Program includes over $224 million in expenditures, $9 million more than last year's program, but still $23 million less than the 2009-2013 Highway Improvement Program. This fluctuation is due to changing revenues available to the MCDOT over the life of the program and the corresponding emphasis in project priorities. Of the $224 million being spent, a quarter of the funding (approximately $61 million) is coming from various federal transportation programs. These funds are an important component of the MCDOT's program and are made possible from the efforts of the County's Congressional delegation, as well as leaders in the State legislature.

The program includes sufficient funding for 25 (12% of the program for $27.5 million total dollars) bridge replacements, 6 (11% of the program for $25 million dollars) intersection improvements, 7 (35% of the program for $77.6 million dollars) add lanes projects, and 4 (11% for $25.6 million dollars) pavement management projects. Key projects include: improving Johnsburg Road with a bottleneck elimination project, widening Charles J. Miller Road by adding capacity with new through lanes and a new bridge over the Fox River, and completing the Rakow Road and Walkup Road expansion projects. The program is posted on the internet at www.MchenryCountyDOT.org or can be viewed by clicking here.

For more information, please contact the MCDOT Principal Transportation Planner Jason Osborn at 815-334-4981.

McHenry County Sheriff's Office Update

Ceremony Held Honoring MCSO Deputies and Fox River Lifesaver

Sheriff Keith Nygren held an Awards Ceremony on May 20, 2011 recognizing members of the McHenry County Sheriff's Office and Firefighter/Paramedic Joel "Jay" Arnier.

Four Sheriff's Deputies and two Sergeants were awarded with "Letters of Commendation" from Sheriff Nygren recognizing their investigative apprehension efforts relating to the attempted armed robbery that occurred on May 6, 2011 in unincorporated Crystal Lake. Sheriff Nygren also presented Joel "Jay" Arnier with a Citizen's Lifesaving Award for his efforts and assistance on May 6, 2011 near the Fox River when a one-year-old girl accidentally fell into the Fox River.

For more information on the Awards Ceremony, please click here.

Crime Stoppers Bulletin

The McHenry County Sheriff's Office is investigating a residential burglary that occurred in the 5000 block of Smith Road in unincorporated Crystal Lake. The burglary occurred on Tuesday May 24, 2011. An unspecified amount of jewelry was stolen from the residence.

Sheriff Keith Nygren requests that anyone with information regarding this investigation contact either the McHenry County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at

1-800-762-STOP (7867), The McHenry County Sheriff's Office Tip Line at

(815) 338-2144, or the tip line email address at TipLine@co.mchenry.il.us. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.00 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the offender(s). Crime Stoppers does not use caller ID.

McHenry County Department of Health Update

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) has partnered with Lou Marchi Total Recycling Institute at MCC and Sims Recycling Solutions, Inc. to collect and recycle electronic waste at no cost to residents. Residents can drop off electronic items on Saturday, June 11 from 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake.

Televisions, computers, printers, monitors, keyboards, VCRs, digital cameras, mobile phones and fax machines are a few of the electronics accepted at the collection event. There is a limit of 10 electronic items per resident. Christmas lights will not be accepted. For a complete list of accepted items, see the flyer at www.mcdh.info or call Kristy Hecke, Solid Waste Manager at 815-334-4585.

2011 McHenry County EMA Field Day

The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) division of the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency will be participating in Field Day on June 25 and 26. The Field Day station will be located in the front of the McHenry County Government Center at 2200 N. Seminary Ave in Woodstock.

Field Day is a 24-hour annual exercise sponsored by the American Radio Relay League and the National Association for Amateur Radio. This is an opportunity for federally licensed radio amateurs to test their skills and equipment in the field by making radio contacts, using various modes, with other operators all over the country.

Amateurs have a long history of providing emergency communications when normal systems are overloaded or offline. This is why most participants operate outdoors and away from commercial power and similar conveniences that would be unavailable during an emergency. When the real emergency strikes, like Hurricane Katrina, Ham radio operators are quick to respond. In the case of Katrina, Ham radio was one of the few viable means of communication in the disaster area.

Over the weekend, amateur radio operators will be demonstrating various radio techniques ranging from classic Morse code all the way to more modern digital and satellite communications. Several clubs in the area will even be experimenting with TV signals and incredibly high frequency equipment.

The public is invited to join us during this exercise on Saturday, June 25 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 26 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You will have a unique opportunity to operate official Field Day stations and learn firsthand what Ham radio is all about.

Please direct questions regarding this event to the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency at 815-338-6400 or visit the web at http://www.mcraces.org/. American Radio Relay League Field Day information can be found at: http://www.arrl.org/field-day.

McHenry County Division of Water Resources

Water Resources Links

Did you know that the United States Geological Survey maintains a website that hosts all of the real-time data for McHenry County observation wells? These wells record the daily fluctuation of groundwater in McHenry County drinking water aquifers. http://il.water.usgs.gov/data/McHenry/

What are you doing to cut costs this summer?

- Have you considered water conservation? There are a number of ways to save water and they all start with you. For the top 100 water savings tips, check out http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php Not only will water conservation save you money, it will also protect our single source of drinking water - groundwater.

Do you know what your Water Quality Footprint is?

- Find out by taking this stormwater quiz or by completing the pollution prevention personality profile. https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/waterspledge/PollutionProfile.aspx

Did you know the McHenry County Division of Water Resources maintains a Facebook page? This page is updated regularly with water news and views from McHenry County and around the world. Become a fan by clicking here!

McHenry County Appointments

The McHenry County Board is currently accepting applications for appointment to the following boards and commissions:

McHenry County Housing Commission
McHenry County Ethics Commission
McHenry County Housing Authority Board

Click here to view board and commission descriptions and to obtaining an application.

McHenry County Property Tax Bills Mailed

McHenry County property owners should have received a bill in the mail
for 2010 property taxes. Taxes are payable in two installments with the first installment due date on June 13, and the second installment due date on September 13. County residents receive a single tax bill for the full year's taxes, payable in two equal installments. Taxpayers will not receive a second bill when the second installment is due.

Property owners who did not receive a bill by May 20, or those looking for payment options, may obtain this information online at www.mchenrytreasurer.org, or by calling the Treasurer's Office at 815-334-4260.

It is extremely important for property owners to pay close attention to their total property tax exemptions listed on the bill which could lower their current tax bill. For a complete list of exemptions, go to
http://www.mchenrytreasurer.org/common/countydpt/treas/reducingtaxbill.aspx.

***Pursuant to Illinois law, the County is required to add a 1.5% penalty for taxes paid or post-marked after the due dates.***

Property Tax and Assessments Cycle Example

Property taxes and assessed values can be a confusing part of home ownership. The following steps break down the entire process to help explain the property tax cycle...Read More.