Wednesday, February 16, 2011

How to Challenge a Census Count

The 2010 Census Count Question Resolution (CQR) Program

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the 2010 Census Count Question Resolution Program?
The 2010 Census Count Question Resolution (CQR) Program is the mechanism for state, local and tribal officials of governmental units in the U.S. and Puerto Rico to challenge the 2010 Census counts of housing units and group quarters. The program will begin on June 1, 2011, following the release of the 2010 Census Public Law 94-171 Redistricting data, the Advance Release of Group Quarters Data from Summary File 1, the Demographic Profiles, and Summary File 1 (SF1).

2. What kinds of challenges will the Census Bureau process?
The Count Question Resolution (CQR) Program will address questions about housing unit and group quarters counts for three types of challenges for the 2010 Decennial Census: (1) boundary, (2) geocoding, and (3) coverage.
(1) Boundary—The CQR Program addresses the inaccurate reporting or the inaccurate recording of boundaries legally in effect on January 1, 2010. The Census Bureau requires documentation to ensure that the geographic assignment information provided by governmental units does not, in fact, reflect boundary changes made after January 1, 2010.
(2) Geocoding—These challenges affect the placement of living quarters and associated population within the correct governmental unit boundaries and census tabulation blocks.
(3) Coverage—These challenges, if upheld by the Census Bureau, result in the addition or deletion of specific living quarters and persons associated with them identified during the census process, but erroneously included as duplicates or excluded due to processing errors.
The Census Bureau will research CQR challenges using existing census records, materials, and files in conjunction with the documentation received from the challenging governmental units.
The revised CQR counts that the Census Bureau issues from the CQR Program are based on the 2010 Census geographic boundaries as of January 1, 2010 and the housing unit and population counts as of April 1, 2010.

The Census Bureau will not collect additional data to resolve CQR challenges. The program does not include challenges to overseas counts of persons in the military or the Island Areas.
The Census Bureau will post errata reflecting CQR-based changes to the 2010 Census data on the American Fact Finder on a flow basis after the first CQR challenges are processed and resolved in the fall of 2011.

3. When will the CQR Program start and end?
The CQR Program will accept CQR challenges beginning June 1, 2011 and ending with challenges that are postmarked, faxed, or emailed by June 1, 2013.

4. What types of governmental units can challenge the 2010 Census counts as a part of this program?
The Census Bureau will research and, if necessary, revise the counts for the following geographic areas:
1. States and statistically equivalent entities can submit challenges for their state or equivalent, plus any counties or equivalent entities, functioning minor civil divisions, incorporated places (including consolidated cities), state designated tribal statistical areas, state-recognized American Indian Reservations, Hawaiian Home Lands, and (in Hawaii and Puerto Rico only) for census designated places within their jurisdiction. Puerto Rico may also submit challenges for sub minor civil divisions.
2. Counties and statistically equivalent entities can submit challenges for their county or equivalent entity plus any functioning minor civil divisions, incorporated places, and (in Hawaii and Puerto Rico only) census designated places within their jurisdiction. Municipios in Puerto Rico may also submit challenges for sub-minor civil divisions.
3. Actively functioning minor civil divisions can submit challenges for their minor civil division plus any incorporated place within their jurisdiction.
4. Incorporated places (including consolidated cities) can submit challenges for their place.
5. Federally-recognized American Indian tribes can submit challenges for American Indian reservation or off-reservation trust lands, tribal designated statistical areas, and Oklahoma tribal statistical areas plus any American Indian tribal subdivisions within their jurisdiction.
6. Alaska Native Regional Corporations can submit challenges for their regional corporation and for Alaska Native Village statistical areas (ANVSAs) within their jurisdiction.
7. Alaska Native Village statistical areas can submit challenges for their ANVSA.

5. How will local government/tribal officials learn about the CQR Program?
As required by the Paper Reduction Act, a Federal Register Notice (FRN) about the 2010 Census CQR Program was posted on May 26, 2010 inviting the general public to comment on the proposed information collection. We expect to post the final CQR Program FRN on the CQR Web site in February 2011, after the Office of Management and Budget approves the clearance package for this program. The Census Bureau will send a 2010 Census CQR brochure to the highest elected official and tribal chairs of each government in the United States and Puerto Rico in early 2011.

6. Who can initiate the challenge process?
The Census Bureau will only accept challenges from the highest elected or appointed official of state, local, and tribal area governmental units, or those designated in writing to represent them or act on their behalf for the specific purpose of preparing and submitting a CQR challenge. The highest elected or appointed official must submit a CQR designation on government letterhead to the CQR Office, or submit the designation via an email message to dmd.cqr@census.gov, from the highest elected, appointed official, or tribal chair’s email address.

7. How can state, local, and tribal area government officials submit a challenge?
State, local, and tribal area government officials must submit their challenge documentation to Census Bureau headquarters directly via email, fax, or mail to initiate the challenge process.
US Mail: Count Question Resolution Program
Decennial Management Division
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233
Telephone: 301-763-9329
FAX: 301-763-9321
E-mail: dmd.cqr@census.gov

8. Will the U.S. Census Bureau accept a challenge and supporting documentation submitted electronically?
Yes. The Census Bureau is providing templates on the CQR Web site <http://2010census.gov/about/cqr> that we request challengers use to provide address lists to support their challenge. We are also including a link on the Census Bureau CQR Web site to maps that challengers can download to insert map spots to support their challenge. Challenging GUs can submit these documents through email by sending them
to dmd.cqr@census.gov. The address templates and maps will be available on the Census Bureau CQR Web site at
http://2010census.gov/about/cqr in January 2011.

9. What type of evidence does a state, local or tribal government need to initiate a challenge to the completeness or accuracy of the 2010 Census housing unit and group quarters counts?
The Census Bureau requires specific documentation before committing resources to investigate a challenge. The submitted challenges must specify whether the challenge disputes 1) the location of a governmental unit boundary in the 2010 Census results that indicate a housing unit or GQ count discrepancy, 2) the location of/or number of housing units and/or group quarters counts in one or more 2010 census tabulation blocks, or 3) both a combination of errors listed in 1 and 2.
Maps must identify the state, county, 2010 census tract(s) and 2010 census tabulation blocks associated with the challenge. If a challenge involves an American Indian Reservation or off-reservation trust land, the maps must identify the American Indian area, census tribal tract, and 2010 census tabulation block boundary. The following is a list of acceptable maps:
• 2010 Census Public Law 94-171 County Block Maps
• 2010 Census County Block Maps
• Maps derived from 2010 TIGER/Line shapefiles
• Other maps or GIS data showing Census Bureau 2010 tabulation block numbers and boundaries
Address lists of housing units and/or group quarters located in the challenged blocks are also required. Acceptable address lists include:
• City-Style Address Lists
• Non-City-Style Address Lists
• Group Quarters Address Lists
The Census Bureau requests that challengers use one or more of the address list templates provided on the Census Bureau CQR Web site, as appropriate, when submitting challenge documentation. In addition, mark the exact location of each challenged address on a map containing 2010 census tract and tabulation block(s). Maps are also available to download or print from the CQR Web site.

10. What happens if a challenge results in a change to the 2010 Census counts?
Revisions to the population and housing unit counts by this program will result in the issuance of new, certified 2010 Census counts to officials of all affected governmental units. These corrections may be used by the governmental units for future programs requiring official 2010 Census data. The 2010 Census CQR Program will not revise the population counts sent to the President by December 31, 2010, which are used to apportion the U.S. House of Representatives. The Census Bureau will not make any changes to the apportionment, redistricting counts, or official 2010 Census data products. The governmental units may use these revised counts for all programs requiring official 2010 Census data. The Census Bureau will send a letter with a re-certification of the population and housing counts to all jurisdictions affected by the results of a CQR challenge. The Census Bureau will use the revised data to modify the decennial census file for annual postcensal population estimates beginning in December 2012. The CQR data will be available as errata on the American FactFinder <
http://factfinder2.census.gov >beginning in the fall of 2011.

11. What happens if the Census Bureau cannot verify a challenge?
If the Census Bureau’s research concludes that all of the 2010 Census boundary information, geocoding, and processing were correctly implemented, the Census Bureau will respond by sending a letter to the official and/or his/her representative stating that the Census Bureau will retain the CQR challenge documentation for consideration in the context of address list updating activities over the decade.

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More information can be found here.

# posted by Cal Skinner : 12:00 PM

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Freedom of Information Appeal on Release of Eric Woods' SWAT Team Training





# posted by Cal Skinner : 10:43 AM

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Ken Koehler's State of the County Speech 2011

2011 State of the County Speech

Good morning. I would like to welcome my fellow County Board members, elected officials, department heads, staff, members of the public, and members of the press to my assessment of the state of our County. Some of you have seen me do this several times before, and I am humbled that you have elected me to be your chairman for another term. I would like to personally welcome Bob Nowak, Diane Evertsen, and Donna Kurtz to their first State of the County address. I would also like to recognize Nick Provenzano and John Jung who recently rejoined the Board.

This past year was a tough economic one for the County, but we have confronted our economic realities while still delivering the services our constituents expect. This past December, the McHenry County Board adopted a budget that was not only balanced, but roughly $6.9 million less than the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget. We were able to accomplish this feat by matching our expenditures to revenues, while maintaining fund balances and reserves. Additionally, painful layoffs which have been experienced by many governmental bodies have been avoided. A special thank you goes out to all elected officials and county staff in making this possible. We could not do this without you.

Even in this time of uncertainty, McHenry County will continue to move forward with confidence as we react to changing State and National government priorities. We have consistently used a conservative approach to budgeting by utilizing conservative revenue estimates to then determine our expenditures. Additionally, we are constantly challenging ourselves to find creative and innovative ways to save taxpayers money.

We continue to be committed to operating the programs and services the residents of McHenry County expect, in addition to accomplishing our important strategic objectives. I would like to review with you some key accomplishments from last year.

Triple A Rating
This past April, McHenry County announced an improvement in its debt rating to Triple A, making us one of only three counties in the State of Illinois to obtain this status. And, I believe, the smallest County in the Country. Again, thanks to our Finance Committee, Board members past and present, our Elected Officials and staff for this accomplishment.

GFOA Awards
Another sign of the County’s firm financial management was the awarding of the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 12th straight year By the Government Finance Officers Association for our FY2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. In addition, the Auditor’s Office received the Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting for FY2009 for the second consecutive year.

EECBG
Since being awarded $2.5 million in November 2009 through the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant program, we have made significant improvements to our facilities. These energy improvements are already saving us money. We have:
It was noted at the NACo Energy Conference that I recently attended with John Hadley that McHenry County has already spent over 90% of its EECBG many while most other counties have yet to use 50% of their allocation. Thus creating jobs and saving taxpayer money in our facilities budget for energy costs. 
 
Water Resources
Further, McHenry County has entered the third and final year of the 3-D geological mapping project with the Illinois State Geological Survey and the second year of the Groundwater Flow Modeling project with the Illinois State Water Survey. Also, we equipped 40 dedicated observation wells around the County with real-time water level equipment, to sample water quality in the wells, and installed two stream gauges.
In November, the Division of Water Resources, along with the Division of Transportation developed and taught two Winter Snow and Ice Certification Workshops at McHenry County College to both public and private winter snow operators. This is a “best practice” we will continue to provide helping limit groundwater contamination while controlling snow removal costs.

Planning and Development
In October, improvements to the Stormwater Management Ordinance were adopted by the County Board. Currently staff is meeting with municipalities to discuss their implementation. The Community Development Block Grant staff met the CDBG drawdown ratio in advance of the October 31 deadline set by the Federal Government. This will allow the County to again receive its full entitlement of 2011 CDBG funds. Finally, in December, the Planning and Development Department commenced the development of Unified Development Ordinance.

In September, the McHenry County 2030 Plan won the 2010 Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan that advances the Science and Art of Planning through the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association Award. This is an important recognition by planning professionals of the tremendous job the 2030 Regional Plan Commission accomplished for the County.

Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan
In December, we received approval from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for our Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. The Plan makes McHenry County municipalities and townships eligible for mitigation funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. I strongly encourage you to contact municipalities in your district to make sure they adopt the plan. To date, 9 municipalities have approved the plan.

Mental Health
In October, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration selected The Lake-McHenry Veteran’s and Family Strategic Initiative through a competitive grant process as the recipient of a $3.67 million grant over 5 years that will serve veterans and their families exhibiting signs of mental health issues. This collaborative initiative is the first Lake/McHenry County partnership in mental health services of its kind.

McHenry County Underage Drinking Task force
Also in October, the McHenry County Underage Drinking Task Force was kicked-off! This initiative has brought together many youth service organizations, education officials, law enforcement and concerned citizens to work on a serious youth problem in McHenry County. This Task Force has been challenged with educating and helping one of McHenry County’s most important assets our youth to understand the adverse effects alcohol can have on their development and future.

Sheriff’s Office
In August, the McHenry County Sheriff's Office received accreditation through the American Correctional Association for the Adult Correctional Facility. The Sheriff's Office joins an elite group of only four Illinois County Correctional facilities to be accredited (DuPage, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties). Achieving American Correctional Association accreditation is a direct credit to the professionalism and dedication of the entire staff at the McHenry County Sheriff's Adult Correctional Facility.

While we are on the subject of the jail, it should be noted that the bed rental program operated by the McHenry County Jail had another fantastic year. The McHenry County Jail averaged over 300 bed rentals per day in 2010 and brought in about $10,000,000 in revenue to the County’s General Fund.
In December, assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. or “CALEA” concluded their on-site assessment of the McHenry County Sheriff's Office. CALEA Accreditation provides a guarantee to the public that the Sheriff's Office is operating according to the highest standards set in law enforcement. The assessors will be filing a report with CALEA concerning the Sheriff's Office's ability to attain accreditation, which will be considered at their annual conference in March.

Transparency
Over the past year, McHenry County has increased its efforts in becoming more transparent through the utilization of technology. The County has taken a number of steps to engage the public in accessibility through the internet. The County has utilized the platform of social media, its e-Newsletter, and an improved County website. One such webpage on the County website is the new “McHenry County Freedom of Information Request Portal” that includes Departmental Freedom of Information Officers, online and downloadable Freedom of Information request forms, and on-line links to frequently requested information. Also, by providing the "Information Access Portal" on the County website, residents can find frequently requested information in one easy to find location. Finally, we are currently moving ahead with the codification of all our ordinances and resolutions. When complete, later this year, the County Code will be available on-line and in book form.

In another move towards enhanced open government, the County Board, in November, adopted the McHenry County Statement of Economic Interest Addendum that requires County officials and office seekers to list economic interest they have in the County and with other local governments in McHenry County. This is a first in Illinois and a demonstration of our commitment to open government.

Foreign Trade Zone
We received approval of our application to become part of the Foreign Trade Zone #176. This in conjunction with areas of the County already in Foreign Trade Zone #22 will permit McHenry County businesses to enjoy duty free import and export. More of a reason for businesses to locate to McHenry County!!

Recovery Zone Bonds
Finally, McHenry County became the first County in the State to develop a program utilizing the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act to provide tax exempt bonding authority to public and private entities. Under the Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds, we provided $18 million in tax exempt bonding authority to Cary, Crystal Lake, McHenry, Fox River Grove, McHenry Public Library, and the Mental Health Board for needed infrastructure improvements. Under the Recovery Zone Facility Bond Program we provided tax exempt bonding authority to Sage Products for manufacturing expansion and the Village of Wonder Lake for needed lake improvements.

MCEDC
An integral part of our County’s economic development strategy is our collaboration with the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation. Through the MCEDC’s outreach in 2010, over 2,000 individuals and businesses received help with everything from financing assistance to employee issues to zoning and permitting expertise. The MCEDC is a key business representative in our collaborative effort with the Council of Governments on the Broadband Study. I cannot think of another more important issue for our County’s future economic development than insuring the availability of superior broadband service. Your MCEDC is the voice of business in this all important effort.  

On to the new year. As the great philosopher Casey Stengel once said, “Never make predictions, especially about the future.” But I am going out on a limb because, over the next year, we are committed to a series of important projects for the County.

Construction
We are going to begin this year by completing a new Archives Storage Building in March and likely razing the old Valley Hi facility later this year. We will also be completing the construction of courtroom 104 and welcoming two new judges this year.

MCDOT
We are about to embark on the Rakow Road construction project with a ground breaking ceremony that we will hold next Monday. This $26.5 million project, which will add additional lanes throughout this vital east-west corridor connecting IL-31 to Randall Road, will span the 2011 and 2012 construction seasons. This project's success is the result of the cooperation and commitment we have received from multiple local governments, State agencies, and especially Congressman Don Manzullo through securing federal funds to assist with this project.

While we look forward to the Rakow Road project and celebrating all the successes of the McHenry County Division of Transportation, we must acknowledge that there have been concerns surrounding some of the County Board approved projects currently being undertaken or implemented by the Division of the Transportation, most notably Alden Road and Fleming Road. We, as a County, must commit to continually exploring different methods of communicating the need to improve these roadways. This communication must take place in an open environment that balances resident concerns, the motoring public, and current road construction standards.

Beginning in mid-March, the Division of Transportation will again be hosting meetings with County Board members in each of the six Districts to review and update the County Board approved 2010 to 2014 Highway Improvement Program. Now, more than ever it is apparent that we, as a County Board, need to thoughtfully review the Highway Improvement Program, which is developed, supported and committed to by the County Board in a way that benefits all the residents of McHenry County by balancing the needs and quality of life issues of both the users of the County Highway System as well as those who reside along it.

Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
With the uncertainty in Springfield and Washington, D.C., We are committed to working harder than ever with our legislative program by:
Committed to more transparency
We are committed to increasing our efforts in becoming more transparent through our utilization of technology. Specifically, I would like us to challenge ourselves to increase our transparency rating from the Sunshine Review organization. I would also like us to significantly expand the number of residents getting the e-News, and reevaluating the usage of web streaming Board meetings.

Unified Development Ordinance
We are committed to the Unified Development Ordinance process. The contract to construct a Unified Development Ordinance was approval by the County Board in November and the 22-month project is underway. The UDO will update and consolidate the County's zoning, subdivision, sign and miscellaneous development regulations. The completion of the UDO will allow us to meet several of the goals in our strategic plan.

Water Resources Action Plan
We are committed to the implementation of the Water Resources Action Plan. In July of 2010, the technical editing of the WRAP was completed and progress continues with local governments accepting the WRAP. There are now 13 McHenry County municipalities that have adopted the WRAP resolution and implementation is underway. Additionally, other municipalities are moving forward with implementation absent a resolution. As the County, we need to do the same and begin with the implementation of elements of the Water Resource Action Plan. I would like a commitment from the Board in moving ahead with the Water Resources Action Plan in 2011.

Valley Hi
We are committed to the Valley Hi Operating Board. The Operating Board will provide policy direction to Valley Hi Director Tom Annarella. The Board has been meeting monthly since July and has reporting success in its first few months of operation. We have great people serving on this Board. It was not too long ago we were very concerned about Valley Hi, but I feel we really have that facility on the right track.

Redistricting
We are committed to an open and thoughtful redistricting process. Every ten years we are charged with the task of re-drawing our county districts in an equitable and bipartisan manner. This time around we will have the opportunity to utilize software that did not exist 10 years ago to assist us in this task providing multiple options.

Wage Increases
I know that we cannot yet make promises on wage increases, but we can commit to thoughtfully reviewing this important issue. In the budget that was approved in November, we did not say “no wage increases”, as you recall, but we did commit to a review in 2011. Especially in light of union contracts coming forward, I am committed to treating union and non-union employees equitably.

Public/Private Model of an EDC
Further, we are committed to a public/private model of our economic development corporation. Now is not the time to back away from the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation. We all have a responsibility to make McHenry County a place that businesses wish to locate to and grow in the future! When the economy makes the positive turn, we will be positioned to attract many new businesses to McHenry County.

Closing
In closing, I would like to leave you with a quote from not a baseball player, just a wise man, Albert Einstein, he said, “Learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow.” We must all come together to creatively guide this organization through this challenging time. McHenry County will continue its commitment to conservative fiscal management while providing superior services for our residents. We believe our financial stewardship serves as a model for the sensible and effective management of County government. It is these qualities that make McHenry County a leader, and will allow us to thrive in the 2011. Together we will keep McHenry County a Great Place to live and raise a family!

God Bless.

# posted by Cal Skinner : 1:08 PM

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