Sue Draffkorn
McHenry County Board MemberRepublican
Stratton Lock & Dam
Phone: 815-385-2848; Hours of Operation: IDNR lock tenders will operate the Stratton Lock seven days a week from 8 a.m.-midnight May 1-September 30. The lock will be open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. seven days a week October 1-31. The lock is closed for the season each year November 1-April 30.
McHenry County Board Districts Proposed Map - 5/12/11
Click here to view the map.
Dear McHenry County Resident,
In conjunction with the release of the decennial census, McHenry County has the opportunity and responsibility to redraw the County Board districts. Last month, the McHenry County Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, along with the McHenry County Board, adopted criteria to develop the redistricting map. The County Board decided to maintain six districts with four members each. The new target population for each of the six districts is 51,460. Also, the Board required district populations to be less than 3% deviation from the target population. This map accomplishes these criteria with the highest deviation from the target population being 1.31%.
Now that Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs generated a map, we want to hear from you! Please take the opportunity to contact your County Board member and let them know what you think about the map (Click here to contact your County Board member). Comments may also be directed to Adam Lehmann in McHenry County Administration at 815-334-0309 or aflehmann@co.mchenry.il.us. The Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee will be hosting an Open House before the next County Board meeting on Tuesday, May 17 at 6:00 p.m. in the County Board Room at the McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road in Woodstock, IL.
HUMAN RACE
On April 16, 2011, during National Volunteer Week, the Volunteer Center of McHenry County will host The Human Race. This is a unique event which benefits any charity organization which serves McHenry County and wishes to participate. The Human Race is a proven collaborative fundraiser that has taken place in communities around the nation for over 22 years.
The 5K walk/run will take place in McHenry’s industrial park on Prime Parkway. Walkers/runners will gather donations/pledges to support their desired charity or simply participate in the event. All ages are welcome to come out and join the community in supporting volunteerism!
For More Information click on the link below.
SUNNY AWARD
A national transparency organization has given McHenry County government’s website its top rating for available information.
The county was one of 112 governments nationwide that won a “Sunny Award,” or an A rating, from Sunshine Review this year.
The award means that the county met all 10 of the agency’s criteria for posting budgets, meeting times and minutes, information on elected and employed officials, building permits and zoning, audits, contracts, lobbying, taxes and other public records.
McHenry, DuPage and Madison counties got A-plus ratings for their websites, and Lake and Will counties received Sunny Awards with A-minus ratings.
The McHenry County Board set getting an A-plus rating as a priority, Assistant County Administrator Adam Lehmann said.
County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, R-Crystal Lake, reiterated the priority in his State of the County address Feb. 1.
“The biggest thing I’m personally excited about is that we’re taking a look at web-streaming meetings, and doing everything we can to bring more light to what we do,” Lehmann said.
Sunshine Review is a nonprofit organization dedicated to government transparency, engaging citizens and holding governments accountable. It works with people and groups nationwide to promote state and local transparency.
County government over the past year has created an email newsletter and an online portal for Freedom of Information Act requests. The County Board last November adopted a requirement, proposed by a county environmental group, that officials and office seekers list land holdings and other economic interests with the county clerk.
While McHenry County received an A-plus, Sunshine Review overall gave Illinois counties a D grade. Of the 65 Illinois county governments that have websites, 41 of them are ranked D or F by the group.
Sunshine Review rates the state government’s website with a B grade.
Other neighboring counties do not rank as high as McHenry. Sunshine Review ranks Kane County’s website as a B-minus, Cook County’s as a C, and Boone County’s as a D.
Don't forget to vote!
For locations of early voting, Click here
Holy Apostles Fall Fest
Holy Apostles’ 21st Birthday is coming and we’re celebrating with our annual Fall Fest.
Fall Fest will start out on Friday, September 17, with an exciting and fast-paced night of BUNCO. If you can roll dice, you can play BUNCO! It’s fun and doesn’t re-quire any special skills or knowledge. Doors open and check-in begins at 6 PM. Games begin at 7 PM. Sign up as an individual or as a group of 4, 8 or 12. (Participants must be 21.) Groups of 12 will play together all evening. Smaller groups will begin together in a pod of 12. The cost is $20.00 per person which includes snacks and desserts. Beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase. There will be prizes awarded and raffles, too! Registration forms are available at the Information Center or on the Holy Apostles website under “Forms.” Let the good times roll at the Fall Fest Bunco Bash!
Fall Fest continues on Saturday, September 18, with the Fall Fest Round-Up. Mosey on in for some tasty grub, thrilling games and raffles and rousing dance music! The day begins at 12 PM with games, snacks, horse rides, and fun for the kids. A tasty Tex-Mex dinner will be served from 5 PM to 7 PM. Delicious pulled pork and sloppy joe sand-wiches, a variety of Mexican specialties, several sides and scrumptious desserts will be offered for dinner. The dinner cost is $10 for ages 13 and up; $5 for ages 5 to 12; free for age 4 and under or a flat price of $30 per family. At 7 PM, Dr. Rhythm and the Rockers will provide some toe-tappin’ tunes to get you out on the dance floor. Games and raffles will continue through the evening. Western wear is highly encouraged! Round up the family and be part of this celebration weekend!
2nd Annual Good Guys vs Good Guys Charity Softball Event
Charity Softball Event
A Benefit for FISH of McHenry Food Pantry.
McHenry Township Park
3703 N. Richmond Rd.
Johnsburg
(Rt 31 and Johnsburg Rd. behind the McHenry Moose Lodge.)
Come take in a great family evening as City of McHenry
AND
McHenry Township Fire Chief Tony Huemann and his
team of Good Guys Firefighters take on
the managers of the McHenry Christian Fellowship Softball League in an action packed softball extravaganza to raise funds for FISH of McHenry Food Pantry.
For your enjoyment and entertainment;
Hot grilled food, corn roast, refreshments and tasty desserts!
Nice prizes raffled every half inning!
$10 per family, $5 per single. Seniors FREE.
Click here for more information!
The 20th Annual Children’s Health & Safety Fair
Admission to the Children’s Health and Safety Fair is FREE. In addition to the games, give-aways, door prizes and entertainment, the fair offers parents a convenient opportunity to obtain important medical services for their children prior to the beginning of the new school year.
For more information click here
McHenry County Neighborhood Stabilization Program
"McHenry County, in partnership with Corporation for Affordable Homes for McHenry County (CAHMCO), has successfully used Federal (NSP) funds to renovate a home in Oakwood Hills. This is the first home to be completed and sold in the county using NSP funds. This is truly a milestone for McHenry County”, stated Community Development Block Grant Commission Chairperson and County Board member Sue Draffkorn.
McHenry County received $3,085,695 in Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP1) grant funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to purchase housing that has been abandoned and foreclosed. Housing stock will be sold or rented to individuals or families with incomes between 50%-120% area median income.
Homeowners must go through a minimum of 8 hours of consumer credit counseling to educate potential homebuyers about the financial responsibility of homeownership prior to purchasing a NSP home. To date, the County has purchased 9 other homes through the program by way of contract with CAHMCO. Those 9 homes are in various stages of rehabilitation, with some very near to completion. The houses that will soon be available are located in Woodstock, Algonquin, Wonder Lake, Island Lake, Harvard, and Fox River Grove.
For program related questions, contact Faith Taylor, McHenry County Planning and Development at 815-334-4560, or by email at: fjtaylor@co.mchenry.il.us.
You can come learn about McHenry County’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program and how it can help you purchase a home!
Attend a free orientation program to learn more!
Thursday July 22nd at 7 p.m. at the Huntley Library
Saturday, August 14th at 9 a.m. at the CAHMCO Office
Thursday, August 19th at 7 p.m. at the CAHMCO Office
SPACE IS LIMITED! YOU MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND. REGISTER TODAY BY CALLING 815-206-5805 OR E-MAIL MSTEIN@CAHMCO.ORG
