Mary McCann: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: WoodstockWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: McHenry County board District 6Age: 66Family: Married: Husband BobOccupation: Owner McCann Berry Farm Retired Professional Project Manager Former Chemistry TeacherEducation: MAT Chemistry: University of Chicago, 1976 BS Chemistry: Barat College, 1967Civic involvement: Marengo - Union Chamber of Commerce Marengo - Union Tourism Council D200 Key CommunicatorElected offices held: McHenry County Board 2007 - currentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NOCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Continuing the conservative fiscal management of the County's budget.Key Issue 2 Updating the Stormwater Ordinance for consistency, reasonable engineering requirements, and readability, in an effort to achieve better understanding of the need for effective stormwater management throughout McHenry County.Key Issue 3 Planning for the protection of groundwater supplies and the strengthening of collaborative partnership with communities throughout McHenry County in thesewater planning and protection efforts.Questions Answers McHenry County has managed the recession without a budgetary crisis like those in other counties. How do you ensure the county continues on that path and that reserves aren't depleted? Are there specific budget areas that need more attention?A clear understanding, by all Board members, of monthly and annual operating costs, as well as, debt payments that has been incurred for past capital projects, is the best approach to ensure that the county continues on a path of sustainable fiscal management. Additional prudence is necessary when considering any major capital projectin the future.Such projects should be considered only after a dedicated funding source has been identifiedDoes the McHenry County Board have a good transportation improvement plan? Please be specific and suggest whether you think anything is missing or should be scrapped.I have suggested information that reflect an effort to involvestakeholders in the improvement process be added.This would give project area neighbors some sense that they would be informed about the project before it is started.The County Board needs a clearer understanding of the planning process called Context Sensitive Solutions and should adopt it as a standard process to be part of any transportation improvement plan. I also suggested that a Drainageway Management/Maintenance program be developed to support the new bridge structures that handle water runoff in a different manner than old bridges do.Does the county need to address its ethics policies' Why or why not? If so, how?Additions were made to the ethics ordinance in the last year. These changes address areas that some board members felt where areas of potential ethical issues. I do not see any additional needs at the moment.It is very important to educate new board members on the ?conflict of interest? concept and policy to avoid such issues from embarrassing an individual at a Board meeting.Assess McHenry County's efforts thus far in terms of groundwater preservation and protection. What needs to be done now and in the future?A strong foundation for planning for groundwater preservation and protection has been developed in the Water Resources Action Plan and has been adopted by the County Board. 17 communities have agreed to thoughtfully consider the recommendations and plan.In addition to implementing strategies outlined in the plan, it is most important to continue a collaborative working partnership between the County and the municipalities to fostered a unified education and outreach program on groundwater protection and preservation.Assess how the county health department approached the whooping cough outbreak. What should have been done differently?The Health Department's role is public information. Its goal is to make sure the public is aware of a major outbreak of the disease, with additional information on precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease, as well as, identification of symptoms that may help one identify whether or not a person may have the disease.Based on the media I have seen, the Health Department covered the topic well.If schools or other entities need additionalinformation, they should contact the Health Department directly for assistance.