McHenry Times

McHenry County Committee of the Whole met June 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. INTRODUCTION

Meeting called to order at: 1:03 PM by Chairman Michael Buehler.

PRESENT: Aavang, Acosta, Bates, Collins, Doherty, Gottemoller, Jung Jr., Kearns, Meshes, Parrish, Schofield, Schwartz, Skala, Thorsen, Vijuk, Von Bergen, Wegener, Wilbeck, Yensen, Buehler

ABSENT: Althoff, Jindrich, Nowak, Phillips, Smith

Also present: Peter Austin, County Administrator; Scott Hartman, Deputy County Administrator; Alicia Schueller, Communications and Project Manager; Dennis Sandquist, Director of Planning and Development; Melissa Adamson, Health Administrator; Cheryl Chukwu, Director of Human Resources; Jeffrey Poynter, Director of Workforce Network Board; Julie Courtney, Director of Workforce Network Board; Joe Korpalski, County Engineer; Scott Hennings, Assistant Director of Transportation; Tom Sullivan, Director of Information Technology; Gregory Kuhn, NIU Facilitator; Jeanna Ballard, NIU Facilitator.

2. PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION

1. McHenry County Board Strategic Planning Session - Day 1

Peter Austin, County Administrator, along with Scott Hartman, Deputy County Administrator, joined the Board members and welcomed them to Day 1 of the Strategic Planning Session. Mr. Austin introduces Gregory Kuhn, Interim Director at Northern Illinois University’s Center for Governmental Studies, and Jeanna Ballard, Senior Research Associate - Strategic Management, Policy, and Community Development at the Northern Illinois University’s Center for Governmental Studies.

Board members introduce themselves, provide their number of years on the McHenry County Board and answer the question:

Imagine that you left the community tomorrow and didn’t return to the County until 2030 or 2035. Develop two “vision” statements that would describe what you think you would see or hope you would see at the County with regard to accomplishments, programs, changes, services, etc., 10 or 15 years into the future.

In 15 years, the board members expected to see the following:

• Alternative energy

• Electric vehicles

• More broadband

• More variety in housing

• High-speed rail through Huntley

• Strong fiscal position

• Automated air taxis in Lake in the Hills airport

• A County that invites and encourages diversity

• A stagnant, older population

• Increased support for younger families

• Not enough people to serve older residents

• Environmental tourism

• Renewable energy

• Improved niche downtowns

• Growth

• Access to internet expanded

• Thriving internet-based economy

• Embrace what is working today

• Capitalize on assets for weekend getaways

• Embracing the gig economy with more working from home and expanded internet access

• Expanded infrastructure

• Better highspeed internet

• More high-quality jobs, not just jobs

• Connected public health entities (mental health, public health)

• Focus on destination marketing organizations

• More solar panels in urban areas and on rooftops, less on fields

• Schools to be more fiscally responsible

• Better roads and transportation flow

• More electric cars

• Challenges ahead

• People will continue to leave the state

• More manufacturing bought to the County

• More focus on the Fox River as a resource

• Increase in industry, more connection with manufacturing

• Reuse old space for redevelopment, we do not need to use more land for housing

• Hopefully not all solar farms

• Concerned about corporate and/or foreign ownership of farmland

Second round of comments:

• Government will look different in 15 years

• There is an undercurrent of fear for the future

• Incubator projects

• Can we reduce the levels of government without reducing representation

Break 2:31 - 2:47

Board members reviewed results from the Stakeholder Groups Feedback Results 2021. Two online focus groups were surveyed with 8 intergovernmental responses and 11 business responses.

Focus Groups - Mayors/Managers, ED professionals:

• Maintain open spaces

• Use quality of life to attract residents/businesses

• Widen Rt. 47, to improve traffic flow

• Better rail service

• Improved broadband

• Location is key

• "Wouldn't you like to live where other people spend time, energy, and money to come and visit"

• Business-friendly

Challenges:

• Need a brand

• How do we make younger people think McHenry County is "cool"

• Infrastructure & transportation

• Looking for more regional cooperation

What should be the priorities of the County in the next 3-5 years?

• Economic and Workforce development

• Physical & IT Infrastructure

• Regional Collaboration & Resources

• Elimination redundancy

Employee Survey - 269 respondents:

• Embrace technology, provide training

• Provide the opportunity for advancement

• Make staff retention a priority

• More opportunities to work from home

• Make employees more aware of what other depts do

• Department to share resources

• Invest in infrastructure

• Lower taxes

• Taxes reduced with Economic Development

• Increased visibility/awareness of strategic plan!

Second Round Comments:

• Cultural sensitivity

• Support of affordable housing

• How to reach more residents

Break 3:45 - 3:50

Board members broke up into four groups for an exercise designed to assist group/team members in scanning the environment. The questions were prompted to help assess obstacles, challenges, opportunities, or key factors that may impact or frame goal attainment. Obstacles, challenges, and priorities came from internal or external factors and could be large or small. The exercise was derived from a longer facilitator’s guide activity titled “Surrender or Control” or Scanning Step 1: Surrender or Lead”. Below were the five questions each group answered:

1. We want to __________________ but __________________.

2. The two most important things to focus on are ___________& ____________ because_________.

3. If it weren’t for_______________ we would __________________

4. We need to finally ______________________________________________.

5. _____________ will have the biggest impact on the County in the coming 2-3 years.

Team One: 5 O’clock

• We want to prosper but retain our identity.

• The two most important things to focus on are people and resources because they are our greatest assets.

• If it were not for limited resources, we would achieve more.

• We need to finally work together.

• The Economy will have the biggest impact on the County in the coming 2 - 3 years.

Team Two: County Mounties

• We want to widen Route 47 but it’s a State road.

• The two most important things to focus on are infrastructure and public health because we want to maintain our quality of life.

• If it weren’t for budget constraints, we would fix all social and physical infrastructure.

• We need to finally do the dementia unit at Valley Hi.

• Technology will have the biggest impact on the County in the coming 2-3 years.

Team Three: Steve's Angels

• We want to serve but how do we connect

• The two most important things to focus on are residents and businesses one does not serve without the other

• If it weren’t for high taxes it would be the ideal place to live

• We need to finally engage and coordinate with other taxing districts

• Transportation will have the biggest impact on the County in the coming 2-3 years.

Team Four: Guatemalans

• We want to provide services but can’t figure out how to pay for them.

• The two most important things to focus on are jobs and transportation because for the quality of life.

• If it weren’t for Covid we would not be changing.

• We need to finally embrace today's new reality

• Energy will have the biggest impact on the County in the coming 2-3 years

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

None

4. ADJOURNMENT

Chairman Buehler adjourned the meeting at 4:33 p.m.

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