McHenry County Board District 2
I am running for the McHenry County Board to bring my strong sense and experience of
public service in meeting the needs of the constitutients of McHenry County. I bring 32 1/2 years of public service experience in law enforcement with the Elk
Grove Village Police Department, 22 years as a police sergeant. I have supervised critical incidents helping people at their most trying times. I have completed budget assignments especially in overseeing our jail facility. I spent 11 1/2 years as a Village Trustee in Lake in the Hills and 4 years as a McHenry County Board Member overseeing budgets, enacting ordinances and policies, and working with village and county constituents. I was assigned to the Law and Justice Committee, Liquor Commission, and Valley-Hi Nursing Home Committee and Operating Board (still serving on the operating Board); volunteered as a Cubmaster with the Boy Scouts in Ek Grove Village and Crystal Lake; am currently serving as a Committee Member with the Lake in the Hills Boy Scout Troop 369; served on the West Elementary School Parent Organization; and as a parent volunteer with various sports teams at Lundahl Middle School and Crystal Lake South High School, the Elk Grove Park District, and other youth sports teams. I will bring this experience to the McHenry County Board in effectively serving the various needs of my constituents.
I am happy to see that this type of issue has been placed on the November ballot for voters to evaluate and tell us what their opinion is on this issue. I know that the media will evaluate this form of government and educate the voters on the pros and cons of this issue. My opinion is that an executive form of government is not appropriate at this time for McHenry County. It places too much authority and power into one person\'s hands, with little oversight ability being given to County Board Members. I think that the County Board Chairman should be elected at large by the voters and that we should keep a professional administrator appointed by the County Board.
At this time in county government I do not believe that the County Board should pay for lobbying. As County Board Members we should be working with Federal, State and Local Governmental leaders in doing the right things by our constituents and working together. Lobbying costs are one area that can be reasonably cut from the County budget. Lobbying is one of the responsibilities that County Board Members and executive county staff members should be accomplishing in serving our constituents.
I am fiscally conservative and do not believe in raising taxes unless absolutely necessary. As a previous County Board Member I took pride that the County Board kept a balanced budget and received an excellent bond rating, unlike most counties in Illinois. Each year County Board Members must closely examine the next fiscal year\'s budget and only raise the tax levy in the most dire of circumstances. After reviewing next year\'s budget needs, I would then have to make an informed decision.
I am in support of being as business friendly and supportive as possible. New and existing businesses bring in and maintain jobs as well as bring in the additional tax revenue to fund services for our county and other governmental entities. The county staff, Liquor Commission and County Board Members could have worked more effectively in bringing this type of quality business to our county. All you need to do is look at Galena, Wisconsin, Michigan and California to see the succees that wineries have brought to those areas. The County Board and staff must work to keep existing business in the county and in developing new business. Evaluating and updating our ordinances and reviewing the support practices of staff in the support of business and economic development should be a major focus in our county.
There are several major issues facing the voters in District 2. The first is to continue to improve transportation through roadway improvements such as the Rakow Road Widening and Safety Improvement Project; planning for the widening and safety improvement of the Randall Road Corridor; the current Route 47 - I-90 Interchange Expansion Project; improved traffic flow on Algonquin Road; and the Algonquin Road Western Bypass Project. Public transit needs to be increased and improved to take vehicles off the roadway such as more Pace Bus Service, Dial-A-Ride, Ride-Sharing, a
Metra train station in Huntley and development of Bicycle-Pedestrian Paths as transporation corridors. A projected water shortage is projected in our part of the county in the future. The County Board and staff must continue to work cooperatively with our Federal, State and Local Governmental Leaders in addressing water conservation and storage issues. And last, the County Board must work cooperativley with our local governmental leaders in maintaining low costs, not raising taxes unless necessary, sharing of resources to decrease all of our costs, and to maintain the excellent quality of life we enjoy in McHenry County.
As a county board member since 2000 and chairman since 2004, I have had a role in shaping the County into the wonderful place it is today. I insist on balanced budgets, conservative spending, and I constantly look for ways to make our system of government more efficient and cost-effective. McHenry County is one of three counties in Illinois with a Aaa bond rating. This saves taxpayers thousands in interest costs when we borrow money for improvements. Over the years I have developed and nurtured strong working relationships with key decision-makers in Springfield and in Washington so McHenry County gets its fair share of state and federal dollars for projects. According to the Illinois Department of Employment Security, McHenry County is leading the state right now in job creation and reducing unemployment. I still believe there is much work to be done in this area and would enjoy more time to continue focusing on this important issue. A fiscal conservative, my experience provides me with a deep understanding of county issues and the experience to assess county policy and strategically reform budget demands to ensure that McHenry County continues to thrive. More information about my accomplishments is available at www.kenkoehler.com.
I am opposed to the County Executive form of government. It gives one individual dangerous powers that doesn’t exist today (veto power, the authority to unilaterally hire and fire employees and make appointments). When people elect their four district representatives to the county board, they choose people who they believe will make good decisions on their behalf. One of those decisions is to choose a county board chairman. The chairman is accountable to the other 23 board members, and by extension, the voting public. That layer of accountability would be missing if the county’s leader was not chosen by the other board members. In addition, over the years, under our current form of government, county board members have taken away some of the more significant powers that a county board chairman could exercise. For example, according to the statutes, today a county board chairman could make appointments to boards/commissions without the board’s input. Instead, we use committees that make recommendations for appointments. By using committees, we eliminate a potential abuse of power through which a board leader could give influential appointments to his political allies. In cases of zoning, a politically stacked committee could have especially devastating results.
I oppose using taxpayer money to lobby against legislation that protects taxpayers. In this particular instance, a lobbyist was not hired to help defeat a particular bill, but rather to protect the county’s revenue streams and preserve the county’s ability to remain a safety net for the provision of vital services, like emergency services, law enforcement and health services. I believe this particular issue has been politically spun by the sponsor of a specific bill to make county board members look like they do not care for their constituents. To the contrary, the current county board members often make difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions that protect the health, safety and welfare of the county’s residents. At a time when municipalities are experiencing decreases in state funding and unconscionable delays in state aid payments, the county is the safety net that must remain solvent so that those who truly need help have access to the programs and services that can help them. In a state where Chicago and Cook County take a disproportionate share of the tax revenue statewide, lobbyists are an important tool that McHenry County uses to ensure that our share of the funding is protected and stays local.
While a quick, unthinking “yes” is the politically popular response, I believe it would be irresponsible to give a definite yes or no to this question this far in advance of our budget planning period. There are too many variables that exist to say with certainty that we won’t adjust our tax rate next year. However, my pledge is this: I will do everything in my power to keep the tax rate as low as possible without sacrificing the current level of essential “safety net” services that residents rely on today. I also pledge to be very mindful of economic conditions and will encourage the board to do everything in their power not to raise taxes next year if the economy is still sluggish and unemployment remains high. While the county portion of residential tax bills is only 10% or less of the total tax bill, I recognize that every penny counts during these difficult economic times. McHenry County has a longstanding history of conservative spending and prudent budget practices, and these accomplishments are key reasons why McHenry is one of only three counties in Illinois and it’s the smallest county in the U.S. to have the highest-possible bond rating.
This proposal was a new type of project in the county and a new classification of liquor license had to be created. This complicated and lengthened the process to a degree. However, the review process did take much longer than it should have. It is important to note that the majority of the board was not opposed to the proposal for the winery and, in fact, encouraged the new business development. It was a few individual members of the liquor control board who took issue with the proposal and slowed the review process for the applicant. I believe McHenry County works very hard to have business-friendly practices in place. Again, I would point to the IDEP report that shows McHenry County leading the state right now in job creation and reducing unemployment. We accomplish this by working closely with the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation and the workforce development network board to help retain existing jobs and promote business expansions and relocations here. We must continue reviewing our policies and ordinances to make certain we are being as competitive as possible, especially since our county borders Wisconsin, a state known for its business-friendly practices. We need to welcome new business start-ups; not throw up roadblocks.
McHenry County has an ongoing need to improve the safety and capacity of its roads. I have been working very hard on this issue since 1991, and it continues to be a priority for me today. As a member and leader of the County Board, I have successfully secured tens of millions in state and federal dollars for road improvements. Recent key projects include the widening of Algonquin Road from Route 31 to Route 47, the widening of Rakow Road, and the widening of Route 47 through Huntley. The Western Algonquin Bypass and the construction of a full interchange at Route 47 and I-90 are also now underway. I am also working with our Congressmen and U.S. Senators to secure approximately $85 million in federal funds for much-needed intersection and capacity improvements along Randall Road. Having roads that are safe and of adequate capacity goes hand in hand with our ability to attract and retain businesses here, so its importance cannot be understated. I would enjoy the opportunity to continue working with state and federal leaders to make sure McHenry County is in a good position to get funding to offset our local costs for future projects.
I am running for re-election because I am devoted to serving my community. We need ethical elected officials who are driven only by conscience and not by personal ambitions. I believe that I am such a person. My values are at the core of my decision-making. I strive to be ethical, transparent, and principled. I have the courage to always speak out for the best interest of my constituents. I possess a strong business and financial background from my 28 years of corporate and asset management. I have also learned a great deal in my first term as a County Board member. Those skills and experience, and my temperament, enable me to address the complex challenges we face in governing McHenry County. I believe that responsible representation requires hard work and an understanding of the concerns of the community. I address the needs of my constituents in a practical and informed manner. My record shows that I believe that McHenry County needs less government, not more. Specifically, as a fiscal conservative I have an established record of rejecting expensive public projects, calling for spending reductions, and balancing budgets in representing District 2.
Since being elected in 2010 I have promoted discussion and consideration of a popularly elected County Board Chair position. I truly believe that our community should have the opportunity to determine whether to have the ability to elect and hold accountable the person who presides in this important position. However, I do not support a County Executive position because it concentrates tremendous powers in the hands of a single person—the County Executive. For example, the County Executive will have hire and fire responsibilities for almost 700 employees. Currently a professional management team headed by a County Administrator, who answers to all 24 County Board members, runs and manages the County organization. However, replacing professional management with the political authority of a County Executive has tremendous potential for increased dis-function, patronage, and even corruption—resulting in increased cost of government, while reducing the effectiveness of county government to serve the community.
I do not support lobbying efforts that are not openly discussed and where board members do not have the opportunity to agree on initiatives. Going forward a more proactive communication and agreement of these activities, as well as costs, and overall agenda must be provided to all county board members so that an open forum of discussion and agreement can occur.
I expect to support a freeze for the county tax levy this year. I have supported the necessary steps that the County Board has taken to restructure the budget process so staff has been able to effectively reduce the County budget by approximately 2% or $5 million dollars for fiscal year 2013. Thus, we are positioned this year to provide our community with some measure of property tax relief. However, this is a decision that must be made with caution because of the potential impact of inflation and other cost increases over time. Going forward the County Board must hold the line on cost increases and capital projects which grow the size and cost of government. I believe it is vital to avoid any additional costs in this uncertain economy. That is why I have not supported any pay increases this year and have opposed a number of capital projects costing millions of dollars. However, without knowing the financial situation of our county for 2014 I can not responsibly state if a freeze to the tax levy is possible.
I think all members of the County Board would have liked to have seen the winery process go smoother. A major reason for this was because our current ordinances lack the comprehensive provisions needed to accommodate this requirement. This should be avoided in the future through the creation of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The UDO process has taken input from the County Board and stakeholders all over the county to build a document based on best practices, as well as organizational standards. Unlike current ordinances that maybe out dated, lack continuity with the needs of the community, or are inconsistent with other existing ordinances, the UDO will streamline County ordinances to make it easier for businesses to develop and grow, and for the county to be able to readily direct and enforce respective ordinances. The UDO will provide a predictable, rationale, and consistent direction vital for businesses to readily assess the profitability and viability of investing in McHenry County. Over time this will create a far more attractive business climate because the cost of doing business in McHenry County will be easier to understand, reassess, and improve. “Business friendly” positions McHenry County to be more competitive with other communities.
McHenry County government must be more responsive and concerned about the communities it represents. Members of the County Board, as well as members of appointed county boards, must respect opinions from the community, consider these concerns, and then to reassess their current positions. For example, over the last two years conflicts such as Alden Road and Fleming Road could have been avoided if the views of residents had been given more consideration at the very beginning.
Currently we have issues such as the Contiguous Flow Intersection at Randall / Rt. 62 which LITH and Algonquin elected officials stated they do not want, yet MCDOT continues to pursue. We also have concerns stated by elected officials from Crystal Lake, Algonquin, and Lakewood regarding a temporary moratorium on electronic billboards, yet there some County Board members have rebuffed this request, though it has been made by elected officials representing multiple communities.
As County Board members we must improve in valuing the views and requests expressed to us. None of us is perfect in this respect, but we must always be willing to challenge our assumptions and positions in order to ensure that the best decisions are made on behalf of our community.
I bring a fresh perspective, offering a practical, common sense approach cultivated by my engineering education with emphasis on environmental quality, 10 years of professional engineering experience, and 14 years of public service. Since being elected to the Crystal Lake City Council in 2009 I have developed productive intergovernmental relationships and found no barriers when striving for the good of the whole. Examples include working with the County on formal recognition of the Crystal Lake Watershed and potential regulations for coal tar sealants, and serving on the McHenry County Council of Governments Water Policy Task Force. Prior to the City Council, I served 10 years on the planning and zoning commission. My personal belief is that we need to plan for today but prepare for tomorrow. My technical skills and experience will be highly valuable in making critical decisions on key issues such as land use and ground water protection, which will affect our county for years to come. Please visit www.cschofield.com for more information.
I support the concept of Board chairmanship being popularly elected through a referendum. It’s unfortunate that the referendum on the November ballot does not address a popular vote for Board Chair but instead proposes to fundamentally change the way our County government is run. McHenry County has been exemplary in function and fiscal responsibility. The majority of the County’s daily operations are non-partisan and the administration is held accountable at all times. Introducing politics into day-to-day operations and evaluating performance only once every four years at the ballot box would be a disservice to the entire community. The County Administrator and his staff are thoroughly interviewed and their qualifications are closely examined during the hiring process. The election process does not allow for this same attention to detail. Voters need to educate themselves and understand that this referendum is not about popularly electing a Board Chair but rather a drastic change in how the County is run. The current form of government is much more effective with County Administration held accountable to 24 elected Board members on a daily basis. In the executive form of government the Executive would only be held accountable to the public once every four years.
The County is part of a similar-interest lobbyist organization that represents several counties in the state of Illinois on a wide variety of issues. As this group operates as one voice for a number of counties, there is a set of criteria established by the members to determine the group’s position on state legislation. The small fee that is paid to this group can be beneficial to represent our county at the state level. I assume this is the process being referenced. Based on this assumption it is not fully accurate to state that taxpayer money was used specifically to lobby against this piece of legislation. The main intent of joining this lobbyist organization is to best represent our county’s needs in the most cost effective manner. The process may not always be perfect but the benefits of maintaining a voice in Springfield outweigh one specific questionable position on legislation.
I was pleased to hear that the County Board and administration have listened to public concerns and reacted accordingly with an anticipated 0 percent inflationary tax levy. This approach acknowledged we are in tough economic times and the County is challenging itself to operate in the most cost effective manner. One thing that I will not jeopardize is the quality of life within our county. The public has a high level of expectations for protection and services along with contractual and state regulated obligations that we need to continue to meet. Yet there are still areas that should be looked into, such as the reduction of non-mandated services and health care insurance options. The possibility does exist for a freeze on the tax levy next year, however with potential cost increases it may be difficult to maintain the expected level of service while achieving a 0 percent inflationary tax increase. As a County Board Member I would be realistic yet continue to challenge staff to operate at this level.
As technology advances and trends develop, people are finding more creative ways to function and there is the potential for circumstances that have not been addressed within the current ordinances. Regarding businesses we need to be open to unique situations and alternative viewpoints. This does take time and communication to work through issues to find the optimal solution. Partnering with businesses and residents to determine the needs of the community and identifying upcoming trends is a proactive approach. Creating a business friendly environment is critical to a successful community and there should be a realistic approach focusing on collaboration. This does not guarantee that issues will not arise but focusing on communication and the needs of the community will lead to a positive public-private environment.
It is projected that by the year 2030 some areas within McHenry County will have nearly depleted their water supplies. The low level of precipitation over the past winter and summer months continues to exacerbate this problem. Groundwater protection strategies, programs, policies, and education need to be implemented to reduce the potential of this negative impact to our quality of life. Educating residents that this is a long-term issue, not just seasonal, and encouraging residents to utilize water conservation methods is essential. The County needs to be a leader on groundwater protection to deliver a consistent message throughout all municipalities. The County should also encourage residents and municipalities to identify and repair aging infrastructure that is cracked or leaking. This leakage creates an unnecessary demand on an already stressed water supply. With the knowledge we have through technology and studies, the County needs to take an active role in groundwater protection so that the current projections for our future supply will be altered.
I am running for County Board to finish a job not quite done. I’d like to help get our county through this Great Recession by continuing to be a voice and a vote for sound fiscal managemanet, supporting whatever it takes to produce more jobs and lower our taxes. I’m on my hands and knees everyday, selling shoes at Heisler’s Bootery. I know what my voters need-they know where to find me and they know I care.
The Executive Form of Government gives this one person way too much power! Vote NO on this ballot question. This Executive ’Czar’ takes away your freedom to control the elected board member’s collective control over all appointments, the entire budget and approval of every ordinance. Elected-at-large County Chairman and elected Executive races cost big money- races that are often driven by special interest money instead of substance of issue. Because of a special interest and corruption threat, I support what we have in place now, with only one exception- term limits. A chairman should be elected by his elected peers, with defined term limits.
We belong to Metro Counties, and I concur with that group’s efforts to support or defeat all legislation that would or would not be in the best interest of McHenry Co. and its contiguous neighbors. The old tax-cap law wasn’t written to anticipate an economy in major decline. It needs to be recrafted with operational efficiencies and fairness to both the governments that rely on property taxes, and all of us who pay their taxes. To better inform yourself on legislation, go to www.ILGA.GOV.
Yes, I will definately support a tax levy freeze of the county’s budget. This will help us retain a very rare AAA bond rating. We must be cautious as most small and large businesses are now assesing their needs for 2013 and beyond. The health and future viability of all organizations are at stake. We are all frustrated at the stymied progress at the federal and state level, so working smarter and more efficiently at the local level is what we must do - reduce costs, share services, eliminate WANTED, but not NEEDED programs and privitize services if sensible.
Our County Board is business-friendly as much as its aged ordinances will allow. I will be supporting an analytical, consolidated ordinance rewrite which is called the U.D.O. (Unified Development Ordinance), now in draft form. It is very comprehensive and professionally developed. The U.D.O. will be vetted in the next several weeks and placed before the public in early 2013. I’m very optimistic.
Living in McHenry County is expensive. It’s a great place to raise a family and work, but government needs, not wants, must be made to work smarter and more efficiently. It’s what we are forced to do in small business to survive--reduce costs, share services, eliminate redundant programs, inventory analysis, etc.
. Besides jobs and the economy, the other biggest challenge, in my view, is to educate the electorate to vote NO on the Executive Form of Government question on the ballot. We do NOT need one person- a Czar- to be able to veto the collected will of the people!
1. Leadership
2. Organizational ability
3. I will be a strong voice for transparency on the board
4. As I have lived here since 1956, I have raised a family here, been in business here and like it here. I have a full knowledge of the community. I have witnessed the growth, how it has been handled well, and not well. I think, for me, it’s time to get involved. Anyone who serves the public as an elected official should be applauded, but it should never go to their head. I have ideas of my own for the future of our county and I will eagerly listen to everyone else’s as well.
This one now will be up to the voters. In my opinion, I think the reason is an issue, is because of the present style of leadership of the board. If Mr. Koehler is not re-elected it would not be an issue. But, to answer the question, I am against the idea. At first, it sounds good to popularly elect the Chairman, but it gives too much power to one individual.
No. The county board must stop increasing property taxes on their own. Our citizens can not afford higher property taxes.
Yes. Again, our property taxes are already too high.
By and large I feel the board is business friendly. But if an ordinance needs to be twicked, then we should do it. I think, however, the vineyard application exposed several concerns. Many were legitimate issues. Having been a small businessman here for my entire life, I certainly am knowledgeable in these matters.
The leadership has to be challenged. Strong willed, principled people must come forward and lead with answers, insight, and integrity.
