McHenry Times

City of McHenry City Council met Aug. 4

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Roll Call: Mayor Jett opened with the roll call.  

Members present: Alderwoman Baehne, Alderman Glab, Alderman Doherty, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller, and Mayor Jett. Others present: Attorney McArdle, Administrator Ostrovsky-absent, Director of Community Development  Polerecky, Finance Director Lynch-absent, Director of Parks and Recreation Hobson-absent, Director of Economic Development Martin, Chief of Police Birk, City Planner Sheriff-absent, Director of Public Works Adams, Deputy Clerk Johnson, and City Clerk Ramel.  

Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Jett led the Pledge of Allegiance.  

Public Comment:  

Brigid Silver, a resident, spoke about the Travis Mills Foundation  

(https://www.travismillsfoundation.org/about-us/) and how it can help give back to the community by supporting its initiatives. The foundation aims to visit McHenry to speak and establish a new retreat center for veterans. Brigid would like to know how this can be made  possible.  

Normally, there is no response from the Council during the meetings regarding Public Comment. However, Mayor Jett made an exception, stating that he will be following up on  this, as he did some research to help find out further, pointing out that the protocol to bring  this to the Council’s attention was not followed during a discussion regarding the property, etc., where this could be located. He had expressed that he read on social media that the  waste water treatment plant was it was a site that was being gifted, and that was not the case. However, a formal process will be brought forward regarding this.  

Richard Eilene, resident, wanted to bring to our attention the issues with the excessive music regarding DC Cobbs on the weekends. He also lives there, and the base is so loud that the windows are vibrating. He does not want to lose residents who live in McHenry and care about McHenry; this is happening at 1 am. Something needs to be done. Mayor Jett met with The Vixen and DC Cobbs to be mindful of the residents and had a discussion to hold them accountable for the noise ordinance.  

Kara McClaughean, resident directly above Buddy's Pizza, wanted to discuss the very loud  music and buzzing vibration on her windows. The side windows of DC Cobb's open, and she cannot sleep in her bedroom because the noise is so loud. They recently stated that the music is getting louder, causing regular weekly disturbances to them.  

Kate Ford-McCaughtrean, the daughter of Kara, who spoke, visits her daughter and expresses how loud the music is; she has a video about it as well. She is just a visitor and wants her daughter to be safe and to have peace.  

Paul Lambelt, resident, stated that he is also expressing that the weekends are the problem, stated that after the bars close, it takes some time for the parking lot to calm down. He is also  speaking for his neighbor, who could not be here tonight.  

Kirk Donald – resident, expressed the importance of how here in McHenry we take care of our veterans and how strong the Knights of Columbus is, and how we need to step up our support for the veterans again. One way to do it would be to invite the Travis Mill Foundation  to speak here to the Council.  

Consent Agenda. Motion to Approve the following Consent Agenda Items as presented:  

A. Block Party request on Ryan Street on August 30, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Deputy Clerk Johnson)  

B. July 21, 2025, City Council Meeting Minutes  

C. Issuance of Checks in the amount of $381,149.02  

*Clerk's Note: Minutes from the last meeting have been updated per Alderwoman Bassi's email  to City Clerk Ramel and will be reflected in the minutes being uploaded on Wednesday by  Deputy Clerk Johnson.  

A motion was made by Alderman Doherty and seconded by Alderwoman Baehne to approve the Consent Agenda Item as presented: Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderwoman Baehne, Alderman Glab, Alderman Doherty, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller. 0-nays 0-abstained. Motion carried.  

Individual Action Item Agenda  

A. Motorized Recreational Devices and Scooters  

Motion passes An Ordinance Amending Title 7: Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Chapter 2: General.  

Regulations, Section 7-2-3: Motorized Recreational Devices, Amending Language Regulating Non-Highway Motorcycles and Permitting the Use of Electric Scooters, for  the City of McHenry, County of McHenry, State of Illinois. 

Chief Birk broke down the laws through the supplement that was provided to the Council. Ebikes are define by being partially driven but have pedals, they are classified in three classes 1-3, again listed in the supplements provided to the Council. Try not to pass an additional city ordinance; the state statute is sufficient.  

The second is the use of electric off-road vehicles, four-wheelers, dirt bikes, etc., recommending that additional clarifying verbiage be added to the ordinance to help  further define things.  

Regulation of electric scooters is listed exactly in the state statute. Follow state rules, low speed under 10 mph can be driven on sidewalks if yielding to pedestrians on the sidewalks.  

Non-low-speed electric vehicles 11mph or greater have the right to regulate these in the community. There are two restrictions: 16 with a driver's license, older, and must have a helmet; not allowed on the sidewalk.  

Alderwoman Bassi asked if dirt bikes and off-road vehicles require a license; per Chief Birk, they are not permitted in McHenry. The non-low speed, in the event they are under the age of 16, will be recorded to the state; no, they will not be issued a citation.  

Alderwoman Miller lives in a non-sidewalk subdivision, skateboard motorized, where would that be defined? It is part of the current ordinance per Chief Birk. Her concern is that it did not fit in any of these categories, but it is regulated but not allowed on public rights-of-way per the Chief.  

She is concerned that if there is an accident, she wants to know what happens when there is an incident. They would also be issued a citation for operating the device illegally. She also asked about the single-wheel balanced device; they are not part of the ordinance as of tonight, and they are not identified. Council can come back regarding  these as well, or we can come back on this as well, per the Chief. She would support the addition of these devices as well into the ordinance.  

Per Chief Birk, there has not been a notable issue with these devices.  

Alderman Koch wanted to know if it would help to wear vests in bright orange or lime green, but per Chief Birk, that would be hard to regulate.  

Alderman Glab stated that reading all this is a lot of back and forth because there are  so many types, and things can always be added on, too, if there are concerns. We have motorized wheelchairs, but these are a protected device. They are not restricted to the  sidewalks.  

Public Comment: Paul Lambert, a resident, with regards to the low-speed, off-road motorcycle that went onto the Riverwalk, wanted to know what you do. Per Chief Birk, they are not allowed to come in. What he saw today was an electric dirt bike, so to called the non-emergency number.  

Hans Herman, resident of the Riverwalk Townhomes, electric scooters whipping around the corner can take out the elderly, someone with a baby, etc. Can even hear them at  night, not sure if there needs to be more signage, kids do not know the signs are there.  

*Clerk's note: This was the original first motion  

A motion was made by Alderman Doherty and seconded by Alderwoman Bassi to  approve Individual Agenda Items as presented: Roll Call: Vote: 7 ayes: Alderwoman  Baehne, Alderman Glab, Alderman Doherty, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman  Miller. 0-nays,0-abstained. Motion approved.  

*Clerk's note: Second motion to update the original motion  

A motion was made by Alderman Glab and seconded by Alderwoman Miller to approve Individual Agenda Items as presented: Roll Call: Vote:7-ayes: Alderwoman Baehne, Alderman Glab, Alderman Doherty, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller. 0- nays,0-abstained. Motion approved.  

*Clerk's note: The final motion to adopt a proposed modification to the definition section of the motorized device from one to one or more wheels.  

A motion was made by Alderwoman Miller and seconded by Alderwoman Baehne to approve Individual Agenda Items as presented: Roll Call: Vote: 7 ayes: Alderwoman Baehne, Alderman Glab, Alderman Doherty, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman  Miller. 0-nays,0-abstained. Motion approved.  

Discussion Item Agenda: None  

Staff Reports  

Provided the 1st meeting of each month. – Deputy Chief Johnson wanted to apologize for the meeting tonight due to the new technical aspect (video), things are just getting ironed out, and moving forward should be smoother.  

Chief Birk wanted to know if he should bring back the restriction on one wheel from the previous discussion above. This began a new dialog for the Council, and you will see the motions reflected above regarding the revisit to this, and added verbiage.  

Mayor’s Report 

Travis Mills Foundation, please bring any developer ideas up to Mayor Jett so that the city can run through the correct processes. Anyone who attends a private meeting without knowledge is not appreciated.  

City Council Comments:  

Alderwoman Baehne asked if the Open Meetings Act could be clarified, since Attorney McArdle was present. Public business cannot discuss any aspect, for example, of the development of property, cannot do without violating the act.  

Alderman Glab stated that there have been many discussions vs. apt. vs. condos and  homeownership, would like to see things researched more by staff, and would like it to be  brought back as a discussion. He gave an example of the taxes per homes, condos, etc., and talked about creating development that will add to the TIFF. It may need to be discussed that there are more property taxes collected for ownership, per his discovery.  

Alderwoman Miller, looking forward to the first annual Chalk Walk, is looking forward to  being a judge. 75 squares can be used for it. Register early.  

Alderman Koch stated that he noticed that Peterson Park beach is closed, people can swim  at their own risk, and he wanted to know why. Chief Birk stated that the lifeguard help goes down, so they had to shift those to Knox Pool; no answer to that until Director Hobson can  answer.  

Executive Session if needed: not needed  

Adjourn: A motion was made by Alderman Koch and seconded by Alderwoman Baehne to adjourn the meeting at 8:06. Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderwoman Baehne, Alderman Glab, Alderman Doherty, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller. 0-nay-, 0-abstained. Motion carried.

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