Four candidates run for two seats in McHenry County District 5

The race for two open seats in McHenry County District 5 features an incumbent, a former county board member and two newcomers.

Republicans Andy Snarski and incumbent Michael Skala, and Democrats Alex Wimmer and Paula Yensen - who served on the board from 2008 to 2014 - are running in the Nov. 8 election. Incumbent Tina Hill is not seeking re-election.

Yensen, 67, a Lake in the Hills trustee, is a retired United Way executive director and teaches classes on nonprofit leadership at Harper College.

Wimmer, 29, an attorney from Woodstock, served on the county's housing commission and the former nonprofit Families ETC in Crystal Lake, which closed Jan. 1 due to lack of funding.

Skala, 45, has served on the board since 2012. He owns a design engineering company of electrical and mechanical assemblies, and is a part owner of a small restaurant in Huntley, where he lives.

Snarski, 56, of Crystal Lake, recently retired from a management job at a crop nutrition company. He did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily Herald.

Skala, Wimmer and Yensen all said the county board has become too contentious and that some of its members come unprepared, asking questions that show they haven't read their informational packets. "There is a lack of civility in debate and a lack of collaboration," Yensen said.

Skala said he even considered not running for re-election because of that, but decided "all the good outweighs the negatives."

The county's annual budget is about $240 million for the current fiscal year. Skala, who chairs the finance committee, said the county should go back to 2015 property tax levels for the next fiscal year.

The county had zeroed out a $3 million levy for Valley Hi Nursing Home last year, saving taxpayers about $24 annually.

Most of the additional money should be used for capital projects, because Valley Hi has a healthy $40 million or so in reserves, Skala said.

Wimmer agreed with that, and also said he doesn't support the privatization of the nursing home, because only voters should be able to decide that.

Yensen said Valley Hi needs strong reserves to pay for Medicare reimbursements. It's also important to look at any capital needs for the nursing home, she said.

Both Wimmer and Yensen objected to a $130,000 expense earlier this year to hold a four-hour special meeting regarding a plan to improve the intersection of Randall and Algonquin roads.

Still, the project is an important one to discuss, Skala said. "One person's waste may not necessarily be someone else's," he said.

The county should stop paying more than $360,000 per year in health care benefits for its board members, who work part time, Yensen said. She pointed out part-time county employees don't get health benefits.

Wimmer, Skala and Yensen agree the county board should be reduced in size. Skala also proposed consolidating some committees, such as the human resources committee, by redistributing its responsibilities among others.

Water use and conservation is a key issue, Skala, Yensen and Wimmer candidates agreed.

The county should seek federal grants to pay for water testing and technology, Wimmer said. Both he and Skala said a critical water resource officer position needs to be filled.

Commercial growth should take place near municipalities' borders, where there is easy access to services, Skala said. Wimmer pointed out that municipalities like Woodstock have plenty of empty space within existing subdivisions and industrial areas.

The county should also invest in its roads, and especially bridges, in rural areas, Yensen said.