Ken Koehler  County Board Chairman

Dear McHenry County Resident:  

Children look forward to Halloween for many reasons. They like to dress up in costumes, but mostly they like it for the candy and treats!  Who wouldn't?  Even some adults still like to go out trick or treating. It makes them feel young and happy again.  While this section is mainly guidelines for kids, they are just as useful for adults.

Some parents like to take first dibs on some of the candy that their children have picked up during the night.  It's their reward for taking them around from house to house!  We suggest that you watch the candy intake when you get home, too much at one time can lead to stomach aches and indigestion.  That includes mom and dad as well!

Make your child's Halloween a memorable experience and they'll have good memories that last a lifetime!  If you are taking your kids out for the night, dress up as well.  Mom and dad should get into the Halloween spirit as much as the children do!

Trick or Treating should be one of the great adventures of Halloween for children!  They can get dressed in scary costumes and go door to door, begging "Tricks or Treats!" from neighbors or at the local mall.  Lots of small towns have a Halloween Safe Night at the community center or school so children can Trick-or-Treat safely but going door to door is the stuff of childhood memories!  It should be a fun time, without trouble and pain, so following some easy tips can keep your child safe every Halloween:

• Children should always go out trick or treating accompanied by a responsible adult.  If you have a group of children going, the parents should choose two or three of them to go along and keep an eye on things.
• Some towns set a curfew for trick or treating which makes it easier for townsfolk to know who's coming to their door.  Make sure and stick to the curfew times and stick to subdivisions and areas with a lot of homes so your children can get in as much trick or treating as possible in a few hours time.
• Plan a safe route so parents know where their older kids will be at all times.  Set a time for their return home.  Make sure that your child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves.  Providing them with a cell phone may be a good idea.
• Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields if they are out alone.  Make sure they know to stay in populated areas and not to go off the beaten path.  Let them know to stay in well lighted areas with lots of people around.  Explain to them why it can be dangerous for children not to do this.  If they are going out alone, they are old enough to know what can happen to them in a bad situation and how to stop it from happening.
• Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you.  This way you can check for any problem candy and get the pick of the best stuff!
• Instruct your child to never go into the home of a stranger or get into their car.  Explain why this is not a good idea and what to do if someone approaches them and tries to talk to them.
• Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.
• Let them know that they should stay together as a group if going out to Trick or Treat without an adult. 

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) invites homeowners, business owners/operators, agriculturalists, institutions and organizations to participate in an online survey for the development of the McHenry County Solid Waste Management Plan Update. Community input is an important part of the planning process.

This important survey seeks to solicit feedback about solid waste issues such as garbage and recycling and the management of waste materials such as household hazardous waste, livestock waste/manure, food scrap collection for composting, grease and oil, industrial waste and construction/demolition debris. The survey will also ask for your perspective regarding barriers to recycling, the level of importance for certain types of waste materials and initiatives in an effort to reduce reliance on landfills for disposal, maximize recycling rates and improve solid waste management in McHenry County.

The survey is available online by clicking here.

McHenry County is developing a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to regulate all aspects of development in unincorporated areas of the County.  The UDO will update and combine the County's Zoning, Subdivision, Sign, and miscellaneous development regulations into a single, comprehensive, and consistent set of regulations.  The UDO will implement the County's 2030 Comprehensive Plan and Water Resources Action Plan. 

The project consultant, Camiros, Ltd, has completed development of its initial draft ordinance, which is available for review on the project website: www.camiros.com/mchenrycoUDO.  The draft ordinance is based on consideration of the county's existing rules and procedures and extensive input from County officials and staff along with real estate, agricultural, environmental, municipal representatives, and property owners...Read More.

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

• McHenry County Community Development Block Grant Commission
• McHenry County Housing Commission
• McHenry County Tuberculosis Board
• McHenry County Senior Services Grant Commission
• McHenry County Mental Health Board

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

Students in schools across the country are now able to learn about county government through an online game and curriculum that the National Association of Counties (NACo) created in partnership with iCivics, Inc...Read More.