McHenry County Board stays same; some districts will change size

McHenry County will continue to be represented by four board members in each of six districts. It’s just that to even out the population the borders of those districts will change.

The county board Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to keep its composition status quo. The vote gives county staff the go-ahead to draw up three preliminary maps reflecting population changes.

The county is required to redraw district maps after each U.S. Census to account for population changes.

According to the 2010 Census, 308,760 people now call McHenry County home, a figure that reflects nearly 19 percent in growth from 2000. The county’s districts are currently out of compliance, said Mike Fortner, a Northern Illinois University professor and Republican state representative from West Chicago, who is guiding the county through the process.

The county aims to put 51,000 people in each district, plus or minus 3 percent, said County Administrator Peter Austin. For example, roughly 68,000 people live in District 5 (which includes Dorr and Grafton townships), so the county will redraw the boundaries in a way that redistributes some of them to other areas, Austin said.

The vote didn’t go off without a hitch.

District 3 Board Member Kathleen Bergan Schmidt asked the board to table the vote two weeks to allow for additional public input — there hasn’t been much thus far. This would have ensured the board had done its due diligence on reaching constituents, she said.

“I do think it would be good to hear what people out in the community think,” Bergen Schmidt said.

But District 3 Board Member Nick Provenzano said the public had plenty of time to speak up.

He pointed to the legislative and intergovernmental affairs committee — set up specifically for redistricting — holding five meetings. A committee of the whole meeting and a subsequent board meeting also gave people a chance to air their feelings. Moreover, he said, board members’ phone numbers and email addresses are available on the county website.

“This has been out there for months,” Provenzano said. “I don’t see any additional input coming ... maybe they agree with what we’re doing.”

Later, Bergan Schmidt’s amendment to create 10 districts with two representatives each also went nowhere. Only board members Donna Kurtz, Peter Merkel, Bergen Schmitt, Paula Yensen and Barbara Wheeler supported it.

“We need to do more with less,” Wheeler said.

The three maps the county intends to devise should be ready by May 12.