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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