District 2 candidates debate McHenry County economy, groundwater resources

The four McHenry County Board candidates running for two seats in District 2 have different ideas about how the county should tackle economic development.

Democrats Dominique Miller of Crystal Lake and Jim Roden of Lakewood are up against John Reinert and incumbent Jeffrey Thorsen, both Crystal Lake Republicans, in the Nov. 8 election.

To bring more development into McHenry County, Thorsen believes local governments should assist new or expanding businesses using various incentives, such as creating tax increment financing districts. Officials could also help companies work through some of the regulations required for moving into the county, he said.

"There are various tools in the toolbox we have at our hands locally that we can employ," Thorsen said.

Reinert, a homebuilder and real estate broker, is optimistic the county will continue expanding economically, particularly because ongoing infrastructure improvements are making the commute easier.

"We're poised for growth," he said. "We're poised to be an attractive county."

Roden, a small-business owner, said the county should make it easier for people to travel throughout the county using various transportation methods. Bike paths, for example, should connect throughout the county, which will help with pollution and traffic congestion by getting cars off the roads. "My vision is to make McHenry County progressive within the county's limits," he said. "We need to make it easy for people to get to and from cities without having to be in a car."

Also a small-business owner, Miller said the county should improve its infrastructure and support its existing businesses rather than focusing on attracting new companies. Bringing in more businesses, she added, could negatively affect the county's water supply - a limited resource she believes has been overlooked.

"It seems to me the county government has been asleep at the wheel on that issue," Miller said.

The other candidates agreed the county needs to keep a close eye on its aquifer, noting McHenry County has considered refilling a staff position that would specialize in groundwater resources. Thorsen questioned whether hiring someone for the job was the best way to allocate resources, as someone already on staff may be well equipped to take on those responsibilities. But regardless, he said, the county's groundwater regulations and resources need to remain a priority.

"Water is a huge, huge issue," he said. "We grew up thinking it was infinite, but it certainly is not - especially not in McHenry County."